Considering their population has quadrupled in the past few decades, number one is clearly not correct but it will be interesting to see how many people choose that option anyway.
Simple it's all about the green weenie's agenda. They are causing more death and despair than any boogie man global warming ever could.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
Are there polar bears in or near Anwar? If there are, putting them on the endangered list would give the anti-drilling types another excuse to keep the US from becoming energy self-sufficient.
Chai
“A liberal is a man who will give away everything he doesn’t own.” —Frank Dane
Now it seems the world is failing to catch the whole meaning of the word.
Lets use Bald Eagles as an example. They Were an endangered species, their numbers rose, they were taken off the list.
Polar Bears had their numbers rise, yet become endangered? Wait.....
See just like how we are gaining ice in record numbers around the world yet we're still in global warming.
This also goes with NBC showing footage for a global warming story, yet the animals they showed don't exist where the story was suppose to be taking place, Research people.
The elusive North Pole Penguin. They were only off though, by an ENTIRE HEMISPHERE!
This whole polar bear thing is nothing more than typical pandering to the Greenie Meanies who will stop at nothing to make people look like the evil wrongdoers. I have a better idea for the self loathing envirofascists. It involves some rope and another of their favorites, a tall tree. Let's work together to solve global warming!
"It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but it doesn't take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face."
As I learn more about this, this threatened seems to have a much stronger political effect than legal. As I'm just reading about it, don't harp on me if I'm wrong. I would love some references where I can learn more.
However, I think NB needs to make sure it reports accurately, or it becomes what it purports to expose and ultimately lends credence to those who refer to us as heretics.
There are 2 types of politicians. Those who know AGW is a sham and stupid ones.
From what I understand they're currently on the threatened list but just the other day a court ruled on officially calling them endangered. That's how CNN explained it last night.
Between actually doing my job, I've been trying to find some definitions between the 2. Any sources? Watch for an article by Terance Corcoran at the National Post in a few days. It's behind the wall now but the usually bring them out 3 - 5 days later. He's got some interesting insights into it. From his article:
"Green Web sites were jumping at the news. Andrew Wetzler, director of the Endangered Species Project with the Natural Resources Defense Council, was quoted on GreenTech as saying the "threatened" designation is as good as an "endangered" designation. "No government permits may be issued affecting the polar bear without all concerned government agencies having a say." Mr. Wetzler said it's not likely any of the oil industry's oil and gas exploration projects would be found to be legal by the courts. If the Democrats take the White House, it's expected that "no move affecting the polar bears in Alaska will go without a court challenge."
Much the same conclusion was reached by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a pro-energy development group and opponent of global warming theory. Iain Murray, an energy fellow at the group, said the so-called rule protecting "vital energy production" has no legs. It "just delays the day when global warming activists will be able to impose their policy of energy suppression."
I'm going to go search CEI. I trust what they have to say a lot more than CNN. If I find anything, I'll post the link
Well that practically ends our pursuit of drilling in ANWAR. The left, and some pandering RINO's, always find a way to put animals above human needs.
It’s always struck me funny that liberals care more about saving the life of a polar bear or any plant or animal for that matter than they do innocent human life.
From what I've heard in the 1950s there were about 5000 of them, and now there are 25,000. If this is true, how can "their numbers are declining" be an option?
Now manatees are great. They're wonderful swimming buddies. They come up to you, roll over and wait for you to scratch or rub their bellies.
But their problems are boats. Not climate. Though some half witted environmentalist will claim it's climate.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
I know someone who is currently doing "biological monitoring" and research for a research project in the forests of Madagascar. The crisis seems to be that the natives are cutting down the trees on the island in order to survive (selfish, what?), reducing the habitat on which numerous subspecies of lemur depend. Don't be surprised if the next alarm is not raised for the lemur. (I'm not diminishing the importance and usefulness of well-directed and carefully done observations and data gathering, BTW.)
