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Old 28-07-2009, 09:55   #1
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West Marine Jumps on it's Privates

Recieved this email (compliments of being a BOATUS Member for the last 4 decades).

Dear West Marine Boater
We generally don't stray very far from our mission of trying to provide you with excellent products and services for your boat and boating lifestyle. We also usually keep our political and social opinions to ourselves, believing it's not our place to solicit others, even when the cause is, in our opinion, worthy.
Perhaps it's that West Marine has reached the ripe old age of 40, or perhaps it's the state of some of the world's natural resources, but we feel compelled to make an exception to our normal policy and attempt to help raise the awareness of some significant risks that this and future generations of boaters are facing. In this message today, we're not seeking any business or other gain for West Marine. We're simply trying to be good stewards of the oceans and marine environments, for the benefit of all.

We hope you'll accept our opinions, advice, and call to action as sincere, positive and responsible; as that's how they are intended. What would you do if you knew that many species of fish and other marine life in the ocean will be gone within 30 years if levels of C02 continue increasing at their present rate? We believe you would take action to stop this from happening, because informed people make informed choices.
This letter is about what we can and must do together now to help solve a very serious, but little-known problem, Ocean Acidification. Sally-Christine and I are lifelong boaters. What we have learned from sailing across the Pacific over the past 6 years, and especially from scientists focused on marine conservation, is startling. Whether you spend time on the water or not, Ocean Acidification affects all of us and is something we believe you will want to know about.
Ocean Acidification is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels. When carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ends up in the ocean it changes the pH, making the sea acidic and less hospitable to life. Over time, C02 reduces calcium carbonate, which prevents creatures from forming shells and building reefs. In fact, existing shells will start to dissolve. Oysters and mussels will not be able to build shells. Crabs and lobsters? Your great-grandchildren may wonder what they tasted like. Carbon dioxide concentrated in the oceans is making seawater acidic.
Many of the zooplankton, small animals at the base of the food web, have skeletons that won't form in these conditions, and sea-life further up the food chain - fish, mammals and seabirds that rely on zooplankton for food will also perish. No food - no life. One billion people rely on seafood for their primary source of protein. Many scientific reports document that worldwide, humans are already consuming more food than is being produced. The implications are obvious. The issue ofOcean Acidification is causing irreversible loss to species and habitats, and acidification trends are happening up to ten times faster than projected. We want you to know what this means, how it affects all of us, and what we can do about it. Today, the atmospheric concentration of C02 is about 387 parts per million (ppm) and increasing at 2 ppm per year.
If left unaddressed, by 2040 it is projected to be over 450 ppm, and marine scientists believe the collapse of many ocean ecosystems will be irreversible. Acidification has other physiological effects on marine life as well, including changes in reproduction, growth rates, and even respiration in fish. Tropical and coldwater corals are among the oldest and largest living structures on earth; the richest in terms of biodiversity, they provide spawning areas, nursery habitat and feeding grounds for a quarter of all species in the sea. Coral reefs are at risk! As C02 concentrations increase, corals, shellfish and other species that make shells will not be able to build their skeletons and will likely become extinct. The good news is we can fix this problem. But, as you guessed, it will be difficult. Ocean Acidification is caused by increased C02 in the atmosphere. Solving one will solve the other. The House of Representatives has acted, passing HR 2454, the Waxman-Markey "American Clean Energy and Security Act", but it was severely weakened. Now the Senate has announced that it will move similar legislation this fall. We need the Senate to join the House in its leadership, but to demand far greater emissions reductions than were able to pass the House.
"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that in order to stabilize C02 in the atmosphere at 350 ppm by 2050, global carbon emissions need to be cut 85% below 2000 levels."That's a very tall order! And the way our political system works (or doesn't) makes its tougher. It will take all of us to step up and take responsibility to make this happen. Here is what you can do: Contact your Senator now using one of these techniques, listed in order of effectiveness.
1. Visit your Senator at their local office. It is easy to make an appointment. Tell them your concerns about C02 and the oceans, and to move strong climate legislation immediately that will reduce our greenhouse gas concentrations to levels that will not threaten our oceans. The experience is rewarding. (Alternatively, drop a letter off at their local office.)
2. Call your Senator and leave a message urging action be taken to reduce C02 , address Ocean Acidification, and move strong climate legislation immediately that will reduce our greenhouse gas concentrations to levels that will not threaten our oceans.
3. Click on this link to send an email, which will go directly to your Senator based on your address. http://www.oceana.org/acid
You may use the letter provided, but it is more effective to edit it, and in your own words urge them to move strong climate legislation immediately that will reduce our greenhouse gas concentrations to levels that will not threaten our oceans. Ocean Acidification is an issue we can do something about. We need a groundswell of informed citizens to get Congress to have the backbone to stand up to the entrenched interests of coal, oil, and gas and not compromise on the reduction of C02. We also need real leadership to aggressively create jobs using sustainable technologies. The choice is ours. We can solve this or not. What we do know is that the future facing our children, grandchildren and indeed all of humankind depends on our decision. Please join us in sharing this letter with others. We appreciate your taking the time to contact your Senators; it is easy to do and effective. Thank you for your support. The issue of Ocean Acidification is causing irreversible loss to species and habitats, and acidification trends are happening up to ten times faster than projected. We want you to know what this means, how it affects all of us, and what we can do about it.
The future facing our children, grandchildren and indeed all of humankind depends on the actions we take today to solve this growing problem.
Randy Repass
Chairman West Marine
Randy@westmarine.com


Sally-Christine Rodgers
Board Member Oceana
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Old 28-07-2009, 09:56   #2
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My already emailed reply...............

