{"article":{"id":77698,"heading":"Climate Change Endangers Growth of World Economy","author":"Franz Alt","created":"2003-08-19 10:28:54","modified":"2013-11-11 00:25:00","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 07:25:00","article":"

Climate Change Endangers Growth of the World Economy

By Franz Alt

[This article originally published in: Die Welt, August 14, 2003 is translated from the German on the World Wide Web, http:\/\/www.welt.de\/daten\/2002\/08\/14\/0814wi350420.htx<\/a>. Franz Alt, author and solar pioneer, is a director of Southwest German radio.]

\tThe chief mathematician of the Munich insurance association summarizes reality more impressively than any eco-institute. If the damages of weather-caused natural disasters continue as in the past two decades, the climate-conditioned damages will be greater in 60 years - with an annual global economic growth of three percent – than the worldwide gross domestic product. When George W. Bush says “climate protection is too expensive for the US economy”, Klaus Topfer asks: “How expensive will it be if the climate is not protected?”

Apocalyptic Scenario

\tClimate change becomes the negative motor of the world economy. Klaus Topfer as head of the UN environmental agency and the International Red Cross pointed out that more people escaped the flood- and drought catastrophes than wars in 2000. The rich industrial states act like ecological aggressors agasinst the poor in the South.

\tMillions of data on glacier ice, the atmosphere, the coral reefs of Oceania and the rings of old trees signal an apocalyptic scenario for our planet’s climate if redirection resolved ten years ago by all governments at the Earth summit in Rio isn’t accepted at the Johannesburg earth summit.

\tThe global temperature increase of 0.6 degrees Celcius since 1861 led to an intense reduction of ice- and snow masses. A glacier in Europe can hardly survive the temperature increase of up to 5.8 degrees predicted for this century.

\tThe nineties of the 20th century was the hottest decade since the beginning of data collection in 1861. It is hotter today than ever before in the last 16,000 years.

\tThe deserts of our planet are increasing by 30,000 hectares daily. Every day we lose 86 million tons of fruitful soil through erosion.

\tDaily we produce 100 million tons of greenhouse gases by burning coal, gas and oil. We burn in one day what nature created in 500,000 days. Every day we grow by a quarter of a million persons.

\tIn the face of this data, the Bush administration admits that the greenhouse effect is man-made. However Washington will not sign the Kyoto Protocol even at the Earth summit in Johannesburg. The Kyoto Protocol only earmarks a reduction of a few percent in greenhouse gases. “Adjusting to climate change” is recommended in the 2002 climate report.

\tWhat can Europeans do? The only successful strategy is save energy, use energy more efficiently and develop rfenewable energies.

\tAt least 20 million buildings in Germany must be energetically rehabilitated. This would mean a 50 percent decrease in the consumption of heating energy and create 300,000 jobs in the plagued construction industry.

\tThe automobile economy that markets three-, two- and one liter cars on a large scale will boom worldwide. This is also true for the fuel cell car…

Unlimited Energy

\tThe solar architect Rolf Disch in Freiburg sold the first solar-energy-plus houses that produce more energy with the help of the sun than is consumed in these energy-houses. Every homeowner becomes an energy-seller. Economy and ecology harmonize at last. These houses are not more expensive than conventional houses. Money is earned with the solar roof. The sun doesn’t send any bill.

\tGasoline- and heating oil prices will also rise in the next decades on account of their limited supply, not only on account of the environmental strain. Sun, wind, geothermal energy, bio-gas, solar hydrogen, water power and the wave energy of the oceans are practically unlimited and available for all time. The sun alone sends us 15,000 times more energy daily than 6.2 billion presently consume. The solution to the energy- and climate problem is in the skies.

