Robert, when you say "ozone," I am assuming that you're talking about stratospheric ozone depletion? I might add, for quite some time after the "ozone hole" was discovered, many critics said it was just a natural fluctuation in ozone concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere over Antarctica. I recall a certain radio-host (who shall remain nameless) even saying that it was "Chicken Little Syndrome" and scientists were making it up to procure grant funding (sound familiar?).
After more data came in, ozone depletion became more fact than fiction and was accepted by a majority of the critics. I am hoping the same will come to pass when it comes to the effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on climate. Just my $0.02. Regards, Chris Christopher T. Ruhland, Ph.D. Professor of Biological Sciences Department of Biology TS 242 Trafton Sciences Center South Minnesota State University Mankato, MN 56001 phone: 507 389-1323 fax: 507 389-2788 email: [email protected] webpage: http://ruhland.pageout.net/page.dyn/student/course/instructor_info?course_id=109326 -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robert Hamilton Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 12:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] What Can I DO?? Re: [ECOLOG-L] Message from Paul Ehrlich Science works to persuade when it provides real data, not weak hypotheticals. Consider the issue of ozone vs CO2. Lots of real data on ozone, nothing but political hackery on CO2, so we get some action on ozone and nothing but conflict on CO2. However, we are only as strong as our weakest link, so the CO2 argument defines us. Robert Hamilton, PhD Professor of Biology Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, KY 41844 -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bowles, Elizabeth Davis Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 12:07 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] What Can I DO?? Re: [ECOLOG-L] Message from Paul Ehrlich Social and environmental psychologists have known for some time now that knowledge does not change *behavior* and that information-only campaigns rarely are effective. This is because, as opposed to commercial marketing campaigns, usually you are asking the public to give something up, step out of social norms, or do something that does not reap immediate benefits to them. This requires a completely different approach, including removing perceived or structural barriers to sustainable behavior. Ecologists should strongly consider collaborating with psychologists on any outreach program in which a behavior change in the public is the goal. See this paper in conservation biology: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01766.x/full and this website: http://www.cbsm.com/pages/guide/fostering-sustainable-behavior/ and this report from the APA: http://www.apa.org/science/about/publications/climate-change.aspx Beth Davis Bowles, Ph.D. Research Specialist Bull Shoals Field Station Missouri State University 901 S. National Springfield, MO 65897 phone (417) 836-3731 fax (417) 836-8886 ________________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [[email protected]] On Behalf Of David L. McNeely [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 9:55 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] What Can I DO?? Re: [ECOLOG-L] Message from Paul Ehrlich ---- Steve Young <[email protected]> wrote: > Lawren et al., > Unfortunately, I think you may be preaching to the choir. I'm not > trying to be pessimistic, but if every ESA member were to follow > through and commit to the 'doing something', instead of just 'talking > more', what would that accomplish? Just going by the numbers, > conservatively speaking, ESA membership is around 10,000 and according > to the Census Bureau, the current population in the US is 312,718,825 > ( > http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html) So, what do we > do about the other 312,708,000? > I'm in the education arena and it is a question that I've been trying > to figure out how to answer for a long time. I know advocacy is one > way and something I work on all the time. Maybe this should be part of > the focus of the 'doing something' approach. > Steve I believe when we help to educate others we are doing something. I'm funny that way, I guess. The difficulty comes when our educational efforts fail, as they seem to be doing on this matter. So, I need help in knowing what to do that will actually work. So far as individual effort, I already try to buy only what I need and to use old stuff. I minimize my fuel use by driving a Toyota Prius, walking for local transportation when I can, not using air conditioning though I live in a very hot climate, wearing warm clothing and keeping the house cool in winter ................ . But I have not been able to persuade many others to engage in the same actions. Reading and understanding the data that come in seems unconvincing to so many. Science is only trusted when it reinforces already held beliefs, even if less than 1% of those claiming to be scientists provide the claims that reinforce. So, what can I do? David McNeely The information transmitted is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If the reader of this message is not an intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error, and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the message and any hard copy printouts. Thank you.
