Hacked Global Warming Emails: An “Inconvenient Truth”?

December 14, 2009  
Filed under News

From the beginning of this month, emails have come out on the internet regarding information about global warming a hacker uncovered from a scientist working at East Anglia University in the United Kingdom. These emails were written as early as the ‘90s and have placed doubt in whether global warming exists or is a severe threat or not.

Global warming has been one of the largest issues in the world for the past several years. Supposedly, the polar ice caps are melting at a dangerous rate, species like the polar bears are going extinct and many other threatening changes will come from the rising temperatures – “global warming.”   What causes these increasing global temperatures? Pro-global warming scientists and environmental activists say it is the result of all the carbon emissions being let out into the atmosphere.

Because the people, technologies and large industries are cited as major carbon emitters, many companies have embraced the environmentally friendly idea of “going green.” Hybrid cars are being produced and TV channels have advertisements from the stars that give little ways to help out the planet. Congress is trying to pass a Cap-and-Trade bill to make our country a “greener” place.  Our whole society is being transformed.  Many people have embraced this idea. However, is it a fraud?  Are all of the efforts for nothing? Is the idea of global warming just a big money making and wealth redistribution scheme?

The debate about whether global warming exists and whether or not it is due to human activities has been raging for many years.  The discovery of these emails does not help out the “green” side at all.  In fact it has made a lot of people wonder about the credibility of global warming research. OHS junior Carlie Marquis said that if the accusations against the emails are true than the view on global warming will change. Conservatives on the Academy Awards board are even pushing to have former Vice-President Al Gore’s award taken away from him for his “documentary” called “An Inconvenient Truth.”

However, other scientists who believe global warming is happening say that despite the emails, there is still a substantial amount of evidence that supports global warming. They also say that the emails are just regular discussions about the climate.

“I think it will affect some people’s views, but I don’t think it will reverse the whole global warming cause,” Clayton Broyles, English teacher said.

Whether these emails prove that global warming is a fraud or not, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, I.P.C.C., is going to investigate further into the situation. Either way, these emails have caused a major inconvenience to pro global warming scientists and environmentalists attending the upcoming climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark .

What do you think the emails have to say about the validity of global warming?

Go to the website below to see the numerous, actual emails from East Anglia University.

http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=1&filename=826209667.txt

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Kali Hinman

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