<\/p>\n","contact":"mbatko@lycos.com","link":"http:\/\/www.mbtranslations.com","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":""The solar architect Rolf Disch in Freiburg sold the first solar-energy-plus houses that produce more energy with the help of the sun than is consumed in these energy-houses. Every homeowner becomes an energy-seller. Economy and ecology harmonize.."","numcomment":36,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/08\/77698.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":77701,"heading":""It's too expensive."","article":"The corrupt patrons that installed bush and continue to fuel the lies and propaganda of the pentagon and military would sooner see millions of people starve to death and milllions more contract malaria than admit that their own lifestyles and riches are dooming the planet.\r\n\r\nUltimately this is happening because a gas industry lackey is in control of complex systems beyond his reach. impeach the imposter before more die.","author":"Parmenides","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-19 10:47:49","modified":"2003-08-19 10:47:49","fileurl":""},{"id":77821,"heading":"OneEyedMan","article":"Gee, but since we live HERE...ya'd think that might be a more PRACTICAL place to begin...\r\n\r\n....but the US generates NO greenhouse gasses...so...Oh, we DO produce greenhouse gasses?\r\n\r\nHmm, then what's Josef talkin about?","author":"KPC","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-19 21:30:11","modified":"2003-08-19 21:30:11","fileurl":""},{"id":77836,"heading":"Disinformation or Idiocy?","article":"The problem is American corporations...does not matter what India or China or other nations want or do. bush and his filthy liars have given carte blanche to american corps such as exxon\/mobil to ignore any and all world treaties. As long as american political leadership says its ok for the most industrialized nation in the worlds corps to contine global warming, in nations such as China, India, etc. they will continue to do so.\r\n\r\nSo whether or not they are here or elsewhere american corps (and the US military) are the chief criminals of ecological crises including global warming. \r\n\r\nOf course, disinformation is in full swing, and gullible corporate apologists will continue to sing their broken song and ignore the obvious until tropical diseases rampage towards the poles and ravage our nation, as storms batter us and the inner parts of continents become deserts. The end result will be hunger and more starvation. The cause of this is the psychopath in the white house who is really only a tool of these same transnational corps. By refusing to do anything he is sentencing humanity to a very difficult time and test.\r\n\r\nBTW how much of the 600 page recently released EPA 'Draft report on the Envnmt" dealt with global wartming? One paragraph. Five more (only five?!?) were deleted by the white house. \r\n\r\nDisinfomation and propaganda are nothing but lies, and they are the sermon this admin does with more arrogance than any other.\r\n\r\nEnd the madness. Impeach the psychopath.","author":"Parmenides","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-19 23:39:18","modified":"2003-08-19 23:39:18","fileurl":""},{"id":77839,"heading":"The Kyoto Treaty - Savior of the World","article":"The sky is falling!\r\nThe sky is falling!\r\nThe sky is falling!","author":"Chicken Little","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-19 23:54:12","modified":"2003-08-19 23:54:12","fileurl":""},{"id":77848,"heading":"the next 100 years","article":"We might even miss Florida.\r\nConsequence: sea-level rise\r\nCurrent rates of sea-level rise are expected to increase as a result both of thermal expansion of the oceans and of partial melting of mountain glaciers and the Antarctic and Greenland ice caps. Consequences include loss of coastal wetlands and barrier islands, and a greater risk of flooding in coastal communities. Low-lying areas, such as the coastal region along the Gulf of Mexico and estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay, are especially vulnerable.\r\nhttp:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/globalWarming\/fcons.asp","author":"Buy Buy","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-20 00:29:12","modified":"2003-08-20 00:29:12","fileurl":""},{"id":77853,"heading":"Ice Age","article":"Yah this global warming can be a real bummer. Just ask all my dinosaur relatives.\r\n\r\nThat damn Bush and Cheney - they made the Ice Age happen so they could kill off all my Dino-relatives and convert them into oil.\r\n\r\nAnd then, after all the my dino compadres were dead, Bush and Cheny made all the ice melt so you furry mammals could take over our land and and and oohhhh it makes me so angry.\r\n\r\nGot Wooly Mammoth?