Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Climate rallies join national push
By NOEL K. GALLAGHER, Staff Writer Maine Sunday Telegram Sunday, April 15, 2007

Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Makail Tipton sits on George Cabot's shoulders at a rally Saturday in Monument Square.
Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Staff photo by Gregory Rec
More than 200 people marched through the Old Port on Saturday to illustrate where Portland's "new coastline" would be if global warming led to a rise in ocean levels. It was one of more than 35 events in Maine and 1,300 events held nationwide.
"We are calling on Congress to enact regulations that will cut carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2050," said Christian McNeil, a Portland resident who rallied the crowd at the beginning of the noontime march and rally. "That's not impossible. That's the amount it was in 1950."
Even a relatively modest increase of 2 feet -- generally accepted as likely, given the current global warming data -- would leave Commercial Street underwater. At the more aggressive assumption of a 20-foot rise in seas -- chiefly a result of the Greenland ice cap melting -- much of Fore Street would be underwater and the inland Interstate 295 area would be swamped from Forest Avenue to the entrance of Back Cove, and as high as Somerset Street.
A United Nations report on climate change released earlier this month said ocean levels are projected to rise 4.3 feet by 2080. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report was written and reviewed by 441 scientists.
The nationwide rallies urging Congressional action on climate change were organized by "Step It Up 2007," spearheaded by a group of students at Vermont's Middlebury College, who used blogs, e-mail messages and word of mouth to spread the word.
In Augusta, Gov. John Baldacci addressed a gathering near the State House.
"The most important things that we have a responsibility to do in government are to prepare our children for a bright future and to preserve and protect our natural resources," Baldacci said. "Global warming is real. There is overwhelming scientific agreement that we are endangering the environment that sustains us."
The first Maine rally occurred at 4 a.m., atop Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbor, where five students and a staff member left the College of the Atlantic and hiked up the snow-covered auto road for a sunrise demonstration. In Wiscasset, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-1st District, and state Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, joined about 150 people at a global climate change "teach-in" at the Chewonki Foundation's Center for Environmental Education.
"It was really a special event," said Chewonki's Renewable Energy Intern Seth Silverman, who arranged workshops on local foods, "green campus" issues and how to make changes at home to mitigate climate change. "It seems like a hopeful day across the country."
Robyn Clay said she and her family went to the Portland rally because "it's such an important issue." Clay was pulling her children, ages 7 and 3, along in a wagon with pasted-on "waves" at the edges. "We wanted to expose the kids to this. We talk about it, and they relate to it mainly through what's happening to polar bears. That's their level."
McNeil and other speakers urged the sympathetic crowd to think about ways to change daily habits to help the environment, from carpooling and bicycling more to using less heating or air conditioning.
"A lot of it just involves being frugal. We need to get back to Yankee frugality," McNeil said.
Mixed in the crowd were people holding signs bearing slogans such as "Save Our Planet," "Fossil Fuels Are Not the Answer," and "Good Atmospheres Are Hard to Find," with some wearing snorkeling gear or carrying surfboards, alluding to the rising water.
"We can get angry and we can get upset -- and we should -- but it's important to do something about it," said Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, at the Portland rally, listing some of the state's activity in adopting environmentally friendly policies. "We will not be in denial about one of the most significant threats to our future."
"There are so many things we're going to have to do -- small things, big things," said state Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland, foreseeing an end to everything from idling tour buses to parents aimlessly driving young children around at night to get them to go to sleep. "But we're winning. It's slow, but it's happening."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff Writer Noel K. Gallagher can be contacted at 324-4888 or at:


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VoiceO Reason of Portland, ME
Apr 19, 2007 8:26 AM
With all due respect Regis Mayhem of Farmington, if it's coming from the Brookings Institute, it's a little biased already.

"The overwhelming weight of scientific inquiry ... ?" What does that mean? That's not even coherent.

The planet is not warming faster than it ever has before. There are places on the planet where it is actually cooling.

This is a political issue, but not from a few people. This is a political issue started by none other than Al-"pay no attention to the man with three mansions, heated swimming pools, and who flys around in jets wherever he goes"-Gore.

There are no limits to the number of accomplices, including Hollyweird, the lame-stream media, and President Bush haters. This is all motivated by a desire to "stick it to Bush, and his oil-buddies."

Any scientist with any credibility at all will acknowledge that we don't have the capability to determine if the planet is warming due to man's influence. They have one or two computer models which show it's possible, but real scientists have stated that they need about 14-20 different models working together (which there is no computer powerful enough currently) to make any credible assessment.

The polar bears are not in danger. In fact, most of the 22 different populations (more than 16 of the 22) are either stable or are growing in size. This is something that doesn't fit the global warming moonbats agenda, so you don't hear this fact.

The Southern Hemisphere has not seen any significant temperature change in the last 20-25 years.

This is all about redistributing the world's wealth, and some Americans guilt for living in the most prosperous country in history.