Too many people lack the courage to fight the political correctness mafia.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
This polar bear "campaign" (which includes a CBS reporter going to Greenland recently to publicize it (misleadingly)) to promote hysteria and grief over the "threat" or "endangerment" to polar bears by a non-existent, manufactured, falsified, unfounded "climatological phenomenon" purported to be the cause of impending global disaster, is a perfect example for study of the methods of the radical left-wing elitists. (Continued publication of every issue and recipient to which George Soros is contributing any significant amount of money should also be a priority.)
So many are so anxious to believe that the emperor's new clothes are beautiful and that at least the intentions of those who are describing them are good, regardless of what their common sense and plain sight tell them; in addition, if they recognized the deceptions, it would mean that they would have to get out of their comfortable rut and fight back, and they also find it more comforting to believe the hysterical mantra that our foes use for intellectual bullying in speech and print: that conflict (on our part) is a symptom of the failure to realize how wise and well-meaning they are. How could anyone argue with their desire for only our good (as long as they are in power and can define what good is)? There seems to be an endemic unwillingness on the part of most citizens to adopt a skeptical approach to claims of truth which cannot be validated by repetitive experiment or other unarguable facts.
There are those for whom that translates to a lack of courage and unwillingness to confront blatant lies, such as global warming. (The only quarrel I have with your quote is that I don't believe there is an "attempt" to establish (or define) lies as truth by repetition. Repetition of unfounded scientific claims is being used purposefully and, I believe, successfully, as a part of a campaign to mislead and co-opt citizens into accepting massive government programs as an absolute necessity. The other successful component of this campaign involves aggressively attacking any attempt to present real scientific evidence refuting the fake "truth" of a given campaign. The media, as may be expected, are intimately complicit in these deceptions (not limited to global warming, of course).
It would seem that the only defense we have against such aggressive promotions is equally aggressive repetition of real scientific fact which refutes or invalidates the theories being promoted, and an aroused and interested citizenry who want to know the truth and who want to ensure that our descendants have the benefits of liberty.
Under any circumstances, there would be an enormous imbalance of contact-hour coverage for publication of the the truth and "true science" vs. that for publication by the MSM and DBM of the rationales for the current manufactured crisis needing massive government spending. (It would be great to frequently see the statistics of the contact-minutes or circulation achieved by the MSM and DBM, versus the contact-minutes or circulation achieved by truth- and "true science-" oriented media outlets.)
There are so many people in this country who have no clue that we are in a battle for our futures, and that we are losing. The changes we will be subjected to will be 180 degrees in direction from the directions which will refresh and maintain our freedoms and restore power to those who will take us in that direction. It looks to me like we must devise and publicize a plan to make the truth and "true science" copiously available to an aroused citizenry.
The real reason they are doing this has a little to do with CO2. The biggest reason is so that they can curtail any and every energy policy that we could use. No oil drilling mostly and anything that can be blamed on warming the globe secondly.
Seriously, higher CO2 a problem to polar bears? What are they suffocating on it?
I voted the "None of the Above" option because I believe that the government took this action in a misguided attempt to help Bush curry some favour with the public. Much as McCain has stepped on the toes of those who support him on the AGW issue in order to secure the potential votes of people who've succumbed to the Algore brainwash, Bush sees this as a throw-away issue through which he can dig his approval rating out of the toilet that it's in.
Just politics - move along, folks, nothin' to see here.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
I would just like all of you to know that after yesterdays ruling declaring the polar bear threatened I have joined the other team. After watching the Sci-Fi channel last night I have decided my true calling in life is to get Bigfoot and the Yeti placed on the same threatened list as the polar bear. I am tired of dealing with facts. Once I have accomplished adding these beloved and misunderstood creatures to the list I will be fighting for solutions to help them. My first order of business will be to push legislation to force the removal of thumbs from all humans. However, exemptions will allow Asians, African-Americans, Latinos, Eskimos, Native Americans, Pigmies, Illegal Immigrants, Survivors of Katrina, PETA members, midgets, and anyone on government assistance and of course all liberals to keep their thumbs. In accomplishing this task the evil ones will no longer be able to get in the way of sort-of-science because they will no longer be able to express their opinion because their ability to use the space bar on a keyboard will have been eliminated and make it hard to read thus ending any opposing opinion.
