I think by now just everyone has read or heard about climate change and the catastrophic consequences it will bear for humanity. The most recent publication which illustrates the severe consequences is the Stern Review published last year.

While most ppl living in England will agree that there is a change in weather patterns noticeable at the moment - isn't it lovely - the question of this 'entry' will not be as to whether climate change is happening or not - or whether it is good or bad. It will look at the triggers and theories behind the phenomenon.

First, let me say that I do not doubt that greenhouse gases do play a role in the heat balance of this planet, since this is a proven scientific fact since the 1900s. If you still don't think so go to the NASA homepage and compare the planets listed - by temperature and atmospheric constitution. But the question is: What is the source of this Greenhouse Effect (I will not even discuss that this word is a misnomer, since a greenhouse works by trapping hot air whereas the so called effect works by a reflection of thermal radiation ... but OK)?

Two questions I feel are strongly neglected by the greenish propaganda machine - and I use the word because they pray rather then discuss the issue. And if they want a broad consensus not just from the Millibands on this planet, they have to be answered ... or at least be recognized and discussed. I remember a time when the green propaganda machine tried to convince me that I, and everyone else, would run out of oil in a few decades and yet ... my car is still running, airplanes flying and boilers heating with new sources or black gold being discovered every day. Sometime I feel like as if the greenish propaganda ran out of arguments for the 'End of Oil Supply' story and come up with a new one.

Now I don't claim to be a scientist in any way, or understand the complex mechanisms that work hand in hand to keep this planet from over cooling and/or overheating. But doing a little research you come across documents that 'make your eye browse rise' at what is currently dealt as common sense or, in the words of Bob Geldof: "We are all fucking conscious of global warming".

The first one is a graphic by the 'European Union Road Federation'.

The quintessence is that they do not deny the influence of CO2 on the environment - climate change - but shift the responsibility claiming its a natural phenomenon. I have read similar things in newspapers in the past remembering one very vivid example: On an average day, humans emit an equal amount of CO2 through breathing than all automobiles on this planet. Quite stunning isn't it? I have fwd this image to the WWF, IPCC and Greenpeace for a comment - without any response so far. Although many might argue that the information provided by the ERF is not necessarily objective - the same can be said about any information published by Greenpeace or other green lobbyists. Just think about the Brent Spar disaster and the 5500 tons of non-existing oil GP didn't find on the platform.

Secondly, most greenish activists very easily neglect the - in my opinion - most obvious reason for climate change. THE SUN. Everyone - and really everyone - knows that the sun is our sole provider of heat and radiative forcing. Looking a little deeper into this and the impact of radiative forcing on the planet, and its variation over time, stunning data can be retrieved.

The Danish Space Research Institute collected data over the past thousand+ years on the change of climate on the Earth and the change in radiative forcing. Without going into too much detail (see link below) the correlation between solar influx and 'global warming' is clearly visible and the data shows that the suns 'power' or influx is at its greatest over a time span of 8000+ years.

Additionally, I have to say, that over the millions of years this planet has existed, the climate has always changed and it will always change - even without Chelsea Trucks, Jet Setters or the aluminum industry. Those changes obviously also mean changes for us living on this planet - aka climate change adaptation. But who are we to say, when the climate is GOOD or even BEST? And what is a GOOD/BEST climate anyways. The human race has developed and evolved and reproduced beyond good and evil by now conquered every part of this planet. Were we meant to go there, be there and settle where we are today? Maybe not! Any other animal - and that's what we are when it comes down to it - are able to self regulate their growth and expansion. We of course are the ultimate exception to this rule making people maybe live beyond good and bad at places we maybe shouldn't have settled in the first place - or at least not to the degree we did.

Climate change ... yes the climate is changing. Am I worried about this ... no, not really. It has always changed and I am sure that humanity will adapt to it as it has over the past 130.000 years!!! Does CO2 have an influence on climate change ... well yes. But the question remains to be discussed whether it is purely human induced or if its a natural phenomenon or if the cause has to be found outside of this planet - the Sun.

4aBW

Links:
http://spacecenter.dk/
http://www.klimanotizen.de/html/sonne.html

So the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was killed on Tuesday in an internal fight between insurgents, according to Reuters.

I think the most interesting part in this news report is that he has been killed by INTERNAL FIGHTS. Lets face it. Ever since the war on terror has begun in Afghanistan and Iraq, numerous politicians and the public have condemned this war and the pain it causes to the people who live there. What hardly anyone ever pointed out, is that the vast majority of deaths are neither being committed by the armed forces, nor primarily aimed at them. Its literally Muslims fighting Muslims, and I choose this term because this problem is not one based on nationality but religion.

If you google for 'islam brotherhood' and follow the first link to the first article and the first sentence in that article it says:

"Islam is a Brotherhood (Ummah) that unites Muslims together across the Islamic world."