\r\n","author":"DinoDeeDinosaur","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-20 00:52:52","modified":"2003-08-20 00:52:52","fileurl":""},{"id":77860,"heading":"a Penisarious Rex","article":"silly anthropoids, we can wait a few million more centuries.\nIt will be quiet after you are gone. Webs will weave, smallings\nwill scamper there will be much feasting on flies.","author":"Section green arachnid leader","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-20 01:13:48","modified":"2003-08-20 01:13:48","fileurl":""},{"id":78088,"heading":"Twelve volts","article":"fuck the grid, large corp. power producers and the service providers. You can install your own stand-alone 12volt system for everyday use, or backup.___^a basic knowledge of electricity is required^___","author":"voltaic mule","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-20 23:40:40","modified":"2003-08-20 23:40:40","fileurl":""},{"id":78155,"heading":"mass extinction anybody?","article":"http:\/\/www.well.com\/user\/davidu\/extinction.html\r\n\r\n\r\n","author":"4yrold","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 15:46:42","modified":"2003-08-21 15:46:42","fileurl":""},{"id":78273,"heading":"Survival of the fittest","article":"New species will evolve to fill the open niches.\r\n\r\nIt's a process that has been going on for \r\n\r\n[carl segan voice ON]\r\n"billions and billions of years"\r\n[carl segan voiceOFF]\r\n\r\nSo get used to it.\r\n\r\n","author":"Darwin","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 20:05:43","modified":"2003-08-21 20:05:43","fileurl":""},{"id":78274,"heading":"ok","article":"http:\/\/www.efn.org\/~lkuntz\/links1.html\r\n\r\nsure that'll work.\r\nmaybe you'll take the same approach in\r\nyour personal relationships. \r\n\r\njust tell your kids to get used to mass extinction\r\nthat should put their minds at ease....\r\n","author":"right","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 20:09:15","modified":"2003-08-21 20:09:15","fileurl":""},{"id":78280,"heading":"Science and Logic...","article":"...aren't your strong points, are they?\r\n\r\n\r\nThe theory of evolution clearly indicates that a changing environment, which may cause the demise of some species, also drives the evolution of new species. It's called ADAPTATION. \r\n\r\nAre you refuting Darwin's theory of the evolution of species?\r\n\r\n\r\nMy kids will do just fine - they know how to ADAPT to reality. ","author":"Chucky Darwin","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 20:39:56","modified":"2003-08-21 20:39:56","fileurl":""},{"id":78283,"heading":"hahaha","article":"http:\/\/countercurrents.org\/en-brown.htm\r\nhttp:\/\/www.well.com\/user\/davidu\/extinction.html\r\n\r\noh really - your children know how to evolve?\r\nokay..\r\nthen i guess they won't\r\nbe needing any clean\r\nwater or air or anything.\r\n\r\nthey're lucky to have such an enlightened parent.\r\nscience and logic, hunh?","author":"dk","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 20:53:25","modified":"2003-08-21 20:54:17","fileurl":""},{"id":78285,"heading":"Better Living...","article":"...through Superior Intelligence and Firepower\r\n\r\nWere you around in the 60's? I was.\r\n\r\nWe made mistakes. \r\nWe made corrections. We Adapted.\r\n\r\nSeen any burning rivers lately, Chicken Little?\r\n\r\nAs for competition for reproductive resources - including water, food, and habitat - the species with Superior Intelligence and Firepower wins.\r\n\r\nHumans First! - Just Say NO! To Forced Altruism.","author":"Chucky Darwin","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 21:07:02","modified":"2003-08-21 21:07:02","fileurl":""},{"id":78289,"heading":"hmm","article":"http:\/\/www.well.com\/user\/davidu\/extinction.html\r\n\r\nit's a good thing there's more sensible people around\r\n\r\nsounds like, ummm , maybe...\r\ndid you do like a hell of a lot \r\nof drugs? sorry -just wondering..\r\n\r\nwe're pretty critical of hippies here. \r\na lot of us are anarchists. \r\n","author":"sounds","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 21:20:27","modified":"2003-08-21 21:20:27","fileurl":""},{"id":78309,"heading":"adaptation means suicide","article":"Yes, by all means let's adapt to increased ultraviolent radiation, radiated water and dust swirling through the air, tempertures which routinely go beyond 105, deserts taking over our best farmland, genetically modified crops, hormones and pesticieds in our food, and morons preaching poorly understood scientific principles for dollars and ideology. As long as one can continue to drive a SUV and ignore the wholescale murder of thousands of civilians in puppet states like Afgahanistan and Iraq (ooops...forgot that they were out and out US military failures)...than the american dream of blood and oil will continue to darken humanity's sightline and dreams for a survivable future.