Another View

The Associated Press offers a look at editorials from newspapers around the world and across the nation.

On summer flooding in London

... If the torrent of water was not bad enough, the surge of ignorant speculation as to its causes has added to the misery of the season. Numerous commentators and supposed “experts” have asserted that the flooding is proof of global warming.

Much the same was contended by similar characters about the mild February (remember that?) enjoyed this year.

That this flies totally in the face of the mainstream thesis about climate change that Britain will endure wetter winters and drier summers is plainly immaterial. If the weather moves away from the “norm” in any direction, then it must be global warming.

One camp that has not joined in this ludicrous orgy of false prophecy is the category that should know the most about the weather, the professional meteorologist. Our weather correspondent, Paul Simons, has pointed out that summer floods do occur in Britain rather often. There were, he outlines, dreadful runs of weather in the 1840s, 1910s and 1950s before the advent of low-cost airlines and quantifiable carbon emissions. ...

There is no doubt that the climate is changing and that the planet deserves the benefit of the doubt, but the members of our contemporary apocalyptic cult do not.

This year will be warmer than 1860 was (but probably not as hot as 1560). How much of this is part of a natural cycle and how much due to man-made activities is not an exact science. ...

The Times, London

On the Net: http://www.timesonline.co.uk