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       #Post#: 3812--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: guest17 Date: September 17, 2015, 8:52 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       The worst aspect of CO2 fertilization is that it results in
       plants of relatively low quality -- richer in carbohydrate
       (which is where the carbon goes), but poorer in nitrogen and
       other nutrients. THIS IS BAD. However, the increased sum of
       biomass is generally good.
       One of my ideas (now going on 10 years old) for mitigating the
       effects of climate change is to increase soil nutrients to
       complement the CO2. In other words, to optimize the
       potentially-good effects of CO2. It is actually not a new idea.
       A guy named Hamaker (sp?) proposed it in the early 80s. His
       focus was on massive use of rock dust as a soil
       fertility-builder, to stimulate plant growth which in turn pulls
       CO2 out of the air. It was a good idea. The only way my idea
       differs is that I would like to see more of a focus on nitrogen,
       and this can be done easily by propagating (N-fixing) legumes.
       But the basic bottom-line idea is the same: increase soil
       quality, thereby optimizing plant growth, and (hopefully)
       increasing the "pull" of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
       PS: Agelbert: if you censor another one of my posts, then I
       really am out of here forever. If that is what you want, then go
       for it.
       Agelbert Responds: Your post discusses a laudable, but paltry
       and insufficient measure which will not ameliorate the
       existential threat. I read your posts on soil nutrients 3 years
       ago and agreed. That is a great idea. But it won't stop climate
       catastrophe, which is the subject of this debate.
       #Post#: 3813--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: guest17 Date: September 17, 2015, 10:01 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       yet another angle, from the same fao.org discussion:
       GOOD ONE![quote]
  HTML http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/forum/discussions/climate-change-and-fsn?page=6
       Mr. Paul von Hartmann California Cannabis Ministry, United
       States of America
       30.03.2015
       Dear Florence and FSN Associates,
       Climate change has several dimensions, all of which threaten
       global food security and health in fundamentally interconnected
       ways. Temperature increase, ocean acidity & circulation, ozone
       depletion, sub-arctic methane release all pose potentially
       catastrophic influences.
       Most people are aware of "global warming." Fewer people seem to
       be as concerned with the increasing solar UV-B radiation
       reaching the planet's surface, what I refer to as "global
       broiling."
       Climate change mitigation and crop selection in the 21st Century
       must take into account both of these aspects of systemic climate
       imbalance. If we are to avoid irreversible systemic collapse,
       then must successfully adapt in the most time-efficient ways to
       navigate these changes.
       First we must acknowledge the changes are happening at an
       accelerating and unpredictable, non-linear rate; then we must
       objectively reconsider our priorities. Specifically, society's
       views about what is "illegal" and what is essential must change.
       Cannabis agriculture, manufacture and trade offer fundamental
       solutions to many of the problems imposed by climate imbalance.
       Every growing season that passes without comprehensive,
       objective analysis of this unique and essential natural
       resource, is gone forever.
       Consider that "hemp" is the only crop that produces complete
       nutrition and sustainable biofuels from the same harvest. In
       addition, the atmospheric benefits of Cannabis sequestration and
       monoterpene production make hemp an essential crop.
       Please feel invited to consider the rationale for resolving
       climate imbalance, presented in my recently published book,
       "Cannabis vs. Climate Change: How hot does Earth have to get
       before all solutions are considered?"
  HTML http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PCSRUF8
       Thank you for the opportunity to present an achieveable biogenic
       solution in an atmosphere of timely objectivity.
       Best wishes to all,
       Paul
       [/quote]
       Aglebert responds: The above post is not relevant to the
       discussion. The book may be relevant, but the link does not
       describe the books contents. I assume your point is that the
       Earth has not gotten hot enough yet.
       I do agree somewhat with this part of the post link "Unless
       severe measures are taken, and countries reduce the greenhouse
       gas emissions and increase the removal of these gases from the
       atmosphere, it will be increasingly difficult and expensive to
       adapt to climate change." However, the reduction must be
       drastic. The reduction must go to ZERO within, at most, a
       decade. It seems to me you don't. The whole point of our
       argument is that you think incremental measures are enough and I
       think only drastic measures can help limit the existential
       threat.
