tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post2089118847383153025..comments2024-03-27T21:31:59.376+00:00Comments on Chris Townsend Outdoors: Global Warming, Wind Farms and the WildChris Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-56472848404634470122009-12-31T14:30:05.294+00:002009-12-31T14:30:05.294+00:00Anonymous, who said no one should be allowed an al...Anonymous, who said no one should be allowed an alternate point of view? All I ask is that people bother to study the evidence and think about it rather than simply going with what is most convenient for them. Making broad based predictions on global temperatures in the future is vastly easier than predicting small shifts in weather over very short periods of time. And this summer was in fact Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-66904341398788557122009-12-31T06:54:40.009+00:002009-12-31T06:54:40.009+00:00Absolutely agree, why should anyone be allowed an...Absolutely agree, why should anyone be allowed an alternate point of view? We should all agree with the scintific consensus on global warming. After all look at the accuracy of the meteorlogical scientists predicting our barbecue summer and the mild winter we are witnessing,they should be able to predict global temps in 30 - 40 years witn the same accuracy surely?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-41894294600970682802009-12-27T06:23:55.610+00:002009-12-27T06:23:55.610+00:00Chris,
Well I wasn't following it, I just dro...Chris,<br /><br />Well I wasn't following it, I just dropped in to see your latest posts as I do every so often.<br /><br />What I find here is something that makes me sad. Several people have taken it upon themselves to attack a respected writer and photographer because he reveals that he accepts the generally accepted scientific conclusions on climate change. This is wholly unjustified and Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06549962761618400511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-8198389536039976082009-12-14T18:01:15.223+00:002009-12-14T18:01:15.223+00:00Chris, surely you cannot take Melanie Phillips ser...Chris, surely you cannot take Melanie Phillips seriously? <br /><br />The New Scientist is a science magazine, the Spectator is a right-wing political magazine. I know which I trust. There's a left wing political look here:<br /><br />http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/12/14/9845/<br /><br />Ben Goldacre's piece on his Bad Science website is good too. I'd trust him over Melanie Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-7521321434207265592009-12-14T17:54:54.826+00:002009-12-14T17:54:54.826+00:00The thing is the New Scientist would say that........The thing is the New Scientist would say that......just as the Spectator would say something different (<a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5632946/why-those-emails-are-lethal.thtml" rel="nofollow">here</a>) <br /><br />Is this discussion sterile now?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223657383325055342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-38591015929584316282009-12-14T17:39:39.628+00:002009-12-14T17:39:39.628+00:00Much stuff appearing now showing that those saying...Much stuff appearing now showing that those saying AGW isn't happening are wrong. New Scientist has a good piece which says: "If you believe climate sceptics, a huge body of evidence involving the work of tens of thousands of scientists over more than a century should be thrown out on the basis of the alleged misconduct of a handful of researchers, even though nothing in the hacked Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-2898372232332319422009-12-13T22:24:12.182+00:002009-12-13T22:24:12.182+00:00Anonymous said "the problem is the code"...Anonymous said "the problem is the code" re: the CRU climate data emails. Here's an article that shows it isn't:<br /><br />http://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2009/12/quote_mining_code.phpChris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-33126925183619821252009-12-12T22:24:55.092+00:002009-12-12T22:24:55.092+00:00Anonymous, there will of course be more turbines. ...Anonymous, there will of course be more turbines. It's too late to do anything about that. The question is where those turbines will be. I think the fight at present is about location not about numbers. <br /><br />I think we will need a lot of luck, and a great deal of hard work and campaigning. But whether I or you accept that AGW is happening or not will be irrelevant to this.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-9774306616986090972009-12-12T22:19:48.342+00:002009-12-12T22:19:48.342+00:00Anonymous you are misrepresenting me, either delib...Anonymous you are misrepresenting me, either deliberately or because you can't be bothered reading what I've said. I have never said that the IPCC cannot be wrong or that scientists are little angels. In fact I've said the opposite. <br /><br />Of course major power companies make money out of wind, nuclear, oil, coal, solar and every other sort of power. That's their business.<brChris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-69594045224376738632009-12-12T22:01:27.476+00:002009-12-12T22:01:27.476+00:00So you're stuck in the middle with your very d...So you're stuck in the middle with your very difficult line of agreeing in full with AGW theories and yet resisting wind farms. It's a line which in itself I respect, if only your reasons were a little better than just saying "I trust the experts".<br /><br />I'll close with a few figures, from Wednesday's Scotsman: <br /><br />Turbines currently operating: 1,382; <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-73977428400684291012009-12-12T22:00:41.207+00:002009-12-12T22:00:41.207+00:00Well, I'm the anonymous (or else I'll lose...Well, I'm the anonymous (or else I'll lose my job) who posted the first comment in the thread. I have to say that, with all due respect, I'm struck by the monumental naivety of people like Chris Townsend, whom, prior to reading this thread, I used to respect a lot. The problem with AGW is precisely that opinion now is polarised along political lines. But to think that those scientistsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-79316732426777522062009-12-11T17:37:37.175+00:002009-12-11T17:37:37.175+00:00Great pictures Chris. I love cloud inversions.
