Re: [ECOLOG-L] Bullfighting, machismo and sexual selection
To my knowledge, yes: when the bull is considered extremely good by the public, the bull is forgiven and so on -like Ferdinand. They just stay alive as stallions expected to have offspring as good for bullfighting as them. This, however occurs very rarely. To my opinion this is just exactly what the ancient romans did with extremely good gladitors. I hate it: it is like we the humans have the power to decide which bull is good enough to be forbidden. Moreover, the public also decides how good a bullfighter is: the not-so-good ones get one ear; two ears for better ones and two ears and the tail for better ones and so on... Anyway, I hope this will be forbidden in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, etc... Hopefully soon! Best, Edgardo ¿De qué te vale tener si no sabes qué hacer con lo que tienes? Rubén Blades Willie Colón Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:20:18 -0500 From: malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Bullfighting, machismo and sexual selection To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Is it true that if the bull fights nobely that the crowd will cheer and the bull gets rewarded by a life in the pasture??? I have always heard this, but wonder if it is in fact true. Just because its written in a children's book (Ferdinand) doesn't exactly mean it holds a lot of water! :) Thanks for the feedback! On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 4:01 AM, edgardo garrido edgard...@hotmail.comwrote: As sports, bullfigting, hunting and other ways of killing species other than humans have been machismo demonstrations in the Mediterranean. It has been common not only in Spain but also in Southern France. Ancient romans were the ones giving this sense of sport to killing animals in front of everybody (remember the Coliseum). Moreover, since different wild animal species were used, some archaeologists consider it as a major reason for the extinction of many of such animals in Europe. The deepest origins of Bullfigting, however, are completely different: it appeared long before the Roman empire, in Crete, where beautiful women were dancing and jumping while the bulls were trying to kill them. It was a kind of humanfigthing made by the bull wich was considered connected to a kind of god: the Minotaurus. Romans were the ones converting such games with animals into sports killing the latter. I am panamanian and the main sport demonstrating machismo there is not Bullfighting but Boxing. Men knocking each other seems more human than bullfighting and the ancient greeks even had it as an olimpic discipline. No gloves, only the hands, and figthing until the moment when one says okey, you won, I will stay laying on the floor. Cruel, but at least both participants belong to the same species and do it more volunterly while nobody asks a bull if he wants to fight. Again, romans were the ones converting it into a bloody sport and even gave weapons to the participants: gladiators. What a bloody way of being macho! My point is the following: bullfigthing belongs to a (rich) cultural heritage of the Mediterranean world. If people there like to play with animals, they should be encouraged to do it according to the non-bloody origins of the ritual. Perhaps banning to kill bulls in Spain is an opportunity to bullfighters to win their money by jumping upon the bulls as it was made in Crete. Many women enjoy to see the bullfighters because they find them sexy: their glamorouse clothes are tightly attached to their bodies. Well, such women would have more fun if these men start the ritual with such clothes and then take-off the clothes. Just for starting, they can take-off the shirt like saying look at me, bull: I have no fear on you!, then put oil on their (semi)naked bodies and demonstrate gymnastic capabilities. Non-killing the bull would attract to the show many women who hate to see cruelty and blood on the arena. As biologists we know that such women can become healthyly excited so smart men can join them to see the show in order to share a nice session of peace and love after watching the bullfighters. Men non doing it will potentially have competitive disadvantage in sexual selection... From a capitalists point of view, banning the roman version of bullfigthing and replacing it for a more Crete version is not a risk for the buiseness of bullfighting: it is an opportunity to make it more profitable. I have no coin. If you know any buisness man taking the idea, please tell him to pay me for it. Edgardo I. Garrido-Pérez Landscape Ecology department Goettingen University, Germany ¿De qué te vale tener si no sabes qué hacer con lo que tienes? Rubén Blades Willie Colón Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:29:33 -1000 From: ddu...@hawaii.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Bullfighting To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
[ECOLOG-L] Tenure Track Climate Science Position
