Forward Observation Post - Vermillion » Environment

Volcano

FOPVermillion — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:45:06 +0000

As any readers of this blog will know, I am not a fan of AGW theory. There is little doubt in my mind that the climate changes from time to time but we as people can do little to change it. The planet is tough and we give ourselves too much credit that we can mold nature through our action. When nature takes its course, it puts us to shame. Exhibit A right now is the volcano erupting in Iceland. This one event has the possibility of impacting the environment more than much of what we do on a day-to-day basis. If this thing erupts as long as a month throwing ash into the air, it WILL change the climate for a period of time. How much and by what, who knows. The point is that in a matter of days we could see change and it had nothing to do with SUVs, coal, or any other evil tool of industrialization. And this is a little one.

We need to take a step back and appreciate nature and the power of the planet. In the grand scheme, we are still pretty small and insignificant. Be grateful for the things you can change, understand what we cannot, and be happy with it.

- FOP Vermillion

Bono’s Vision

FOPVermillion — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:06:19 +0000

Bono had a piece in the NY Times today. It was interesting because it gives a nice insight into the liberal thought process without the hate and personal attacks that you often see. The thing that stood out to me was that even while being supportive of Obama, it was weak and damning to a point.

To start the essay, he points out that Obama’s win of the Nobel Prize was not based on accomplishment but based on projection.

There’s a sense in some quarters of these not-so-United States that Norway, Europe and the World haven’t a clue about the real President Obama; instead, they fixate on a fantasy version of the President, a projection of what they hope and wish he is, and what they wish America to be.

However, Bono thinks the “virtual Obama” is the real Obama and the basis for this opinion is a part of the speech given at the UN last month. The key passage for Bono is:

“We will support the Millennium Development Goals, and approach next year’s summit with a global plan to make them a reality. And we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time.”

The millennium goals are a set of guidelines that according to Bono are to reduce “extreme” poverty. Of course that is just one part (the whole list is below), but it is a part that is near to his heart. The remaining parts of the three “extremes” that need to be addressed are ideology and climate. If only these three extremes could be eliminated, the world would be a better place. Based on Obama’s words, Bono believes the changes needed can happen as long as there is action behind them.

Now, I think this is all wishful thinking and not just because Obama has not shown he is big on follow through. The words are getting old to me as the results are few and far between.

But to the three extremes:

Poverty: I believe that the root to the poverty problem is not a lack of wealth but a lack of opportunity. People going about and doing what they are best at … chasing a profit motive will create more wealth than any other method. The biggest barrier to opportunity is the government systems that empower few and funnel wealth to those who do not earn it. As long as there are dictators and feudal lords who can demand wealth from those around them at the point of a gun, there will be limited opportunity. Considering the make up of the majority of governments at the UN, I do not expect that much will truley change in this area. There may be wealth transfer but it will not make its way to the people who need it.
Ideology: When most people think of extreme ideology, they think left-right. As much as I disagree with the opposition, the real problems in this area are outside of the US. Currently, radical Islam would be the best example of this in my mind. Those who disagree and refuse to submit are executed. The problem is not one of understanding, it is of acceptance. In this area, the US is not the problem. Until I see true moderates in this area outside of the country, I do not expect there will be any progress regardless of who the President is. In the end, we are not the ones saying submit or die so it is only logical to assume the ones saying it must change or be defeated.
Climate: If you have been reading this blog you know my thoughts on man made climate change/global warming. The bottom line is I think it is bad science. the planet warms and cools over time and we can do nothing to stop it. The fact that the theories have to keep changing reinforces my point. Let’s get to where we can acurately predict the weather a few years out before we start making dramatic changes to society to prevent a potential coming problem.

The entire list of Millennium Development Goals are:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
Achieve universal primary education;
Promote gender equality and empower women;
Reduce child mortality;
Improve maternal health;
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
Ensure environmental sustainability; and,
Build a global partnership for development assistance.

The actual problems that Bono see are ones that will need to be solved by people and not governments. The three extremes are problems of the world and people and will not be solved by decree. They will only be solved, where they can be solved, by a billion small individual actions. No matter what Obama’s actions are, or what the UN does, the end result will be minimal change if the real change does not come from the bottom up.