\r\n\r\nWhy don't you jump off the cliff first you paid shill (and if you are not paid than you must are obviously one of the glaring examples of our poorly designed education system). I am sure the masses of humanity will be right behind you.","author":"Parmenides","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 21:57:25","modified":"2003-08-21 21:57:25","fileurl":""},{"id":78314,"heading":"Hippies Aren't bad...","article":"...they taste kind of like chicken.\r\n\r\nRoasted slowly, twisting over an open fire \r\n\r\nJust kidding. From what I saw, most hippies were spoiled brats from the burbs who wanted an excuse to get stoned and piss off mummy and daddy - few leaders, mostly sheeple.\r\n\r\nKinda like these self proclaimed "anarchists". All hat and no cattle. Bouncing up and down in their caves err Raves, all strung out on "E". \r\n\r\nWeishopf didn't die in "la revolution", did he? \r\nHe certainly did, however, encourage a whole bunch of sheeple to kill each other. \r\n\r\nWho's pulling YOUR stirrings? You don't even have a clue that you're just pawns in the game.\r\n\r\nGo ahead. Thin the Herd.","author":"Chucky Darwin","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 22:13:10","modified":"2003-08-21 22:13:10","fileurl":""},{"id":78320,"heading":"umm..","article":"ummm... what are you talking about?!\r\nyou sound like a hippy yourself.\r\nanarchists were around long before hippies,\r\nby the way, you should study up..\r\n\r\nand thinning the herd isn't the solution... you could thin 99% of the people out and you'd still have ecological disaster as long as the rich USA clowns keep living like they do. \r\n\r\nlearn a little.\r\nhttp:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/rt21\/globalism\/HARTMANNc1.html","author":"rrrrr","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 22:28:28","modified":"2003-08-21 22:28:28","fileurl":""},{"id":78323,"heading":"this is good","article":"when anarchy become the way of life we can all be equally as miserable as everyone else, i cant wait","author":"wonderful","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 22:35:41","modified":"2003-08-21 22:35:41","fileurl":""},{"id":78326,"heading":"Ok, Jack, I'll take...","article":""Who was Adam Weishopf", for $666\r\nrrrrr wrote: "anarchists were around long before hippies," \r\n\r\nYep, you got that right. \r\n\r\nGo ahead rrrrr, tell the class about Adam Weishopf. \r\n\r\nI understand he was quite the, um, "revolutionary" chap.\r\n\r\nPawns!","author":"Chucky Darwin","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 22:41:30","modified":"2003-08-21 22:41:30","fileurl":""},{"id":78328,"heading":"nope","article":"everybody deserves at least a decent livelihood. \r\nyou really need to study. it's not easy but it helps. \r\nhttp:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/rt21\/globalism\/HARTMANNc2.html\r\nhttp:\/\/la.indymedia.org\/news\/2003\/07\/72523_comment.php#75792","author":"","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 22:43:54","modified":"2003-08-21 22:43:54","fileurl":""},{"id":78330,"heading":"no","article":"i'm really looking forward to the miserable part, thats what anarchy will mean to me as it will to so many others, i cant wait, can we do it now","author":"cant","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 22:50:47","modified":"2003-08-21 22:50:47","fileurl":""},{"id":78335,"heading":"hahahahahaha","article":"http:\/\/www.zmag.org\/AWatch\/awatch.htm\r\n\r\nyou like misery?!\r\ni'm sure you're mom is very concerned..... \r\n\r\n","author":"hahahahahHAhaHa!!","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 23:00:40","modified":"2003-08-21 23:00:40","fileurl":""},{"id":78337,"heading":"mom","article":"my mom is dead. died from old age. how's your mom? i hope you talk nicer to her than you do to others. working class people like myself don't respond well to being talked down to. or havent you learned that yet?","author":":(","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 23:04:56","modified":"2003-08-21 23:04:56","fileurl":""},{"id":78342,"heading":"What can anarchy do for me?","article":"How will it improve my life?\r\nHow will it provide a better future for my children?\r\n\r\nFrom what I've read of anarchist tracts it offers nothing but a return to povery, ignorance and fear.","author":"Josef","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 23:40:20","modified":"2003-08-21 23:40:20","fileurl":""},{"id":78343,"heading":"1905 - You call that History?","article":"Your history lessons were a bit lacking in depth...\r\n\r\nLet's go back to 1776 - May 1. Adam Weishaupt.\r\n\r\nHe was an Anarchist. He encouraged and fanned the flames of the French Revolution - but of course - did not fight in it.\r\n\r\nMisery? Oh yes, that and sooo much more.\r\n\r\nOne of Adam's pals was some guy named the Marquis De Sade. Ever heard of Sado Masochism?\r\nIt's named for him.