Protesters urge Obama to act on global warming

I wonder how many of the protesters have solar panels, recycle all things, eat organic foods, drive Nissan Leaf.. and buy solar power stocks? Japan needs to be a leader in this technology beginning with making all Taxi in Tokyo electric.

How many of these protesters live off the utilities grid themselves? If they drive an electric car, where does its charge come from? Do they board airplanes or other fossil-fuelled vehicles? Have they also protested against Obama's use of AF1 on his many trips? Do any of them actually grow any of their own food? Do they not use any man-made petroleum-based products including their i-gadgets? Safe to say we can all accurately guess the answers.

... the cost to adapt makes us worse off than doing nothing.

Two points. First, it is not true - the entire East Coast is at risk (allow me to be America-centric here). Rebuilding after Sandy was stupid; those land areas will be hit again and again as sea levels rise and hurricanes increase in number and strength. Retreat is the only financially viable option - though that is not true for places such as New York, where billions will be required to shore up Manhattan.

Second, humans will eventually have to wean themselves off of carbon anyway as it is a limited resource. Real, sustained research into non-carbon based fuels is the only future humans have. We might as well get serious about it now from both viewpoints.

The first two comments missed the point of the protest entirely... There is little choice in the U.S. for departures from fossil fuels, thanks to big oil and other corporate shills. It's sad how easy it is to steer people away from the real issues here... Like breathing clean air, drinking clean water, and living on a hospitable planet. Like it or not, we are all in this together.

That's gonna be kinda difficult, Miss Lilly, when Obama accepted $250,000 from Exxon to help offset the costs of his re-election parties in Washington last month.

Name the last president who did not accept oil money.

Didn't think so.

I'll just leave this here: http://berkeleyearth.org/pdf/berkeley-earth-press-release-july-29.pdf Don't take this the wrong way, but if you can't interpret this data you have no right to argue against an effort reducing human impact on the environment.

These protesters may not do every single thing they can to reduce human caused climate change, but they are enthusiastic about finding solutions. They would like more regulation regarding emissions in power generation and industry. That's a noble cause. Just because they can't afford all of the latest, cleanest tech for themselves doesn't mean that they can't have a voice as to what the richest and most powerful organizations in the country do to save operating costs.

Climate change is real. Human impact on climate change is real. If you think that CO2 is good for the earth you are either a very convincing troll or an idiot of staggering proportions. In the latter case, there is no point trying to convince you otherwise.

@surf

How many of these protesters live off the utilities grid themselves?

How many of them are offered a choice by their suppliers, or have a choice of supplier? I think that might change the dynamic somewhat.

@kurisupisu

Cutting emissions means consuming less Not necessarily, you can reduce emissions by changing generation methods.

Japan needs to be a leader in this technology beginning with making all Taxi in Tokyo electric.

Great idea!!

Last summer was the hottest since 1932 due to global warming. My backyard (canyon) got a wild fire destroyed over 45o homes 2 people dead. My brother's beautiful beach house in NJ got destroyed due to the Sandy. Someone calls this as a myth, then he/she is still in denial. This is real.

I am doing my share as much as I can. My next car will be a hybrid for sure. I have just upgraded my kitchen to all "Energy Star" appliances. Upgraded the furnace and AC to 85% efficient systems, trying to change my light bulbs to LED every month. I think I still have more than 30 bulbs to go. Hopefully I can change all windows to triple pane from double pane within a cople of years. These are all very expensive projects, but I feel good as I am progressing for change.

realistFeb. 18, 2013 - 09:42AM JST

Global Warming is a myth. Its a fact that there has been no global warming since 1997.

Where do you live? Out in space or China?

. You come here and tell it to all farmers and ranchers what you believe. They will laugh at you. They are all convinced these are all due to global warming..

@bass

I think we should look for other possible alternatives to cut back on admissions, but if it means giving up my F150, it ain't gonna happen any time soon.

This is exactly why we're doomed : (

Lithium battery.

