The Big Chill

Stuart Mac · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:51 am Post subject: The Big Chill

Did anyone else see Horizon the other night? I was already aware of the problem from this website:

http://emigratenz.org/NZMigrationSurvival.html

Is anyone else taking this into consideration as a reason for moving to New Zealand? I pesonally do not think it's a huge part of my own reasons. I was already thinking about emigrating before I knew about 'The Big Chill'. Now that I know about it I think there has been some influence on my motivaton to leave the UK though. Are there any other 'survivalists' out there?

JCM · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 1:19 pm Post subject:

It's interesting that 'The Big Chill' is becoming a bit more widely known about and has got as far as Horizon. The Prime TV channel here has carried a few recent Horizon programmes from the UK. I hope they'll show this one. Would you mind saying a little about the sort of conclusions they drew Stuart? Thank you :) .

Angela Banks · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 9:47 pm Post subject:

I missed it but you can read complete transcripts of Horizon at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/

The Big Chill is at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2003/bigchill.shtml

Stuart Mac · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:12 am Post subject:

Angela's link says more than I ever could. The main cause of alarm is that climate scientists are saying there's a fifty-fifty chance of the UK ending up with a climate like Alaska's within the next hundred years. It's possible that the Big Chill might be here in just twenty years.

Here's an article summarising the thoughts of one of the scientists featured in the programme.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/opinion/story/0,12981,1083413,00.html

dieter · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 9:14 pm Post subject:

this news makes me a bit scared. i think all of northern europe will be in trouble. Sad

John Miller · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 2:28 pm Post subject:

I see the story has reached the Herald.

Britain is likely to be plunged into an ice age within our lifetime by global warming, new research suggests.

A study, which is being taken seriously by top government scientists, has uncovered a change "of remarkable amplitude" in the circulation of the waters of the North Atlantic.......................................

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3545437

Robert · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:18 pm Post subject: Sensationalistic

I saw this one before I left and, as with all of Horizon programming, it was, to use the vernacular, 'sexed-up'.

Similar mini-scares have happened before, for exactly the same reasons and come to naught (I recall one in the late 70s) and the program rather glossed over the 400 year or so period when it seems likely the North Atlantic Drift did shut down (or at least partially) for unknown reasons. This gave skating on the Thames but we survived.

If the program creators were honest they would have made it clearer that this is a 'worst case' prediction rather than indispudable fact and that other, far more moderate changes are more likely.

caveat viewer (sic)

karltsmith · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 12:10 am Post subject:

Absolutely right Robert. Horizon are famous for reporting sexed-up unbalanced 'semi-science'....believe it when it happens...truth is only time will tell!

ChrisandDenise · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 08 Dec 2003 Posts: 14

If the BBC weather forecasters are right, the 'big chill' is about to sweep down this evening from Scandinavia. My kids can't wait Mr. Green

JCM · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:29 am Post subject:

Some light reading to cheer us all up Uhoh

Now the Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us

· Secret report warns of rioting and nuclear war
· Britain will be 'Siberian' in less than 20 years
· Threat to the world is greater than terrorism

Sunday February 22, 2004
The Observer

Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters..
A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.

The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.

'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life.' ...........................................................

http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1153530,00.html

Key findings of the Pentagon
Sunday February 22, 2004
The Observer

· Future wars will be fought over the issue of survival rather than religion, ideology or national honour.
· By 2007 violent storms smash coastal barriers rendering large parts of the Netherlands inhabitable. Cities like The Hague are abandoned. In California the delta island levees in the Sacramento river area are breached, disrupting the aqueduct system transporting water from north to south.

· Between 2010 and 2020 Europe is hardest hit by climatic change with an average annual temperature drop of 6F. Climate in Britain becomes colder and drier as weather patterns begin to resemble Siberia.....................

http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1153547,00.html

veronica · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:00 am Post subject:

Don't worry about it......... earth will probably be hit by a comet before then!! that was the last scare prediction from a few years back.

What will be, will be, you may as well live your life to the fullest so you have fewer regrets if the world does turn topsy turvy. its out of our control anyway. Just centre on the things you can control and concentrate when crossing the road so you don't get hit by the proverbial bus.

Arlevien · I Like It Here Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 56

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

Cripes that's scary, JCM.

I read that the death toll from the European heatwave was close to 30,000. I wonder if the recent flooding in NZ has anything to do with changing weather patterns globally?

Taffy · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:08 am Post subject: Big chill

Suddenly the moon gets more and more appealing by the day.. although I hear its pretty cold there too Mr. Green

Taffy

rodders · Valued Member Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 134

when i were a lad i remember nuclear fall out shelters were all the rage for 'the family who had everything'. Laughing

history has a habit of repeating itself.

whatever happens, the rodders family will be safe in our mountain hideaway in the southern alps. Razz