DBKP and MIT: Man-Made Climate Change Debate Ends With a Beer

DBKP presents the Science Guys at MIT's KSJT with our
distinguished "Good Sports" Award. Previous winners include
well-known actress Cameron Diaz and well-known dinosaur Barney.

DBKP got involved in a discussion this past week with the Knight Science Journalism Trackers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The full back-and-forth is listed in the articles below.

It started out as a conversation (in the blogosphere sense of the word) about man-made climate change, but it ranged across many time zones, locales and disciplines.

WHEN TITANS CLASH The Climate Debate that Shook the World! (OK, OK, it shook our office, anyway) LiveScience: * Magma May Be Melting Greenland Ice DBKP: * Scientists: Greenland's SuperThaw May be Due to SuperHot Magma, Not Global Warming KSJ Tracker: * LiveScience: Under Greenland, a thin stretch of crust may be helping the melt DBKP: * The Effects of Magma on Ice: Science Trackers Still Skeptical KSJ Tracker: * Lots of Ink and Perplexion: Climate Happens. But what, Exactly Happened at Bali

Today, the KSJT's tacked this onto a post in which they covered the United Nations conference in Bali. Among the pieces covered were journalistic giants Times of India, Toronto Globe and Mail, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Telegraph and--Death by 1000 Papercuts?

It is true.

Humbled, but eager, we read the following.

SPEAKING OF GLOBAL WARMING: Finally, the Tracker has received an honor he accepts with pleasure — if at arm’s length, too. Which is: a “Disposable Bullshit Bag” for preventing nonsense in public. Dunno if it comes empty, or pre-filled. It is bestowed by the wise heads (…”rip snorting gang of right-wing cutthroats”…) at Death by 1000 Papercuts blog. Thank you very much, it’s good to be appreciated … or noticed, anyway.

Vesuvius was expected to be no picnic

Wow.

Heady stuff.

We were so overwhelmed, we ransacked the filing cabinet for one of our prestigious "Good Sport" awards. We were in luck!

And it is with great honor in announcing the 2007 winner is none other than the Knight Science Journalism Tracker.

There is no stipend attached, but several previous winners have written us remarking on how the award had changed their lives for the better.

Little Baby Ginn immediately canceled her flight to Italy; she was somewhat relieved. The prospect of trudging up Mount Vesuvius in Manolo Blahnik Heels was daunting, to say the least.

And I needed the cooler this weekend anyway, so that was a plus.

Then there was Ginn's shoes...

ABOUT: KSJ Tracker is a service for science journalists, created and funded by the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and launched in May 2006. We believe that if science reporters and editors have convenient and timely access to the work of peers across the country, they can better evaluate and improve their own performance.

Our scientific "tools of the trade" are safely stored away

We returned our scientific instruments to their rightful place and got back to what we do best: goofing off.

There was office-wide disappointment at the thought of not having data on magma and ice to present to the Royal Society. But, life is many times about being able to overcome disappointments.

We're using this as a learning experience--you know: to grow.

The "King of Beers" for the "King of Science Journalism Trackers"

We would like to also extend the invitation to the Good Sport Science Guys at KSJT at MIT: next time they are in the vicinity of the DBKP offices, stop in, introduce themselves and have a Bud.

Our treat.

This episode shows that--though scandal and innuendo may dominate the world of politics--in the world of science, the torch of serious, courtly debate over grave issues still burns bright.

We're so cheered at the MIT show of civility, if our bottom line falls the right way, we might even send the science guys a six-pack.

It would be fitting.

A man-made beer for a man-made discussion about man-made climate change.

by Mondoreb
[images: hcssc;maxux;latinforalla]



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

In New England, 10 More Inches of Evidence Pile Up For Man-made Climate Change

Man-made Climate Change spokeman offers
one possible cause for record-setting snow

The UN conference on climate change drags on in Bali.

