Billions With a "B"

I know I've asked this question before, but when you come across stories like this, you can't help but wonder. So who do you think is making more money off of this whole global warming thing? Those who are trying to prove it's not really an issue or those who are claiming that doomsday is just around the corner if we don't change our devilish ways?

Well, from the folks that brought you the scantly publicized, yet highly lucrative Oil-For-Food scandal comes a new story of greed, deception and lust (ok, maybe not lust- that's a different UN story)

Billions wasted on UN climate programme

Now for those of you who know a thing or two about the UN, this story may not come as much of a surprise, after all the UN has been criticized numerous times in the past for their propensity towards feebleness in many situations where true leadership was needed. Well this is no doubt, just another textbook example. According to the article, here's just some of the charges being leveled against the UN in their latest folly to save the planet from too much carbon emissions...

"Leading academics and watchdog groups allege that the UN's main offset fund is being routinely abused by chemical, wind, gas and hydro companies who are claiming emission reduction credits for projects that should not qualify. The result is that no genuine pollution cuts are being made, undermining assurances by the UK government and others that carbon markets are dramatically reducing greenhouse gases, the researchers say."

If you haven't figured it out already, this carbon offset thing is nothing more than the original shell-game (with much higher stakes of course)...

"The market for UN's CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) credits is growing fast. At present it is worth nearly $20bn a year, but this is expected to grow to over $100bn within four years. More than 1,000 projects have so far been approved, and 2,000 more are making their way through the process."

Like I said, a lot of real green is in play here folks. When sums of money like this are involved, serious corruption is always a possibility. What's more alarming in my mind however is that all of this is all based on theoretical science that to this day, has not been settled.

Reminds me of when my Mom used to sell Xango.

Just Remember...

Memorial Day 2008

Propaganda Film Watch

Although it was originally aired in late 2005, Doomsday Called Off still packs quite a punch in terms of questioning whether the science and causes of climate change are truly settled. This documentary, produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) features a number of prominent scientists who do a fairly good job of keeping the whole idea of scientific debate alive and well.

If you're a fan of the infamous "hockey-stick" temperature data often cited by the UN IPCC as a guide to their policy development, you will throughly enjoy this contrasting take on what all this evidence really means. I consider Doomsday Called Off required viewing for all Global Warming deniers...

Don't Ass-u-me.

Well, many of us have been asking this question for some time now. Especially over the past couple of years with all of the neo-environmentalism currently taking place. In fact, one of the very fist blog entries here at Eco-$ucker discussed the Eco-Chic phenomena from a business perspective; noting how the green movement has really been a dream come true for advertisers and marketers alike. At the end of the day however, one has to ask... do these "green" products actually deliver?
As with all things... Buyer beware.

So like many globally-conscious people out there, maybe you are now leaning towards purchasing more "green" products. I would argue of course that this has more to do with the emotional boost (however short-lived) that comes from purchasing products that supposedly are easy on the environment, versus any real net effect that they may (or may not) have. Remember, most people buy more based on emotion than logic.

Be honest, have you ever really thought about whether the so-called "green"products you buy are actually (read: scientifically) better for the planet? Or do you just take the manufacturers word for it? If you take the manufacturers word for it... there's a good chance that you may be an Eco-$ucker

On that note, here's a new story from the UK regarding a recent study performed by the staff of Auto Express magazine. In a recent test, these brave men and women dared to ask... Are hybrid cars which are touted as better for the environment, really better for the environment? You decide...

Eco-friendly claims for ‘hybrid’ cars dismissed as gimmickry

That's right. According to the team at Auto Express, what we once assumed was true about hybrid vehicles, may not be true at all...

Know someone who drives a Honda Civic Hybrid? The Auto Express team didn't have many good things to say about that particular ride...

The Honda Civic hybrid, regarded widely as one of the lowest emitting cars, performed the worst in the tests.

Instead of the 109g/km of CO2 claimed in the makers’ specifications, it was found to put out 171g/km. The testers said its electric motor was “not strong enough to propel the oddball four-door Civic on its own” and they concluded that the vehicle “failed to match the firm’s economy claims”.

Splitting hairs perhaps? Arguing that even the worst hybrid vehicle is significantly better than a conventional gas guzzler? I can't answer that, but think about how much C02 is released into the air by a single volcanic eruption versus how much C02 is put into the air by all humans combined and that "significant difference" becomes mute faster than a Toyota Prius can hit 60.

In the auto sales business, they often use the term "buyers remorse." I suspect that a few more cases of such an affliction will be recorded by years end. BTW, anyone know a good lemon lawyer?

Narcissists of the World Unite!

Comedian George Carlin takes a moment to discuss the tendency of humans to feel like we are somehow the center of the universe... especially when it comes to the things like the environment. I don't often catch much of his material, but I found this segment especially humorous and quite relevant. Carlin uses some R-Rated language for dramatic effect, so it's probably safe to say that this one isn't safe for work. I do urge you to sit back when you do have time and have a good laugh. After all, you've earned it!

Heretics on Parade

Just received this via the newswire. Looks like the folks over at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) will be releasing the names of the more than 30,000 scientists and academics who are challenging the status quo regarding the hypothesis of man-made global warming...

Dr. Arthur Robinson (OISM) to Release Names of over 30,000 Scientists Rejecting Global Warming Hypothesis

The reason behind the petition? Very simple...

"The purpose of OISM's Petition Project is to demonstrate that the claim of "settled science" and an overwhelming "consensus" in favor of the hypothesis of human-caused global warming and consequent climate damage is wrong. No such consensus or settled science exists."

What the response will be, I certainly cannot say. It will be very interesting however to see if any of this is even acknowledged by the main street media. After all, I'm sure they enjoy schmoozing with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio rather than some lab geek with glasses and a pocket protector.

Denier Quote of the Day...

“Before there were enough people to make any difference at all, two million years ago, nobody was changing the climate, yet the climate was changing. All this argument is the temperature going up or not, it’s absurd. Of course it’s going up. It has gone up since the early 1800s, before the Industrial Revolution, because we’re coming out of the Little Ice Age, not because we’re putting more carbon dioxide into the air. You can go outside and spit and have the same effect as doubling carbon dioxide.”

Dr. Reid Bryson, Meteorologist
University of Wisconsin
Department of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
UN Global 500 Roll of Honor
February 2007

Rules are Rules

When are you people going to realize that no one shall be exempt from the established rules regarding recycling? No, not even 96-year-old WWII veterans will receive any mercy from the High-Court of Environmentalism. You will save the Earth and you will like it! Now, back in line...

War veteran, 96, has rubbish uncollected for two weeks for 'crime' of putting two jars in wrong bin

From War Veteran to Eco-Criminal

And the Norwich City Council's only response... ""rules have to be obeyed"

See, I told you.

She's a .10

All I know is that there are a lot of people here in Southern California right now who've been waiting for the Sun to make itself known. We had one really hot day a few weeks ago, but that was about it...

According to the latest from the NOAA Satellite and Information Service website, most of us here in LA-LA Land can rest assured that our notice of the cooler weather is more than just subjective...

"The average temperature in April 2008 was 51.0 F. This was -1.0 F cooler than the 1901-2000 (20th century) average, the 29th coolest April in 114 years. The temperature trend for the period of record (1895 to present) is 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit per decade."

Yes, yes I know. We're very spoiled here in (usually) sunny So. Cal. but remember, we rely on things like enviable weather and incredible scenery to keep our mind off thing like rising gas prices, violent crime and soaring taxes.