The Children's Book That Has Global Warming Deniers Up in Arms
A global warming denier group is attacking The Down To Earth Guide to Global Warming, the new children's book I co-authored with Cami Gordon.
Our crime? It turns out one of the illustrations in the book was accidentally mislabeled. This has got the gang at the at the Science and Public Policy Instituted up in arms - or at least pretending to be -- no doubt hoping to ride our coattails, create some controversy, and promote their own new book.
Why am I not surprised? These "skeptics" have grown so predictable.
Even so, I'd like to thank the SPPI for pointing out this minor error to us. However, we have checked with climate experts who confirmed that the text accompanying the mislabeled illustration, and our description of the close relationship between CO2 and temperature, is accurate and fairly represents the current state of scientific knowledge.
Apparently the climate change "skeptics" have grown so desperate in their attempts to hide the truth from the American people that they've taken to spending hours scrutinizing a children's book, trying to marginalize the urgent information it contains about global warming. And through all their efforts, all they uncovered in a hundred pages was a single mislabeled illustration -- an illustration accompanied by accurate text. Now they've launched a full 'report' attempting to discredit the entire book, even though they can't find anything wrong with it besides the flipping of two colors on a solitary illustration.
So thanks guys! We will correct the illustration in the next edition. We're happy to learn that that was the only question SPPI had about the entire fact-filled book! The Down To Earth Guide translates complex scientific facts about global warming into language that is easily understood by kids.
I hope children of all ages read this book because, ultimately -- and unfortunately -- global warming is the grim legacy we are passing on to them.
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I'm old enough to remember when the John Birch Society out in Orange County Ca. would employ "truth squads" to scrutinize television and movie credits for suspected blacklisted persons. They then graduated to scrutinizing tevelvision news for suspected "Liberal bias." On the basis of "you're either with us or against us" tey found the weather and cooking segments to contain a "Liberal bias."
Sad to say little has changed with the wingers. Now they are in search of media heresies on evolution and global warming. They are, haowever, a perpetual source of amusement. ENJOY !!
So many of these comments argue that we shouldn't change our "Western lifestyle" because there are other factors that contribute to global warming.
First of all, our Western lifestyle lacks a lot of substance, so there isn't much to lose, but everything to gain, if we make significant changes. Our lifestyle is not the envy of the modern world.
Secondly, to suggest that we should do nothing, because there are other factors contributing to global warming, is not even a logical argument. It's like saying we should not cure cancer because other diseases hurt our health, too, and we're going to die anyway.
As far as "junk science" goes, that term describes the "findings" of the scientists that Bush hired, the scientists who would give a nod to his agenda. That was after he fired the scientists who stood up to him.
Many left of their own free will, realizing that you can't discuss cerebral matters with someone who has two fingers of forehead - or, with someone who is committed to corporate dollars, rather than ethics.
Bush also got rid of everyone who knows that the earth is more than 6,000 years old - and those who know that evolution is a fact and creationism is a fantasy - and those who know that a zygote is not a human being - and those who know that this is not the 14th century.
Bush is a master at turning the truth on its head.
I heard you on the Stephanie Miller (Radio) Show this morning, and you had me sold on the book. Perfect gift for kids this holiday season, no?
Repeat after me: The Down-to-Earth something something by Laurie David. Barnes and Noble will know what you're talking about.
And I'm not at all in the marketing scheme for the book. But I will buy it for me.
Sure, if you are interested in needlessly scaring your children about a non-problem. If you have the desire to make them believe that humans are supreme in their power over natural forces. If you wish for them to have a completely twisted view of how science works. If you want them to believe that the past is not the key to understanding the present or the future. . . perhaps the Lorax really is a better choice.
The idea that the effects of Global Warming aren't all that bad is an idea that needs to be dismissed. One of the most disastrous effects of an increase in climate temperature would be to reduce our ability to generate hydroelectric power. Fewer glaciers and more evaporation would wreak more havoc with river dams and the ecological balance surrounding them. With the exception of nuclear power, we'd be turning to more combustion based methods of generating electricity, and that would in turn increase the causitive agents to global warming. It would become a vicious cycle.
God bless America. It's the only country in the world that I know of where rich people like Laurie David who pollute the environment at a level unprecedented in human history get to lecture the rest of us on the dangers of global warming. Let alone make up something as ridiculous as "manmade global warming."
BTW, how's that ozone hole over Antarctica doing? It's still growing after a 15 year world ban on CFCs.
"how's that ozone hole over Antarctica doing? It's still growing after a 15 year world ban on CFCs."
Oh yeah?
http://ozo
Who fed you that lie?
Why didn't you just admit the mistake and move on. Instead you label those who believe over 500 experts in climate that say that there are major problems with the AGW movement as deniers.
