‘The Tragi-comic Climate Doomsday Cult’ (Melanie Phillips on COP26)

From MasterResource

By Robert Bradley Jr. — December 16, 2021

“If anything embodies and signals the end of the age of reason it is this climate cult, in the grip of which the west has gone through Alice’s looking-glass into a surreal post-science, post-truth world.

No wonder Russia and China didn’t even bother to turn up to COP26. Their contempt for the west must be bottomless as they look upon its accelerating economic and cultural green suicide — and rub their hands.” 

I recently read a piece by Melanie Phillips that spoke volumes about the two-week snooze show hosted by the United Nations last month in Glasgow. “The Tragi-comic Climate Doomsday Cult” (November 2, 2021) begins:

What would happen if a doomsday cult were to take over the world? Science fiction? No. It’s happened. How else to explain the collective lunacy of the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, an absolute farce where world leaders made complete fools of themselves?  

And continues:

There’s been much criticism of the hypocrisy of the event, with hundreds of private jets flying into Glasgow to hector the world about reducing carbon emissions. Far, far worse has been the total erasure of rationality in the hysterical chorus that this was the “last chance to save the planet” — and the fact that no-one in mainstream debate has challenged this as utter unscientific garbage.

Boris Johnson Theatrics

She turns to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address

“It’s one minute to midnight on that doomsday clock and we need to act now.” Pledging once again to make Britain the “Saudi Arabia of wind power,” he said people were “quilting the earth in an invisible and suffocating blanket of CO2, raising the temperature of the planet with a speed and an abruptness that is entirely man-made.

Was this the same Boris Johnson who in 2015 called the concern that global warming was causing rising temperatures a “primitive fear” which was “without foundation,” and who claimed in 2013 that wind turbines couldn’t “blow the skin off a rice pudding”? It was. 

Phillips then asks an obvious question:

Speaker after speaker said COP 26 was the planet’s last chance to save itself from extinction through climate change. Do none of these people ever stop and wonder why this very same claim has been made over the years with just as much urgency —only to be made again when the climate apocalypse hasn’t happened or has been once more mysteriously postponed?

Prince Charles

At COP26 on Monday, we were told we had until 2050 to save the planet. We were “quite literally” in the “last chance saloon,” said Prince Charles.

Addressing the Copenhagen climate summit in 2009, Prince Charles had told delegates “our planet has reached a point of crisis and we have only seven years before we lose the levers of control”. Which set the last chance saloon in 2016.

In 2018, climate scientists said there were 12 years to save the planet. Which took the last chance saloon to 2030.

BBC

In July 2019, the BBC’s environment correspondent Matt McGrath wrote there were now 18 months to save the planet since “the decisive, political steps to enable the cuts in carbon to take place will have to happen before the end of next year.”

McGrath reported:

“The climate math is brutally clear: While the world can’t be healed within the next few years, it may be fatally wounded by negligence until 2020,” said Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, founder and now director emeritus of the Potsdam Climate Institute. 

The sense that the end of next year is the last chance saloon for climate change is becoming clearer all the time.

“I am firmly of the view that the next 18 months will decide our ability to keep climate change to survivable levels and to restore nature to the equilibrium we need for our survival,” said Prince Charles, speaking at a reception for Commonwealth foreign ministers recently.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury

Evidence of how this issue is frying people’s brains (if not the world) was provided by the mess that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, got himself into when he  compared climate change to the Holocaust. The Mail reported him saying:

“People will speak of them (current world leaders) in far stronger terms than we speak today of the politicians of the 30s, of the politicians who ignored what was happening in Nazi Germany because this will kill people all around the world for generations, and we will have no means of averting it”.

Asked whether that meant failure to act on climate change would be worse than people allowing genocide to happen, he replied: “It will allow a genocide on an infinitely greater scale. 

“I’m not sure there’s grades of genocide, but there’s width of genocide, and this will be genocide indirectly, by negligence, recklessness, that will in the end come back to us or to our children and grandchildren”.

Oh dear. Realising virtually immediately that he had made a grievously inappropriate comparison and diminished the genocide of the Jews, the archbishop quickly apologised and retracted his words. But the fact that he had said them shows the extent to which “climate change” has simply unbalanced people and erased all sense of proportion and reason.

The Queen

Shockingly, even the Queen has endorsed this mania. Praising the commitment of the late Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prince William in “encouraging people to protect our fragile planet.”

She said:

“It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit — written in history books yet to be printed — will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity; and that you answered the call of those future generations. That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan, to address the impact of climate change; and to recognise that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.”

The Queen was representing the government’s position — the role she is supposed to play. However, she seemed to be personally endorsing “net zero”. It’s bad enough that Prince Charles bangs on about this. The Queen, however, is supposed to be above politics, and we must never know what she thinks — a role she has played to absolute perfection throughout her long reign. Until now. 

But then, a key part of this lunacy is the belief that “climate change” is above not just politics but all normal discussion— that there can be no argument against it. The issue is beyond debate because the science is said to be “settled”. 

But science is never settled. The climate change cult is akin rather to religious faith — more than that, to the type of religious faith that brooks no dissent. 

The Queen was representing the government’s position — the role she is supposed to play. However, she seemed to be personally endorsing “net zero”. It’s bad enough that Prince Charles bangs on about this. The Queen, however, is supposed to be above politics, and we must never know what she thinks — a role she has played to absolute perfection throughout her long reign. Until now. 