Batteries don't generate electricity (at least, not in the sense of being a practical source of electricity). Batteries store electricity from elsewhere. If you are going to have all the taxis running on batteries, all that extra electricity has to come from somewhere.

Long term resource management, pollution reduction, expansion of sustainability technologies and practices are all excellent things for humans to do regardless of the climate change hoopla; we ought to pursue them because it's the smart thing to do; no further argument should be required.

The single most powerful countervailing force to any/all of it is capitalist fear of economic subversion; this is a legitimate fear. In our current economy, with current technologies and approaches, if we go all draconian right off the bat this is exactly what will happen. And everyone; let's be clear: that's a bad thing for the global economy - down to you and me personally. The capitalists are not wrong. But neither are the Greenies.

What really needs to be done is to put our collective smarts together, and figure out how to support BOTH. This will be hard, but we're supposed to be intelligent, resourceful, and creative; it shouldn't be beyond us. We're also lazy, and prefer to bicker and holler rather than actually get down to work.

This isn't about "saving the planet"; the planet couldn't care less - it will survive just fine, maybe with a different set of clothes, but really, Nature doesn't give a ****. This is about saving us. Or to be more precise, this is about saving the lifestyle we've come to expect as our "right" after 100 millennia of human history and progress.

I wanna run my computer; go to the supermarket; take a drive to the beach; run an air conditioner in the summer heat; fly to Tokyo for some ramen - and I want my grandkids to be able to do that too. So rather than poking each other in the eye and calling each other names, how about we start working on this thing?

Very good post, Xeno.

People use energy; politicians accept political funds from whatever non-illegal sources they can. To poo-poo honest efforts to avert this oncoming train wreck because no one is pure is escapism at its worst.

Present technology is not benefiting the nature but in order to acquire higher technology we have to use our resources.

@Jimizo:

I understand its part of your creed to deny climate change, but won't you at least admit it may not be a good thing?

No one denies climate change - that's malarky. The climate has always changed and always will. The issue is whether humans have an appreciable enough affect on the climate to make life more difficult. Or regardless of the cause, the cost to adapt makes us worse off than doing nothing. It's not as if temperatures haven't been even higher in recorded human history (look up Vikings in the Medieval warm period).

It's getting hot in here?. But always cool's down at night in Surf city USA. Huntington Beach California has the best weather of anywhere...Global Waring on Global Warming seem's a waste of time...some say it's already to late...some say we can change and make the cituation better...It's seem's like were fighting a battle that just can't win....

A pipeline will be built. That's a foregone conclusion as the company responsible for building the pipeline already has contingencies in place, what's still up for debate is whether the oil will be sent to Texas or the Chinese for refining. I'd rather see it go to Texas. It won't impact gas prices very much, if at all, but at least it will put a few US construction workers on the job site and maybe add a couple thousand workers to the refineries down south.

We only have 1 planet, better to take care of it and not end up like the mess we are seeing all over China.

I can respect the commitment of the environmentalists to their cause. Like the fact that they fly around the world in huge commercial aircraft spewing millions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere in order to get to their global warming summits (which ironically always seem to take place during unseasonably cool weather). Oh, and take the king of all environmentalists Al Gore. He showed his commitment to the cause by selling out to an oil sheik.

Cutting emissions means consuming less-that is not how capitalism works.

No president wants to contract an economy do they?

No of course not.

Climate change is definitely a reality but what the cause is and how we react to it are still not proven

I wonder if they will take their protest to India and China too? Perhaps to Australia for selling the coal to China to be burnt there?

Japan needs to be a leader in this technology beginning with making all Taxi in Tokyo electric.

And where is all this electricity going to come from? The government is encouraging people to turn off their AC as it is.

Japan needs to be a leader in this technology beginning with making all Taxi in Tokyo electric.

And where is all this electricity going to come from?

Lithium battery. Everyone should start thinking about LED.