       I have repeatedly explained to you that there are 40 to 50 years
       baked in. Addressing the situation as it stands NOW is doomed to
       failure. You do not get it, Alan. Have a nice day.
       #Post#: 3814--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: guest17 Date: September 17, 2015, 11:01 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       also, regarding rock dust:
       [quote]
       snippets from wikipedia:
  HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Hamaker
       
       Hamaker believed remineralizing the world’s soil with rock
       dust, a quarrying by-product, could revitalise barren soil and
       reverse climate change. Rock dust nourished soil micro-organisms
       whose protoplasm is the basis of all living things. When mixed
       with compost, the dust created rich, deep soils which could
       produce high growth vegetation free from pests and predators, at
       an accelerated rate. The idea was later confirmed by
       agricultural scientists such as Arden Andersen, who showed how
       high sugar and mineral levels in soil gave immunity to soil
       bacteria, stopping insect and fungal attacks.[25] For Hamaker
       and Andersen, minerals were the primal food for micro-organisms
       which provided life and health for the soil....
       Hamaker believed that within as little as a decade, the growing
       season would decrease leading to mass starvation in rich and
       poor nations alike. He therefore proposed the remineralization
       of the world’s soils and reforesting the land, to propagate
       carbon sinks, thereby absorbing carbon dioxide from the
       atmosphere, and so contributing to general climatic stability.
       By assuming the task of remineralizing the Earth’s soils, just
       like glaciers do during an ice age, remineralization would
       create fertile soils – the basis for the re-creation of stable
       ecosystems....
       Remineralization benefits
       Primary benefits
       Provides slow, natural release of elements and trace
       minerals.
       Increases the nutrient intake of plants.
       Increases yields and gives higher brix. Brix is the measure
       of dissolved solids in the sap of fruits and plants that
       correlate with greater nutritive value.
       Rebalances soil pH.
       Increases the growth of micro-organisms and earthworm
       activity.
       Builds humus complex.
       Prevents soil erosion.
       Increases the storage capacity of the soil.
       Increases resistance to insects, disease, frost and drought.
       Produces more nutritious crops (minerals are essential for
       human health).[40]
       Enhances flavor in crops.
       Decreases dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and
       herbicides.[41][42][43][44]
       Further benefits
       Reafforestation.
       Increases forest and land resources.
       Sustainable forestry, farming and energy opportunities.
       Enhances ecosystems.
       Increases biodiversity.
       Carbon offsetting.
       Greater climatic equilibrium.
       Preservation of interglacial climate conditions.
       ............................................
  HTML http://bio4climate.org/downloads/Campe-The_Potential_of_Remineralization_with_Rock_Mineral_Fines-Rio_Summit-RTE-2012.pdf
       THE POTENTIAL OF REMINERALIZATION WITH ROCK MINERAL FINES TO
       TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE, FORESTS, SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS PRODUCTION,
       SEQUESTER CARBON, AND STABILIZE THE CLIMATE
       By Joanna Campe(1), Dan Kittredge(2), and Lee Klinger(3)
       snip
       CONCLUSION
       Soil Remineralization will create abundance in an era of
       diminishing resources and shift us away from fossil fuels.
       Remineralization is nature's way to regenerate soils, and is
       needed on a large scale because mismanagement is causing us to
       lose soils far faster than they can naturally regenerate. The
       techniques are simple, easily and intuitively learned, and can
       be rapidly scaled up at the community level. The materials are
       readily available and an inexpensive byproduct wherever there is
       building and road construction using stone aggregates or
       concrete. No extra energy is needed to grind them up since it is
       a waste product of gravel plants. Hard silicate rocks are the
       most abundant resource on  earth. Millions of tons are readily
       available for the cost of transportation, and much more could
       easily be produced from existing rock crushing plants.
       Remineralization is an essential tool for sustainable
       development, economic empowerment, and social justice by
       creating a local nutrient dense food supply for all, and will
       improve health and generate livelihoods within local
       communities. It can play a critical role in overcoming hunger
       and poverty, ecological restoration, carbon sequestration and
       climate stabilization.
