"The only real catastrophies that I can recall from the Middle Ages is disease, isolated droughts, and famine".
You are correct. A warmer climate is both good for nature as well as people. The Middle Ages or MWP time frame was a big jump in prosperity in the world. Longer growing seasons, less deaths from the cold in winter.
"Don't you believe that all of the smog, fossil fuel depletion, and our dependence on the automobile has led to SOME environmental changes"?
Yes, pollution is bad for the environment. And the day that the planet is rid of fossil fuels will not come soon enough. But the leap from that to saying that "Climate Change" which is something that has gone on forever is currently being caused by humans is a big leap.
About hurricanes, we are now in the 2nd year down year. The water in the Atlantic is cooler and all the hysteria of one Katrina type year after another so far has not come true.
I heard someone on TV using the disaster of Katrina as an example of Global Warming. Katrina was a strong hurricane, like Carla in 1962 and many others. The disaster was the levies giving way and the horrible job that government on all levels dealt with it. It was primarily a man made disaster.
My opinion, the Sun has the biggest effect on the current climate. We are in a cycle of warmer weather, after a cycle of cooler than normal weather both from the 1940s-1970s and a larger cycle of cooler weather that began in the 1400's and an even larger cycle of warmer weather from the Ice Age. Our basis of what we consider "normal" is probably too low. Like I said before recorded weather info is only about 100 years old in the U.S. longer in Europe. There are also Urban Heat Islands in big cities that exaggerate the temperature increases. Another factor is a lack of major volcanic activity. Major eruptions dramatically cool the planet. Look at a chart of eruptions over the centuries and you will see what I mean.
We have also had major cool events this past year, most recently in the Southern Hemisphere that probably should not be happening if the planet is warming out of control:
First snow in Buenos Aires since 1918 - Breaking News - World - Breaking News
CHILL: Australia has coldest June since 1950... » Netscape.com
Newsvine - Icy weather - including snow - grips South Africa, claiming 22 lives
Maybe you have not heard of any of the above because the major media does not want to report anything that might confuse the issue of Global Warming.
I believe in what you want to do, it just really bothers me when the facts are twisted to sensationalize things.
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