Biological and weather phenomena spawned by climate change are now observable and undeniable.  The accuracy of predictions by multiple models employing scientific methods for years is striking.  "Greenhouse gasses" and "warming" have now passed even the lips of our president.

With respect,  Ms. Humphries’, letter to the Ed the Times June 9, is representative of those who continue to address this changing environment as a purely theological question.  It is not.  And it is not a question of politics.
 
It is mathematics, chemistry and physics.  It is the laws of gravity, thermodynamics,  Boyles laws, Archimedes principles and on and on.  The disciplines of science have one legitimate reason to exist,  the full illumination of the natural laws and principles and their operation.  The good news is that options for action and solutions are inherent in the very reliability and predictability of these meticulously demonstrated facts.

Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, it is clear that the agenda of the conservative movement and the Bush Administration is delay and prevention of accumulation and circulation of accurate information. This pervasive defunding of established research programs and emasculation of scientific reporting coupled with extensive misinformation and propaganda campaigns by big business is alarming.

Succumbing to the irrational reactions born of the fearful men of limited grasp that currently hold political and economic power must be resisted.  It is not irreligious to understand and rely on scientific fact.  We all do it every day.  The truth and good solutions are there if we will accept them.

Personally I find there is ample room for both,  the "metrics" of science and a spiritual life of joy in the mysteries of creation, of  order banishing chaos, the interconnectedness of all life, a personal God and so much more.

This is in response to W. Lorraine Watkins' letter on June 13, 2007.

I ask Ms. Watkins to give proof that conservatives and the Bush administration "delay and prevent accumulation and circulation of accurate information." She is referring to the climate change -- global warming.

On the other hand she sees the Green Movement and "OwlGore" as giving us a complete picture with all the facts. Yet these people who blame climate change on humans ignore the fact that the climate has run in cycles for thousands of years when humans had no influence.

They never mention a word of how Greenland lost most of its snow and ice and the Vikings moved in around 1100 AD, farmed, fished for abundant cod and raised sheep. And how a cooling trend began in the 1300s that drove them out when ice and snow returned. They never mention that the world cattle population sends up more greenhouse gas than all automobiles and trucks combined. They do not mention that the cooling trend continued until around 1850 and that in the last 157 years the average world temperature has risen one degree. They do not mention that in circa 1970 the news was we are headed for another ice age.

There is much more. In 1999, we were in a terrible drought and Lake Lanier was way down. The climate gurus predicted it would take years for Lake Lanier to go to full pool. By the summer of 2000, it was at full pool. I can remember back in the late '30s and early '40s when you could walk across the Chattahoochee River without getting your knees wet in Atlanta.

Yes, the climate is warming up and we need to prepare for it, not by spending billions trying to head it off, but by learning how to deal with a hotter climate through building better insolated homes. We need to learn how to use solar energy both to heat and to cool. We must learn to recycle paper, cardboard, drink cans, metal, etc. We must allow business to make advances in conservation without government interference.

There is more, but I am waiting for proof that conservatives are hiding scientific facts.

George C. Kaulbach

Cornelia

Originally published Thursday, June 21, 2007 

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20070621/opinion/180518.shtml

George Kaulbach, in his June 21 letter, directed to me personally a request that I provide documentation of obstacles to study and disclosure of facts about global warming placed by the Bush administration and organizations representing corporate interests. A number of examples with details and specific sourcing is available at www.gamountains.net/climatescience.

I reject Mr. Kaulbach's accusations that my interpretations of primary data are influenced by former Vice President Al Gore or other politicians.

In fact, as a trained and experienced scientist, I regret the promotion of politicians such as Gore or Michael Moore as voices representing factual science. Distortion by manipulation of emotions obscures fact, no matter the political leaning or profit motive. That said, one must agree it seems the most competent scientists don't speak or write very well or, regretfully as I do sometimes, we also sometimes get lost in our own political biases.

I believe reason and "scientific" curiosity about the world outside oneself are as natural to humans as are internally derived spiritual and emotional longings. It is however more difficult for the immature or untrained mind to grasp facts beyond personal experience, especially voiced in unfamiliar terms.

There is universal agreement that the U.S. educational system is doing a poor job of training in sciences and the corollary of processing factual information. The consequences of that failure are in my view grave.

Data for past 30 years has been indicating we humans are in danger of losing much of what has been gained in quality and quantity of life around the planet. It is foolish to distort, belittle or deny them.

W. Lorraine Watkins
Dawsonville
Originally published Sunday, July 8, 2007