To the Editor,

Re: Upcoming climate summit crucial, Science Matters, Nov. 3.

David Suzuki says, “Recent scientific information shows that the impacts of climate change are happening much more quickly than expected.”

This is quite the statement considering that global average temperatures have dropped since 1998 while CO2 generated has increased.

Some experts have stated that we are entering a mini-ice age and we can expect colder temperatures for the next three decades. This is the same information that came out in the 1970s.

Suzuki also says that, “Ocean levels are rising more rapidly that predicted.” This statement is untrue, as in the last 2,000 years, sea levels have oscillated with peaks reaching 0.6 to 1.2m above the present level.

From 1790 to 1970 the sea level was about 20cm higher than today. Sea levels have remained stable for the last 30 years. This information comes from the expert Nils-Axel Morner Head of paleogeophysics and geodynamics at Stockholm University and can be confirmed by Canadian Hydrographical Services.

Another item that is false is that “the polar ice cap is melting at an astonishing rate.” In our Artic on Jan. 1, 2009, the sea ice ended the year at the same level as 1979. This was confirmed by the University of Illinois Arctic Climate Research Center-Satellite Observation.

Also, it is reported that the Antartic ice melt during the Antartic summer recorded the lowest melt in satellite history going back to Day 1 30 years ago.

Overall, I think the general public is starting to see through this global warming/climate change/carbon credit/cap and trade scam/hoax.

Maybe Al Gore won’t become the first carbon billionaire.

Perhaps Suzuki should concentrate on real pollution and leave CO2, the fertilizer, alone.

A.G. Warning

Nanoose Bay

Off-leash dog parks infringe on people

To the Editor,

Re: Dogs need more space, Letters, Oct. 20.

If dog owners want a park with shade access, drinking water and swimming, they should pay for it, not Nanaimo taxpayers.

What about giving homeless people this opportunity, including a toilet area. Figure out the cost of off-leash parks and divide the costs among the dog licences issued.

If a man urinates in public it’s offensive, but a dog is allowed to pee on anything, plus leaving poop behind.

Where are people without dogs and dogs on-leash to go? I don’t know of anyone wanting a strange dog running up at them or their dog, or smelling crotches. In dog training lessons we were taught this to be ill-mannered.

These parks were made parks for everyone. We have few areas in Nanaimo to swim, not for dogs to take over. Off-leash dogs are supposed to be under owner control.

I have never seen any survey for off-leash areas that have asked me directly.

Irene Spivey

Nanaimo