Posted by John Goetz
I ran across the following announcement this morning:
September 4, 2008
at The Union of Concerned Scientists website:
Penguin Classics Joins the Union of Concerned Scientists in Call for a New Generation of Environmental Writers
Penguin Classics has partnered with the Union of Concerned Scientists to carry the legacy of classic environmental writers Emerson and Thoreau into the 21st century. The literary publisher and science group are inviting aspiring writers and photographers to submit their personal stories and images about global warming for a new online book, Thoreau’s Legacy: American Stories about Global Warming, to be published by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2009.
“From Henry David Thoreau to Rachel Carson, writers have played a profound role in drawing attention to our natural environment and inspiring people to protect it,” said Elda Rotor, executive editor of Penguin Classics, publisher of some of the greatest environmental works ever written. “We believe the readers of our classic literature are concerned about global warming and will be interested in sharing their voices, photos and inspiration for this project.”
A light bulb (CFL, of course) went off in my head, and I could not resist spreading the message.
To participate, contributors must write a 200- to 500-word first-person account of global warming that relates to their life or the world around them: a special place that they want to protect; people, animals or activities they love that are threatened by a warmer climate; or the steps they are taking to stem the tide of global warming. Or, they can send a photo related to these topics. The best submissions will be included in the online book and in a limited-edition hardcover version. The submission period closes November 15, 2008.
“The writings of a new generation can inspire Americans to take on the challenge of global warming and save our natural—and national—heritage,” said Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “What better way to get the word out about this book project than through a global publisher of classic literature?”
Booksellers across the country are displaying easels and free bookmarks publicizing the project. The project will be supported by a major print and online publicity campaign, as well as a 25-city radio satellite tour, and national and trade advertising.
Contributors can submit their essays or photographs at www.ucsusa.org/americanstories.
We’ve seen many eloquent commenters on this website speak with passion about global warming. Now is their chance to reach a broader audience and let people know who the next David Thoreau, John Muir, Rachel Carson, Stephen King, or P.J. O’Rourke is. Since not all submissions will be accepted, why not cross-post them here so that we have a complete, grass-roots record of how global warming is really affecting people.
Submission guidelines can be found here. Please take particular note of the following:
Essays that center on locations must be consistent with observed shifts or future projections of global warming. For example, climate is the average of many weather events tallied over several decades; global warming cannot be blamed for individual weather events.
What an opportunity for the jeez’s and Pamela Gray’s of this forum to really shine! I am not suggesting anyone spam this effort by the UCSUSA. Be thoughtful, forthright, and witty. And for heaven’s sake use a spell-checker. Perhaps, after the submission deadline closes, we can vote for our favorite essay and image and post here for all to see. So sharpen your keyboards and get writing!
Human induced warming, eh? Why, the surfacestations.org gallery of asphalt, air conditioning, barbeque pits, jet exhaust, burning barrels, car radiators, etc. sound like just the ticket.
This is a great idea, perhaps I should sponsor a book of stories where either nothing has changed or things are better because of climate change.
With weather out the window it eliminates about a large portion of the population since climate change is 30-60 years in the making, and the person would have to remain in one location for that period. So only 40+ year old writers who never left an area or animal habitat region qualify.
I wonder who will sift out the stories for species lost due to other factors like food chain events and invasive species released by environmentalists to prove we do not need pesticides.
I am not mocking the effort well maybe a little), it will be what it is but we all can agree many events and changes have been blamed on Global Warming that are completely unrelated to rising temperatures.
I think it will be greatly received and submitted to and is a great experiment in social science and the individual perception of Cliamte Change on a short time scale. ( I assume the Union is Doing Science as well and not spending the members money on a publicity campaign )
I noticed the submission period ends on nov 15th .Why not run it through feb or march of 2009 and see if the people still feel the same about this natural cycle ,I mean global warming,.I mean to stop telling what kind of hardship people are having before winter really gets started it seems like you don’t get the full story .In other words the truth.To me this has been the mildest summer I can remember in quite some time here in western noth carolina.2 weeks with mid 90’s for the entire summer .I’m still trying to figure out why the weather channel always has temps warmer in our area than accuweather and noaa at the same time of day .
I know two images that would tug at peoples hearts. First is the expanded dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico because of the increased nutrient run-off due to bio-fuel production. A nice graphic of the area and a few dead fish on the shoreling should do the trick. The second would be a group of people starving because food price increases don’t allow them to purchase enough to sustain themselves. if that’s not dramatic enough, we could show food riots over the increased cost of staples in poor countries instead.
I seen a book once!
Oh drat… Looks like USA only…
I could submit copies of my heating bill attached to a picture of me shivering in a sweater.
Did I mention that we had over an inch of snow on June 10th? I had lots to say about that, though it wasn’t very eloquent.
Union of Concerned Scientists? Them again?
How about an antidote to their fantasy, such as the title essay from Ayn Rand’s Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution? That title essay follows to the logical outcome the reality of zealous environmentalism – it is very depressing. Sorry, but after reading this essay, I can never see anything witty in the environmental religion.
