The Black Informant

Sounds crazy, right? But when I went to the CNN web page this morning, I clicked on their daily Quick Vote section and saw the following question:

Do you think global warming has led to more frequent and intense storms?

Now, it just so happens that Bush declined to get the US fully involved in the Kyoto Protocol agreement partially because other developing countries that are just as guilty as the US in emitting gas emissions that supposedly destroy the ozone layer were left off of the Kyoto list. The government website fueleconomy.gov gives a further explanation of the US’ response on Kyoto:

While the United States is the world’s largest emitter of man made greenhouse gases accounting for almost 20 percent of the world’s man-made greenhouse emissions, we also account for about one-quarter of the world’s economic output. We recognize the responsibility to reduce our emissions. We also recognize the other part of the story — that the rest of the world emits 80 percent of all greenhouse gases. And many of those emissions come from developing countries.

This is a challenge that requires a 100 percent effort; ours, and the rest of the world’s. The world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is China. Yet, China was entirely exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.

India and Germany are among the top emitters. Yet, India was also exempt from Kyoto. These and other developing countries that are experiencing rapid growth face challenges in reducing their emissions without harming their economies. We want to work cooperatively with these countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions and maintain economic growth. [emphasis from me] (full article)

It might sound as though that I am reading a little bit too much in that poll question; however, given spinNN’s (CNN) proven track record of putting a spin on the news they report, the timing of the question, and the fact that we are just seeing the beginning of nasty ad season, don’t be too surprised to see this subject come up again.

Fox news posted something on the whole global warming thing that kinda sums up how I feel about it:

From 1953 to 1991, an average of 768 tornadoes were reported per year, but since 1990, records list over 1,000 tornadoes each year … Spring is tornado season, with about 50 percent for all reported tornadoes occurring from April through June,” adds NCAR.

Five hundred-plus tornadoes may be a record for a single month, but it’s not so unusual after all.

As to India’s killer heat wave, it sounds like the Indians need more economic development so that they can afford better living conditions and better medical care.

In contrast to India, temperatures hit 127 degrees in Palm Springs, Calif., this year with no reported heat-related deaths. You figure out what the difference is.

If there is a “weapon of mass destruction” associated with global warming, it’s the global warmers themselves. Their preferred policy of energy regulation and restriction would reduce economic progress and development, especially in the third world. (full article)

I do acknowledge that businesses need to develop cleaner ways to develop their products; however, the rest of the world (who is just as guilty as the US) should not list the United States as the sole guilty party.