iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--TCI: Taxing the Poor to Benefit the Rich

“ I think TCI is just taxing poor people so that we can subsidize rich people ’ s electric cars.
” So said New Jersey ’ s Maria Lopez-Nuñez , Deputy Director , Organizing and Advocacy for the Ironbound Community Corporation .
She was speaking during an online seminar September 29 organized by Transportation and Climate Initiative advocates .
That particular comment can be heard at about 3:10 into this recording of her speech .
The full meeting is recorded here , and her remarks start at about 1hour and 43 minutes in .
Listen to her whole speech if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow and you will learn she was not alone .
Lopez-Nunez is dead on correct that TCI imposes a major and very regressive tax to deliver minor reductions in CO2 emissions , and that moving people into electric cars merely moves the source of CO2 emissions from the roads to the power plants .
Run the projected CO2 emissions savings from TCI through the climate change models at the heart of this whole worldwide debate and the result is infinitesimal changes in the feared future temperature increases .
Selling this as saving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push is on to find a new rationale .
The effort to make that “ environmental justice ” by targeting the tax money to their causes is not being well received .
Earlier this week , Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts indicated he and other governors are reconsidering this new tax and cap scheme for fuels in the middle of a deep recession .
The discontent flowing back from the low-income , racial-justice and environmental-justice crowd TCI sought to recruit may also be weighing on their minds .
That is a typical used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TCI carbon tax extracted from all gas or diesel purchases would be subsidies for electric cars .
Our Governor Ralph Northam has said nothing about his plans in Virginia , or whether he was one of those Baker was discussing .
The Virginia media is not asking .
Despite the short time left before the session , the actual memorandum of understanding is still being held secret .
Lopez-Nunez ’ s comments during the meeting were followed by a formal call from her organization for New Jersey to reject membership in the 12-state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her group ’ s denunciation was joined by Clean Water Action New Jersey and NJ Environmental Justice Alliance .
Their complaints are spelled out in a release .
They state TCI : • Fails to mandate pollution reductions .
TCI ’ s reliance on direct and indirect trading is likely to disproportionately impact EJ communities — calling TCI “ cap and invest ” rather than “ cap and trade ” doesn ’ t change that .
• Proceeds are not put in a lock box .
There is no guarantee that funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
History is almost certain to repeat itself regardless of who is in office.Billions of dollars of “ dedicated ” funds have been raided from NJ programs like NJ Transit , Clean Energy , lead mitigation , and more for unintended purposes .
• Commitment to “ transparency ” and “ equity ” rings hollow and has , in the past , failed to create a meaningful decision making role for EJ voices .
• Imposes a regressive gas tax fee structure , not a true polluter-pay mechanism .
Despite recent increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost will be passed on to those that can least afford a tax hike or an electric car , instead of making companies pay for their pollution and contribution to climate change .
• Better solutions exist .
Federal and state regulatory and financial authority is already substantial and more effective .
“ TCI to date has been tone deaf at best and racist at worst , ” Lopez-Nunez is quoted in the release .
“ The world is on fire and we need bold , visionary solutions that center those most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We will not settle for half measures that uphold decades of bad policy development in the way TCI has.
” The 2021 Virginia General Assembly will be asked to authorize Virginia ’ s membership in TCI .
It should be done in legislation , but there is a chance the Northam Administration will try to sneak it through with budget language .
The basic workings of the compact have been explained before and will be again , but many details are still shrouded in that missing MOU .
Will we see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote ?
The first carbon tax to be imposed on Virginians , part of a similar interstate compact known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative , will add about 2 % to electric bills starting next summer .
Early information from TCI has mentioned that the carbon allowance will add about 17 cents per gallon to the price of gasoline ( about an 8 % increase ) , but its own internal documents point to a first year cost more like 20 cents per gallon , growing to more than 30 cents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy projected 33 cents per gallon .
The proposed 25-percent reduction in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels will be accomplished not by the tax , but by a cap on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel within the Maine to Virginia region .
The number of allowances available under the cap to fuel wholesalers will slowly shrink .
With a market move already underway to electric or hybrid vehicles , much of the goal will be achieved without this regime .

Reposted from baconsrebellion.com
New Jersey environmental justice advocate Maria Lopez-Nunez, lower left, speaks with organizers of the Transportation and Climate Initiative on September 29. Hear her here.
Posted on November 20, 2020
By Steve Haner
“I think TCI is just taxing poor people so that we can subsidize rich people’s electric cars.”
So said New Jersey’s Maria Lopez-Nuñez, Deputy Director, Organizing and Advocacy for the Ironbound Community Corporation. She was speaking during an online seminar September 29 organized by Transportation and Climate Initiative advocates.
That particular comment can be heard at about 3:10 into this recording
of her speech. The full meeting is recorded here, and her remarks start at about 1hour and 43 minutes in. Listen to her whole speech if you can. Listen to those that follow and you will learn she was not alone.
Lopez-Nunez is dead on correct that TCI imposes a major and very regressive tax to deliver minor reductions in CO2 emissions, and that moving people into electric cars merely moves the source of CO2 emissions from the roads to the power plants.
Run the projected CO2 emissions savings from TCI through the climate change models at the heart of this whole worldwide debate and the result is infinitesimal changes in the feared future temperature increases. Selling this as saving the planet is not credible, so the push is on to find a new rationale. The effort to make that “environmental justice” by targeting the tax money to their causes is not being well received.
Earlier this week, Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts indicated he and other governors are reconsidering this new tax and cap scheme for fuels in the middle of a deep recession. The discontent flowing back from the low-income, racial-justice and environmental-justice crowd TCI sought to recruit may also be weighing on their minds.
That is a typical used price. One promoted use of the TCI carbon tax extracted from all gas or diesel purchases would be subsidies for electric cars.
Our Governor Ralph Northam has said nothing about his plans in Virginia, or whether he was one of those Baker was discussing. The Virginia media is not asking. Despite the short time left before the session, the actual memorandum of understanding is still being held secret.
Lopez-Nunez’s comments during the meeting were followed by a formal call from her organization for New Jersey to reject membership in the 12-state compact with its carbon tax on gasoline. Her group’s denunciation was joined by Clean Water Action New Jersey and NJ Environmental Justice Alliance.
Their complaints are spelled out in a release. They state TCI:
Fails to mandate pollution reductions . TCI’s reliance on direct and indirect trading is likely to disproportionately impact EJ communities — calling TCI “cap and invest” rather than “cap and trade” doesn’t change that.
. TCI’s reliance on direct and indirect trading is likely to disproportionately impact EJ communities — calling TCI “cap and invest” rather than “cap and trade” doesn’t change that. Proceeds are not put in a lock box. There is no guarantee that funds collected will benefit climate initiatives and EJ communities. History is almost certain to repeat itself regardless of who is in office.Billions of dollars of “dedicated” funds have been raided from NJ programs like NJ Transit, Clean Energy, lead mitigation, and more for unintended purposes.
There is no guarantee that funds collected will benefit climate initiatives and EJ communities. History is almost certain to repeat itself regardless of who is in office.Billions of dollars of “dedicated” funds have been raided from NJ programs like NJ Transit, Clean Energy, lead mitigation, and more for unintended purposes. Commitment to “transparency” and “equity” rings hollow and has, in the past, failed to create a meaningful decision making role for EJ voices.
and has, in the past, failed to create a meaningful decision making role for EJ voices. Imposes a regressive gas tax fee structure, not a true polluter-pay mechanism. Despite recent increases to the gas tax and tolls, the cost will be passed on to those that can least afford a tax hike or an electric car, instead of making companies pay for their pollution and contribution to climate change.
Despite recent increases to the gas tax and tolls, the cost will be passed on to those that can least afford a tax hike or an electric car, instead of making companies pay for their pollution and contribution to climate change. Better solutions exist. Federal and state regulatory and financial authority is already substantial and more effective.
“TCI to date has been tone deaf at best and racist at worst,” Lopez-Nunez is quoted in the release. “The world is on fire and we need bold, visionary solutions that center those most directly impacted to build a just society. We will not settle for half measures that uphold decades of bad policy development in the way TCI has.”
The 2021 Virginia General Assembly will be asked to authorize Virginia’s membership in TCI. It should be done in legislation, but there is a chance the Northam Administration will try to sneak it through with budget language. The basic workings of the compact have been explained before and will be again, but many details are still shrouded in that missing MOU. Will we see it before or after the legislators are asked to vote?
The first carbon tax to be imposed on Virginians, part of a similar interstate compact known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, will add about 2% to electric bills starting next summer. Early information from TCI has mentioned that the carbon allowance will add about 17 cents per gallon to the price of gasoline (about an 8% increase), but its own internal documents point to a first year cost more like 20 cents per gallon, growing to more than 30 cents by 2032. A review requested by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy projected 33 cents per gallon.
The proposed 25-percent reduction in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels will be accomplished not by the tax, but by a cap on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel within the Maine to Virginia region. The number of allowances available under the cap to fuel wholesalers will slowly shrink. With a market move already underway to electric or hybrid vehicles, much of the goal will be achieved without this regime.
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iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--“We do not deny climate change”: Rupert Murdoch Responds to Accusations

