The importance of being informed

Therefore if man is the problem, surely the only effective solution will be fewer humans: a lot less than the seven billion who are currently causing the apparent problem.

You are probably saying to yourself “But why would governments go along with this if it wasn’t necessarily correct?” And for that matter why would corporations or scientific bodies either?

Let’s look at governments first. Politicians have two raisons d’etre: to be seen to be taking positive action by the electorate; and when in power to raise taxes to pay for services to appease the never satisfied voters. Making CO2 the problem addresses both of these issues very effectively.

A politician who is seen to be taking action to combat “carbon pollution” (probably the most unscientific term ever created as it is open to debate whether it is pollution) gains lots of kudos when it comes to the all important “green” vote.

As for taxation well there are literally billions of reasons. Take Australia for example. Its carbon emissions scheme is expected to raise revenues of about $20 billion a year by 2012. More than enough, for example, to pay off the deficits created by the recent economic stimulus packages. And the best bit is that the voters love it. A tax that is popular is manna from heaven.

So what about corporations: surely they hate extra taxes? Well, yes and no. Certainly, there are some industry sectors which will thrive for as long as CO2 is seen as the problem, and will naturally manipulate the agenda to their benefit as much as they can. Examples such as the nuclear power industry (remember Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Sizewell?), or arable agri-businesses (nasty old farting cows causing global warming) spring to mind. But anyway, as with any tax, the ultimate payers will be the end consumers, you and I, through higher costs passed on by the corporations.

But the biggest winners by far will be the banks. There are literally trillions of reasons why they love this scheme. It is estimated that by 2020 the global market in “carbon” will be worth more than US$2 trillion, thus making it the single biggest market in the world! And, what’s more, it is a market created out of, and trading in, thin air. Can you think of any reasons why they might be motivated to smooth the agenda onwards?

Yes, that’s all very well. Corporations are all in it for themselves, as are politicians. We all know and expect that. However we are told daily in the (corporate or government owned) media that the scientific debate is over and consensus has been achieved, aren’t we? But has it?

Where do scientists get their research grants from? And who wouldn’t like to attend all expenses paid junkets, sorry conferences, in exotic locations?

Can you think of previous times in human history when we were told the debate was over, and that we knew everything there was possible to know on a subject?

But surely if there were scientists out there who didn’t agree with the “consensus” they would speak up? Well many of them do. And what do you hear through the media? A deafening silence? Is this a conspiracy, or just a simple fact of media life that “scare” sells? “We’re not all doomed after all” doesn’t really sell papers!

Ultimately we are to blame for this whole debacle. Whether it is purely CO2 induced or not, we know we aren’t living in harmony with our planet. Up until about 10,000 years ago we lived in harmony with our environment, and if we didn’t we would pay the ultimate price. However, we see all around us that this beautiful, life giving planet is straining, and we are clearly to blame. Whether it is extinctions, deforestation, pollution or water shortages, mankind’s hand is clear.