Guest Post by Ira Glickstein
A copy of the journal Nature Climate Change> landed in my mailbox just in time for Halloween. According to them: (1) almost any kind of climate change is likely to cause increased conflict, and (2) we may be able to provoke action to reduce human contributions to climate change via “Climate Shame”.
The news feature Heating Up Tensions asks:
What has rainfall got to do with witch killings in Tanzania? Quite a lot, according to … development economist Edward Miguel. …
[O]n his arrival [in East Africa] he was struck by a startling phenomenon: thousands of women, most of them elderly, were being accused of witchcraft by their families and hacked to death with machetes. On further investigation … he found a link between witch killings and drought years …
Even climate change in the opposite direction -cooling- may be responsible for witch killings:
The ‘little ice age’ – a cooling period between 1550 and 1850 – has been accused of spurring on everything from the French revolution to witch hunts in Europe.
So, what to do about it? The commentary Green Status, hyped on the cover as “Climate Shame” says:
The word ‘shame’ appears a lot in discussions of climate policy. The previous Australian government was accused of acting shamefully for denying the problem of climate change, as was Canada, for mining its tar sands. …
But even if there is little chance of nations feeling shame over their lack of action on climate change, there is some hope of of spurring them into action by using the value that the ‘shame emotion’ has evolved to protect: reputation. …
For example, public buildings in the UK have recently begun displaying plaques showing their energy efficiency ratings. Why not roll this out so that every house and shop bears a mark of its carbon footprint …
Now there is a great business opportunity, get the government to require every house to prominently display its “carbon footprint” in the form of a big black plaque hanging from the chimney. If my house earns one blackfootprint, how many would Al Gore have to display? Talk about shame!
NOTE: The online issue of Nature Climate Change used to be available for free, but is now mostly behind a paywall. However, several months ago I was able to get a free subscription to the printed edition delivered to my home, on the basis of my affiliation with a university. I do not know if free subscriptions are still available, but, if you have (or claim to have :^) a link to a scholarly institution, and if you are not ashamed to add to your carbon footprint by consuming the paper, ink, and transport resources for a printed copy, go for it. While I do not read my copy cover-to-cover, I do skim all the items and read several. The journal is fairly high quality and I find it worth my time. My previous WUWT postings about Nature Climate Change are Uncertain Climate Risks and Overstretching Attribution.
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“thousands of women, most of them elderly, were being accused of witchcraft by their families and hacked to death with machetes. “
This sounds a lot like ObamaCare.
I am sure that hacking to death elderly women, even in East Africa, is a felony. If there is any shame, it should be levelled at the authorities for not acting to stop these heineious crimes. Somehow though, in the minds of green zealots, its not the psychos with machetes that are guilty, but the poor schmucks living in western nations.
For example, public buildings in the UK have recently begun displaying plaques showing their energy efficiency ratings. Why not roll this out so that every house and shop bears a mark of its carbon footprint …
If they try that $#!^ with me, they are going to learn of the existance of an emotion analgous to ‘climate shame’, but different. I will call it ‘carbon pride’.
You post what you allege to be my ‘carbon footprint’ in public, and you are going to learn that I don’t want anyone mistakenly believing that I have tiny feet.
Now, why is a “professional” “science” journal discussing techniques of propaganda and social control?
As I’m just researching this area, I would be interested to read the paper.
Another paper worth reading is:
Witchcraft, Weather and Economic Growth in Renaissance EuropeAuthor(s): Emily OsterReviewed work(s):Source: The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 18, No. 1 (2004), pp. 215-228 Published by: American Economic Association which shows a correlation between cold and witch trials.
Which I believe proves that the recent warming is a direct result of stopping witch trials!
Ooh, this is a goldmine!
The current Oz government would of course never act shamefully in the realm of ‘climate’ policy now, would it?
If anything, the eruption of Laki and consequent crop failures in the 1780s was the straw that broke the camel’s back, leading to the French Revolution, rather than a 300-year period of frequent cold winters.
A whole world of poorly-understood natural phenomena were blamed on witches in past centuries in Europe (and continue to be in parts of the world where understanding remains poor), from famine to earthquakes, disease to arson, and it was religious zealotry rather than climate that led it.
Strangely enough, there continues to this day a witch-hunt regarding the very mild effects of a poorly-understood natural phenomenon, one which has charlatans who have the ear of authority forecasting all manner of doom, gloom and biblical disaster. Rather than finding a scapegoat that will bring about the untimely demise of one poor individual, this witch-hunt has focused on an at-most peripheral and at-least innocent character, whose demonisation is already causing millions to experience unnecessary suffering, upheaval and indeed death, both directly at the hands of Ugandan security forces, and indirectly through biofuels policy, energy bill surcharges and money wasted that could gone towards eliminating deaths from malaria.
But no, the change we really need to make is putting the mark of shame on those for whom the CAGW religion brings false prophesy. If there’s an historical parallel, it’s painting a cross on the door of those fallen victim to the Plague [neatly bodyswerving Godwin’s Law…]
Mainstream climate science and witchcraft have quite a lot in common.
