Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Talk:Climategate

2010-03-01T20:50:06Z

Enginerd: /* Article Image */

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== Freedom of information ==

Just a brief point: The data in question was deleted in the 1980s according to the article referenced on the main page <ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6936328.ece</ref>. This was about two decades before the Freedom of Information Act came into force in the UK and so the act and the fine of £5000 which you mention are not relevant to the discarded data. [[User:DWiggins|DWiggins]] 07:34, 1 December 2009 (EST)
:I'll look into that part some more, you bring up an interesting point. But after reading [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=893&filename=1212073451.txt this email] dated Thu May 29 11:04:11 2008, Phil Jones said this:
{{cquote|Mike,

Can you delete any emails you may have had with Keith re AR4?
Keith will do likewise. He's not in at the moment - minor family crisis.
Can you also email Gene and get him to do the same? I don't
have his new email address.
We will be getting Caspar to do likewise.
I see that CA claim they discovered the 1945 problem in the Nature paper!!
Cheers
Phil}}
Iain Murray from ''Pajamas Media'' explained the significance, here:
{{cquote|The context in the subject header is clearly the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI), while AR4 refers to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. What is most important to know here is that, according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance in the UK, “at least one FOI request on exactly this correspondence had apparently been submitted by a David Holland on May 5th 2008.”

The Freedom of Information Act, however, explicitly forbids deletion of any material subject to a FOI request. The penalty for such a criminal act is a fine of up to £5,000. Presumably being found guilty of such an act, or even suggesting it, would also bring about significant disciplinary procedures at any reputable university. A complaint has been made to the British information commissioner.<ref name=3things>Iain Murray. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/three-things-you-absolutely-must-know-about-climategate/ Three Things You Absolutely Must Know About Climategate], ''Pajamas Media'', November 24, 2009.</ref>}}
[[Climategate]] is certainly very complex so I'm sure as time goes on we'll learn more, but I'm going to assume (Illegally obtained or not) the hacked emails can be used as evidence of fact, as I believe the data has been verified as authentic. If I'm missing something, please let me know. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 12:42, 1 December 2009 (EST)

:The reason this is significant, as I've been saying all along at Wikipedia, is "cherry-picking data" that supports your ideas and suppressing reports from scientists who challenge your findings is anti-scientific. Science thrives when every new idea is subjected to scrutiny by the entire scientific community; it is only when an idea has survived repeated challenges from skeptics that we can say it has stood the test of time. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:26, 30 January 2010 (EST)

== Article Image ==

[[Image:RobinsonWhatWarmsTheEarth.gif|right|frame]]
I'm not sure what the best image to use might be for the article about the [[Climategate|Climategate scandal]], however, would anyone have a disagreement with the use of this graph? [http://conservapedia.com/File:RobinsonWhatWarmsTheEarth.gif] [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 14:55, 1 December 2009 (EST)

:Not me. --[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 17:58, 1 December 2009 (EST)

::This graph is 14 years old. It is outdated. However, it comes from the man who organized the largest anti-AGW petition ever; a man who homeschooled his children (two of whom are now scientists in their own right): [[Art Robinson]]. We need a bigger article on him. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:28, 30 January 2010 (EST)

:This graph does not use a statistically significant trend line. It only draws a line from the first point to the last point which happens to be lower than the first point so of course the trend line will be sloped downward. That is not how you get accurate trends from data. The inclusion of this graph is only harming the credibility of this website. --[[User:Enginerd|'''Enginerd''']] 13:49 1 March 2010 (MST)

== Google ==

I'm re-adding the Google section because I'm not convinced the issue has gone away quite yet. For example, here are the sources to be used:
* [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/28/climategate-surpasses-global-warming-on-google-autosuggest-still-blocked/ “Climategate” surpasses “Global Warming” on Google]
* [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018263/climategate-googlegate/ Climategate: Googlegate?]
* [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/02/google-trends-on-climategate-show-public-interest-increasing-but-troubling-questions-loom/ Google trends on “climategate” show public interest increasing – but troubling questions loom]
* [http://www.examiner.com/x-28973-Essex-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m11d29-Google-blocking-climategate-autosuggestion Google blocking 'climategate' autosuggestion]
* [http://briefingroom.typepad.com/the_briefing_room/2009/11/google-appears-to-be-censoring-climate-emails-searches.html Google appears to be censoring climate emails searches]
* [http://searchengineland.com/of-climategate-googlegate-when-stories-get-too-long-30755 Of Climategate, Googlegate & When Stories Get Too Long]
And now, currently, if you do a [http://www.google.com/search?q=Climategate&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a Google Search: Climategate] - despite 26,400,000 articles discussing the Climategate scandal, Google has restricted the search results to be limited to only 10 pages (9 actually, page 10 redirects to page 1). [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 18:48, 3 December 2009 (EST)
:''Update'': I removed the portion from the [[Climategate|Climate Gate]] page referencing Google's search engine only showing ten pages worth of results. It seems the problem was 'fixed' in one way or another. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 19:59, 3 December 2009 (EST)
::The whole thing seems to be fixed/changed now. Google is auto-suggesting "[http://www.google.com/search?q=climate-gate&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t climate-gate]", which seems to link to at least twenty-odd pages of results. (Click on p. 18 or so, and you'll see more.) I'm editing the section to say that Google ''was'' doing this on 3 December, but by 7 December it was fixed. --[[User:EvanW|EvanW]] 16:31, 7 December 2009 (EST)