This is about scaring the kids with lies and deceit and getting to them with the liberal agenda before they are smart enough to make up their own minds.

Show JUST ONE PIECE of concrete evidence that man-made C02 is causing global warming. YOU CAN'T.

Stop scaring the kids.report abuse
Regis Mayhem of Farmington, ME
Apr 18, 2007 11:29 PM
After reading the comments here and in similar articles, I feel compelled to make a few points:

"There are an equal number of scientists on both sides of the issue."

This isn't anywhere close to being true. The overwhelming weight of scientific inquiry understands and supports the idea that the planet is warming faster now than it ever has been, and that carbon dioxide production resulting from human activity is one of if not *the* primary contributors to it. Scientists who disagree generally are sponsored by either the energy industry or the Republican party, or both. Take some time to learn about ice cores, or pH changes of the oceans, or glacier sizes, or flood plains, receding snowpacks in the Alps, or...

"It's cold in Maine, so bring on global warming/if it's getting so warm, then why is it snowing in April?"

The first part of this argument shows a glib, callous disregard that is appalling. It's also wrong. The Northeast U.S. (and places like England and Spain) have been relatively mild. This is because of the Gulf Stream, which, because of the gradient between warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico and cool waters in the North Atlantic, carries warmer water and air northward at a pretty good clip. As the planet as a whole gets warmer, the Gulf Stream loses steam, allowing cold fronts from the North to gain momentum and stay longer. So as paradoxical as it may sound, as the planet gets warmer, we're going to get longer, more severe winters. That's why "climate change" is a better term than "global warming" though in fact the planet's average temperature is and will be significantly higher.

This should not be a political issue, it should be a global security issue. It's the corruption of a few in power and the gullibility of their followers that make it political.

Gregg Easterbrook, a scholar no one could call a liberal, has an excellent piece on global warming here: http://brookings.edu/views/papers/easterbrook/20060517.htmreport abuse
John of Camden, ME
Apr 18, 2007 10:41 PM
For every "peer-reviewed scholarly journal" supporting the theory, there is an equally authoritative source contradicting the theory. Until something more substantial comes along, it's going to be a matter of opinion what the weather's going to be like in 50 years, much less two weeks from now.

"McNeil and other speakers urged the sympathetic crowd to think about ways to change daily habits to help the environment, from carpooling and bicycling more to using less heating or air conditioning."

Use LESS heating in Maine? I'd love to. Bring on the global warming.report abuse
VoiceO Reason of Portland, ME
Apr 18, 2007 10:24 PM
Wow, wisewoman of Portland;

Can you be any more general?

What makes your news sources any more legitimate than mine?

There is only one truth, and that is that you and the other liberals are scaring the kids with your doom and gloom.

Consider this; The global temperature rose more between 1874 and 1940, than it has since 1940.

And, up until about 1980, your scientists were warning of global cooling.

The planet warms and cools according to activity on the sun. It's been warmer on our planet than it is now. It's been cooler. Man's been around for 100,000 years. We've been tracking the temperature accurately since 1874. It goes up. It goes down. MAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

North America set records for cold in February and March and the first half of April has been the coldest on record. That looks like global cooling to me.

Your guilt about being an American is getting the best of you. Stop giving away the store and scaring the kids.

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Mary Poppins of Portland, ME
Apr 18, 2007 9:37 PM
Voice O' Reason makes a lot of sense.

If you are getting your facts from the internet, consider this; there is no editorial process on the internet. Anyone with a computer can post anything they want. If one has enough design skills, one can create a very believable website, even if what is posted is pure crap.

Stop thinking with your mouse and start thinking with your head.

This is the greatest country on the planet and in the history of man. Liberals have got to stop giving it away to all of the wolves and jackels and vultures who are waiting for us to devour ourselves.

There is not one bit of proof that man is causing any perceived global warming on earth. Scientists can't replicate any experiment which shows man is the cause. Also, for every spot on the planet which has shown a slight increase in temperature, there are an equal amount of places which show a decrease in temperature. Junk scientists just don't tell you about those spots because it doesn't advance their cause, which is wealth redistribution.

VOR is right. You libs are scaring the kids.

And by the way; if you are getting your information from Warren of South Portland, you need a shrink.report abuse
Wisewoman of Waldoboro, ME
Apr 18, 2007 9:16 PM
VOR (say what??), where on earth -- no pun intended -- do you get your heavy load of tiresome misinformation? What legitimate news source do you read or watch? May I quote a previous entrant, who says....

