The signs are there that climate change has surpassed worst-case scenarios scientists predicted just two years ago, reveals The Climate Change Science Compendium 2009, a UN report released on 24 September.
The report, released on 24 September, analysed 400 scientific reports released through peer-reviewed literature or from research institutions, according to a Reuters report.
An yet, here we are merrily continuing with our corporate-driven unsustainable development as if global warming doesn’t concern us and thinking that we and our future generations will be somehow immune from its effects.
Thus, climate chaos doesn’t figure in our economic planning or our unsustainable development models. So we can continue building more highways, clearing rainforests, spreading our concrete jungles and focusing on unsustainable GDP growth above all else. It is as if climate chaos is just an unsubstantiated theory for environmental nuts.
It would seem that nothing can stop the profit-driven corporate agenda and our consumerist, materialistic life-styles – even when the very survival of our planet is at stake.
Anil,
The population is growing. They need places to stay. Even in the kampongs, they will have to fell trees to build more houses or cut trees for firewood. If wooden houses, they have to fell more trees. The roads to kampongs have to improve otherwise if one is on emergency, how do the ambulances reach and help them. The hospitals have to have the latest equipment and facilities to ensure lives are saved. If we ride horses, there will be dungs all over the places and more mad cow or mad horse disease
Greenies like you knows how to complain and do not know how to provide solution.
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I believe part of the reason many were seduced by the allurement of a materialistic lifestyle is because they know no other way of living their life. From very young parents drum into their children’s heart and mind the need to excell materialistically. In school the whole education system is geared towards producing productive automaton to feed the materialistic greed of society. The government continue to encourage similar materialistic lifestyle and development because no one told them that there are other better ways of development.
The whole nation is habituated into feeding the vicious cycle of a materialistic lifestyle.
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A popular WWF saying.
“Once the buying stops, the killings will stop!”
I wonder, how it works on humans?
“Once the humans stop living, the planet will stop dying!”
Go read the many reports about population OVER-growth.
The planet just cannot sustain us anymore.
What can I/we do? There is just too many of us around.
I sympathize with your view Anil but after reading all these articles I wonder what is going to happen to the next generation?
Maybe, even our generation may see a climatic repercussion never felt before!!
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There is another film rebutting global warming report published by UN is a biased scientific study.
The film says our earth natural warning cycle may contribute more than CO2 for today’s global warming issue.
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Will the planet die – perhaps it will suffer and recover but the human race and all the other inhabitants will eventually kill themselves off through their utterly sad stupidity.
There are too many of us, and we are unhappy souls who seek comfort in status items and materialistic things we don’t need. knowing the difference between need and want would go a long way. but most people are miserable and these materialistic object offer some sort of comfort.
When I first stepped on these shores I was really impressed with the extended family network – something totally lost in miserable gray Europe – but over 15 years things here have turned turtle – in the bit for life style living we have lost those precious simple things that once made us happy. Both Lat and Yasmin Ahmad have given us a chance to see these worlds again – but insecurity, lack of confidence and refusal to be responsible for the precious planet we share, has created the situation we are in now. What ever the scientific reports both pro and con – how can anyone who dares think holistically – think the concrete jungle we have created is a viable way of living. How many of those high rise units are inhabited ? – a good many are not, bought only for investment- investing in concrete is an excellent way to ensure you, your children have a tough time – you may not even get the chance for grandchildren – and if you do – they may not thank you for the world you have given them.
So on your bike!
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Dear Progressive Friends
1. This website consistently posts excellent
articles on adverse climate change:
http://www.commondreams.org
2. The video “An Inconvenient Truth” is worth
watching.
3. The strategy of vested interests is to muddy the debate on adverse climate change although the
scientific consensus is that the situation is serious.