TENURE-TRACK POSITION IN CLIMATE SCIENCE AT THE JOINT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF CLAREMONT McKENNA, PITZER, AND SCRIPPS COLLEGES The Joint Science Department, which houses the biology, chemistry, and physics faculty for Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges (three of the five undergraduate Claremont Colleges), seeks a climate scientist who is committed to excellence in teaching and who will develop a vibrant research program that fully engages undergraduate students. The appointment will be made at the Assistant Professor level to begin July 2012. All areas of climate science will be considered, ranging from the most biological to the most physical. The new hire will be an integral participant in the Mellon Foundation-funded Claremont Colleges Intercollegiate Environmental Analysis Program, which also includes faculty from Harvey Mudd and Pomona Colleges. Many Joint Science faculty actively participate in collaborative research projects with research groups at nearby colleges and universities, and such collaborations are welcomed for this position. The teaching opportunities will include introductory courses in a core discipline (biology, chemistry, or physics) and in environmental science, as well as both upper-division electives and courses for non-science majors in climate science. A Ph.D. and a record of scholarly publication are required. Postdoctoral experience is preferred. Please apply online at https://webapps.cmc.edu/jobs/faculty/home.php. Upload a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a description of your proposed research, a statement of your proposed approach to teaching science in a liberal arts setting, and the names and e-mail addresses of three references. Inquiries regarding the position may be e-mailed to Professor Donald McFarlane at dmcfarl...@jsd.claremont.edu. Additional information about the department may be found at www.jsd.claremont.edu. Review of applications will begin October 29, 2010, and the position will remain open until filled. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, The Claremont Colleges actively encourage applications from women and members of historically under-represented social groups in higher education. The Claremont Colleges are an equal opportunity employer.
[ECOLOG-L] NSF IRES program in Chile
NSF IRES Program in Chile I am seeking highly motivated students to participate in a NSF funded research program in Chile. The program supports two undergraduate students between June-August and three graduate students between June-October. Students will conduct independent projects and contribute to ongoing projects on Octodon degus social systems or Spalacopus cyanus communication systems. The likely research themes for for 2011 include the following (please note: related project ideas will be considered): (1) Neuroanatomical and ecological sources of mating system variation in degus (Octodon degus) (2) Reproductive fitness consequences of social group living in degus (3) Influence of ecological and social conditions on coruru (Spalacopus cyanus) alarm calls The program requires that all participants submit grant proposals to societies such as Sigma Xi and American Society of Mammalogists. Due dates for these programs are in February and March 2011. I anticipate holding a grant writing workshop at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in January or February 2011. Qualifications (required) -Enrollment in an undegraduate or graduate (M.S. or PhD) program in Biology or a related discipline -Previous research experience -Knowledge of the relevant literature (mammalian social systems, alarm calling) -Strong writing skills -Strong analytical skills -Minimum 3.0 GPA in major field of study -A desire to conduct publishable research -Good physical condition - we work long hours in the field -Positive attitude and interest in learning about other cultures -Willingness to spend 3-6 months abroad -U.S. citizen Preference will be given to students with the following: -A publication record -Presentations at national or regional meetings -Knowledge or experience in acoustics (1 position) or behavioral neuroscience (1 position) -Experience with radio-telemetry (1 position) -Spanish language skills -Previous international experience Most travel costs (flight, monthly rent, entry fee for U.S. citizens) are covered by the grant (total depends on value of USD vs. the Chilean peso). Additionally, students will receive per diem. If you are interested in these projects or have projects ideas related to my research program, please email me (lha...@ulm.edu) a SINGLE pdf including the following documents by 25 October 2010: -1 page cover letter stating your interest, career plans, and strengths -a short (250-500 words) proposal of the research that you would like to conduct in Chile -Curriculum vitae detailing your research experience (and skills), publications, presentations at university or national meeting and relevant coursework -Names and contact information of two faculty members familiar with your work -Graduate students: please include a statement in your cover letter indicating that your major advisor approves of your participation in the program Please include the following title in the email heading and pdf: ChileIRES,Lastname,Firstname. I hope to contact references in November and make final decisions by mid December. For detailed information about the source of funding (NSF IRES), please visit: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12831 To see the blog sites of my current IRES students, please visit: http://thechileanexpedition2010.blogspot.com/ For information about my lab, please visit my new website (it will be launched in early-mid September): https://sites.google.com/site/hayeslabofbehavioralecology/. Prospective students can visit my current website (http://www.ulm.edu/~lhayes/) for basic information until September.