       [/quote]
       Agelbert Responds: Your post discusses a laudable, but paltry
       and insufficient measure which will not ameliorate the
       existential threat. I read your posts on soil nutrients 3 years
       ago and agreed. That is a great idea. But it won't stop climate
       catastrophe, which is the subject of this debate.
       #Post#: 3815--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: guest10 Date: September 17, 2015, 11:47 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       AG,
       Just to clarify in case this wasn't already clear, I believe we
       DO have sufficient evidence to establish the reality of AGW and
       it's devastating effects on the biosphere, which obviously
       supports human existence.
       Using the court analogy, I see you as the prosecution in this -
       i.e. you have the burden of proving that humanity (mostly via
       AGW) is guilty of creating the conditions for NTHE (with a very
       high probability, i.e. beyond a reasonable doubt). I see myself
       as a juror who has to weigh your evidence and argumentation to
       determine whether it is sufficient to prove us guilty BRD. Like
       a juror in deliberation, I also must engage in cross-examination
       of your evidence, NOT with any specific goal of debunking it,
       but only with the intention of clarifying it and its
       implications.
       And again, I am NOT using this BRD standard to oppose
       incremental OR drastic measures to combat AGW, as suggested by
       the precepts of the PP. The PP's application, in my mind, is all
       about policy initiatives and NOT about persuading people of
       imminent and extreme Doom. It does not serve an ethos of
       uber-Doom, because it readily admits that the evidence of NTHE
       may be insufficient (instead it says the tail risk is so great,
       we don't need sufficient evidence to enact certain policies).
       Addendum to the above post - Some of the most important
       questions in my mind, given the data you and others have
       presented, are the following (most of them are inter-related):
       -What is the reliability of projections which suggest trends
       such as CO2 emissions, species extinction, deforestation, etc.
       will continue at a rate destructive enough to conclude HP (high
       probability) of NTHE?
       -What are the chances that natural positive feedback mechanisms
       in these areas will burn themselves out or be counter-acted by
       negative feedback mechanisms?
       -What are the chances that scientific technology will progress
       quickly enough to offer viable solutions (I believe you say this
       is a very good chance)?
       -What are the chances that the above technology, or other
       mitigating policies, will be implemented by corporations and
       governments which can make a difference when push comes to shove
       (I believe you say this is a low chance, but quite possible)?
       -What are the chances that consumers may intentionally or
       unintentionally act in ways to mitigate destructive
       environmental trends (for ex, becoming too poor to consume as
       much)?
       -What are any other known or as of yet unknown factors which may
       serve to mitigate the destructive trends?
       These are admittedly the questions of a layperson without much
       scientific knowledge or insight. Some of them may be
       nonsensical, and if so I would be glad to hear why. However, if
       you believe the general process of asking these and other
       questions is a strategy of obfuscation, misrepresentation,
       manipulation, etc., then we simply have a fundamental
       disagreement as to how the probability of NTHE should be
       properly assessed.
       #Post#: 3816--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: AGelbert Date: September 17, 2015, 7:10 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Ashvin link=topic=5557.msg85620#msg85620
       date=1442506526]
       Addendum to the above post - Some of the most important
       questions in my mind, given the data you and others have
       presented, are the following (most of them are inter-related):
       -What is the reliability of projections which suggest trends
       such as CO2 emissions, species extinction, deforestation, etc.
       will continue at a rate destructive enough to conclude HP (high
       probability) of NTHE?
       -What are the chances that natural positive feedback mechanisms
       in these areas will burn themselves out or be counter-acted by
       negative feedback mechanisms?
       -What are the chances that scientific technology will progress
       quickly enough to offer viable solutions (I believe you say this
       is a very good chance)?
       -What are the chances that the above technology, or other
       mitigating policies, will be implemented by corporations and
       governments which can make a difference when push comes to shove
       (I believe you say this is a low chance, but quite possible)?
       -What are the chances that consumers may intentionally or
       unintentionally act in ways to mitigate destructive
       environmental trends (for ex, becoming too poor to consume as
       much)?
       -What are any other known or as of yet unknown factors which may
       serve to mitigate the destructive trends?