Warren of South Portland, ME
Apr 15, 2007 4:18 PM
"EVERY publication from national and international body of scientists on global warming have verified Climate Change is happening. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Feb 6, '07) and The Business Network are two of the latest. There is NOT ONE peer reviewed analysis that repudiates Climate Change. Of course, EXXon Mobil is paying the right-wing propaganda group, The American Enterprise Institute, up to $10,000 per scientist willing to publish material that is anti-Climate Change. In fact, EXXon Mobil funds The Am Enterprise Inst, as a right wing disinformation front. SO, I ask my conservative friends - Where do all the pollutants and carcinogens go? Do they disappear? Or, do they cause acid rain, dimninsh our forests and destroy our fisheries and, of course, create asthmatic conditions and heat the planet? Huh, yup, they do."

I fear that you're not even faintly aware of the phenomenon of climate change; all that you can think about is "scaring the children". Huh? What about the children (future children) who will die of thirst? Of famine? Victims of more wars over fewer resources? Frankly, people like you scare me. I find your arrogance and ignorance, and self-serving avoidance of facing issues that confront us all, dismaying. You appear to be fools unwilling or unable to do some rudimentary research into current affairs. report abuse
VoiceO Reason of Portland, ME
Apr 18, 2007 6:05 PM
MixMax;

Roughly 5 billion people on this planet are living day to day. Their chief concern is where their next meal is coming from. Roughly 5 billion people on this planet live well below the poverty level of this country. Roughly 5 billion people on this planet have no access to clean water or electricity. They don't give a rat's @$$ about CO2, Algore, or your flourescent light bulbs. They don't have a car, they don't have running water, they don't have a computer, they don't have anything. They grow their own food and get their water, when it's available from dirty wells and rivers and streams. It's been that way for thousands of years.

But because of this, you and the rest of the liberals in America feel guilty. They feel guilty to the point that they want to tear our country down and make us equal to those 5 billion people.

They do the same thing with the public school system in America. They hold back the smart and bring the entire system down to the lowest common denominator. They do the same thing with social services in our country. They try to bring down the rich and give it to the poor who don't work, don't want to work, make excuses why they can't work.

You are all about everyone ELSE changing their habits. Forcing every ELSE to change their habits. You are about making us feel bad about working hard and having prosperity. You are all about forcing us all to believe what you believe even when common sense and real science have shown the liberal rable to be wrong 99 out of 100 times.

There will be serious problems with the food supply if your liberal buddies succeed in converting our food into fuel. That's absolutely insane, but the libs keep on pushing for Ethynol production. Very smart scientists, by the way, have concluded that burning ethynol creates huge amounts of ozone (smog to you). But ozone be damned, we'll keep pushing for this because that will mean the oil companies won't have the profits they've had in the past.
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MizMac of Portland, ME
Apr 18, 2007 9:46 AM
VOR- I'm going to say one last thing to you and then I am done trying to have any sort of discourse with someone who is so woefully misinformed as yourself. Your arguments are weak and have no merit in fact. I don't believe that 5.99 billion people don't "give a whit" about the planet, not everyone is as self absorbed as yourself. Believe it or not there are many people out there who care about keeping our planet alive, and in case you haven't made the connection by now, it is those people who care so much and are trying so hard to get more people to understand the problems we are facing as a planet. Because the more people who understand the more people who will change their habits and we might just have a chance at "survival". If we continue on the course we are on there will be serious problems with food and water shortages (the US military agrees with this outlook as well). If we "have our way" we will be using more sustainable farming techniques, cleaning up our water systems, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. For someone who is so concerned about "scaring the kids" I would think you would care more about what we leave for our children. Please wake up. report abuse
VoiceO Reason of Portland, ME
Apr 17, 2007 4:28 PM
MixMax; Really?

Perhaps toxins are showing up because we now have more sophisticated means of detection. Are the toxins showing up all over the world or just in Portland. Why isn't this a story the news is picking up.

Breast cancer rates are going down.

Deadzones in the ocean? Perhaps this is where the steam vents are so hot that nothing can grow there. Temperatures of over a thousand degrees will do that, you know.

I'm just one of 6.5 billion. But I can assure you that about 5.99 billion don't care one whit about the planet. They are just trying to survive.

When the global warming nut jobs get their way, about 2 billion of them will die within a year because they won't have any food because there won't be anyone feeding them because our own economy and the economy of all of those "compassionate" people will have been destroyed. Where is your compassion for these people? So long as Algore has a statue made of himself you'll be happy.

Millions of species? Try about 1.75 million (far short of millions) species. Get your facts straight. You're scaring the kids again.report abuse
MizMac of Portland, ME
Apr 17, 2007 12:10 PM
VOR- Your lack of knowledge on what is happening to this planet is astounding. So tell
me, if things are so fine and dandy, why are so many women coming up with all sorts of toxins in their breast milk? Why do we have dead zones in sections of the oceans where no plant life or fish can live? We are poisoning this planet and for you to even try to deny that just shows how little you know. Do you think this planet is yours to use and abuse, forget about the millions of other species who inhabit it as well? If ever there was a robot it is yourself, because real humans have compassion for other creatures and think of more than just themselves. Stop trying to debate me with your junk logic, you've already proven you have no idea what you're talking about.
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