I just finished up watching Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. I was torn between feeling disgusted at the human race at large, disturbed by our inability to change things, and–ultimately–a little bit pissed off. I went to the official website of the movie after viewing the film, curious to see what they advised you do. Unusually enough, one of the leading causes of carbon emissions–the meat industry–remained mysteriously unlisted. Eliminating the consumption of meat, which could stop the production of 1.5 tons of carbon emissions annually per person, wasn’t even listed on their “10 Things” to do to curb carbon emissions.
How…inconvenient.
March 17th, 2007
by Topher
I salute the film, and own it, and have shown it to many of the skeptics in my family, but was also thrown off by this (although I did not find out about the meat industry’s contribution to CO2 levels until well after I saw the movie) glaringly absent factor.
I have been meat-free (except for fish) for over 1/2 a year now and now I’m even happier to be so.
I too felt the ugliness of a buck after watching Gore’s film. Political groups are already starting to hound him and his foundation to come out against the meat industry.
March 18th, 2007
by adrshepard
Before you start hating the human race too much, read this good article.
http://www.reason.com/news/show/116471.html
I also remember hearing that meat producers can alter their cow feed to cut down on methane emissions. Perhaps paying for this special diet would be less drastic and more politically sensible than demanding everyone stop eating the world’s favorite food.
March 18th, 2007
by Jesse
The Author
Topher: I hope that he changes his tune. He’s mainstream enough so that opting to not eat meat might get through to people that would otherwise remain naive about it. Gore could play a significant role in fighting the meat industry as it exists today. Of course, given his upbringing on a rural farm/ranch as a youth, I wonder if it will actually happen.
adr: I’m not necessarily standing with Gore, especially with all of the doomsday predictions that he’s making. However, I think the correlation between CO2 and average global temperatures, along with the nearly unprecedented number of climatological anomalies in recent years should at least give us pause. If given a choice to opt for supporting policies in line with Gore’s views or policies in line with the current administration, I think it would be foolish to opt for the latter.
April 3rd, 2007
by Jordan
I should see the movie before I say anything. But um, I like meat? I don’t really know how that plays into this…. but I have a feeling it does.
April 13th, 2007
by Mike Dubya
There are many including myself that believe global warming is the most tremendous hoax ever perpetrated on America and the world in a conspiracy to level the playing field in a communist fasion allowing China, India, and failed governments around the world to gain an unfair economic advantage via the disparaged Kyoto Protocol. Global warming, and it’s religiouse following will soon collapse under the weight of its short sighted guessing.
The world is warming, it is true as through out the history of Earth, warming or cooling has duanted the planet and will continue to do so. Shift happens!
included FREE! an interesting article, one of many auto-concluding the complete lack of concensus on GW
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/harris061206.htm
April 14th, 2007
by Jesse
The Author
Mikey, I’m going to be brutally honest with you…
At this moment, I put skeptics of global warming on par with deniers of the holocaust and people who really think that the end times of the Bible are near.
I hope that you’re right, though, I really do.
April 26th, 2007
by bieblog
Consider the source?
To begin, I am in complete agreement with what you say. Industrialized produced meat, especially cattle and pigs, is a wasteful, filthy process, produced carbon emissions, etc. Accordingly, I have reduced my consumption of animal protein pretty significantly in recent months to reduce my carbon footprint, among other reasons.
But from an energy point of view, is it inherently more virtuous to consume, say, a locally and organicaly produced pork roast, than to buy fish at your local Trader Joe’s that was frozen in China or Japan (perhaps even using coal-generated electricity) and then shipped several thousand miles in refrigerated comfort? Or the ever popular example, game meat that was bagged in one’s home state?
However, in addition to cutting animal protein, I’m paying increasing attention to where my food comes from. The transportation and processing costs should be taken into account as well as the energy costs needed to produce it in the first place. Within practical limits as New Mexico doesn’t produce essentials like coffee. But perhaps I could look for Guatemalan coffee instead of Kona or Sumatra. And do I really need those Chilean grapes?
Just a thought - one I’m sure you’ve already considered but hey, I haven’t weighed in for awhile.
And Mikey, wake up, the scientific evidence supporting the reality of global warming is overwhelming. I have some faith in humankind to come up with some solutions if it acts quickly - carbon sequestration, alternative energy, lifestyle changes involving a shifting away from excessive consumerism, etc. And even if you don’t believe in global warming, the evidence is pretty good that at current levels of consumption, we will run out of petroleum within your lifetime.
JB
April 26th, 2007
by Mike Dubya
no, that’s part of the problem. Global warming has become a religeon for some people… And who knows why? I told my step dad what I thought the other day and he was shocked and offended, like telling christians jesus is a fake! It is an undemocratic way of silencing opposition. Making every one believe that if you don’t believe in global warming you are 1.Crazy 2. Stupid 3. Lying 4. Working for big oil. non of those things are true of me, and millions of others. Including scientist. I saw all gores film for the first time yesterday. I was not impressed. I do reccomend you watch this.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4499562022478442170&q=swindle&hl=en
And you will if you want to have balanced knowledge!
April 27th, 2007
by Mike Dubya
AND! For the record. It is true. I do not believe global warming is man made. I don’t! But it is not my goal to have every one here believe as I do… My goal is only to set the record straight, and that is that there is a real presence in the scientific community of people who believe that this is hog wash. That there is not a “Scientific concensus”, and it is not decided.
Climatetologist can’t predict the weather next week. I don’t hold alot of stock in predictions 50 years out.
It is just pure propoganda to put out the Idea that, “If you don’t believe as I do then you are as crazy as a holocuast denier.” THAT’S crazy! People that are that confident of anything should worry whether or not they have been brain washed.
This message board in its confidence is tantamount to the believers of a flat earth not oo long ago.
April 27th, 2007
by Mike Dubya
FYI… Many would have you believe that CO2 goes up and then temperature goes up. It is in fact quite the opposite. Temperature rises (and this is shown in Ice cors) then co2 follows by 2-8 HOUNDRED years. For all of the things Global warming Theorists would have you believe we are responsible for, it makes you wonder if they think nature is responsible for anything!?
April 27th, 2007
by Mike Dubya
And I know I can’t spell. I know. If you have to attack something, attack my ideas. Any way. My last post sorry. I didn’t mean to plague your board…
April 29th, 2007
by Coming to terms with global warming at the last great romantic
[...] response to a few comments on my blog regarding the current state of global warming, I thought I’d approach this from a [...]
May 4th, 2007
by Topher
Mike does have an interesting point - global warming advocates are becoming hostile towards anyone who does not warm up (chuckle) to their ideas.
It is hard to accept anything if you are a die hard skeptic or just uneasy that this seems to be the pop culture moment of the month, but I think it is here to stay for the following reasons:
1. Oil is going to run out
2. Pollution has gone up, whether or not this has helped cause CO2 levels to rise is obviously up for debate
3. US consumerism is at an all time high.
The environmental groups are simply trying to wean the citizenry off of making foolish and rash choices and attempting to protect our world for the next generation. Is it perfect, no. No groups that come across as alarmist are, but if those 3 things stated above are happening, at an alarming rate, then shouldn’t we slow down a bit? Maybe try and reduce our carbon footprint, buy meat locally at the local farmer’s market, walk, bicycle, or take public transit when we can? It is small steps that can make the difference Mike, not huge gigantic conversions.