Global Warming Debate

[LowerCaseRepublican]

Tomorrow and Friday, we're having a global warming debate in class.

 

We've been talking about Native American cultures and their treatment of the environment. Then we've talked about getting all the facts in a debate (we're going to have a lot) before making lists of all the positives and negatives of a situation before making any decision.

 

So, we're framing the debate that global warming exists because most scientists have pretty much agreed that it exists as an entity. Then we're going from there to the rights of companies and people to purchase any product they want, make any product they'd like and act how they would like and that freedom versus the ability to take steps to curb global warming through better gas mileage cars, laws and all the way down to what a 7th grader could do. We'll probably see where there is a balance between the freedom of a company/person to purchase/produce any product and responsibility for the environment.

 

I actually look forward to playing Devil's advocate to press to see how far their enjoyment of "I can do what I want!" will go. Plus, it connects something from thousands of years ago to an issue they know today.

[mr_genius]

see how far their enjoyment of "I can do what I want!" will go.

 

Don't forget to wear an Al Gore or John Edwards name tag when you talk about how it's ok for you to destroy the planet because you've earned the right to.

 

Edited September 13, 2007 by mr_genius

[LowerCaseRepublican]

Don't forget to wear an Al Gore or John Edwards name tag when you talk about how it's ok for you to destroy the planet because you've earned the right to.

 

We're actually using parts of An Inconvenient Truth in class.

 

But I'm setting it up with an argument along the lines of "This movie does have a lot of scientific data in it. However, Al Gore does have an agenda which you can see in the way he treats his opponents' arguments, the way he discusses the current administration because he ran against them in 2000 and belongs to a different political party -- so that may make you want to believe some of his data and arguments less. How much you believe is up to you."

 

I personally can't wait for next chapter's discussion -- "Should we really get Columbus Day off?"

[sox4lifeinPA]

Pollution is the real problem, global warming is a politicized lame and useless catch phrase: end of debate.

[NorthSideSox72]

Pollution is the real problem, global warming is a politicized lame and useless catch phrase: end of debate.

 

Global warming has been established in thousands upon thousands of scientific pieces as being pretty much a given. A few outlier pieces say otherwise. If you agree with the small minority, great - then establish you reasoning for us. But to simply say its no more than a catch phrase is just an unwillingness to see anything outside your comfort zone.

 

...

 

LCR, I am glad you are having the debate over the issue, and I am sure you will play devil's advocate from both sides of the discussion. I am also glad to see the Columbus Day thing come up - so much material there.

[sox4lifeinPA]

Global warming has been established in thousands upon thousands of scientific pieces as being pretty much a given. A few outlier pieces say otherwise. If you agree with the small minority, great - then establish you reasoning for us. But to simply say its no more than a catch phrase is just an unwillingness to see anything outside your comfort zone.

 

...

 

LCR, I am glad you are having the debate over the issue, and I am sure you will play devil's advocate from both sides of the discussion. I am also glad to see the Columbus Day thing come up - so much material there.

 

 

I never said anything about not believing in global warming...don't pawn that right wing s*** on me.

 

I said that pollution is the problem. When we use stupid, vague labels like "global warming" it gives stupid people on both sides room to manipulate the issue.

 

You can't manipulate pollution:

 

 

Medical Waste Closes NJ Beaches

 

 

OR

 

 

I go with Pollution as the issue...

 

Carbon emissions and green house gases are the nice way of saying...people waste too much and conserve too little and in general we're fat, lazy slobs on some level...even if you're a skinny workaholic.

[NorthSideSox72]

I never said anything about not believing in global warming...don't pawn that right wing s*** on me.

 

I said that pollution is the problem. When we use stupid, vague labels like "global warming" it allows stupid people on both sides room to manipulate the issue.

 

You can't manipulate pollution:

 

 

I got with Pollution as the issue...

 

Carbon emissions and green house gases are the nice way of saying...people waste too much and conserve too little and in general we're fat, lazy slobs on some level...even if you're a skinny workaholic.

In that case, I stand corrected, and agree heartily with your view. I especially like that your view brings focus to the fact that what we are doing to our environment goes well beyond just how much carbon we throw into the air.

 

[sox4lifeinPA]

In that case, I stand corrected, and agree heartily with your view. I especially like that your view brings focus to the fact that what we are doing to our environment goes well beyond just how much carbon we throw into the air.

 

Carbon is just one of the problems...

 

I was listening to NPR the other day and this scientist in Alaska talking about perma frost receeding which feeds the lake scum which releases TONS of methane. (that's one of the vague "greenhouse gases")

 

 

so us guys need to listen to our wives and stop farting so much. Unless I buy a hybrid to offset it:)

[NorthSideSox72]

Carbon is just one of the problems...

 

I was listening to NPR the other day and this scientist in Alaska talking about perma frost receeding which feeds the lake scum which releases TONS of methane. (that's one of the vague "greenhouse gases")

so us guys need to listen to our wives and stop farting so much. Unless I buy a hybrid to offset it:)

hmmm....

[sox4lifeinPA]

hmmm....

 

 

ok...sure, I'm the only one with gas

[NorthSideSox72]

ok...sure, I'm the only one with gas

No no, actually, I was thinking the opposite. Look at the three words I bolded. Do they not prompt an idea?

 

[Soxy]

No no, actually, I was thinking the opposite. Look at the three words I bolded. Do they not prompt an idea?

A fart powered car? GENIUS!

[sox4lifeinPA]

 

I've already sent in the patent.

[LowerCaseRepublican]

3 of my classes went well with the debate.

 

2 classes got very interesting. We talked more about Gore's bias and the kids started to question a person's agenda in presentations. It was really awesome to watch. I was like "That's the point of this. Question. Don't just except something because a movie, book or teacher said it. Do your own research. Look into things and question intelligently. Get all the facts, weigh the positives and negatives and then make your decision."

 

During one class, a student and I argued together that global warming did not exist and that human carbon emissions did not do much to harm the planet. It got funny when he and I were like "Well you know what else has carbon dioxide emissions? Do you hippies want us to stop breathing too?"

 

It was a little rough around the edges because it was our first discussion -- and some kids couldn't handle it/had trouble learning the expectations for a discussion but overall it went well. I was telling them that I'd argue the opposition just because that's fun.