Jonathan Cook wrote:
We went to see this movie over the weekend. Although not
much in it was new to me, overall it was a pretty good
presentation of the data and issues surrounding global
warming.

If anyone out there actually believes the "global warming
isn't happening" or "it is but we don't have a part in
causing it" lines, you should really see this movie, without
any blinders on or partisan preconceptions. Yes, Al Gore
throws in a couple of snide partisan remarks, and I wish
they hadn't included those because it detracts from the
message of the movie, but overlook them and listen to
the data.

Whether you like or despise Al Gore, he's obviously taken
a lot of time and effort to polish his understanding and
presentation of this issue. The movie is worth seeing.

I'll go out on a limb with an opinion and an OBROFF (though not needed
as this is a valid environmental sbject).

There has been extreme debate over this at the office involving massive
research on the part of many people to try and convince one side or the
other. This is good but I remain unconvinced that the movie is nothing
more than alarmist though I, admitedly, base this largely on a basic,
and very fundamental, premise of not ever, ever getting my facts from
career politicians. In my opinion the scientific community at large has
to share established data and so you hear the same basic 'facts' touted
over and over with, what I see, as very little in the way of original,
exhaustive studies. The politics of science is huge and really
misunderstood, in my opinion and there is corruption after corruption,
changed paradigms after changed paradigms. Research Frederic Sietz.
This coupled with the fact that accuracy of recent data gathering would
show potentially more variance as well as other serious anomolies and
contradictions in terms of times of coincedent global warming with
decreased CO2 'inflation' just, well, bugs me. I also do not trust
complex simultation as I do not believe they can get all of the
variables right and that some singular events (Krakatoa, Mt. Saint
Helens) can change the outcome dramatically. Something that bugs me too
is the fact (I'm open to hearing someone who knows this) that our
ability to accurately measure CO2 dimishes in times in times of high
solar impact. The other thing is the most recent comment that, if the
statistics are right, coupled with 'population growth models' the
current recommendations proposed will not do enough and the movie could
make us complacent about real, additional, research and problem
solving. My opinion only.

OBROFF: I was suprised that a map of the San Juan National Forest I
bought recently did not have terrain elevation contours. I saw a road
following a river for 12 miles before crossing it so I went, assuming
good access. I'm a dilligent hiker who believes one must generally walk
a minimum of 1-2 miles to avoid people on public water but I was not
prepared for the fact that this road was 1000-1500' above the river
which was 1/4 mile away with no way to reasonably descend. Get a map
with terrain elevation data!!!!

Your pal,

Halfordian Golfer
It is impossible to catch and release a wild trout.