The issue is whether humans have an appreciable enough affect on the climate to make life more difficult.

That's not the issue. Humans have a direct effect on the climate with carbon emissions. Now whether that is the main driver of climate change is irrelevant. Most evidence points at it being a factor and it is something that we can do something about.

Or regardless of the cause, the cost to adapt makes us worse off than doing nothing.

Actually it won't. Sure there are costs, but the cost of not doing anything is that there will be a point of no return where any actions will not make a difference. So the cost of not doing anything is greater than doing something.

14 yo protester... Come to think of it he has more to loose (or gain) than we do.... Smart fella!!!

I am in favor if borrowing billions / trillions of more dollars and raising taxes on everyone, so that I can breathe cleaner air while texting and playing games on my iPhone and drinking my starbucks

Not sure climate change mitigation would be my priority...

This is from 2005, an interesting talk about setting priorities:

http://www.ted.com/talks/bjorn_lomborg_sets_global_priorities.html

Yes of course there are ways to reduce carbon dioxide and other polluting gases but the main way is not to produce. Turning off a light here and a heater there makes very little difference. However, closing a factory smelting iron makes all the difference. Yet,where have we heard that we are consuming too much? Where is that a crime?

Well, not now it isn't,but in the near future there will be more taxes on consumption and control of the means of production.This will be done in the name of 'saving the environment'

Already there is a manifesto named Agenda 21 which is being mulled and slowly made into draconian law.

Our new electric smart meters will have the means to curtail electricity,controlled from a central hub.

Google 'smart meters Japan' and you will see that there is already a plan to install these big brother eyes in Japanese homes.Electricity grids will be linked internationally and will be controlled by ?

Certainly not anyone with a democratic mandate that is for sure!

They will also be used to spy on electricity use and any 'wasteful' activity will be punished........

A brave new world is coming in the name of total control.

@lucabrasi:

This is exactly why we're doomed : (

If Al Gore can fly around the world in a private jet, why can't the average Joe drive a pickup truck? If global warming was really such a looming disaster I don't see why the Pied Piper of human caused global warming - Al Gore - would sell out to an oil Sheik.

@Surf o'Holic:

It's sad how easy it is to steer people away from the real issues here... Like breathing clean air, drinking clean water, and living on a hospitable planet. Like it or not, we are all in this together."

The air and water quality in the US, Japan, and Europe are very good. Have you seen pictures of Beijing lately? Yes, we are all in this together. That's why people who honestly believe that that global warming hysteria is just that - hysteria - will have there say.

Can I just ask if the right wingers above using this to score some political points have no problem with pumping more and more CO2 into the atmosphere? I understand its part of your creed to deny climate change, but won't you at least admit it may not be a good thing?

Of course, a lot of the above Global Warming Denialists’ feigned angst about how the people who attended this protest didn’t use totally earth-friendly modes of transport is because the Global Warming Denialists themselves have been spreading so much fact-free and baseless information that America is being held back from developing the tech needed for them to do so.

@Jimizo:

No one denies climate change - that's malarky. The climate has always changed and always will. The issue is whether humans have an appreciable enough affect on the climate to make life more difficult. Or regardless of the cause, the cost to adapt makes us worse off than doing nothing. It's not as if temperatures haven't been even higher in recorded human history (look up Vikings in the Medieval warm period).

Yes, and a couple of other occasions. This is totally cyclical. I think even conservatives understand that there is some climate change that is noticeable, but not to the point of societal panic. The way liberals are taking this to an obsessive level. Almost every green energy project that Obama preached about and used tax payer money to float them all went belly up. I think we should look for other possible alternatives to cut back on admissions, but if it means giving up my F150, it ain't gonna happen any time soon. Gas, oil, coal, nuclear will be here for a very long time to come. This planet has been here for billions of years and it survived a whole lot worse. It'll still be here in the weeks, months and years to come. I'm worried more about an asteroid hitting us than what Al Gore or other so called climatologists say.

