BY FRANK VERNUCCIO
The Earth faces real environmental
issues. Unfortunately,
the unscientifi c responses
to that challenge will
make the problem worse, not
better, and ignore the very
real needs of the planet and
the people.
The pain felt at the gas
pumps since the Biden administration
moved to end American
energy independence will
be deepened by rising costs
for home heating this winter.
It’s a harsh expense that isn’t
even necessary, and the issue
will grow even more diffi cult
as illusory “solutions” based
more on politics than practicality
take hold.
Facts can be inconvenient
things for the extremists
who seek to use climate fearmongering
to push a socialist
agenda under the guise of
addressing climate change.
Gregory Wrightstone, a geologist
and expert on the environment,
notes that the allegation
that the planet is
facing unprecedented warming
is utterly false. The globe
was warmer at many points
Photo courtesy Getty Images
in humanity’s past. Those
periods resulted in greater
prosperity, not disaster. The
notion that increased carbon
dioxide is similarly a disaster
to be averted at all costs also
doesn’t stand up to scientifi c
scrutiny.
An objective view of scientifi
c data concerning alterations
in the global climate
would indicate that concerns
over man-made planetary
warming don’t have a solid
foundation in objective facts.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 50 EC. 17-23, 2021 BTR
In a survey of 1800 scientists,
only 43% agreed with
the UN’s ‘95%’ certainty’
about global warming. Dr.
Steve Koonin, who served as
undersecretary for science
in the Energy Department
during President Barack
Obama’s fi rst term, noted the
lack of scientifi c agreement in
a Wall Street Journal article:
“The idea that ‘Climate science
is settled’ runs through
today’s popular and policy
discussions. Unfortunately,
that claim is misguided. It has
not only distorted our public
and policy debates on issues
related to energy, greenhouse
gas emissions and the
environment. But it also has
inhibited the scientifi c and
policy discussions that we
need to have about our climate
future.”
The hysteria over carbon
dioxide is absurd. NASA
notes that “A quarter to half
of Earth’s vegetated lands
has shown signifi cant greening
over the last 35 years
largely due to rising levels of
atmospheric carbon dioxide…
Green leaves use energy from
sunlight through photosynthesis
to chemically combine
carbon dioxide drawn in from
the air with water and nutrients
tapped from the ground to
produce sugars, which are the
main source of food, fi ber and
fuel for life on Earth. Studies
have shown that increased
concentrations of carbon dioxide
increase photosynthesis,
spurring plant growth.”
Deforestation and the loss
of wildlife habitat, in contrast,
are real and serious issues.
The drive to replace fossil fuels
and nuclear power with solar
and wind energy will make
that problem worse, render energy
too expensive for most,
and will ultimately prove illusory
since there is no reasonable
way that they can
produce the energy needed.
A total reliance on solar and
wind would require that up
to 20% of the entire U.S. landmass
would have to be covered
in solar panels and wildlifekilling
wind turbines, an environmental
disaster in and of
itself. Since solar panels and
wind turbines have relatively
short lifespans, the problem
of disposing of those used and
non-biodegradable devices
will result in a further crisis.
The concept of rapidly
eliminating or sharply reducing
the use of fossil fuels
and nuclear energy in favor
of solar panels and wind turbines
ignores the need for
affordable power. It also ignores
the prospect of technological
breakthroughs which
will occur within the current
century, long before the
hyped-up timeline laid out by
climate Cassandras. Fusion
power, microwaved energy
collected above the Earth’s environment,
better use of tidal
and geothermal sources, and
other advances will gradually,
practically, affordably
and cleanly replace fossil fuels.
The disregard for the need
of the population to have affordable
heat, transportation
and energy for commerce is
callous, unnecessary and unscientifi
c, no matter how much
hype is provided by those extremists
who seek more to
“fundamentally transform”
the global economy than to
keep the air clean.
CIVIC CENTER
Community Action
Civic Association
BY JOSEPH MONDELLO
Ho, Ho, Ho, to all our Sam
Young members, friends and
families, and a jolly season’s
greetings to you all. By now
— as promised — you should
have received your membership
cards and a Post newsletter.
We understand that your
membership card is important
to you as it verifi es you
as a legionnaire member and
can grant you to access into
other legion posts around the
country. It also entitles you
to many discounts. We sent
some membership cards out
in advance in good faith. Your
card is not valid until you pay
your annual Post membership
fee. Please return your
payment in those notice envelopes
sent out or online. If
you’re a Post 620 SAL or Post
Booster member, please see
SAL Cmdr. Fran Sampson or
Jeanette to pay your dues.
If you happen to be reading
this on Friday, don’t forget
the Christmas Party tonight
starting around 6 p.m.
If not yet a member, you can
join the party with a $30 donation
to cover the drinks and
food. While you’re at it, bring
a Toy for Tots. On Saturday,
Bronx Borough President Ruben
Diaz Jr., and his Veteran
Council will be at the Bronx
Zoo giving out toys to children
of active military and
veteran families. This will
be one of the last events Diaz
Jr., will be hosting as borough
president. From all of
us, good luck and thank you
for your service to the Bronx
community.
As we continue performing
repairs in our Post, we
are always looking for anyone
willing to lend a hand or
make a monetary donation.
It is always appreciated. We
want to thank Dale and the
Plasterer’s and Cement Masons
Association for repairing
our ceilings; Booster
member Edwin Espinal for
serving our snow blower;
and Tony Palermo and his
Boy Scout Troop for cleaning
up the lawn and around the
building.
We will soon celebrate
the New Year 2022. I heard a
party is in the works to kick
out 2021. Jeanette will make
sure it goes out with a bang.
Never too early to make plans
for Saturday, Feb. 12, for a romantic
“A Night of Wine and
Roses” Valentine’s date. A
cabaret nightclub environment
with live entertainment
performed by “The many
voices of Denis Dell.” Tickets
go on sale Jan. 4, 2022. Limited
seating so reserve early.
In closing, did you know
that “Santa Claus Is Coming
To Town” was fi rst performed
on Eddie Cantor’s radio
show in November 1934.
Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen,
Frank Sinatra, Chris
Isaak and Michael Bublé
were among the many which
covered this song over the
years. This song inspired an
animated 1970 TV fi lm with
Fred Astaire as the narrator.
Peace and love.
CIVIC CENTER
Samuel Young
Post 620