Rupert Murdoch has responded to accusations from his son James and others that his news organisation promotes climate denial .
‘ We do not deny climate change ’ : Rupert Murdoch addresses son ’ s exit from board Rupert Murdoch has made his first public comments about the abrupt resignation of his son James Murdoch from News Corp ’ s board , rejecting assertions the company denies climate change or that he did not consider his son ’ s point of view .
At the company ’ s annual general meeting on Thursday morning ( AEDT ) , Mr Murdoch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of James Murdoch ’ s views on climate change and on US President Donald Trump .
James Murdoch has long been seen to have more progressive political views than his family and was critical of Trump in a New York Times interview in October .
“ Our board has many discussions , but James … claims that our papers have covered the bushfires in Australia without discussing climate change .
We do not deny climate change , we are not deniers , ” Mr Murdoch said .
Columns by Melbourne writer Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian Financial Review columnist ) Rowan Dean in the tabloids and former ASX chairman Maurice Newman in The Australian have described climate change as a “ cult ” and “ a socialist plot ” .
In a broadcast on News Corp-owned Sky News , Bolt criticised the “ constant stream of propaganda ” on the ABC about the climate crisis .
Tolerating diversity of opinion , in the form of allowing wildly popular Murdoch Media personality Andrew Bolt a platform , does not mean Murdoch agrees with everything Bolt says .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving their best journalists editorial freedom are no longer encouraged , at least when it comes to climate change .
Greens can be unforgiving of minor deviations from their dogma , even from people who helped found their movement .
Retired NASA scientist James Hansen , whose 1988 testimony pretty much kick started the climate movement , was accused of being a “ denier ” because he does not think renewables alone will be enough to curb global CO2 emissions .
It is difficult to imagine someone being more alarmist than James Hansen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin to boil if we don ’ t rapidly curb CO2 emissions .
But Hansen still faces accusations of being a “ denier ” , because he thinks nuclear power should be an important part of the solution to climate change .

Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Rupert Murdoch has responded to accusations from his son James and others that his news organisation promotes climate denial.
‘We do not deny climate change’: Rupert Murdoch addresses son’s exit from board By Zoe Samios
November 19, 2020 — 12.08pm Rupert Murdoch has made his first public comments about the abrupt resignation of his son James Murdoch from News Corp’s board, rejecting assertions the company denies climate change or that he did not consider his son’s point of view. … At the company’s annual general meeting on Thursday morning (AEDT), Mr Murdoch was asked why he did not accommodate some of James Murdoch’s views on climate change and on US President Donald Trump. James Murdoch has long been seen to have more progressive political views than his family and was critical of Trump in a New York Times interview in October. “Our board has many discussions, but James … claims that our papers have covered the bushfires in Australia without discussing climate change. We do not deny climate change, we are not deniers,” Mr Murdoch said. … Columns by Melbourne writer Andrew Bolt and Sky commentator (and The Australian Financial Review columnist) Rowan Dean in the tabloids and former ASX chairman Maurice Newman in The Australian have described climate change as a “cult” and “a socialist plot”. In a broadcast on News Corp-owned Sky News, Bolt criticised the “constant stream of propaganda” on the ABC about the climate crisis. … Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/we-are-not-climate-change-deniers-rupert-murdoch-addresses-son-s-exit-from-board-20201119-p56fy3.html
Tolerating diversity of opinion, in the form of allowing wildly popular Murdoch Media personality Andrew Bolt a platform, does not mean Murdoch agrees with everything Bolt says.
But I guess old fashioned ideas like news managers giving their best journalists editorial freedom are no longer encouraged, at least when it comes to climate change.
Greens can be unforgiving of minor deviations from their dogma, even from people who helped found their movement.
Retired NASA scientist James Hansen, whose 1988 testimony pretty much kick started the climate movement, was accused of being a “denier” because he does not think renewables alone will be enough to curb global CO2 emissions.
It is difficult to imagine someone being more alarmist than James Hansen; Hansen thinks the oceans will literally begin to boil if we don’t rapidly curb CO2 emissions. But Hansen still faces accusations of being a “denier”, because he thinks nuclear power should be an important part of the solution to climate change.
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iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-22--Notes from Under the Great Reset

Notes from Under the Great Reset

The Great Reset holds no fears for me .
As someone who has never owned a car and has been working from home since the sixties , I can afford to feel superior as the future tries hard to catch up with me .
The private jet set at Davos can preach all they like about the need to downsize .
I ’ ve been downsizing all my life .
If I downsize any more I will become a fundamental particle and my half life won ’ t be worth living .
There are articles everywhere about what the Future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and the masks are off .
Take , more or less at random , this one from Australia : Sharing economy : Why we will barely own anything in the future It doesn ’ t make sense to own a house full of stuff that we rarely use , right ?
Well rest assured because in the future we ’ ll simply rent everything .
In 2030 , if we need a ball gown , a grandparent to babysit our kids or a screwdriver to repair damage at home , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small fee and borrow one .
So , what ’ s new ?
I ’ ve never owned my own ball gown , even in the days when I could have afforded to ; I regularly call on a fellow senile citizen to replace me when the grandchildren need looking after ( the kids can ’ t tell the difference – we all look the same behind the wrinkles . )
And I also borrow screwdrivers .
The garage is full of them .
( And so is yours – admit it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the idea that I would go online and pay a small fee for such things .
There ’ s a conspiracy theory around that all this madness emanates from the World Economic Forum and its mastermind Klaus Schwab , in a fiendish attempt to seize control of the joysticks of power .
I ’ ve spent several hours on the WEF site , and lunatic though it is , I can ’ t believe it means harm .
It ’ s nothing but a kind of Rotary Club for the hyper rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; it ’ s looking for answers to the Big Questions , as we all are ; but I can ’ t believe it capable of producing this level of lunacy – not without help .
Take this phrase in the Australian article above : In 2030 , if we need .. a screwdriver to repair damage at home , we ’ ll simply go online..
Forget the weirdness of the idea of going on-line to borrow a screwdriver and ask yourself : who , among members of the human race , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage at home ?
” An Australian female journalist ?
Fie on you sir .
Klaus Schwab himself ?
He has staff to turn his pontifications into normal English .
No .
These two may never have handled a screwdriver or seen one up close in their lives , but they couldn ’ t commit such a solecism .
Only someone , or something , observing us from afar could come up with such an expression .
We are being watched by beings who , despite their superior intelligence , frequently have difficulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s he pushing that fine spatulate tool into the groove in that helical metallic cone ?
– He ’ s repairing damage to his home , Observer % ¥ # 5486 .
Now shut up and get on with your field work .
– Why ’ s he pushed that ballgown to the back of the wardrobe where no-one can see it ?
The number of times he wears it , it would be so much simpler to hire one .
and so on .
True , Klaus Schwab ’ s Weforum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idiocies , but the sheer number of them defies the explanation of human agency .
It ’ s not possible that so many mere humans could come up with such a volume of drooling nonsense .
They are receiving Aid from Elsewhere .
Take this article from 2016by Ida Auken , Member of the Danish Parliament : Welcome to 2030 .
I own nothing , have no privacy , and life has never been better Welcome to the year 2030 .
Welcome to my city – or should I say , “ our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own anything .
I don ’ t own a car .
I don ’ t own a house .
I don ’ t own any appliances or any clothes .
It might seem odd to you , but it makes perfect sense for us in this city .
Everything you considered a product , has now become a service .
We have access to transportation , accommodation , food and all the things we need in our daily lives .
One by one all these things became free , so it ended up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much .
As you can see , she owns no clothes or appliances .
The underwear she ’ s wearing ( sorry , you can ’ t see it , because WordPress insists we crop the photo ) was last worn by Klaus Schwab himself .
First communication became digitized and free to everyone .
Then , when clean energy became free , things started to move quickly .
Transportation dropped dramatically in price .
It made no sense for us to own cars anymore , because we could call a driverless vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within minutes .
We started transporting ourselves in a much more organized and coordinated way when public transport became easier , quicker and more convenient than the car .
Now I can hardly believe that we accepted congestion and traffic jams , not to mention the air pollution from combustion engines .
What were we thinking ?
What were we thinking ?
I can tell you what I was thinking .
That this article was written four years ago , and we ’ re 2/7ths or nearly a fifth of the way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t see any signs of “ transportation , accommodation , food and all the things we need in our daily lives ” becoming cheaper , let alone free .
The only thing that ’ s become free is access to digitised madness of the kind to be found on the WEF website .
And I was thinking too that , though I don ’ t own a car , I ’ m a keen user of other people ’ s .
Also taxis and Uber .
And one of the problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s own car is the tendency of one ’ s children to leave their favourite teddy down the back of the seat .
And the tendency of other people ’ s children to leave other stuff , like chewing gum and sick .
And what applies to cars applies to all the other stuff that ’ s cluttering up your life , like screwdrivers , underwear and grandparents .
You don ’ t know where they ’ ve been .
And the advantage of having your own underwear , grandparents and screwdriver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve been , and where they are now .
Near to you , at least emotionally , if not physically .
Of course , in this digitalised world , you don ’ t know where anything ’ s been , whether it ’ s information on Wikipaedia or Danish MPs .
Maybe that doesn ’ t bother them in the Danish parliament which , according to Wiki , is called the Folketing , which means the People ’ s Thing , and is pronounced ( again , according to Wiki ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk .
I ’ m more and more persuaded that this stuff is coming from Out There Somewhere .
They ’ re up there in their coal-fired Unidentified Flying Objects , trying to divest us of our fossil fuels , and sending messages via odd folketing like Ida Auken .
Ida Auken ’ s 2016 article is titled : “ Shopping : I can ’ t really remember what that is.
” How very prophetic of her .
But don ’ t listen .
Like another famous Dane , she ’ s not @ @ @ @

