Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Triumph of the Wilma

Well, Hurricane Wilma is now the most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded.

The newspapers in Europe are blaming these intense storms on global warming, and noting that the Bush administration was opposed to the Kyoto treaties. Actually, I think Canada was as well. That explanation seems a bit like a theodicy to me anyway- the world would have been fine if it wasn't for the big, bad states again.

But, I'm not really happy with the global warming naysayers either. Their arguments have been as follows:
1) It's too soon to say if these weather shifts are being caused by global warming.
Of course. But, it's certainly not too soon to be testing that hypothesis.

2) There is global warming, but it's been caused by the increased number of people on earth.
No doubt, this is a possibility. But, it's a bit disconcerting to hear people who have been saying for years that there is no global warming turn around and tell us, okay, there is global warming, but it's everyone else's fault.

3) There is global warming, and it's too late to do anything about it.
Sadly, this may well be true. But, again, it's irritating that the people who have been telling us for years that global warming is a myth now tell us that it's true, but it's too late to worry about it. Even more annoying is the fact that some of these people are also telling us: "Fine, there never were weapons of mass distruction- but, it's way too late to worry about that now!"

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