Arctic Schemes

-- by Horatio Algeranon

As ice recedes

From arctic seas,

We aim to appease

Our oil needs.

From The Guardian, UK:

"Despite giving lip service to the values of environmental conservation, the new [National Strategy for the Arctic Region] document focuses on how the US can manage the exploitation of the region's vast untapped oil, gas and mineral resources in cooperation with other Arctic powers." 

Climate Bailouts

-- by Horatio Algeranon

The Climate is sailing

For Tempest seas,

The Captain is bailing

As storms increase.

"We are on the verge of creating climate chaos if we don’t begin to reduce emissions rapidly. That is not science fiction. It is scientifically crystal clear. The relevant scientific community knows this very well. It is surprising we don’t have stronger statement from scientists. Someone should be going in and pounding on the president’s desk saying, ‘We have got to have policy changes’. " -- Climate Scientist James Hansen (Interview, EurActiv.com)

Just say "No"

-- by Horatio Algeranon

We have it in our power

To change the status quo

Say "We won't allow 'er"

All it takes is "No"

Someone's gotta do it

– by Horatio Algeranon

Dig the carbon up

To bury it anew

This is just a job

Someone's gotta do

As physicist Lawrence Krauss points out, "Cutting Carbon Dioxide Isn’t Enough We have to invest in technology to remove the CO2 already in the atmosphere", which got there by burning carbon taken from the ground (oil, coal, gas,etc), of course.

And then we have to do something with the "captured' carbon. One proposal (unproven at this point) is "sequestering" the carbon (back) in the ground -- ie, re-burying it.

As they say, truth is absurder than fiction. 

For more on the subject, read "Carbon Captured.

Carbon Captured

-- by Horatio Algeranon

Carbon capture will save us all

From human greed and folly.

Then we'll really have a ball

With no holds barred, by golly.

Student Loan Sharks

-- by Horatio Algeranon

As Uncle Sam reaps billions,

From students drowned in debt,

The banksters get their trillions

At rates the lowest yet.

US Gov't Reaps Billions in Profits Off Backs of Struggling Students (Click)

The (mis)Mea$ure of $cience

-- by Horatio Algeranon

High tech's great

But science is trash,

Unless the fate

Of science is ca$h.

"Scientific discovery is not valuable unless it has commercial value” -- John MacDougal, President of the National Research Council— Canada's scientific R&D agency.

H/T Planet 3.0 (Canada to Abandon Pure Science Altogether?)