I too have had a revelation, and I'm siding with pbfun on this. I've come to the conclusion that facts are irrelevant, for proof denies faith, and without faith global warming is nothing. But global warming clearly is something, as trends have dictated. Therefore, the argument is bulletproof, and it's time to act now.
The best way to start is to stop reproducing. Stop having sex. Then, slowly march the evil rich into "climate camps" where they will be taught to live a life of minimalism. If all else fails, we shall begin rationing by euthanizing adults at the age of 50 for the good of the planet.
There was a biologist many years ago who studied this. The phenomenon was named after him, but now I can't remember... the Schweitzer Factor? Something like that. Anyway, he developed an index of cuteness that predicts how much people care about a species and whether or not you can get any money to study or save them.
I am going to shock you---but I agree they should be on the endangered list---Why???--becasue they are white, fewer in numbers than all the other colored bears of the world and have too long jeld sway over the Arctic. Add to that, that they are living in a very uncomfortable area and lately, have to visit garbage dumps to eke out a living, I think this qualifies them to be on the list. I believe within a year or two, brown bears, black bears and grizzlies will be quietly stealing into those frigid areas to steal what natural food is left for the polar bears and will take the things that, allegedly, polar bears do not want. Judging by recent happenings in the courts of the USA, the eskimo tribal councils will approve of the influx by the other colored bears and will bring to bear, (pun intended), new laws to prevent the polar bears from defending themselves.
Also, the new bears will automatically be granted hunting licenses. This allegedly will protect the rest of the animal population from accidents.
My name is Teddy Bear and I have approved this statement!
OK, OK, bear with me here. I have already received a complaint. Someone has accused me of selling out to Coco Koala and insists that I am trying to panda to the new bear group.None of this is true. I am also accused of having an affair with a movie star named Ursidae Anders. This is not true. I never had a relation--- never mind. I also am not lazy although I have been accused of being a sloth bear. Enough is too much!! I must take a paws for station identification.
OK, OK, bear with me here. I have already received a complaint. Someone has accused me of selling out to Coco Koala and insists that I am trying to panda to the new bear group.None of this is true. I am also accused of having an affair with a movie star named Ursidae Anders. This is not true. I never had a relation--- never mind. I also am not lazy although I have been accused of being a sloth bear. Enough is too much!! I must take a paws for station identification.
by putting the growing number of flourishing polar bears on the endangered species list the anticapitalist evironmental groups are using this as another block to drilling for our own oil.
"Since the 1970s, while much of the world was warming, polar bear numbers increased dramatically, from roughly 5,000 to 25,000 bears, a higher polar bear population than has existed at any time in the twentieth century."
2. The Arctic sea-ice grows back completely every winter:
"Fears that two-thirds of the world's polar bears will die off in the next 50 years are overblown, says Mitchell Taylor, the Government of Nunavut's director of wildlife research. [...] While he agrees that seals are essential food for bears as they fatten up during the spring and summer months - seal blubber makes up half of the bears' energy intake - he also suspects bears will be able to supplement their diet with other foods, such as walrus. During the summer months polar bears may also forage on berries, sedges and other plants, as well as bird eggs, to supplement their diet. And Taylor also points out female polar bears go nine months without eating at all during pregnancy. Besides, Taylor says he and numerous Inuit hunters have seen bears catch seal without the presence of sea ice. Bears sometimes find a place on shore to pounce on seals swimming by. Or they may catch seals caught in tidal pools, or sneak up on their prey at night. Taylor even suggests polar bears may float still on the water to fool seals into thinking they are hunks of sea ice."
Great collections of stats. I know everyone thanks you for putting these together. These should be repeated everywhere about 100,000 times, at least.
Grassfire.org has a nice 10+ minute DVD titled "Unstoppable Solar Cycles", summarizing the historical data available from the last 20,000(sic) or so years, especially the last two millenia. It starts with the Polar Ice Cap and the history and fate of the Vikings that settled in Greenland, and were frozen out. There is also a good discussion and perspective on the reasons the sun is the massively preponderant determinant of climatic phenomena. The discussion is presented by an astronomer and a climatologist. Very effective.