== No need to exaggerate ==

I noticed this line in the article:

"In reality, the small 'fraction of research' is actually a worldwide scam to grab power and dictate new Leftist laws"

This seems rather dubious at best, since it involves an extreme extrapolation from one small group of people to many thousands spread throughout many research institutions across the globe. It is not logical to argue that because there are some serious issues with one group's research that there must therefore be similar issues with all other work of a similar nature (look up inductive reasoning). Just stick to the evidence available, which concerns only the site in East Anglia, there's no need to make extravagant claims. [[User:DWiggins|DWiggins]] 20:38, 3 December 2009 (EST)
:Good point. I'll remove it, however, Jpatt added it into the section so if he argues that it is important and he provides a reasonable need for it, it can be re-added to the article. I'd like to hear his argument for it if he has any objections. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 21:15, 3 December 2009 (EST)
::That's fine, likely true but unsourced.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 21:25, 3 December 2009 (EST)
:::That's what I was thinking, too; it very likely could be true. The Mainstream media cover-up of the entire climategate scandal as well the denial by the Obama administration, and the odd behavior from the major search engines surrounding this entire event just begs the question -- is this a worldwide scam to grab power and dictate new Leftist laws? When I get a chance I'll do some research on it and see what I can find. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 21:33, 3 December 2009 (EST)
::::Found it:
::::* [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17361 Attention Lawyers! Make Millions Off Of Climategate Crooks!]
::::* [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/11/24/glenn-beck-cites-newsbusters-bash-tvs-climategate-boycott Glenn Beck Cites NewsBusters to Bash TV's ClimateGate Boycott]
::::* [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/viscount-monckton-on-global-warminggate-they-are-criminals-pjm-exclusive/ Viscount Monckton on Climategate: ‘They Are Criminals’ (PJM Exclusive)]
::::The sources definitely seem credible enough for evidence to re-add the sentence, "In reality, the small 'fraction of research' is actually a worldwide scam to grab power and dictate new Leftist laws." Before I add it back into the article, are there any suggestions for re-wording it, so the statement doesn't appear dubious -- even though evidence points to it being more factual than fallacy. Based on the above three sources, the statement, I don't think, is minority of opinion but is indeed factual based on the evidence presented throughout this entire ordeal. Thoughts? [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 22:45, 3 December 2009 (EST)
From what I can see these articles go no further in providing evidence for such a claim. They remain simply opinions, the opinions of these authors. It wouldn't be too difficult to simply pull up some articles with completely opposing views. To date there is no factual basis to call this a worldwide conspiracy. A factual basis for example would be showing that all climate data for all studies was made up, which is not the case, and not simply some commentator criticising a certain policy. As such to me this statement looks out of place as some wacky conspiracy theory. We have actual evidence in the hacked documents, but only for this very specific case. To extrapolate from that to call it a global conspiracy detracts from the credibility of the article, a credibility it can retain if it simply sticks to what we actually know. [[User:DWiggins|DWiggins]] 11:58, 4 December 2009 (EST)
:I changed the wording from, "In reality, the small 'fraction of research' is actually a worldwide scam to grab power and dictate new Leftist laws," to, "The reality is that this small 'fraction of research' — the theory which is the foundation of anthropogenic global warming — the data used by CRU scientists, it is proven fraudulent. The theory which used to hold human beings responsible: it is nothing more than a Global warming scam, according to Jim O'Neill from the Canada Free Press. The scientists at the CRU, from the evidence found in the their e-mails and documents, show a criminal intent to defraud the public of massive amounts of money, and at the same time advance an ideological Leftist agenda." And I used sources from which the arguments were brought up. So the article page is no longer stating it's a worldwide theory, but merely pointing out what others have argued from the evidence released on November 19, 2009. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 13:04, 4 December 2009 (EST)