       These are admittedly the questions of a layperson without much
       scientific knowledge or insight. Some of them may be
       nonsensical, and if so I would be glad to hear why. However, if
       you believe the general process of asking these and other
       questions is a strategy of obfuscation, misrepresentation,
       manipulation, etc., then we simply have a fundamental
       disagreement as to how the probability of NTHE should be
       properly assessed.
       [/quote]
       -What is the reliability of projections which suggest trends
       such as CO2 emissions, species extinction, deforestation, etc.
       will continue at a rate destructive enough to conclude HP (high
       probability) of NTHE?
       The videos I have posted addressed this in detail. To summarize
       the findings, the rate of the negative effects of Global Warming
       is not decreasing, all the tracked effects are increasing in
       quantity. But more alarming, is that all of them are increasing
       in the rate of increase as well. I will post another video, this
       one from 2013, but quite comprehensive in covering both the
       increase and the increase in rate.
       That is, the graphed slopes of CO2 increase and Temperature
       increase and deforestation increase and desertification increase
       and ocean acidification increase (and others) are all tilting
       upwards in angle. As you will see in the graphs presented, the
       IPCC scenarios are overly conservative. The observed temperature
       data as of 2013 was right at the top range of their most extreme
       scenario (from the IPCC 2007 report). A new IPCC report came out
       this year. The scenario range has been adjusted upwards (to more
       extreme), but the models, as the videos I have already presented
       explain, still do not account for several factors.
       So there is no logical reason to believe any of the scenarios
       are "within the ballpark", so to speak. And all the indicators
       point to an increased rate of deleterious global warming
       effects.
       As to whether the rate increase of all these factors is
       sufficient to warrant warnings about a high probability of
       N.T.H.E. if drastic measures are not engaged in to ameliorate
       the existential threat, the answer is yes. If the rate was
       decreasing or constant, the answer would be a maybe. WHY?
       Because of the baked in approximately 40 year causative factor
       time lag.
       Because of that 40 year time lag, it is simply impossible, even
       with drastic measures to stop the continued increase in
       deleterious effects of global warming for that length of time,
       even if we go 100% green today. IOW, we have to go to more than
       100% green to actually address the baked in time lag. We have go
       to, say 130% or so, so as to rapidly return the atmosphere to
       pre-industrial levels. This is certainly not limited just to CO2
       reduction. Many other toxic products of industry must be
       eliminated somehow.
       That is why incremental measures doom future generations to a
       high probability of extinction. Scientifically speaking,
       incremental measures will not even slow the rate if increase of
       deleterious factors, let along the quantitative increase.
       -What are the chances that natural positive feedback mechanisms
       in these areas will burn themselves out or be counter-acted by
       negative feedback mechanisms?
       Positive feedback mechanisms are also addressed in the videos I
       have presented and some of my posts. These mechanisms, of which
       there are about 30, once having reached a self reinforcing state
       (which is why they call them positive feedback mechanisms) are
       difficult to control. They, in fact, cannot be controlled beyond
       a certain point. Yes, they burn themselves out eventually. But
       before they do, they result in mass die offs. This has been
       established by studies of CO2 build up in ancient times before
       humans walked the earth. When a positive feedback loop reaches a
       certain stage, our technology is incapable of arresting it's
       effects. This is not alarmist hyperbole on my part. This is a
       direct quote from the IPCC reviewer scientist in one of the
       videos I presented.
       The video I present at the end of this posts shows that the
       negative feedbacks are being overwhelmed by the positive
       feedbacks at present.
       Positive feedback loops are not like a line of falling dominoes
       that you can put your hand on to stop the rest from falling.
       Considering the fact that there are about 30 positive feedback
       loops involved in global warming, it is necessary to picture
       their cumulative interactive, multiple feedback reinforcing
       effects as a chain reaction. It's not 30 independent systems.
       It's more like 30 times 30 (30 times repeated) because they all
       act to boost each other in multiples of the last iteration
       exponentially. That means that they get beyond the ability of
       our technology to control exponentially.