The United States made a dramatic reversal Saturday, first rejecting and then accepting a compromise to set the stage for intense negotiations in the next two years aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

Evidence piles up

Meanwhile, most of the northeastern United States shoveled 10 more inches of evidence for man-made climate change.

New England dug out on Friday from a record-setting storm that dumped 10 inches of snow on Boston, more than the city typically sees in the entire month of December.

Thursday's storm hit hours before the afternoon commute, snarling roadways and leaving some travelers -- many of whom left their offices early only to face the storm's full force on the road -- stranded for hours during their trips home. Others had to abandon their cars or sleep in them after running out of fuel, local media reported.

Climate change advocates search for answers

More than 400 flights were canceled at Boston Logan International Airport.

The National Weather Service said the region could expect another blast over the weekend, when a second storm is expected to drop 6 inches of snow and sleet starting on Saturday evening.

Scientist United for Climate Change (SUCC) vow to continue important research

Thursday's snowfall set a new one-day record for December 13, and was more than the 7.8 inches that typically falls during the entire month of December.

Meanwhile, Al Gore moved on from the Bali conference to Switzerland, where he collected another honor.

[click on images to enlarge]

by Mondoreb
[graphic 4 & 5 by RidesAPaleHorse]
[images:freakinnews]
Source: New England Digs Out After Record Snowfall
CNN - U.S. Agrees to Bali Compromise



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Al Gore Stakes Out Position in Bali

Al Gore left no doubt about his position after speaking Thursday in Bali at the United Nations conference on Climate Change.

by RidesAPaleHorse
[graphic: RAPH]



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Tell Us What You Really Think, Al

Al Gore's speech in Bali yesterday reminded RidesAPaleHorse of another angry speech maker. That speechifier would get angry at people who disagreed with his visions he had for the future.

He was a big environmentalist, too.

Al Gore savaged the US government’s “obstructing” attitude and urged delegates at the UN conference on climate change to ignore Washington if necessary to pursue the “moral imperative” of a new global regime.

“My country is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali,” the former US vice-president told 2,000 of the 12,000 people attending the conference on Thursday. “[But] over the next two years the United States is going to be somewhere it is not now.”

Al Gore told the world what he thinks about the United States yesterday in Bali.

We have the good taste not to say what we think of Al Gore.

Okay, so you might be able to guess.

Sue us.

About Al Gore's mansion's energy use.

Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).



The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year.

We didn't hear the entire Gore speech from Bali yesterday.

Was there anything about environmentalist mansions in the Nashville area mentioned?

We didn't think so.

by Mondoreb
note: RidesAPaleHorse
[images: RAPH;rgcombs]
Source: Gore Hits U.S. Over Climate Change
Al Gore's Energy Use its Own Inconvenience Truth



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Where's the Liberal Love? Pope Comes Out in Favor of Science

Benedict calls for science, not dogmatic hysteria

Pope Benedict XVI called for more science and less dogma.

Normally, corks would be popping off champagne bottles wherever "Christian" and "science" are are seen as mutually exclusive terms.

Maybe next time.

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.

The German-born Pontiff said that while some concerns may be valid it was vital that the international community based its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement.[1]

Sounds reasonable.

Reaction from a rival faith, Worldwide Church of Man-made Climate Disasters, is expected to answer the Pope's call for more science with calls for more dogma--their own.

One adherent of WCMCD thought, Oliver Willis, said one factor in the climate change debate not often mentioned, was child rapists.

Conservatives are trumpeting this attack on climate science from Pope Benedict saying we should slow down on dealing with the problem. The Pope is free to say what he wishes, but people like myself are also free to note that the Pope also thought the Catholic church should slow down on rooting out child rapists. So, there's that.[2]

More from the Pope.

"Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow," he said in the message entitled "The Human Family, A Community of Peace".

"It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances.

"If the protection of the environment involves costs, they should be justly distributed, taking due account of the different levels of development of various countries and the need for solidarity with future generations.

"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken."

Efforts to protect the environment should seek "agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances", the Pope said.

