The Science Behind Global Warming

This coming Sunday, January 17, Jeff Wardeska will present an overview of some of the factual-based findings that give rise to the concept of global warming. Here's his synopsis:

"Global Warming or climate change has become a topic of great concern in recent years. Everyone (almost) agrees the earth is the warmest it has been in many years and that since the mid 1800’s our increasing use of fossil fuels is causing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to rise. Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion of all carbon based fuels, for example, natural gas is methane and burning methane produces water and carbon dioxide according to the equation

CH4 + 2 O2 -> CO2 + 2 H2O

There are many other factors which affect the climate and there is some legitimate disagreement about how strong the link is between levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and recent atmospheric warming.

Most of the evidence for global warming comes from scientists who work under the umbrella of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The IPCC, in addition to publishing their research in main-line scientific journals, issues comprehensive reports approximately every 6 years, the latest being in 2007.

Our increasing reliance on fossil fuels and the continuing build-up of carbon dioxide has implications beyond global warming, affecting the environment and the oceans (ocean acidification). We will also examine some predictions for the future resulting from these trends.

Jeff is trained in inorganic chemistry and is professor and chair of the department of Chemistry at ETSU. Please join us for an informative and entertaining discussion. You'll be very welcome. As always, wonderful childcare is provided.

Findings from the Pacific Ocean

On January 10 we are lucky to have Jim Kevin as a guest speaker. Jim comes to us via Jean K. He has spent time as an on-board volunteer for the University of Washington's oceanographic research vessel, "Thomas G Thompson." This state-of-the-art ship provides some of the latest findings on environmental and fisheries conditions in the Pacific ocean, in addition to answering questions of "so what exactly is down there." The ship has been part of studies featured on the PBS program "NOVA." Jim is going to fill us in on some of the TGT's recent work.

Please join us for this interesting presentation. We'll be glad to have you. As usual, the very best of child care is joyfully provided.

Compassion....and Hope

We are going to return the the Living the Question2 series for the first week of the new year. We're going to view and discuss chapter 19, "Compassion: The Heart of Jesus' Ministry." Here are a couple of quotes from the reading to set the tone:

"A student of anthropologist Margaret Mead once asked her to describe the earliest sign of civilization in a given culture. The young student expected the noted scholar of cultures to say that clay pots or crude axes or grinding stones were the first clues of civilization. Dr. Mead’s answer was 'a healed femur,' the human thighbone. She went on to explain that a healed femur indicated that someone cared. Someone had to do the injured person’s hunting and gathering until the leg healed. The evidence of compassion, she said, is the first sign of civilization."

Pretty good, that. And from Harold Beck in The Joys of Liberation Preaching:

"Albert Schweitzer said, 'Concern for people is the beginning of hope.' And when I find somebody hopeless I conclude that they are not very much concerned about anybody. Isn’t it funny that the great harbingers of hope in our time have been the (Mother) Teresas, and the (Martin Luther) Kings, and the (Oscar) Romeros, and the Gandhis? Good heavens, of all the people who had a right to resign from hope -- maybe Schweitzer was right, 'Concern for other people is the beginning of hope.'"

Please join us at 9:45. You'll be very Welcome. As always, excellent childcare is provided.

Rounding off "Home" with Jane Goodall

We recently spent three Sundays viewing the environmental film, Home. The story is beautiful but dire and leaves us with a sense of disquiet. Jane Goodall sees the same problems projected in the movie, but her take on our future is more hopeful. Dr. Goodall appeared on Bill Moyers' Journal on November 27. Thanks to the miracle of the internet (and the foresight to the technology committee at church) we'll be able to watch Moyers interview of Goodall on Sunday, December 27th in the Adult Forum.

Here's an introductory blurb for the website at Bill Moyers' Journal:

Dr. Jane Goodall is a familiar face to several generations around the globe. The young woman patiently seated near wild chimps in Africa first appeared in the pages of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC in the early 1960s. Her work with the chimps of Gombe National Park has been profiled in magazines, books, films and television documentaries numerous times in subsequent years. She is an inspiration to those generations who take her warnings about the state of the earth to heart:
I mean, isn't it great that high school students in some inner city area will greet me as I walk in, as though I were a pop star. That is so amazing. Because all that they've got out of what I've done is a message of hope. And the fact that our main message is "You make a difference every day. You matter. Your life is important."
Dr. Goodall now travels the world raising awareness about the dire situation facing the natural world — and many of its species. Her mission includes programs for communities in Africa to protect forests, create sustainable livelihoods and support health and education. The Jane Goodall Institute runs a global program to create a new generation of conservationists called Roots & Shoots.

You can watch the interview ahead of time, here, but I bet it'll be more fun in our group. Please join us. You'll be glad you did. And as always, superb, free babysitting is provided.

We're off on the 20th PLUS a Public Service Announcement

Many thanks to Dr. David Harker for his excellent presentation last Sunday.
We won't be holding the Adult Forum on December 20 due to the preparations with our Christmas Dinner at the Church.

So, I'll take this opportunity to make a public Service Announcement from one of our members, Elizabeth D. Leigh-Paffenroth, Ph.D.
Here it is:

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PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR
RESEARCH STUDY

We are seeking subjects (ages 18-80) who have normal hearing. Participants will receive a free hearing evaluation, inner ear tests, and $40 (2-2 hour sessions). All testing is done at the VA Medical Center. For more information and to determine eligibility call the VA Audiology Service at 926-1171 ext. 7138 and ask for Elizabeth or email her at Elizabeth.Leigh@va.gov.

The Philosopher's Gene

This coming Sunday, December 13, we will host Dr. David Harker, Asst. Professor of Philosophy at ETSU. Dr. Harker will speak on a comprehensible view of the gene, the fundamental functional unit of heredity.
Dr. Harker joined the ETSU faculty in 2006 following his doctorate at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and a tour as a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for the Philosophy of Natural and Social Sciences at the London School of Economics. He has recently published in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. Dr Harker's expertise is in the philosophy of science and biology and he teaches university courses on those topics.
Dr Harker spoke to our group last year and we are pleased that he agree to a return visit. Please join us for what promises to be a thoughtful presentation and discussion on a non-biologist's view of the gene. You'll be very welcome, and as always, excellent childcare is provided.

Mark Peacock's Calendars

Mark Peacock wrote to say his calendars for 2010 are available. You will remember his stunning photographs from an earlier forum. Here's a link to his gallery. And here's his letter:

Friends,
I thought you might be interested in my 2010 Appalachian Treks Calendar. It makes the perfect gift for those who love Appalachia! This twelve-month calendar features a different image each month of a beautiful scene from the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina (See attached image). The calendar is full-color, spiral bound, measures approximately 11"x17" when opened, and is printed on high-quality card stock.

Price $15 (plus tax and S&H), Quantities are limited!
(allow 7-10 days for shipping)

Click here to order yours today!

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas,

Mark

Gallery: www.markwpeacock.com
Blog: http://appalachiantreks.blogspot.com/