For another look at COP26’s failure, see here.

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Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 6:11 am

Britain the “Saudi Arabia of wind power”

Man, that’s dumb. So, Britain will produce so much excess electricity that it can export it to the world and bring in hundreds of billions each year- to give back to the British public? Sheesh, talk about bullshitting politicians.

Redge
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 6:19 am

Not only that, BoJo’s wind will produce enough cheap energy to raise the standard of poor nations to the same level as developed nations, as oil raised the standard of living in developed nations for the last 100+ years

Curious George
Reply to  Redge
December 17, 2021 7:37 am

Won’t the cheap wind energy elevate the UK to be a leader of poor nations?

Redge
Reply to  Curious George
December 17, 2021 7:53 am

The UK is well on its way to being 1st amongst poor nations (except amongst the elite)

Patrick Hrushowy
Reply to  Redge
December 17, 2021 9:25 am

I think you might have forgotten the sarc/ tag.

2hotel9
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 6:42 am

Dumb is as dumb does.

Oldseadog
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 6:44 am

I just looked at the British National Grid status. Wind is producing 1.8% of the total electricity production.

HotScot
Reply to  Oldseadog
December 17, 2021 8:01 am

Probably for the next week or so.

Ben Vorlich
Reply to  HotScot
December 17, 2021 12:43 pm

Only at night, during the day about 1% or less

Alasdair gray
Reply to  Oldseadog
December 17, 2021 10:08 am

Less than 2 GW today. I have been keeping an eye on wind power rates and over the last 2 months have seldom seen it running at more than 12 GW which is 50% of installed capacity of 24 GW. . I estimate overall capacity factor about 25%, far short of the 60% that the wind lobby dishonestly and maliciously claim for their worthless offshore behemoths

Redge
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 7:36 am

🎵 In the bleak mid-winter
Bloody wind don’t blow:

Screenshot 2021-12-17 153406.jpg
Patrick B
Reply to  Redge
December 17, 2021 9:37 am

There you go bringing facts into the discussion.

Redge
Reply to  Patrick B
December 17, 2021 9:42 am

Looking around at what’s happening in the world, we (the UK) needs to be energy independent.

That won’t happen with wind and/or solar

philincalifornia
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 9:41 am

What do you expect from someone his age who has, so far, been unable to figure out how a comb works ??

Tom Abbott
Reply to  philincalifornia
December 17, 2021 5:24 pm

He needs to just shave all that hair off.

Rusty
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 10:40 am

Boris also said we were going to be the Qatar of hydrogen too.

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Rusty
December 17, 2021 5:26 pm

I see where Oklahoma and Texas and Louisiana and a few other States have made it illegal for jurisdictions within their States to prevent people from using natural gas in their homes. No all-electric mandates around here! 🙂

A very good idea, btw, since using natural gas in the home is the most efficient way to use natural gas. More bang for the buck.

Rich Davis
Reply to  Rusty
December 19, 2021 8:02 am

Maybe you can also be the Eswatini of mud huts.

Newminster
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 18, 2021 7:12 am

At this moment (1509GMT, Dec 18) wind is providing 3% of UK demand. Three times that much is coming in through the French/Netherlands interconnectors. Gas is providing more than 50%!

MARTIN BRUMBY
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 18, 2021 7:36 am

The only wind known to Boris Johnson is in the underpants zone.
Just like Let’s Go Brandon.

They probably believe that, just as cloth masks prevent viral transmission, their Y fronts stop any smell.

Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 6:13 am

 “quilting the earth in an invisible visible and suffocating blanket of CO2 wind and solar farms”

climanrecon
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
December 17, 2021 6:48 am

… and tree and bio-fuel farms.

Rich Davis
Reply to  climanrecon
December 19, 2021 6:35 am

You mean forests? Gasp! What are those trees doing out here in nature? Where are the wind turbines? Where are the solar panels?

Doug D
December 17, 2021 6:26 am

Clowns and prostitutes.= politicians and pseudo scientists

Disputin
Reply to  Doug D
December 17, 2021 6:52 am

That’s unfair. Prostitutes do a fine job, (and, yes).

Graemethecat
Reply to  Disputin
December 17, 2021 8:20 am

Clowns and prostitutes are incomparably more valuable to society than politicians and climate “scientists”.

michel
December 17, 2021 6:26 am

Yes, its a sort of bastardized religion. Its based on justification by faith not works – as long as you assert your belief and you condemn all non-believers you are accepted into the community of the saved. As with the far left of Calvinism, the number of the elect is small, and as with that, works are of no avail, you are justified by faith alone. And there are marks of grace, in this case a willingness to talk nonsense about climate in public.

There are perpetual calls for people to reform now, with a succession of deadlines for the wrath that is to come if they do not.

It really has all the marks of an insane cult. And Philips quotes many the mad things that establishment people have said, obviously absurd.

Yes, very nice and very true, but its not going to change anyone’s mind. They are testifying to their status as being saved, and that is what counts for them. They’re not going to stop and lose social acceptance, jobs, contracts, publication offers, just because it doesn’t add up.

Its not supposed to add up. It doesn’t matter either way. Its about belonging.

The moment of truth in the UK will be when and if the country actually tries to run its grid on wind, solar and hydrogen, while converting boilers to heat pumps, cars to electric, and also converting the gas grid to hydrogen. When, if the heat pump drive is successful, there will be no customers to buy the hydrogen.

