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Homines libenter quod volunt credunt
August 14, 2012 Methodology

It’s always a joy to read our local magazines. This one from the Genesee Valley Parent Magazine that comes out monthly (page 30 and 31):

Locavore. It’s a term to signify a lifestyle choice by those who opt for local products. Being a Locavore has a lot of benefits: buying locally is good for the environment because it cuts down on shipping and gas and it stimulates local businesses. … Plus many local farms and businesses also use good, wholesome, natural practices like pesticide-free, organic growing.

Look at all that science! Being a locavore has a lot of benefits … because … it just feels good to think and say so. We’ll explore these issues in our Eco 238 class, and as I suggested the other day, since my students have taken it upon themselves to Google my site for quiz answers, I’ll just leave out the analysis of this for now.

On a similar vein, here is a local article telling us to “get mad” because the droughts across the US are signs that global warming is caused by man. All I will say about it is that the last comment is a non-sequitur. But it pairs nicely with the GVParent piece above. Just think of what would happen to us during a drought if we all practiced a locavore lifestyle. Now we ain’t just talking about not eating strawberries in September, we are talking about not eating at all. But that’s OK, the goal after all is to lower human population isn’t it?

This country (and world) is in serious trouble and it is happening faster than you think. The picture on the left is from a county in Illinois where over 90% of the counties in that state have been declared disaster areas due to the lack of rain.

It is time to stop the senseless argument whether this is due to scientifically proved man-made climate change ot “just a cycle” that we’ll get through it. No we won’t. Demand that your local, state and federal government, and businesses and institutions stand-up and face the fact we all must work together to make it together. Now more than ever we need people to get very, very, serious about this and not chuckle when there is a snowstorm about “where’s the global warning now, ha ha”.

Get mad, get active, demand accountability from those who say they are leaders.

Again notice all of the sound science in the article. The lack of science is disturbing in particular among a community that shoves down my throat that they are the paragon of sound science. By the way, I’ll buy a beer for anyone who wants to compare the impact of diverting half of the US corn crop into motor fuels on hunger and food prices (and land use and water use) with the impact the “worst drought in 50 years” is expected to have on prices, yields and hunger. And that’s just the start of the science one might wish to reflect upon.

But folks, none of this is about science. I have no idea why I ever thought it was.

"4" Comments
  1. Have you ever noticed that when it’s warmer than normal we’re told it clear evidence of climate change. But when it’s bitter cold for a stretch in the winter, we’re told that’s not evidence of anything, just normal fluctuations.

  2. This is my fav. part of that column:

    “Sometimes I failed. It’s amazing how set we are in our routines. On the very first day of this challenge I was so proud of myself, I found everything I needed for my first 100% Locavore meal, but when I sat down in my car after my trip to the grocery store I realized my mistake: I twisted off the cap to my favorite sparkling seltzer. Out of habit, I had grabbed it as I headed to checkout. It was not made locally. I had spent the previous half hour at the grocery store scouring labels and analyzing my map, but I had so quickly regressed without even noticing. It will happen, but it’s not worth stressing over.”

  3. 1. You drove your car?! Is it bio-diesel? Why did you not walk or pedal a bicycle?

    2. Myself, my favorite sparkling water is from Italy and that’s a long ways off… And I drive because it is better for me than walking many miles over many hours and lugging home groceries time and again day after day. (I do not live in Europe or New York City.)

    3. Actually, what we are told about extremel cold winters is that they are caused by global warming. Global warming drives extreme climactic change. The science may be lacking but that is the canonic reply.

  4. >> “Actually, what we are told about extremel cold winters is that they are caused by global warming. Global warming drives extreme climactic change.”

    Indeed, it’s the ultimate “heads I win, tails you lose” scenario. 😉

    Remember when global warming became climate change? Now I’m told that the latest proper term is “climate volatility.”

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