Comments on: MOVIEGOERS POLES APART ON CLIMATE CHANGE http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/ Charting the disconnect between climate science and action Mon, 14 May 2012 04:17:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: CO2 tax http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-3973 CO2 tax Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:11:05 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-3973 My 9 year old daughter has no interest in seeing this CGI entertainment, recognizing this is as ridiculous distraction. It costs nothing to see all the denial ostriches sticking their heads in the sand. The mainstream faux news audience will unknowingly be a significant portion of the die-off to get the population of the earth back to a more sustainable level. My 9 year old daughter has no interest in seeing this CGI entertainment, recognizing this is as ridiculous distraction. It costs nothing to see all the denial ostriches sticking their heads in the sand. The mainstream faux news audience will unknowingly be a significant portion of the die-off to get the population of the earth back to a more sustainable level.

]]> By: Nathan - How to Prevent Global Warming Newsletter http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-2005 Nathan - How to Prevent Global Warming Newsletter Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:23:10 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-2005 I agree with Chris Smith. I think it is very important for environmentalists to focus on winning allies in the mainstreatm, which means focusing on doing things that appeal to a mainstream audience without creating any bad feelings. I agree with Chris Smith. I think it is very important for environmentalists to focus on winning allies in the mainstreatm, which means focusing on doing things that appeal to a mainstream audience without creating any bad feelings.

]]> By: Stephen O'Kane http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-583 Stephen O'Kane Sun, 24 Dec 2006 11:05:05 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-583 In view of all that's happened over the past 35 years, I have to express doubts about using the tax and benefits system to try to achieve a more equal society - at least until we have formalised the global economy to the point where there isn't always somewhere else with lower taxes (or none) the rich can escape to. In any case, climate change requires a global policy and system simply because of its scale. Since the Chinese and the Indians will (naturally) refuse to cut back unless the West has done so, the best chance on a cynical basis might be for them to reach the point of being able to dictate terms. After all, they have plenty of low lying land and other good motives for acting on climate change. In view of all that’s happened over the past 35 years, I have to express doubts about using the tax and benefits system to try to achieve a more equal society – at least until we have formalised the global economy to the point where there isn’t always somewhere else with lower taxes (or none) the rich can escape to. In any case, climate change requires a global policy and system simply because of its scale. Since the Chinese and the Indians will (naturally) refuse to cut back unless the West has done so, the best chance on a cynical basis might be for them to reach the point of being able to dictate terms. After all, they have plenty of low lying land and other good motives for acting on climate change.

]]> By: Martyn S. Carless http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-568 Martyn S. Carless Sun, 24 Dec 2006 01:47:53 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-568 I wrote my blog out of conviction that, thanks to movies such as Happy Feet, the true plight of the penguin – and other such creatures to inhabit these far-flung regions – was being hugely misrepresented, even distorted; I was aware how my words might incur such accusations of my being a killjoy and that the film was only meant to be a bit of light-hearted relief. Well, it appears I am not the only one to have spotted the cruel irony that lies behind the movie (especially in light of the true plight that faces the penguins, featured in the film, at this time): even the BBC is covering the story now, as the following video link shows: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi?redirect=st.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&nol_storyid=6202383). Either we sit back and allow ourselves to be entertained by such inaccurate and misleading representations of the natural world, or we sit up and take notice to the reality these creatures are faced with before it is too late. I wrote my blog out of conviction that, thanks to movies such as Happy Feet, the true plight of the penguin – and other such creatures to inhabit these far-flung regions – was being hugely misrepresented, even distorted; I was aware how my words might incur such accusations of my being a killjoy and that the film was only meant to be a bit of light-hearted relief. Well, it appears I am not the only one to have spotted the cruel irony that lies behind the movie (especially in light of the true plight that faces the penguins, featured in the film, at this time): even the BBC is covering the story now, as the following video link shows: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi?redirect=st.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&nol_storyid=6202383).

Either we sit back and allow ourselves to be entertained by such inaccurate and misleading representations of the natural world, or we sit up and take notice to the reality these creatures are faced with before it is too late.

]]> By: Chris Keene http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Chris Keene Mon, 11 Dec 2006 20:06:28 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-217 The problem with climate change is that nearly everyone contributes to it since nearly everyone uses carbon based energy. If I reduce my use of it, it won't do any good unless others do as well. Just pleading with them to do it won't do much good, so we have to have rationing. But our energy use is so variable that it would be impossible to have the sort of rationing we had in the last war, where once you have used up your ration then you can't have any more of the rationed foodstuffs. Instead we should have a tradable ration (as George Monbiot recommends in his book 'Heat'), so that those who use less than their ration can sell their spare rations and thus be rewarded, whilst those who have used up all their ration can go out and buy more. One problem with this scheme is that it would force ordinary people to be restricted in their use of energy whereas the rich could continue to do whatever they wanted. But this is exactly what happens at the moment, and the way to combat it is to aim for a more equal society by redistribution of wealth through the taxation and benefits system Chris Keene Deputy climate change spokesperson, Green Party of England and Wales The problem with climate change is that nearly everyone contributes to it since nearly everyone uses carbon based energy. If I reduce my use of it, it won’t do any good unless others do as well. Just pleading with them to do it won’t do much good, so we have to have rationing. But our energy use is so variable that it would be impossible to have the sort of rationing we had in the last war, where once you have used up your ration then you can’t have any more of the rationed foodstuffs. Instead we should have a tradable ration (as George Monbiot recommends in his book ‘Heat’), so that those who use less than their ration can sell their spare rations and thus be rewarded, whilst those who have used up all their ration can go out and buy more.