Randy,
While having been a member of boat US since the mid-‘70’s,
I am extremely distraught over Your email to the membership.

I respectfully request that You proffer a counter-point email as
The “science” of global warming (versus that of “global cooling” in the ‘70’s) is still “fuzzy” at best.
Over 30,000 world renowned scientists have spoken out against the so called “science” of global warming.

The majority of BoatUS’s membership are folks like me (in 1 form or another), own both power & sail, cruise, mostly out on the water weekends,
Donate & politically active. Live in Florida, the state of the most vessel registrations in the nation. The earth has actually cooled
A half degree in the last decade (can cite if necessary).

IF “global warming” is in fact a reality, industrializing nations such as china (bringing a new coal fired powerplant on line each week)
And India (with over 100,000 diesel powered tractor-trailer generators running 24/7 to supply manufacturing operations) choosing not to
Comply or adhere to long term goals and objectives sought by the UN renders any efforts to manage this issue moot.

EACH of These 2 countries already (while in a massive expansion/growth mode) out-produce us (the USA) in carbon emissions.
In Europe this has been tried & failed miserably. People have been taxed to death. Never thought in this lifetime a socialist country like
France would be telling us “it’s a BAD Idea”. Their GDP’s have been unalterably negatively impacted. They have lost their foothold on the
World stage. The decisions of India & China have made the “G8” impotent along with the UN.

BoatUS membership contributing to the demise of BoatUS (as folks taxed to death boat less, sell, & simply try to survive the economic collapse
Cap & trade would surely lead to) seems counter productive to a capitalist (boat owner & user). In Florida alone, according to Progress Energy and
FP&L, our electric bills will at least double. Fuel will again exceed $4. a gallon at the pump and our recession will be a depression (if it isn’t already).
Last summer impacted the national boating industry (& Your membership I feel confident) catastrophically.

Repeating that lesson, voluntarily, even actively reminds me of folks lining up cooperatively for “showers” in Auschwitz
(a camp my Grandfather survived). You, actively advocating our positive advocacy to “jump forward in that line” is unfathomable to a business owner
Who would be destroyed, along with his (boat related) business if this (cap & tax) passes.
I simply can’t conceive why You sent this email to me?
Is it too late to cancel my membership?
Please advise at Your earliest convenience,
(from a person who’s read every word of our 89 page new Florida legislation on this & a multitude of other issues that will decimate the marine industry in Florida going in
To effect on October 1 as it is)
I find Your actions, intentions, opinions and advice neither positive nor responsible;
More aptly self/corporately-destructive, if not suicidal as a business decision,
& while based in “opinion”, denial of 30,000 other legitimate scientists position,
Haphazard and ill-informed are the 2 descriptors in the forefront of my mind.
Unless this position is recanted, or at very least “countered”, I’ll look forward to spending the balance of this lifetime
Both never stepping foot in a West Marine Store again and taking an extremely active roll in the demise of West Marine by encouraging every other boater I know to
Never shop there again, for exactly this reason. I’ll be printing several thousand of this email to You and Your bulk email below that was sent to (I have to conclude)
All BoatUS membership, and passing them out to boat owners, posting them at marinas, confronting BoatUS to confirm if they support Your position, and contacting
My elected leadership to find out if they’ve received contributions from either boatUS or West Marine.
You are entitled to your opinion.
We are also entitled to ours’ as well as the opportunity to vote with our wallets/feet.
We shall.
We choose not to go quietly in to that night of financial extinction.

Sincerely,
-Michael “Mick” Peters
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Old 28-07-2009, 10:44   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captmick39 View Post

I respectfully request that You proffer a counter-point email as
The “science” of global warming (versus that of “global cooling” in the ‘70’s) is still “fuzzy” at best.
Over 30,000 world renowned scientists have spoken out against the so called “science” of global warming.
hogwash. check your facts.

anecdotal evidence does not a science make, but since global warming deniers seem obsessed with such things, try taking a look at the weather map in the Pacific Northwest right this minute.

The "30,000 world renowned scientists" is bogus. Check the signatures: 0.1% of the signatories have a background (not necessarily degree, mind you) in climatology and the headquarters of the petition drive is housed in a glorified aluminum shed in Cave Junction, OR.:

Home - Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
Kevin Grandia: The 30,000 Global Warming Petition Is Easily-Debunked Propaganda

Google the names on the petition. Many have absolutely no publicly accessible qualifications in any field; others seem to be famous (on the Internet) only for signing that petition.
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Old 28-07-2009, 10:51   #4
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Kind of lost me on this one.