       This short video of ping pong balls on mouse traps is a crude
       analogy of how positive feedback loops work;
       Start at the 24 second mark:
       [center]
  HTML https://youtu.be/-zX-gz1lRt0[/center]
       For example, we are triggering a positive feedback loop by
       reducing the earth's albedo (ice cover). The videos I have
       presented cover how we simply cannot stop the resulting runaway
       greenhouse effect once the positive feedback loops begin in
       earnest. Guy McPherson thinks we did that already. I entertain
       the hope that we can ameliorate those mechanisms somewhat and
       postpone or possibly prevent N.T.H.E. But it is not presently
       feasible to do that with incremental measures.
       -What are the chances that consumers may intentionally or
       unintentionally act in ways to mitigate destructive
       environmental trends (for ex, becoming too poor to consume as
       much)?
       The main consumer culprits are the 20% in the rich countries
       that use around 76% of the world's resources, according to a
       2007 UN pie chart. Consumers are doing quite a bit to mitigate
       destructive environmental trends.
       But that pie chart leaves out the non-consumer polluters that do
       more damage than we ordinary piggies in the rich countries.
       The problem is that the main polluters are outside of the
       consumer loop. Many people think this issue can be addressed by
       recycling and lowering our carbon footprint. Yes, that is
       important and many are doing it. But the industries that are
       unrelated to consumer products are gigantic polluters, showing
       no sign of slowing their massive polluting activities, never
       mind stopping them. The military of the USA, despite moves to go
       solar on many bases, still are one the largest polluters of the
       air , land and sea. In short, the governments of the world,
       backed by the large polluting industries continue to make things
       worse.
       Year to date fossil fuel use:
  HTML http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock/env3/
  HTML http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock/env3/
       So the chances that consumers acting to try to mitigate the
       destructive factors are high. But the chances that those
       actions, absent massive government efforts stop all polluting
       industries quickly, will actually mitigate those destructive
       factors, are low to none. A collapse in industrial output from
       massive poverty still does not account for the 40 year baked in
       climate damage coming at us. It would reduce the amount of
       polluting, but not stop it. It is sine qua non to reverse it in
       order to mitigate or eliminate the existential threat to our
       species.
       I support all efforts to recycle and conserve. But I know what
       the biosphere math is telling us. Nevertheless, I urge all
       people to conserve as much as possible. Just because that
       behavior is somewhat quixotic, does not mean it should not be
       done. Responsible behavior is based on the ethical concern for
       future generations, regardless of whether it is enough or not.
       I'm sure you agree that doing the right thing does not guarantee
       success in human society. In fact, the reverse is true most of
       the time.
       -What are the chances that scientific technology will progress
       quickly enough to offer viable solutions (I believe you say this
       is a very good chance)?
       -What are the chances that the above technology, or other
       mitigating policies, will be implemented by corporations and
       governments which can make a difference when push comes to shove
       (I believe you say this is a low chance, but quite possible)?
       -What are any other known or as of yet unknown factors which may
       serve to mitigate the destructive trends?
       I will address the above three questions after I exercise. Some
       of the answers are in this video, but I will verbalize them for
       clarity when I come back. It was published on May 2, 2013. All
       the data is accurate and backed by hard science. The more recent
       data is more alarming (this was before the latest IPCC report).
       But even with the data  Professor Somerville had then, the case
       for urgent action was clear.
       [center]
  HTML https://youtu.be/B4Q271UaNPo[/center]
       [left]The Scientific Case for Urgent Action to Limit Climate
       Change[/left]
       Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard Somerville,
       world-renowned climate scientist and author of "The Forgiving
       Air: Understanding Environmental Change," discusses the
       scientific case for urgent action to limit climate change.
       #Post#: 3820--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: AGelbert Date: September 18, 2015, 1:28 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B56GS65R7vA&feature=player_embedded[/center]
       [/center]
       [center]The Arctic Sea Tumbles To A New Low  :([/center]
       [quote]
       Arctic sea ice reaches fourth lowest minimum
       [img width=640
       height=550]
  HTML http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/N_stddev_timeseries.png[/img]
       September 15, 2015
       
       On September 11, Arctic sea ice reached its likely minimum
       extent for 2015. The minimum ice extent was the fourth lowest in
       the satellite record, and reinforces the long-term downward
       trend in Arctic ice extent. Sea ice extent will now begin its
       seasonal increase through autumn and winter. In the Antarctic,
       sea ice extent is average, a substantial contrast with recent
       years when Antarctic winter extents reached record high levels.
