BBC as cheerleader for Global Warming

OK, perhaps its just me. I just checked the dictionary and "evidence" is described as follows: "To render evident. To prove".

OK, the BBC website which today ran its usual pro-Global Warming agenda helpfully supported by a link to Climate Change - EVIDENCE. So with due excitement I approached the "Evidence" upon which we are being told to spend Trillions of dollars.

• Its getting warmer.
  
  A helpful graph which shows it is warmer now than in the last 200 years. Rather unfortunately it does not point out that in about 300 years ago, the Earth was experiencing the ''Little Ice Age.'' It had descended into this relatively cool period from a warm interval about 1,000 years ago known as the ''Medieval Climate Optimum.'' During the Medieval Climate Optimum, temperatures were warm enough to allow the colonization of Greenland. These colonies were abandoned after the onset of colder temperatures. For the past 300 years, global temperatures have been recovering. They are still a little below the average for the past 3,000 years. The human historical record does not report ''global warming'' catastrophes, even though temperatures have been far higher during much of the last three millennia.
  
  
• Long Term Temperate Changes.
  
  OK, here we have the word "estimated". Forgive me if estimates ARE NOT EVIDENCE.
  
  
• Rising Sea Water.
  
  And here again we have estimates to 2100. Since when were estimates evidence?
  
  
• The artic ice cap is smaller.
  
  OK, another great graph where the timescale is everything. So what actual evidence do we have?
  
  "A landmark survey published in November 1997 concluded that although this warming has likely been influenced by natural forces, including decreased volcanic activity, increased solar irradiance and natural variability in the climate system itself, the best explanation for most of the warming after 1920 is increasing levels of greenhouse gases" -- which means we have many explanations.
  
  
• Fossil Fuel emmissions are up.
  
  So are the number of TV Channels. I can plot a graph demonstrating quite clearly that the number of TV channels available to the global population have risen sharply and continue to rise. It has happened over the same period as warming! Clearly evidence that global warming is caused by people watching too many TV channels.
  
  Yup.
  
  Is it me, or do people not understand the difference between correlation and causation?
  
  
• What if carbon emmissions were reduced?
  
  Now I am completely lost. In this section on "evidence for Global Warming" we have a set of graphs based on another set of computer projections.
  

So in summary, as we proceed down the path of spending huge sums of money, castigating politicans (e.g. Bush) who do not fall into line with conventional wisdom, the BBC with all of its resources available presents the "Evidence" for man made global warming as follows:

1. Its getting warmer. Though it was warmer still 500 years ago.
2. The ice cap is smaller (yawn)
3. Man creates CO2.
4. Man is capable of creating complex computer models.

Well, there we have it. Hold on to your wallets.

Words of Wisdom

Today a quote from Milton Friedman (which I recall from his book "Free to Choose).

" There are four ways in which you can spend money. You can spend your own money on yourself. When you do that, why then you really watch out what you’re doing, and you try to get the most for your money.

Then you can spend your own money on somebody else. For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I’m not so careful about the content of the present, but I’m very careful about the cost.

Then, I can spend somebody else’s money on myself. And if I spend somebody else’s money on myself, then I’m sure going to have a good lunch!

Finally, I can spend somebody else’s money on somebody else. And if I spend somebody else’s money on somebody else, I’m not concerned about how much it is, and I’m not concerned about what I get. And that’s government. And that’s close to 40% of our national income. "

Five reasons why the French are lost

The French are a great people and France is a great Nation. In the early 19th Century they ruled a continent and Napoleon is one of the worlds significant historical figures. Yet you can't help but think that by the end of the 20th Century they are a nation that has truly lost its way.

For a period they were able to use the muscle of the European Union as a vehicle for achieving their own ends. But that time has come and gone. They are now uncertain of Europe, they fear globalisation, their economy remains stuck in the mire and their President has lost the confidence of his people.

And in case there was any doubt, five reasons why the French are lost;

• They don't speak English
• They are hopelessly anti-American
• They often vote for Le Pen in large numbers
• They believe in the power of a large State
• De Villepin

If it wasn't for their food, they would have no redeeming features.