Global warming: Why public concern declines (But many people are taking individual steps…)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1206/p25s01-wogi.html

Global warming: Why public concern declines

On eve of the global warming summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, an informal global survey shows that public interest in the issue is waning. But many people are taking individual steps to curb global warming.

By Gregory M. Lamb | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the December 6, 2009 edition

Boston - It's a classic Kodachrome day in Orange Beach, Ala. Cerulean skies contrast against a dazzling white shoreline dotted with rainbow-hued beach umbrellas. Jenna Rutledge slides flip-flops from her feet and wedges her toes beneath the cool sand. Bliss. In fact, only one thing seems odd about this technicolor tableau: That it is so balmy on this November day, even along the Gulf Coast.

Ms. Rutledge, like many people, attributes the lingering summer weather to global warming. But the more she listens to environmental pundits, the more perplexed she becomes.

"I don't know who to trust," she says, tucking a magazine into a canvas tote bag. "You hear evidence that seems to back global warming, but then you hear it's a cyclical thing the earth goes through."

Welcome to public attitudes in this year of Mother Earth, circa late 2009. As the US and other nations prepare for a global summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 7-18, the biggest problem facing delegates may not be all the political differences between rich nations and poor, between developed countries and developing ones, between big smokestack nations and lesser ones.

…

[guardian]

1. except for the GW big shots attending the conference

Apparently their concern is increasing, while their taking individual abatement steps is decreasing.

I guess their mindset is "Oh I'll fly alone in my private jet rather than flying commercial and lecture the masses on how they should give up coffee and buy local and turn off lights, while I drink imported champagne and eat Argentine beef and beluga caviar, and ride in my big boat Mercedes limo."

Apparently GW is only for the 'little people' to take individual steps to change their lives.

[kestrel91316]

2. The conference is all about governments taking big steps. Which you

probably knew.

Sadly, those most responsible for the problem (us and China) are the least likely to act.

[guardian]

3. Apparently it is the attendees "least likely to act"

If they won't set a personal example why should I? Fuck the GW imperial class. They want to double my electric bill. An extra $100-$200 is a big deal to most people. These fucks don't care if their electric bill for their 20,000 SF air conditioned barn doubles from $10K to $20K.

What horseshit.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. If the average temperature increases, how do you think that will affect your A/C costs?

Seriously, did you ever wonder how it is that farmers managed without A/C for millennia?

My grandfather was a dirt farmer/dairy farmer. He’d never have dreamed of an air-conditioned house let alone an air-conditioned barn…

What do you suppose has changed?

[guardian]

5. nice side step

Just can't bring yourself to EVER criticize one of the priests for global warming can you? You know in your heart these people are major hypocrites. I have respect for Ed Begley in that he lives what he preaches. I have zero respect for these rich fucks living large from perpetuating AGW and then telling me to do without.

Don't tell me I can't get married when you do.
Don't tell me not to gamble when you do.
Don't tell me to not drink when you do.
Don't tell me to do without for a bullshit cause when you don't believe enough to live that way yourself.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. “I have respect for Ed Begley”

Wow! Ed Begley!? Of all the people to select!


Seriously, complaining that people are flying to Copenhagen seems to fail the “significant digits” test to me.

[guardian]

7. Then why don't they fly coach?

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. Did I mention “significant digits?”

Seriously? Does it really make all that much difference which way they fly, if they fly at all?

Want to cut down on the emissions? OK, how about a “video conference?”

Personally, I don’t want PoTUS buying tickets on expedia.com.

[guardian]

9. It's good to know that

it "people taking individual steps" isn't as important for some people as it is for others.

Let me get this straight if you are in the "in crowd" then it doesn't "really make all that much difference" which way they fly, or what they drive, or in how big a house they live, or if they eat food imported from the far corners of the earth, etc. But for the great unwashed masses they need to live under different rules. They need to drive Smart Cars or Prius instead of riding in limos, avoid flying by taking "staycations" instead of flying private jets, only eat local food (bad bananas) instead of imported caviar, ...

