How I got personally affected by global climate change

[Stev0]

I own a small patch of woods and have a professional forester inspect it every year. Every year he gave me the same news - "you don't have any poison ivy in your woods."

This year, there are rather large patches growing now. I asked how it got there, and he said birds probably dropped seeds. I said that birds have probably been dropping seeds for years, how come it's growing now but hadn't before? He said poison ivy loves high concentrations of CO2. Because of greenhouse gas emissions, it's now at that magic number that poison ivy loves best - he's seen a huge spurt of growth in poison ivy everywhere in our area.

So if somebody could come over and tell the poison ivy in my woods that climate change is a myth, it would realize it's not supposed to be growing there and go away.

[Felt]

Don't worry ... your wooded patch will love the CO2.

What else can you do? You already drive a Prius.

Maybe all the CO2 is caused by the politicians jetting all over the globe?

The first time I detect our leaders, leading by example, I will believe the threat is real. Until then, I will definetly do my best to reduce my "footprint;" I will drive my Prius; and make all reasonable cuts wherever possible.

The BBC says the warmest global year occurred eleven years ago. I have been to Alaska and seen that the ice was in retreat hundreds of years before Al Gore won his prize for savings us all (and long before the automobile was invented.) (Even before George Bush was president .... imagine that).

Don't take me seriously .... I am just having fun.

[dogfriend]

Poison Ivy Itchier, More Plentiful With Warming, Study Says

[qbee42]

You need more deer.

Tom

[Stev0]

Originally Posted by Felt

The BBC says the warmest global year occurred eleven years ago. I have been to Alaska and seen that the ice was in retreat hundreds of years before Al Gore won his prize for savings us all (and long before the automobile was invented.) (Even before George Bush was president .... imagine that).

You were in Alaska hundreds of years ago?

[Flying White Dutchman]

its called time travel

[The Electric Me]

No offense StevO but the sudden appearance of poison ivy on your own owned property and the empirical observations of one forester is as poor an arguement for the existence of global warming as the never ending laments of opponents of global warming siting all the things they perceive haven't changed.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in global warming but I'm just saying it's as dangerous to say, global warming is REAL because this happened in my front yard, as it is to say global warming ISN'T REAL because I haven't personally witnessed A,B,or C, happening in my own personal area.

Give me direct information about the increased CO2 levels of a specific area and region monitored and compared over a period of time and then judgements can be applied. But the fact that you never had poison ivy before and now you do have poison ivy just is too weak a basis for any arguement.

[Stev0]

Originally Posted by The Electric Me

No offense StevO but the sudden appearance of poison ivy on your own owned property and the empirical observations of one forester is as poor an arguement for the existence of global warming as the never ending laments of opponents of global warming siting all the things they perceive haven't changed.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in global warming but I'm just saying it's as dangerous to say, global warming is REAL because this happened in my front yard, as it is to say global warming ISN'T REAL because I haven't personally witnessed A,B,or C, happening in my own personal area.

Give me direct information about the increased CO2 levels of a specific area and region monitored and compared over a period of time and then judgements can be applied. But the fact that you never had poison ivy before and now you do have poison ivy just is too weak a basis for any arguement.

I know that (it's the reverse of bozos who say "Gosh it's chilly today! I guess climate change is a hoax!"), but for information look at the article Dogfriend linked to. Just as dropping a vase and watching it shatter doesn't "prove" gravity exists, you can point to the broken vase and say "Look, that was a result of gravity." Look at the poison ivy, that was a result of climate change.

[Felt]

Since you asked ....
While visiting Alaska last Summer, we hiked (way) back to a receeding ice field. All along the path signs had been erected that identified where the ice field had been for the past several hundred years. Ice melt is not a 20th century event ..... but it certainly does continue.

Actually ... I know it is warmer now than when I was a boy sixty years ago. I am concerned that it can change so much just within my lifetime. I just feel the planet is subject to natural climatic cycles, effects of sun spots, and volcano eruptions. With a few exceptions, I do not believe that man has any ability to alter global environmental events. Man may be able to modify specific areas, for example during WWII, I have read that rain often followed intense bombardments; and the climate certainly was modified briefly in Japan following the A-bomb. But man cannot stop, or change even the path of a hurricane; deminish a severe rain storm; or reduce the frequency of lightning. Those should be easier than one small country changing the climate for the remainder of the planet ... when land giants, like Russia, China and India make scant effort. When congress gets in "cap and trade" it will be evident that it is more about collecting taxes than improving the environment.

Just for discussion: (readers will need to accept that I love college and professional sports - I am not seriously proposing a change): How much energy (CO2; Carbon Footprint; foreign oil and all the rest) is consumed by professional sports teams jetting all over the US?; or illuminating the field during evening contest?; or air conditioning indoor stadiums?; or sports fans sitting in traffic going to the stadium and returning? No one is suggesting we make any changes in these events (like playing all daytime games). You can apply that argument to everything that we enjoy, NASCAR, boat races; vacations; cruises and etc.

I support, and have changed the light bulbs in my home. But if each and every home in my town changed their bulbs .... would it equal the CO2 created by the president when he and his support group flew from WDC to NO, LA to SF, CA and back to WDC? I do not think so.

[icarus]

Not to worry,, according to a couple of people who like to post on this forum (who shall remain nameless) think that global warming/climate change is nothing but a hoax. So bury your head in the sand, put your hands over your ears, cover your eyes and keep chanting, "There's no place like home!"

Icarus