@luca

This is exactly why we're doomed : (

You'll be just fine, just turn off CNN occasionally, that might help reduce the paranoia.

The Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming is the greatest scam in world history. There has been NO "global warming" for the past 17 years, and even the Indian Railways expert who is Chairman of the UN's IPCC has had to reluctantly admit that, just a few days ago. The Warming Alarmists ( or should we now refer to them as Climate Alarmists?) base their theories on computer models, which deliberately omit the Medieval Warming Period and the Little Ice Age, so as to continue to avoid the painful truth. Climate Change is Nature in action. It has nothing to do with mankind, and no amount of Carbon Trading, Carbon Footprints, and Carbon Taxation, and whatever other new and meaningless vocabulary they invent, will have any effect on weather patterns. Many of the "scientists" are so desperate for funding that they jump on the Global Warming bandwagon in order to get it. Their outbursts are becoming more and more hysterical as they lose the argument. Everything is blamed on "Global Warming" these days, from earthquakes to bowel movements. Thankfully, more and more people are awakening to the truth that Anthropogenic Global Warming is a scam.

" Climate change is real. Human impact on climate change is real. If you think that CO2 is good for the earth you are either a very convincing troll or an idiot of staggering proportions. In the latter case, there is no point trying to convince you otherwise."

Climate change is indeed real, and the largest increase has been since the 1960's and follows a 20-year decrease. The global human population boom doubtless directly contributes to the rise. Overpopulation is the cause. The solution? A return to a sustainable population level. By all means, ask Obama to take active steps to effect such a change. But no need to bother him from his golfing. The coming ice age will solve both the warming and overpopulation.

Alex,

" The annual and decadal land surface temperature from the BerkeleyEarth average, compared to a linear combination of volcanic sulfate emissions and the natural logarithm of CO2. It is observed that the large negative excursions in the early temperature records are likely to be explained by exceptional volcanic activity at this time. Similarly, the upward trend is likely to be an indication of anthropogenic changes."

Anthropogenic changes. Too many humans.

Global Warming is a myth. Its a fact that there has been no global warming since 1997.

Heh, looks like these global warming protesters didn't get the memo that Obama isn't in D.C. this weekend. He flew down to West Palm Beach on his second vacation in the past six weeks.

RR

We want to challenge president Obama to be a main actor as opposed to being a puppet of the big oil companies

That's gonna be kinda difficult, Miss Lilly, when Obama accepted $250,000 from Exxon to help offset the costs of his re-election parties in Washington last month.

RR

These people are in the minority now. More and moreople refuse to believe the lies about Anthropogenic Global Warming. It simply isnt true. This planet has survived for millions of years, enduring many changes in climate, all of which were natural. To suggest, as the GW Alarmists do, that puny humans have any affect on the climate is just utter nonsense. More and more people realise that it is a money making scam. Co2 is natural, and is GOOD for the planet. Environmentalists have a left wing, political agenda, just like Obama and the awful Al Gore. The Truth is out there, and it aint Man made Global Warming. Say NO to Carbon Taxes. Use the wonderful Fossil Fuels that we have at our disposal, and ignore these crazy alarmists with their greed for power and money.

@"john carter"

" The first two comments missed the point of the protest entirely... There is little choice in the U.S. for departures from fossil fuels, thanks to big oil and other corporate shills. It's sad how easy it is to steer people away from the real issues here... Like breathing clean air, drinking clean water, and living on a hospitable planet. Like it or not, we are all in this together."

Hypocrisy. That's the theme of the protest. The choice lies with the protesters ; If they truly have convictions then they can take active efforts for themselves personally. Have they converted their Prius to full solar? There is (or was) a small business doing it in SanFran.

Like it or not, modern societies are dependent on fossil fuels. There's also nuclear fuels but that's objectional too, right? Solar panels require more electricity to manufacture than they can ever produce in their short service lives. Reality bites.

"What will be your climate legacy?"

Lost jobs.