Let's Rework those Ads

That nasty K-word keeps popping in the media.

In fact the Sun's Lorrie Goldstein has not only mentioned Kyoto in today's Point of View - "McGuinty's Green Smoke Screen", but also in his own column featuring the Top Ten Problems with the Kyoto accord (The Kyoto Horror Show).

Sheila Copps throws in her own two cents worth as well (Kyoto Cost Tories Dearly).

The Ontario Government's disingenuous attempt to portray itself as Kyoto compliant is a topic I'll leave for another day.

Copp's piece on the other hand, smacks of everything that causes the public to become cynical about politics, as she urges the government to support opposition's Kyoto bill:

Why not take a leap of faith and support Kyoto targets? Even if the requisite tonne reduction is not met, politics is about perception.

And there, my friends, is Liberal-think unplugged. Ugh.

Lorrie Goldstein has put together an incredibly insightful list of reasons why the Kyoto targets are flawed and unrealistic. Most have to do with the fact that non-signatory countries produce far greater greenhouse gas emissions than we do.

Copps says, "By standing up as the only party against Kyoto, the Tories were strangely out of step with the House of Commons and the country."

But Goldstein counters:

Finally, do Canadians support Kyoto? Our national media seem to think so, based largely on a recent Globe/Strategic Counsel poll, which asked people whether we should "try" to achieve our Kyoto targets. That received a 63% to 30% favourable response. But surely, Canadians believe we should "try" to do many things. Whether we're willing to make unfair sacrifices in a doomed effort, is the real question.

Interestingly, when The Strategic Counsel asked the same people if they supported charging "significantly higher prices" for gasoline and heating their homes -- a far more relevant question -- the vote was 64% to 34% against.

A CanWest/Innovative Research poll which was in the field at almost the same time as The Strategic Counsel, found about seven in 10 respondents agreed with the statement: "I don't care whether the new federal government implements Kyoto or not, so long as they take real action to make our environment better." Hmmm.

So, Canadians appear to support Kyoto, but when asked to put their money where their mouths are, they start jumping off the bandwagon.

I would go further and agree with the Globe's Jeffrey Simpson, that Canadians have been indoctrinated with the erroneous message that "Kyoto equals concern about climate change".

So here is my (once again) free and unsolicited advice, this time for Stephen Harper and the CPC. Drop those attack ads right now. Replace them with ads showing the real facts about the effects of Kyoto; both in terms of unrealistic targets and the possible effects on the economy. Lay out a pragmatic plan to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

Expose the opposition and Kyoto for the shams that they are; but show me - don't tell me.

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Great link to Lorne Gunter's latest column at Political Staples - The Problem is Bigger than That. Edmonton Journal - Dion Paints Himself into Green Corner.

Some hilarious stuff here about 'Greenie' - Officially Screwed and SDA.

Monday Update: Check out Uncommon Truths - Another poll gone horribly ungreen...

Memories of DDT

Today Lorrie Goldstein likens the global warming hysteria to the knee-jerk reaction against DDT, which ended up causing millions of deaths in malaria-plagued third world countries.

His column Greens Aren't Always Good, Lorrie makes some pithy observations:

Global warming and the Kyoto accord are the crack cocaine of trendy causes for opportunistic politicians and chic environmentalists.

Since fighting man-made global warming involves "saving the planet," or so they tell us, it is the King Kong of all environmental crusades.

Of course, the fact we have been warned in the past by this crowd that life as we know it was about to end over everything from "the population bomb" to "global cooling," and that we survived, is now ignored.

Too many environmentalists know only one way of talking about these issues -- hysterically -- which has led to disaster in the past.

In this context, the history of the pesticide DDT is instructive...

Lorrie goes on to draw similarities to the two events and how even some respected environmentalists caution against jumping on the hysteria bandwagon.


The subject of DDT came up during a somewhat heated discussion in comments a while back in my post The Question Refuser Witch-hunt, so this column may be of particular interest to those involved.

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Update: Check out Charles Adler - "Canadians Driving Away from Kyoto"; H/T National Newswatch.

In a recent interview I did with the boss at Decima research, I asked the question,
What percentage of voters really think of the environment as their number one issue. The answer was nineteen percent. That means fewer than one in five. How does that small ratio get turned into the story that it is the country's most important issue.

Indeed.


Also, another Kyoto reality-check from Peter Worthington here.

Brilliant solution to the Kyoto problem here!

And if you were ever in doubt as to how much the PPG manipulates the message, check this out!

Tom Brodbeck weighs in - Give Global Warming Skeptics Their Say. Great rant against MSM. Quite refreshing!

Brodbeck again - Hysteria Blocks Debate.

Blogging Tory Caveat

Note to all Blogging Tories - Any attempt at humour by contrasting the extremely cold weather with the current global warming hysteria must be immediately followed by a disclaimer that you are just trying to be funny. Otherwise, you risk attracting comments such as the following:

"A GW prayer to “fix” your local weather?

