The growing ambitions of the food police. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

To justify taxes on unhealthy food, the lifestyle regulators are stretching the evidence about obesity and addiction, two subjects on which Engber is burdened with contrary knowledge. Liberals like to talk about a Republican war on science, but it turns out that they're just as willing to bend facts. In wars of piety, science has no friends.

Dr Roy's Thoughts: Climate Change on CBC

CBC's Radio Noon in Montreal today had an hour on the latest waste of time , the UN climate meeting. The usual suspects were on including Stephane dion and the ever rude lizzie may. I had to call in. I am on after Lizzie. I expressed my view about how these conferences are a waste of time, money and energy . Click here to listen to the show on real player.

India's Climate Change Forecast - Council on Foreign Relations

[Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, India] I met my Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua. Both of us agreed that the essential prerequisite for a successful agreement [at Copenhagen] is a very substantial commitment on mitigation by the developed countries, which calls for a 40 percent reduction in emissions by the developed world by 2020 with 1990 reference levels.
...We should be modest and realistic in our expectations and rather than waiting for a blockbuster of an agreement at Copenhagen, we should look at Copenhagen as a beginning process.
...
Change your lifestyle. You're asking us to compromise on development. You change your lifestyle and then we'll think of compromising on development.

[Yeah, right]: UN sees Copenhagen climate deal in sight

UN chief Ban Ki-moon says that the "political momentum" has moved towards sealing a deal on climate change in Copenhagen this year and pointed to pledges by Japan and China.

"Today marks the point when the political momentum has shifted in favour of a seeing a fair, effective and ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen," the UN secretary general said at the end of day-long talks by 100 heads of state.