Question

"Environmental 'Science' Makes No Sense" "Well, the left-wing, environmentalist wackos have done it again! The so-called 'Environmental Conference' hosted by University 'X' last week was nothing more than a transparent attempt to indoctrinate the students and community with false information about the environment. Firstly, the environmentalists claim that global warming is real, but that can't be true because there are parts of the world that are getting colder! That's why they've started calling it 'climate change' instead. Second, why were no persons who disagree with this supposed environmental 'science' invited to the conference? During my time there, I heard no speakers who oppose global warming or climate change. I guess none of these "green" loonies decided to invite any of them. Third, if we tried to affect climate change, the only thing that would happen would be economic disaster. Environmentalists want to pressure oil companies to find 'cleaner' sources of energy, and also to force businesses and schools to use 'greener' products and offer 'eco-friendly' services. But if we did those things, then we'll have less money than we do now. The government will have to control our lives more, and eventually we'll be living in a dictatorship ruled by the United Nations and we'll have no money to buy things, so the economy will destroyed. Why do they want to destroy America? Lastly, I noticed also that everyone who attended the conference was a liberal. The person I sat next to in the auditorium told me he was one, and I overheard some more people of the liberal persuasion talking about their love for Obama on the elevator when going to lunch. So those of you who, like me, are definitely not liberals (and no one really wants to be like those people, do they?) should ask themselves why they would want to waste their time at conferences such as this? For the rest of us true Americans, the choice is clear: either we oppose this liberal agenda with all our might or we can kiss American democracy goodbye. Sincerely, Citizen 'Y'" Write a letter to the editor that responds to the letter above. This letter should explain all the fallacies that are contained in citizen Y's letter. (Make sure that you not only mention the fallacies, but also explain why you think specific points in the letter are fallacious.)

Answer 1

Response:

To begin with, I'd like to appreciate the efforts you've taken into putting in words to express your discontentment about the so-called 'climate change' warriors in the conference that you've attended. It is kind of difficult to convince someone who is stubborn about an opinion. An opinion can change, but facts don't. And all facts, scientific or otherwise point to 'climate change'. As you mentioned yourself, some areas are getting colder! So, yes, there is a climate change happening. But the truth is, a single day's weather cannot tell us whether or not there is global shift. We could go on and on about the facts and figures we have about the CO2 levels in the air that are contributing to the heating up part of it, but that is of no use right now. What we do have to understand is, assuming that the facts are correct, if there is a continuous increase in temperature, how would we grow vegetables in future? Seeds wouldn't pollinate at all, how are we going to feed ourselves? I am least interested in trying to judge you for your opinions, but I do think that we need to educate ourselves about what is going on, in order to relate to it and feel the looming danger our ignorance may pose to us. Also, the fuel problem that you have addressed, it is important to understand that fuels such as oils are non-renewable, which means they are going to deplete and not come back for a long long time, whether it is today or after another 1000 years. So the quicker we make the transition to other alternative sources of energy, the better it is for us. Would you prefer to spend a 100 billion today or say, 1000 billion 10 years later? The argument about cost is just like this comparison. As for the argument that Global warming itself is a hoax, I'd advise you to take a look at the number of organizations that have scientific evidence and real data to support the fact that global warming is indeed real and is catching up very fast with us. It also proves that we, the human are responsible for this increase in temperature because of CO2 emissions. Some organizations are, NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies, National Academy of Sciences, Environmental Protection Agency and the American Meteorological Society. Also, a great example of the truth is the statement from oil companies themselves. Shell oil says and I quote, "Shell shares the widespread concern that the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities is leading to changes in the global climate."

I think it is sufficient to say that global warming, or climate change is very real whether you want to believe it or not. For one day when we struggle to find food to eat, probably this conversation will be remembered.