Global Warming Reading List

by Deb Powers

Is global warming real? Is it man-made? Is it natural, but accelerated by man? Why is carbon dioxide so bad? Is there really more carbon in the atmosphere than their used to be? Isn't carbon dioxide part of the natural respiration cycle? So many questions... so few hard and fast answers.

When I was in school, a favorite teacher told me, "There are facts, and then there is truth. It is possible to report facts without ever reaching truth."

I see a lot of that in the debate over climate change and global warming. There are a lot of facts. Facts are indisputable. Truth, however, is harder to come by, because facts can be twisted to support a multitude of opinions - especially if you're willing to leave out the inconvenient ones, or only take a small range of them.

I am a big believer that the more you know, the more likely it is that your opinions approach truth. That's why I make a point of reading the opinions of those who believe that global warming and climate change is a myth, and following any facts they post back to their source documents. I also make a point of knowing the source of research funding to better evaluate the interpretations of the facts presented. More often than not, I end up finding that the facts presented and used as the basis to dispute climate change don't actually support the interpretation given as "truth".

 In the interests of providing information to help you form your own opinions, here is a reading list of items of interest from the recent news. Pick one, pick a few, get informed - because the more you know, the closer you come to the truth.

A diferent take on global warming

 A Maine meteorologist has his own theory and solution to global warming, which he says is a lead-up to a new Ice Age.

Study: Global warming would hit Utah hard

While encouraging "healthy debate" on the issue of climate change, Utah moves to respond to a study that shows how continuing trends will make Utah one of the ten states most affected by global warming in the next decades.

A Primer on Global Warming: Dispelling Myths

A bunch of facts to dispute global warming theory, or at least whether it is manmade. There is no context for any of them, and they are presented by the Heartland Institute, a conservative industry-funded think tank. The editor's note reads : [Each month, Heartland Institute Science Director Jay Lehr, Ph.D. presents evidence that mankind has no significant impact on the Earth’s climate.—Ed.]

Global Security Affected by Global Warming

 Another article that accepts an ongoing debate about the origin of global warming, but acknowledges that no matter the source, there are actions necessary to ensure security in the face of coastal flooding, water insecurity and melting ice caps.

I encourage you to read widely about climate change and the global warming debate. Don't avoid opposing viewpoints - all have a voice that adds something to the debate. Just be sure that you do the due diligence so that you understand how the facts fit into the overall picture.

 

Picture Credit: lusi@stock.xchng