I'm currently living in Germany where the consensus is rather strong that global warming is indeed occuring--much faster than we are prepared to something significant about, I might add. I've been following the Bali discussions, the Al Gore Nobel Prize story, etc. and, out of curiosity, decided to look at what a dissenting point of view has to say (note: "conveniently" found at Foxnews.com;
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316749,00.html
)
As a 22-year old, I find this hopeful logic troubling and sickening--and believe me, here's to hoping that global warming truly dosn't exist!!!--as I plan to live (God-willing) another six to eight decades, and hope my future kids and grandkids will live well into the 2100s). I therefore would like to pose the following questions to anyone supporting the counter-view point.
--If you claim we, who buy into this whole global warming shenanigans, cannot be confident in our opinion, does that mean that you can be 100% confident in its non-existence?
Followup: IF you wish to play the agnostic card, then would it not be prudent for the future of the planet and mankind (see my future years and those of my offspring) to take every measure necessary to prohibit the potential devastating events, should it ACTUALLY exist--which of course, we can't be sure of according to this viewpoint-- from taking place?
--Second. I feel the issue of developing economies EXTREMELY troubling. Currently it seems to me that Bush/nay-sayers like to use as a defense that we cannot afford to take the economic measures necessary so long as China and India aren't signed on.
Is this in fear of their potential economic gains? It seems to me that, in light of the 2.4-ish billion of them, we should be doing everything in our scared freaking minds to ensure that they can have clean technologies to support their enormous populations as they become more and more industrialised. Otherwise our competition for energy will get CONSIDERABLY stronger. Clearly China is not going to be the ones that make the Hydrogen-car/wind-energy for example widespread and efficient enough to supply a world population of 7+ billion with hugely increasing energy needs. If not us, then who? If not now, when?
In short, I just see no reason NOT to accept the premises of global warming and attack the challenge with 100% focus. F*** the war on terror--we should have a war on non-reusable energy/wasting energy. As is often said, this could be like going to the moon/manhattan project for my generation...but there's one more catch. Europe and other areas of the world have just as much as stake and they are already behind it. It wouldn't just be America having to carry the weight. It could be a billion minds working for change. Ahhh the potential benefits...
Denk ich an die Umwelt in der Nacht,
Dann bin ich um den Schlaf gebracht,
Ich kann nicht mehr die Augen schließen,
Und meine heißen Thränen fließen.
Die Jahre kommen und vergehn!
Seit ich Weihnachtsschnee nicht gesehn,
Zwölf Jahre sind schon hingegangen;
Es wächst mein Sehnen und Verlangen.
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen wächst.
Die schoene Winter hab'n mich behext,
Ich denke immer an die alte,
Die alte Frau, die Gott erhalte!
Gottlob! durch meine Fenster bricht
Deutsches warmes Dezember Tageslicht;
Es kommt mein Weib, schön wie der Morgen,
Und lächelt fort die umweltliche Sorgen.