Comments Policy
Yipee! First vote!
May 15, 2008 - 10:29 ET by candanceConsidering their population has quadrupled in the past few decades, number one is clearly not correct but it will be interesting to see how many people choose that option anyway.
Simple it's all about the
May 15, 2008 - 10:33 ET by taterSimple it's all about the green weenie's agenda. They are causing more death and despair than any boogie man global warming ever could.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
When will humans be placed
May 15, 2008 - 10:35 ET by TruthMattersWhen will humans be placed on the list? Save a bear, kill a child.
save the baby humans
May 15, 2008 - 11:44 ET by TruthMongerfeel free to harass any whaling boats you like
just don't harass an abortion clinic
Location
May 15, 2008 - 10:42 ET by ChaitealoverAre there polar bears in or near Anwar? If there are, putting them on the endangered list would give the anti-drilling types another excuse to keep the US from becoming energy self-sufficient.
Chai
“A liberal is a man who will give away everything he doesn’t own.” —Frank Dane
There are no bears there
May 15, 2008 - 11:44 ET by Dan The Man 2There are no bears there because the evil oil companies have killed them already.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Genetically, Polars are white Grizzlies. Cute? Not.
May 15, 2008 - 10:58 ET by jazbo.
.
.
Those who believe in nothing will believe anything.
None of the Above
May 15, 2008 - 10:58 ET by Gat New YorkThey were placed on the endangered species list because of BDS.
A small step to legislating
May 15, 2008 - 11:11 ET by Free ThinkerA small step to legislating all kinds of other things in the courts. Seems small, but could be costly. WSJ has a nice editorial on this today.
endangered
May 15, 2008 - 11:13 ET by conantAny way we can get white heterosexual employed males on that list?
Now it seems the world is
May 15, 2008 - 11:14 ET by RbastidNow it seems the world is failing to catch the whole meaning of the word.
Lets use Bald Eagles as an example. They Were an endangered species, their numbers rose, they were taken off the list.
Polar Bears had their numbers rise, yet become endangered? Wait.....
See just like how we are gaining ice in record numbers around the world yet we're still in global warming.
This also goes with NBC showing footage for a global warming story, yet the animals they showed don't exist where the story was suppose to be taking place, Research people.
That's right!
May 15, 2008 - 13:44 ET by fonzie2178The elusive North Pole Penguin. They were only off though, by an ENTIRE HEMISPHERE!
This whole polar bear thing is nothing more than typical pandering to the Greenie Meanies who will stop at nothing to make people look like the evil wrongdoers. I have a better idea for the self loathing envirofascists. It involves some rope and another of their favorites, a tall tree. Let's work together to solve global warming!
"It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but it doesn't take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face."
Threatened not Endangered
May 15, 2008 - 11:21 ET by Mike From CanmoreThey have been listed as threatened, not endangered. From Drudge: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90LJ4BO2&show_article=1
As I learn more about this, this threatened seems to have a much stronger political effect than legal. As I'm just reading about it, don't harp on me if I'm wrong. I would love some references where I can learn more.
However, I think NB needs to make sure it reports accurately, or it becomes what it purports to expose and ultimately lends credence to those who refer to us as heretics.
There are 2 types of politicians. Those who know AGW is a sham and stupid ones.
mike
May 15, 2008 - 11:33 ET by candanceFrom what I understand they're currently on the threatened list but just the other day a court ruled on officially calling them endangered. That's how CNN explained it last night.
Candance
May 15, 2008 - 12:30 ET by Mike From CanmoreThanks.
Between actually doing my job, I've been trying to find some definitions between the 2. Any sources? Watch for an article by Terance Corcoran at the National Post in a few days. It's behind the wall now but the usually bring them out 3 - 5 days later. He's got some interesting insights into it. From his article:
"Green Web sites were jumping at the news. Andrew Wetzler, director of the Endangered Species Project with the Natural Resources Defense Council, was quoted on GreenTech as saying the "threatened" designation is as good as an "endangered" designation. "No government permits may be issued affecting the polar bear without all concerned government agencies having a say." Mr. Wetzler said it's not likely any of the oil industry's oil and gas exploration projects would be found to be legal by the courts. If the Democrats take the White House, it's expected that "no move affecting the polar bears in Alaska will go without a court challenge."