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read about the dust storm affecting the citizens living in sydney, pity the ones with respiratory problems. i shudder to think why can’t the goverments all over the world dont want to co-operate and fight this global warming. heck thishas been going on for soooooooo long. peaceful citizens all over the world are suffering and it will definately get worst
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Dear Anil,
I am probably the only surviving ancient astronomer and meteorologist. My prediction on the weather has proven to be right. If only modern human being learn to treasure the ancient knowledge on astronomy and meteorology, they will not behave foolishly like what they are doing now. If they can foresee disasters the way I do, no one with the right mind will dare to fool around with the nature. Too bad, we have too many politicians who want to bring DEVELOPMENT to us, assuming we are unmodernized, backward, retrogressive, archaic, medieval and stupid.
Read my writeup on Imminent Disasters In the Making. http://eusoon.blogspot.com/2009/08/on-march-5-2009-i-predicted-in-my.html
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@kingkong:
Greenies DO know the solutions. There are lots of practical green technology and lots of sustainable developments that have already been successfully implemented. Sustainable developments have been popping up all over the world in the past decade! Hence we’re quite knowledgeable on how to develop sustainably – from personal housing to mega developments to planning of entire communities/cities.
Many governments overseas are looking into sustainable development. Unfortunately in Malaysia, due to lack of exposure and awareness (Yes, it’s time to crawl out of your shell now), many don’t understand and don’t care, so there is no pressure on the government to develop sustainably. Instead politicians can afford to just jaga own pocket today, send children overseas, don’t give a damn how Malaysian children will suffer over the next 10-20 years because they’ll be rich enough to run away to another country which is now already environmentally conscious.
It is people who don’t bother to understand and make up their own assumptions on what it means to live sustainably who DON’T understand. (In case my sarcasm is missed.. Yes, I’m pointing fingers here). No one is asking us not to equip hospitals, not to make roads or to live in wooden houses! I’m sure I’m speaking for most “Greenies” in saying we’re not anti-development. We just want development to be sustainable. Look at the mushrooming of high-rise buildings in Penang. I have no doubt that Penang will suffer economically and environmentally in the not too distant future because of our unrestrained development. I’m quite fearful of the consequences, actually.
Btw, we aren’t Greenies. We’re just people who care.
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@nkkhoo:
Even if we accept the *minority* belief that changes in our climate is merely due to natural CO2 cycle, we still cannot deny that our government is squandering Malaysia’s natural environment to the extreme!
The amount of wastage from lifestyle and consumerism is waayyyy too much. Our natural flora, fauna and landscape is something our future generations can never get back once it is lost. They are turning Malaysia into a very sad place to live in in the future. Just ugly ugly concrete structures surrounded by oil palm oil palm everywhere!
Btw, I must stress that oil palm is terrible for the environment and everyone seems to know that except Malaysia. The government gives the illusion that it is prioritising agriculture. The truth is that it is only prioritising oil palm and rice. A government that prioritises agriculture won’t allow for good agriculture land to be sapped of any future use by unchecked planting of oil palm.
As more and more land is claimed for growing oil palm, I won’t be surprised if our children will have to rely on imports for our daily food. It is quite sad and ironic. A nation with such rich soil as Malaysia having to depend on other countries for food because we’ve misused all our land.
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All scientists agree that global warming is a real event, only differ on its root causes. The root causes have to be identified first, and shooting blindly may be catastrophic to our human kind.
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Do not forget the earth is changing its axis. This will probably account for most of the climate changes. At one time, the north pole was a tropical land due to this shift in axis. Not everything is man made.
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I just finished watching some films from History.com channel about “The Universe”.
The earth axis is changing in conical shape, your version of north pole was a tropical lans was NEVER happened. BUT the plateaus in north and south poles were in tropical or other climate before drifting to present positions.
Besides earth polar axis changes, the shape of earth orbit rotating against the sun is changing too from time to time and our solar system spatial movement in the galaxy all causing climate change on earth.
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An error, tropical lans shall be read as tropical land.
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Hey,
I’ve just had an epiphany! This is all part of the 1Malaysia plan! I’ve finally worked out what is 1Malaysia:
- 1 race (interpret this as you like)
- living in buildings with 1 same design as their neighbours
(I call them “photocopy buildings”. Just drive along any new housing development or look up at most of the new high-rise high-density condominiums, and you’ll know what I mean.)
