Since the beginning of time, man has yearned to destroy the sun

[jpgray]

We will do the next best thing: block it out!



http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1999966,00.html

The US government wants the world's scientists to develop technology to block sunlight as a last-ditch way to halt global warming, the Guardian has learned. It says research into techniques such as giant mirrors in space or reflective dust pumped into the atmosphere would be "important insurance" against rising emissions, and has lobbied for such a strategy to be recommended by a major UN report on climate change, the first part of which will be published on Friday.

The US has also attempted to steer the UN report, prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), away from conclusions that would support a new worldwide climate treaty based on binding targets to reduce emissions - as sought by Tony Blair. It has demanded a draft of the report be changed to emphasise the benefits of voluntary agreements and to include criticisms of the Kyoto Protocol, the existing treaty which the US administration opposes.

The final IPCC report, written by experts from across the world, will underpin international negotiations to devise a new emissions treaty to succeed Kyoto, the first phase of which expires in 2012. World governments were given a draft of the report last year and invited to comment.

The US response, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, says the idea of interfering with sunlight should be included in the summary for policymakers, the prominent chapter at the front of each IPCC report. It says: "Modifying solar radiance may be an important strategy if mitigation of emissions fails. Doing the R&D to estimate the consequences of applying such a strategy is important insurance that should be taken out. This is a very important possibility that should be considered."

[Richardo]

Again, life imitates the Simpsons

:rofl:

[tridim]

9. Actually it's closer to the Futurama episode about global warming

They used to get by dropping big blocks of ice into the ocean, but when they ran out of ice they tried a space mirror. It ended up focusing the sun into a thin beam that cut various buildings in half. :)

Here's the educational film..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgE_mkR2oac

[swag]

1. Diabolical!

[Vidar]

2. Can't imagine that plan backfiring.

[Subdivisions]

3. Put up a sunshade so Big Oil can continue to profit from

the destruction of our atmosphere just that much longer.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. That one's actually pretty easy, I'd think.

We've plenty of nukes, after all. Enough megatonnage in a few major Pacific volcanoes should produce the desired results.

Of course, the idea of nuking volcanoes to block out the sun and slow down global warming is utterly fucking mad, but I can't think of much else that'd do it, and I'd not be surprised in the least if something along those lines were what they decided to do.

What they really need to be doing is working on the logistics to put a massive array of solar panels in orbit near Mercury and beam the energy back to Earth with masers, or massively funding fusion research...attacking the problem at the root instead of lopping off a few branches.

[jpgray]

5. I vote Dyson sphere

Let's think big

[Richardo]

11. I can tell you're a man with vision

:thumbsup:

[Marie26]

6. Or

how about dropping a 5000-ton ice cube into the ocean every so often?

[jpgray]

7. Who gets contracted to build the giant freezer and giant ice cube tray?

[Marie26]

10. Halliburton, of course

They're the only company that has the capability for such a massive infrastructure project. Or, hey, maybe they could just block out the sun by constructing a giant freezer around the earth instead! Much more efficient. Saves the mega-ton ice cubes.

[DeSwiss]

8. And if we dig deeper....

....I'm certain we'll find that this "study" was financed by Exxon.

Haven't these numbnuts ever heard of the "Law of Unintended Consequences"???

[Richardo]

12. Not so sure they're 'unintended' for these guys

[DeSwiss]

13. Okay... well then there's that.... n/t

:crazy:

[nickinSTL]

14. Bush=Montgomery Burns?

:wtf: