Global warming: Letter writer should get facts straight

Published 11:10 am Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Mr. Wittgens claims global warming is a “government hoax.” (letter from Kent resident Bernie Wittgens, April 22 Kent Reporter). I wonder what government Mr. Wittgens is referring to. It seems to be the consensus opinion of climatologists the world over that climate change is a real phenomenon, so I am curious as to whether Mr. Wittegens intends us to believe that all the world’s governments came together to perpetrate this “hoax.”

If he is referrring strictly to the United States government, I have a hard time believing that this “hoax” would be agreed to be perpetuated from the Bush administration to the current one, seeing as how George W. Bush himself publicly stated that global warming was a real and serious threat and Barack Obama now carries that same torch.

And we all know how little Republicans and Democrats agree upon these days.

I will agree with Mr. Wittgens on one point he makes – trees are great for storing CO2. That’s why it is so alarming that forests the world over are being cut down and an ever-increasing rate – a fact that Mr. Wittgens conveniently forgot to mention in his letter. You are also right, Mr. Wittgens, in your final paragraph – we have to educate ourselves to the facts. I’d suggest you start soon.

Bob Schutzner

Kent