EN: Dr. Roy Spencer serves thoughtfully on the Cornwall Alliance Board. What follows is a response to Gavin Schmidt’s blog post at RealClimate.org entitled Spencer’s Shenanigans in which he takes issue with my claims in Global Warming: Observations vs. Climate Models. As I read through his criticism, he seems to be trying too hard to refute my claims while using weak (and even non-existent) evidence. To summarize my claims regarding the science of global warming: In Gavin’s post, he … [Read more...]
Why Not to Worry about Farming’s Contribution to Global Warming
For decades the primary way environmentalists concerned about manmade global warming have advocated to slow it has been to reduce human emissions of the “greenhouse gas” carbon dioxide (mainly from burning coal, oil, and natural gas for energy). Lately they have focused increasingly on contributions from two other “greenhouse gases,” primarily from agriculture—methane (CH4) from livestock flatulence, and nitrous oxide (N2O) from chemical fertilizers. Why? Because CH4’s forcing effect (the … [Read more...]
Prayer for Revival Based on Psalm 8
The following is a guest article by T. M. Moore Image: Creative Commons under Unsplash It was because God so loved the world (the cosmos) that He sent Jesus for its redemption. Psalm 8 reminds us that God has filled the world, from the vault of heaven to the most helpless babe in arms, with His majesty, splendor, glory, and might, the awareness of which is powerful even to silence the adversaries of the Lord. In the midst of this glorious splendor and beauty, God has appointed … [Read more...]
Here’s a Real Superhero for Your Kids to Imitate!
Image: Creative Commons under Unsplash Billions of people owe him thanks. Hardly any have heard of him. He worked patiently, tirelessly, in dirt and grime, unknown to almost everyone. But he’s one of the most important people who’ve ever lived. Of models I hope my grandkids will follow, he’s among the top. Not that they’d do the same kind of work, but that they’d cultivate the same self-discipline, the same determination to serve others, the same humility. In the United States, he … [Read more...]
Why the Sudden Attack on Gas Stoves?
No doubt you have heard the discussion that gas stoves are evil … because they lead to childhood asthma. I am not talking about “gasoline” stoves—and I do not recommend you cook with gasoline—but gas stoves that run on natural gas. You might have one of these “anti-children” appliances in your kitchen. I recently moved from a home that had a gas stove to one where I now cook with electricity … not because I have children who are likely to develop asthma but because … well, the new house does not … [Read more...]
Sri Lanka: Canary in the Environmentalist Coal Mine
Last year the Cornwall Alliance reported on our blog that Sri Lanka was headed for serious trouble. Now, sadly, our prediction is coming true. The Associated Press (AP) calls Sri Lanka “a country hurtling towards bankruptcy, with hardly any money to import gasoline, milk, cooking gas and toilet paper.” In late June its prime minister said its economy had “collapsed.” Both he and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to resign in the face of mass protests that included crowds occupying their … [Read more...]
Cancel Mom’s Grocery Bag Misinformation
I don’t deliberately avoid organic foods or markets, but I don’t seek them out either. Claims that organic food tastes better or is more nutritious are not supported by evidence and certainly don’t justify the far higher prices. Mostly, I’m put off by assertions that organic food is pesticide-free, safer, and more planet-friendly. Those assertions are simply false advertising; deliberate misinformation. Mom’s Organic Market shopping bags provide an excellent example. They’re emblazoned with … [Read more...]
Can Green Energy Cause a Global Food Shortage?
China is one of the world’s largest food producers. Recently an acute power shortage there reduced food output. This sent markets into panic. Severe global food shortages and increased prices could follow. What caused China’s power shortage? Over-reliance on renewable energy. It led to insufficient and unreliable electricity generation. That harmed domestic food production and global food security. Many people condemn coal. They espouse “green” policies. But these lead to power blackouts. … [Read more...]
The Gates of Hell (or Heaven) in Africa?
Agribusiness, Small Family Farms, or Both? According to many critics, Western billionaires do not make the best farmers. Perhaps it is their inability (or unwillingness) to downsize grandiose plans from a Western-style agribusiness model to merely helping millions of subsistence farmers that dot the African landscape succeed in providing nutritious diets for their families and communities. That’s the conclusion of a major report from Germany entitled False Promises: The Alliance for a … [Read more...]
Food Security in a Post-Covid World
European Conservatives and Reformists Party hosts another ‘Europe Debates’ webinar US-EU trade talks are already stalled over agriculture issues. And yet the European Union’s new “Farm to Fork” strategy doesn’t just double down on the EU’s contentious agricultural regulations. It promises to use access to European markets to compel the United States and other countries to adopt EU-style organic farming, precautionary and other regulations if they want to remain trading partners with Europe. … [Read more...]