- surrounded by 1 (mono)culture plantations
- with 1 view of the world as programmed by our education system
It all makes sense! 1Malaysia – zero biodiversity, zero diversity of thoughts & ideas, 1ruler.
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If the state government only depend on Big Business to bring in DEVELOPMENT, you can forget about sustainability. There are plenty of sustainable development and best practises in development, but when I was offered the opportunity to brief the state government on flash flood mitigation.
I was only allocated one hour for my four hours presentation. I was suppose to call for follow up meeting which I refuse to do so because you just can’t get your appointment; the politicians are too busy. The mechanism for public participation and consultation is still lacking. You are at the mercy of the power that be, whether to meet you or not depend on their mood.
Our politicians are more concern on winning election. They can’t see a better managed Penang and a more liveable Penang is the only winning strategy for their political empire.
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The root of the problem is over population. More people means building more houses and if land is scare as in Penang, this means high rises. Of course more people consume more of everything.
Sustainable living may be possible if we reduce Earth’s population drastically. Even then, our oil and minerals are finite. Is there such a thing as truly sustainable living?
It’s easy to rant at governments but do they have a choice? Materialism and desire for material progress is ingrained into humans. It’s not going to change any time soon.
Trying to reduce carbon footprint is silly as what can be done by even the most cooperative world governments is still a drop in the ocean. It is more practical to attack the root of the problem which is population growth.
But then again, we may already reached the point of no return.
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……….tell them that is human nature…..why…..why…god save the world.
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soohuay
Big talk by Greenies. In the recent Victoria State bush fire, many were killed and Greenies were silent because they are the party opposing to clearing the forest. As the result when the dry forest burn, they destroy towns, houses and kill people. They have their own agenda. Also they talk loud about Japs killing the whales but when their country is killing the kangaroos, they were silent.
Greenies in western world wanted only a certain portion to eat cakes and KFC but they do not want millions in China and India to have a bite. With palm oil, many have the opportunity just as the western world or middle and upper class to taste some of the food which Greenies are enjoying.
Soohuay talk about lost of flora and funa through highrise buildings. So far no solution but just opposing. If not highrise such as public housing, then more forest clearing and each having an acre block with garden at the back? If reclaim mining area, you complain about heavy construction lorries, the dust, noise and smoke.
Greenies always want to make noise and win.
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Ken you are right, the biggest problem is there are too may of us. If we had bullock carts instead of cars the methane would probably damage the ozone just as much simply because of the quantity. however, the production and maintenance of a new bullock is a lot less damaging to the environment! no factories, no production lines, and no high energy consuming machinery.
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If this issue is brought up before March 8 election, there won’t be any arguement from Pakatan die hard supporters. Now with some states go to the Pakatan, the supporters become so complacent, thinking that by the next election, BN will surely lose. Before Pakatan even toppled the federal government, the supporters already all out to attack anyone who deem to offer a different view from Pakatan in particular LGE.
You can’t talk about sustainable development anymore, it means you going to attack LGE. Did the supporters realised that LGE also begin to talk about sustainable development (with his own distorted interpretation).
If Penang is to leap into the high-income country category, we need to go back to basics in the three institutional characteristics stated above. But to reverse Penang’s decline and make Penang the next economic growth centre again, we have to do more. There are 5 key additional areas that Penang has to adopt if we are to transform ourselves into an international city that can compete globally.
A Quote from LGE:
1) A people oriented government based on 3Es to Enable the people with skills and knowledge, Empower the people with rights, opportunities and freedom and Enrich the people for an equitable share in the economic cake;
2) Development of human capital towards excellence, creativity and innovation;
3) Observing the rule of law to promote certainty and justice;
4) CAT(Competency, accountability and transparency) governance to establish a leadership with integrity; and
5) Branding for Penang to ensure quality, reliability and sustainable development
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Do not worry about human over population. Nature has its own way of correction. We may not like what mother nature do to cure the problem, the problem will be fixed. Climate change will be one way of culling excess population.