[sigh] What a surprise, another science iliterate christian.
—A Quantum Liberal "

(From Porno Christian's Can I Get a Little Global Warming Over Here?)

"And the -21 reference is a silly one, if thats what you're trying to use to promote the Fraser Institute's (er, Exxon) line that Global warming doesn't exist. There will always be days like this where it feels like winter should.. but it took 2 months to get to it; December and January temps were way above normal for most of the country, and we've had a long cycle going many years back now where temperatures continue to rise and unpredictable weather increases..."

(From Stephen Taylor's Liberal vs. Conservative Narratives.)


And right here in comments, I jokingly made a reference to the plus side of global warming on a day when going outdoors forced me to cover up so much of my face, that they would have banned me for life from Herouxville. The response at 11:59:00 AM was:

"Global warming is a concept that applies to the AVERAGE increase (not day-to-day increase) in global temperatures around the world."

For anyone who is actually confused on this point, the very knowledgeable Lorrie Goldstein gives us the straight goods in today's column, It's the Weather, Stupid!

The unusually mild temperatures we were experiencing a few weeks ago were no more indicative of "global warming" (contrary to many hysterical media reports at the time) than the recent cold snap is evidence of "global cooling."

In fact, these are both examples of "the weather" -- not "climate change." Climate change is not about day-to-day, month-to-month or even year-to-year weather events, no single one of which can be blamed conclusively or exclusively on man-made global warming.

Rather, it is about long-term changes in the earth's climate, brought about by both natural and (it is now believed) man-made phenomenon, spanning decades, centuries, millennia, even millions of years.

Thank you, Lorrie.

Most Blogging Tories are aware of the important distinction, but the Environiks do not tolerate any kind of humour or irreverence directed at this very serious crisis. In fact, we should probably refrain from using any levity at all or else we may be inviting a Global- Warming Jihad. We risk having George Bush and Stephen Harper burned lockstep in effigy by dry ice.

Obviously, this issue is far too volatile for humour or sarcasm.


Thank you. Now, back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

The 'Question Refuser' Witch-hunt

The Toronto Sun's Lorrie Goldstein has discovered a new phenomenon in our current hysterical global warming fixation (Laughing at Global Warming):

I'm sorry. I know global warming is a serious subject, particularly with the release of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

But at some point in many big stories, mass hysteria takes over and the subject, no matter how serious, "jumps the shark" as they say on TV.

For me, that moment happened last week while reading a story in the Globe and Mail and coming across this hilarious nugget.

"As Conservative MPs emerged from their weekly caucus meeting in Ottawa, reporters asked whether they believe that increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are causing global warming. Most refused to answer the question directly."

Good gawd! Has it come to this? Are not just global warming "deniers," as Stephane Dion calls them, but mere global warming "refusers to answer the question directly" to be hunted down, as we once did witches?

He then goes on to imagine himself as an MP being questioned by the pressing media. The result is not only brilliant, but also extremely informative and well-balanced.

His imaginary press gallery encounter makes the point that MP's shouldn't allow themselves to be intimidated and goaded into making rash statements regarding this very complex issue.

However, the latest IPCC report does indeed seem to be inducing a kind of paranoia among those zealots in the Church of Kyotology.

And as Lorrie suggested, they may have finally jumped the shark in terms of credibility.

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Update: Is it just me, or does this report send chills up and down your spine too?

PARIS -- Fear of runaway global warming pushed 46 countries to line up Saturday behind France's bid for a new environmental body that could single out - and perhaps police - nations that abuse the Earth.

Notice the capital on the word "Earth"? And the word "police"?

One world environmental socialism is coming, folks. Open your eyes.


And with another reality check, Rex Murphy's 'inconvenient' comment from the other night is now available here.

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The great Mark Steyn has also nailed it today. (H/T to The Strong Conservative)

Canadian Blue Lemons: Goldstein on Global Warming.

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Monday Update: This is worth a read - A Prospectus for Big Government by Lorne Gunter. (The tail is wagging the dog)

Also, Canadian Blue Lemons re: Fraser Institute Report.

The Politics and Religion of Kyoto

Once again the Toronto Sun's Lorrie Goldstein provides balanced and valuable insight today regarding the Kyoto controversy - Debunking Hot Hysteria. Of particular interest to me:

In fact, predicting climate change and forecasting weather are different issues. Unfortunately, too many politicians, environmental activists and media who often have a political agenda to ram through the Kyoto accord, are deliberately blurring this important distinction.

This is understandable because the UN treaty is highly controversial.

Many Kyoto critics charge it is more concerned with transferring wealth from the First World to the Third World than seriously reducing man-made greenhouse gases.

So is it possible that Kyoto is actually a form of enforced U.N. global tithing for the benefit of 'developing countries' such as China who are let off the hook?