But even when this happens, and the old and poor are shivering in the dark in winter, and dying, I don’t expect the lunatics to stop talking. I don’t see what can possibly happen to stop them at least pretending to believe, in fact, and pretending to believe will require ever more policy contortions like the wind and solar manias, and turning off usable sources of power generation.

So, if you can, lay in a good stock of anthracite and a good stove. We will need it!

RickWill
Reply to  michel
December 17, 2021 5:12 pm

There are perpetual calls for people to reform now, with a succession of deadlines for the wrath that is to come if they do not.

The believers have done a fair job of linking every adverse weather event to climate change.

It is now at point where it is hard to say if someone is being sarcastic. Every word meant as sarcasm can e easily interpreted as the gospel.

Those who are tad skeptical need to agree on what is perfect weather. Simple things like the perfect temperature day and night, the intensity and duration of sunlight, the intensity and duration of wind, the intensity and duration of rain. Would we still have snow? If so, will it occur all over or just nominated places. Since humans can alter the weather, we need to set some agreeable targets.

We need to give the climate correctors some consensus targets to aim for beyond just reducing CO2. Have them contemplate the highly remote possibility that they are wrong about CO2 being the only factor causing adverse weather and set consensus targets that are more meaningful to day-to-day life. And of course keep the wind turbines turning and solar panels glowing.

One issue that needs to be sorted right now is what is the global temperature – can we please get consensus on that. It would be nice to know the precise margin we have to play with here. Surely if mayhem ensues with another 0.5C of warming, we need to know who has the temperature nailed now.

CMIP6_Compare.png
Steve Case
December 17, 2021 6:26 am

There’s a repeating paragraph in the section about what the Queen has to say. Needs to be fixed.

Alexy Scherbakoff
Reply to  Steve Case
December 17, 2021 1:11 pm

I think we have had to suffer repeating paragraphs for years.

Robert Watt
December 17, 2021 6:32 am

The only thing COP26 has achieved is a large wave of Omicron infections in the Glasgow and London areas.

Graemethecat
Reply to  Robert Watt
December 17, 2021 8:22 am

The top-end Ladies of the Night and expensive restaurants of those two cities have also benefited I suppose, which is something.

Peter F Gill
December 17, 2021 6:37 am

In 2009 I included in my presentation at a Climate Conference at Imperial College a quote from Melanie Philips (from the Daily Mail of 12th January 2004) as follows:

“The claim of man-made global warming represents the decent of science from the pursuit of truth into politicised propaganda. The fact that it is endorsed by the top scientist in British government shows how deep the rot has gone.”

Nothing much has changed since 2004 or for that matter since 2009 other than for more zeal for the AGW religion particularly from politicians, people with degrees in English Language and English Literature and those who enjoy bandwagons.

It does not seem to matter that Melanie was right then and continues to be right now. However, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. It is a that inevitably disastrous Net Zero train coming towards us. Before it mows us down people will probably realise “It’s the economy stupid” and derail Net Zero and the Climate Change Act.

AGW is Not Science
Reply to  Peter F Gill
December 17, 2021 8:05 am

decent >>should be descent

Rich Davis
Reply to  AGW is Not Science
December 19, 2021 6:45 am

You make a decent point

DocSiders
Reply to  Peter F Gill
December 17, 2021 11:07 am

When anything Political-Left is involved… Science is VERY *Profitable* and always TOTALLY Corrupted.

Can’t thing of any topic where Science was used Corruptly by the Right. There may have been, but nothing comes to mind.

But EVERY politicized issue involving Science has been Corrupted by the Left.

And every time… the Leftist “Scientific” results are the exact opposite of the truth.

griff
December 17, 2021 6:38 am

“Melanie Phillips supported Andrew Wakefield, whose fraudulent work triggered controversy about the MMR vaccine and led to his being struck off the medical register.”

Enough said.

2hotel9
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 6:47 am

And right on que the lie spewing liar toddles through and spews lies. Good job, buddy!

michel
Reply to  2hotel9
December 17, 2021 8:53 am

He is right about the Mail on Wakefield. But he is wrong in saying that is all that needs to be said. And Philips, who made a mistake about Wakefield, gets this one exactly right.

I think actually Griff is an example of what she is talking about and what I have said. its testifying, its not sincerely arguing a case.

DocSiders
Reply to  2hotel9
December 17, 2021 11:12 am

I think Griff is really Anthony Watts…. saying stupid things to increase the number of comments.

Like Norton writing lots of computer viruses to sell virus protection.

Griff certainly acts like a virus.

TonyG
Reply to  DocSiders
December 17, 2021 12:20 pm

Griff is a brilliant example of Poe’s Law.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  2hotel9
December 17, 2021 8:02 pm

Que?

2hotel9
Reply to  Jeff Alberts
December 18, 2021 5:48 am

griffie made a stink about that spelling once so I ram it up it’s rear orifice routinely.

Rich Davis
Reply to  Jeff Alberts
December 19, 2021 6:51 am

Cue pasa, Jeff?

billtoo
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 6:52 am

so, for the record, are you saying that being wrong in the past precludes any possibility of future contributions?

MarkW
Reply to  billtoo
December 17, 2021 7:47 am

He’s never felt that way about climate “scientists”.

AGW is Not Science
Reply to  MarkW
December 17, 2021 8:07 am

DING! DING! DING!

