2007-05-02 From Papal Indulgences to Carbon Credits Is Global Warming a Sin

2007-05-02 Alexander Cockburn \Alexander Cockburn\global warming denial http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=57&ItemID=12728 From Papal Indulgences to Carbon Credits Is Global Warming a Sin? &ldquo;In a couple of hundred years, historians will be comparing the frenzies over our supposed human contribution to global warming to the tumults at the latter end of the tenth century as the Christian millennium approached.&rdquo;  In a couple of hundred years, historians will be comparing the frenzies over our supposed human contribution to global warming to the tumults at the latter end of the tenth century as the Christian millennium approached. Then, as now, the doomsters identified human sinfulness as the propulsive factor in the planet's rapid downward slide. Then as now, a buoyant market throve on fear. The Roman Catholic Church was a bank whose capital was secured by the infinite mercy of Christ, Mary and the Saints, and so the Pope could sell indulgences, like checks. The sinners established a line of credit against bad behavior and could go on sinning. Today a world market in "carbon credits" is in formation. Those whose "carbon footprint" is small can sell their surplus carbon credits to others, less virtuous than themselves.   