Month: October 2013

Climate change is poised to replace health care reform among Republicans, with the very same dynamics already in evidence. But that also could further isolate and divide Republicans too.

Moderates are more apt to accept the science—and respond more positively to science in general. When we asked them about “scientists,” they responded, “respected” and “smart.” Although some are doubtful about climate change, they do not reject science offhand, but rather say they simply do not know enough to know who to believe.

We’ve gone through drought cycles in the ‘80s. And we’re in a little bit of a drought cycle now, but it balances out left and right. And it’s not because we’re driving more Prius’s, you know. It’s just the way that mother earth runs itself. (Moderate man, Col- orado)

I’m not smart enough to say [climate scientist are] full of shit… But I am smart enough to know I need to get more information before I say anyone’s full of shit. I do know that. (Moderate man, Colorado)

There’s been climate change all through history. But I just don’t know enough to know what we’re doing. I can’t say for sure we’re not a problem. (Moderate man, Colorado)

And while moderates reject high taxes and over-regulation, many do accept that climate is one area where government ought to do more.

Continue reading “The Coming GOP Split on Climate Mirrors Health Care Debate”

Above, see interviews with landowners around Australian wind turbines where an outside group of right wing fossil fuel interests has been trying to create the illusion of negative effects, health and economic, of wind energy. Take a listen to the actual voices of wind turbine hosts.

I live near one of the midwest’s largest wind arrays in central Michigan.  The turbines have been nothing but benefit to the local communities, and  those that visit the area remark how well the turbines fit into the landscape. In addition, renewable energy is coming in cheaper and more reliable than even some supporters would have envisioned just a few years ago.

Detroit Free Press:

A draft report being circulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission says that, contrary to the dire warnings of electric utilities .., the costs of generating renewable energy are plunging.

Produced at the behest of (Republican) Gov. Rick Snyder, the PSC report says the surcharge that utilities have been levying on their customers to finance the transition to renewable power sources — such as wind and solar — could shrink to zero by 2014, “because project costs are, in some cases, essentially equivalent to conventional generation.”

The Glenn Beck crowd is eventually going to be drowned out by normal folk who begin noticing that communities with wind turbines tend to have better services, better roads, better schools, higher incomes, lower taxes, and plenty of birds, thank you.  Those folks will begin wondering who is lying about renewable energy, and why.

The Earth 101 event has drawn to a close in Reykjavik, and by all accounts my presentations have been well received.  Turns out there’s a lively subculture of climate crock viewers here,, including conference organizer Gudni Elisson.
It’s been a great opportunity for me to not only interact with some of the smartest, most well informed scientists in the climate field, but experience a city and a point of view that is unique.

Reykjavik is a bracing mix of cosmopolitan and small town ambience, (smaller than Grand Rapids Michigan) rich in Viking history, but also with tremendous prospects for future changes, as a major sea gateway to the rapidly opening arctic trade routes.

The major thrust has been to get a relatively small, intimate group of scientists, filmmakers and story tellers together to think about ways to better communicate the defining story of our moment in time.

As part of the buildup, sociologist Kari Norgaard and I did interviews with Iceland’s equivalent of NPR.

Continue reading “Big in Reykjavik”

If you’re in a rush, here’s the takeaway. Giant Asian Hornets have exploded in numbers due to recent warm winter and spring weather. They sting and kill you. They’ve been spotted in the US.

You can “like” them on Facebook.

Huffington Post:

Climate change might be contributing to a global rise in insect numbers. As if that weren’t bad enough, some of the bugs that appear to be benefitting from that population surge are giant Asian hornets that are killing people unfortunate enough to disturb them.

Guardian:

Honeybees, hornets and wasps are all able to deliver painful and potentially lethal stings; but while bees are seen as doers of good, wasps and hornets have long been associated with evil.

Most deaths occur when a victim is stung repeatedly and injected with large amounts of venom. The hornet’s large size – and its ability, unlike honeybees, to sting multiple times – mean that a victim can quickly receive a lethal dose.

One possible reason for the recent wave of attacks in China may be increased encounters with hornet nests, since multiple attacks usually occur when the insects defend their nests.

Hornets go through natural population cycles: in some years nests are scarce, while in others nests can be very common, as may be the case in central China. The reasons for this are numerous, but a prolonged period of warm weather in spring and autumn ensures an abundant food supply, allowing colonies to grow to large sizes.
Continue reading “I, for One, Welcome our New Giant Stinging Overlords”

Mike Mann just got in to Reykjavik for the Earth 101 event, currently sleeping off his jet lag. I hope to speak with and interview him this week.

For now, here’s a bit of his analysis of climate denial from an event in San Francisco a year ago.

Summarizing the new IPCC  Fifth Assessment is a job that will be ongoing for the next several years.  Here Paul Douglas takes a pretty good 2 and a half minute swing.