It's probably fair to say that the chairman of West Marine speaks for, well .... West Marine. I fail to see where he claims to speak for BoatUS or its membership. You are illogically offended by the act of solicitation because you disagree with its substance. Why is this different from receiving political literature from a party, candidate, or other group you disagree with? Or do you always start a counter campaign in response unwelcome e-mail? Try the Delete button.
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Old 28-07-2009, 10:57   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captmick39 View Post
I respectfully request that You proffer a counter-point email as
The “science” of global warming (versus that of “global cooling” in the ‘70’s) is still “fuzzy” at best.
The letter is not talking about global warming, it is talking about ocean acidification. In fact it never mentions global warming.

I think perhaps your knee jerks too much.
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:18   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captmick39 View Post
... (1)I am extremely distraught over Your email to the membership.
... (2)Over 30,000 world renowned scientists have spoken out against the so called “science” of global warming ...
...(3)You are entitled to your opinion.
(4)We are also entitled to ours’ as well as the opportunity to vote with our wallets/feet ...
1. Are you distraught that Randy has expressed an opinion, or merely that it’s different from yours?

2. Not True.
Some of those supposed signatories are purely fraudulent, nearly all are not renowned, many are not scientists at all, and very few are actually trained in any discipline that might suggest any particular expertise in this subject.

3. You’re (Mick & Randy) both entitled to your opinions - right or wrong. You’re (both) even entitled to express them, in the appropriate manner.

4. Indeed, vote with your wallet, where necessary and productive; and evangelize where able.
Why do you feel that a retail establishment's management should share your delusional word view; and how does it benefit you to withold your trade from that business, based upon this disagreement?
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:18   #7
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Here goes the battle again

It all comes down to accusing man of causing global warming for the benefit of a few. That's hogwash.

Man has been able to adapt to the climate for thousands of years and it's time to do it again. Acidification is probably all part of the process and just another name for G. W. Even Mars is getting hotter, did we do that too? Climate change hits Mars - Times Online

Core samples from polar ice caps shows that we have had a history of high levels of CO2, more so then now, and the earth still survived! And actually, a cooling effect followed. Heck, a meteor could hit tomorrow. Try stopping that one.
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:20   #8
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I think perhaps your knee jerks too much.
Ugh and why do they jerk so? Aren't our oceans important enough to us as boaters for us to just do the research with an open mind? What is the psychology behind this denial? Is it because people are just tired of too much bad news?

If you aren't going to take an educated approach to it then go spend ten minutes in a marina and look into a leward slip, drive down a congested freeway and notice the yellow patina all around you. Go to any major metropolitan harbor and look in the more industrial areas. It's right in front of you. That stuff goes into our oceans. Fish live in oceans.
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:26   #9
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It all comes down to accusing man of causing global warming for the benefit of a few. That's hogwash.
I love this and how exactly does it benefit a few?

There is actually an ulterior motive to fighting pollution. It's called not wanting to live with other people's garbage all around you and not wanting to breath other people's exhaust?

If that's hogwash then I invite anyone to wash that hog.
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:34   #10
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Randy,

IF “global warming” is in fact a reality, industrializing nations such as china (bringing a new coal fired powerplant on line each week)
And India (with over 100,000 diesel powered tractor-trailer generators running 24/7 to supply manufacturing operations) choosing not to
Dude, China signed the Kyoto Protocol, India and the US did not.
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:39   #11
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Although the effect of climate change, both in terms of temp and acidification, are self-evident to anyone with an open mind, some seemingly intelligent folks simply won't look objectively at the overwhelming body of evidence. unfortunately, it is those among us who are so limited that serve only to delay timely action.
If you don't want to recognize the obvious, please get out of the way for the sake of the rest of us.
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:51   #12
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Originally Posted by S/V Illusion View Post
Although the effect of climate change, both in terms of temp and acidification, are self-evident to anyone with an open mind, some seemingly intelligent folks simply won't look objectively at the overwhelming body of evidence. unfortunately, it is those among us who are so limited that serve only to delay timely action.
If you don't want to recognize the obvious, please get out of the way for the sake of the rest of us.
Hear! Hear!
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Old 28-07-2009, 11:56   #13
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Ah--actually, the US signed the Protocol on November 12, 1998 (but has yet to ratify it). As for China--while it did sign and ratify the Protocol, it has agreed to no limitations based on the argument that it's per capita pollution levels are so low (although its overall levels are staggering) that it has no obligation to do so.

As for Randy Repass, frankly his note, which we also received, is nothing more than an effort to jump on the "Green" band wagon which is the social movement de jour. (GE really started the ball rolling with that..) Frankly, it's nothing more than pandering in my view.

FWIW...
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Old 28-07-2009, 12:07   #14
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Ah--actually, the US signed the Protocol on November 12, 1998 (but has yet to ratify it).
FWIW...
UNFCCC
Same difference
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Old 28-07-2009, 12:10   #15
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no such thing as global warming

coral bleaching is a myth

there are no "dead zones" in the gulf of mexico

we never went to the moon

god put fossils in the ground to confound man...



and ronald reagan, elvis presley and jimi hendrix are all coming over to my house for a barbecue later this evening.

cheers
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