Much the same conclusion was reached by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a pro-energy development group and opponent of global warming theory. Iain Murray, an energy fellow at the group, said the so-called rule protecting "vital energy production" has no legs. It "just delays the day when global warming activists will be able to impose their policy of energy suppression."
I'm going to go search CEI. I trust what they have to say a lot more than CNN. If I find anything, I'll post the link
The camels nose is under
May 15, 2008 - 11:46 ET by Dan The Man 2The camels nose is under the tent.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Who wudda thunk it?
May 15, 2008 - 11:33 ET by NoyzmakrWell that practically ends our pursuit of drilling in ANWAR. The left, and some pandering RINO's, always find a way to put animals above human needs.
It’s always struck me funny that liberals care more about saving the life of a polar bear or any plant or animal for that matter than they do innocent human life.
But I'm not laughing.
It is all about drilling for oil.
May 15, 2008 - 11:59 ET by kgIt is all about drilling for oil. Now they can ban any off shore drilling. Add that to ANWR and we will not be drilling for oil any time soon.
Perhaps we can buy our own oil from China who is drilling off the coast of Florida.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Models gone wild
May 15, 2008 - 12:09 ET by RackieComputer models that is - another warming warning! read this lying down or belted into your seat. It can't get any sillier than this.
So all we need to do to
May 15, 2008 - 12:22 ET by Dan The Man 2So all we need to do to prevent GW is delete the ozone? LOL cant make this stuff up, or do they?
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
So lowering CO2 emissions
May 15, 2008 - 12:25 ET by FoolicanSo lowering CO2 emissions will actually cause global warming in the Antarctic? Am I reading this right?
If you'll excuse me, I must set my AC to 69 Fahrenheit. I'm doing my part.
From what I've heard in the
May 15, 2008 - 12:30 ET by mattmFrom what I've heard in the 1950s there were about 5000 of them, and now there are 25,000. If this is true, how can "their numbers are declining" be an option?
polar bears
May 15, 2008 - 12:31 ET by LionKingI hear Polar Bear fur is the new mink.
LionKing
May 15, 2008 - 12:48 ET by RackieThen you hear wrong. Panda is prefered by those who know.
You're both wrong. My inside
May 15, 2008 - 12:53 ET by FoolicanYou're both wrong. My inside sources tell me that the next rages for this upcoming climate anomaly are Manatee and Rainforest Howler Monkey.
Yummmm!
May 15, 2008 - 13:56 ET by RackieThrow a Howler on the barbie.
Now manatees are great.
May 15, 2008 - 14:23 ET by danboNow manatees are great. They're wonderful swimming buddies. They come up to you, roll over and wait for you to scratch or rub their bellies.
But their problems are boats. Not climate. Though some half witted environmentalist will claim it's climate.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
lemurs
May 16, 2008 - 01:09 ET by wiley catRespectfully, I think you all are way behind.
I know someone who is currently doing "biological monitoring" and research for a research project in the forests of Madagascar. The crisis seems to be that the natives are cutting down the trees on the island in order to survive (selfish, what?), reducing the habitat on which numerous subspecies of lemur depend. Don't be surprised if the next alarm is not raised for the lemur. (I'm not diminishing the importance and usefulness of well-directed and carefully done observations and data gathering, BTW.)
There is NO "anthropogenic" Global Warming. NONE.
Well duh !
May 15, 2008 - 12:33 ET by VT Con ManJust, well duh !
None of the above.