The Great Reset holds no fears for me. As someone who has never owned a car and has been working from home since the sixties, I can afford to feel superior as the future tries hard to catch up with me. The private jet set at Davos can preach all they like about the need to downsize. I’ve been downsizing all my life. If I downsize any more I will become a fundamental particle and my half life won’t be worth living.
There are articles everywhere about what the Future Holds in Store once the jab is up and the masks are off. Take, more or less at random, this one from Australia:
Sharing economy: Why we will barely own anything in the future
It doesn’t make sense to own a house full of stuff that we rarely use, right? Well rest assured because in the future we’ll simply rent everything. In 2030, if we need a ball gown, a grandparent to babysit our kids or a screwdriver to repair damage at home, we’ll simply go online, pay a small fee and borrow one.
So, what’s new? I’ve never owned my own ball gown, even in the days when I could have afforded to; I regularly call on a fellow senile citizen to replace me when the grandchildren need looking after (the kids can’t tell the difference – we all look the same behind the wrinkles.) And I also borrow screwdrivers. The garage is full of them. (And so is yours – admit it.) The bonkers thing about this article is the idea that I would go online and pay a small fee for such things.
There’s a conspiracy theory around that all this madness emanates from the World Economic Forum and its mastermind Klaus Schwab, in a fiendish attempt to seize control of the joysticks of power. I’ve spent several hours on the WEF site, and lunatic though it is, I can’t believe it means harm. It’s nothing but a kind of Rotary Club for the hyper rich and terminally bored. It means well; it’s looking for answers to the Big Questions, as we all are; but I can’t believe it capable of producing this level of lunacy – not without help.
Take this phrase in the Australian article above:
In 2030, if we need .. a screwdriver to repair damage at home, we’ll simply go online..
Forget the weirdness of the idea of going on-line to borrow a screwdriver and ask yourself: who, among members of the human race, could call a screwdriver something “to repair damage at home?” An Australian female journalist? Fie on you sir. Klaus Schwab himself? He has staff to turn his pontifications into normal English.
No. These two may never have handled a screwdriver or seen one up close in their lives, but they couldn’t commit such a solecism. Only someone, or something, observing us from afar could come up with such an expression. We are being watched by beings who, despite their superior intelligence, frequently have difficulty in interpreting our behaviour.
– Why’s he pushing that fine spatulate tool into the groove in that helical metallic cone?
– He’s repairing damage to his home, Observer %¥#5486. Now shut up and get on with your field work.
– Why’s he pushed that ballgown to the back of the wardrobe where no-one can see it? The number of times he wears it, it would be so much simpler to hire one.
and so on.
True, Klaus Schwab’s Weforum site is a prime source of such idiocies, but the sheer number of them defies the explanation of human agency. It’s not possible that so many mere humans could come up with such a volume of drooling nonsense. They are receiving Aid from Elsewhere.
Take this article from 2016by Ida Auken, Member of the Danish Parliament:
Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better
Welcome to the year 2030. Welcome to my city – or should I say, “our city”. I don’t own anything. I don’t own a car. I don’t own a house. I don’t own any appliances or any clothes. It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service. We have access to transportation, accommodation, food and all the things we need in our daily lives. One by one all these things became free, so it ended up not making sense for us to own much.
Here’s a photo of Ida.
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kendte/danmark/politik/ida-auken-kaempede-med-svaer-beslutning
As you can see, she owns no clothes or appliances. The underwear she’s wearing (sorry, you can’t see it, because WordPress insists we crop the photo) was last worn by Klaus Schwab himself.
First communication became digitized and free to everyone. Then, when clean energy became free, things started to move quickly. Transportation dropped dramatically in price. It made no sense for us to own cars anymore, because we could call a driverless vehicle or a flying car for longer journeys within minutes. We started transporting ourselves in a much more organized and coordinated way when public transport became easier, quicker and more convenient than the car. Now I can hardly believe that we accepted congestion and traffic jams, not to mention the air pollution from combustion engines. What were we thinking?
What were we thinking? I can tell you what I was thinking. That this article was written four years ago, and we’re 2/7ths or nearly a fifth of the way to Ida’s Utopia, and I don’t see any signs of “transportation, accommodation, food and all the things we need in our daily lives” becoming cheaper, let alone free. The only thing that’s become free is access to digitised madness of the kind to be found on the WEF website.
And I was thinking too that, though I don’t own a car, I’m a keen user of other people’s. Also taxis and Uber. And one of the problems I can see with not owning one’s own car is the tendency of one’s children to leave their favourite teddy down the back of the seat.
And the tendency of other people’s children to leave other stuff, like chewing gum and sick. And what applies to cars applies to all the other stuff that’s cluttering up your life, like screwdrivers, underwear and grandparents. You don’t know where they’ve been. And the advantage of having your own underwear, grandparents and screwdriver is precisely that you do know where they’ve been, and where they are now. Near to you, at least emotionally, if not physically.
Of course, in this digitalised world, you don’t know where anything’s been, whether it’s information on Wikipaedia or Danish MPs. Maybe that doesn’t bother them in the Danish parliament which, according to Wiki, is called the Folketing, which means the People’s Thing, and is pronounced (again, according to Wiki) [ˈfʌlkəˌtsʰe̝ŋˀð̩]
That’s extraterrestrial talk. I’m more and more persuaded that this stuff is coming from Out There Somewhere. They’re up there in their coal-fired Unidentified Flying Objects, trying to divest us of our fossil fuels, and sending messages via odd folketing like Ida Auken.
Ida Auken’s 2016 article is titled: “Shopping: I can’t really remember what that is.” How very prophetic of her. But don’t listen. Like another famous Dane, she’s not wearing any clothes.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--Sunspot Cycle 25 Could be Among the Strongest Ever, academic paper concludes