To be sure there is a lot of hysteria and political twisting of 'facts' at the polar opposites (sorry) of the debate, but I suspect the increased focus goes deeper than that.

Why all the hype right now? Why is this such a crisis today and supposedly on the minds of Canadians more than the threat of terrorism, inadequate health care or poverty?

First of all, I would suggest that MSM has a lot to do with it. Unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims are often made by junk-scientists and used by MSM as an enticement to sell their product. Repetition is used to reinforce the belief. Environmental fear sells papers, encourages people to watch propaganda on television, the internet and in the cinema.

Of course, environmental lobbyists and green industries have a vested interest too. But it's not all about the money.


The second reason why I believe this is such a hot topic today is that there is a huge spiritual void that the worship of the environment and earth serves to fill; especially by those who have abandoned traditional religion.

To be sure most Christians, Jews, Muslims and followers of other faiths have a respect for the earth as a gift from their God and believe in the importance of being good stewards, but for some people, the earth has become their god.

M.I.T. Professor Richard Lindzen articulated this concept quite eloquently in a speech given at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.:

"Do you believe in global warming? That is a religious question. So is the second part: Are you a skeptic or a believer?"

"Essentially if whatever you are told is alleged to be supported by 'all scientists,' you don't have to understand [the issue] anymore. You simply go back to treating it as a matter of religious belief..."

Once a person becomes a believer of global warming, "you never have to defend this belief except to claim that you are supported by all scientists -- except for a handful of corrupted heretics..."

"The research and support for research depends on the alarm," Lindzen told CNSNews.com following his speech. "The research itself often is very good, but by the time it gets through the filter of environmental advocates and the press innocent things begin to sound just as though they are the end of the world.

This all seems to dovetail well with a letter in today's Sun:

Green doom

Re "The New Pornographers (Lorrie Goldstein, Jan. 7): I've always been amazed by the fact that if someone stands on a street corner and preaches apocalyptic doom, many consider that to be a sign of mental illness. However, if one preaches apocalyptic doom, but does it within the confines of environmental concern, this is deemed as being honourable and compassionate. Strange days indeed.

Indeed. Better pull out your Kyoto bible and bow to High Priest Suzuki.

Is global warming - or to use the new buzz word climate change actually occurring? I don't see how that can possibly be disputed or denied. However the relevant question is to what degree are man-made greenhouse gas emissions responsible and what can we do about that in practical terms?

I suspect that the truth lies somewhere in between the hype and self-interest at both ends - possibly in that middle ground that Colby Cosh suggests where climate change can be seen as a rational probability requiring thoughtful consideration and policy development, but not necessarily mandating a panicky, paranoid reaction.

That goal would especially not be well-served by joining the Kyoto Kult.


Update: Kate points out a disturbing POV from the Weather Channel - "Sing from the Same Hymn Book". Stripping the Kyoto heretics - it fits in perfectly with my religion analogy.

Lorrie tells it like it is again

Lorrie Goldstein cuts through the hot air and gaseous political emissions surrounding Kyoto (The Problem with Kyoto).


His insight is almost painfully clear. He asks both Harper and Dion:

Why do you support a bizarre United Nations treaty that is mainly concerned with transferring billions of dollars from the First World (i.e. us) to the Third World over a period of decades, without any guarantees this will lower the man-made greenhouse gas emissions you say are the main cause of global warming?

Whatever they do, Kyoto contains no provisions to compel those nations to live up to their word when Canadians and others, either as taxpayers or consumers, bankroll projects abroad to reduce greenhouse gases.

He chastizes Harper for paying lip-service for re-election purposes, which does seem to be the case since John Baird became Environment Minister.

As for Harper, why do you now support a treaty which you surely must know is a mess and why are you ready to have (shudder) NDP leader Jack Layton make things even worse? Other than getting yourself re-elected, that is.

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Some feedback in Thursday's Letters section:

Thank you Lorrie Goldstein for your column of Jan. 10 ("The problem with Kyoto") explaining the truth about this protocol. Now I know why the U.S. and Australia did not sign on. The Liberals always seem to go any which way the wind blows thinking it will buy them votes, and maybe this has. I wish Canadians would read the details before blindly following those false pied pipers. I look forward to seeing John Baird's environmental plan and I am glad the Conservatives are consulting environmentalists...

...I think Lorrie Goldstein nailed the reasoning behind Stephen Harper's recent capitulation to the left on Kyoto as vote pandering. Making Canadians reduce energy emissions will prove detrimental. Europe is already feeling the pain with higher energy costs and lost jobs as a result of their Emissions Trading Scheme. Even the science behind Kyoto is dubious at best...

...Recent articles have stated that more than $20 billion has been taken out of western economies to purchase carbon credits in other countries not affected by the Kyoto accord. The lion's share of this money is going to China. Why is this? If you agree with the rumours, the fact is that people in high places have vast business interests in these countries, primarily China. The Conservative party had it right....