A (relatively) Short Course on our Climate Emergency

Following the disaster of COP15 last December, I have been doing some research on the web. Organized here are a number of links to videos on the climate crisis which faces us - a crisis which we must resolve, if there is to be a future for our civilization (your children!).

There are several hours of watching and learning time here.

I suggest to you that if our civilization is at stake, it is worth it for all citizens of the world to spend a few hours getting more informed about the situation we now face. (The planet will go on - it is our society, our civilization, and our children's lives that are at stake.)

Essentially this is structured as a "tutorial" course, gradually leading up to an understanding of where we now stand. I highly recommend viewing all of these videos, more or less in the order indicated, especially if you have paid only superficial attention to the development of our current planetary emergency. (This is no longer a time for euphemisms like "global warming" or "climate change".)

If you think you are already well-informed, I suggest viewing items listed in sections 1, 4, 5, and 6 for an update-in-depth. (Global observations and climate understanding have changed greatly in just the last 3 - 4 years.)

If you view nothing else, please watch at least the items flagged (##-->) in sections 1,4,5,6.

Thank you.

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11111111111111 A pre-requisite --
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This video is not specifically about the climate emergency at all. Why is it here? Because this very excellent presentation of some simple arithmetic is a basic pre-requisite to better understanding the global challenge we face, of which the climate crisis is a major aspect, but not the only component.

If you really want to begin to comprehend where we actually stand, please take the time to view this video (all 8 parts) before going on to the climate-specific material. View it twice if you like - the message it carries is of major import in the climate situation.

##-->Arithmetic, Population and Energy - a talk by Dr. Al Bartlett (80 min total)
##-->(Viewing note: Please watch the 8 segmented parts of the video. The link to the "one-hour streaming video" does not include Dr. Bartlett's presentation material, which shows excellent examples, and is essential to proper understanding.)

The video was produced in 2002 at University of Colorado in Boulder. Some of the material is slightly dated, but that in no way changes the arithmetic or the message.
It is also somewhat "USA-centric", which is typical. The implications, however, are truly global in scope.

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2222222222222 A developing awareness of the current climate crisis -
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Earth: The Climate Wars - Three 1- hour documentaries (3 hrs)
This excellent production by BBC, aired in December 2009, gives a very good overview of scientific development in the field of climate research over the last 50 years.
URL: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/earth-the-climate-wars/


This speech by Naomi Oreskes gives another overview of the history of Climate science development, and comments on the danger of the denialists (de Nihilists).
Naomi Oreskes - The American Denial of Global Warming UCtelevision December 20, 2007 University of California

here's a good one -
1958 video of a scientist explaining global warming (1:20 clip)

For FIFTY YEARS scientists have known about global warming. This exerpt is from the well known educational documentary "Unchained Goddess" produced by Frank Capra for Bell Labs for their television program "The Bell Telephone Hour."

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333333333333333 Understanding climate change -
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There are a number of short videos on YouTube which explain various aspects of climate destabilization in different ways. I think you should watch most, if not all, of these videos. They treat different aspects in different ways, which helps reinforce and deepen understanding of the problem(s).
Three really good sources are:

Potholer54
has several excellent videos (10 min clips) describing various aspects of climate destabilization - worth watching his entire Climate Change playlist

Greenman3610
has taken the approach of identifying a "Denialist" point, and beautifully refuting it. His series on this is titled "Climate Denial Crock of the Week" - very informative.

Wonderingmind42
is actually Greg Craven, a science teacher in Oregon.
##-->He originally put up The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See
which looks at the problems a little differently. Back and forthing on YouTube has led to many more videos, and a book on the subject.
An organized index to his many videos is available at http://www.manpollo.org/ - check them out - great fun!

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4) Why so much confusion over the reality of climate destabilization? - the Denialists (de Nihilists?) - who they are, and their role!

Goebbels!!! -(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels ) perfected an understanding of the "Big Lie" technique of propaganda, which is based on the principle that a lie, if audacious enough and repeated enough times, will be believed by the masses.

Have we not learned the difference between information and propaganda????:

a sound byte:
James Hoggan talks Climate Cover-Up on P3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeJNso1NE2w

In more detail: Event November 30, 2009 at McNally Jackson Books in Manhattan. Hoggan's popular blog: DeSmogblog.com (58 min)
James Hoggan: Exposing PR denying climate crisis at a book signing event
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7seLU7HTZw

The denialists:
- already have influence in boardrooms & political backrooms
- need (optimally) - support - but more than adequate is indecision & confusion in the body public
- with indecision in the body public - backroom influence will form policy -


##-->V. Good lecture - (70 min)
##-->Climate change denialism. Clive Hamilton and Andrew Glikson September, 2009
##-->Lecture & questions on climate denial - nature & development of denial - = US Republican conservatives & industry...politicization of science
##-->La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia September, 2009
##-->http://www.themonthly.com.au/climate-change-denialism-clive-hamilton-and-andrew-glikson-2006

Goebbels!!! -(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels ) perfected an understanding of the "Big Lie" technique of propaganda, which is based on the principle that a lie, if audacious enough and repeated enough times, will be believed by the masses.

Have we not learned the difference between information and propaganda????:
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5) Where do we stand now?