“ The sun exhibits a well-observed modulation in the number of spots on its disk over a period of about 11 years .
From the dawn of modern observational astronomy , sunspots have presented a challenge to understanding — their quasi-periodic variation in number , first noted 175 years ago , stimulates community-wide interest to this day .
A large number of techniques are able to explain the temporal landmarks , ( geometric ) shape , and amplitude of sunspot ‘ cycles ; ’ however , forecasting these features accurately in advance remains elusive .
“ Recent observationally motivated studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 22-year magnetic cycle and the production of the sunspot cycle landmarks and patterns , but not the amplitude of the sunspot cycle .
Using ( discrete ) Hilbert transforms on more than 270 years of ( monthly ) sunspot numbers , we robustly identify the so-called ‘ termination ’ events that mark the end of the previous 11-year sunspot cycle , the enhancement/acceleration of the present cycle , and the end of 22-year magnetic activity cycles .
Using these , we extract a relationship between the temporal spacing of terminators and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given this relationship and our prediction of a terminator event in 2020 , we deduce that Sunspot Cycle 25 could have a magnitude that rivals the top few since records began .
This outcome would be in stark contrast to the community consensus estimate of Sunspot Cycle 25 magnitude.
” See research paper here : Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and the Sunspot Number : Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude By Scott W. McIntosh , Sandra Chapman , Robert J. Leamon , Ricky Egeland and Nicholas W. Watkins , 14 Oct 2020 https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these links “ How does this affect “ global warming , cooling and ice age ” if sun plays a major role ?
” asks Ian .
“ If there is no Maunder minimum and expected cooling , how do we respond to potential increase of warming when the powers that be see it as anthropogenic , with no regard to the sun .
Food for thought.
” The post Sunspot Cycle 25 Could be Among the Strongest Ever , academic paper concludes appeared first on Ice Age Now .

As the abstract explains: “The sun exhibits a well-observed modulation in the number of spots on its disk over a period of about 11 years. From the dawn of modern observational astronomy, sunspots have presented a challenge to understanding — their quasi-periodic variation in number, first noted 175 years ago, stimulates community-wide interest to this day. A large number of techniques are able to explain the temporal landmarks, (geometric) shape, and amplitude of sunspot ‘cycles;’ however, forecasting these features accurately in advance remains elusive. “Recent observationally motivated studies have illustrated a relationship between the sun’s 22-year magnetic cycle and the production of the sunspot cycle landmarks and patterns, but not the amplitude of the sunspot cycle. Using (discrete) Hilbert transforms on more than 270 years of (monthly) sunspot numbers, we robustly identify the so-called ‘termination’ events that mark the end of the previous 11-year sunspot cycle, the enhancement/acceleration of the present cycle, and the end of 22-year magnetic activity cycles. Using these, we extract a relationship between the temporal spacing of terminators and the magnitude of sunspot cycles. “Given this relationship and our prediction of a terminator event in 2020, we deduce that Sunspot Cycle 25 could have a magnitude that rivals the top few since records began. This outcome would be in stark contrast to the community consensus estimate of Sunspot Cycle 25 magnitude.” http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2020-11-19 See research paper here:
Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude
By Scott W. McIntosh, Sandra Chapman, Robert J. Leamon, Ricky Egeland and Nicholas W. Watkins, 14 Oct 2020
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.15263.pdf Thanks to Ian A Kellman for these links “How does this affect “global warming, cooling and ice age” if sun plays a major role?” asks Ian. “If there is no Maunder minimum and expected cooling, how do we respond to potential increase of warming when the powers that be see it as anthropogenic, with no regard to the sun . Food for thought.” The post Sunspot Cycle 25 Could be Among the Strongest Ever, academic paper concludes appeared first on Ice Age Now.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--Plant evolves to become less visible to humans

A plant used in traditional Chinese medicine has evolved to become less visible to humans , new research shows .
Scientists found that Fritillaria delavayi plants , which live on rocky slopes of China ’ s Hengduan mountains , match their backgrounds most closely in areas where they are heavily harvested .
This suggests humans are “ driving ” evolution of this species into new colour forms because better-camouflaged plants have a higher chance of survival .
The study was carried out by the Kunming Institute of Botany ( Chinese Academy of Sciences ) and the University of Exeter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how humans can have such a direct and dramatic impact on the colouration of wild organisms , not just on their survival but on their evolution itself , ” said Professor Martin Stevens , of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter ’ s Penryn Campus in Cornwall .
“ Many plants seem to use camouflage to hide from herbivores that may eat them – but here we see camouflage evolving in response to human collectors .
“ It ’ s possible that humans have driven evolution of defensive strategies in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has examined this.
” In the new study , the researchers measured how closely plants from different populations matched their mountain environment and how easy they were to collect , and spoke to local people to estimate how much harvesting took place in each location .
They found that the level of camouflage in the plants was correlated with harvesting levels .
In a computer experiment , more-camouflaged plants also took longer to be detected by people .
Fritillaria delavayi is a perennial herb that has leaves – varying in colour from grey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young age , and produces a single flower per year after the fifth year .
The bulb of the fritillary species has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years , and high prices in recent years have led to increased harvesting .
“ Like other camouflaged plants we have studied , we thought the evolution of camouflage of this fritillary had been driven by herbivores , but we didn ’ t find such animals , ” said Dr Yang Niu , of the Kunming Institute of Botany .
“ Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Professor Hang Sun , of the Kunming Institute of Botany , added : “ Commercial harvesting is a much stronger selection pressure than many pressures in nature .
“ The current biodiversity status on the earth is shaped by both nature and by ourselves.
” The research was funded by Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Natural Science Foundation of China .
The paper , published in the journal Current Biology , is entitled : “ Commercial harvesting has driven the evolution of camouflage in an alpine plant .
”

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Research News
IMAGE: FRITILLARIA DELAVAYI IN A POPULATION WITH LOW HARVEST PRESSURE view more CREDIT: YANG NIU
A plant used in traditional Chinese medicine has evolved to become less visible to humans, new research shows.
Scientists found that Fritillaria delavayi plants, which live on rocky slopes of China’s Hengduan mountains, match their backgrounds most closely in areas where they are heavily harvested.
This suggests humans are “driving” evolution of this species into new colour forms because better-camouflaged plants have a higher chance of survival.
The study was carried out by the Kunming Institute of Botany (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and the University of Exeter.
“It’s remarkable to see how humans can have such a direct and dramatic impact on the colouration of wild organisms, not just on their survival but on their evolution itself,” said Professor Martin Stevens, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
“Many plants seem to use camouflage to hide from herbivores that may eat them – but here we see camouflage evolving in response to human collectors.
“It’s possible that humans have driven evolution of defensive strategies in other plant species, but surprisingly little research has examined this.”
In the new study, the researchers measured how closely plants from different populations matched their mountain environment and how easy they were to collect, and spoke to local people to estimate how much harvesting took place in each location.
They found that the level of camouflage in the plants was correlated with harvesting levels.
In a computer experiment, more-camouflaged plants also took longer to be detected by people.
Fritillaria delavayi is a perennial herb that has leaves – varying in colour from grey to brown to green – at a young age, and produces a single flower per year after the fifth year.
The bulb of the fritillary species has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years, and high prices in recent years have led to increased harvesting.
“Like other camouflaged plants we have studied, we thought the evolution of camouflage of this fritillary had been driven by herbivores, but we didn’t find such animals,” said Dr Yang Niu, of the Kunming Institute of Botany. “Then we realised humans could be the reason.”
Professor Hang Sun, of the Kunming Institute of Botany, added: “Commercial harvesting is a much stronger selection pressure than many pressures in nature. “The current biodiversity status on the earth is shaped by both nature and by ourselves.”
###
The research was funded by Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Natural Science Foundation of China.
The paper, published in the journal Current Biology, is entitled: “Commercial harvesting has driven the evolution of camouflage in an alpine plant.”
From EurekAlert!
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iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE “GREAT RESET”?

