My parents used to talk about rationing during the war with great apprehension. Clearly the nutters in and supporting Cancun are clueless as to how such a scheme would be viewed by the public. My inbox has lit up today from all around the world over this issue. Short of Climategate itself, I haven’t quite seen any other similar reaction.
Excerpts from the Telegraph: Cancun climate change summit: scientists call for rationing in developed world
Global warming is now such a serious threat to mankind that climate change experts are calling for Second World War-style rationing in rich countries to bring down carbon emissions.
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In a series of papers published by the Royal Society, physicists and chemists from some of world’s most respected scientific institutions, including Oxford University and the Met Office, agreed that current plans to tackle global warming are not enough.
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In one paper Professor Kevin Anderson, Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, said the only way to reduce global emissions enough, while allowing the poor nations to continue to grow, is to halt economic growth in the rich world over the next twenty years.
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Prof Anderson admitted it “would not be easy” to persuade people to reduce their consumption of goods
He said politicians should consider a rationing system similar to the one introduced during the last “time of crisis” in the 1930s and 40s.
This could mean a limit on electricity so people are forced to turn the heating down, turn off the lights and replace old electrical goods like huge fridges with more efficient models. Food that has travelled from abroad may be limited and goods that require a lot of energy to manufacture.
“The Second World War and the concept of rationing is something we need to seriously consider if we are to address the scale of the problem we face,” he said.
Full story here: Cancun climate change summit: scientists call for rationing in developed world
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Does anyone really want to see a ration stamp like this?
For anyone that wishes to get the Royal Society’s papers referenced in the article, they are available for a limited time download here:
http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/369/1934.toc#content-block
An ominous experiment for Norfolk Islanders may be extended globally ‘if successful’.
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/column_why_you_may_soon_need_a_warmists_permission_to_eat/
Must use spell checker.
Must use spell checker.
Not enough r’s in European Paliament.
On the other hand…
I say: Go for it!
The seed-capital for making A FORTUNE are just waiting to be made (can you say black market goods/bootlegging?)
It’s how old Joe Kennedy (daddy to John F. and Ted) started his fortune which continues through to this day via the Kennedy Family Trust Fund …
And nowadays, diversified trust fund at that: (Time Mag) Nation: Where the Kennedy Money Is
.
Bob Tisdale says:
“Too bad we can’t vote some scientists out of office.”
Don’t shoot the messengers. Focus on the real individuals that control your destiny and hold the seats of power.
Time is running out………………and then the conversation turns……………
………and the claims get Shriller and Shriller!!!
Maybe he doesn’t want the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to suffer, and in his prophetic vision of the world to come, he is fairly certain that they will.
If Western economic prosperity was tied to the politics and religions of countries that have a motivation to end the ascendancy of Western civilization as it now exists, I think citizens of the West would be motivated to take fairly strict measures to protect our prosperity and way of life. Of course, that’s just a theoretical situation.
Isn’t it?
Ok guys you first. No Gulfstreams for you!
the jet that is…
They are not going to make the mistake of visiting a cold place like Copehagen again.
Anybody for a pina colada?
Yep! definately a blackmarket oportunity here. I can almost see some of the proponents of the ration scheme already stockpiling food and fuel for release at a later date for um, lets say a 10 to 15% profit.
I’ll be down on the corner wearing a trenchcoat with a brace of rabbits, a chook and 15 watches in the lining.
These people don’t understand the importance of wasting. The Western World has been able to develop a motivated culture which led to an increase in wealth. One important element of our culture is that we produce more than we really need. This leads to waste in the best years, but most importantly, we have enough when a crop failure or anything goes wrong. The cultures who produce only what they need are known to face all kinds of problems when anything goes wrong and they don’t have the motivation to face the bigger challenges.
There is a line familiar to many: ‘War is the health of the state’. But what is one to do in an era of nuclear weapons where a major war is catastrophic to either party that engages in it? Well, we see the solution right before our eyes. Global warming (or whatever the pr of the day deems it to be)? In an era of relative peacetime why oh why oh why can’t these morons leave ordinary people alone to live thrive and survive. As was done on 11/2 let’s throw their sorry behinds out the door in 2012. H. L. Mencken stated that the practical business of politics was to menace the public with a series of hobgoblins so they’d be clamorous to be led to safety. It’s time for those ‘menacing’ snake oil salesmen to be booted out the door.