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@kingkong September 29th, 2009 at 8.27pm:
I can’t believe you’re using Victoria bushfires as an example!!! It just shows how blatantly naive you are!! Country Victoria has suffered tremendously over the past decade because of falling of trees for monoculture plantations. The result is that the land is unable to retain as much water. Cutting of trees contributes to why the land is so dry!!!!
Don’t speak when you don’t know what you’re talking about! HAVE YOU SEEN COUNTRY VICTORIA??? DO YOU KNOW HOW IT IS LIKE THERE??! Each time I go back, it gets worse and worse. When they cut the trees, the remnants are just left lying there. Land that has been stripped of growing trees are still left with remnant wood that ALSO BURNS when there is a fire!! When you see how country Victoria is like now, it is like the land is being *raped*! It is so painful that even though I’m only a visitor, thinking of it brings tears to my eyes. I know farmers in country Victoria and one family is like blood family to me. Their pain and uncertainty is something the likes of you will never understand, but will still ignorantly make assumptions and naive statements about.
Unlike *ignorant fools*, people who understand the plight of these people (including “Greenies”) don’t make *unnecessary noise*. There was already so much grief. The focus was on helping the communities rebuild themselves and providing support for survivors. If Greenies made noise then, they would just be opportunists! You have no clue how the feeling was like in the aftermath.
Victoria has been in a drought for decades. Deforestation or not, it is a very dry exhausted land. Changes in our climate is making it worse. Everyone knows that. There is no need for sustainability groups to blow their trumpets. The urgency highlighted in the post-mortem is focused on emergency response. There will be fires in Victoria for many years to come.
Btw, what are you saying?? That “Greenies” contributed to the bushfires because they opposed deforestation? So we should clear all forests to avoid bushfires?! Are you going to start campaigning for all trees on Penang Hill to be cut down and completely removed in case there is a fire? You’re a such clever person. BN would love you as their adviser. You’ll fit right in!
Your mention of kangaroo meat once again shows how ignorant you are. Please see links below and don’t compare them with whales. You’re such a laugh.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/skippysizeme/
http://www.ecosmagazine.com/?act=view_file&file_id=EC145p26.pdf
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20092004-19032-2.html
Also, I don’t think you’re from Penang. If you are, you will know about all the highrise buildings mushrooming on the island and how we can’t possibly have that many people to occupy these buildings. We aren’t building buildings for housing, but for foreign (and some local) investors. I’m no economist, but supply will soon exceed demand and we will just have empty buildings that only serves as an eye sore to our skyline.
====================================================
I’m sorry Anil and everyone else if my comment above is more angry than my usual ones. Kingkong’s inaccurate and uninformed use of such a terrible tragedy such as the Black Saturday Bushfire was insensitive and inappropriate.
I guess the moral of the story is that everyone who brush aside environmental and sustainablity issues because they think they understand all the issues and know better should do their research and actually understand the complexity of debates before making up their minds and making loud statements (aka noise).
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Soohuay
your actions show greenies are very rash, emtional, not rational and quick to anger.
You even do not know the first basic, fundamental principles. How can fire burn vast areas without wood? People wanted to do some clearing. But there are greenies said cannot even fell a single tree!!! What bushy you are talking? The fire fighters have to dose every ambers what the fire may start again.
Greenies are just making fires without wood!!!
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I see…. People wanted “to do some clearing” and “greenies said cannot even fell a single tree”. “The fire fighters have to dose every ambers”. You have taught me so much about how Australia manages its land and how CFA controlled the fire. You’re truly learned. There is nothing Soohuay or anyone else can teach you.
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Soohauy
When many were killed in Victoria Bushfire, the greenies under the extreme left Senator Brown were very quiet over the incidence. But when Howard was running the show, they are behaving just like you- frenzy. When the Labour party did not fulfil their election promise as to cut down the carbon output, they are still quiet. Clearly, the greenies are a selfish lot with their agendas. I know many talk about green environment. But they also loves to drive gas guzzling cars during weekends, expansive imported food involving heavy carbon footprints
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recently, there has been some massive flooding in the Philippines and Vietnam which i think is also due to Climate Change. the tropical storms in asia are somewhat getting stronger stronger each year.
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