We have a winner!

Cheshire Red
Reply to  MarkW
December 17, 2021 9:03 am

Indeed! A certain Gleick guy seems to get a free pass, doesn’t he?

bonbon
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 7:34 am

Correct griff – It took the Lancet 12 YEARS to retract Wakefield’s vaccine-autism so-called research. This guy fooled many including the leading anti-vaxxer, RFK Jr, whose sister supports XR.
Why did it take Lancet 12 years to retract, I wonder?

HotScot
Reply to  bonbon
December 17, 2021 8:28 am

Because it took 12 years for big pharma to manufacture a case against Wakefield.

Is Kennedy his sisters keeper? Does she not have a mind of her own?

Ah, sorry, you have no idea what that is.

Ed Zuiderwijk
Reply to  HotScot
December 17, 2021 10:20 am

Oh my …

HotScot
Reply to  Ed Zuiderwijk
December 18, 2021 9:06 am

Oh your, what?

Try explaining why the paper was maintained by the Lancet for 12 years rather than making silly remarks.

MarkW
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 7:46 am

Being wrong on one thing proves that you are wrong on everything?
As usual, griff desperately searches for any excuse to ignore that which he can’t refute.

AGW is Not Science
Reply to  MarkW
December 17, 2021 8:08 am

And of course applies different standards to so-called “climate scientists” and their cheerleaders, who have been wrong about everything they “predict” that has reached its expiration date.

Tom Abbott
Reply to  AGW is Not Science
December 17, 2021 5:46 pm

Climate Alarmists *have* been wrong about every claim they have made about CO2 being a danger to humanity since they started this fiasco decades ago.

Alarmists don’t even know how much warmth a given amount of CO2 would add to the Earth’s atmosphere, and this is after decades of trying to figure it out.

And then they claim they can see CO2’s influence on the Earth’s weather. Give me a break!

TonyG
Reply to  MarkW
December 17, 2021 11:57 am

But apparently being wrong on EVERYTHING means you’re right on everything…

HotScot
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 8:20 am

Wakefield was the sacrificial lamb at the alter of big pharma. He got too close.

You’ll read similar sentiments to Wakefields echoed in Robert F. Kennedy’s new book ‘The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health’. Not that I imagine you would touch the book with a barge pole.

Much like climate science, the vaccine industry is shrouded in corruption and greed. No dissent from the drumbeat of the Fauci tribe is allowed.

Children in America are required to have some 72 jabs against 16 conditions, yet you don’t consider it credible that lot might produce a negative response.

Like Kennedy, I never knew, or knew of a kid with autism when I was growing up.

Mr.
Reply to  HotScot
December 17, 2021 10:03 am

Me either.
Although I often heard my parents talk about so-and-so being “a bugger of a kid”.

Ben Vorlich
Reply to  HotScot
December 17, 2021 1:00 pm

Are you sure you never knew a kid with Autism when you were growing up? Or was it that nobody went round testing any child that was difficult to educate? I never knew any dyslexics when I was frowing up are you saying dyslexia is caused by vaccinations?

On the other hand I’ve known several people my age crippled by Polio. My parents generation lost siblings and cousins to various child killing diseases, their parents lost many more to those diseases. It’s because of vaccinations that surviving children went from 2 or 3 per generation to 10+, it was wealth and health that got us down to 2 children families with minimal infant deaths.

Have you considered the possibility that for Autism experts diagnosing children as autistic creates a steady income stream.

Why would Austism experts be more honest than Big Pharma where money is concerned?

HotScot
Reply to  Ben Vorlich
December 18, 2021 9:27 am

Yep, I’m sure.

We had badly behaved kids in class, including me, but that had nothing to do with autism, That was high spirits. I worked with the worst behaved kids you could imagine when I was a cop and even looking back now, not one of them exhibited the distinct characteristics.

Perhaps dyslexia is a feature of vaccine injuries, ever considered that?

There are undoubtedly some worthwhile vaccines, I have never suggested otherwise however, American schoolkids get around 72 different shots. Are you telling me that’s healthy? I had a BCG, that’s it.

I think you’ll find it was more down to hygiene, sanitation and clean drinking water that increased the birth rate rater than vaccinations.

Had you ever met an autistic child, which you clearly haven’t, you would understand that diagnosis isn’t a profit motive as the characteristics are profound.

TonyG
Reply to  HotScot
December 18, 2021 9:52 am

Has anyone considered the possibility that the increase in autism diagnosis is purely due to greater awareness and clearer diagnostic criteria? As the parent of an adult autistic child, that has been my observation. And I see no vaccination link.

HotScot
Reply to  TonyG
December 18, 2021 2:53 pm

That’s a reasonable assertion however, anecdotally, no people of my age (mid 60’s) and my acquaintance can recall a single schoolchild with the distinctive characteristics of autism when they were at school.

Kennedy names the specific year after which it began to appear as a regular feature (1989 from memory) and goes on to explain precisely why in his book.

The developed world is also predisposed to over-diagnosis over the last 20 years or so.

And how would you identify a vaccination link?

TonyG
Reply to  HotScot
December 19, 2021 2:12 pm

Mid 50s here and I distinctly remember people in elementary school with autistic behavior. As you said, “anecdotal”

Graemethecat
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 8:24 am

Melanie Phillips is sometimes wrong, unlike Griff, who is always wrong.

