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Sir, I have read the Mardale Times with interest over the last few months, and although I'm not usually one to contribute to these publications, I feel compelled on this occasion to write to you about your blatant abuse of environmental campaigners. Just because we happen to care deeply about the environment that supports us, and have the volition to actually act on our convictions, showing a duty of care towards our fellow man, and the generations that follow, you evidently think we are 'fair game' for your infantile japes, jibes and satire. I personally have worked tirelessly to cut my carbon emissions: I walk to work, I don't own a car, I refuse to travel by air and even avoid air conditioned rooms wherever possible. I calculate that my contribution to Global Warming is negligible, and a shining example for many of your ilk. Yes, I do wear drab woollens, and yes, I do have facial hair and have a tendency to 'lecture' to others, so maybe I do fit your stereotypical portrayal of an 'environ-mentalist' but soon the tide will turn, and it will be people like us that history will remember - the saviours of the new world. A world not dominated by greed, oil and the indolence of the 'couch potato', but by a willingness to live in accordance with nature, taking only what one needs and returning back to the earth what it needs. Osama Bin Laden P.S. Watch out for my new video, coming to the shops in time for Christmas!
Excerpt from Article in National Geographic News (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070228-mars-warming.html) Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says Kate Ravilious for National Geographic News February 28, 2007 Simultaneous warming on Earth and Mars suggests that our planet's recent climate changes have a natural—and not a human-induced—cause, according to one scientist's controversial theory. Earth is currently experiencing rapid warming, which the vast majority of climate scientists says is due to humans pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Mars, too, appears to be enjoying more mild and balmy temperatures. In 2005 data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions revealed that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" near Mars's south pole had been diminishing for three summers in a row. Habibullo Abdussamatov, head of space research at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia, says the Mars data is evidence that the current global warming on Earth is being caused by changes in the sun. "The long-term increase in solar irradiance is heating both Earth and Mars," he said. Abdussamatov believes that changes in the sun's heat output can account for almost all the climate changes we see on both planets. Mars and Earth, for instance, have experienced periodic ice ages throughout their histories. "Man-made greenhouse warming has made a small contribution to the warming seen on Earth in recent years, but it cannot compete with the increase in solar irradiance," Abdussamatov said. By studying fluctuations in the warmth of the sun, Abdussamatov believes he can see a pattern that fits with the ups and downs in climate we see on Earth and Mars. Abdussamatov's work, however, has not been well received by other climate scientists. End of Excerpt
Well isn't that interesting? Could it be that the scientists have an agenda that flies in the face of scientific evidence? Of course they do. Anyone who cares to look at the history of scientific endeavour can easily see that the pursuit of science has always been in the grip of huge egos and larger spending budgets controlled by the politicians and Big Corporate. Listen dumbass - it's NOT about saving the planet - it's about saving the Status Quo. Stop absorbing other people's drivel and start thinking for yourself. Those in power will try and tell you that this is too much like had work and try and encourage you to go back to watching TV. They hate people who think for themselves - we're much harder to manipulate. But mark my words, roll over on this one, and you WILL be reamed.
Michael Barrymore Dear Sir, There are 7m rats in England & Wales - British Govt stats January this year Whether you live in the city or the country, you'll know how well rat populations flourish when conditions are favourable. All you have to do is leave a source of food unguarded, and the next thing you know, you have in full-blown infestation. In fact, there is so much food available in the garbage we regularly leave lying around in city streets that rat populations are bigger and stronger than they have ever been. Some researchers reckon that you are never any more than a few feet away from a rat in most modern city centres these days. Now the answer, I hope, is obvious. Simply remove the source of food, and make the environment less favourable for your invaders. Trying to control the population without first implementing these measures just creates a job for life, and a life of constant frustration and disappointment. How strange then that trying to control the 'homeless' population (in my day, we called them tramps!) in our towns and cities that no one else seems to have drawn the same parallels. Let's face facts here, the easier we make it to live a comfortable life by begging in the streets, the more the tramp population will flourish. No amount of social work, welfare or Big Issue sales will contribute one iota to addressing the fundamental problem, in fact they will only make it worse. What we need to do is to make these people see that living on the street, although perfectly acceptable to them, is NOT acceptable to us - the decent tax-paying members of this society. I therefore propose a 'kick-the-tramps' initiative. Make it obligatory for those who actually pay hard earned money towards the upkeep of this great nation to kick these people if they appear to begging, loitering, selling overpriced newsletters or collecting cigarette ends from bus stops. Mark my words - until you make the conditions Unfavourable - you will have an infestation. Let the PC brigade call it what it likes, but it's an infestation nonetheless. Major C Litswell (MBE GTFYB)
