War on Science

[Sneaksuit]

Stephen Harper's war on science smearing Canada's image yet again...

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/ins ... 18663.html

"Canada is worst performer in developed countries on climate change"

[Static]

You have to keep your priorities straight. I would prefer to maintain healthcare and lower taxes than climate change research.

[grammafreddy]

You have to keep your priorities straight. I would prefer to maintain healthcare and lower taxes than climate change research.

Me, too.

[jennylives]

Health care and lower taxes mean nothing when the environment is in peril. It has to take priority.

[Captain Awesome]

The hysterical tone of the original story makes any discussion of it pretty much pointless. With the same approach you can create a similar story about just anything.

Cutting down funding for environmental agency? Stephen Harper hates science and declares war on environment!
Cutting down military budget? Stephen Harper wants legless veterans to beg on the street!
Lowering taxes? Stephen Harper wants to give rich people millions while he give you regular folks petty pennies.

So, the story's goal isn't to inform us, but to elevate a strong uninformed emotional reaction - without really understanding about what's happening. I wouldn't even call it journalism.

[2bonline]

removed - Jennylives

[Captain Awesome]

removed - Jennylives

[2bonline]

try reposting without personal attacks - Jennylives

[2bonline]

I wil try to post without the personal attacks. Thank you for not only reminding me but also refreshing me.

[Static]

Health care and lower taxes mean nothing when the environment is in peril. It has to take priority.

How is the environment in peril?

[Glacier]

This thread proves Rex Murphy's point with respect to Harper's rabid critics.

[The Green Barbarian]

How is the environment in peril?

and even more to the point - if Canada became a world leader (shudder) in "fighting" climate change, and spent billions upon billions of dollars like the people of Denmark have done converting to wind power (with so far zero effect on their CO2 emissions), would it affect even a tiny fraction of the world's CO2 output? Nope. It's so sad that people have to stoop to this level of emotionally charged nonsense to make people conform to their opinions. You don't agree with me that we have to spend billions upon billions of dollars fighting an invisible unproven bogey man? You hate science!!! Ridiculous.

[ForestfortheTrees]

and spent billions upon billions of dollars like the people of Denmark have done converting to wind power (with so far zero effect on their CO2 emissions), would it affect even a tiny fraction of the world's CO2 output? Nope.

I wasn't going to get involved in this, but can't help looking up bold and unsubstantiated claims. I went to a UN database on CO2 equivalent emissions and compared outputs from Australia, Canada, Denmark, and the US between the 1990 baseline and 2010. Australia increased by 30%, Canada increased by 17%, Denmark decreased by 11%, and the US increased by 10%.

[Static]

How do wind pattern affect carbon?