One problem with this scheme is that it would force ordinary people to be restricted in their use of energy whereas the rich could continue to do whatever they wanted. But this is exactly what happens at the moment, and the way to combat it is to aim for a more equal society by redistribution of wealth through the taxation and benefits system

Chris Keene
Deputy climate change spokesperson, Green Party of England and Wales

]]> By: daharja http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-214 daharja Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:39:26 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-214 MR - no veggies at the market (bananas costing over $28 a pound/$14 kg) and our grass turned to dust is *exactly* what we're experiencing right here, right now, in southern Australia (Melbourne), where I live. Our state is currently ablaze with bushfires, and there has been little rain. More fires are expected this season, and the summer has only just begun. Yesterday topped 44C (over a hundred degrees in your measurement), and more days like that are expected. I can totally understand the 'gloom and doom' mood of the writer of the article, because that's what we're feeling here in Australia. But my questions are: what will it take to stop people eating fish, and forcing starvation on the penguins and devastation on our seas? Demanding that more land be cleared so they can eat cheap burgers? Demanding more cotton clothing so our rivers are diverted and dry up? When will people see the connection between our vast consumerism and the devastation of our planet? What will it take for people to stop demanding new clothes every year and meat/fish every day? You decide. It's your planet too. MR – no veggies at the market (bananas costing over $28 a pound/$14 kg) and our grass turned to dust is *exactly* what we’re experiencing right here, right now, in southern Australia (Melbourne), where I live.

Our state is currently ablaze with bushfires, and there has been little rain. More fires are expected this season, and the summer has only just begun. Yesterday topped 44C (over a hundred degrees in your measurement), and more days like that are expected.

I can totally understand the ‘gloom and doom’ mood of the writer of the article, because that’s what we’re feeling here in Australia.

But my questions are: what will it take to stop people eating fish, and forcing starvation on the penguins and devastation on our seas? Demanding that more land be cleared so they can eat cheap burgers? Demanding more cotton clothing so our rivers are diverted and dry up?

When will people see the connection between our vast consumerism and the devastation of our planet? What will it take for people to stop demanding new clothes every year and meat/fish every day?

You decide. It’s your planet too.

]]> By: Mark Ritzenhein http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Mark Ritzenhein Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:41:03 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-208 I have only recently learned that countries with large fishing fleets, such as Japan, mine the Antarctic seas for krill, which are then used for feed in fish farms and as seafood product for human consumption. Does anyone know any more about this matter, and what scale of impact it is having in the Antarctic? We visited Antarctica in 1992, and even then there were foreign trawlers in port at Ushuaia. I didn't know that they were after krill then--and I didn't know the scale and impact of GW, along with everyone else, either. The one question posed by the author, asking when will people wake up, is a valid one. Cutesy penguins or not, common people will not recognize the tidal wave of disaster looming over our heads until it sweeps over their everyday lives. None of us will feel any direct impact by the demise of polar bears and penguins, so it remains an abstraction. Warmer winters don't really bother most people (I find myself a hypocrite on this matter, for the sake of comfort). Perhaps it would be interesting to know what others think would be such a direct impact which would make people pay attention? No vegetables at the market? Severe drought which burns one's garden or yard to a crisp? What would the average person notice? MR I have only recently learned that countries with large fishing fleets, such as Japan, mine the Antarctic seas for krill, which are then used for feed in fish farms and as seafood product for human consumption. Does anyone know any more about this matter, and what scale of impact it is having in the Antarctic? We visited Antarctica in 1992, and even then there were foreign trawlers in port at Ushuaia. I didn’t know that they were after krill then–and I didn’t know the scale and impact of GW, along with everyone else, either.
The one question posed by the author, asking when will people wake up, is a valid one. Cutesy penguins or not, common people will not recognize the tidal wave of disaster looming over our heads until it sweeps over their everyday lives. None of us will feel any direct impact by the demise of polar bears and penguins, so it remains an abstraction. Warmer winters don’t really bother most people (I find myself a hypocrite on this matter, for the sake of comfort).
Perhaps it would be interesting to know what others think would be such a direct impact which would make people pay attention? No vegetables at the market? Severe drought which burns one’s garden or yard to a crisp? What would the average person notice? MR

]]> By: Martin http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Martin Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:08:48 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-206 why should someone keep their opinions to themself? In this case they are not offensive or rude. they may be challenging and we may disagree with them but do we not want to support a society where contrary opinions are viewed, debated and shaped? Seems hypocritical to take one stand and then say that someone with the opposite should keep their thoughts to themself? why should someone keep their opinions to themself? In this case they are not offensive or rude. they may be challenging and we may disagree with them but do we not want to support a society where contrary opinions are viewed, debated and shaped? Seems hypocritical to take one stand and then say that someone with the opposite should keep their thoughts to themself?

]]> By: chris smith http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-205 chris smith Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:27:41 +0000 http://climatedenial.org/2006/12/08/moviegoers-poles-apart-on-climate-change/#comment-205 I really think the author should lighten up. Unfortunately, hand wringing environmentalists and other greens who blame the public for their 'denial' only serve to alienate themselves further from society and help politicians sideline greens as out of touch bah-humbug wierdos. Whether your comments are true or not is not really the point. Coming out against feel-good Christmas films like is the equivalent of trying to ban Christmas decorations not made out of recycled yogurt pots. Please, for the sake of the issue you care about, keep your thoughts to yourself. I really think the author should lighten up. Unfortunately, hand wringing environmentalists and other greens who blame the public for their ‘denial’ only serve to alienate themselves further from society and help politicians sideline greens as out of touch bah-humbug wierdos. Whether your comments are true or not is not really the point. Coming out against feel-good Christmas films like is the equivalent of trying to ban Christmas decorations not made out of recycled yogurt pots. Please, for the sake of the issue you care about, keep your thoughts to yourself.

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