May 15, 2008 - 12:59 ET by danboToo many people lack the courage to fight the political correctness mafia.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
the emperor's new clothes, straight talk and urgency
May 16, 2008 - 01:20 ET by wiley catThis polar bear "campaign" (which includes a CBS reporter going to Greenland recently to publicize it (misleadingly)) to promote hysteria and grief over the "threat" or "endangerment" to polar bears by a non-existent, manufactured, falsified, unfounded "climatological phenomenon" purported to be the cause of impending global disaster, is a perfect example for study of the methods of the radical left-wing elitists. (Continued publication of every issue and recipient to which George Soros is contributing any significant amount of money should also be a priority.)
So many are so anxious to believe that the emperor's new clothes are beautiful and that at least the intentions of those who are describing them are good, regardless of what their common sense and plain sight tell them; in addition, if they recognized the deceptions, it would mean that they would have to get out of their comfortable rut and fight back, and they also find it more comforting to believe the hysterical mantra that our foes use for intellectual bullying in speech and print: that conflict (on our part) is a symptom of the failure to realize how wise and well-meaning they are. How could anyone argue with their desire for only our good (as long as they are in power and can define what good is)? There seems to be an endemic unwillingness on the part of most citizens to adopt a skeptical approach to claims of truth which cannot be validated by repetitive experiment or other unarguable facts.
There are those for whom that translates to a lack of courage and unwillingness to confront blatant lies, such as global warming. (The only quarrel I have with your quote is that I don't believe there is an "attempt" to establish (or define) lies as truth by repetition. Repetition of unfounded scientific claims is being used purposefully and, I believe, successfully, as a part of a campaign to mislead and co-opt citizens into accepting massive government programs as an absolute necessity. The other successful component of this campaign involves aggressively attacking any attempt to present real scientific evidence refuting the fake "truth" of a given campaign. The media, as may be expected, are intimately complicit in these deceptions (not limited to global warming, of course).
It would seem that the only defense we have against such aggressive promotions is equally aggressive repetition of real scientific fact which refutes or invalidates the theories being promoted, and an aroused and interested citizenry who want to know the truth and who want to ensure that our descendants have the benefits of liberty.
Under any circumstances, there would be an enormous imbalance of contact-hour coverage for publication of the the truth and "true science" vs. that for publication by the MSM and DBM of the rationales for the current manufactured crisis needing massive government spending. (It would be great to frequently see the statistics of the contact-minutes or circulation achieved by the MSM and DBM, versus the contact-minutes or circulation achieved by truth- and "true science-" oriented media outlets.)
There are so many people in this country who have no clue that we are in a battle for our futures, and that we are losing. The changes we will be subjected to will be 180 degrees in direction from the directions which will refresh and maintain our freedoms and restore power to those who will take us in that direction. It looks to me like we must devise and publicize a plan to make the truth and "true science" copiously available to an aroused citizenry.
There is NO "anthropogenic" Global Warming. NONE.
Real Reason
May 15, 2008 - 13:44 ET by JungusThe real reason they are doing this has a little to do with CO2. The biggest reason is so that they can curtail any and every energy policy that we could use. No oil drilling mostly and anything that can be blamed on warming the globe secondly.
Seriously, higher CO2 a problem to polar bears? What are they suffocating on it?
Remind me again which party controls the Executive Branch
May 15, 2008 - 13:58 ET by DaMavJFC, another slap in the face. There is no excuse for this.
It's All Down to Politics
May 15, 2008 - 14:08 ET by geoff.galeI voted the "None of the Above" option because I believe that the government took this action in a misguided attempt to help Bush curry some favour with the public. Much as McCain has stepped on the toes of those who support him on the AGW issue in order to secure the potential votes of people who've succumbed to the Algore brainwash, Bush sees this as a throw-away issue through which he can dig his approval rating out of the toilet that it's in.
Just politics - move along, folks, nothin' to see here.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
www.conservativeboot...
Entitlement is good for all ; just see how lovely Knut is..
May 15, 2008 - 14:14 ET by upcountrywater25,000 more ain't so bad..
