More Questions about Global Warming

Should we wreck our economy to "solve" the global warming problem? Maybe not.


No smoking hot spot

David Evans | July 18, 2008 The Australian

I DEVOTED six years to carbon accounting, building models for the Australian Greenhouse Office. I am the rocket scientist who wrote the carbon accounting model (FullCAM) that measures Australia's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, in the land use change and forestry sector.

FullCAM models carbon flows in plants, mulch, debris, soils and agricultural products, using inputs such as climate data, plant physiology and satellite data. I've been following the global warming debate closely for years.

When I started that job in 1999 the evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming seemed pretty good: CO2 is a greenhouse gas, the old ice core data, no other suspects.

The evidence was not conclusive, but why wait until we were certain when it appeared we needed to act quickly? Soon government and the scientific community were working together and lots of science research jobs were created. We scientists had political support, the ear of government, big budgets, and we felt fairly important and useful (well, I did anyway). It was great. We were working to save the planet.

But since 1999 new evidence has seriously weakened the case that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming, and by 2007 the evidence was pretty conclusive that carbon played only a minor role and was not the main cause of the recent global warming. As Lord Keynes famously said, "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"

There has not been a public debate about the causes of global warming and most of the public and our decision makers are not aware of the most basic salient facts:

1. The greenhouse signature is missing. We have been looking and measuring for years, and cannot find it.

Click on the title for the rest of the article.

I have no idea why people want to rush into restrictions, taxes, carbon offsets, etc. to solve a problem that may not even be something we have any way to solve. Well, I do, but it has much more to do with the powers that be wanting to control every aspect of life than it does with saving the environment.

---Katie

I'm running for office!

Several years ago my dear husband asked when I was going to run for political office. I told him never because several of my friends have done so, and I had no desire to go through what they went through. Imagine my surprise when I received my absentee ballot for the upcoming primary - my name is on it! Several weeks ago I responded to a plea from the state Republican women's group to serve as a member of the county Republican Executive Committee. Apparently, I was not the only one to respond from my precinct, so now we have an election and I am on the ballot. How fun! So, if you are in precinct 522 of Orange County Fl - vote for Kathryn! ;-)

---Katie

Attention Peacemakers!

I just got an e-mail from Peacemakers Ministries about their conference in Orlando September 25 - 27. All Florida residents can get one-half off of registration through August 31! Click on the title for more information. If you cannot find the code for the special, let me know.

---Katie

The Half Century Mark!

Wednesday is my birthday...I'm turning 50. If anyone has any advice about dealing with turning 50 it would be greatly appreciated! Funny jokes are good too - I think I'm a little depressed!

---Katie

The Annie Moses Band

Last night we had the opportunity to attend a concert at the International Christian Retail Show. Five different groups/individuals performed, Jeremy Camp, Group 1 Crew, Brian Free and Assurance, Nicole C. Mullins and the Annie Moses Band. Wow. Everyone was great! We particularly enjoyed hearing Nicole M. sing her wonderful song, Redeemer. I loved learning that she wrote it after reading the book of Job, which is one of the studies I am a part of right now.

The group that I am most excited about is the Annie Moses band. They were just so completely different from any of the other groups. They are a family of musicians, some of whom have trained at Julliard. As I watched them, I thought, "I bet they are homeschooled...." and I researched them and they were homeschooled, but I cannot tell if they still are homeschooling the younger ones. The kids play the violin, viola, cello, harp, banjo, mandolin, and keyboard. Dad plays the keyboard and writes and arranges the music. Mom sings and writes lyrics. They are not your average homeschool family band. Watching the siblings play the stringed instruments together is awesome! What I really enjoyed, too, was watching Mom watch them as they played. I recognized her expression - I have that sometimes with my kids! Wow, look what they are doing!

Click on the title to see and hear their arrangement of God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen. You won't regret it!

---Katie