Fascist thy name is the AGW movement.
There is no question concerning whether or not the global environment is warming up.
That human activity plays a role in this is hard to deny, as well.
What I find fault with is that, throughout the history of our plant, temperature levels have been cyclical, with or without man.
How much of our current warming trend is human generated and how much is just nature being natural.
"Pollution" due to organisms on ancient primordial earth played a role in the oxygen/carbon dioxide balance and temperature balance and created the environment we live in today.
Only when we can learn to separate the two can we understand our limitations and begin to understand and formulate what we can accomplish.
Ms. David,
I don't know if you'll read this. You're a very busy person.
About a year ago I sent an e-mail to your address from HuffPo, explaining that I'd like to help Mr. Gore in some way, due to my extremely small carbon footprint.
The response was a package of materials valued at about $40 (w/postage
To those who think that people such as yourself and Mr. Gore are in it for the bucks:
It's a REALLY strange strategy for making money.
Thank you, and I send my love to you, your staff, and President Gore.
What I don't get, Laurie, is why they have not descended on Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. I must have read that book a hundred times to my children. It puts it in a language they can understand. There are no more Trucula trees, Barbaloots, Swami Swans or Humming Fish because of the greed of the Oncelers abetted by foolish people buying Thneeds.
I haven't read this book but it must be good to get this much attention.
A few references would help. Basically the SPPI said what was said, that the graph was wrong, and presented a false impression of the facts. According to Ms. David, it was wrong. Don't try to use the 'they're coming after me with pitchforks and torches' angle to get free publicity. The problem with GW is, like everything, it is now political, not scientific. And that includes scientists, too. Those who disagree (from either side) are simply dismissed as part of some vast conspiracy. I wonder when we will settle down, act like adults, admit we both may be right to a degree and wrong to a degree, and set out to fix the problems. Probably not any time soon, if history has anything to say on the matter.
perhaps the "narrator" of My Pet Goat should get a copy
Over the next 10 to 20 years the companies that create new, innovative alternative energy products and more efficent technologies are going to next Intels, Microsofts and Ciscos. They will be hugely profitable, and thoroughly dominate the slower, less progressive companies. It's already happening, just look at Toyota compared to GM and Ford.
The conservative dinosaurs in the US are doing their best to ensure that these companies are located in places like Japan, South Korea, and Europe, not in the US. Why? Because they are afraid of damage to our economic interests - or actually the interests of their industry buddies like GM, Ford, Exxon and Chevron. If they have their way, not only will the US not lead in fighting global warming, but we will likely lose our economic status as well.
Growing up in Los Angeles in the 1970's, it was a common occurrence to go to school only to find out that outdoor activities were suspended due to a "3rd stage smog alert". Let me tell you sitting in a library during recess instead of being outside playing kickball was no picnic. Now, as soon as I went home....it was outdoor play time! Of course before going to bed there was always that pain in the chest after each breath. My point is we no longer have this problem, something was done about it. Obviously global warming is going to take a little more work, don't we owe that to us and future generations?
Well said!
oh, duh. there are a bunch of "alleged" conservatives looking to discredit global warming. why?
aren't these by and large the same people who insist that the tobacco companies aren't pushing death...th
too bad we can't have an "ignore" button for their type.
I don't think its right to lump huge groups of non-connected people together like that. I don't believe the warming of the globe is a threat, but I do believe that tobacco companies are selling a product that causes sickness and death. Most people do have an ignore button, its more of an automatic response feature of their thought process though. It shuts out contradictory information and demonizes the messenger.
I don't know how many actual studies you have read by scientists studying global warming, but the research is pretty overwelming. Some of the research is down right mouth droping. There is no doubt in my mind that humans are responsible for the planet warming at such a sudden and rapid rate. There is no doubt that there is also a mass species extincion underway that is being caused directly by human activity.
I would rather be safe and conclude that the effects will be detremental as do most of the scientific community.
Greed drives most of the human activities that affect global warming and the corporations that percieve that they will loose profits if we start to take action will do ANYTHING to confuse the issue.
I believe that persons that don't believe that this is occuring, or believe that the consequences will not be serious are the same kind of people that believe ANY propaganda that the right throws their way about health insurance, the " death tax" or any other issue where the facts compete with propaganda.
The problem is that people that become fixed in their ideology are effectively brainwashed, and "facts" can't alter their opinions.
Here's a thought for you on 'global warming'. People radiate heat, approximately 400BTU/hr, less if you're sleeping, more if you're working or running etc. Ok. Now, multiply by 24. Now, multiply by 365. Now, multiply by 6.3 billion people. People emit CO2, also. Moral of the story? Stop breathing, and turn that light off...
One way or the other, you probably will.
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