Pseudo-scientific disinformation is continually floated around the Internet. Such disinformation is often accompanied by untrue, scurrilous attacks by notorious polluters against environmental organizations and against champions for the environment (e.g., Al Gore).
The same group of people who swift-boated John Kerry also work for corporations whose only goal seems to be to make more money -- the truth be damned, the environment be damned, human rights be damned, future generations be damned.
I recently received a bogus (spam) email from someone whom I know, and, that someone should have done a bit of diligence in checking out what they emailed me, which follows €¦
The message I received remains unchanged (with the exception that the original author sent the message in very large text and included one of those sappy smiley faces):
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Message sent to me:
Tom, you have probably seen this, so why did it remind me of you? How is the speaking coming along? (signed by sender - name withheld by me)|
For all of you out there in America and across the globe who have fought so hard to tackle the hideous enemy of our planet, namely carbon emissions, that bogus god you worship named "Climate Change" or "Global Warming", there is some really bad news that will be very painful for you to process. But it is my duty to pass it on to you anyway. Are you sitting down? Okay, here's the bombshell. The current volcanic eruption going on in Iceland, since it first started spewing volcanic ash a week ago, has, to this point, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet. Not only that, this single act of God has added emissions to the earth estimated to be 42 times more than can be corrected by the extreme human regulations proposed for annual reductions. I know, I know.... (have a group hug)...it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up til midnight to finish your kid's "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, going on vacation to a city park instead of Yosemite, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your $1 light bulbs with $10 light bulbs ...well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just the past week. The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in the past week has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And, those hundreds of thousands of American jobs you helped move to Asia with expensive emissions demands on businesses... you know, the ones that are creating even more emissions than when they were creating American jobs, well that must seem really worthwhile now. I'm so sorry. And I do wish that there was some kind of a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud but the fact of the matter is that the brush fire season across the western U.S.A. will start in about two months and those fires will negate your efforts to reduce carbon emissions in our world for the next two years. So, grab a Coke, give the world a hug, and have a nice day! Especially you Al Gore, you dip shit ! |
My reply to sender:
I don't know you well enough to understand the intention behind your forwarding this to me. Out of respect to you and your intelligence, I am reserving judgment on your intention.
It is written by someone who is quite antagonistic and probably equally as uneducated as that person is antagonistic.
It is fraught with lame argument and mistruths.
Please explain to me whether you find yourself supporting the message this writer (or writers) communicates or whether you find it as asinine as I do.
The public speaking is going well.
Tom
To which SENDER replied:
Have no idea who wrote it or its alleged truthfulness. Just thought you would find it humorous. More interested in how you are doing so glad to hear it is going well. Oh and if you have some real data to refute the volcano stuff then send it and I'll send it to where I got it.
Best, Sender
To which I again replied:
Dear Sender
I'm forwarding to you several web references to support the position that the volcanic plume may actually cause a cooling effect. As well, the grounding of European flights has reduced CO2 emissions significantly below the increased emissions effect caused by the volcanic eruption. I don't have the science background or knowledge to jump on that bandwagon, and will let the science community establish that position. They are much more capable in that regard than I.
What I do know is this:
At 6+ billion population and growing, human activity and over-consumption is burdening our planet's ability to sustain itself for human existence. Volcanoes and other natural processes will occur. We must do all we can to sustain the planet for future generations. It is the right thing, and the responsible thing to do for our progeny.
At the bottom of the "update" message you sent me originally, the message carried this paragraph:
"This message from BLANK COMPANY, and any attached files may contain information that is confidential and/or subject of legal privilege intended only for the use by the intended recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering the message to an intended recipient, be advised that you have received this message in error and that any dissemination, copying or use of this message or attachment is strictly forbidden, as is the disclosure of the information therein. If you have received this message in error please notify the sender immediately and delete the message."
I asked one of my support staff to search the website of the BLANK Company. I notice one of their clients is a rather large oil company. That company is one of those great naysayers that is constantly discrediting the community that supports the idea that global warming is a reality. Might this be a stretch to assume said oil company is behind the sending of the message? Maybe.
Also, the volcano image that was part of the message showed a source which we checked out. At that email address is listed as part of a scam warning.
Please be careful in forwarding these emails. You have a highly respected reputation and your good credibility isn't worth risking in this manner.
Tom
Helpful links referencing a possible cooling effect from the Icelandic volcano eruption:
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2010/04/could-icelands-volcano-slow-global-warming/39066/
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/04/20/the-ash-cloud-s-silver-lining.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/19/eyjafjallajokull-volcano-climate-carbon-emissions
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When this type of communication is sent so freely and irresponsibly, it harms all of us.
That harm manifests itself in the following ways:
Many recipients of this type communication come away more confused, and rather than taking positive, sustainable actions, do nothing.
- It encourages those who are uneducated and reactionary about our planet's current un-sustainable condition, to be even more irresponsible in their daily actions.
- It allows abusive, irresponsible corporations to continue their abusive, irresponsible practices.
- It feeds those who are likely to do nothing about our planet's current state of un-sustainability, and, even worse, continue doing harm that only degrades Mother Earth's condition further.
When you receive messages such as the message that prompted my response and this blog, do your research, and let the sender know they are only contributing to the harm we are causing our planet and the future our children and their children will inherit.
The evidence is clear. We are burdening our planet, our garden, beyond her capacity to heal herself for our continued healthy and whole existence.
I'm currently reading Michael C. Ruppert's Confronting Collapse. Pick up a copy for yourself and share the knowledge with others you know.