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Graemethecat
December 17, 2021 5:52 pm

Griff just needs to come up with an excuse to dismiss what Phillips says about Human-caused Climate Change, thus enabling himself to maintain his CAGW delusions.

On the Human-caused Climate Change subject, Melanie Phillips is right on the money. We need more commentary like hers.

michel
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 8:51 am

Yes, their anti-vax stance was a real disgrace for the paper. They were not alone, it took the medical establishment forever to get wise to Wakefield, but they had a total lack of critical journalism.

However, Philips is right in what she says in this piece.

And the real contemporary comparison to the Wakefield episode is in the credulous mechanical recitals of climate doom that you find in the Guardian and the BBC. And now in the once critical Telegraph.

Derg
Reply to  michel
December 17, 2021 12:50 pm

Is an anti-vaxxer similar to climate denier 🤔

Archer
Reply to  Derg
December 17, 2021 1:48 pm

It’s becoming that way. Scepticism about coerced acceptance of novel, untested technologies (that are now showing more frequent side effects than anyone cares to admit) is being conflated with whackadoodle lunacy, with the combination then being used to tar anyone who disagrees with the implementation of a system of technocratic controls that restrict our freedoms. What is called necessary to “save society” and “eradicate covid” today was called conspiracy theory last year.

michel
Reply to  Derg
December 18, 2021 2:30 am

No, there is a very significant difference. The anti-vax tendency is more like the climate alarmist tendency.

Anti-vaxxers ignore the consequences of their proposed policy. They also wildly exaggerate the dangers and side effects of vaccines.

Its not really subject to rational dispute that vaccination, since its discovery, has made a huge difference to human welfare. Polio is just about non-existent. MMR had, until the Wakefield scare, just about wiped out measles, mumps and rubella. In older people the flu vaccine has helped reduce mortality and winter illness. The pneumonia vaccine similarly. The smallpox vaccine was a huge lifesaver. If you look at the UK, the Covid vaccine program has dramatically reduced the rate of hospital admissions and deaths while cases have recently risen.

Side effects exist with all vaccines, but there can be no doubt the risk/reward ratio is enormously in favor of them. There has been one modern case of a premature rush to mass vaccinations with bad side effects, but that was an outlier. Such things are very rare indeed.

So the basic anti-vaxx stance is failing to consider the consequences of their position. Failing to take account of the negative consequences of inaction, and wildly exaggerating the bad effects of action.

Something similar is happening in reverse in climate. We find in the alarmists absurd exaggerations of the consequences of inaction, not curbing emissions. The end of human civilization, for instance. And absurd over optimistic evaluations of the feasibility and the benefits of doing such things as moving to wind and solar power generation.

Altogether I would say that the emotional magical thinking which characterises the anti-vaxx movement is very much the same kind of thing as one finds in climate alarmism.

Derg
Reply to  michel
December 18, 2021 7:05 am

If a person gets the MMR but doesn’t want the Covid shot are they a semi anti-vaxxer 🤓

michel
Reply to  Derg
December 18, 2021 5:18 pm

I think they are irrational. I think it quite obvious that the Covid shots do dramatically lower the risks of either getting infected or getting very seriously ill and dying. And the risks are minimal. There are side effects, and they are occasionally unpleasant, and in a very few cases have been serious. But the risk/reward ratio is strongly in their favor.

Derg
Reply to  michel
December 19, 2021 3:56 am

“ do dramatically lower the risks of either getting infected or getting very seriously ill and dying.”

Based on? Covid has morphed into Omicron. No deaths. It’s a cold now…the hysterics are falling apart.

HotScot
Reply to  michel
December 19, 2021 5:12 pm

What are the long term risks of these drugs?

No one knows, that’s the problem.

TonyG
Reply to  michel
December 18, 2021 9:02 am

michel, in your comment you fail to recognize the current usage of “anti-vaxxer” as applied to people who oppose vaccine mandates, specifically with the NEW C-19 vaxes, conflating it with the previous usage of people who are opposed to vaccines altogether.

In that case (as you inadvertently demonstrate), the term “anti-vaxxer” is used EXACTLY the same as “denier” as a simplistic label to dismiss the person and anything they say without engaging with their actual positions.

michel
Reply to  TonyG
December 18, 2021 5:19 pm

Yes, fair enough.

HotScot
Reply to  michel
December 19, 2021 5:10 pm

Had my doctor presented me with an experimental, unlicensed drug, developed in a matter of months, with no long term safety data, as a solution to anything two years ago (pre covid) I could have had him struck off the medical register and probably thrown in jail.

We know more about the detrimental effects of street drugs than we do about covid drugs.

Nothing, not even protecting others, can justify exposing oneself to the unknown dangers of a drug that has never been tried on humans before in this context.

Anyone suggesting otherwise has no right to comment on anything remotely scientific.

Ebor
Reply to  griff
December 17, 2021 11:38 am

Hey Griff – there’s a book you should read called “The Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments”, well I say that but maybe you have already? This particular ruse of yours is known as the “Appeal to Hypocrisy” and doesn’t work on people that can think logically.

Duane
December 17, 2021 6:39 am

The more ridiculously shrill and lunatic sounding they get, the more that normal people learn to ignore them.

2hotel9
Reply to  Duane
December 17, 2021 6:49 am

But we must stop ignoring them and start punishing them, severely.

climanrecon
December 17, 2021 6:45 am

Priesthoods have used Project Fear throughout the ages, and somehow it always seems to involve the transfer of money and power from the poor to the rich.

