My Excommunication

I don't believe in global warming.

Don't get me wrong. I do believe there's evidence that average temperatures may be rising. I just don't think it's scientifically demonstrable that there's a connection between the intuitively obvious increase in emissions of so-called greenhouse gases and the increase in average temperatures. I don't believe there's evidence that increased tropical activity is anything other than a cyclical phenomenon. I don't believe that the environmental case has been proved, not even close.

There are issues where I think the evidence is pretty strong--chlorofluorocarbons and seasonal decreases in ozone levels at the poles, for instance. And regardless of the strength of the evidence, I see nothing wrong with decreasing hydrocarbon emissions (which have other ill effects, as anyone who's been to London and blown black boogers knows), or the use of certain propellants (a mechanical pump works fine, and your hair looks great, and nice shoes, wanna fuck?), or cow farts, for that matter.

But blaming disasters like Katrina on global warming--and I haven't seen a lot of it, but one mention of such stupidity is enough to set me off on something like this--doesn't add to the environmental movement's street cred with The Big Stupids. There is ample evidence, that I'd link to if I weren't too lazy to search for it, that cyclonic activity is, in fact, cyclical, and that this is just the first time we've gone through the heavy part of the cycle when places like New Orleans and Florida were so heavily invested with media-networked humanity and the money and real estate it engenders.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find, and throw spitballs at, the Rainbow Warrior.