Now looking across the world of Islam and the world of Islamic politics I feel that this sentence is laughable. In Iraq it is Iraqis killing Iraqis, in Palestine it is Palestinians killing Palestinians and in Afghanistan it is Afghans killing Afghans. And although 'all of them' claim to be Muslims united under one God and the Qur'an it makes one wonder, doesn't it!

Especially considering the huge discrepancies amongst Muslims in this world. If everyone from the Islamic world contributed a little of their oil money - of which they have plenty - Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan could be turned into nationwide amusement parks with free entry and drinks. But rather then supporting those ppl. living in refuge camps for decades they are kept to 'minimum standards', with more money going into weapons then sustainable support for the region. 50 years ago Israel and Palestine started off on the same piece of land and I doubt Israel has received more financial benefits then Palestine and if - not to the degree visible in living conditions today!

From IslamicVoice.com:
According to the economic concept of the Quran, wealth cannot be accumulated, stored and kept idle. Such accumulation is most undesirable. (Holy Quran,59:7). Islam teaches that everyone should take for his or her earning only that much required to fulfil his or her needs, and the remaining part will be left to meet the requirement of other needy persons (Holy Quran,2:219).

Such persons whose basic requirements are not fulfilled have a rightful share in the surplus of other members of the society.( Holy Quran,51:19,70:24). Under Quranic system no one will have surplus money or asset, therefore, the question of owning property, over and above one’s real need, doesn’t arise. The Holy Quran warns the hoarders: “And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty on the day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flonks and their backs” (9:34-35).

Furthermore, it has to be pointed out how little we know about the situations that existed before the invasion in Iraq and Afghanistan. How many people were unlawfully tortured and killed, families extinct and entire towns turned into cemeteries?! With the opening of the country to western media, of course we get a better picture of whats going on ... but where do we set the comparative standard? During a change of political power and a war, there is and will always be casualties and 'friction' across parties and interest groups - until and equilibrium has been found. Every nation and continent has made this painful experience! During the French revolution even the inventor of the Guillotine had to pay his dues!

Now what would happen if the Allied Forces would leave Iraq and Afghanistan for that matter. I predict either a civil war, ending in total terror and destruction, or the invasion of either a certain country and its army, or least a puppet-government put in place - similar to the political situation of the GDR. This though is not surprising. If one is willing to submit himself, and the intellectual spirit he was granted by God, under a book written by a human being, let it be the Bible, Qur'an, Tora etc., one might as well be willing to submit to a person or institution and live happily ever after in totalitarian system.

I personally am all for the withdrawal of the troops. Not because I feel they cause any pain or misery to the local population, but because I feel it is not worth it! I think the western world offered their help, getting rid of a dictator by all measures ... but if 'they' prefer living under terror - state or underground - they shall be my guest.

Yours,
4aBW

So CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) found out that "26.6% of pints served in pubs contain less than 95% beer" and I assume they mean that the pints served are 5% short of measure.

Coming from Continental Europe and having lived in Britain for a while now I can confirm this finding. Nevertheless I just can't help and think that this is a stupid, useless survey and furthermore ridiculous to blame the pubs.

Why is that?

Looking at the beer glasses that are being used in Britain it becomes obvious why they will never be filled to the pint mark, because the pint mark is literally the end of the glass (It has to be said though that every waiter will be happy to add more beer if you feel it has been 'under filled'). European beer glasses will always have more space for the liquid than the actual measure you order and pay for. The British pint glasses though don't. Why not? I can't imagine it would be more expensive to make the glass a little bit taller!

Also, how many times in bars have I seen the waiter tap my beer, flushing half of the good stuff down the drain to get rid of the foam, TRYING to fill it with 'liquid' beer to the top. It's really a waste of beer and it makes no sense and sometimes drives me crazy. Imagine your wine glass or champagne glass would have the exact same measure as the amount you order. Ridiculous! And if you look at the advertizements from the British beer companies it becomes evident that they promote under filling (see links below).

So CAMRA people or British people in general. It's really up to you. If you want what you pay for you can either switch to European glasses and start selling in 500ml quantities - just like the beer you buy in a supermarket - so don't complain - or 'invent' glasses suitable to filling with the right measure.

PLUS: With a European glass you always get more than you pay for because the foam is extra free beer AND for once you will be able to walk back to your table or place without spilling the 5% the CAMRA worked so hard for on your shoes!

Good Luck for CAMRA. I'm sure that this survey has changed nothing and the coming survey will have the same result ... in perpetuity!

Yours,
4aBW

Links:

CAMRA SURVEY:
http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=100354

EUROPEAN BEER GLASS:
http://www.stanceland.de/images/Warsteiner_0,5.jpg

BRITISH BEER GLASS:
http://www.genre.fsnet.co.uk/brewery/bitter/pint.jpg

CARLING:
http://www.carling.com/

GUINNESS:
http://www.guinness.com/gb_en/