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE “GREAT RESET”?

is a journalist , writer , broadcaster and blogger .
His award winning blog can be found at https : //ift.tt/1l0qr4E .
He tweets on politics and world affairs @ NeilClark66 The World Economic Forum ’ s ‘ Great Reset ’ and associated Fourth Industrial Revolution would , if implemented , mean far deeper changes to our everyday lives than Brexit , yet is being pushed through without any proper debate .
Compare and contrast .
On the issue of whether Britain should leave the EU we ’ ve had : • Four years of debates in Parliament on how/when/under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , for the period May 2016 until March 2020 , it seemed MPs were talking about nothing else .
No one can say that Brexit , if it indeed finally happens at the end of this year , hasn ’ t been properly discussed , or that it hasn ’ t had democratic endorsement .
The ‘ Leave ’ side won the referendum vote and then in 2019 the Tory government was re-elected on the promise of ‘ Get Brexit Done ’ .
Traditional ‘ Red Wall ’ Labour seats went Tory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of Brexit .
Contrast this with the Great Reset/Fourth Industrial Revolution .
The UK government , like many others in the West , is clearly trying to implement the Klaus Schwab/WEF programme , under the guise of fighting a virus , but unlike Brexit , not only is there no public vote , there is not even a debate .
How can this be right ?
The Great Reset/4IR ( and the closely linked UN 2030 Agenda ) represents not only the most radical changes ever proposed in our lifetimes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IN HISTORY .
The Great Reset/4IR is actually about redefining what it means to be human .
For centuries , it has been accepted that man is a social animal .
That meeting up with other people is good for us .
That we have certain freedoms which are inalienable .
But the Great Reset/4IR threatens all of this .
Klaus Schwab says “ What the fourth industrial revolution will lead to is a fusion of our physical , digital and biological identity.
” Wow .
A fusion of our physical , digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transhumanism .
Cyborgs .
I Robot .
That represents a slightly bigger change to our lives than anything argued about in the Brexit negotiations .
So will the abolition of private property , except for a privileged few .
The WEF predicts that by 2030 , “ You ’ ll own nothing .
And you ’ ll be happy.
” Is this what the public really wants ?
Ditto a ‘ cashless society ’ ?
Humans have been using cash banknotes and coins for millennia , now we ’ re told they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a cashless society are truly terrifying as they mean anyone can be ‘ cut off ’ from the system for non-compliance .
Eliminate cash , and you eliminate freedom .
Then there are the draconian changes to our lives on the grounds of ‘ sustainability ’ .
The Conservatives had pledged to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars from 2040 .
But this week , Prime Minister Johnson , again without any public debate , brought the date forward to 2030 .
Again , where ’ s the democracy here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golden age of travel for ordinary people will be at an end .
The WEF has been promoting digital health passes raising the very real prospect that only those who have had Covid-19 vaccines or negative test results would be able to leave their country , or indeed attend a sporting or cultural event .
Combine that with the collapse of the airline industry , the mass closure of all but the most expensive hotels , the end of cheaper petrol-fuelled cars and the advent of ‘ smart ’ motorways where access can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be stuck in their homes .
But not , of course , Davos Man .
Davos Man doesn ’ t use Easy Jet .
Davos Man uses Private Jet .
He ’ ll still be flying to Switzerland to elite conferences where fellow billionaires discuss further how they can use hi-tech methods to restrict the travel of everyone else , to ‘ save the planet ’ .
What life would be like in Britain under the Great Reset was laid out for us in Boris Johnson ’ s ‘ socially distanced ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October .
It was an oration which could easily have been written by Klaus Schwab .
“ From internet shopping to working from home , it looks as though Covid has massively accelerated changes in the world of work… as old jobs are lost and as new jobs are created… The Covid crisis is a catalyst for change , ” Johnson enthused .
Previous generations were told that the world was their oyster , but under the Great Reset , horizons are much narrower .
“ Instead of being dragged on big commutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ start a business in their home town… and bring up their children in the neighbourhoods where they grew up themselves , ” Johnson went on .
But of course , the elites will still be moving around , it ’ s just the plebs who will be grounded .
The premise of the Great Reset is that there is absolutely no going back to the lives we enjoyed prior to March 2020 .
“ The people assume we are just going back to the good old world which we had and everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are used to normal in the old fashioned .
This is , let ’ s say , fiction , it will not happen , the cut which we have now is much too strong in order not to leave traces , ” says Schwab .
Now of course , some people might like the idea of working permanently from home ( that ’ s if they ’ re lucky enough to have a job ) , ordering everything they need online ( to arrive by drone ) , having to have a continually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owning nothing and having their biological , physical and digital identities ‘ fused ’ , but shouldn ’ t they be consulted about it first ?
And what about those of us who actually miss the ‘ old-fashioned ’ normal of mixing freely with people , of paying in cash , of driving petrol-fuelled cars wherever we want to go , and being in crowded pubs ?
Most of us care about the environment , but are suspicious that , like Covid-19 , ‘ sustainable development ’ has become a Trojan Horse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that most definitely are not to our benefit .
A referendum on the Great Reset/Fourth Industrial Revolution is urgently needed so that the ‘ Build Back Better ’ brigade can put their case directly to the electorate .
If what they are proposing really is so great , then what on earth are they frightened of ?

is a journalist, writer, broadcaster and blogger. His award winning blog can be found at https://ift.tt/1l0qr4E. He tweets on politics and world affairs @NeilClark66
The World Economic Forum’s ‘Great Reset’ and associated Fourth Industrial Revolution would, if implemented, mean far deeper changes to our everyday lives than Brexit, yet is being pushed through without any proper debate.
Compare and contrast. On the issue of whether Britain should leave the EU we’ve had:
A national referendum.
Four years of debates in Parliament on how/when/under what conditions we should leave.
In fact, for the period May 2016 until March 2020, it seemed MPs were talking about nothing else.
No one can say that Brexit, if it indeed finally happens at the end of this year, hasn’t been properly discussed, or that it hasn’t had democratic endorsement. The ‘Leave’ side won the referendum vote and then in 2019 the Tory government was re-elected on the promise of ‘Get Brexit Done’. Traditional ‘Red Wall’ Labour seats went Tory for the first time in 2019 largely because of Brexit.
Contrast this with the Great Reset/Fourth Industrial Revolution. The UK government, like many others in the West, is clearly trying to implement the Klaus Schwab/WEF programme, under the guise of fighting a virus, but unlike Brexit, not only is there no public vote, there is not even a debate.
How can this be right? The Great Reset/4IR (and the closely linked UN 2030 Agenda) represents not only the most radical changes ever proposed in our lifetimes, but the most radical changes to everyday life IN HISTORY.
The Great Reset/4IR is actually about redefining what it means to be human.
For centuries, it has been accepted that man is a social animal. That meeting up with other people is good for us. That we have certain freedoms which are inalienable. But the Great Reset/4IR threatens all of this.
Klaus Schwab says “What the fourth industrial revolution will lead to is a fusion of our physical, digital and biological identity.”
Wow. A fusion of our physical, digital and biological identity. That’s Transhumanism. Cyborgs. I Robot. That represents a slightly bigger change to our lives than anything argued about in the Brexit negotiations.
So will the abolition of private property, except for a privileged few. The WEF predicts that by 2030, “You’ll own nothing. And you’ll be happy.”
Is this what the public really wants? Ditto a ‘cashless society’? Humans have been using cash banknotes and coins for millennia, now we’re told they have to go. The civil liberties repercussions of a cashless society are truly terrifying as they mean anyone can be ‘cut off’ from the system for non-compliance. Eliminate cash, and you eliminate freedom.
Then there are the draconian changes to our lives on the grounds of ‘sustainability’. The Conservatives had pledged to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars from 2040. But this week, Prime Minister Johnson, again without any public debate, brought the date forward to 2030. Again, where’s the democracy here?
The Great Reset/4IR means that the golden age of travel for ordinary people will be at an end. The WEF has been promoting digital health passes raising the very real prospect that only those who have had Covid-19 vaccines or negative test results would be able to leave their country, or indeed attend a sporting or cultural event.
Combine that with the collapse of the airline industry, the mass closure of all but the most expensive hotels, the end of cheaper petrol-fuelled cars and the advent of ‘smart’ motorways where access can easily be restricted, and most people will be stuck in their homes. But not, of course, Davos Man. Davos Man doesn’t use Easy Jet. Davos Man uses Private Jet. He’ll still be flying to Switzerland to elite conferences where fellow billionaires discuss further how they can use hi-tech methods to restrict the travel of everyone else, to ‘save the planet’.
What life would be like in Britain under the Great Reset was laid out for us in Boris Johnson’s ‘socially distanced’ speech to the Tory Party Conference in October.
It was an oration which could easily have been written by Klaus Schwab. “From internet shopping to working from home, it looks as though Covid has massively accelerated changes in the world of work… as old jobs are lost and as new jobs are created… The Covid crisis is a catalyst for change,” Johnson enthused.
Previous generations were told that the world was their oyster, but under the Great Reset, horizons are much narrower. “Instead of being dragged on big commutes to the city,” people can “start a business in their home town… and bring up their children in the neighbourhoods where they grew up themselves,” Johnson went on. But of course, the elites will still be moving around, it’s just the plebs who will be grounded.
The premise of the Great Reset is that there is absolutely no going back to the lives we enjoyed prior to March 2020. “The people assume we are just going back to the good old world which we had and everything will be normal again in how we are used to normal in the old fashioned. This is, let’s say, fiction, it will not happen, the cut which we have now is much too strong in order not to leave traces,” says Schwab.
Now of course, some people might like the idea of working permanently from home (that’s if they’re lucky enough to have a job), ordering everything they need online (to arrive by drone), having to have a continually updated digitalised health pass to go anywhere, owning nothing and having their biological, physical and digital identities ‘fused’, but shouldn’t they be consulted about it first?
And what about those of us who actually miss the ‘old-fashioned’ normal of mixing freely with people, of paying in cash, of driving petrol-fuelled cars wherever we want to go, and being in crowded pubs? Most of us care about the environment, but are suspicious that, like Covid-19, ‘sustainable development’ has become a Trojan Horse to introduce regressive changes to our lives that most definitely are not to our benefit.
A referendum on the Great Reset/Fourth Industrial Revolution is urgently needed so that the ‘Build Back Better’ brigade can put their case directly to the electorate. If what they are proposing really is so great, then what on earth are they frightened of?


