Group wants hurricanes named after politicians who “deny climate change”

[HarveyDarkey]

By Jason Samenow

Maybe, in the not too distant future, we’ll have a Category Six hurricane named John Boehner.

The environmental advocacy group 350.org is petitioning the World Meteorological Organization to name hurricanes after politicians who are skeptical or dismissive of manmade climate change.

“The campaign, at ClimateNameChange.org, kicks off with a video that brings the proposed naming system to life and features prominent climate deniers like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH),” the 350.org press release says.

The campaign is odd on a couple of counts.

1) The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has a pre-set list of names that it rotates every six years. It only adds a new name into the cycle on the rare occasion a storm is “retired.” For a storm to be retired, it must cause extreme damage and/or loss of life (e.g. Katrina and Sandy). So, in the next several years, there are likely to be just a few opportunities for any politicians’ names to be considered for the list!

Also, the WMO’s naming convention involves first names only. So the last names of politicians, which would identify them, are excluded by definition.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/08/26/group-wants-hurricanes-named-after-politicians-who-deny-climate-change/

[joeybee12]

1. Works for me...knr

[Wait Wut]

2. Is there a petition?

We need a petition.

[Warpy]

3. I find that tremendously appealing

an if they run out of politicians, they can start on wingnut preachers.

[FarPoint]

4. Fabulous idea!

They must use full title and name for greatest impact!

[starroute]

5. One problem is that global warming may cause fewer hurricanes

It does pump more heat into the oceans -- but that leads to less atmospheric instability, which makes it harder for hurricanes to spin up. And it increases desertification, which means more dry air coming off the Sahara to get into the Atlantic storm systems and damp them out.

Once hurricanes get going, they may be more likely to turn into superstorms -- but that's too subtle a point for most climate change deniers to grasp. On the whole, I think the hurricane question is better left alone.

[LuckyLib]

6. Already posted on DU -- great idea! Wonderful video:

[ananda]

7. Hurricane Inhofe

love it

[KansDem]

8. List of climate-change deniers in Congress...

http://www.barackobama.com/climate-deniers/

Includes their "reasoning."

[niyad]

9. k and r--definitely works for me.

[muntrv]

10. Awesome idea!

[meow2u3]

11. The WMO doesn't go far enough

They should also name hurricanes after RW billionaires who deny climate change.

[gordianot]

12. There will be enough names to go around.

Using first names most of the GOP is too stupid to see the connection. It is still a great idea!

[Snotcicles]

13. They could do their own alternative naming like a.k.a. Or start naming very destructive tornado's.nt

[SpankMe]

14. I LOVE this!! n/t