I ...Great pictures Chris. I love cloud inversions.<br /><br />I agree partly on the fat issue. I think it's to do with the type of fat and the amount of exercise. Certainly a high carbo diet isn't necessarily healthy, especially if most of those carbos are highly processed. I'm vegetarian and eat lots of wholefoods rather than processed stuff. Much of the dietary advice given isn't Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-86532917126615777512009-12-11T15:53:53.336+00:002009-12-11T15:53:53.336+00:00Back to reality - superb day in the Trossachs! Ab...Back to reality - superb day in the Trossachs! Above the mist on Ben A'an - photos <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/chrishighcock/NewAlbum111220091523?authkey=Gv1sRgCK2Fw--n0euJFg&feat=directlink" rel="nofollow">here</a><br /><br />Sad to say that I also agree with Anon about fat! But lets not go there.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223657383325055342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-26094834691996955102009-12-11T01:50:28.781+00:002009-12-11T01:50:28.781+00:00I'm aware of the Inuit. They do of course have...I'm aware of the Inuit. They do of course have a very active life and are eating natural fats not processed ones. I accept that it does depend on what the fats are and that some fats are far healthier than others.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-40811298331997242562009-12-11T01:37:10.035+00:002009-12-11T01:37:10.035+00:00There are a lot of studies of people on high fat d...There are a lot of studies of people on high fat diets ie natural fats not heavily processed vegetable oils, that prove it to be healthy. Its very rare for inuit and other indigenous/first nation people on their traditional diets to have heart disease, diabetes and other modern ailments. The same goes for people from developed nations who reduce their carb intake and up the intake of healthy Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-82528219707984289492009-12-11T00:15:52.932+00:002009-12-11T00:15:52.932+00:00Chris, the thing is it's a majority from all o...Chris, the thing is it's a majority from all over the world and includes the most prestigious scientific organisations. I just can't believe that all of them are toeing a party line for funding and know that what they're saying isn't true. I'm aware that science is messy and that scientists aren't angels. I've read many science books and accounts of acrimonious Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-83923381455347607212009-12-10T23:54:46.232+00:002009-12-10T23:54:46.232+00:00Maybe the majority just toe the party line to keep...Maybe the majority just toe the party line to keep their funding? It does happen. <br /><br />The so called consensus in science is quite a strange beast. My girlfriend is a research scientist and there are certain journals in which it is hard to get published because of personal issues with the authors and editors, nothing to do with the science. Non scientists often have an idealized viewChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223657383325055342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-76027115978073746012009-12-10T23:37:36.251+00:002009-12-10T23:37:36.251+00:00Alan, I ask again, why do you think the vast major...Alan, I ask again, why do you think the vast majority of climate scientists say global warming is happening and that we should do something about it? <br /><br />The answer is because the evidence is overwhelming that this is so. I accept the interpretation of the data by this vast majority rather than by the tiny minority who disagree.Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-41288111799593509352009-12-10T23:30:08.027+00:002009-12-10T23:30:08.027+00:00Chris: One last heave! (And then I really have to ...Chris: One last heave! (And then I really have to give up on you as a lost cause.)<br /><br />How could you possibly say that the links provided the other Chris are <i>"rubbish... and I can see when I'm being conned."</i><br /><br />That is arrant nonsense. You should be ashamed.<br /><br />Data is data. It is fact. How you interpret data is what is important. How you manipulate Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-67419620262894193142009-12-10T22:53:20.459+00:002009-12-10T22:53:20.459+00:00You're the one doing that Alan.
I've read...You're the one doing that Alan.<br /><br />I've read the rubbish put out by global warming deniers and I can see when I'm being conned.<br /><br />I've checked the facts and the overwhelming scientific evidence is that global warming is happening and that we can and should do something about it. Believing anything else is wishful thinking based on false, twisted "facts" Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-18700469567546773572009-12-10T22:41:49.353+00:002009-12-10T22:41:49.353+00:00Chris: "There is no balanced view - the scien...Chris: <i>"There is no balanced view - the science says global warming is happening."</i><br /><br />I always believed that journalists were encouraged to check their facts. <br />Checking your facts by talking to just one party in an argument is not responsible journalism.<br />Never has been.<br />Never will be.<br /><br />You obviously have no interest in finding out for <i>yourself<Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-79897941678186541582009-12-10T19:27:35.395+00:002009-12-10T19:27:35.395+00:00Anonymous, there are are vastly more time when the...Anonymous, there are are vastly more time when the scientists have been right. And the general view is that a high fat diet is still unhealthy.<br /><br />Given that global warming deniers are getting a vast amount of coverage at present - I'm sick of hearing Nigel Lawson - they are not being stifled. In fact I think they get more coverage than their case deserves. There is no balanced view -Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-41460018756881316052009-12-10T18:31:48.937+00:002009-12-10T18:31:48.937+00:00But how many times in the past has the accepted sc...But how many times in the past has the accepted science proven to be wrong? Look at all the kerfuffle in the past about high cholesterol levels and high fat consumption being responsible for heart disease (another instance where a hockey stick curve was used in a graph to justfy flawed research). Look at the dietary advice since the 1980s advocating low fat high carb diets when a lot of recent Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-13283977466101545042009-12-10T17:31:00.606+00:002009-12-10T17:31:00.606+00:00Patrick, thanks for your comment. I agree with you...Patrick, thanks for your comment. I agree with you completely. The two easy options are to say global warming isn't happening so wind farms aren't justified or that global warming is happening so anything that combats it is justified which means you can't argue against wind farms in the hills. It's more difficult to say that global warming is happening but that doesn't mean Chris Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04282926597863688874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063908328061898266.post-17039836339750807162009-12-10T16:57:47.762+00:002009-12-10T16:57:47.762+00:00For those of us who aren't climate scientists,...For those of us who aren't climate scientists, we aren't in a position to know one way or the other. We therefore have to decide whether it is more rational to trust a body like the UN IPCC or whether it is more rational to trust various sceptical opinions that are voiced.<br /><br />It seems to me that there is no body that has more likelihood of being right than the IPCC. Why should Patrick Vincentnoreply@blogger.com