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--Heavy snowfall hits northeast China – Flights grounded, highways closed

Heilongjiang province ’ s meteorological center has issued a red alert for heavy snow , the highest in China ’ @ @ @ @ @ and upgraded the emergency response to the second-highest level .
19 Nov 2020 – Snowstorms @ @ @ @ @ province have grounded more than 187 flights at Harbin Taiping International Airport and forced expressways @ @ @ @ @ , local authorities said Thursday .
Snowfall of up to 25.8 mm was recorded in @ @ @ @ @ , bringing a blanket of snow 17 cm deep in some places , according to @ @ @ @ @ in Harbin , Heilongjiang ’ s provincial capital , said primary and middle schools and @ @ @ @ @ closed on Thursday due to heavy snowfall .
Traffic authorities said more than 10 expressways @ @ @ @ @ Laurel for this link “ Now lets see if covid ramps up in china for @ @ @ @ @ Laurel .
The post Heavy snowfall hits northeast China – Flights grounded , highways closed @ @ @ @ @ Now .

Heilongjiang province’s meteorological center has issued a red alert for heavy snow, the highest in China’s weather warning system, and upgraded the emergency response to the second-highest level.
19 Nov 2020 – Snowstorms in China’s northernmost province have grounded more than 187 flights at Harbin Taiping International Airport and forced expressways and schools to be closed, local authorities said Thursday.
Snowfall of up to 25.8 mm was recorded in cities including Harbin and Mudanjiang, bringing a blanket of snow 17 cm deep in some places, according to the center.
Educational authorities in Harbin, Heilongjiang’s provincial capital, said primary and middle schools and kindergartens in the city were closed on Thursday due to heavy snowfall.
Traffic authorities said more than 10 expressways were closed.
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-11/20/content_76929926.htm
Thanks to Laurel for this link
“Now lets see if covid ramps up in china for winter also,” says Laurel.
The post Heavy snowfall hits northeast China – Flights grounded, highways closed appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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November 21, 2020 at 03:44PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--The road to hell is paved with green intentions

Boris Johnson ’ s ‘ green industrial revolution ’ , which was announced this week , looks doomed from the outset .
From our heating to how we transport food , the proposals would mean a complete overhaul in the way we live .
Yet barely a word has been said about the immense practical difficulties involved in Johnson ’ s ten-point plan for Britain to go carbon neutral by 2050 .
Make no mistake , it will be close to impossible to achieve – and even trying could prove catastrophic .
Nowhere is the flaw in the government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the announcement that sales of new petrol , diesel and hybrid cars will be banned by 2030 .
There are more than 38.9 million cars , vans and lorries on our roads today .
We would likely need to build over ten million charging points – amounting to thousands a day between now and 2030 – to totally switch over to electric vehicles .
Is this really realistic ?
And can our current infrastructure cope with this surge in demand ?
Typical UK homes use a daily average of 2kW of electricity throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a peak of around 7kW during winter .
Most cars charge at 7kW for a typical eight hours , and get anything from 30 miles of range per hour for a small car , to less than 20 miles for a larger car .
In other words , every time an electric car is charged , it requires more than double the amount of electricity an average home uses now .
And faster chargers are not a solution , either , for they draw more current , which will cause infrastructure challenges.The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not justify the means .
In August 2019 , there were power cuts across Britain after a series of failures led to electricity outages .
The move towards electric vehicles and domestic heating based around electric heat pumps is going to increase demand and reliance upon the electricity grid .
Yet there was little detail on the wholescale upgrade to supply that will be required if Boris ’ s plan is to work smoothly .
Johnson ’ s green revolution would mean that we would need to completely upgrade electric wiring in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission lines .
To meet demand would require enormously costly upgrades to local electricity grids , which we would all ultimately pay for through higher energy bills .
If this really is part of the plan , then the government must be honest about who is to foot the bill .
We also won ’ t have to wait for long to see other massive infrastructure problems confronting us .
Many people don ’ t have the luxury of a driveway where they can charge their vehicles ; four in ten cars today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how , when , and where are these cars going to be charged ?
And what would electric vehicles mean for the haulage industry ?
Electric trucks will need to be charged for 24 hours , resulting in less time on the road , unless there is a huge infrastructure for battery swapping .
Then there is the problem with the nature of the batteries electric vehicles use .
How will we manufacture the gargantuan number required , for the UK , as well as the rest of the world , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build , maintain and dispose of these batteries on the scale required for an electric fleet of UK vehicles would mean the world ’ s supply of lithium , cobalt and nickel would need to increase overnight .
Who will ensure the correct number of batteries are available ?
And what happens if they are not ?
You won ’ t hear it from Extinction Rebellion , but the mining of cobalt often has a high human cost : children as young as six are among those already risking their lives in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with demand .
Even if the plan to go for electric-only new vehicles by 2030 succeeds , would it make any difference at all to the global climate ?
It ’ s unlikely , especially if 40 per cent of the world ’ s poorest population ( 50 times the UK population ) is still aspiring to a European standard of living , with greater energy consumption using mainly fossil fuels .
There is the awkward fact too that scrapping petrol cars and manufacturing new ones is no way to reduce emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more , it is highly unlikely that there will be any measurable change to the world ’ s climate as a direct consequence of all our actions in the UK .
In short , the end of our climate mitigation actions will not justify the means .
The post The road to hell is paved with green intentions appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( GWPF ) .

