Important Announcements

CURRENT INFORMATION: go to our Facebook group "Waco Friends of the Climate." 1) Beginning Jan. 2025, our focus has been on resistance to Donald Trump, since his policies are our greatest threat to the climate. Thus, we are not having monthly meetings at this time. We hope to hold monthly meetings in the future. Visit our Facebook group for current activities, Waco Friends of the Climate. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330231820335851 2) Our role in the resistance includes a weekly protest at the pedestrian bridge in Waco, Valley Mills Dr. & Bagby Avenue, each Sunday, 1:00pm-2:30pm. We began the protest in March 2025 and it has been carried on weekly for over one year. We provide huge, highly visible banners. Please join us. RESISTING FASCISM, ONE SUNDAY AT A TIME. 3) Because of the sad passing of our webmaster, Harrison Ward, we have not been able to keep the website up to date. For the most current information, please visit our Facebook group, Waco Friends of the Climate : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330231820335851 4) To join our email list and be informed of actions, activities, and campaigns, email our Director Alan Northcutt at anorthc@aol.com 5)Free "climate crisis is here" yard signs may be obtained by emailing anorthc@aol.com. Delivery of signs is available. Help raise awareness of the climate crisis, deeply needed in Waco. 6) Winners of the "Sixth Annual Climate Crisis Art Exhibit" may be found in the Archives, April 2023. Some incredible climate art may be viewed.

CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE on the Lynn Woolley radio program, Friday, May 17, from 2 to 3pm


From Alan Northcutt:

Thanks to Lynn Wooley for providing time for the most important issue facing mankind. Lynn debated strongly but was fair, giving me equal time and never cutting my microphone (to my knowledge).

I believe I addressed adequately the issues Lynn brought up, except for one:
 
Lynn feels Al Gore, especially his lifestyle, is very important in this debate. Other conservatives bash VP Gore as well, and use this attack as a justification for rejecting climate science. I did not fully address the Gore question, since I had not really paid attention to his lifestyle, as it was irrelevant to me. This is my more complete response:

  • Mitigating climate change will depend primarily on POLICY changes, such as a carbon fee and dividend, or the Green New Deal. Individual choices are important, but policy is key. 
  • To create international policies, meetings of diplomats and scientists are necessary, and will require airline flight. The emissions from airplanes are an investment in creating policies which will produce the required massive slashing of GHG emissions. Thus VP Gore flies to international meetings to participate in these crucial negotiations. (And if deniers do not accept the connection of GHG emissions to temperature, why would they care about his airline flight history?). Further, Gore DOES purchase carbon offsets when he flies. 
  • By creating worldwide awareness of anthropogenic climate change, Mr. Gore did deserve the NOBEL PRIZE.
  • Analogy: if a researcher informed the entire world about a new deadly disease, would you reject his breakthrough because he drove a Mercedes and lived in a mansion? 
  • Most important, the greenhouse effect is a principle of physics discovered over 100 years ago. It will not be altered by rejection based on politics, or the personal habits of an individual, such as Al Gore.
However, personal actions DO affect GHG emissions, so it is important to look at the truth about Gore's lifestyle [data from Snopes]:
  • Gore does live in a very large house, but it was used as a home and as offices for Gore's business and his wife's business. 
  • Gore purchases his electricity from a provider that sources renewable-generated electricity.
  • Gore has installed solar panels on his home. 
  • Gore, in addition, has a rainwater collection system, geothermal heating., LED lighting.
  • Gore's home was rated 2nd highest category by US Green Buildings.
  • Gore purchases carbon offsets when flying.
I am certain this information ends any attempt to use VP Al Gore as a reason to reject the science of anthropogenic climate change.

Thanks again to Lynn and I hope we will discuss this vital issue on his show again very soon. 

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