Or how about catching a flight to Africa for a photojournalism essay with pictures of the real people suffering the effects of living in harmony with nature, not the few well off city folk, nor the fantasy images on PBS, but the real images of children dying from malaria or malnourishment. How many thousand pages will that take to get the message across?
I have done Direct to Print publishing and would be happy to publish a collection of rebuttal essays.
Not that this will surprise anyone, but I thought I would post this, side-by-side as it were, for comparison.
Here is UCSUSA’s take on CO2 and global warming:
“Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing us today. To protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations, we must reduce our emissions of heat-trapping gases by using the technology, know-how, and practical solutions already at our disposal.”
And then, of course, yesterday we had Professor Duffy say this:
“Carbon dioxide CO2 is a trace. It is less than 400ppm (parts per million) or 0.04% of all the atmosphere (on a dry basis). Surprisingly, less than a fifth of that is man-made CO2 (0.008% of the total), and that is only since the beginning of the industrial era and the rapid increase in world population.”
and what is more…
“Climate and local weather is forever changing. Sure we must minimise pollution of our air and water systems with obnoxious chemical and particulates, and not treat them as ‘sewers’. But even doubling or trebling the amount of carbon dioxide will virtually have little impact, as water vapour and water condensed on particles as clouds dominate the worldwide scene and always will.”
Oh the possibilities.
From Wikipedia:
“According to the George C. Marshall Institute, the UCS was the fourth-largest recipient of foundation grants for climate studies in the period 2000-2002, a fourth of its $24M grant income being for that purpose.
According to Charity Navigator, an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities, the UCS maintained $20,575,731 in assets, $5,514,946 in liabilities, $15,060,785 in net assets, and $14,112,057 in working capital, as well as $10,058,784 in program expenses, $813,335 in administrative expenses, and $1,703,907 in fundraising expenses in fiscal year 2006.”
Also if I remember the membership stats correctly, the non-scientists out number the scientists.
It would be funny to have the UCS publish stories you can find on Ecoenquirer.com . Credulous as they are, it ‘s even more probable than not.
Read the source for photos
Reply by JG: Now that’s what I mean by wit!
Somehow, I don’t think they will publish
“Baby Ice- The Journey, The Perils, The Triumph”
Eye well bee shore two ewes ah spiel Czech arr.
Terry46: I think the Union of Confused Scientists deliberately ended the contest on Nov 15 because they possibly feared a nasty winter will crush their plan to promote global warming as a danger to us.
Here’s my essay:
HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACASHUN
by Jim Watson
I drove my SUV around on the sun trampling out new sunspots.
The End
It is September 5 and miserably cold here in Colorado. Wyoming is getting snow today and more forecast for Monday. How is that for a global warming story?
I thought it was Union of Concerned Socialists. No?
I’m just going to plagiarize writings from the 20’s and 30’s and send that in.
re: Spellchecker
Better yet, have several people proofread your submission. I volunteer…
For skeptics to compete with the news media that is in lock step with the AGW crowd we need a national climate publication that not only refutes this scam but identifies who is funding all the scientific drivel from government through corporations. Most of the population is basically brain washed on this subject and are not scientifically oriented just like the Congress and other politicians with ulterior motives.
It will be a lasting testement to the stupidity of our times. I wonder how the contributors will try to dismiss their stories once the AGW bubble bursts for good. “Hey man, I was, like, high ya know, like on CO2 man. I didn’t really write that crap man, like ya know.”
Demesure
Gotta love those tradition native snow mobile rides. Could be the next tourist attraction.
“End in Sight”
It would seem that Lewis Pughs attempt to Kayak to the North Pole is over.
“Everyone is beginning to realise that the end of the expedition is in sight and today, with Robbie and I not able to paddle any further north, we turn the boat around and start heading for Longyearbyen.”
http://polardefenseproject.org/blog/?p=197
Had to mention it.
Interesting update from Lewis Pugh. He reports that he has been asked to speak to Congress about “climate change and security.”
http://polardefenseproject.org/blog/?p=197
A few days ago he was claiming that the ice he was trapped in was thinner than normal, yet from the NSIDC map it is clear that ice extent around Svalbard is actually greater than normal this year. Most years he would have made it closer to the pole.
http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/N_daily_extent.png
The whole thing reminds me of a Monty Python skit. Absurd behaviour by him, the press, and now the Congress.
Perhaps someone could submit a compilation of precautionary principles that would offer survival hints to help cope with global warming.
For example, if an air-conditioner were to malfunction in Alaska, shouldn’t 911 be called for hyperthermia treatment prior to calling the AC repairman.
In the tradition of Rachel Carson? Does that mean we can invent facts to support our cause?
Cold in Colorado? Nonsense. Just because it’s 55 degrees doesn’t mean it’s cold. If it were 95, that would be global warming. Everything else is normal. Colorado weather can do almost anything it wants (and has done so IME).
I’m sure, after a few beers, I won’t need no specllchekr.