[ECOLOG-L] Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Social and Ecological Resilience of the Southern Idaho Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem
Sagebrush Team PhD Assistantship Announcements Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Social and Ecological Resilience of the Southern Idaho Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem Up to five Ph.D. research assistantships are available to join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team focusing on the social and ecological resilience of the sagebrush steppe ecosystem of the Columbia Plateau and northern Great Basin in southern Idaho. This region is a mosaic of public lands, private ranches, agricultural parcels, and areas experiencing rapid urban and recreational development. The social and ecological components, structures and processes within this ecosystem are rapidly changing as a result of population growth, economic opportunities, policy changes, land conversion, climate change, invasive species and shifts in disturbance regimes. To capture the range of variation in the system and determine thresholds for resilience, the student and faculty team will evaluate the characteristics and impacts of these drivers in study areas across a climate gradient that include minimally altered to highly impacted rangelands. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (IGERT), the students will pursue interlinked dissertation projects important for the overall theme, and work together to identify and address interdisciplinary issues critical for development of effective planning and policy for future resilience of this threatened system. The team will interact with members of five other IGERT-sponsored student/faculty teams pursuing similar objectives in other ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest and Costa Rica. This opportunity is especially appropriate for students seeking to develop skills for interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based research that addresses complex problems involving interacting human and natural systems. PhD Assistantship in Plant Ecology We seek a highly motivated PhD student to participate in a project focusing on plant community responses to environmental changes in sagebrush ecosystems, which include fire, climate, invasive species, and land conversion. The student will identify plant community factors and/or processes affecting ecosystem resiliency in response to changing disturbance regimes. Topics may include plant community composition, habitat types, and species interactions that identify a gradient of resiliency. Species interactions beyond plant-plant interactions may further affect resiliency and include plant-insect, animal and microbial interactions. Many opportunities exist to integrate these research topics with other sagebrush steppe team members focused on biogeochemical cycling, ecohydrology, wildlife ecology, and rural social systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Contact Beth Newingham (b...@uidaho.edu), Lee Vierling (l...@uidaho.edu) and Dave Tank (dt...@uidaho.edu) for more information. PhD Assistantship in Ecohydrology We seek a highly motivated PhD student to participate in a project focusing on the interactions between ecological and hydrological patterns and processes in sagebrush ecosystems undergoing changing disturbance regimes and anthropogenic influences, including climate change, invasive species, and land conversion. Resiliency to these drivers of change can be assessed by examining changes in water status and flux in the soil and plant environment, which may be mediated by soil-plant-microbial interactions. The sagebrush steppe team seeks a student interested in topics such as 1) effects of changing climate regimes (snow to rain-dominated) and/or 2) the effects of plant community structure changes on water dynamics and feedbacks on vegetation. These spatiotemporal dynamics include changes in snow redistribution, interception, evaporation, transpiration, sublimation, and soil water content and fluxes. Many opportunities exist to integrate these research topics with other sagebrush steppe team members focused on biogeochemical cycling, plant ecology, wildlife ecology, and rural social systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Contact Beth Newingham (b...@uidaho.edu), Tim Link (tl...@uidaho.edu), and Lee Vierling (l...@uidaho.edu) for more information. PhD Assistantship in Biogeochemical Cycling We seek a highly motivated PhD student to participate in a project focusing on biogeochemical responses to changes in the structure and function of sagebrush ecosystems, resulting from urban sprawl, climate change, invasive species and shifts in disturbance regimes. Quantifying changes in biogeochemical cycling is fundamental to understanding the resilience of sagebrush ecosystems as they respond to these drivers of change across spatial and temporal scales. We seek a student with keen interest in studying biogeochemical pools and fluxes of C, N and/or other nutrients in the context of developing indices for quantifying ecosystem