As predicted in “1984”, we have always been at war with Climate Change, and we always will be, … and you will be happy.

2hotel9
December 17, 2021 6:46 am

” Their contempt for the west must be bottomless as they look upon its accelerating economic and cultural green suicide — and rub their hands.” The problem with standing by in anticipation of civilizational collapse is it will suck them down, too. That crocodile be hungry and will eat all in its path, including them.

Chris Foskett
Reply to  2hotel9
December 17, 2021 7:02 am

China will have to take control of the “west” to protect its markets, they will have no truck with this religion. Off to the ‘re-education classes!

2hotel9
Reply to  Chris Foskett
December 17, 2021 7:14 am

Even attempting that will kill their markets like a bullet in the head. Their own internal manipulations are already causing them problems, Evergrande may just bring Xi The Pooh down and a “new” regime of much younger men will have to sort this whole mess out.

paul courtney
Reply to  2hotel9
December 17, 2021 4:45 pm

Mr. hotel9: Excellent comment, but the bullet in the head was the wrong end. A shot in the foot is the more apt expression. China in particular would be diminished by lost customers if the U.S. collapses, but it would be a slow bleed. Problem is, the Russians created the environut movement (taking over real grassroots enviro activists long ago, and funding it right into the most destructive of all, AGW) and won’t be able to stop it. I imagine Putin laughing about it, Xi not amused, and Putin doesn’t care. There’s an old russian joke about a peasant who asks a genie to kill his neighbor’s cow (too long, great joke though). No surprise if Putin is happy to kill Xi’s cow, so happy he doesn’t notice his own foot bleeding.

2hotel9
Reply to  paul courtney
December 18, 2021 6:37 am

I was referring more to China. Russia can contract in on itself as it has in the past. The Game has been going on for a long time and they are, effectively, no farther ahead than they ever were. China was isolate for a great period of time and outside their borders, no matter how modern they appear, they are basically following the same patterns the Imperial Dynasties did inside China. Outside their borders financial coercion will only work so far, Africa and South/Central America can throw them out and to hell with the financial/economic results. Most of those countries are already destitute, not a whole lot Xi can do to make life for the common citizens much worse. Add to that the Chinese in those countries really stand out, easily targeted by natives who are already angry and can be pointed towards them to take pressure off their own failed governments. Xi The Pooh is sitting at the table with a busted flush and simply trying to get everyone else to fold.

Steve Case
December 17, 2021 6:50 am

The insanity is going to continue for the near future. Just two days ago New York City banned natural gas in new buildings starting in 2030.

The new ban, with 40 votes in the affirmative and seven votes against the measure…
Wisconsin Public Radio

Global Cooling, Acid rain, The Ozone Hole, and Global Warming amounts to over 50 years of total bullshit.

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed 
(and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an 
endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary. H. L. Mencken

Timo, not that one
Reply to  Steve Case
December 17, 2021 7:13 am

You forgot about the “Jupiter Effect”.

2hotel9
Reply to  Steve Case
December 17, 2021 7:16 am

Cali already tried to put the same stupidity in place and it ain’t being welcomed by anyone, not even rabid greentards. They want a total ban on all new construction and removal of existing structures.

AGW is Not Science
Reply to  2hotel9
December 17, 2021 8:10 am

I say hold them to their own demands – throw them out of any human dwelling and let them live like they demand of others – like cave men.

Steve Case
Reply to  AGW is Not Science
December 17, 2021 8:50 am

Rule for radicals: #4 “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.”

2hotel9
Reply to  AGW is Not Science
December 18, 2021 6:00 am

I have long held all greenunistas should be identified and their places of residence stripped of electricity, gas, water and sewage, no foods out of season, no transportation using gas, oil, electricity, no medical services or pharmaceuticals. They claim all these things are destroying the climate. Fine, they can stop using them. And let all their neighbors know that their lives are being so miserable because of these specific individuals by posting their names and addresses all over the place. Problem would solve itself pretty damned fast.

lee riffee
Reply to  Steve Case
December 17, 2021 7:52 am

I guess that means that none of these new buildings in NYC will include restaurants….cities that go this route IMO will be like Cuba with buildings instead of cars. Anyone who wants to open a restaurant will have to vie for space in existing structures.

D. J. Hawkins
Reply to  lee riffee
December 17, 2021 8:18 am

Restaurants (commercial kitchens) are among those getting a pass. Others are laundromats and hospitals.

Dave Fair
Reply to  D. J. Hawkins
December 17, 2021 2:11 pm

How will the petty bureaucrats responsible for implementing the rules handle multi-use buildings?

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Steve Case
December 17, 2021 5:59 pm

“The insanity is going to continue for the near future. Just two days ago New York City banned natural gas in new buildings starting in 2030.”

Those who want to keep using natual gas will have to move to Texas, Louisiana or Oklahoma, where there is a ban on banning natural gas for homeowners.

It is insanity to ban natural gas, which is the most efficient of energy sources.

David Dibbell
December 17, 2021 6:51 am

The Queen, quoted above: “…and that you answered the call of those future generations.” The call I expect more realistically from those future generations goes like, “How in the world did your generation ever become so mesmerized with the manufactured illusion that carbon dioxide could cause harmful warming?”

Dave Fair
Reply to  David Dibbell
December 17, 2021 2:13 pm

I assume the future generations are calling using their time travel phones.

