'Day After Tomorrow' is "remarkably realistic" says UK Chief Scientist

[Rosco T.]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=520723

The Hollywood blockbuster that depicts a sudden ice age brought about by climate change is "remarkably realistic" in parts, says the Government's chief scientist.

Sir David King said The Day After Tomorrow, which he watched yesterday at a private screening in London, will increase the public's awareness of a threat he once described as worse than terrorism. But he added that it plays fast and loose with some of the science of climate change. "I welcome the movie in the sense that it raises the profile of a critically important public debate about global warming and the need to persuade governments to take action now," Sir David said.

(snip)

Sir David said the film, by the Independence Day director, Roland Emmerich, accurately portrayed the difficult real-life discussions that have taken place between climate scientists and politicians, particularly those close to the Bush administration, which is sceptical about global warming.

"The general interaction between the scientific community and political community is interestingly well portrayed," he said. "The opening scenes setting up the key scientific factors and introducing the viewer to the scientists and the scientific-political interface are in my view remarkably realistic. I think palaeoclimatologists can closely identify with the discussion. The sceptical reactions that the scientists received are also rather well depicted."

(more)

[burythehatchet]

1. Very timely.

This morning on NPR they interviewed a scientist who Sen. Inhofe often quotes when he says that global warming is a hoax.

[montanacowboy]

4. Yes, I loved his rationale

for us not regulating our energy policy because if we did, it would make it more difficult for people in Africa to "benefit from our economy" (paraphrasing)

My head blew off on that remark - and to think this jerk actually teaches at a university....

[burythehatchet]

6. Yeah, I was changing lanes when he said that

and I thought I had zoned out because that truly was a leap of faith.

[taxidriver]

2. that is some scary stuff

[Lisa0825]

3. I can't wait t o see it!

I'll be there on opening day for it. I saw the full-length trailer in the theater last week, and the special effects were really amazing. I hope it reaches a wide audience and makes more people think about what we're doing to the planet. Sure, some will never be convinced, but some people can be, and an action adventure movie is a way to reach people who aren't reached by other media.

[Flubadubya]

5. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum....

Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee
Resolved to have a battle,
For Tweedle-dum said Tweedle-dee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew by a monstrous crow,
As big as a tar-barrel,
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.


Kinda resonates here, eh? Thanks Lewis Carroll!

[liberalron]

7. Not only "Tree Huggers"

are concerned about the effects of global warming. The Defense Department and global insurance corportations (Swiss Re) both have excellent studies and conclusions on the subject. One can simply go to Google, or whatever search engine one uses, type in "Global Warming" and peruse what comes up, in order to know that this is a very real and pressing problem.

And, though the build-up and the causal factors may evolve slowly,over a long period of time, the historical evidence from ice core drillings indicate that the actual dramatic/catastrophic climate change happens relativly quickly - in years, not decades or centuries. One analogy is that of filling a bucket with water. As the bucket is filling everything seems okay; however, once the water reaches the rim, it overflows immediately.

The good news? New Scientist had a study which was that global warming might no happen; because, we might run out of oil before the extremes of global warming are attained.
But, if we then turn to coal for our energy needs, we will exacerbate and speed up the process of global warming.

While one is at it, one should also do searches for:
Peak Oil and The Real Cost of Gasoline (oil also works).

Our representives in government are just playing around the edges; they are not addressing, or even informing us of, our most pressing problems.

Peace.

[DrWeird]

8. Wonder how much they paid him.

Because the previews look about as realistic as Independance Day.

[Frederic Bastiat]

9. Swooooshhhhhh

Sound of someone missing the point. :eyes:

[DrWeird]

10. Alright.

What's the point?

[Rosco T.]

11. He wasn't watching the PREVIEWS.. he say the movie n/m

[DrWeird]

12. Usually...

previews are clips from the movie. At least in this day and age.

[Rosco T.]

13. Special Message for those that can't figure this out...

....and those that want to put down the movie and can't figure out that the underlying message is real.

In the south seas, there is an island that has
managed to avoid the touch of the hand of man for
thousands of years.

On that island there is a lagoon with warm crystal
clear water that lets you see all the way to the
bottom with razor shapness.

At the bottom of that lagoon, clues grow by the
thousands, ready and willing to be gathered by
those that truly need and have the most basic wisdom
to look...

... see your travel agent.