200 bucks for oil is good.
ignorance is strength .save the earth
The POPE says, GOD BLESS AMERICA!! Liberals/are/crazy/IranianUranium/is/good
Polar Bears
May 15, 2008 - 14:36 ET by pbfunI would just like all of you to know that after yesterdays ruling declaring the polar bear threatened I have joined the other team. After watching the Sci-Fi channel last night I have decided my true calling in life is to get Bigfoot and the Yeti placed on the same threatened list as the polar bear. I am tired of dealing with facts. Once I have accomplished adding these beloved and misunderstood creatures to the list I will be fighting for solutions to help them. My first order of business will be to push legislation to force the removal of thumbs from all humans. However, exemptions will allow Asians, African-Americans, Latinos, Eskimos, Native Americans, Pigmies, Illegal Immigrants, Survivors of Katrina, PETA members, midgets, and anyone on government assistance and of course all liberals to keep their thumbs. In accomplishing this task the evil ones will no longer be able to get in the way of sort-of-science because they will no longer be able to express their opinion because their ability to use the space bar on a keyboard will have been eliminated and make it hard to read thus ending any opposing opinion.
Well...
May 15, 2008 - 14:44 ET by FoolicanI too have had a revelation, and I'm siding with pbfun on this. I've come to the conclusion that facts are irrelevant, for proof denies faith, and without faith global warming is nothing. But global warming clearly is something, as trends have dictated. Therefore, the argument is bulletproof, and it's time to act now.
The best way to start is to stop reproducing. Stop having sex. Then, slowly march the evil rich into "climate camps" where they will be taught to live a life of minimalism. If all else fails, we shall begin rationing by euthanizing adults at the age of 50 for the good of the planet.
Because they are cute
May 15, 2008 - 15:24 ET by niner-four-whiskeyPolar bears are going on the endangered species list because they are cute.
That's the long and the short of it.
No one will put the hagfish on the endangered species list, ever, no matter how threatened they become.
There was a biologist many
May 16, 2008 - 00:04 ET by cleverpigThere was a biologist many years ago who studied this. The phenomenon was named after him, but now I can't remember... the Schweitzer Factor? Something like that. Anyway, he developed an index of cuteness that predicts how much people care about a species and whether or not you can get any money to study or save them.
Hagfish probably don't rate very high!
I am going to shock you---
May 15, 2008 - 16:04 ET by misterbillI am going to shock you---but I agree they should be on the endangered list---Why???--becasue they are white, fewer in numbers than all the other colored bears of the world and have too long jeld sway over the Arctic. Add to that, that they are living in a very uncomfortable area and lately, have to visit garbage dumps to eke out a living, I think this qualifies them to be on the list. I believe within a year or two, brown bears, black bears and grizzlies will be quietly stealing into those frigid areas to steal what natural food is left for the polar bears and will take the things that, allegedly, polar bears do not want. Judging by recent happenings in the courts of the USA, the eskimo tribal councils will approve of the influx by the other colored bears and will bring to bear, (pun intended), new laws to prevent the polar bears from defending themselves.
Also, the new bears will automatically be granted hunting licenses. This allegedly will protect the rest of the animal population from accidents.
My name is Teddy Bear and I have approved this statement!
OK, OK,
May 15, 2008 - 16:25 ET by misterbillOK, OK, bear with me here. I have already received a complaint. Someone has accused me of selling out to Coco Koala and insists that I am trying to panda to the new bear group.None of this is true. I am also accused of having an affair with a movie star named Ursidae Anders. This is not true. I never had a relation--- never mind. I also am not lazy although I have been accused of being a sloth bear. Enough is too much!! I must take a paws for station identification.
OK, OK,
May 15, 2008 - 16:25 ET by misterbillOK, OK, bear with me here. I have already received a complaint. Someone has accused me of selling out to Coco Koala and insists that I am trying to panda to the new bear group.None of this is true. I am also accused of having an affair with a movie star named Ursidae Anders. This is not true. I never had a relation--- never mind. I also am not lazy although I have been accused of being a sloth bear. Enough is too much!! I must take a paws for station identification.
The polar bear population
May 15, 2008 - 16:30 ET by Gary P JacksonThe polar bear population is growing, not shrinking.
