Please, Sir , May I have more Carbon Offsets ?

Back to Biafra in the name of climate change

Last year, an American Spectator  essay  ranked Nigeria as a liberal democracy because  52% of its literate citizens think highly of America. Now it features Pat Michaels lambasting the executive summary   of the latest UN global warming report for implicit racism in lowballing  21st century African economic prospects.

But one IPCC  report reviewer has already quit because , contrary to contrarian Michaels , he thinks climate modelers are on thin ice  high-siding  Africa's  21st century CO2 output . His essay in Spiked outlines out the deep societal roots of Africa's hundred year descent into being an economic basket case.

National Review columnist  Bill  Buckley , noting Nigeria's failed election and prospering  kleptocracy , asserts that paradigmatic African nation once again " needs a strongman"  As eyewitness to some of what its last few accomplished -- mass starvation in the short-lived Republic of Biafra , and the early flowering of Islamic fundamentalism in the sub-Saharan north , I fear the Spiked essayist has something of a point.

So whence Michaels' optimism ? Maybe he's been too diligent in reading his Nigerian  email.  If the number of offers of vast wealth for the courtesy of a reply I get is any guide ,  the estimate that 52% of Nigerians love America seem far too low. At least 65,000,000 million of them  must spend their days seeking to enrich us all. offering tens of millions of dollars for little more than our account details , social security numbers, a promise of confidentiality and a few hundred thousand dollars for incidental expenses.

This is a remarkable and positive change in attitude-- incoming flak and occasional strafing enlivened my edifying visit to Biafra , but not one offer of a ten million dollar commission for helping to settle an estate. Perhaps the low oil prices then prevailing had a chilling effect on the region's native generosity. Ingenious Texans have since remedied matters ,transforming the Niger Delta from a region of starvation and  malarial squalor to one of malarial squalor, malnutrition , and occasional scattered Kuwait Oil Fires. Banning DDT didn't help save this  rain forest.

Nigeria's Neronian synergy of kleptocracy and pyromania cannot explain why some there desire to siphon wealth into our pockets and others wish us even more. One , writing on behalf of "The All Seeing Eye , Mr Nick Webb, " offers "a Seat on the High Council of the Priory of Sion founded in 1815 by King Artour. We will also advice that these grant funds awarded to you which amount to $350,000.00 be used to better the lot of man through your own initiative and also we will go further to inform you that the open slot to become a Priory Of Sion is optional."

Maybe I should forward it to Michaels. Since the IPCC high council actively seeks Non-Governmental Organizations to expand its power base , having a State Climatologist should assure a Priory a priori of securing Biafra's vacant seat at the round table.

Comments

[John Burgess]

You know you're going to burn in hell for that....

Thanks, though. I'm sure you'll be good company.

[Harry]

The article writer owes Pat an apology - obvious to the casual observer. Look at the USA @ 1900 AD. Gangs of thugs commanded by Unions or Robber Barons. Amerinds and Blacks had only paper rights. Horse and Buggy to walking on the moon in 70 years. Saudis drove camels.
In 2000 AD, 49 of 52 African nations are run by Dictators/Juntas/Warlords that killed their way up the food chain, maybe 2 democracies. A century is a long time socially. Economically, the UNIPCC scenarios that generate high Anthrpogenic Global Warming have most of Africa hitting the USA(2000) standard of living/oil usage by 2050(that is the joke). For a detailed view of these scenarios start with Lomberg's "Skeptical Environmentalist". The writer appears to know nothing of the Climate Debate, just pain and angst at African conditions, perhaps enrollment and acing PM's classes would help.

RESPONSE:
If Mr. Patat is one of PM's star pupils, he's made a compelling case for curricular reform.

I refer him to the sidebar for some dozens of posts on the climate debate- and to the 'About ' section, for a link to my bibliography on the subject , both popular and peer-reviewed , which I hope he may find edifying.