He added that to further the cause of world peace it was sensible for nations to "choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions" in how to cooperate responsibly on conserving the planet.[1]

The Pope isn't the only official in the Catholic Church to notice the missionary zeal of the WCMCD.

In October, the Australian Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, caused an outcry when he noted that the atmospheric temperature of Mars had risen by 0.5 degrees celsius.

"The industrial-military complex up on Mars can't be blamed for that," he said in a criticism of Australian scientists who had claimed that carbon emissions would force temperatures on earth to rise by almost five degrees by 2070 unless drastic solutions were enforced.

Reaction from white trash skeptics was succinct.

Jebediah Murphy at Pirates Cove: "Well, I reckon the Pope is correct. It does need to based on science, rather then hysteria, hypocrisy, junk science, and a need create a world wide socialist paradise. Oh, and let’s not forget getting lots and lots of moola out of gullible climahysterics."

"Why else promote carbon offsets rather then just, ya know, advocating stopping the problem? I reckon we can’t say that all liberals are idiots, since a few, such as Michael Moore and The Goracle, know how to siphon money out of moonbat pockets."[2]

No More Mr. Nice Blog was even-handed about the papal assessment, questioning the Daily Mail's interpretation of what the Pope actually said.

A Reuters story on this papal message bears the headline "Pope Urges Prudence in Environmental Decisions." That's accurate. AFP's story is called "Environmental Policies Must Respect Needs of the Poor: Pope." That's accurate as well -- he does say that. But the Daily Mail has a vested interest in making you think that the Pope is an environmental skeptic. So it lied about his message.[4]

The Pope cautions against hysteria.

Expect more hysterical reactions to follow.

by Mondoreb
[image:dailymail]
Sources:
1-The Pope Condemns the Climate Change Prophets
2-The Pope's Judgement
3-WTW: The Pope Now a Climate Change Denier
4-Why is Britain's Daily Mail Lying about what the Pope's Environmentalism?



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

New Study Sheds Light on Global Warming: Bad New for the New York Times, Good News for Planet Earth

New study details how simple changes at New York Times
could help save planet Earth

A few changes could go a long way toward reducing climate change a new study released Friday showed. While it's good news for Planet Earth, it may be bad news for Editorial writers at the New York Times.

The United States could shave as much as 27 percent off the amount of greenhouse gases it emits at fairly modest cost and with only small technology innovations, according to a new report.

DeRhode Report on Reducing Greenhouse Gases

A large share of the reductions could come from steps that would more than pay for themselves in lower energy bills for industries, individual consumers, and long-suffering readers of the New York Times the report said, adding that people should take those steps out of good sense regardless of how worried they might be about climate change.

But that is unlikely to happen under present circumstances, said the authors, who are energy experts at DeRhode & Company, the consulting firm.

The report said the country was brimming with “negative cost opportunities” — potential changes in the reading, viewing and discussion of newspapers editorial policies, for example, that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the emissions of NY Times Editorial Staff meetings, even as they save money.

“These types of savings have been around for 20 years,” said Dr. Juan Morefor DeRhode, a director of the study. But he said they still face tremendous barriers.

"We've charted enormous potential resistance to any suggestion that the Times' writers take basic science courses to better acquaint themselves with what they are writing about."

But DeRhode said that the stakes are "so high it makes it all worth pursuing."

Another of the study's authors, Dr. Getta Klough, echoed DeRhode.

"The emissions from the editorial staff at NY Times, CNN, MSNBC and USA Today alone, well--they were off the chart. If these could somehow be limited, it would go a long way toward solving many of the problems of perception about climate change."

The study was released Friday in Washington, D.C. and was conducted by DeRhode and Company for DBKP.

Its release comes a week before a United Nations climate conference is to convene in Bali, and as Congress approaches a vote on proposals to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.

by Mondoreb
[image:.blog.thesietch]
Sources:
Study Details How U.S. Could Cut 28% of Greenhouse Gases
DeRhode and Company Study



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.