== Climategate media coverage ==

I moved a majority of the "Media Coverage" section to its own page: [[Climategate media coverage]]. The reason for it was due to it becoming a much larger section, which will likely which will likely grow even more as the scandal continues to be unraveled. I felt that, since the media coverage of the event isn't necessarily a top priority as some of the more meaningful takeaways from this scandal, at the time of moving the section it seemed like the right thing to do. But I can move it back if others feel like it's still a very important part of the unraveling Climategate scandal. If the new page does stay, then it also needs to be added to the [[Template:Climategate scandal]], which I cannot do because the page is locked. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 22:32, 6 December 2009 (EST)
:I opted not to do the move after all, my apologies! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 01:08, 7 December 2009 (EST)

You may be interested in [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/revenge_of_the_computer_nerds_1.html Larrey Anderson, ''Revenge of the Computer Nerds'', December 09, 2009, American Thinker] You put a lot of work in to this![[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 21:32, 15 December 2009 (EST)

:Excellent source! I hadn't seen this article yet, thanks for pointing it out. I'll likely get it added in the next wave of updates. Since the [[Mainstream media]] won't touch Climategate there needs to be ''somewhere'' on the Internet documenting the scandal in its entirety. The leftist media would love to sweep this under the rug and have it disappear. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 00:12, 16 December 2009 (EST)

:: Glad it helped. If you were perplexed (as i am sure you were) why WP seemed less than objective in its treatment of Climate Change (should that be capitialized?) then see here:[http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/12/19/lawrence-solomon-wikipedia-s-climate-doctor.aspx ''Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor'', December 19, 2009]

:::''"In these ways, Connolley turned Wikipedia into the missionary wing of the global warming movement."''. Great find, Daniel! I suggest you guys work this into the article, and certainly into the Wikipedia one as well! --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big>/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 14:36, 20 December 2009 (EST)

::::I also agree. ''Watts Up With That'' has also provided two follow up articles on "Wikibullies" as administrators on Wikipedia, one of which references the article Daniel1212 pointed out:
::::* [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/wikibullies-at-work-the-national-post-exposes-broad-trust-issues-over-wikipedia-climate-information/ Wikibullies at work. The National Post exposes broad trust issues over Wikipedia climate information]
::::* [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/more-on-wikipedia-and-connolley-hes-been-canned-as-a-wiki-administrator/ More on Wikipedia and Connolley – he’s been canned as a Wiki administrator]
::::Looks like the [[Bias in Wikipedia]] is finally starting to be realized by the general public. I can look into a good way to incorporate this into this article, it's definitely worth noting. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 00:50, 21 December 2009 (EST)

I had already added a bit on this to the WP bias page.[[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 19:17, 21 December 2009 (EST)

::Excellent work. I just updated the article with more information on it, including the reference you provided. It's amazing how as the Climategate scandal grows, it seems like every single liberal source of bias information is somehow either indirectly or directly related to the scandal. Wikipedia is no exception. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 20:02, 21 December 2009 (EST)

:::Thanks. Perhaps it should be labeled, the Cult of Climate Change. I assume you have heard the strategy of the UN: Fight climate change with free condoms. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/57328 You would therefore think that Biblical morality would be favored the liberals, but just the opposite. Also, to know CC is to love it, but to deny you risk being labeled irrational. A Washington Post headline stated, “It’s natural to behave irrationally: Climate change is just the latest problem that people acknowledge but ignore.” The Post’s expert was Duke professor Dan Ariely: “We are collectively irrational, in the sense that we should really care about the long-term well-being of the planet,...[[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 17:38, 24 December 2009 (EST)

== Rush Limbaugh ==

Why are we quoting a radio commentator in order to present scientific facts? If what he was saying about the polar bears is true then find the original source. Quote him on politics by all means, but leave the science to the scientists. [[User:DWiggins|DWiggins]] 16:39, 10 December 2009 (EST)

:Because Rush Limbaugh was specifically addressing the article in question, and in relation to Climategate and the global warming hoax. I could have asked myself a similar question, "Why am I adding an opinion story from a journalist in the UK who wrote about a [[polar bear]] hoax?" I did so because the point is, in spite of Climategate, there are still those in the media pushing an environmental agenda and also ignoring the facts at the same time. Limbaugh's article works as an excellent counter argument to the false claims made by ''The Guardian''. With regards to the fact about polar bears (males eating their young), I think such a reference does need to be placed within the article about "Polar bears." But in the case of this article, it doesn't seem like citing proof of this fact is necessary here. I could see the argument that it is needed in the polar bear article though, so you bring up a good point. Also: on the topic of politics and climate science, I completely agree with you that it's a huge problem that climate science has shown to be (or become) a sub-branch of climate politics. It's an issue discussed in this article under the [[Climategate#Climategate_scandal|Climategate scandal]] section (see quote by Rex Murphy). [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 17:12, 10 December 2009 (EST)

