[Terrapreta] Fw: the writings of Dr. James E. Hansen

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi All,

from Dr. Hansen:
P.S.: Do not fall for the moguls' dirtiest trick - 'green' messages spewed to the public.  That is propaganda, intended to leave the impression they are moving in the right direction.  Meanwhile they hire scientific has-beens to dispute evidence and confuse the public.  How will you be able to tell if they ever "get it"?  When they begin to invest massively in renewable energies, when they become truly energy companies aimed toward zero-carbon emissions.

Fossil fuel energy moguls spew on about supposedly "green" topics like conservation, too.  It is the profit motive again that makes them operate this way (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox>).

There is a great danger that making technology to sequester carbon can backfire with these people and they will take the moral "low road".  They will make attempts at justifying further CO2 emissions because, "... others will be able to later deal with abatement of the problems created by the use of fossil fuels and we have time and energy to do this only because of the products they can supply".

I am not the only cynic!

Regards,

SKB
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sean K. Barry<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com> 
To: Greg and April<mailto:gregandapril at earthlink.net> ; Terra Preta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> ; Ron Larson<mailto:rongretlarson at comcast.net> 
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] the writings of Dr. James E. Hansen


Hi All,

Dr. James E. Hansen has said some very interesting things.

A fundamental point is that, in any event, we must move beyond fossil fuels reasonably soon.  The underlying reason is that a large fraction of CO2 emissions remains in the air for many centuries.  Thus the upshot: we must move to zero fossil fuel emissions.  This is a fact, a certainty, a lead pipe cinch.  So why not do it a bit sooner, in time to avert climate crises?  At the same time, we halt other pollution that comes from fossil fuels, including mercury pollution, conventional air pollution, problems stemming from mountain-top removal, etc.

I'll be reading him for days, Ron!

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron Larson<mailto:rongretlarson at comcast.net> 
  To: Greg and April<mailto:gregandapril at earthlink.net> ; Terra Preta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 11:26 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] maybe controversial


  Greg and list members:

     I am primarily involved actively in promoting biochar because of my conviction that we are facing a very dire future because of global warming.  I have come to this conclusion over many years - but find my best source of information on this from the writings of Jim Hansen.  He sent a citation for a new short piece out a few days ago:  http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20080410_YankeeTicketPrices.pdf<http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20080410_YankeeTicketPrices.pdf>

      This is by far the most serious warning I have heard him make.  If anyone knows of a better authority on the subject than Jim Hansen, I hope they will let us know.

      In this latest "Yankees" writing, there is reference to another unpublished article (submitted to Science) that is the best single piece I have seen on the evidence for man's involvement.  I hope you will read especially this second one, which can be found at  http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1126<http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1126> 

  and the Supporting Material is at: 
  http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1135<http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1135> 

      Jim mentions biochar there.  If you (or anyone) remain unconvinced, I hope you will let us know why.   

      Apologies to all who think this is off target for this list.  I think we need to understand why some list members are disbelievers and do what we can to convert them.  If we do not have climate urgency going for us, the biochar topic will move much too slowly.

  Ron

  ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Greg and April<mailto:gregandapril at earthlink.net> 
    To: Terra Preta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
    Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 9:44 AM
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] maybe controversial
            <snip> 
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