[ECOLOG-L] Field assistants wanted - Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile
I am looking for field assistants from November 3 – December 2, 2010 to help with a research project on the interaction of invasive species. The research takes place on Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. Our main task is identifying plants inside and outside of rabbit exclosures. Food and lodging are included while on the island. Speaking Spanish is preferred but not required. I will begin reviewing applications on September 15, so please email them to me at lne...@stanford.edu by September 14. For more information and an application, visit http:// www.stanford.edu/~lnelis/AsstAppChile2010.html. Thanks for your interest, Lis Lisa Castillo Nelis NSF Postdoctoral Fellow Stanford University Gordon Laboratory Department of Biology Gilbert Building, Room 109 371 Serra Mall Stanford, CA 94305-5020 Phone: 650-725-6791 Email: lne...@stanford.edu Home page: http://www.stanford.edu/~lnelis/
[ECOLOG-L] Wildlife Marking Paint
Hello Everyone: I need to mark rodents with marking paint. Any suggestions? A URL where I could by it would also be helpful. Thanks in advance!! -Karen *** Karen F. Gaines, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair Eastern Illinois University Department of Biological Sciences 600 Lincoln Ave. Charleston IL, 61920-3099 (o) 217.581.6235; (f) 217.581.7141 e-mail: kfgai...@eiu.edu Web: http://www.eiu.edu/~biology *
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wildlife Marking Paint
If this is lab and you are just marking hair, not skin directly - I've used both china black ink (pretty classic marker) and sharpies (shorter term, but with remarking as needed, lasts quite a while, and gives you a great color range). Other standard protocols include notching ears for eared rodents (let them recover from the stress before doing any tests on them), and marking nails with the marking materials (codes by which nail[s] is [are] marked). On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 10:07 AM, Karen Gaines kfgai...@eiu.edu wrote: Hello Everyone: I need to mark rodents with marking paint. Any suggestions? A URL where I could by it would also be helpful. Thanks in advance!! -Karen *** Karen F. Gaines, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair Eastern Illinois University Department of Biological Sciences 600 Lincoln Ave. Charleston IL, 61920-3099 (o) 217.581.6235; (f) 217.581.7141 e-mail: kfgai...@eiu.edu Web: http://www.eiu.edu/~biology http://www.eiu.edu/%7Ebiology * -- Diane Henshel Indiana University 1315 E 10th #340 Bloomington, IN 47405 812 855-4556 P 812 855-7802 F dhens...@indiana.edu
[ECOLOG-L] Two Strategic Faculty Positions in Aquatic Science
Two Strategic Faculty Positions in Aquatic Science Baylor University, Waco, Texas USA Announcement: The Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR) and the Departments of Biology and Environmental Science are pleased to accept applications for two strategic tenure-track, Assistant Professor faculty positions in the areas of aquatic microbial ecology and aquatic stress. Candidates must have an earned Ph.D. or equivalent degree and have a strong track record in research and scholarship. The successful candidates will have his/her tenure line in the Department of Biology (aquatic microbial ecology) or Environmental Science (aquatic stress) but will also be expected to contribute strongly to the interdisciplinary research within CRASR. A strong record of publishing and the potential or record for securing external funds is essential. Competitive startup packages and state-of-the-science facilities are available in the Baylor University Sciences Building: http://www.baylor.edu/bsb. Additional information regarding the Department of Biology, the Department of Environmental Science, CRASR and our current research areas is available at http://www.baylor.edu/biology, http://www.baylor.edu/environmentalscience and http://www.baylor.edu/CRASR. For the aquatic stress position, an interdisciplinary research focus on consequences of environmental contaminants on ecological and/or human health, or application of modeling to aquatic assessment and management is strongly preferred. Candidates with expertise in gene-environment interactions/epigenetics, environmental toxicology/health, biological interfaces with green chemistry, influences of climatological change on environmental quality, Bayesian modeling, or water reuse are particularly encouraged to apply. For the aquatic microbial ecology position, an interdisciplinary research focus on the ecology of microorganisms and their relationship to the environment