::I think as far as possible we should avoid quoting non-experts in any articles like this. I don't expect that the reporter is an expert on polar bear behaviour and I'm pretty certain Rush Limbaugh isn't either, so whilst one or both may be making claims that are in fact true I don't think it's enough to simply take their word for it. It's not a question of conservatives OR liberals distorting science, politics distorts science full stop. [[User:DWiggins|DWiggins]] 18:02, 10 December 2009 (EST)

::::I definitely see why the basis of your argument is important. Instead of commentary covering the subject, perhaps the article should utilize more quotes from the emails, code and data processing programs, and then let the readers make their own assertions about what it means for climate science? Keeping that in mind, I think for now, because Climategate is still a relatively new and breaking story -- and still unknown to many people (thank the media) -- it might be a benefit to the article (for now) by having noteworthy discussions on the subject at hand, even though some of the talk may or may not be from an expert. After all, many of the "expert" scientists are the ones under fire for manipulating and suppressing data.

::::On the one hand, take for example the noteworthy editorial by ''CBC’s'' Rex Murphy. His quote is one of my favorites because he so clearly defines what the problem is that Climategate uncovered, and he also provides some interesting solutions as a result of the uncovered problems. I'm not sure exactly how much of an expert Murphy is on the topic of Climate science; however, his comment on the subject matter is very useful for understanding some of the main takeaways of Climategate. On the other hand, there is absolutely a lot of information out there by other scientists whom have done research which counters many of the false claims made about global warming. It's one of the reasons I added the "Critique of the Hockey Stick Reconstruction" section, countering Michael Mann's hockey stick chart.

::::Another problem is that much of the "expert" data about Climate change is now debunked since it was using fraudulent data provided by the CRU scientists. So it may take some time before quality, reliable research is available to the public. There's a reason this scandal is so large, because of its impact on climate science, it truly uncovered one of the biggest frauds of our time; thus, it's going to take time before things get sorted out in an orderly fashion. The article as it is seen today is a real-time encyclopedic reference as an article discussing what is currently known. Some of those discussions about what is known happen to be from commentators pointing out some of the main takeaways. I don't mean to be wordy in my reply, but hopefully this provides some context and reasoning as to why the article is currently written the way it is. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 19:03, 10 December 2009 (EST)

:::''update'': I thought about what you said some more and I think you're right. Over the last week I've been collecting as much info as possible about the actual data, and I agree, it will be a better way to present the article with straight facts rather than mostly discussion of the facts. Politics does distort facts - more obvious now, with Climategate, than ever before. I'll likely end up moving about half (or so) of the information currently in the article to either the [[Climategate media coverage]] page or into its own. But I'll need about a week to sort it all out because I've got finals coming up for school. Very busy week ahead for me. So hopefully the article works OK as is for now, but just to let you know I will make some much needed improvements to it as soon as I get the opportunity to do so. Suggestions are, of course, always welcome for ways to improve the article. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 14:24, 11 December 2009 (EST)

::::Alright DWiggins, see what you did? :-) Since you brought it up, I've trimmed the article (moved most media commentary to its respective article) and now preparing to add some better info about emails and data. I guess it won't take a full week. I'm working on it! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 23:36, 11 December 2009 (EST)

== Intro image ==

[[User:TK|TK]] has decided the intro image should be of Al Gore; I have offered reasons [[User_talk:TK#Climategate|here]] why I believe the intro image should not be of Al Gore and instead illustrate the primary topic of Climategate: [[Global warming]]. Because I don't think edit wars help anyone's cause, I would like to get some feedback from the community regarding this image dispute. Should we keep Al Gore as the intro picture or does it make more sense to others if the intro picture is reverted back to [http://conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Climategate&oldid=734847 this version]? [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 19:53, 18 December 2009 (EST)

:DerekE, as I explained to you on my talk page, this isn't a Mobocracy like Wikipedia. There isn't any appeal to the "community" to be made, because you simply reverted an Administrator without bothering to discuss your reasons for doing so first. Cheers! --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big>/Admin[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]] 21:43, 18 December 2009 (EST)

==Latest news==
Perhaps this should be added to the news section [nice addition btw):

*The Netherlands is asking for an explanation in why the UN believes that half of that country is under sea level. [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.8d6e5773c60565dfc6e882b0a8dcbf18.4e1&show_article=1] CC means of baptism?