Quick buy a reusable canvas tote bag. Maybe if a 500,000,000 people use canvas tote bags and huddle around a single 20 watt light bulb 50 years that will offset one day of Leonardo DiCaprio flying his private jet to Copenhagen.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Please tell me that you're not basing your opinion of climate change on celebrities and politicians

Listen to the scientists. Ignore celebrities. Vote for better politicians. But don't use the existence of someone, somewhere in the world doing it wrong as an excuse for doing nothing yourself.

If we all based our morality on "there's someone well known who's worse than me", then the world would be completely screwed.

[MH1]

20. you seem to assume that the concept of "significant digits" is understood

by the person you're responding to.

Might want to re-consider that assumption. ;)

[guardian]

23. Sure. Ignore the point

and go with personal insults.

[MH1]

25. You ignored the point.

[Nihil]

10. Classic!

> Then why don't they fly coach?

Here we have a concern troll who thinks that "coach class" puts
out less CO2 than "business class" or "first class"!!!

:rofl:

[GliderGuider]

11. May I join you in that ROFL?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:

[OKIsItJustMe]

13. I believe it’s “flying coach” -vs- “private jet” that’s the concern here…

So… it would actually make some difference. However, as I said, “significant digits.”

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121192625

Climate Summit Attracts Limos, Private Jets

December 8, 2009

The owner of a limo company in Copenhagen thought with all the environmentalists in town, no one would want a car. Instead she's rented 200 limos, more than 10 times her normal business. Many delegates arrived on private jets.

[guardian]

15. Finally

Thank you for responding to the actual point I was making. My whole thread of posts focused on the duplicity of many attending the Copenhagen conference who are at the forefront of AGW, and their message of how 'everyone' has to cut back and reduce CO2 emissions.

[OKIsItJustMe]

16. I understood your point

I just consider it a distraction.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/01/heathrow-runway-protest-jim-hansen

Climate expert snubs Heathrow protesters

Campaigners are told coal power is the priority danger, not more runways

…

[guardian]

17. Fair enough n/t

[guardian]

14. "coach class" puts out less CO2 than "business class" or "first class"!!!

Actually coach class does have less emissions on a per person basis. This is because they pack more people per equivalent square foot area. More people/flight would translate to few flights required. When you get off the floor from laughing maybe you can break out a calculator.

[Nihil]

18. Speaking of packing more people in ...

... ever considered that after the craft itself, the flight crew and
the cabin staff, it is the weight of the payload that consumes the fuel?

This additional weight is proportional to the number of passengers
(not just the body weight but the luggage, food, drink) and this,
in turn, needs more fuel to be burned into more emissions.

Also, please don't forget that your ideal "all coach class plane" would
have a much larger body weight due to the additional seating (+mounting
and safety equipment) required.

Finally, as pointed out by others, you are just pissing about in the
decimal places (in a desperate attempt to cover your embarrassment
no doubt) as over 80% of the takeoff weight is aircraft plus fuel,
regardless of the occupancy rates of the different "classes".

Like I said, :rofl: at your "concern".

[GliderGuider]

19. It's utterly insignificant.

Putting even 30 extra people on a 300-seat aircraft will make no difference whatsoever to GW. Air travel contributes 3.5% of all greenhouse gasses. Trying to decrease that by a third of one percent would give a very poor return on investment. If we're to get outraged, let's do it over something that at least reaches whole-digit percentages of impact.

[MH1]

21. "Hypocrisy" of some messengers does not change the facts. nt

[OKIsItJustMe]

22. Logically, this is true

However… we all realize how very much perception colors belief. (“Ad hominem” attacks—while fallacious—are still quite effective.)

So, someone who visibly “Walks the walk” is likely to have greater influence than someone who simply “Talks the talk” (regardless of how true their “talk” may be.)

[MH1]

26. Oh I agree, but an intelligent and moral person making a decision

will not base it on cosmetic factors or what other individuals do, but on what the base facts are and what is right for themselves to do.

[kestrel91316]

24. My concern is increasing even as I eschew the automobile........