and/or human health is strongly preferred. Faculty Responsibilities: The successful candidate will develop a vibrant, independent and externally-funded research program with a record of refereed publications in high quality journals. The applicant will be expected to participate in mentoring and supporting graduate students. Baylor offers the Master’s in Environmental Sciences, Ph.D. and Master’s in Biology as well as interdisciplinary Ph.D. degrees through The Institute of Ecological, Earth and Environmental Sciences programs (TIE3S) and the Institute of Biomedical Studies (BMS). Teaching is expected in areas of expertise at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Rank and Salary: Tenure-track Assistant Professor. Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Submission Deadline: Applications will be reviewed beginning November 15, 2010 and will be accepted until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, completed applications must be submitted by November 15, 2010. Application Procedure: Detailed application information is available online at http://www.baylor.edu/hr_services/index.php?id=1342.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wildlife Marking Paint
go to a livestock company and you should be able to get markers used on cattle. http://www.livestockmarkers.com/ http://www.livestockmarkers.com/However, this is going to be a temporary mark. If that is all you need, why not just buy a mens beard trimmer at wal mart and fur clip them. That, or you can notch the ears. On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 9:07 AM, Karen Gaines kfgai...@eiu.edu wrote: Hello Everyone: I need to mark rodents with marking paint. Any suggestions? A URL where I could by it would also be helpful. Thanks in advance!! -Karen *** Karen F. Gaines, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair Eastern Illinois University Department of Biological Sciences 600 Lincoln Ave. Charleston IL, 61920-3099 (o) 217.581.6235; (f) 217.581.7141 e-mail: kfgai...@eiu.edu Web: http://www.eiu.edu/~biology * -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive - Allan Nation 1880's: There's lots of good fish in the sea W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. positions in Germany
These are Ph.D. positions (NOT postdocs as stated earlier, sorry) GERMNAY Ph.D. positions in Evolution and Ecology (please apply to the contacts mentioned below only) Five Ph.D. positions are available at the University of Tübingen within a multidisciplinary graduate school coordinated by the interdepartmental Evolution and Ecology Forum Tübingen (http://www.eve.uni-tuebingen.de/). The positions are available for an initial period of two years, starting between October 1st, 2010 and March 1st, 2011. A third year will be granted after an evaluation of the progress made in the first two years. The programme is entitled 'Morphological variability of organisms under environmental stress' and bridges between disciplines and across spatial and temporal scales. The overarching question deals with the evolution and ecological consequences of morphological variability under environmental stress, with special emphasis on the symmetry of organisms. The project includes also a coordinated teaching programme. The focus of the five subprojects is as follows: 1) Morphological variability and symmetry of foraminiferal shells in response to rapid environmental change Contact: Prof. Dr. Michal KuÄera; Micropaleontology; Dept. of Geosciences michal.kuc...@uni-tuebingen.de 2) Systematic deviation from bilateral symmetry in modern and fossil clypeasteroid sea urchins Contact: Prof. Dr. James Nebelsick; Invertebrate Paleontology Paleoclimatology; Dept.of Geosciences, nebels...@uni-tuebingen.de 3) Morphological variability and symmetry in plants in response to subtle and steep environmental gradients Contact: Prof. Dr. Katja Tielbörger; Plant Ecology; Dept. of Biology katja.tielboer...@uni-tuebingen.de 4) The role of stress proteins in determining morphological variability in snails under temperature stress Contact: Prof. Dr. Heinz-R. Köhler; Animal Ecophysiology; Dept. of Biology heinz-r.koeh...@uni-tuebingen.de 5) Molecular analysis of factors determining fluctuating asymmetry in flowers Contact: Prof. Dr. Klaus Harter; Plant Physiology; Dept. of Biology klaus.har...@zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de Questions regarding the specific subprojects should be addressed to the respective contact person. Candidates should hold a Diploma or M.Sc. Degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Biology, Gecosciences). Candidates should send the following documents via Email to the respective contact person for each project (see above) by September 15, 2010 (project 2 only) and October 15, 2010 (other projects): 1) Statement of interest; 2) Curriculum Vitae; 3) Name address (email) of two references.