*More fraud uncovered in climategate scandal...great global warming collapse. [http://www.examiner.com/x-37620-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m2d6-ALERT-More-fraud-uncovered-in-climategate-scandal]

*"Bin Laden Blames U.S. for Global Warming in New Tape." [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/01/bin_laden_a_hoax_like_the_warm.html] [[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 23:41, 7 February 2010 (EST)

* World’s biggest coal company brings U.S. government to court in climate fraud.... The petition must be answered and covers the entire body of leaked emails from ‘Climategate’ as well as those other ‘gate’ revelations including the frauds allegedly perpetrated under such sub-headings as ‘Himalayan Glaciers,’ ‘African Agricultural Production,’ ‘Amazon Rain Forests,’ ‘Melting Mountain Ice,’ ‘Netherlands Below Sea Level’ as well as those much-publicized abuses of the peer-review literature and so called ‘gray literature.’ [http://www.climategate.com/worlds-biggest-coal-company-brings-us-government-to-court-in-climate-fraud] [[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 16:46, 21 February 2010 (EST)

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/21/sea-level-geoscience-retract-siddall CLIMATEGATE: Another Global Warming retraction]: ''“Scientists have been forced to withdraw a study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings.”''

* [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/climategate-more-science-fiction-from-the-ipcc/ Climategate: More Science Fiction from the IPCC]: ''A provable lie published by the "Demon Princes" on the climate panel regarding the strength of hurricanes.''

* [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/climategate-and-the-law-senator-inhofe-to-ask-for-congressional-criminal-investigation-pajamas-mediapjtv-exclusive/ Climategate Meets the Law: Senator Inhofe to Ask for DOJ Investigation (Pajamas Media/PJTV Exclusive)]: ''Inhofe intends to ask for a probe of the embattled climate scientists for possible criminal acts. And he thinks Gore should be recalled to explain his prior congressional testimony.''

* [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/climategate-not-fraud-but-noble-cause-corruption/ Climategate: Not Fraud, But ‘Noble Cause Corruption’]: ''The emails revealed a form of “noble cause corruption” resulting in a loss of trust in climate science and climate scientists.''

To be added to the main page on Climategate. When I get a chance I'll make some updates... [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 14:32, 24 February 2010 (EST)

**CLIMATE scientists yesterday stunned Britons suffering the coldest winter for 30 years by claiming last month was the hottest January the world has ever seen. http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/160556

** U.S. Climate Data Sensors Compromised. Nearly every single weather station the U.S. government uses to measure the country's surface temperature may be compromised. Sensors that are supposed to be in empty clearings are instead exposed to crackling electronics and other unlikely sources of heat, from exhaust pipes and trash-burning barrels to chimneys and human graves. [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/planet-earth/ci.U.S.+Climate+Data+Compromised+by+Sensors%27+Proximity+to+Heat+Sources,+Critics+Say.opinionPrint]

**Despite recent rumors of global warming, we are actually in a deep freeze." Figures of vast ages aside, "We are now recovering from this abnormal cold period, and the recovery started long before anthropogenic greenhouse gases were produced in any quantity." "The curved trend line in green shows that we have been experiencing declining temperatures for the past 3,000 years, and are likely to be heading down toward the next ice age. Temperatures are only considered to be increasing if viewed for the last 150 years, from 1850 onward, which is roughly when thermometers began collecting global data, and is also the period of time the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has chosen for its review." Links from here, with other links: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2460401/posts [[User:Daniel1212|Daniel1212]] 11:15, 27 February 2010 (EST)

The UK Parliament has serious reservations about scientific malpractices from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia. They are calling for a more reviews ''"should extend beyond reviewing the CRU's policies and practices to whether these have been breached by individuals, particularly in respect of other kinds of departure from objective scientific practice, for example, manipulation of the publication and peer review system or allowing pre-formed conclusions to override scientific objectivity."'' [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/memo/climatedata/uc3902.htm] --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 21:44, 27 February 2010 (EST)

Sarah Palin

2008-09-01T19:14:43Z

Enginerd:

[[Image:Sarah Palin.jpg|right|thumb|Sarah Palin]] '''Sarah Louise Palin''' (pronounced pay'-lynn) (born February 11, 1964) is the [[conservative]] first-term Republican [[governor]] of [[Alaska]]. She is the youngest person to hold this honor as well as the first woman to do so in the state's history. Palin is Senator [[John McCain]]'s Vice Presidential running mate in the [[2008 Presidential Election]].<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/palins_vp_selection_speech.html Acceptance Speech by Palin]</ref>

She brings a populist image and a record of cutting wasteful spending and reforming government to McCain's ticket. In the summer of 2007 she was the most popular governor in America, after cutting 13% of [[Alaska]]'s budget.<ref>http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp</ref> She is strongly [[pro-life]].

Married for 20 years, Sarah Palin's husband is a member of the United Steelworkers union and her eldest son (of five children) is in the [[United States Army]], scheduled to go to Iraq. In an appearance on August 30, 2008 in Washington, Pennsylvania, she was greeted by a surprisingly large crowd as she promoted the new McCain-Palin ticket.

She earned her Journalism degree from the University of [[Idaho]] and worked in media and the utility industry before beginning her public service 14 years ago.

