Comments on: Yet more on NSTA and An Inconvenient Truth

By: Rtachner

Rtachner — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:24:45 +0000

Part of the answer for global warming lies in something that often happens in science: we have a story that is widely accepted, but it is a story that is actually incomplete and poorly tested. To some extent the, the so-called human causes of global warming has gained acceptance through the failure of alternatives rather than through its evident correctness.

By: Laura Varlas

Laura Varlas — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:01:12 +0000

I thought this was an interesting teacher response on how this film is used in the classroom:
http://ascd.typepad.com/blog/2006/12/a_controversial.html#comment-26518473

By: Kye

Kye — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:01:32 +0000

I believe that NSTA is afraid that Exxon Mobil will not keep in their funding. I do not agree with this. They are hiding truth from the public and, in particular, their children. I would not want to be lied to as a kid nor would I want someone to lie to my children. It is not so much that people are weighing in the economy and earth, but the economy and the future of our children. By doing this, they jeopardize too much. With this much data being poured into the world of science and media not putting it out to the public, we are going to hurt ourselves. We are brainwashing the future by lying to them. We do not have to believe the truth, but that does not change it.

By: Davis

Davis — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:26:54 +0000

The first person I ever knew to use the word â€œkertfluffleâ€ was Spider Robinson.

I donâ€™t know if he coined it, though.

If you have access, take a look at its entry in the OED. It descended from “carfuffle” by way of “curfuffle,” and dates back to at least 1813.

By: ioresult

ioresult — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 04:58:29 +0000

seen the movie yet, BA?

By: spacewriter

spacewriter — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:20:53 +0000

The “nobody knows” meme is code for “we don’t know because we have a certain political agenda to advance, or we don’t want to know and therefore we don’t want YOU to know.” It’s all very convenient to sweep this stuff under the political rug, but reality will come back to bite those who seek to suppress honestly done science that shows results we should be paying attention to.

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 19:40:55 +0000

Jamie said:
“…nobody knows for sure whatâ€™s causing the environmental changes that are going on or if itâ€™s even normal….”

Two things here, Jamie: (1) Most of the scientists carrying out the work investigating this phenomenon agree that human activity is making a significant contribution to global warming. But don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself. Go and read the scientific periodicals. Then you will be able to express an informed opinion. The “no-one knows for sure” line comes straight from the GW sceptics. It is another incarnation of the “teach the controversy” tactic. (2) Whether it is “normal” or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is (a) the potential impact it will have on humankind, and (b) we are able to do something about it now (e.g. use less energy and hence burn less fossil fuel).

Incidentally, did you know that global warming was first reported in the mid-1970s? It has taken 30 years’ more research for some governments to take it seriously, and some governments are still trying to pretend it won’t happen. Hence the title of that documentary.