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Science Forum Index » Geology - Meteorology Forum » Sancho, Quixote, and Recession
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| Author |
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| D.H. Gottlieb |
 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:36 am |
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Guest
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"So how do you like the recession so far, Sancho?"
"I see we've finally begun fighting global warming--Ukrainian style."
"I don't know what you are referring to, Sancho."
"My auntie Albedo you don't. The only successful CO2 reduction ever
achieved by a civilized nation was by the Ukraine, during its
recession in the early 90s."
"I don't know what you are talking about, but did you hear the joke
about the US negotiator who told another climate negotiator that
addressing climate change would lead to a worldwide economic
tailspin?"
"Your friends are so funny."
"But seriously, Sancho, you need to keep this quiet."
"Quixote, everyone knows the Ukraine achieved a 30% reduction in its
CO2 output because it went into a deep recession."
"Sancho, people are listening."
"I hope to heck they are, Quixote. Tell me, why did they finally
decide to bring on the recession? Was it the increasing rate of sea
level rise, the lack of progress in ASP, the soil uptake issues,
ethanol vs. food, dengue in Rio, frog, bee, fish, bat, pine tree, or
moose extinction? Droughts, tornadoes in cities, tectonic changes, you
can tell me; I am your humble servant."
"You are a tree-hugging, eco-terrorist, nut-case who has been pushing
for deep CO2 reduction for years. And now we have given it--"
"You're good for, maybe, a 15% reduction in CO2, Quixote."
"So what are you complaining about?"
"It took a long time for your friends to get their heads out of
their...sands...other than that, no complaints. It's a good--and
inevitable--start to deal with the energized climate problem."
"Do you think it will work?"
"Oh, your friends are scared."
"Prove it, Sancho."
"Quixote, they blew it. For eight precious years, they played dumb
when they could have prepared for the inevitable adjustment to the new
climate regime. Now any adjustment to a low carbon economy will be far
more brutal than it needed to be--"
"For the last eight years...they've been...a little too flexible in
their use of the truth."
"The word cowardly springs to mind, Quixote. This climate mess has
gotten much worse while your friends lined their pockets. Do they have
a plan yet--to deal with climate change--I mean besides the
recession?"
"What do you think they should do, Sancho?"
"Quixote, I have same answer as always, a 75% reduction in CO2 output,
immediately."
"Can't be done, Sancho, it'll be societal disaster."
"No kidding? You are so smart! Quixote, we need to reduce the energy
retained by the climate system. To do that we need to either reduce
the CO2 storage mechanism in the atmosphere or the amount of CO2 we
humans pump into the atmosphere."
"They'll never do it."
"You're wrong again, Quixote. And as soon as there has been enough
destruction, your friends are going to shut down the carbon economy.
That's a fait accompli."
"Sancho, the economic hardships will be unending."
"And getting worse every day, Quixote. Just because an answer comes
with huge a challenge that doesn't mean the answer is wrong--
especially when our leadership has pissed away other options over the
years."
"Don't you think your attitude is a bit harsh, Sancho?"
"Wait a dozen years, Quixote. Then you'll see harsh."
Peace,
D.H. Gottlieb
April 4, 2008 |
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