Although there is no doubt that the weather patterns have changed in the last century, the reality is that current scientific knowledge regarding the Earth’s weather systems is woefully inadequate. We are just now starting to get data on pre-historic weather patterns, and cycles of vast temperature swings with barely understood causes are apparent. And although there is consensus that global warming is a fact, there is not agreement as to the cause beyond there being some impact from human industry. Science is not binary: it is continuously informed by new research and discovery, and the truth is that the facts behind Earth’s climate are barely understood.

Setting that aside, Shane, as I said (and you seemed to ignore): “Regardless, there is no doubt in my mind that we (humanity) absolutely must start taking steps to reduce the damage we cause.”

What I vehemently disagree with is the climate of fear and panic that some groups and individuals promote to drive their own particular agendas. You and I may see this reasonably: it is well past time for humanity to take better care of the planet, for us to reduce the waste and find better, least destructive sources of energy. But there are a great many people who are using the global warming discussion to push for things like halting air travel, discontinuing satellite launches and other space vehicle use, and outlawing personal vehicles. They are ignoring the facts as clearly as those who think we can all continue to drive Hummers and generate all our power with coal.