==Personal Background==
[[Image:Sarah Palin Todd Trig.jpg|thumb|right|In this April 23, 2008 file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, and her husband, Todd Palin, hold their baby boy Trig in Anchorage, Alaska. 
''Photo courtesy of Newsmax.com'']]
Palin arrived in Alaska with her family in 1964, when her parents came to teach school in Skagway. She received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987. Palin, who graduated from Wasilla High School in 1982, has lived in Skagway, Eagle River and Wasilla. She reports she entered beauty pageants to earn college money.

She is married to [[Todd Palin]], part Yupik [[Eskimo]], who is a lifelong Alaskan, works at a non-management union job in the oil industry and also as a commercial salmon fisherman. He is a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmobile race.

Sarah Palin is a Union member, a moose hunter and holds a membership in the [[NRA]].<ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/29/mccain-to-name-running-mate-on-friday/ McCain Names Alaska Gov. Palin as Running Mate] Fox News, August 29, 2008</ref> They have five children together: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig.

Palin has been highly regarded among conservatives for acting on her [[pro-life]] beliefs in the case of her youngest son, Trig, who was diagnosed with [[Down syndrome]] in the fourth month of her pregnancy. After researching the condition, she and her husband agreed to continue to pregnancy:
: "[My husband Todd said,] we shouldn't be asking 'Why us?' We should be saying 'Well, why not us?' We've both been very vocal about being pro life. We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential. I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?" [http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/05/gov-sarah-palin.html]

Trig was born on April 18, 2008, four months before his mother was announced as the vice-presidential candidate. Palin wrote:
:"This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together, and get everyone focused on what really matters ... Those who love him will think less about self and focus less on what the world tells [us] is 'normal' or 'perfect.'"<ref name="people">[[People Magazine]]</ref>

:"It's a sign of the times to be able to do this," she said. "I can think of so many male candidates who watched a families grow while they were in office. There is no reason to believe a woman can't do it with a growing family. My baby will not be at all or in any sense neglected."<ref>Alaska governor balances newborn's needs, official duties [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-10-4082128881_x.htm]</ref>

Palin's older son Track, serves in the U.S. Army, and may be deployed to [[Iraq War|Iraq]] this autumn. Palin says, "I'm proud of him but I worry."<ref name="people">[[People Magazine]]</ref>

In September of 2008, Palin announced that her unmarried 17 year old daughter Bristol was five months pregnant. Palin stated "We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents."<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080901/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_daughter Palin says 17-year-old daughter is pregnant]</ref>

==Political Career==
Palin was elected to two terms on the Wasilla City Council, and then two terms as the Mayor / Manager of Alaska's fastest growing community (Population: 5400 in 2000)<ref>[http://wasilla.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm Wasilla Population and Demographics]</ref>. During her time as mayor, Palin hired a Washington lobbying firm to help secure $8 million in congressionally directed spending projects, otherwise known as earmarks.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-31-palin-bridge_N.htm Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006]</ref> Ms. Palin's leadership qualities were recognized when she was elected as President of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. In 2002, she ran for Lieutenant Governor, but came in second in a four-way race. Later that year, when [[Frank Murkowski]] resigned his [[Senate]] seat to become [[governor]], she interviewed for the opening. Instead, Murkowski appointed his daughter to the seat. From there, she went on to run for governor and won, becoming the first female governor of Alaska and its youngest.

In 2003, then-Governor Mukowski appointed Palin to serve as Panel Ethics Commisioner of Alaska's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's [[non-renewable energy|non-renewable]] resources: [[oil]] and [[gasoline|gas]]. She resigned in 2004 as a protest over the "lack of ethics" of fellow panelists who had ignored her complaints of legal violations and conflicts of interest.

She ran for Governor in 2006 on a clean government platform, and accomplished a political rarity in defeating the incumbent Governor [[Frank Murkowski]] in his own Republican primary. Palin went on to defeat former Governor [[Tony Knowles]] in the general election.

She has also served on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. She was named one of Alaska's "Top 40 Under 40", Alaska's Public Works "Person of the Year", and was recently inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society at Alaska Pacific University.

Palin has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the State, and stays active as a marathon runner, sports team mom, hockey manager and school volunteer. A lifetime member of the [[NRA]], she enjoys hunting, fishing, and Alaska history. <ref>http://gov.state.ak.us/bio.php Alaska Governor Sarah Palin</ref>

In 2007, Palin's 18-year old son, Track, enlisted in the [[Army]]. <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6920410,00.html</ref>

<blockquote>
''I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman. I am opposed to any expansion of gambling in Alaska.'' <ref> Source: Campaign website, www.palinforgovernor.com, "Issues" Nov 7, 2006 </ref>
</blockquote>