       Please note that this is a preliminary announcement. Changing
       winds or late-season melt could still reduce the Arctic ice
       extent, as happened in 2005 and 2010. NSIDC scientists will
       release a full analysis of the Arctic melt season, and discuss
       the Antarctic winter sea ice growth, in early October.
       [img width=640
       height=700]
  HTML http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/N_daily_extent_hires.png[/img]
       [/quote]
  HTML http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/
       #Post#: 3822--------------------------------------------------
       Re: You will have to pick a side. There is no longer Room for Pr
       ocrastination
       By: AGelbert Date: September 18, 2015, 1:33 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Ashvin,
       Here I continue to address your questions with a post from Eddie
       that I comment on.
       [quote author=Eddie link=topic=5557.msg85630#msg85630
       date=1442523511]
       Because of that 40 year time lag, it is simply impossible, even
       with drastic measures to stop the continued increase in
       deleterious effects of global warming for that length of time,
       even if we go 100% green today. IOW, we have to go to more than
       100% green to actually address the baked in time lag. We have go
       to, say 130% or so, so as to rapidly return the atmosphere to
       pre-industrial levels. This is certainly not limited just to CO2
       reduction. Many other toxic products of industry must be
       eliminated somehow.
       A lot of people missed the memo on this, but I've read it from a
       number of sources I trust.
       [/quote]
       Exactly. AS David Wasdell states in the following video, if you
       wish to actually ameliorate the existential threat from
       catastrophic climate change, you must use the projected climate
       condition of about 40 years from now as your target, not what is
       observed at present. Acting on the present guarantees failure
       due to the fact that the feedback mechanisms are moving faster
       than the policies to ameliorate climate change. This is
       politically very unpalatable. But it is the only approach with
       science behind it. IOW, if the IPCC predicted 470 ppm of CO2 and
       a 2 degree C increase by 2055, then drastic action to eliminate
       any target above that must be taken now.
       Of course, that is not happening. Every day that isn't happening
       makes it more and more difficult to deal with.
       
       [center]
  HTML https://youtu.be/W_aMbM20mbg[/center]
       David Wasdell, Director of the Meridian Programme, is a
       world-renowned expert in the dynamics of climate change. He is
       also a reviewer of the International Panel on Climate Change
       (IPCC) assessment reports and the author of numerous papers and
       presentations on climate change and related topics.
       Kevin Anderson, former Director of the Tyndall Centre (the UK's
       top academic institute researching climate change), said that a
       global society (like the one we have now) is not possible with
       our present level of technology in 4degree C or higher world.
       And that's where we are going, despite the IPCC figures all
       revolving about an alleged agreement (with no teeth, no
       enforcement and all voluntary carbon limits. LOL!) by the piggy
       countries s of taking measures to keep the planet  below 2
       degrees C. Collapse is baked in, so to speak, thanks to
       government piecemeal incremental measures.
       Back to David Wasdell, he clearly and calmly stated that the 30
       or so positive feedback loops, if not addressed with absolute
       limits on carbon output, including even foregoing even biofuels,
       approximately 80% of life on Earth may die. If that isn't an
       existential threat, I don't know what is.
       Ashvin asked,
       What are the chances that scientific technology will progress
       quickly enough to offer viable solutions (I believe you say this
       is a very good chance)?'
       According to both the scientists I mentioned, we do not have the
       technology to stop this catastrophe at this time, once the
       runaway greenhouse positive feedback loops push us past a
       certain point. Some say we have passed it. Due to the 40 year
       bake and the paltry government measures being employed, it sure
       looks that way. Drastic measures to stop emitting CO2 might
       change that equation.
       But it is not realistic to expect governments to engage in them.
       When large masses of people are dying and a public outcry is
       sounded, it will be about 40 years too late.
       All that said, there are technofix types that claim we just have
       to put a pack of aerosols up there and cool the planet like
       volcanic eruptions have partially done in the past. There is
       evidence that our government has been doing just that since
       2000. It doesn't seem to be working. Maybe it's just a
       conspiracy theory, but some very obvious man made 'cloud' grids
       have been videoed for some time. And, they are not jet
       contrails.