- FOP Vermillion

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger	Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 25(1); ICESCR article 11
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education	Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 25(1); ICESCR articles 13 and 14; CRC article 28(1)(a); CEDAW article 10; CERD article 5(e)(v)
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women	Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 2; CEDAW; ICESCR article 3; CRC article 2
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality	Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 25; CRC articles 6, 24(2)(a); ICESCR article 12(2)(a)
Goal 5: Improve maternal health	Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 25; CEDAW articles 10(h), 11(f), 12, 14(b); ICESCR article 12; CRC article 24(2)(d); CERD article 5(e)(iv)
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases	Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 25; ICESCR article 12, CRC article 24; CEDAW article 12; CERD article 5(e)(iv)
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability	Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 25(1); ICESCR articles 11(1) and 12; CEDAW article 14(2)(h); CRC article 24; CERD article 5(e)(iii)
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

Let It Snow

FOPVermillion — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:22:15 +0000

With all the doom and gloom about global warming and climate change, I am enjoying the cold snap. It is delicious to see us go from “this may be the last Olympics” 2016 due to effects of climate change to this summer ending fast and the snow starting to accumulate across the country. As much as I hate winter because of the effects on my work, I will gladly put up with a few miserable seasons if it will shut these nutsos up. Being a former Boy Scout, I appreciate the environment and I respect nature but to believe we can change the weather because of our actions is ridiculous. The sooner these people start putting their energies into improving our lives and not more in line with cave people the better.

Bring on the ice age if it brings on the silence.

- FOP Vermillion

Apocalypse……. Coming Soon! Part 3

FOPVermillion — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:53:26 +0000

“Time is running out.” “irreversible catastrophe”

Could we have more drama about the end of the world? The president goes to the U. N. and we have more hype about global warming. Can we have some science to go along with all the end of the world talk? Let’s take some time to actually understand what is going on before we make changes that will undermine the global economy for the sake of a “theory” that is quickly becoming proven false.

- FOP Vermillion

Media Bias and Czars

FOPVermillion — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:33:33 +0000

Since the Obama Administration came into office they have relied heavily on czars as a way to push policy, consolidate power, and bypass the Senate confirmation process. The current number of czars is way beyond what any previous administration has used in the past and they just created a new one. Now while they have supposedly been vetted, it is becoming obvious these people are going to shape policy with little oversight. Fortunately Glenn Beck and others have started to dig on these individuals and what is being found is disturbing. The big one at the moment was Van Jones who was the “Green Jobs Czar”. He had made so many statements out on the far left fringe that he was a time bomb waiting to happen. With all the heat, he resigned on Sunday and I am glad he is gone. However, he and the MSM are ignoring WHY he needed to go. The press is ignoring the story for the most part, and Mr. Jones takes no responsibility for his statements that were the source of much of the outrage (Michelle Malkin has a good overview of the vetting and outlandish history here). In fact, Van Jones states in his resignation letter that he is the victim of smears, lies, and distortions even though all the statements are documented and have not been refuted.

When the press will let this stand and sit on their hands it raises the question, what else is out there? If this was a non-story, why is it being burried? The press will not do their job so we must keep an eye out, look for the facts and spread the word. The administration and their friends are trying to keep bad news out of the news and away from the people who do not watch except in times of crisis or elections. There is a reason the resignation was announced at midnight on a Sunday in the middle of a holiday weekend. It was to get it off the radar and allow for time to act like it never happened. In a matter of days, it will be “Van who?”, and “that is old news and we need to move forward for the American people”.

Don’t be fooled or blinded.

- FOP Vermillion

CFL Bulbs – The Foot in the Door

FOPVermillion — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:26:38 +0000

There was a lot of news about the CFL bulbs today, such as the Opinion Journal, with the ban in the EU on incandescent bulbs going into effect tomorrow. While I don’t have a problem with the bulbs themselves, I see them as a sign of things to come. We, “for the greater good”, must give up something that works fine for something that is more expensive and does not perform as delivered. All of this for a minimal gain at best, but one that cannot be quantified.

When I see the arguments for these little bulbs themselves because they do use less energy, I see the foundation of the argument for cap-and-trade, on a small scale. Sure we need to reduce our use of energy. Of course pollution is bad. Conservation of our resources is a good thing. But the solution here is not to come up with a free market solution but to mandate our choices to where we MUST do what is best for us. While this is going on, we do not address the core problem which is creating more energy and developing better, more cost efficient ways of getting at the problem. Let’s face it . . . if the future super light bulb is so expensive we can only have one per household, we will be energy efficient in the dark.

- FOP Vermillion