==Record as Governor==
===Energy and Oil===

A strong supporter of [[oil]] and natural [[gas]] resources, Palin presented the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) in March 2007, which would be the the new legal vehicle for building a natural gas pipeline from the state's North Slope.<ref>http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/29/palin-alaska-gasline-inducement-act-nears-completi/</ref> It received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Palin in June. In August of 2008 she signed legislation giving state authority to award TransCanada Corp a license to build and operate a multibillion-dollar pipeline to ship natural gas from the North Slope.<ref>http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=2e84b1e8-9a4a-4558-ad05-21b517c50fae</ref> As Governor, Palin created a new subcabinet that will develop policies to reduce greenhouse gases and help the state adapt to [[climate change]]. She supports oil production in ANWR, connecting it with national security.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GE11URmmnc</ref>

===State Economy===
At first, Palin seemed to support the Gravina Island Bridge Project, otherwise known as the "Bridge to Nowhere". In September 2006, during a stop in Ketchikan as part of her gubernatorial campaign, Palin stated, "OK, you've got Valley trash standing here in the middle of nowhere," Palin said, according to an account in the Ketchikan Daily News. "I think we're going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project."<ref>[http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/511471.html Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere']</ref> The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan, on one island in southeastern Alaska, to its airport on another nearby island. The Anchorage Daily News also quoted her in a October, 2006 article as saying yes, she would continue state funding for the bridge because she wanted swift action on infrastructure projects. "The window is now while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist," she said.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_bridge_to_nowhere;_ylt=Am.NkRx1mLWk9A34FLhn8IADW7oF Critics: Palin used 'Bridge to Nowhere' for gain]</ref> Palin announced her opposition to the project in a 2007 press release. She has stated her opposition arose because of the excessive amount of pork-barrel spending in the project, and that she would not fund the the $329 million that was short for the budget.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/alaska.bridge.ap/</ref> She instead said that the best option would be to upgrade the ferry system.

===Foreign Policy===
Palin is Commander in Chief of the Alaska Army [[National Guard]]. In 2007 she visited troops in [[Germany]] and [[Kuwait]].

===Legislature Investigation===
In August of 2008, the [[Alaska]] state legislature began an investigation of Palin and her staff for potential abuse of power in regards to a firing of Commissioner of Public Safety Walter Monegan. Monegan was dismissed from his position in July of 2008. He alleged that Palin fired him because he refused to fire Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten, who had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin's sister. Palin denies the charges.

===Polar Bears===
The state of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of [[polar bears]] as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin announced May 21, 2008. She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts. Palin argued that there is not enough evidence to support a listing. Polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation, she said.

==Vice Presidential Candidate==
On August 29, 2008, Palin was announced to be the Vice Presidential nominee for Republican Senator John McCain <ref>http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/sarah_palin_vp/2008/08/29/126138.html</ref>. The selection was a surprise, as those in the media were expecting [[Minnesota]] Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] or former [[Massachusetts]]'s Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Palin adds youth and executive experience to the ticket. She is the second female Vice Presidential candidate of a major party in U.S. history and the first one on a Republican ticket. The first was [[Geraldine Ferraro]], who the Democratic Party put on the ticket under [[Walter Mondale]] in 1984.

==Beliefs==
Palin filled out a policy questionnaire for the Eagle Forum Alaska during her 2006 gubernatorial race. One question asked, "Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?" Palin responded, "Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support." Yet [[public schools]] still resist teaching abstinence and instead promote sexual behavior by teenagers.

Another question asked, "Are you offended by the phrase 'Under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?" Palin replied, "Not on your life. '''If it was good enough for the founding fathers''', it's good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance." Liberals ignore that Palin was obviously talking about how the [[Founding Fathers]] recognized and acknowledged God, and unfairly attempt to embarrass her by noting that the Pledge of Allegiance wasn't written until 1892, and the phrase "under God" wasn't added until April 1951.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
[[Image:Sarah Palin 2.jpg|right]]
*[http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ State of Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin Official Website]
*[http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=864bb9006da3f010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governor's Association - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin]
*[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=27200 Project Vote Smart - Governor Sarah H. Palin]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm Sarah Palin On the issues]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palin, Sarah}}

[[Category:Alaska Governors]]
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:United States Mayors]]
[[Category:Women]]

Ozone

2008-05-29T05:30:27Z

Enginerd:

'''Ozone''' is a chemical [[compound]] consisting of three [[oxygen]] atoms. It is represented by the symbol O3.

It is unstable at standard temperatures and pressures, and a powerful [[oxidizer]]. At the earth's surface it occurs naturally as a result of electrical discharges, most prominently in the form of [[lightning]]. The majority of tropospheric ozone is created when [[volatile organic compounds]] (VOCs) and the products of combusted [[fossil fuel]] such as [[nitrogen oxide]] react in the presence of strong sunlight.