Boris Johnson’s ‘green industrial revolution’, which was announced this week, looks doomed from the outset.
From our heating to how we transport food, the proposals would mean a complete overhaul in the way we live. Yet barely a word has been said about the immense practical difficulties involved in Johnson’s ten-point plan for Britain to go carbon neutral by 2050. Make no mistake, it will be close to impossible to achieve – and even trying could prove catastrophic.
Nowhere is the flaw in the government’s plan more clearly exposed than in the announcement that sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars will be banned by 2030. There are more than 38.9 million cars, vans and lorries on our roads today. We would likely need to build over ten million charging points – amounting to thousands a day between now and 2030 – to totally switch over to electric vehicles. Is this really realistic?
And can our current infrastructure cope with this surge in demand? Typical UK homes use a daily average of 2kW of electricity throughout most of the year, which rises to a peak of around 7kW during winter. Most cars charge at 7kW for a typical eight hours, and get anything from 30 miles of range per hour for a small car, to less than 20 miles for a larger car. In other words, every time an electric car is charged, it requires more than double the amount of electricity an average home uses now. And faster chargers are not a solution, either, for they draw more current, which will cause infrastructure challenges.The end of our climate mitigation actions will not justify the means.
In August 2019, there were power cuts across Britain after a series of failures led to electricity outages. The move towards electric vehicles and domestic heating based around electric heat pumps is going to increase demand and reliance upon the electricity grid. Yet there was little detail on the wholescale upgrade to supply that will be required if Boris’s plan is to work smoothly.
Johnson’s green revolution would mean that we would need to completely upgrade electric wiring in our homes, streets, substations, and transmission lines. To meet demand would require enormously costly upgrades to local electricity grids, which we would all ultimately pay for through higher energy bills. If this really is part of the plan, then the government must be honest about who is to foot the bill.
We also won’t have to wait for long to see other massive infrastructure problems confronting us. Many people don’t have the luxury of a driveway where they can charge their vehicles; four in ten cars today are parked on the road. So how, when, and where are these cars going to be charged? And what would electric vehicles mean for the haulage industry? Electric trucks will need to be charged for 24 hours, resulting in less time on the road, unless there is a huge infrastructure for battery swapping.
Then there is the problem with the nature of the batteries electric vehicles use. How will we manufacture the gargantuan number required, for the UK, as well as the rest of the world, which is supposed to follow our lead? To build, maintain and dispose of these batteries on the scale required for an electric fleet of UK vehicles would mean the world’s supply of lithium, cobalt and nickel would need to increase overnight. Who will ensure the correct number of batteries are available? And what happens if they are not? You won’t hear it from Extinction Rebellion, but the mining of cobalt often has a high human cost: children as young as six are among those already risking their lives in the Congo to ensure that supply can keep up with demand.
Even if the plan to go for electric-only new vehicles by 2030 succeeds, would it make any difference at all to the global climate? It’s unlikely, especially if 40 per cent of the world’s poorest population (50 times the UK population) is still aspiring to a European standard of living, with greater energy consumption using mainly fossil fuels.
There is the awkward fact too that scrapping petrol cars and manufacturing new ones is no way to reduce emissions. And for the next 50 years or more, it is highly unlikely that there will be any measurable change to the world’s climate as a direct consequence of all our actions in the UK. In short, the end of our climate mitigation actions will not justify the means.
The post The road to hell is paved with green intentions appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
via The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF)
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November 21, 2020 at 03:23PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--Northwestern US snowpack now 200 – 400% above normal

With the mountain snow season in the Cascades off to a robust start and with La Nina giving consistent signs @ @ @ @ @ event this winter , it might be a good time to revisit Mt .
Baker @ @ @ @ @ , writes meteorologist Scott Sistek .
Washington State ’ s Mt Baker area recorded an @ @ @ @ @ some 22 years ago during the epic winter season of 1998-99 .
When that world-snowfall @ @ @ @ @ going into a la Nina like we are now , says Sistek , with NW @ @ @ @ @ 400 % above normal , Ski area is open and they ’ ve had almost @ @ @ @ @ ) of new snow in the last 8 days alone : “ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ start , ” the Mt Baker website pronounces , “ with over 90 inches of @ @ @ @ @ 8 days !
https : //www.mtbaker.us/snow-report Thanks to Oly for these links The post Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ 400 % above normal appeared first on Ice Age Now .

With the mountain snow season in the Cascades off to a robust start and with La Nina giving consistent signs it could become a strong event this winter, it might be a good time to revisit Mt. Baker’s world-record seasonal snowfall, writes meteorologist Scott Sistek.
Washington State’s Mt Baker area recorded an amazing 1,140 inches of snow some 22 years ago during the epic winter season of 1998-99.
When that world-snowfall record was set we were going into a la Nina like we are now, says Sistek, with NW snow pack now 200 – 400% above normal,
https://komonews.com/weather/scotts-weather-blog/the-story-of-how-mt-bakers-world-record-snowfall-22-years-ago-was-verified
31″ forecast there, next 10 days:
https://www.windy.com/-Show—add-more-layers/overlays?snowAccu,49.148,-122.201,8
Ski area is open and they’ve had almost 8 feet(228 cm) of new snow in the last 8 days alone:
“We’re off to a pretty incredible start,” the Mt Baker website pronounces, “with over 90 inches of snow falling in the past 8 days!
https://www.mtbaker.us/snow-report
Thanks to Oly for these links
The post Northwestern US snowpack now 200 – 400% above normal appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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November 21, 2020 at 01:44PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--Top Pathologist – COVID-19 is “The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated On An Unsuspecting Public”

It is simply “ outrageous ” to shut down society for “ just another bad flu , ” says virology expert .
The risk of death for people under the age of 65 is only “ one in three hundred thousand.
” “ There is utterly unfounded public hysteria driven by the media and politicians , ” Dr. Roger Hodkinson told government officials in Alberta .
“ It ’ s outrageous , this is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting public.
” The risk of death in the province of Alberta for people under the age of 65 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand , ” the doctor asserted .
It is simply “ outrageous ” to shut down society for what he called “ just another bad flu.
” “ Masks are utterly useless .
There is no evidence base for their effectiveness whatsoever , ” said Hodkinson , who noted that he was also an expert in virology .
Hodkinson pointed out that his role as CEO of a biotech company that manufactures COVID tests means , “ I might know a little bit about all this.
” “ Paper masks and fabric masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not even worn effectively most of the time .
It ’ s utterly ridiculous .
Seeing these unfortunate , uneducated people – I ’ m not saying that in a pejorative sense – seeing these people walking around like lemmings obeying without any knowledge base to put the mask on their face.
” According to the MedMalDoctors website : “ He received his general medical degrees from Cambridge University in the UK ( M.A.
, M.B.
, B .
Chir . )
where he was a scholar at Corpus Christi College .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ British Columbia he became a Royal College certified general pathologist ( FRCPC ) and also a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists ( FCAP ) .
” “ He is in good Standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta , and has been recognized by the Court of Queen ’ s Bench in Alberta as an expert in pathology.
” And according to Western Medical Assessments , Dr Hodkinson is : • General practitioner in the UK and Canada • Pathologist with the Medical Examiner ’ s Office in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta • President of the Alberta Society of Laboratory Physicians • Chairman of a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons committee in Ottawa Thanks to Jack Hydrazine for this link The post Top Pathologist – COVID-19 is “ The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated On An Unsuspecting Public ” appeared first on Ice Age Now .

It is simply “outrageous” to shut down society for “just another bad flu,” says virology expert. The risk of death for people under the age of 65 is only “one in three hundred thousand.”
“There is utterly unfounded public hysteria driven by the media and politicians,” Dr. Roger Hodkinson told government officials in Alberta. “It’s outrageous, this is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting public.”
The risk of death in the province of Alberta for people under the age of 65 is only “one in three hundred thousand,” the doctor asserted. It is simply “outrageous” to shut down society for what he called “just another bad flu.”
“Masks are utterly useless. There is no evidence base for their effectiveness whatsoever,” said Hodkinson, who noted that he was also an expert in virology.
Hodkinson pointed out that his role as CEO of a biotech company that manufactures COVID tests means, “I might know a little bit about all this.”
“Paper masks and fabric masks are simply virtue signalling. They’re not even worn effectively most of the time. It’s utterly ridiculous. Seeing these unfortunate, uneducated people – I’m not saying that in a pejorative sense – seeing these people walking around like lemmings obeying without any knowledge base to put the mask on their face.”
Is Dr Hodkinson credible? Beyond question.
According to the MedMalDoctors website:
“He received his general medical degrees from Cambridge University in the UK (M.A., M.B., B. Chir.) where he was a scholar at Corpus Christi College. Following a residency at the University of British Columbia he became a Royal College certified general pathologist (FRCPC) and also a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists (FCAP).”
“He is in good Standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, and has been recognized by the Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta as an expert in pathology.”
And according to Western Medical Assessments, Dr Hodkinson is:
General practitioner in the UK and Canada
Staff pathologist at the Misericordia Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta
Pathologist with the Medical Examiner’s Office in Edmonton determining the cause of death
Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta
President of the Alberta Society of Laboratory Physicians
Chairman of a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons committee in Ottawa
CEO of a large private medical laboratory in Edmonton, Alberta
See more:
https://www.corona-stocks.com/top-pathologist-claims-covid-19-is-the-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-an-unsuspecting-public/
Thanks to Jack Hydrazine for this link
The post Top Pathologist – COVID-19 is “The Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated On An Unsuspecting Public” appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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November 21, 2020 at 12:47PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--“Sinking” Maldives Clear Forests, Pave Beaches, To Construct Four New Airports For Future Tourism!