“[O]n his arrival [in East Africa] he was struck by a startling phenomenon: thousands of women, most of them elderly, were being accused of witchcraft by their families and hacked to death with machetes. On further investigation … he found a link between witch killings and drought years …
And (after some deliberation) I have found a close link between killing elderly women with machetes and the lack of proper governance, education & manners. How about that?
“What has rainfall got to do with witch killings in Tanzania? Quite a lot, according to … development economist Edward Miguel. …
[O]n his arrival [in East Africa] he was struck by a startling phenomenon: thousands of women, most of them elderly, were being accused of witchcraft by their families and hacked to death with machetes. On further investigation … he found a link between witch killings and drought years …
Even climate change in the opposite direction -cooling- may be responsible for witch killings:
The ‘little ice age’ – a cooling period between 1550 and 1850 – has been accused of spurring on everything from the French revolution to witch hunts in Europe.”
No it appears ignorance is responsible for witch killings.
And maybe if we spent money on educating people, not only would they stop blaming things an witches (and thus stop killing innocent people) but with their education they may even help solve some of the real problems facing the world.
Craig says: November 8, 2011 at 8:13 am
“Mainstream climate science and witchcraft have quite a lot in common.”
I think the real analogy is between the way sceptics have been treated and “tried” because they dared to be different and question “church” authority, and the way witches (often single women) were treated usually by better educated men (often portrayed as male doctors/scientists trying to do away with competition from female herbalists/practitioners).
For anyone who recognises the name: “connolley” …need I say more than suggest the vision of a pointed hat, a set of thumb screws, rack and the “you are guilty because you deny you are guilty” and “you deny the authority of the consensus” mentality would seem all too reminiscent of the witch finders of old.
Where it breaks down is that in the past the “witches” were blamed for past climate, whereas these days the “pricks” they use foretell the damage us “witches” will do in the future unless society bows down and worships these high priests of the “church” and burn all the heretics.
Keith says:
November 8, 2011 at 8:12 am
A whole world of poorly-understood natural phenomena were blamed on witches in past centuries in Europe (and continue to be in parts of the world where understanding remains poor),
There is a typo. Should read:
A whole world of poorly-understood natural phenomena were blamed on HUMANS
Yes, but do they weigh the same as a duck?
Sorry.
On the topic of getting Nature – Climate Science for free, has there ever been better proof for the saying “You get what you pay for”.
Oh here’s another two facts for you:
“Scotland is estimated to have been Europe’s biggest persecutor of witches.”
The Scottish government’s ambition: Making Scotland a leader in green energy
In Scotland around 700 more people die from winter cold for each 1C rise in temperature. I doubt whether there is anyone who dies from heat – and any that do will be more than offset by the reduction in deaths from cold.
So what is it that makes Scotland so dedicated persecuting climate sceptics?
It’s been my contention for some time that liberals, progressives and most environmentalists live in a “shame culture.”
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shame_society)
In other words, in a shame culture, what others believe or perceive is important. It doesn’t matter whether you actually did anything wrong, only whether or not others believe it. Feelings, not facts, are very important.
So let’s see here….
They thought witches were powerful enough to control the weather….
…yet witches could not control the weather to save themselves from being hacked to death
…and this whole thing morphed into climate science
AND now they want every home to wear a label out front….a scarlet letter…to make it easier for the witch hunters to find them…..
Is it some mental disability that makes glorified weathermen migrate to climate science?
…or is it studying climate science that make them morph into nut jobs?
I already bear considerable climate shame for Rahmsdorf and his gang in Potsdam, the guys from Bremen with their arctic ice minimum and my government’s unilateral exit from nuclear power.
Did I read that correctly? They want all structures to display a scarlet letter or yellow Star of David? Talk about someone that needs to feel shame but doesn’t.
“It’s been my contention for some time that liberals, progressives and most environmentalists live in a “shame culture.” ”
True, which transforms into a hate culture. We seem them occupying Wall Street, and eating each other for lunch while they point a collective finger at the 1%. From the head count, I’d say they are the 1%.
Desperate people will stop at nothing to survive. Winter is arriving with the price of food and energy skyrocketing. Sad, but some will not make it to spring. Meantime, the “shame culture” will continue to blame everyone but themselves with relentless attacks on everything civil.
JJ says:
November 8, 2011 at 8:02 am
….Now, why is a “professional” “science” journal discussing techniques of propaganda and social control?
_________________________
Because when the Iron Curtain fell it allowed Lysenkoism out of the former Soviet Union and it has now flourished and multiplied thanks to the warmer climate.
I do not think we have much shame left in America. How else can Bill Clinton be on TV, speaking tours, etc?
The word bastard has lost its meaning.
Shack-up used to be a bad term.
There are others.
So…confronted with thousands of elderly women being accused of witchcraft and being murdered, Eduard Miguel immediately jumped to the conclusion that that the carbon footprint of public buildings ought to be displayed?
