tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314123951617104057.post2100034575396070160..comments2024-03-24T18:37:46.365-04:00Comments on Oikonomia: Climate Change Debate Demands “Good Science”John Silviushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665785198658403584noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314123951617104057.post-25755345170300529452009-12-08T16:56:00.736-05:002009-12-08T16:56:00.736-05:00People know me as the Christian environmental stud...People know me as the Christian environmental studies teacher and I am occasionally asked for my opinion regarding current environmental topics. Such was the case twice this past week when unrelated people wanted to know what I thought about "Climategate."<br /><br /> I usually side with traditional environmentalists on most issues. I love the idea of land conservation, smart growth and especially clean energy. You see, as native of Western Pennsylvania I have lived my whole life next to a dead stream--the result of the coal mining that took place in the hills above my house before I was even born. I never saw my stream healthy and can only guess at what fish, salamanders, frogs, and toads may have called it home. I consider this to be an extreme rip-off to me from the people who once lived here. What right did they have to do this to this land? They took what they wanted and left! This stream has run, as it were, as a silent witness to me of the potential destructiveness of extractive mining. I wonder if the coal that was burned up so long ago really made people happy and added value to their lives. I tend to doubt it since I don't see people enjoying their lives any more today because they can easily and cheaply satisfy their electicity, transportation, and heating desires with fossil fuels. Frankly, I dislike fossil fuels and believe we'd all be a lot better off if we moved away from them as quickly as possible. Don't get me started on mountaintop removal!<br /><br /> I say all this to show why I have a basic affinity for any effort people make toward more sustainable living. As a conservative I have many friends who are 100% convinced that climate change is not happening, and if it is it is not "anthropogenic" (human induced). They forward emails to us, and some of them can get down right ugly, especially when Al Gore's name comes up. I don't like this "tone." I believe that we have a higher calling as Christians and taking pot shots at people does not conform to that calling. Perhaps this is why I tend to shy away from legitimate criticism of the junk science that actually underpins much of the climate change debate. <br /><br /> Thank you, Dr. Silvius, for the excellent discussions you referenced in your post. I knew that my jury could not remain out indefinitely and I had to take the plunge and really look into these issues, especially on the eve of Copenhagen. The discussion of the Lysenko Affair was particularly enlightening. He was marginalized because he didn't tow the party line. Many of the climate change skeptics of today face similar censure from the scientific elite. I am also reminded of how Galileo was ordered to renounce his views on heliocentrism. He could not. <br /><br /> I told my husband I couldn't really believe that "scientists" would lie--what about peer review? What about the scientific method? Didn't any of this mean anything? He simply said that human nature has not changed and to follow the money. After working through this information together last night and seeing how right on the money he has been my husband was quick, of course, to point out that he had come up with his conclusions before seeing the information.<br /><br /> I don't see why scientists need to trump up reasons for the world to get serious about sustainability. The problem of biodiversity loss alone ought to be big enough and scary enough to force positive environmental change. There's plenty of sound science to back it up. I'm still not sure about climate change, but I intend to be like the Bereans and continue searching out answers.tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10550149844169879048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314123951617104057.post-54855160134094656122009-12-07T10:41:07.890-05:002009-12-07T10:41:07.890-05:00It is saddening to read about the alledged climate...It is saddening to read about the alledged climate change cover up. Climatologists must step forward and be honest about conflicting climate change evidence. If they don't, they, and the larger scientific community, may lose the authority to speak on any issue that has political or economic ramifications. <br /><br />This loss of authority would be a tragedy-- as Dr. Silvius pointed out, science helps define our view of the world. As Christians, we believe that God created the world, and all the amazing details and processes the world contains. If science lost its credibility, the Christian community would lose an ally that helps reveal God's character through His creation.<br /><br />This scandal is a shame and a loss to the secular science community, but no less to those who view the fruits of scientific research as a valuable tool to steer others to God.Jessicah Zehringnoreply@blogger.com