The bikinis are MUCH smaller in Cancun.
…and don’t tell me we over use the resources of the planet. Our population has plateaued because we prefer to have more than we need instead of having as many children we can feed. In the end, wasting means a lower limit of population and everybody has what they need even in bad years.
The WW-II rationing in America was accompanied by truly massive increases in production and emissions. Similarly, I’m sure the new rationing scheme would see massive shipments of coal-derived products from China and India swamping western markets.
How about we use my version of the precautionary principle? Rather than reshaping the world economy, we don’t do anything different for ten or twenty years and see how well the forecast is shown to represent the real world. If it is anything like the last twenty years then I doubt there will be anything showing a need for action (Global warming wise).
I’m not old enough to have seen any rationing but I did study history and in the US the rationing wasn’t exactly fair and equitable. And the idea that the economy can be controlled like adjusting a thermostat is absurd. If these tactics are attempted by any government(s) in the west, it will end in a tragic fashion.
For those of you not in the US this is why we insist on the right to bear arms. When you have no access to weapons you are the mercy of your masters. I don’t advocate taking up arms against the government unless the government leaves no other option. The fact that we can helps our leaders understand the limits of their intended power. Please don’t take this as my call to arms as I am only saying that in the US a rationing law for preventing climate change is very unrealistic because we simply wouldn’t accept it and can do something about it. The truth is the pathetic arms we do have could easily be overcome by use of government force but the idea still scares the politicos.
Any one here that has not or is not contacting their representatives in their government urging them not to support such craziness should do so as soon as possible. Even if you believe in CAGW it doesn’t necessarily follow that you would support this rationing. That would be giving total control of your very survival to others. The very idea that this could be brough up as an actual plan tells a lot about the planners. Chairman Mao would be smiling now.
That’s my rant go ahed tear it up,
Barry Strayer
LOL, Why should I buy an electric car? My ration coupon won’t provide me with enough electricity to heat my home AND drive my car.
This is the biggest redistribution scam the world has ever seen. If not for the climategate stooges, they might have gotten away with it.
They say ‘rationing’, but they mean ‘command economy’. With themselves as the enlightened rulers of course. And they must be compensated properly for their enlightenment, of course. Maoism by another name.
How can anyone take anything here seriously. they are meeting in a plush tropical resort, 5 star hotels, luxury everywhere you look, to discuss WWII-style rationing.
BillyV says: “Focus on the real individuals that control your destiny…”
I’m well focused on the only person who ultimately controls it.
Maybe these scientists who represent our most respected scientific institutions are jesting between themselves. You know the one – lets see who can come up with the most economically destructive idea. Hey Prof Anderson if you read this, can I play, please please!
I drove by the local high school today and the parking lot was full of cars belonging to or at least used by students.
What would happen if someone proposed that high school and college kids should hand over the keys to their cars and walk to school?
I read all the Royal Society abstracts, and skimmed most of the articles. Outside of the article on sea level change (which is at least reasonable), they are total rubbish; endless alarmism based on the assumed accuracy of IPCC and climate model projections of future warming. All assume a climate sensitivity of 3+C per doubling of CO2. Just rubbish.
I expect this is one of the last desperate gasps of alarmist climate scientists before the reality of much lower climate sensitivity crushes their wild-eyed predictions of doom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11838567
I guess that is why they make these announcements in Mexico.
Here is my question prefaced by the statement that we are told that we have to listen to the wisdom of climate scientists on climate because they are the experts. Well I am an expert on technology and I say that climate scientists need to shut the hell up about things they know nothing about.
You want to “solve” the CO2 problem of hydrocarbon burning? Build 1500 nuclear plants, a mixture of uranium and thorium burning plants, and the problem is solved. Waste? We have solved that one as well.
If you really want to blow an irony meter, you can print this on the back of that Al Gore rationing card:
Interesting what running for office will do to one’s perspective (especially someone who’s principles seem so…er…malleable).
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/july-dec00/oil_9-21.html
Mind you, this was all when the price of oil was an unbearable $34/barrel.
What a difference a decade makes.