For many the future is known; it is the past they are having problems with.

Perry
December 17, 2021 6:58 am

Blood Stupid Johnson was a landscape gardener and inventor on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. There was apparently, no start to his talents.

Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. Stupid is as stupid does.

HotScot
December 17, 2021 7:33 am

I have had a lot of time for Melanie over the years on a variety of subjects, but especially climate change.

Then covid hit and like many others, she somehow abandoned the power of rational thought.

I have stopped reading her articles of late because it’s so depressing to see someone barking up the same ‘cancel culture’ hysterical, pseudo science tree as climate alarmists.

bonbon
December 17, 2021 7:42 am

It is too easy to point to the theatrics, the Court Jesters, The Harlequin, and avoid mentioning the Plot.

Here is the Plot in a COP26 interview :
Net-Zero a Ruthless, Relentless Focus for GFANZ: Mark Carney
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2021-11-01/net-zero-a-ruthless-relentless-focus-for-gfanz-carney-video

Listen to the worlds most influential banker explain the plot (without technicalities only Bloomberg subscribers could possibly understand ). The circus carny’s job after all is to keep the show gong on!

Why does a London Times journalist omit this, I wonder?

Mumbles McGuirck
December 17, 2021 7:43 am

‘Was this the same Boris Johnson who in 2015 called the concern that global warming was causing rising temperatures a “primitive fear” which was “without foundation”?’

But since then he got himself some quim. The girlfriend sez climate change is evil, so the tossel-haired puppy follows his Mistress and we’re all doomed.

Reply to  Mumbles McGuirck
December 17, 2021 9:50 am

Mumbles McGuirck,

Why assume his latest wife is to blame when a long-term serial liar is seen to be telling lies?

Richard

Ben Vorlich
Reply to  Richard S Courtney
December 17, 2021 1:10 pm

He now has the excuse that “She made me do it”. After Wallpapergate enough people will beleive him to have plausible deniability

Alan the Brit
December 17, 2021 8:02 am

Justin Welby??? Why would anyone listen to him, & I am of Christian faith!!! He has made his squillions in the fossil fuel & banking industry, & he feels the need to correct our behaviour, suggesting he is merely pulling up the ladder after himself, not wanting anyone else to do likewise ( unless he sees a fast buck for himself in the offing, didn’t Jesus lose his temper with the money-lenders at some point)!!! He is the very scum of the Earth as far as I am concerned, a rank sanctimonious self-righteous hypocrite!!!

Rick W Kargaard
December 17, 2021 8:07 am

If you have a little global warming in your neighborhood could you send a little to my part of the globe. It is minus 32 Celsius (-26F), but there is no wind so not too bad for a Canadian.
I am going to have to clear the snow from my driveway and that will make for painful fingers.
Even 1.5 degrees would be welcome but not noticeable.
Yes, I live rather far North near Red Deer, Alberta but there is still a heck of a lot of globe further North than this
We did have a few warm days last summer for which I had to increase my beer budget. When I say warm I mean just warm because it can get a lot hotter here. Those that called it unprecedented must have had their heads up some hot place unmentionable here.
Well it is almost fully daylight now I must suit up for my perennial battle with the snow gods. They do not seem to believe the CAWG crowd and still wield an icy sword.
Aww, maybe I could procrastinate through another cup.

Cheshire Red
December 17, 2021 8:55 am

A very smart woman is Mel Phillips. She gets a lot of stick from the loony left as she’s a strong-minded person who doesn’t suffer fools, which makes her cutting commentary a bit problematic for lefty lunatics.

She usually makes mincemeat out of left-wing guests on BBC ‘Question Time’. That probably explains why she doesn’t get on it very often.

Logic, rational and facts are her watchwords. No wonder the left hate her. Oh, and she’s both a Conservative and a Jew. Full house!!

Vuk
December 17, 2021 9:02 am

While our leaders are pursuing falsehoods of ‘catastrophic climate change’, on the Eastern flank Putin is raising stakes.
The Times:
“Russia has demanded that Nato, America and Britain withdraw all military bases and troops from central and eastern European countries, including those within the EU.”
Ball is in the Joe-Bojo court.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he moves on the Ukraine’s Black Sea ports during this Xmas-New Year holiday, while troops massing might be a bit of decoy, or just on the s/by in case of wider conflict..

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Vuk
December 18, 2021 4:10 am

Putin is in his blackmail phase right now. He’ll make demands and then see what happens.

I imagine, if the truth were known, that Putin is a little leery of sending his troops into Ukraine. The outcome is not certain for Putin. He got some bad reactions from some of the Russian people the last time he sent troops to battle.

But, who knows, Putin might be able to talk the Western Imbeciles into giving him what he wants without firing a shot. It’s worth a try, Putin says.

Ed Zuiderwijk
December 17, 2021 10:16 am

I’m afraid Melanie is right and the West has firmly embarked on the road to self destruction. There may come a point when powerful interest finally wakes up and has to grab power by undemocratic means to stop the juggernaut. I’m thinking of the colonels of the US army, since the generals have all gone woke.

DocSiders
December 17, 2021 10:51 am

Sounds like Leftists won’t survive a world 0.7°C warmer than now…but the Babylonians thrived when warmer than +0.7°C …in one of the hottest places on Earth.

I for one won’t miss them.

