Comments Trebuchet has made

  • More, Greenpeace, more.

    Dear post-writer, it's "Rescue the Planet", not plant :)

    On First day on the job! posted 7 months, 1 week ago 3 Responses

  • Every day the risk for catastrophe is greater

    You tell 'im Joe!

    C'mon Andy, step up to the plate and publicly toss off that "middle of the road" nonsense. The only middle is whether the current climate emergency will be an end-of-civilization catastrophe or 'just' mankind-get-hit-with-a-wallop-but-barely-makes-it-through-intact catastrophe.On NYT's Revkin seems shocked by media's own failure to explain climate threat posted 10 months, 1 week ago 6 Responses

  • Polls are flaky

    Most people are victims to GWB's and the oil companies concentrated assault on the science behind global climate change. Remember that the goal of that assault wasn't to disprove climate change per se, but to make proving it almost impossible by continually keeping the debate open to question.

    So now the majority of people, whether they are for or against the science, are barely on one side of the other.

    So, since it's been colder here in the Northeast than in years past - mostly due to La Nina, people are swinging toward the "it's not happening" or "it's not our fault" stance.

    Remember that most people desperately want it not to be happening. It's terrifically scary and just this big monstrous thing so if there's groups that are saying "there's nothing to worry about", then those groups have a built-in audience.

    It could take years before the effects of that assault wear off. Years we don't really have. Every one of us needs to become an educator (many of us on grist are!).On Poll shows more Americans do not believe global warming is result of man-made activity posted 10 months, 1 week ago 14 Responses

  • another bushism

    even when he's trying to insult something, he makes no sense.

    8 days left.On Bush on Kyoto, on his way out the door posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 5 Responses

  • It is very profitable to avoid climate change

    Why can't they do the math? If you want to become richer as a society, invest now to avoid the ever-worsening effects of climate change.

    We all do this as individuals. We (usually and hopefully) buy new tires for our car before there's a blowout (much more dangerous and expensive). We (usually and hopefully) patch our roof when there's a leak (much more expensive). Wasn't it the Stern report that said just 1% of global GDP would do the trick? What a tremendously small price to pay.

    Even the metaphor of buying insurance isn't actually accurate, because you may never need insurance. We NEED to avoid dangerous climate change to survive as a society. To survive as a country. To keep our freedoms. To keep our democracy. On The real cost is the cost of doing nothing posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 16 Responses

  • Oh, that's a good one!

    HAHA! Thanks, I needed a laugh today.

    But it just goes to show that is what they mean when they say "pro-environmental". Since in their mind economic development trumps all, the fact that there was economic growth without completely destroying the environment means they are "pro".

    Their goalposts for using that term are set very very close. Basically on their shoes as far as that metaphor is concerned.

    And of course Bush always "uses phrases". But they don't actually mean anything as far as his actions are concerned. He has almost never said what he means nor means what he says.On Stephen Johnson defends Bush as 'pro-environmental' posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 8 Responses

  • Ooooh - something shiny!

    They seem to be going overboard with the distortions, falsehoods and outright lying. Obviously it's a desperate gamble. But they're right in that if this works, they will never lose again.

    But they may wrap up the "ooh- shiny" vote. Hopefully the thinking people of America will decide that enough is indeed enough and not support such ridiculousness.On Giuliani parses McCain on 'Meet the Press' posted 1 year, 2 months ago 3 Responses

  • It's the first rule

    Of course McBush has no comment.

    The first rule of being in the Bush Club is don't talk about the Bush Club.

    And while I'm at it, anyone else notice that the GOP website (rnc.org) has 8 mentions of Obama and NONE of McBush? Funny that! I guess the RNC wants to elect Obama, too!
    On Bush administration hustles through ESA rule change with minimal feedback; Obama opposes posted 1 year, 3 months ago 2 Responses

  • less snobbery

    Food prices going up up up means less snobbery, not more. Whatever's cheapest, and with high fructose corn syrup being so heavily subsidized, that means junk junk junk.
    On When will the American public get snobby already? posted 1 year, 6 months ago 17 Responses

  • Did you catch the slip of the tongue?

    "America's history of fading....."On McCain touts gas-tax holiday as well as 'long-term solutions' posted 1 year, 7 months ago 45 Responses

  • Nothing new here.

    he's a concerned and committed liar. what more is there to know?On Nonsensical nuggets from the prez's press conference posted 1 year, 7 months ago 8 Responses

  • Who does have the time?

    I'm surprised they had the time to craft that statement. Bunch of lame delayers. Or "delaymers"On EPA just doesn't have time to make CO2 decision, says official posted 1 year, 7 months ago 3 Responses

  • Same ol, same ol

    blah blah technology will save us in the future blah blah

    yawn

    nothing to see here, move along
    On President Bush's speech on climate change, 16 April 2008, as prepared for delivery posted 1 year, 7 months ago 10 Responses

  • I hope you lose...

    ...but I don't think you will. The non-linearity of the system is exceptional.

