I had the honor to join about 30 people for a dinner with Jean Michel Cousteau in Baltimore. Before the meal and group discussion, I was able to spend about 15 minutes discussing various topics with this world famous research and activist.
While we don't agree on Nature's role in the world's climate, we do agree in the need to stop pollution of all sorts. From trash to chemicals, it all empties in to the water, which drains into the Oceans.
The dinner discussion showed the simple side of this world traveler. He spent his time answering questions, so he did not eat. But he does enjoy fish.
In fact he said that in France, they prefer to have the heads left on the fish so that it's freshness can be determined. I'd rather not have my dinner looking back at me, but I am just a silly American.
There was a little debate about climate, when a reporter for the Jewish Times asked about factoring nature's role in climate change. He specifically wanted to know about glaciers such as Kilimanjaro and Greenland melting.
I entered the conversation to mention that a New Zealand research team had determined that contrary to other reports, the only glacier in Africa will not disappear by 2015, but is stabilizing.
A report that came out this week from Ohio State University and The University of Texas at Austin showed that the ice in western Antarctica is not melting as fast as earlier thought. In fact, most of the continent has had increasing ice in the past decade.
In the northern hemisphere, the last few winters have had record new ice development. While this is called as 'new ice' by NOAA, and deamed very fragile and suceptible to quick melting in the spring and summer... it is a sign that the planet has ways of either coping with change, or displaying a natural pattern.
NASA actaully reported faulty sensors that missed recording ice the size of California. There is more ice and soem signs that things arenot as dire as reported in many outlets.
Mr. Cousteau does subscribe to the theory that ice meltwill shift the gulf stream off of the east coast, and could lead to an ice age in Europe.
I joked that means either warming or cooling is evidence of climate change..when in fact the climate is always changing. Truly a debate that does have a lot of energy to it, and many scientists pulling back from the dire prophesies widely reported. Some of those scientific reports can be found her at
icecap.us.
Also check out
Dr. Roy Spencer's reports. He was the former head of climatology for NASA, and teaches at The University of Alabama. He developed the technique for measuring global temperature from satellites, which is much more accurate than ground stations. It has shown a cooling since 2003. See that graph in the slide show.
What we can all agree upon is that there is too much garbage and pollution that is directly affecting sea life. We do need to be more conscious of our impact on the surrounding environment, despite contradictions about long range forecasts.
All I ask is that this debate on the climate side stay open and honest. There is not a consensus in the scientific community. I understand that just saying that can anger some and perhaps get me in trouble with others.
Regardless, there are numerous natural forces that play a larger role in governing the atmosphere. This debate has become to political, and the public has become weary. We just had 4 days of record cold in Baltimore, Penn State had it's record earliest snowfall with 3-9 inches last weekend.
Even Owings Mills had 2 inches of snow on Sunday morning. These cold snaps lead to more skepticism. One or two events should not serve as proof. I said this with Katrina, which has been followed by 3 very tame tropical seasons off of the Atlantic.
Once again I ask for alarmists to keep an open mind and open debate. I have, and respectfully appreciate my time learning about the oceans from Mr. Cousteau.