       Another less messy and much more expensive approach is to block
       out a portion of the sunlight reaching earth with some giant
       aluminum vapor coated, 1 mil thick, polyester film a few
       thousand miles in diameter to cool the planet. But we have no
       way of knowing whether such a simple solution would not trigger
       some, even worse, unforeseen climate effect. It certainly is
       true that the massive sun shield qualifies in the 'any port in
       the N.T.H.E. storm' category.
       But it would do nothing to eliminate the other industrial
       toxins, unrelated to CO2, that have upped the probability of
       getting cancer in our lives from 1 in 10 back in 1950 to 1 in 2
       (for men) and 1 in 3 (for women) at present. And no, that isn't
       because we "live longer" ( check the social Security stats and
       you will find the longevity increase applies to the top 20% wage
       earners. The bottom 80% "longevity increase" looks like a
       rounding error.  :P). ; it's because we are subject to more
       pollutants in our food, air and water from birth than any humans
       in history.
       We have a plethora of severe problems and the rug the gooberment
       keeps trying to sweep them under is starting to look like Mount
       Everest.
       -What are the chances that the above technology, or other
       mitigating policies, will be implemented by corporations and
       governments which can make a difference when push comes to shove
       (I believe you say this is a low chance, but quite possible)?
       -What are any other known or as of yet unknown factors which may
       serve to mitigate the destructive trends?
       Well, here's the situation, according to Professor Emeritus
       Richard Somerville  Please note that he is a very conservative
       scientist. But he makes it clear how serious the urgency is
       BECAUSE of the limitations of our technology and government
       reaction times.
       [center][img width=640
       height=380]
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       The above graph is discussing the procedure to limit the damage
       to 2 degrees C. That was in 2013. He explained that the required
       carbon limits, if not enforced by 2020, will basically be
       impossible to implement. We are passing by 2015 with no end in
       site to the INCREASE in carbon pollution.
       As he said, once the window is closed, it will remain closed.
       That is a scientist's way of stating an existential threat. He
       understands the technology. He understands what will happen when
       we cannot hope to stop the positive feedback mechanisms from
       overwhelming reforms. He understands that will head us to 4
       degrees C or more. That is a dire threat to our species, and
       literally millions of other species we share this planet with.
       [center][img width=640
       height=480]
  HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-170915194933.png[/img][/center]
       Notice how the IPCC sea level rise predictions only fit the data
       at the extreme end. It is not logical to think that they aren't
       erring on the side of caution. They are. Therefore, only the
       most extreme scenarios they come up with can be considered 'in
       the ball park'.
       Every time a report comes out, they have to admit that, yeah,
       the ice melted more than predicted and several other predictions
       were a bit on the, uh, conservative side. Each report published
       every 7 or 8 years gets a little more real. Consequently, it is
       prudent to assume that a worse than their worse case scenario is
       highly probable.
       That is why I believe firmly that mankind faces an existential
       threat from Global Warming AND all the other industrial
       pollution factors degrading the biosphere.
       That is why I focused initially on extinctions with Alan. When
       the extinction rate of species in our biosphere is 1,000 to
       10,000 the normal background rate of the last ten thousand years
       (at least!), it's logical to then assume our species faces an
       existential threat.
       This extinction rate cannot be neatly approached as the product
       of a single cause. Our society is lousy at dealing with multiple
       causes. It's like we are as bad as crows (they can't count above
       three).
       But  there are thousands of toxic chemicals, radionuclides and
       aerosols, along with the CO2 damage that have joined together to
       drown us in our industrial effluents. CO2 pollution is what we
       should all agree on. As you can see from Alan's posts, even that
       is like pulling teeth.
       Also, there are too many corporations stuck in the incremental
       measures approach to expect them to own up the their
       responsibility to future generations. I just posted an article
       on the good and the bad corporations. But the 'good" are STILL
       not at 100% renewable energy. And the bad ones are worse than
       ever. :emthdown:
       It's hard to communicate this threat dispassionately. I do the
       best I can. We are in a world of trouble.
