An Inconvenient Backlash

In a backlash that was perhaps inevitable, some scientists charge that "An Inconvenient Truth" overhypes effects of climate change and fails to explain nuances adequately.
According to the New York Times,

Kevin Vranes, a climatologist at the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado, said he sensed a growing backlash against exaggeration. While praising Mr. Gore for “getting the message out,” Dr. Vranes questioned whether his presentations were “overselling our certainty about knowing the future.”

Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton who advised Mr. Gore on the book and movie, said that reasonable scientists disagreed on the malaria issue and other points that the critics had raised. In general, he said, Mr. Gore had distinguished himself for integrity.

“On balance, he did quite well — a credible and entertaining job on a difficult subject,” Dr. Oppenheimer said. “For that, he deserves a lot of credit. If you rake him over the coals, you’re going to find people who disagree. But in terms of the big picture, he got it right.”

IREJN is Connecticut's Light and Power. Visit us at www.irejn.org.

Evangelical Pastor Calls for Creation Care

Joel Hunter, an Evangelical Christian Pastor, calls for Scientists and people of faith to work together to solve the problem of climate change. In an editorial in the Christian Science Monitor he writes,

Every major religion has a moral mandate to take care of the Earth. For those who look to the Bible for instruction, it is the first responsibility given to man: "The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep [protect] it" (Gen: 2:15, NASB). Our moral obligation, then, does not depend on the rate our planet is warming, or even whether the main cause is human activity. We are to refrain from harming God's creation – period. Few Christians or persons of other faiths (or no faith) would disagree with that statement.

But the latest reports indicate the need to move the care of creation up the priority scale. The great news is that individually we can help as much as we have harmed the physical environment, but we must watch out that we don't poison the environment of relationships in the process.

Visit us at www.irejn.org.

It's Hip to Be Green

Conspicuous consumption is so, like, 2006. Celebrities and scientists are teaming up in an effort to make green the new black. At Global Cool, you can join their efforts to fight global warming in exchange for a chance to see exclusive videos from indie rockers like the Scissor Sisters. They are also helping to promote green dating sites like green singles.

Visit us at www.irejn.org.

"Urgent Call to Action" by Scientists and Evangelicals

Scientists and Evangelicals met last week and issued an "Urgent Call to Action" on the burning of fossil fuels and the related threat of extinction to many species, according to the Arbutus Times.

"Important initiatives were already underway on both sides, and when compared they were found to be broadly overlapping," the call to action says, "We (evangelicals and scientists) clearly share a moral passion and sense of vocation to save the imperiled living world."

The two groups officially joined forces six weeks ago and now total 28 members.
Visit us at www.irejn.org.

Evangelicals, Scientists Unite on Climate Change

Earlier this month, 28 scientific and evangelical leaders publicly released an "Urgent Call to Action." The damage from human-generated carbon emissions, the statement said, requires nothing less than "fundamental changes in values, lifestyles and public policies to address these worsening problems before it is too late."

Read the full editorial in the Houston Chronicle.

Visit us at www.irejn.org.

Climate Change Throwdown

Climate Change Skeptics, you've been served! According to the UK publication The Guardian,

"Britain's leading climate scientist has challenged those who question the impact of the human population on global warming to defend their claims that car and factory emissions of carbon dioxide are not heating up the planet.

Alan Thorpe, chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council, said yesterday he planned to defeat so-called 'deniers', first on-line and later at a public debate."

Visit us at www.irejn.org