In the stratosphere it serves a very important function, by acting to filter out most of the [[sun]]'s ultraviolet radiation.

Scientists have measured an annual cyclical thinning in the layer of ozone over the north and south poles. When the thickness of the layer is exceptionally depleted, it is called an "ozone hole".<ref>http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/facts/hole.html</ref>

Much of this is a result of the breakdown of [[chlorofluorocarbons]] and the release of elemental [[chlorine]], which acts as a [[catalyst]] to break down the O3 molecules.<ref>Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) themselves are not involved in the catalytic process; upon reaching the stratosphere, they are subject to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation that decompose the CFC and release atomic chlorine. [http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/TG/OZ/ozndplt.html Catalytic destruction of ozone] </ref>

<center>[[Image:Ozonemech.gif]]</center>

(Above) The mechanism by which ozone is broken down in the stratosphere by chlorine atoms. Note that the propagation steps repeat thousands of times, such that one molecule of a CFC can destroy thousands of molecules of O3

*In April 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that ozone levels in the Northern Hemisphere had decreased by as much as 5 percent over the United States in the past 10 years.
*A minority opinion holds that ozone depletion has little to do with CFCs and that the ozone hole may be more natural than man-made. S. Fred Singer, an environmental scientist at the University of Virginia, has argued that a rise in methane or changes in the sun's cycle may affect ozone. He also believes the lack of historical data about ozone depletion makes it difficult to determine if similar changes occurred centuries before hairspray cans were invented. [http://www.coaleducation.org/issues/DEPLET.HTM]

==Dangers and benefits==

According to the [[EPA]], "Ozone is a bluish gas that is harmful to breathe. Nearly 90% of the Earth's ozone is in the stratosphere and is referred to as the ozone layer. Ozone absorbs a band of ultraviolet radiation called UVB that is particularly harmful to living organisms. The ozone layer prevents most UVB from reaching the ground."<ref>http://www.epa.gov/ozone/defns.html</ref>

Ozone in the lower atmosphere is a known cause of respiratory problems and currently causes up to 4,700 deaths per year. [http://www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php?extend.7]

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Chemical Compounds]]

Ozone

2008-05-27T05:39:12Z

Enginerd:

'''Ozone''' is a chemical [[compound]] consisting of three [[oxygen]] atoms. It is represented by the symbol O3.

It is unstable at standard temperatures and pressures, and a powerful [[oxidizer]]. At the earth's surface it occurs naturally as a result of electrical discharges, most prominently in the form of [[lightning]]. The majority of tropospheric ozone is created when the products of combusted [[fossil fuel]] such as [[nitrogen oxide]] and [[carbon monoxide]] react with sunlight.

In the stratosphere it serves a very important function, by acting to filter out most of the [[sun]]'s ultraviolet radiation.

Scientists have measured an annual cyclical thinning in the layer of ozone over the north and south poles. When the thickness of the layer is exceptionally depleted, it is called an "ozone hole".<ref>http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/facts/hole.html</ref>

Much of this is a result of the breakdown of [[chlorofluorocarbons]] and the release of elemental [[chlorine]], which acts as a [[catalyst]] to break down the O3 molecules.<ref>Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) themselves are not involved in the catalytic process; upon reaching the stratosphere, they are subject to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation that decompose the CFC and release atomic chlorine. [http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/TG/OZ/ozndplt.html Catalytic destruction of ozone] </ref>

<center>[[Image:Ozonemech.gif]]</center>

(Above) The mechanism by which ozone is broken down in the stratosphere by chlorine atoms. Note that the propagation steps repeat thousands of times, such that one molecule of a CFC can destroy thousands of molecules of O3

*In April 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that ozone levels in the Northern Hemisphere had decreased by as much as 5 percent over the United States in the past 10 years.
*A minority opinion holds that ozone depletion has little to do with CFCs and that the ozone hole may be more natural than man-made. S. Fred Singer, an environmental scientist at the University of Virginia, has argued that a rise in methane or changes in the sun's cycle may affect ozone. He also believes the lack of historical data about ozone depletion makes it difficult to determine if similar changes occurred centuries before hairspray cans were invented. [http://www.coaleducation.org/issues/DEPLET.HTM]

==Dangers and benefits==

According to the [[EPA]], "Ozone is a bluish gas that is harmful to breathe. Nearly 90% of the Earth's ozone is in the stratosphere and is referred to as the ozone layer. Ozone absorbs a band of ultraviolet radiation called UVB that is particularly harmful to living organisms. The ozone layer prevents most UVB from reaching the ground."<ref>http://www.epa.gov/ozone/defns.html</ref>

Ozone in the lower atmosphere is a known cause of respiratory problems and currently causes up to 4,700 deaths per year. [http://www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php?extend.7]

==References==
<references/>

[[category:Chemical Compounds]]