       These are the web sites Professor Emeritus Richard Somerville
       recommends for reliable information. I hang around RealClimate
       regularly. I have posted articles from RealClimate here during
       the last year and have recommended it to all readers. They are
       the ones who are now looking very hard at the meltwater
       tunneling by supercritical water (liquid water several degrees
       below freezing due to massive glacier pressures lubricating
       glacier movement) beneath Greenland glaciers that is NOT
       addressed in any of the IPCC predictions that David Wasdell
       discussed.
       They cover all the climate bases. RealClimate is staffed
       exclusively by climate scientists.
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       height=220]
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       #Post#: 3908--------------------------------------------------
       It is far away but unconscionable no matter how far away. Somebo
       dy tell the Turks to stop this now.
       By: guest32 Date: September 29, 2015, 12:17 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [center]Call For a Global Hasankeyf Action Day on 20 September
       2015
       By Ercan Ayboga, Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive & the
       Mesopotamian Ecology Movement:[/center]
       [center]
  HTML http://kurdistantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/KT_hasankeyf7_01.jpg[/center]
       We call activists, social movements and NGOs in the world to
       join an action day for the conservation of Hasankeyf and the
       Tigris River on 20th September 2015! Let’s protest together
       against the Ilisu Dam Project; one of most controversial ones in
       the world!
       On Sunday, 20th September, we organize a big protest in the
       10.000 years old town Hasankeyf which is threatened by the Ilisu
       Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project. If the construction
       of the ongoing project is completed, there will be a massive
       social, ecological and cultural destruction in
       Turkish-Kurdistan, the North of Mesopotamia. Up to 80,000 people
       will end up in greater poverty and the unique Tigris River will
       lose its outstanding ecological value. Considering the
       developments in the Middle East, the Ilisu Project will also
       intensify the ongoing conflicts within and outside the Turkish
       borders, latter is valid for Iraq and Syria in particular.
       20th September will be the last day of a three day resistance
       camp. Hundreds of affected people and activists will gather in
       order to resist the Ilisu Project. Thousands of people will join
       us in a big march on 20th September. Since the end of the 90s
       there have been campaigns against he Ilisu project which was
       halted several times in the past.
       [center]
  HTML http://kurdistantribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Hasankeyf-protest-Photo-Damocracy-e1442473833719.jpg[/center]
       [center]Hasankeyf protest; Photo – Damocracy[/center]
       You are invited to organize a public action in your city or
       country against the destructive Ilisu Project. You are free to
       chose the type of action. The demands should target mainly the
       Turkish government, the Austrian company Andritz – the most
       crucial company in the Ilisu consortium – or the Iraqi
       government, which is silent about the upcoming drying out of its
       country. Do not hesitate to contact us or inform us about your
       planned action.
       Xwedî Derkeve -­ Defend our culture, land and people!
       By Ercan Ayboga, for the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive and
       the Mesopotamian Ecology Movement
       Batman/Turkey
       hasankeyfgirisimi@gmail.com
       www.hasankeyfgirisimi.net
  HTML http://www.hasankeyfgirisimi.net/?p=256
       
       #Post#: 3909--------------------------------------------------
       Re: It is far away but unconscionable no matter how far away. So
       mebody tell the Turks to stop this n
       By: guest32 Date: September 29, 2015, 12:22 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       All the Ilisu Dam is intended to do is produce Hydroelectric
       Power.  Turkish interference in the headwaters of the Tigris is
       an ongoing problem.  They will virtually cut off water to IRAQ
       soon.  This dam destroys obvious good land and history for
       Turkish electricity and exhibits the worst in human nature.  It
       is a crime.
       #Post#: 3910--------------------------------------------------
       Re: It is far away but unconscionable no matter how far away. So
       mebody tell the Turks to stop this n
       By: AGelbert Date: September 29, 2015, 1:16 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       K-Dog is RIGHT!
  HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/301.gif
       Thank you telling it like it is. If most of us speak up about
       the insane behavior of certain members of our species, we might
       curb said insanity.
       A petition I signed stopped helped stop the UK from building a
       coal fired power plant. So our voices do have a positive impact.
       
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       />  [img width=25
       height=30]
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