Conspiracy theories not based on facts
Again in the Salisbury Post, letters have appeared offering seemingly compelling evidence that global warming (aka global climate change) is a “hoax” or “scam.”
A little scrutiny reveals problems with their arguments.
– Carbon Dioxide is an insignificant part of the atmosphere. It’s true CO2 is minute in proportion, but as any school-age child can tell you from their science education, it’s vital for plant life and in helping to regulate temperature (the “greenhouse effect”) for climate and making our planet livable. We have measured a 15-20 percent increase of CO2 in the last 100 years.
– A Senate Report of December 2008 makes note that 650 scientists dispute that global warming is manmade. This report is actually a Senate Minority Report of those senators still are skeptical about global warming. The list of 650 scientists is actually not completely a list of scientists. It includes many credentialed people who are not scientists and other signatories who are “interested supporters.” This number pales in comparison to the thousands of scientists in major science communities (e.g. the American Academy of Science, the editorial boards for the journals Science, Scientific American, and Nature, the American Meteorological Society, etc.).
– The planet has been cooling since 2000. Data on the Web sites for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA (Goddard Institute) show continued warming of the planet since 2000 (2007 tied as the second warmest year on record).
I could go on and on. So is global warming a hoax or scam as some purport? Have different world governments, a host of scientists across areas of study and institutions, along with industry leaders in energy and transportation (such as the head of BP and Duke Energy) all conspired to manufacture this threat?
If there is something to be skeptical about, I would have my doubts about this conspiracy theory.
ó Tim Truemper
Salisbury
Don’t identify officers
Regarding the June 9 Salisbury article “Police Department IDs officer who shot suspect”:
I feel that it wasn’t necessary for you to mention an officer’s name and all of his information when involved in a raid.
I know for a fact the officers entering that home had to be worried about their safety. It was a dangerous situation, made even more dangerous with all those drugs in the home, with other people and children.
The police officers were doing their job.
If all directions were followed by the suspects, that veteran officer would have not fired his weapon.
That officer has had years of training, based on your write up from the best of the best.
Thank you, Salisbury police, for helping our community.
ó Robin Wilson
Salisbury