See my post about shipping all liberals to Gitmo, in the Exxon CEO thread!
the environmentalist socialist party pulled a premptive strike
May 15, 2008 - 20:39 ET by lunaticcringeradioby putting the growing number of flourishing polar bears on the endangered species list the anticapitalist evironmental groups are using this as another block to drilling for our own oil.
lunaticcringeradio
Why the Polar Bears Should NOT be Listed as "Threatened"
May 15, 2008 - 22:50 ET by PopularTechThe empirical evidence shows that Polar Bear populations are increasing or stable and have survived a changing climate for over 100,000 years.
1. There are thousands more Polar Bears now then in the 1970s:
ESA Listing Not Needed for Polar Bears (The Heartland Institute)
"Since the 1970s, while much of the world was warming, polar bear numbers increased dramatically, from roughly 5,000 to 25,000 bears, a higher polar bear population than has existed at any time in the twentieth century."
2. The Arctic sea-ice grows back completely every winter:
Arctic Winter Ice 1979-2006 (Animation) (NASA)
3. Recently the ice has been growing back at a record pace:
Arctic Sea Ice Re-Freezing at Record Pace (The Daily Green)
Arctic Sea Ice Sees 'Significant Increase' in Size Following 'Extreme Cold' (CBC News)
4. Historically this has happened in the Arctic before:
1922, The Arctic seems to be warming up (Monthly Weather Review)
Arctic Historical Data Cast Doubt on Climate Change Theory (CTV News)
Reports of Record Arctic Ice Melt Disgracefully Ignore History (NewsBusters)
5. The current Arctic SUMMER sea-ice minimum is likely due to natural causes:
A Warmer Arctic? Blame Mother Nature (National Post, Canada)
Arctic Ocean Circulation Does An About-Face (Science Daily)
North Atlantic Warming Tied To Natural Variability (Science Daily)
Arctic Sea ice loss - "it’s the wind" says NASA (Anthony Watts, Meteorologist)
Scary Arctic Ice Loss? Blame the Wind (Science)
Winds of Change Thinned The Arctic Ice (New Scientist)
Winds, Ice Motion Root Cause Of Decline In Sea Ice, Not Warmer Temperatures (Science Daily)
6. Polar Bears have been around over 100,000 years and have dealt with climate change before and survived:
Ancient 110,000-130,000 Year Old Polar Bear Jawbone Found (BBC)
7. There is no empirical evidence that Polar Bears cannot adapt to a changing climate:
Polar Bear die-off unlikely: GN official (Nunatsaiq News)
"Fears that two-thirds of the world's polar bears will die off in the next 50 years are overblown, says Mitchell Taylor, the Government of Nunavut's director of wildlife research. [...] While he agrees that seals are essential food for bears as they fatten up during the spring and summer months - seal blubber makes up half of the bears' energy intake - he also suspects bears will be able to supplement their diet with other foods, such as walrus. During the summer months polar bears may also forage on berries, sedges and other plants, as well as bird eggs, to supplement their diet. And Taylor also points out female polar bears go nine months without eating at all during pregnancy. Besides, Taylor says he and numerous Inuit hunters have seen bears catch seal without the presence of sea ice. Bears sometimes find a place on shore to pounce on seals swimming by. Or they may catch seals caught in tidal pools, or sneak up on their prey at night. Taylor even suggests polar bears may float still on the water to fool seals into thinking they are hunks of sea ice."
The Anti 'Man-Made' Global Warming Resource
kudos
May 16, 2008 - 13:20 ET by wiley catPT
Great collections of stats. I know everyone thanks you for putting these together. These should be repeated everywhere about 100,000 times, at least.
Grassfire.org has a nice 10+ minute DVD titled "Unstoppable Solar Cycles", summarizing the historical data available from the last 20,000(sic) or so years, especially the last two millenia. It starts with the Polar Ice Cap and the history and fate of the Vikings that settled in Greenland, and were frozen out. There is also a good discussion and perspective on the reasons the sun is the massively preponderant determinant of climatic phenomena. The discussion is presented by an astronomer and a climatologist. Very effective.
There is NO "anthropogenic" Global Warming. NONE.