OCR Text |
Show • GLOBAL WARMING REPORT .Student Loans From page 12 in the scientific community. However, even most scientists don't know that they _ and others _ have been communicating concerns about global warming to presidents of both parties since the 1960s. One early warning that we ' ' w i l l modify the heat balance of the atmosphere to such an extent that marked changes in climate ... could occur" came in 1965 from the Environmental Pollution Board of the President's Science Advisory Committee. While the Bush administration has been loath to accept this reality, an earlier administration accepted ft as a statement of scientific fact. In a special message to Congress in February 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson noted: "This generation has altered the composition of the atmosphere on a global scale through ... a steady increase in carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels." A second warning came in 1966 from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Panel on Weather and Climate Modification, headed by geophysicist Gordon MacDonald, who later served on President Richard Nixon's Council on Environmental Quality. While examining the question of deliberate weather modification, MacDonald's committee concluded that increased carbon dioxide might also lead to "inadvertent weather modification." In 1974, in the wake of the Arab oil embargo, Alvin Weinberg, director of the Gak Ridge National Laboratory, realized that climatological impacts might limit oil production before geology did. In 1978, RobertM. White, the first administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and later president of the National Academy of Engineering, put it this way: " W e now understand that industrial wastes, such as carbon dioxide released during the burning of fossil fuels, can have consequences for climate that pose a considerable threat to future society." In 1979 the subject was addressed by the JASON Committee, the reclusive group of scientists with highlevel security clearances who gather annually to advise the U.S. government; its members LETTERS From page 7 2 to a letter to the editor in dance shows a man who the Statesman on January 31 attended church but was from Ben Nilson in regards to never witnessed taking comthe "Founding Fathers" and munion. Mr. Nilson's greatest the debate over their collec- stretch of the facts occurs in tive religiosity. Mr. Nilson his attempt to paint Thomas is responding to a previous Jefferson as a man who letter in which the writer evangelized in the name of argues that the "Founding Jesus Christ. Nothing could Fathers" were not practic- be further from the truth. ing Christians and could Jefferson was a man of the be described as deist. Mr. Enlightenment who at times Nilson makes the argument actually poked fun at selfthat based on a variety of described Christians. quotes that the Founders, our In my opinion one of the country and the Constitution great qualities of this county are very Christian. is its Judeo-Christian ethic. Mr. Nilson tries to reduce Let's not confuse that ethic a very complex and convo- with the personal religious luted subject, the religious journeys of the founders. and spiritual station of every- They knew from experience one who is considered to how an overzealous relibe a "Founding Father." Also gion-dominated governing the use of quotes without body could usurp basic Godany context is disingenuous endowed rights. The banat best. Another flaw in Mr. ishment of Roger Williams Nilson's argument is his lack from the Massachusetts Bay of research in verifying the Colony is an example of sucn overzealousness. validity of certain quotes. The quote Mr. Nilson The only quote I will use refers to that is attributed to in defense of my argument Patrick Henry has been dis- is from Thomas Paine. "As puted by scholars. His use to religion, I hold it to be of quotes by James Madison the indispensable duty of is completely out of con- the government to protect text. Mr. Madison's opinion all conscientious professors regarding religion and gov- thereof, and I know of no ernment's place in it is best other business which governreflected in a complete work, ment hath to do therewith." as in "Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments." Keith Smith A closer look at George Washington's church atten- HOWLING AT NOTHING From page 14 have included some of the most brilliant scientists of our era. The JASON scientists predicted that atmospheric carbon dioxide might double by 2035, resulting in mean global temperature increases of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius and polar warming of as much as 10 to 12 degrees. This report reached the Carter Wnite House, where science adviser Frank Press asked the National Academy of Sciences for a second opinion. An academy committee, headed by MIT meteorologist Jule Charney, affirmed the JASON conclusion: " I f carbon dioxide continues to increase, (we) find no reason to doubt that climate changes will result, and no reason to believe that these changes will be negligible." It was these concerns that led to the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and, in 1992, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which called for immediate action to reverse the trend of mounting greenhouse gas emissions. One early signatory was President George H.W. Bush, who called on world leaders to translate the written document into '^concrete action to protect the planet." Three months later, tne treaty was unanimously ratified by the Senate. Since then, scientists around the world have worked assiduously to flesh out the details of this broadly affirmed picture. Many details have been adjusted, but the basic parameters have not changed. Well, one thing has. In 1965, the concern that greenhouse gases would lead to global warming was a prediction. Today, it is an established scientific fact. Naomi Oreskes is a professor of science history at the University of California at San Diego, This editorial ran in the Washington Post. We Fit Your Needs Get the best deal on your Stafford Loan by designating USU Charter Credit Union as your lender of choice. ( !< Lender # 830146 guaranteed by UHEAA payment for you of' MATERNITY INSURANCE on your loan . immediate interest rate reductiofj Costs as liltle as $75 - $175 / MONTH Pays oul as much as $5000 - $7000 Must be in effect 10 months BEFORE you deliver Works great with other health insurance policies Great prices on all Life, Health, Auto & Renters for repaying with direct withdrawal. » 2% interest rate reduction after four years of on-time payments Refund of your loan origination fees JNCUAI Cache Valley Insurance, Inc. 94 South Main, Logan (435) 7524560 Ask for Quent Caspcrson or Curtis Craig BfllGHAM USU ChdiUi CREDIT UNION ur'rcicillt unit! CITY'S Saturday, February 3,2007 -«am - 4..... Goble lodge-1900 South Hwy 89* For Info: Call [ 4 3 5 1 7 2 3 - 3 9 3 1 GRAND PRIZE Las Vegas Vacation Package Courtesy ol North Star Morloago MORE Great Prizes aGlveAways stress on campus. For starters, I may decide to start the "slap someone new" game, the week before finals. This game begins on day one at the beginning of the alphabet. Every time you meet someone new that day whose name begins with the letter A, you slap them in the face. On day two, you move to the letter B and so on. In the two weeks until finals are over you will have slapped a good portion of people that have names from Aaron to Justine or all the way to N if you observe the weekends. The following semester you can continue on with the next several letters of the alphabet. By time you graduate, you should know just about everyone that passes by you daily, walking to and from classes. Professors are also fair game, if not that, at least you'll quicktylearn how to avoid football players and others with excessively large hands. It's survival of the fittest. And comparable to whack-a-mole, it's a brilliant stress reliever. But you know, maybe I am getting old. My knees are getting stiff, my hair is thinning and my howl just isn't what it used to be. And because I'm old and cranky, I hope I don't see or hear multitudes of students gathering to howl in April. But if there are, then I'll be sure to meet everyone, and show off the one thing that has improved over the years - my vicious backhand. Garrett Wheeler is a second bachelor's student in technical theatre design. Send any comments or column ideas to wheel@cc.usu.edu. The Statesman has a new podcast of the week's highlights every Friday. Check it out at www. utahstatesman.com/podcasts. Also, look for the Statesman staffs weekly panel discussions in Aggie Voices. CONTINUOUS FASHION SHOW 11:00 - 3:3O |