Bruce Cobb
December 17, 2021 12:33 pm

Does this mean we can call BoJo “Borence of Arabia”?

Richard Page
Reply to  Bruce Cobb
December 17, 2021 5:06 pm

Flatulence of Arabia more like.

ResourceGuy
December 17, 2021 12:41 pm

The UK needs a virus variant that forces truth telling and monetary disclosure to the working public. Maybe a virology lab with tight government controls on information but not safety can pull it off and test it at a local wet market.

ResourceGuy
December 17, 2021 1:02 pm

I guess the voters still get a word in edgewise on occasion.

Pressure on PM Johnson after UK Tories suffer election upset – ABC News (go.com)

Richard Page
Reply to  ResourceGuy
December 17, 2021 5:09 pm

Yup – they had their say; rejected a party that supports net zero and voted in a minor opposition party that supports net zero, that’s democracy in action.

Dennis
December 17, 2021 4:41 pm

December 2021 and off the East Coast of Australia, Queensland and New South Wales near coal loader ports there are bulk carriers anchored at sea awaiting a berth to load export shipments of coal.

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Dennis
December 18, 2021 4:28 am

You need to get Biden in there to talk those coal loaders into working 24 hours per day, like he did with the Los Angeles port cargo backup. We need to get that coal moving! Joe Biden to the rescue!

Tom Abbott
December 17, 2021 5:19 pm

From the article: “But then, a key part of this lunacy is the belief that “climate change” is above not just politics but all normal discussion— that there can be no argument against it. The issue is beyond debate because the science is said to be “settled”.

But science is never settled. The climate change cult is akin rather to religious faith — more than that, to the type of religious faith that brooks no dissent. ”

Not only is Human-caused Climate Change Science not settled, it has never been shown to represent the real world. it’s never been detected, yet the alarmists claim it is settled. How can they claim it is settled when they can’t even find it?

This is the biggest science scam in human history. Led by Michael Mann the Flim Flam Man. Mann has some snakeoil to sell everyone.

Jeff Alberts
December 17, 2021 7:15 pm

The climate cultists are like Squatch and UFO hunters. They see evidence where there is none, and proclaim success.

Joe
December 17, 2021 10:01 pm

If only we could harness the wind from these blowhard politicians…

Kiwi Gary
December 17, 2021 10:27 pm

The main reason for my disaster skepticism is that I am an old codger who went through the “we’re all gonna freeze” forthcoming ice-age climate disaster of the 1960s -70s. There were even demands for more carbon-dioxide.

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Kiwi Gary
December 18, 2021 4:34 am

Yes, the Human-caused Global Cooling meme was what got me skeptical about climate science. The Global Cooling supporters kept claiming they had evidence, but they never provided any evidence, just assumptions and assertions, just like the Human-caused Global Warming advocates do today. And they don’t have any evidence either, just speculation, assumptions and assertions. This is not science, it’s advocacy.

There is no evidence for either Human-caused Global Cooling or Human-caused Global Warming. In this context meaning humans are altering the Earth’s weather. There is no evidence humans are altering the Earth’s weather.

December 17, 2021 11:03 pm

Yesterday a high pressure system dominated the weather over Europe, with little wind from southern Norway to Morocco. Night fog in the UK lifted during the day into low stratocumulus.

Low wind, blanketing cloud. The wind turbines at lunchtime were producing 0.77GW from an installed capacity of 24GW. Solar ‘parks’ w wet re producing about 1.2GW from 14GW.

For years now HMG has been closing coal-fired power stations and knocking them down. There must be a couple left. Yesterday they were producing just under 2GW, fractionally more than wind and solar combined.

The National Grid engineers have been working miracles keeping the lights on. We can’t go on like this.

JF

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Julian Flood
December 18, 2021 4:44 am

“Yesterday a high pressure system dominated the weather over Europe, with little wind from southern Norway to Morocco. Night fog in the UK lifted during the day into low stratocumulus.

Low wind, blanketing cloud. The wind turbines at lunchtime were producing 0.77GW from an installed capacity of 24GW.”

That’s one of the main problems with windmills: They don’t work when the wind doesn’t blow. And we have idiots in authority that think it is a good idea to use windmills for all our electric power needs. Here’s a clue to these idiots: It doesn’t matter how many windmills you build, if the wind doesn’t blow, none of the windmills will work. And as you can see from the link below, a high-pressure system can cover, and becalm winds, over a large area.

The UK is still at the center of the high-pressure system today, although it looks like the pattern is changing a little. Until then, the windmills are not going to be producing much electricity.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/500hPa/orthographic=-4.45,40.27,264/loc=-1.855,54.072

Windmills are just SO stupid!

HotScot
Reply to  Tom Abbott
December 19, 2021 5:20 pm

Windmills Politicians are just SO stupid!

Andy Pattullo
December 18, 2021 7:48 am

Apparently the Uk has become the Pinocchio of truth, the Spanish Inquisition of Science and the Enron of wise investing.

WXcycles
December 18, 2021 8:47 am

Evidence of how this issue is frying people’s brains (if not the world) was provided by the mess that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, …

People who believe in eternal lakes of fire etc., are probably not good sources for climate trend advice.

WXcycles
December 18, 2021 8:50 am

The Queen

Shockingly, even the Queen has endorsed this mania. Praising the commitment of the late Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prince William in “encouraging people to protect our fragile planet.”

Unfortunately she’s just another vastly over-rated ratbag.

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