[Marxism] A reply to Brian Baker on marxist.com

[Joaquin Bustelo]

Paula: "Most of the debate seems to be about the extent of the risk. For
example, Lomborg does not deny the risk either, in fact he says that 'global
warming is real and man-made';  but he believes that 'statements about the
strong, ominous, and immediate consequences of global warming are often
wildly exaggerated' (quotes are from his recent book Cool It)."

Then again, because the climate system is known to be chaotic (in the
mathematical sense, where small inputs have large impacts and large ones
perhaps only minor consequences) the "statements about the strong, ominous,
and immediate consequences of global warming," could be tremendously
lackadaisical, whistling past the graveyard. 

For example, I talked to one scientist in the field last fall who was aghast
as the data on Arctic Ocean ice cover was coming in. What scared this
scientist is that whatever is driving the disappearing North Pole ice could
also be affecting Greenland. If the glacier covering Greenland melts or
breaks up and slides into the sea, you're looking at a rise in sea levels of
20 feet and possibly even more catastrophic disruption of ocean currents
because of all the fresh water getting dumped into the North Atlantic.

As to global warming itself and that it is human caused, a decade ago some
quite reputable scientists like this one were still on the fence, but today
I'm told there isn't anyone "in the trenches with the data" so to speak that
isn't convinced both that climate change is real and anthropogenic AT LEAST
in large part if not overwhelmingly. 

Then again, not to worry. I've got a geologist friend who now thinks -- as
opposed to a couple of years ago -- we've actually hit peak oil for all
practical purposes, and that --bad as things are now at a plateau in
production-- within a year or two confirmation will come because production
will actually go into a steady decline. He thinks the supposed middle
eastern recoverable reserves (which would suggest the region could
substantially boost production) are complete fiction, and that the
much-touted Brazilian finds will not be able to produce at a very high rate
due to the immense difficulty and expense of extracting the oil.

I know these guys are speaking the truth as they see it because they're
unwilling to say it in front of a camera or even be quoted. Something about
messengers getting shot.

Joaquín