    And we're daily making it worse. On Another big climate bet posted 1 year, 12 months ago 4 Responses

  • Why endorse anyone in particular?

    Not a choice, but should be. He's not going to endorse anyone, but he's also not running. He IS going to endorse candidates energy plans, though!

    Maybe the "Gore Score" can refer to the energy plans. Well, Obama's plan has a Gore Score of 8 and Hillary's has a Gore Score of 7. Unless that's already trademarked for horror movies?

    Hmmmm.....On Gore thought likely to take home the Nobel Peace Prize posted 2 years, 1 month ago 11 Responses

  • I like the ads

    I think a healthy mix of "negative", that is, raising up our society's collective alertness level to the ongoing environmental collapse going on around us, and the positive, that is, that there are real things all of us can do both personally and collectively, is a good thing.

    I'm not sure what a good ratio is (20% fear? 80% positive?), but too skewed either way probably won't get desired action.

    A slow moving car a night with it's headlights on and deer will scatter off of the road, too slow and they just stand there as there's no threat, too fast and they just stand there, as they can't comprehend the threat.On Environmental Defense's climate ads go negative, miss the mark posted 2 years, 2 months ago 10 Responses

  • It's everywhere

    Around my suburban NJ neighborhood, I've seen it in about a dozen yards in the past few weeks. I've been on a big lookout after I tried to remove some (taking lots of precautions), but still got rash on my arms & ankles. I hate that stuff.On Especially for dermatologists posted 2 years, 5 months ago 2 Responses

  • Secret Campaign?

    I find it difficult to understand how Bush's camapaign against recognizing and/or doing anything about global heating can ever be called a "Secret".

    That being said, I welcome anything that reveals the depth of the current administration's screwing of the country.On Hold the applause on the administration's posted 2 years, 5 months ago 9 Responses

  • It's never "too late"

    It can't ever be too late for our race until the last human draws it's dying breath. Whatever actions we can do now, and we MUST act now as if this was an emergency, will delay the onset of catastrophe.

    Humans are pretty smart, when we actually recognize a problem and try to solve it. While I'm not holding out for a magic CO2 cure in the next few years, reducing our CO2 now will at least delay even "unstoppable" climate change. In those few precious "extra years" we may just yet work out a solution whereby our race continues.

    But we need time. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.On Scientists weigh in posted 2 years, 6 months ago 27 Responses

  • 2 Trains Rushing Towards One Another

    This looks interesting, as I often liken Climate Change and Peak Oil to 2 trains on the same track rushing towards one another, with Civilization tied to the tracks in the middle.

    In happier news, my town just passed an ordinance for 20% less CO2 by 2012. It's a start!On A reality TV show that will knock your socks off posted 2 years, 6 months ago 7 Responses

  • He's actually "Everything denier guy"

    Just a helpful note that "climate denier guy" is "everything-said-on-this-site denier guy". It really doesn't matter the issue or the merits, it will be opposed. The vast majority of folks here ignore his rants because they are eminently ignorable. Just so you know.
    On Images of dense development posted 2 years, 6 months ago 28 Responses

  • Cleaning up the mess?

    Most concerts I've gone to that have recycling bins end up with recycling bins full of regular trash as well as recyclables. My guess is one of 2 things happen. Either they all go to regular trash anyway or the concert promotors pay to have it sorted, which seems highly unlikely.

    In other words, the bins are "feel good" but don't actually get used for real recycling.

    Maybe they'll be better at Live Earth.

    Anyway, I applaud your efforts at Sasquatch!On The Girls of Grist do Sasquatch posted 2 years, 6 months ago 6 Responses

  • Only so much energy for change available

    I think Jim's point is that there's only so much energy for change available. That's energy from various fuels and mental energy from humans who need to do the change(s). If both of those energys are put towards making incremental changes in the current system (and yes, I believe even 3x the gas mileage is still incremental), then there's no energy for the BIG inevitable change of a much-lower-fuel-energy future.On Taking on the belief that technotoys will allow the status quo to continue posted 2 years, 6 months ago 27 Responses

  • A theme we'll see more of

    With every ecological crisis there's usually multiple causes. There's the underlying basis, let's say a Hurricane, then there's the management of that crisis, let's say Warning/Tranporting People out of the way of that crisis, and the recovery from that crisis, let's say Rebuilding after the Crisis hits and the Management of that Crisis does whatever it does.

    The Crisis is bad, sure, but usually the mismanagement of a crisis is what people focus on, often because it is indeed pretty bad. Too many times is the original crisis and it's causes overlooked because of the negative escalation of the Crisis' intensity caused by the Mismanagement.

    So the Crisis itself gets worse because the focus is on the mismanagement of the crisis response, not in addressing the original cause of the crisis in the first place. Australia has been dealing with that for years. The country seems to be showing the world what a poster child for catastrophic (yes, losing 72% of your food production deserves that word) climate change looks like.On And their PM is still in denial posted 2 years, 7 months ago 9 Responses

  • Well put.