Reposted from The No Trick Zone Despite all the money-generating gloomy predictions of sinking islands , we reported in 2013 on how the Maldives was planning to build 30 new luxury hotels for future tourists .
The resort island of Landaa Giraavaru ( Baa atoll ) , photo by : Frédéric Ducarme – CC BY-SA 4.0 .
We recall how in 2012 , the former President of the Maldives Islands , Mohamed , Nasheed said : “ If carbon emissions continue at the rate they are climbing today , my country will be underwater in seven years.
” Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and remains popular with tourists like never before .
And to help with the job of ferrying the 1.7 million ( 2019 ) tourists to and from the resort islands , the Maldives have recently opened 4 new airports , according to German site Aero here !
No , the airports are not designed to evacuate tourists because sea levels are “ rapidly rising ” , as climate alarmists claim .
The airports are a long-term investment aimed at drawing in even more tourists and they are based on the projection that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unhindered operation in 30 or 50 years from now .
Obviously the catastrophic climate warnings are not being heeded .
Most likely these warnings are not really serious at all .
The Maldives comprise 1200 islands , which were made accessible through a total of ten airports .
However , they are not enough to handle the expected traffic .
So four new domestic airports would open this year alone , announced Transportation and Aviation Minister Aishath Nahula , The new airports will feature 2200 meter runways , thus allowing commercial passenger jets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aero , citing the Arabian Business news site , some 52 million dollars was financed by Abu Dhabi to cover the construction costs .
Environmentalists expressed anger at the project because “ forests had to be cut down and beaches concreted over ” .

Reposted from The No Trick Zone
By P Gosselin on 20. November 2020
Despite all the money-generating gloomy predictions of sinking islands, we reported in 2013 on how the Maldives was planning to build 30 new luxury hotels for future tourists.
The resort island of Landaa Giraavaru (Baa atoll), photo by: Frédéric Ducarme – CC BY-SA 4.0.
Underwater in 7 years?
We recall how in 2012, the former President of the Maldives Islands, Mohamed, Nasheed said: “If carbon emissions continue at the rate they are climbing today, my country will be underwater in seven years.”
4 new airports!
Well, today the islands have not gone underwater and remains popular with tourists like never before. And to help with the job of ferrying the 1.7 million (2019) tourists to and from the resort islands, the Maldives have recently opened 4 new airports, according to German site Aero here! .
Long-term investment defies alarmist claims
No, the airports are not designed to evacuate tourists because sea levels are “rapidly rising”, as climate alarmists claim. The airports are a long-term investment aimed at drawing in even more tourists and they are based on the projection that they’ll still be very much in unhindered operation in 30 or 50 years from now. Obviously the catastrophic climate warnings are not being heeded. Most likely these warnings are not really serious at all.
The Maldives comprise 1200 islands, which were made accessible through a total of ten airports. However, they are not enough to handle the expected traffic. So four new domestic airports would open this year alone, announced Transportation and Aviation Minister Aishath Nahula,
Deforestation, paved beaches
The new airports will feature 2200 meter runways, thus allowing commercial passenger jets to takeoff and land. According to Aero, citing the Arabian Business news site, some 52 million dollars was financed by Abu Dhabi to cover the construction costs.
Environmentalists expressed anger at the project because “forests had to be cut down and beaches concreted over”.
Hat-tip: Die kalte Sonne
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iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-21--1.35 Million Tonnes of “Hazardous Material”, Germany Admits No Plan To Recycle Used Wind Turbine Bla

1.35 Million Tonnes of “Hazardous Material”, Germany Admits No Plan To Recycle Used Wind Turbine Blades

Germany began installing wind turbines in earnest some 20 years ago .
Now that their lifetime has been exceeded , many are being ripped down .
But there ’ s a big problem about what to do with the leftover carbon and glass-fibre reinforced blades .
A recent report on ZDF German public television explains that currently there ’ s no plan in place on what to do with the turbine blades , which weigh up to 15 tonnes each .
There ’ s no way to recycle them to use as raw material for new blades .
Currently the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chips mixed in with concrete .
“ You need too much energy and power to shred them , ” says Hans-Dieter Wilcken , the operator of a German recycling company .
Burning them is also not an option .
The problem with chopping them up is that dangerous carbon fibre particles are produced and pose a threat to human health .
Used wind turbine blades have been designated hazardous waste and no one knows how to deal with them .
Currently 30,000 wind turbines are in operation across Germany and many will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
That volume alone means over a million tonnes of hazardous waste ( 30,000 turbines x 3 blades/turbine x 15 tonnes/blade = 1.35 million tonnes ) .
By 2100 , with wind turbine use expected to rise , millions of tonnes of non-recyclable hazardous waste will be left for future generations to deal with – that ’ s in Germany alone .
In the USA , Casper Wyoming is currently serving as a landfill for used blades , Bloomberg here reports : ‘ The wind turbine blade will be there , ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief operating officer for the North American unit of Paris-based Veolia Environnement SA , which is searching for better ways to deal with the massive waste .
‘ Most landfills are considered a dry tomb.
’ ‘ The last thing we want to do is create even more environmental challenges.
’ On top of the hazardous wind turbine blade waste , there ’ s also the problem of the massive steel reinforced turbine foundations , which are simply being swept under a layer of dirt as well .
These too will forever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water .
Future generations will wonder how dumb their ancestors must have been to opt for a form of energy that blighted the landscape , destroyed ecosystems over vast areas , killed avian wildlife , was an unreliable and expensive energy source , made nearby residents sick and left millions and millions of tonnes of waste behind .
Never mind ll the solar panel waste that is about to added to that .

Germany began installing wind turbines in earnest some 20 years ago. Now that their lifetime has been exceeded, many are being ripped down. But there’s a big problem about what to do with the leftover carbon and glass-fibre reinforced blades.
A recent report on ZDF German public television explains that currently there’s no plan in place on what to do with the turbine blades, which weigh up to 15 tonnes each.
There’s no way to recycle them to use as raw material for new blades. Currently the old blades are being shredded and the chips mixed in with concrete. “You need too much energy and power to shred them,” says Hans-Dieter Wilcken, the operator of a German recycling company.
Burning them is also not an option.
Hazardous waste
The problem with chopping them up is that dangerous carbon fibre particles are produced and pose a threat to human health. Used wind turbine blades have been designated hazardous waste and no one knows how to deal with them.
Currently 30,000 wind turbines are in operation across Germany and many will have to be dismantled over the next 20 years. That volume alone means over a million tonnes of hazardous waste (30,000 turbines x 3 blades/turbine x 15 tonnes/blade = 1.35 million tonnes).
By 2100, with wind turbine use expected to rise, millions of tonnes of non-recyclable hazardous waste will be left for future generations to deal with – that’s in Germany alone.
Bloomberg: Massive waste “forever”
In the USA, Casper Wyoming is currently serving as a landfill for used blades, Bloomberg here reports:
‘The wind turbine blade will be there, ultimately, forever,’ said Bob Cappadona, chief operating officer for the North American unit of Paris-based Veolia Environnement SA, which is searching for better ways to deal with the massive waste. ‘Most landfills are considered a dry tomb.’ ‘The last thing we want to do is create even more environmental challenges.’
On top of the hazardous wind turbine blade waste, there’s also the problem of the massive steel reinforced turbine foundations, which are simply being swept under a layer of dirt as well. These too will forever have an impact on ground and ground water.
Legacy of waste, breathtaking stupidity
Future generations will wonder how dumb their ancestors must have been to opt for a form of energy that blighted the landscape, destroyed ecosystems over vast areas, killed avian wildlife, was an unreliable and expensive energy source, made nearby residents sick and left millions and millions of tonnes of waste behind.
Never mind ll the solar panel waste that is about to added to that.
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November 21, 2020 at 11:16AM