Did the self serving opportunistic attentions seeking little ********* spend even one second trying to save those women’s lives? He just stood there, watching women being hacked to death for witchcraft and thought to himself….”hey, I can turn this into global warming propoganda”.
Did he report his observations to Human Rights Watch? The United Nations? NATO? Did he contact the media and exhort the world to intervene? Did he lift a finger to try and save those women’s lives?
[O]n his arrival [in East Africa] he was struck by a startling phenomenon: thousands of women, most of them elderly, were being accused of witchcraft by their families and hacked to death with machetes. On further investigation … he found a link between witch killings and drought years …
That is SO green.
Obviously greenpeace has visited.
They are practicing 21st century population control.
Of course, elderly politicians and their families will be exempt…..
Hell, I would display the carbon footprint signs with pride. But then I don’t believe my carbon footprint is going to end the world. I also drive my cat (thats farmer for bulldozer) out to the back 40 for a look around. Either you believe in AGW and that it is a disaster or you are a northern Candaian and it’s good either way. SO bring the sign s on, baby! But I do say that if you buy beef from me you get a little piece of my sign to nail up on your front porch…..
There’s nothing like doing a bit of research on your own. A search for “tanzania drought witchcraft” turned up amongst other things, an article in the NYT that is over three years old but nearly verbatim in some sections to the article above by the same author:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/opinion/13kristof.html
You’d think he’d have had time to rewrite a paragraph or two since then? Astoundingly, the article goes on to blaim climate change (in part) for the conflict in Darfur. A more disgusting misrepresentation of facts I cannot imagine, and using the misery of those poor people to promote climate policy is as bankrupt of morality as possible.
But what is actually going on in Tanzania? Like the root causes of the conflict in Darfur, did this clown make those up too? Here’s an excerpt from one article on the subject that makes clear that in fact, witches are being executed in Tanzania, and that it has little or nothing to do with climate change:
——————–
In one decade alone, (1991 to 2001), Tanzania had 20,000 persons accused of witchcraft, murdered by her citizenry–a disproportionate number of the suspected witches were female octogenarians. Tanzania’s Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that 5,000 victims of witch lynching were murdered between 1994 and 1998, all suspected by fellow Tanzanians of magical high jinks.[7] Red eyes, believed to be the mark of a witch, sparked many of these tragic neighborhood witch-hunts. Apparently, many Tanzanian women possess red eye color due to the smoke of their cooking fires.[8] If the execution of grandmothers isn’t horrific enough; trials by ordeal are making a comeback as the means of identifying a person as either a witch or sorcerer. During the nineteenth century, thousands of Africans were killed in trials by ordeal, by something known as the poison oracle. (From 1828 to 1861, over 200,000 persons were killed in poison ordeals administered by the Medina ruling class of Madagascar.[9] One of the greatest witch slaughters in world history, this witch paranoia depopulated entire Malagasy villages and towns.) Currently, in Eastern Africa, to prove their innocence, accused witches aren’t subjected to the poison ordeal, but the “witch” is given a sporting chance to retrieve a bracelet from a pot of boiling water. The theory behind this practice is that an innocent party won’t receive burn marks on his, or her, arms. The unlucky ones failing the ordeal have a nail driven through their head or they are administered some other form of ghastly execution–usually a death sentence via benzene fire.[10]
——————–
The complete article is here:
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_petraitis/witch_killers.html
There were a cosiderable number of other articles and papers that showed up in the search. Half seemed to be climate fear mongering by none other than the self serving Edward Miguel. The balance seem to be ones along the same line as the article by Richard Petraitis (link above). There are people being murdered for witchcraft, it has NOTHING to do with climate change, it has been going on for centuries, and for Edward Miguel to use their plight to advance a completely unrelated agenda shows the complete lack of morals this individual and so many others in the alarmist movement have.
mkelly says:
November 8, 2011 at 10:25 am
I do not think we have much shame left in America. How else can Bill Clinton be on TV, speaking tours, etc?
The word bastard has lost its meaning.
Shack-up used to be a bad term.
There are others.
__________________________
We do have shame left in America. But the propagandists are intent on using it for purposes of profit and control. Unfortunately the same propagandists used our education system and media to “dumb down” generations of Americans until we are now left with a people unable to think for themselves.
The last step has been the intentional drugging of “Mavericks” (our future leaders) in grammar school and even pre-school to essentially render them “brain dead” and harmless.
So we do have “Witch-Hunting” in the USA but it is not elderly women who are the target. Instead it is young white boys. We do not use machetes instead we use harmful drugs. If the child does not conform he is the subject of our modern day Witch Hunters. The methods have changed but it is still a “Witch Hunt”
YOUNG WHITE BOYS TARGETED:
BRAIN DAMAGE:
http://www.yourspine.com/Chiropractic/Ritalin+May+Cause+Longterm+Brain+Damage.aspx
http://www.ritalindeath.com/education/school-violence.htm
http://familyrightsassociation.com/bin/white_papers-articles/drugging_our_children/
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bdas/documents/ritalin.pdf
http://www.ritalindeath.com/
http://www.ordination.org/dumbing_down.htm