SBS Insight: Climate Skeptics Program

It was good to see Insight last night on SBS. Stephen Schneider faced a vocal group of climate change skeptics and discussed with them the reasons for the scientific evidence for global warming. Much of the debate exposed a number of issues including the small scientific knowledge of much of the audience.
An example of this included the pH scale and acidification of seawater with dissolved CO2. Wikipedia has a couple of fine entries on these topics - and I quote: 
"Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by their uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.^[1] Between 1751 and 1994 surface ocean pH is estimated to have decreased from approximately 8.179 to 8.104, a change of −0.075 on the logarithmic pH scale which corresponds to an increase of 18.9% in H+ (acid) concentration.^[2][3] By the first decade of the 21st century however, the net change in ocean pH levels relative pre-industrial level was about -0.11, representing an increase of some 30% in "acidity" (ion concentration) in the world's oceans."
My geologist son then whipped out his calculator ( far more complex than the basic ones I used at school) and proceeded to verify this figure using the appropriate logarithmic calculation, and came to a very similar conclusion using the numbers on the show.
A general lack of scientific knowledge in the community is understandable.  Having 2 practicing scientists at home now makes me very wary of how my discussions are framed. I know (even with my own science degree) how much I've forgotten over the years and how much more experimentation and evidence has been gathered. Hence the need to get good and detailed evidence when framing these debates, not belief.
Watch the program at : http://news.sbs.com.au/insight/episode/index/id/302#watchonline

Green Voters & Chaser Boys

So the Chasers are parodying the Green Voters tonight in "Yes we Canberra". From the promo I heard, the targets are inner-city, non-business running, non-farming background, drugged hippies looking to score girls or other things.
Like all parodies there are elements of the truth here. Comments I have heard from my friends include the concerns echoed by Mad Hatter Katter regarding regional issues. Several friends come from farming backgrounds but are living and working in the city as they did not want to continue life on the land. I come from a family where coal mining was a major occupation in the "home country". Members of the family have moved on since then and now enjoy a whole range of jobs. Life moves on and so do opinions! Greenies have some points of view worth listening too also!
So lets enjoy the parody of the Chaser Boys, pick-up on the issues and try to strive for some sensible policies. Vote 1 for the Chaser Boys holding a mike under the nose of a cow! And lets see whether the independents can show some greatness of spirit and get the country running again.

PS: How about both Julia & Tony for PM. Malcolm & Penny, Costello & Swan. Just like a marriage made in Heaven!