##-->Melting Ice: Regional Dramas, Global Wake-Up Call (April 28, 2009)
##-->Former Vice President Al Gore, foreign ministers and climate change scientists met on 28 April in the town of Tromsø in Northern Norway to discuss the impacts of melting ice in Antarctica, the Arctic and mountain areas worldwide. This video contains the intervention by Dr Robert W Corell. (10:33)
##-->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmWOuo1qTrM

Search on Youtube for: "Melting Ice: Regional Dramas, Global Wake-Up Call" to see more vids - current information on melting ice...

James Balog: Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss - Spectacular - Scary!! (21 Min) (2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjeIpjhAqsM

Earth Focus - Link_TV - EarthFocus - Mark Lynas - excellent interview
http://www.linktv.org/video/4732/earth-focus-interview-mark-lynas

Earth Focus - Link_TV - Robert Corell Status update - spring 2009 (11:17)
http://www.linktv.org/video/4676

James Hansen, climate hero: Global Warming Crisis OCTOBER 2008
James Hansen speaks at Earth Charter Climate Crisis Community Summit at the Community Church of New York, chaired by Frans Verhagen, about the presidential elections and the imperative of our dealing with the global warming crisis. He talks about many of the different aspects of climate destabilization, with figures and graphs in his presentation. Many of the points he discusses are well explained in various videos from YouTube vids as noted above. Jim's style is quiet and low-key, but he makes some very definite statements about the problem, the difficulties of dealing with established interests, and the urgency of the problem. Well worth following right to the end - including the very last question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUVEDtmRC4M

Dr David Wasdell is a prominent British scientist, part of the IPCC review panel.

From the President's Room Dr. David Wasdell - Nov 2007 - TV interview
A brief presenttion by David Wasdell in fireside chat format.
http://www.apollo-gaia.org/TVInterview/index.htm

##-->Planet Earth We Have A Problem - Dr. David Wasdell - Tällberg Forum 29 June 2008
##-->This presentation (3 parts) is very thorough in its description of recent and up-to-date understandings of climate destabilization.
##-->The illustrations are excellent, the presentation superb.
##-->Two versions are available, with some difference in comments and expresion of the problem - the same science of course!
##-->The studio recording of the presentation(3 parts): http://www.sustainabilitytelevision.com/video/805

This is a much abbreviated version of David's presentation given a few months later at the Crisis Forum: Climate Change and Violence Workshop Series, Friday 14 November 2008 University of Southampton. You *MUST* watch the full presentation first, as it gives a much more thorough explanation of the meaning of climate dynamics. This link is included because his ad-lib comments are somewhat different, and worth hearing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0nWX2v9vZ0

Richard Alley explains how CO2 is the climate's "biggest control knob" Dec 2009
http://rs.resalliance.org/2009/12/29/richard-alley-explains-how-co2-is-the-climates-biggest-control-knob/

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6) Where will it take us??

Irreversible Warming - (Jan 2009) (2 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxKTtViCW3w

##-->Gwynne Dyer | Climate Wars - University of Toronto Dec 8, 2008 (70 min)
##-->A very direct lecture by Gwynne Dyer on some of the social implications of climate destabilization. If you have reviewed a number of the videos listed above, you will note that some of his numbers are just a little off - but as the comment on the site says -
##-->"... the majority of the presentation is an exceptional synthesis of the confluence of unprecedented, geopolitical stresses that have already begun to effect - and threaten - every aspect of our lives."
##-->http://ecosanity.org/blogsanity/?p=663
##-->See also some of the links posted on this site

Earth2100 - full movie - ABC (US) production aired Jun 2, 2009 (2 hrs)
http://milledrive.com/videos/31267/Earth_2100_Documentary.html

Jared Diamond - Why societies collapse
http://www.ted.com/talks/jared_diamond_on_why_societies_collapse.html


This party is over - it is now time to pay the piper, and clean up the mess left - not by our guests - but by ourselves. In time, we may have another party, but first we have work to do.
For the next generation we can offer little but "blood, toil, tears, and sweat'-

Climate Change: A Churchillian Call to Action By David Wasdell
http://www.apollo-gaia.org/CalltoAction/index.htm

A Time Comes - the story of the Kingsnorth Six (20 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdBR9DzSjo0


Churchill - we need a leader or leaders like this - and coalition, bi-partisan governments to deal with the emergency.
Listen to these classic calls to action - just interpret the scope a little more broadly - for British Empire, etc - understand "global civilization" ...
and as for the enemy...

"We have met the enemy and he is us!" -POGO - Earthday 1970 (!!) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_(comics)#.22We_have_met_the_enemy....22)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVg7rnRheK8&NR=1 "blood, toil, tears, and sweat"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjuiMuvHojQ - short version -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsKDGM5KTBY "their finest hour"
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/usa/churchill-finest-hour.mp3 "their finest hour" - audio only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTw3_PmKtc&feature=related "we shall fight"

Please understand - our civilization does not have 1000 years of future - unless we act NOW there will be less than 100 years of civilization as we know it.

Sorrowfully, I personally see no easy solutions - but solutions do exist. To act quickly and adequately, we must make a Herculean effort - 2 or 3 decades of "blood, toil, tears, and sweat".
With such an effort, we can hope to maintain major portions of our civilization and move to a post fossil-fuel world.
Otherwise...
???? the end ????