Speaking Truth to Power

The Union of Concerned Scientists believes that global warming is a fact. Their view is that human activity has led to climatological changes, which will increase and accelerate.

Not being climatologists, we're not entitled to an opinion.

Claimed effects include "Increase in global average surface temperature of about 1 degree F in the 20th century."

This is a proposition of fact (that is, capable of proof, one way or the other) with which we have no quarrel.

But it provides us with context for this, from ABC News:

Witnessing the impact of global warming in your life?

ABC News wants to hear from you. We're currently producing a report on the increasing changes in our physical environment, and are looking for interesting examples of people coping with the differences in their daily lives. Has your life been directly affected by global warming?

We want to hear and see your stories. Have you noticed changes in your own backyard or hometown? The differences can be large or small — altered blooming schedules, unusual animals that have arrived in your community, higher water levels encroaching on your property.

Show us what you've seen. You can include video material of the environmental change, or simply tell your story via webcam. Please fill out the form below, and be sure to include captions or other descriptive information if you're sending video. We hope to hear from you. Thank you.

It will be interesting to see what sort of personal anecdotes, let alone video, will be received chronicling the personal horror stories of individuals beset by the effects of a one-degree temperature increase.

We'd like to think we're capable of making this stuff up. But we're not sure of it.

[Updated to correct spelling error caused by global warming.]