\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.google.com\/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Weishaupt++De+Sade\r\n\r\nAliester Crowley (of witchcraft occult fame) thought Weishaupt was a real saint:\r\nhttp:\/\/www.hermetic.com\/sabazius\/weishaupt.htm\r\n\r\nYep, anarchists are really cool people.\r\n\r\nGo ahead start your "revolution". Weishaupt, The Marquis de Sade, and Aliester Crowley are all giggling with delight in Hell. Join them, won't you?","author":"Chuck Darwin","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-21 23:40:57","modified":"2003-08-21 23:40:57","fileurl":""},{"id":78574,"heading":"extinction....","article":"here's an exerpt from the Thursday 8\/21\/03 guardian\/uk<\/a> posted to commondreams.org<\/a>\r\n\r\nMany northern hemisphere mountain animals are expected to migrate north or seek higher ground to find suitable habitats as the climate alters. But the American pika appears not as well-equipped as other species to handle this environmental shift.\r\n\r\n\"American pikas are like the canary in the coal mine,\" said Caterina Cardoso, head of WWF-UK's climate change programme.\r\n\r\n\"Their disappearance is a red flag that our heavy reliance on dirty fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, is causing irreparable damage to our environment. We must switch to clean, renewable energy resources before it's too late for us and the pika.\" \r\n\r\nmass extinction:\r\nhttp:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/headlines03\/0821-10.htm\r\nhttp:\/\/www.well.com\/user\/davidu\/extinction.html\r\nhttp:\/\/www.efn.org\/~lkuntz\/links1.html\r\nhttp:\/\/countercurrents.org\/en-brown.htm\r\n\r\nhuman \"population control\" is not the answer:\r\nhttp:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/rt21\/globalism\/HARTMANNc1.html\r\nhttp:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/rt21\/globalism\/HARTMANNc2.html\r\n\r\nlearn about anarchism:\r\nhttp:\/\/la.indymedia.org\/news\/2003\/07\/72523_comment.php#75792 \r\nhttp:\/\/www.zmag.org\/AWatch\/awatch.htm\r\nhttp:\/\/www.ainfos.ca\/\r\n\r\na<\/a>n<\/a>t<\/a>i<\/a>c<\/a>r<\/a>i<\/a>s<\/a>i<\/a>s<\/a>\r\n\r\nlynx<\/a>\r\n\r\nlatest comments<\/a>","author":"lynx-13","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","created":"2003-08-23 06:34:52","modified":"2005-08-15 01:39:00","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/08\/pika.jpeg","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/08\/pika.jpeg"}},{"id":79110,"heading":"AntiAntiCrisis","article":"Crisis+AntiCrisis = Socialism\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.learn-usa.com\/er003.htm\r\n\r\nNo Sale.","author":"Hegel","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-27 15:08:52","modified":"2003-08-27 15:08:52","fileurl":""},{"id":79291,"heading":"again for the memory challanged","article":"We have socialism in full bloom here in America.\r\nFor:\r\ndefense contractors\r\nagribusiness\r\nauto makers\r\ndrug companies\r\npetroleum corporations\r\netc, etc.\r\njust not must left over for the ones who need:\r\njobs\r\nhousing\r\neducation\r\nmedical attention\r\netc,etc...","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-27 21:01:43","modified":"2003-08-27 21:01:43","fileurl":""},{"id":79305,"heading":"Novus Ordo Seclorum","article":"[defense contractors \r\nagribusiness \r\nauto makers \r\ndrug companies \r\npetroleum corporations ]\r\n\r\nYep Thanks to me, FDR, and my comrades, they've all made a killing.\r\n\r\n[just not must left over for the ones who need: \r\njobs \r\nhousing \r\neducation \r\nmedical attention \r\netc,etc...]\r\n\r\nWhat's a matta'? My New Deal a bit too Raw for ya?\r\n\r\nI just promised you fools that stuff so you'd be willing slaves.\r\n\r\n","author":"Franklin Delano Roosevelt","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-27 22:18:55","modified":"2003-08-27 22:18:55","fileurl":""},{"id":79374,"heading":"FDR","article":"Corporations have made a killing because of ME, you asswipe. Ever hear of "Reaganomics?" It is the term given to my war against the working class. Now, shut the hell up and change my diaper.","author":"Ronald Reagan","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-28 10:00:41","modified":"2003-08-28 10:00:41","fileurl":""},{"id":79403,"heading":"Novus Ordo Seclorum","article":"\r\nLOL, My followers have been a corrupting influence in virtualy EVERY American presidency.\r\n","author":"Adam Weishaupt","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-28 12:24:50","modified":"2003-08-28 12:24:50","fileurl":""},{"id":79414,"heading":"Insect Politics","article":"Imagine thousands of termites busily eating away at your freedom - from within the bureaucracy of the federal government.\r\n\r\nPresidents come and go. Civil servants, on the other hand....\r\n","author":"The Orkin Man","parent_id":77698,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-28 12:56:31","modified":"2003-08-28 12:56:31","fileurl":""}]}