From: sl930@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.politics.elections
Subject: Re: Ozone Man theme song
Date: 10 Nov 92 23:08:33 MDT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1992Nov9.183457.17267@husc3.harvard.edu>, koumis@husc4.harvard.edu (Anthony Koumis) writes:
> In article <1992Nov6.193227.14098@uswmrg.mrg.uswest.com.mrg.uswest.com> steve
>>Actually I was relieved to see that not everyone buys into Mr. Ozones
>>'wierd science.' His policies place almost every life form on earth
>>ahead of man's. What is worse it is unclear that any of the predictions
>>from his book are based on the real facts. 
> 
> 
> 
> Listen hon, wake up and smell the coffee.  THe facat thtat there is
> a hole in the ozone layer is not weird science.^^^^^^^^^^^  It is a fact.  It
> is as big as teh North American continent.  The EPA estimates that
> there will be 200,00 deaths due to skin cancer caused by this hole by
> the year 2,000.  
> 
> THere is a hole in the ozone.  Look it up.  SInce you bemoan the state
> of our childrren's education, I assume that you are well educated and
> can do ^^^^^^^^^some elementary research before buying in to
> propaganda of the anti-environmentalists.
> 
     I see your education has done a lot for you.

That there is a hole in the ozone layer there is no doubt.  The effects of this
hole, however, are seriously doubted.  The estimates you have quoted have been
rejected by 2/3s of the worlds scientific community on atmospheric research.
(from a poll of the same community printed in the NR). 
 
 

>>As to your remark about most children, I agree. That is one of the
>>problems we face in the schools today. While we are worrying our kids
>>about the 'terrible' state of the environment, we are not teaching
>>them to read and write. Let them learn how to do those basic things
>>and they will make up their own minds about the 'important' issues
>>that we adults are concerned with.
>>
> 
> 
> I dont know about you but I hhope our kids will care more about the
> earth than this present generation.  There is nothing incomptible
> about teaching reading and writing and also talking about the
> environment.  It doesn't take too much brains to figure out some
> elementary problems like where are we going to put our garbage
> has something to do with the environment.  Telling kids about
> recycling is not propoganda.  
> 
> For instance, some towns on Long Island have mandatory recycling because
> there is no place to throw out the garbage.  If schoolkids discuss
> this issue they are learning about science (recycling) and civic
> issues (what local gov't has to do), problem solving (what the local
> gov't did about the problem, so what else could they do), this
> leads to discussion and thinking by kids.  That is what you wanted
> them to do when they grow up and learned what they need to know. Education
> is a continual process.  Kids need to learn more then their times
> table by heart.  THinking goes on at all phases of life.
> 
> I just wished more people owuld think about the environment and not
> listen to anti environmentalist rhetoric as the gospel truth.

Education is a good thing, but teaching them incorrect facts is wrong.  You
should take your own advice.  Talk to some scientist in the RESEARCH community. 
The ones that do the hard work and are right on top of the issues. Nobody said
recycling is bad, but incorrect information is what leads to stupid stuff like 
making Mcdonalds switch from recyclable polystyrene to non-recyclable,
non-biodegradable waxed paper.

Colin
SL930@cc.usu.edu
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