I think the U.S. has a cleaner environment than most countries though. Yes, I agree. China is catching up to us with a lot of things, not just in regards to a clean environment.

Yes, ethanol is what we need to switch to. I think this will help dramatically. Turning plants into fuel is a growth industry, and I don't think any biofuel is coming on stronger than ethanol. I think it's imperative that we make the switch ASAP because it burns much more cleanly than ordinary gasoline, plus ethanol obviates the need for a widely used gas additive. It's a toxic substance called MTBE. I'm sure you've heard of this.

It also helps car engines run more smoothly, but the thing about MTBE is, I think it may pollute ground water though, but don't quote me on that.

I don't think global warming will significantly impact the weather in one area in a span of a year (it's more of a gradual thing, right?) but I did notice that this winter was a LOT milder than winters past.

Last year we were still wearing our big coats through March and part of April. Last spring/summer we also saw a lot of unusual rain. It pretty much rained every single day from April - mid August.

The rain was nice, because we definitely needed it, and we only had a handful of days with 100+ degree temps (2006 we had 60+ days in a row of those high temps), but it was definitely the weirdest thing I had seen up here, and I've lived here for awhile.

Except that the Rockies experienced record snowfall and Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc. had extremely cold winters.

We also had a milder summer two years ago. I don't think we have anything to indicate a global warming trend, nor can it be shown that human activity could be responsible for such a thing. Mars has global warming for chrissakes.

That had about as much to do with global warming as the dust bowl did.

Katrina was nothing abnormal. Of course I have no scientific abilities, at all, this is just my opinion as someone who has spent his entire life in the deep south.

If Katrina had hit NW FL instead of NOLA, I don't think it would be so incessantly used in these arguments. There have been numerous comparable hurricanes in my lifetime.

I haven't been threatened by a Hurricane in two years though, they've been weaker since 2005.

Yeah... crazy science and environmental people, bunch of no-nothings when it comes to the science and the environment - all hail are glorious politicians! ;)

I could of course say the opposite since interestingly many of those who don't believe in Global Warming/Climate Change believe in Creationism or Intelligent Design - not exactly the hallmarks of rational thought when it comes to science (or reality really).

I dunno, the idea that extreme complexity comes from nothing isn't a hallmark of "rationality" either.

I think global warming from greenhouse gases and other human behavior is a real possibility or a likely reality.

But I think many of the current events pointed to as evidence of global warming are more likely to be the product of long term climate cycles than they are directly attributable to the human policies and behaviors that are frequently pointed to.

I think we'd be better off doing everything we can to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, partially because of how they may contribute to global warming, but even more because of the effects in making us less dependent on other countries for energy.

I don't think that the US should generally agree to international protocols that put US business and industry at a relative disadvantage.

I'd rather rely on science than political theory when it comes to understanding our impact on God's creation.

Yes I believe we are, without a shadow of a doubt - simply because animals and nature aren't in the habit of producing complex artificial compounds and gases, compounds and gases that can be directly linked to environmental and climatic shifts and disasters.

Can you provide some links that show this direct link to environment, climatic shifts, and disasters?

I'm not a global warming denier, but I haven't yet been convinced that we've shown these links directly, rather than established the possibility of links and the likelihood of acceleration.

Both Biofuels and Ethanol has pros and cons, from gasoline. Somewhere in the Seattle Times the issue with crude oil is we are about tapped out on the available areas and other areas require destruction of natural forest preserves or are too deep to drill in the ocean.

Aside from the reliance of other countries for our oil, it does not do right by our carbon emissions...

I think Ethanol burning does some things to public health in animals or insects. So, those options need to be weighed.

I have not heard anything yet about biofuels except that it is expensive to process an no one wants to pay $10 per gallon for it although you would be doing it once a month or less.

I would call it climate change and it is global. One impacts the other... We have to get beyond political geographic lines when we talk about "global warming" or "carbon emissions" or hayle, "global health"...

The responsible authorities as well as those learning need to do what they can to live "green" life - no not tree hugging, but to reduce our consumptions because our planet may not be able to sustain it and it is about being good stewards to our planet...

Shine-

I don't think Katrina was normal for NOLA. And even if it I switched to a different area, like the panhandle, those places could not sustain the kinds of damage or winds that Katrina packed... If you believe in that sort of thing, Katrina was the wakeup call for that region or a "pay the piper" kind of thing. NOLA knew in the 60's Betsy and 90's Georges for worst case scenarios what was going to happened and the "powers that be" failed to do anything about it (i.e. knowingly not reclamating the reef area).

Florida in 2004 have 4-8 various hurricanes going left and right across its peninsula. I know because my family lives there. Ever since Andrew, they had a very good action plan. But it took a loss like that for folks to get there crap together... Nearly 10-12 years.

Remember Katrina did not just bitch-slap NOLA, it took out Mississippi and parts of Alabama. So it will be the same for these suffering states.

And I think that selling the issue as good stewardship would get everything so much further than the condemnation and smugness that can creep in about the choices other people are making.

The smugness happens on both sides. It's not just people who condemn SUV drivers with righteous superiority; think about the gleeful way people reacted to Laurie David taking private jets or the electricity used at the Gore's house.

Yeah, I am really not trying to see folks homes from space with all their lights... When was the last electric or nuclear plant built in the US?