c/o Carstairs Hospital, Lanarkshire. Dear Sir, Genetic Modification our only hope to halt global warming. History has shown us that when the chips are down, and resources are scarce, we rarely if ever do anything about it until it's too late. Just look at the number of civilisations that have flourished and died suddenly because of this lack of foresight. Ask any archaeologist and they'll tell you of the recurring pattern. Man moves in, Man discovers resource (Wood, Coal, Edible Animals), Man uses resource until exhausted and/or by products have poisoned Man or nearby environment. No - the only way out of this one is to invent our way out - the other good thing we are apt to do when things start getting tough. I propose a big push on genetic modification :- Lets breed trees to absorb 10 times as much CO2 and liberate more Oxygen and wood while they're at it. Let's create new types of Algae to capture the available CO2 and sink to the bottom of the ocean with it. Lets breed plants that can grow on landfill sites, their roots dissolving the rubbish below and their leaves absorbing the methane that's liberated. Lets create a new breed of dog specially adapted for the city - one that thrives on hydrocarbon exhaust emissions and shits pellets of Vim so that when it rains the streets and drains will all be washed clean. Let's face it - they way things are changing, these things will happen anyway - nature will see to that, so all we're doing is just helping the process along a bit. Prof Clive Sinclair Dear Mardale Times I notice with glee, the number of townspeople who turned up to meet Gordon Brown recently at the flooded flatlands of Gloucestershire. The very people who last year were complaining about the hosepipe ban, no doubt. This time, however they were equipped with the very latest in placard technology - Big Red Letters, spelling out something about Global Climate Change. This was not the best bit, however. The best bit was their inane chanting - something along the lines of "No No Global Warming Here". I was amused to note the parallels with an early copy of Frankenstein's Monster I have - just swap the placards for flaming torches, and Bingo - the Great Uninformed on a witch hunt - a formidable, if misguided force, no doubt, but one which worries me. Has compulsory education in this country been the victim of insidious corporate sponsorship or has it been usurped by the likes of The Sun and The Daily Sport? P.S. I also note with even more glee, that the Great Uninformed have created a marvellous opportunity at your local B&Q - Patio Heaters are now heavily discounted. I for one will be purchasing half a dozen or so this weekend as I'm looking to offset my negative carbon footprint (I planted some vegetables earlier this year). Michael "Calm Down Dear" Winner Sir, If I've learned one thing in my time on this planet it's this - human beings are greedy bastrits! There is absolutely no way that any race, country or community will halt its consumption unless it has no other choice. Tigers and Hippos are rarer than sober soap stars, but are still being hunted for their horny bits. Why - Because we are greedy! Face it - we will do nothing significant until we are forced to. So, I'll be buying myself a nice big gas-guzzling car (now that they are nice and cheap) to make sure that the oil runs out as soon as possible and the big companies are forced to look elsewhere (maybe to their stores stuffed with all the energy efficient patents they've been suppressing all these years). In fact - make that TWO big gas-guzzling cars. John Prescott Esq. From Russell W McCrackin
Physics Professor Emeritus, Los angeles Pierce College.
Yes, wind farms cause damage. When the air loses energy it is kinetic energy (energy stored as motion of mass) that is reduced to generate electrical energy. This means the air travels at reduced velocity leaving the wind farm, thus reducing the air circulation down-wind. Also, as the air pushes against the wind machine blades it tends to change the rotational speed (angular velocity) of the earth. If the wind is blowing toward the east the change will be an increase in rotational speed, not a decrease. - Regarding the change in apparent weight: The earth does slow in rotation. The gravitaional attration by the moon and Sun are slowing the rotational speed, and have done so as long as the combination has existed.
However, if objects on the earth's surface traveled at a slower speed around the earth's axis, their apparent weight would increases. A change in the speed or direction of travel is called acceleration. All objects traveling in a circle have an acceleration toward the center of the circle called inward or radial acceleration (centripetal acceleration). If an object slows in traveling around a circle the amount of radial acceleration is reduced, thus less radial inward force (centripetal force) is required. A reduced radial acceleration for a person on the earth's survace means that less of the gravitaional force is used as centripetal force to keep the person traveling in a circle, staying on the surface of the earth, therefore more of the gravitational force shows up as "weight." Thus, people will not "weigh" less, but more.
An example: , the Moon only completes one rotaion in about four weeks. Objects on the moon do not fly off the surface. Yes, they weigh less on the moon than they would on earth, but that is because the moon has less mass than the earth does, therefore less "gravity."
Your reporter needs a better understanding of Physics.
Russell W McCrackin
Physics Professor Emeritus, Los angeles Pierce College. Editors Reply: Whoooooooooooooooooosh!* *American readers please note - 'whooosh' is the sound made by a joke as if flies waaay over your head. 
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Readers Letters 
