There are few things that bring into question the premises underlying faith in an idea that has been unquestioningly accepted. A true believer cannot be swayed by mere facts.

The broad social acceptance of the validity of the theory of anthropogenic global warming (AGM) is one such faith. AGM is such an entrenched idea that whenever the slightest bit of evidence seems to contradict it, defences are immediately summoned, however subtly introduced. In other instances the evidence is simply evaded by such techniques as changing the subject.

For example, a recent article comments on the simple fact that there is more ice forming in the waters around Labrador this season than has been the case for some thirty years, a fact presumably available from the maintenance of appropriate records. In addition, this formation is taking place several weeks earlier than usual, requiring that the Canadian Coast Guard’s ice-breaking vessels already be called into service to free vessels caught in the frozen waters around Labrador.

So, anyone considering this news might be forgiven for questioning why this should be the case given the broad “consensus” about AGM. They might also be considering this question in the context that global warming alarmism has also been dominant in public discourse for some thirty years and that there has been no noticeable impact of warming. Oh yes, and virtually every prediction of devastation ostensibly caused by AGM has been found wrong and then found wrong again. For thirty years!

We should already know that the AGM theory made its segue into pseudo-science when the nominal designation was rendered anew as “climate change.” That expediency allows an alarmist to claim any questioner as a “denier” because after all, the climate does change and how could any sane person deny that? I shall continue to refer to the theory as AGM or the reaction to it as “climate alarmism.”

So when The Canadian Press reports that Brad Durnford, superintendent of ice operations for the Atlantic region, says the weather could quickly change and that an “extended warm-up” could slow ice formation, we can presumably feel safe in our convictions that “climate change” is a real thing and we should continue to be alarmed.

An equally valid statement would be that an “extended freeze-up” could accelerate ice formation and cause more vessels to be trapped in ice, placing many more demands on Mr. Durnford’s time.

Alternatively, the issue can be evaded by changing the subject, which is clearly what The Canadian Press article does here:

However, [Durnford] cautioned that weather in the region can “change on a dime” and that an extended warm-up could slow ice formation.
Meanwhile, coast guard officials say they are aware of the naming controversy surrounding the icebreaker CCGS Edward Cornwallis. [Emphasis added.]

And that is the end of that discussion; a rather clumsy and abrupt switch of the topic to another issue entirely.

Edward’s Post