[...] how Earth naturally deals with carbon emissions. We know our biosphere is reaching localized "tipping points" (where there can be sudden, irreversible changes in weather systems for example), but how [...]

Why are the social sciences, such as what rats do when there are 100 in a cage for ten, not included in the "science of global warming."

Humans over time have come up with machines that cut down trees and it disrupts the land and population. When they cut down trees, the trees fall on plants wee need for medicines. Some people still live there in the Rain Forest and this causes more trouble for them too because they get the supplies and food they need to survive there in the enviroment they live in.

BTW (im only 12 years old)

Fact: the earth is warming and people have greatly influenced how rapidly carbon dioxide has accumulated; things would be even worse if not for condensation trails reflecting so much of the incoming solar energy.

Fact: the theory of evolution is not just a theory. The theoretical part is how it happened, not whether it happened.

[...] Earth's climate will slip past "tipping point" within 100 years A list of geolgical tipping points coming up that are triggered by human activity. One is next year, and there's another within the next 10 :/ (tags: climate environment) [...]

I saw this really great movie last night… "They Live"… with none other than Roddy Piper the ex Pro Wrestler. This is one of those really bad movies from the 80's. Interestingly, In this movie from the early 80's, they were warning about global warming, CO2, Fluorocarbons etc…

They plot or lack thereof was that there were aliens living among us and you could only see them with these special glasses. The point relevant to this blog is that the aliens were purposely warming the climate to be more like "home".

Who knows? Maybe the earth is getting prepped for the "invasion"….

If that gives you comfort, well, hold on to it. We all need comfort.

But don't pretend that this is based on any kind of scientific certainty, any more than other comfortable messages about what may happen in the future.

Remember that even before the effects of GW have really kicked in, humans have been bringing on the sixth great extinction since the beginning of life.

Now add to that the likely effects of GW, warming that, with the total melting of the Arctic ice cap in the next few years, may be taking on a momentum of its own.

Humans are having the destructive force on the living systems of the planet of at least two dinosaur-extinguishing asteroids. There is no precedent for this level of eco-destruction in the archeological record.

Earlier extinctions took tens of millions of years to return the earth to something like the pre-extinction levels of biodiversity.

We can't know how much longer it will take organisms to re-evolve from our double- (at least)wammy. A one-order of-magnitude lengthening of the recovery time pushes us into the hundreds-of-millions-of-years zone, and that is the time period within which the sun will expand enough to wipe out any possible life on the planet.

So if George Carlin's quip "The earth is fine, it's the humans who are f'd" gives you comfort, go with it. Like I said, we all need comfort from where-ever we can get it.

But this is not a scientifically certain statement.

We may well be destroying the only living earth that ever will be.

Stop denying. Stop flying and driving (or drive as little as possible). Eat lower on the food chain and eat local. Stop buying useless crap. Insulate your home. And insist that government, business and other institutions start taking this seriously by rationing carbon and limiting then phasing out fossil fuel extraction.

Note that most of these things actually improve one's quality of life.

It may well be too late to prevent very bad things from happening, but that does not relieve us of the moral responsibility to do (and stop doing, in the case of flying…) what we can.

No matter how much we pollute and destroy the environment here on this planet, unless we blow it up, we cannot damage the earth! Sure we might wipe out all of the plants and animal that exist today (including ourselves) but within another 10 or so million years the bacteria will repair the damage and the whole cycle can begin anew.

So go ahead, argue the point, pollute the environment, over populate, over eat, over use; do whatever, but don't worry about the earth. It doesn't need us or our help. It will be fine – eventually!

However, since there are evidently enough resources on this planet to fend for everyone – and doubble that number – I still think it's an excellent idea to develop the economical system and infrastructure required for all six billion + to have a good time and enjoy their new-found meaninglessness. I mean, what a relief, really!

Yes, the earth has been through cycles of heating & cooling before. Yes scientists are not EXACTLY sure how confident their models are.

BUT… one thing they DO (mostly) agree on is that whatever the cause, WE'RE NOT HELPING

It shouldn't be about guilt, political correctness or knee-jerk (over) legislation.

When people cared in the 70's politicians looked at them as loonies, weirdos, 'commies' & layabouts. Now these concerns form part of many politicians' campaigns. They probably still don't care BUT they've noticed.

People power is important, the more we know, the more we DEMAND to know, the beeter able we can change our own behaviour (so many people expect others to sort out the mess at little or no expense to themselves) & influence power-brokesa & business (they don't care unless it affects their bottom line – hit 'em in the pocket, they soon sit up)

Over-population is also a problem. As rightly pointed out means more people streching the planet's resources. Some people have already taken the step to not have children based on this concern.

Others may think it's all bean curd-eating nonsense, & I admit, the issues & problems aree waaay to involved for any single simple answer to work. But I think siting back & doing nothing is not an option.

Everyone can do their bit – the point is it doesn't have to be earth-shatteringly amazing (in some instances, such grandiose gestures may do more harm than good)

To not even try is worse than to try & fail

Remember the whole mother nature finds a way to balance things out? Interesting article regarding the CO2 scrubbing I spoke of earlier. It seems that nitrogen pollution also helps plants grow.

Interesting……

Global warming? Bah. It is a liberal myth.

http://green.yahoo.com/calculator/

http://green.yahoo.com/18seconds/ This one is very cool… I have changed to CFL;s and not only are the green, but they have saved me a ton of money in energy costs… BONUS….

Another theory I read regarding the natural cycle attributed part of the equation to the position of the earth as it relates to where it is spinning in the milkyway. Think of a kids playground with the thing that you sit on and all the kids spin until someone gets launched off. Imagine that in addition to spinning counter clockwise, it was on a roof of a car moving forward. On the left side you are moving backwards relative to the motion of the car thus your forward speed and movement are slower. Think less wind and bugs… On the right side you swing around and are now moving in the same direction as the car thus the combined speed is greater than the car alone. Think more wind, bugs etc…
It takes our solar system approximately 250,000 years to take a trip around. Scientists have calculated that our heating cycle happens about every 100,000 years in sync with the earth whipping around the backside of the milky way and starts moving in the same direction as the milky way is moving. As we go faster we suck in the wake of all the cosmic radiation and solar winds from the stars infront of us more than when we are on the backside going against the flow which is when it gets colder.

Although that may be a bit out there… if you haven't noticed, there is a lot of strange stuff we have discovered in the last 5 years. it was on space.com and some nasa guys came up with it.

That being said, even if the cycle falls under the "Sh-t happens" category, we have the ability to do just about anything if there is the proper focus and will to do it.

Simple math… # of People x lbs of CO2/person needed – amount of green to absorb said lbs of CO2 = balance.

Either drop the amount of CO2 used per person via more efficient cars, light bulbs, solar, wind, water etc… , reduce the population through educating people not to have litters of children, increase the amount of plants and greens to absorb the CO2 or here is a crazy Idea…. Do all three….

So far all we have started to do is the first. Kudos for GM and others to finally make some huge progress on more efficient cars and trucks… have you seen the Volt…?? pretty cool.

Now lets work on the other two and maybe we could put a dent in things….