Take the greenhouse gasbags with a grain of salt | The Australian

HAVE you noticed how environmental campaigners almost inevitably say that not only is global warming happening and bad, but also that what we are seeing is even worse than expected?

This is odd, because any reasonable understanding of how science proceeds would expect that, as we refine our knowledge, we find that things are sometimes worse and sometimes better than we expected, and that the most likely distribution would be about 50-50. Environmental campaigners, however, almost invariably see it as 100-0.

If we are regularly being surprised in just one direction, if our models get blindsided by an ever-worsening reality, that does not bode well for our scientific approach.

The FLICK OFF Express rides the Ontario rails to get university students on track with climate change/

At each stop, campus rallies will mobilize thousands of Ontario students who, along with the FLICK OFF Express passengers, will deliberate and demonstrate their commitment to changing habits that contribute to climate change. Students across Southern Ontario will pledge to FLICK OFF bottled water, the car, fossil fuels and more. Additionally, through a unique RBC/FLICK OFF Campus Challenge, students can register online at flickoff.org, to commit to an energy saving activity and have the chance to win prizes. The RBC/FLICK OFF Campus Challenge, which runs until October 5, will award four grand prize winners plus two friends each with the opportunity to travel aboard the FLICK OFF Express from Kingston to Ottawa, and meet personally with Dr. David Suzuki. Students increase their chances of winning by committing to additional actions like using public transit, eating locally-grown foods, choosing not to buy bottled water, switching to electronic bank statements and spreading the word to their friends. As part of its campaign to foster a culture of water stewardship in Canada and abroad, RBC will also run a complementary water bottle exchange at each rally.