    Yes indeed we need to remake the way humanity lives in the world. Or the consequences will be like any other living creature that uses up all its resources and despoils it's home. It ends up being a formerlly living creature.

    I've always liked how the book Ishmael conveys that humanity (me) needs to alter the story we're enacting (related to the "myths" we believe in).

    Sure, we were born and raised in an social/political, etc environment that is enacting a certain story, one that focuses on short-term successes/goals as the cost of long-term sustainability. But we have the power to change, to self-help ourselves, our communities, our friends and family, our country and our world. The first step is realizing there's a problem, then realizing that smart people have done good work to come up with solutions. Finally, enacting those solutions powered by our belief that this is the story we want to enact.On It's the wrong lever for creating social change posted 2 years, 8 months ago 11 Responses

  • Slow-motion nuclear war

    I've found it very useful in talking to people to compare the threat of nuclear war with the threat of climate change. Most people really seem to "get it". It's like this:

    With nuclear war, that disaster could be avoided as long as no one actually pushed the button. In many ways it was an all-or-nothing type of disaster. But Global Climate Change has already had strong effects, and they're slated to continue and increase under our business-as-usual approach. It's like a slow-motion nuclear war in terms of the destructive potential. Someone somewhere is launching right now and gradually the Climate Change missles effects' may be cumulatively seen to be as scary as nuclear war.On On Revkin's piece on poverty and climate change impacts posted 2 years, 8 months ago 8 Responses

  • is this guy a troll?

    I'm pretty new here, so I'm not sure if "jabailo" is a troll but this guy always makes so many almost-making-sense points without, unfortunately, actually making sense. But if this guy is legit, I have some comments. I'll only comment on the ones that I have some clue what he's trying to say.

    These are the things people need to do to get ready for Global Warming:

    (3) Plan on having more money in the bank because of spending less on heating and other energy.

    No, plan on having less money in the bank as you're paying more for the increases flooding damage to your homes, your cars, and indirectly through prices increases in food.

    (4) Sell your home.  With new land opening up housing prices will continue to plummet.

    How will new land open up while sea levels rise? Is there some bizarro world you live in that the rest of us don't?

    (5) Buy land in central canada or offshore.  When tundra melts and the sea levels fall: buying opportunities!

    It seems that permafrost melting is pretty much only decimating communities that are built upon it, forcing many costs infrastructure repairs to the structures themselves, as well as to roadways that access such communities. Once it's all melted, well, that soil isn't very good for farming and there's not lots of other reasons to move to such locales yet.On Lots o' good stuff therein posted 2 years, 8 months ago 12 Responses

  • Would this move things along?

    Sure, there's a lot of climate-addressing bills up in the House/Senate, but chances aren't great that any of them will pass the Bush obstruction.

    Lots of the runners (well, the Dems anyway) are mentioning climate change/energy. Bush did, too during the campaign. It's not like they can't talk about it. But the fear is that it's all talk or the wrong path (Obama hawking the environmentall destructive and red herring ethanol).

    Al should just go to the hearing and say "Don't make me come up there...."
    On But he's losing weight! posted 2 years, 8 months ago 13 Responses

  • Another power grab

    That's our George.On Now it's regulatory posted 2 years, 10 months ago 2 Responses

  • Profit is all they have

    They've no concept of the society-shattering path that we're currently on, carbon emissions without bound. They only know profit. So everything is placed in that context.

    And many environmentalists (myself included) will gladly sell companies on the profit motive if it will get them into ACTION. It's possibly all that will really work.

    If we can get a cap-n-trade system instituted nationally (and then globally), then when the fit hits the shan in the very near future, at least the cap can be reduced significantly as the system will already be in place. Will it be enough? We can only hope.

    But this is a start.On An expose of climate 'profiteers' posted 2 years, 10 months ago 1 Response

  • Standard risk assessment

    All in all, this seems like standard risk assesement. Very much like the kind all insurance agencies do to determine your rates for cars, homes, etc. It's a complicated formula based mostly on the formula:
    Chance of event happening x Impact of event happening = Risk
    For, say, a car, the chance of a fender-bender is higher than the chance of a fatal crash. But the impact of a fender bender is a LOT higher than the impact of a fatal crash. So the Risk of a fatal crash is what makes that kind of insurance (I don't remember the exact term for it) mandatory (at least in my state) and a pretty high coverage value.

    For our entire civilization, can we do no less than a basic Risk Assessment?On What should we do about it? posted 2 years, 10 months ago 10 Responses

  • Global Climate Instability

    How's that for a term? That way it's easily morphed into the potential Global Climate Disaster we're hoisting upon humanity.

    That way it encompasses the crazy snowfalls in Colorado without anyone using them as a counter-argument to global warming/heating/frying/sizzling since the presense of so much snow makes it seem cold, even though it's actually warmer than usual, but still below freezing but there's a lot more moisture in the air due to the planet's heating up.On Overreacts to global warming posted 2 years, 10 months ago 15 Responses