[ECOLOG-L] Research Statistician Position
Applications are being accepted through 20 September 2010 for a Research Statistician position in the Biometrics Research Program at the USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska. The incumbent will be primarily responsible for collaborating on the development and application of statistical methods for modeling spatial and temporal dynamics of wildlife populations, with results to be published in peer-reviewed journals. The initial assignment will focus on integrating models of walrus bioenergetics and population dynamics in a Bayesian hierarchical framework. There will be opportunities for additional research on applications of statistical methods within the context of the broad biological research programs of the Alaska Science Center relating to wildlife in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems of Alaska and neighboring countries. This is a permanent position (subject to a one-year probation period for new federal employees) to be filled at the GS-12 or 13 level ($75,112 ? $116,112/year, including Cost of Living Allowance/Locality Pay), with promotion potential to the GS-15 level. For further information or to apply, search for Announcement Number WR-2010-0465 at http://www.usajobs.gov/. Please forward, as appropriate. Thanks, Mark ___ Mark S. Udevitz, Ph.D. USGS Alaska Science Center 4210 University Drive Anchorage, AK 99508 907-786-7083 (voice) 907-786-7150 (fax) mudev...@usgs.gov http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/biometrics ___
[ECOLOG-L] Good Read in The Daly News
You might enjoy Brian Czech's essay in The Daly News about protecting polar regions (I know I did): http://steadystate.org/epitaph-for-the-poles/ Thanks, Rob Dietz Executive Director CASSE steadystate.org
[ECOLOG-L] CLIMATE Global Warming Epitaph for the Poles Re: [ECOLOG-L] Good Read in The Daly News
Rob, Brian, and Ecolog: While I suspect that Brian is 99% right, I remain concerned about a fractional percentage that might affect the actual outcome. For example, I would like to see links to the evidence chain that backs up general statements. This adds a bit of work to the writing, but for such an important subject, do you think it would be worthwhile, especially for book introductions and other short pieces? In the alternative, how about explaining how general conclusions were reached? For example, I stumble every time I see the term alternative fuels. I have to conclude that the author includes everything from wind power to algae, including switchgrass. I have high hopes for the former two, but strongly distrust the latter and the scale slides into absurdity for things like corn and other alternatives that require a lot of energy inputs, require monocultures on more and more ecosystems, etc. Buzzwords can saw a solid argument in half, if only through guilt by semantic association. If one wants to achieve broad credibility across disciplines, trades, and stakeholders like voters, mere authoritative finger-wagging might fall short, however valid it might be. But if there are interests arrayed against it, you can bet that any slip-up will feed their propaganda mill. Then there's the foundation for the position. Regardless of whether a critical fraction of global warming is caused by anthropogenic activity or not (and nobody should be able to argue that it has NO effect), reducing energy waste is a very smart thing to do for a lot of other reasons, many of which are old ones, but perhaps more easily demonstrated. The precautionary principle alone should be sufficient to indicate that we should clean up our act--even without arguing the more arcane issues that rest on calculations subject to question and even suspicion. Nonetheless, every oar in the water on the side of betterment rather than mindless exploitation and niche opportunism, regardless of its counter-effect fraction, at least foments discussion and even some action. But shifting that balance in the right direction by accounting for counter-pressure in advance might be worth considering. At the rates involved, one can't afford to be caught picking cherries whilst the world burns.* WT *One confidence-builder might be the up-front acknowledgement that there is a background rate of climate change, the trend of which might be toward warming (in which case the point should be made that it is not the percentage or amount of anthropogenic causes that is at issue, but that a silly millimeter can be enough to upset the apple-cart), or the background trend might be toward cooling (in which case, the anthropogenic fraction would have to be large enough--and may well be--to offset the cooling to the point of net global warming, polar melting, sea-level rise, loss of species, etc.). The avoidance of these issues could feed into both or either healthy or tragically misapplied skepticism, even to the point of a loss of public confidence--again perhaps only to the tipping point. - Original Message - From: Rob Dietz rob_di...@steadystate.org To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 11:37 AM Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Good Read in The Daly News You might enjoy Brian Czech's essay in The Daly News about protecting polar regions (I know I did): http://steadystate.org/epitaph-for-the-poles/ Thanks, Rob Dietz Executive Director CASSE steadystate.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3089 - Release Date: 08/23/10 06:35:00
