Messing with mother nature

[Howie]

How do you feel about techniques used to manipulate nature? Cloud seeding comes to mind. Some others too. I feel we are way to arrogant to think we know enough to alter weather. Maybe if they could have at least a three day forecast pinned down I would feel more comfortable. I personally don't think it is a good idea from the research I have done about it. Your opinions?

[joey11223]

Well manipulating weather in enough research and practice would be amazing, we could get rid of drought and flooding etc. The problem is that one country will have this power( most likely US as they would probably put more money in and discover it properly). They would then most likely use this to gain money.. " OK we'll give you rain for your crops... but you gotta have us half your crops" then of course, and this worries me about Western countries, especially US, is that a weather control device is a powerful weapon. IF you've ever played Red Alert 2 there was one that summoned lightening storms on enemy bases. A device that could cause storms,floods, hurricanes etc would be a threat to all other countries and would most likely result in conflict. The only way to try and avoid this is giving it to the UN, but again the West would most likely benefit more.

[pj]

Have you read Crichton's new novel, "Next"? Good read. Relevant to your question, from a slightly different but more disturbing (to me) angle.

[Tornado Joe]

then of course, and this worries me about Western countries, especially US, is that a weather control device is a powerful weapon Wow, how quickly the US has gone from "world police" to "the lex luthor of the world" -- I don't see many Americans strapping on bombs and going into public subways. But anyways... ...correct me if I'm wrong Howe (since you said you did research on this), but wasn't this technology (HAARP?) abandoned by the US after it's discovery, while eastern countries (primiarily USSR, India) continued to develop it? Conspiracy has it that it's been the eastern scientists who have harnessed this capability steering hurricanes from the Atlantic into the US shores. If anything I HOPE the US picks up on this technology. We've already split the atom to create weapons that can punch a whole through this planet, I don't see a weather machine being used in that way. Ending hunger seems like a more practical and FINACIALY beneficial use - since money is spent on aid to those underdeveloped countries. Now, a TORNADO machine, on the other hand, would rock!

[joey11223]

Not to point fingers but who is the only Country that has used an atomic weapon, knowing full well from tests what it could do. I'll admit maybe they didn't think the explosion would be so large, but they didnt tell the pilots what they were dropping, which is something. Though yes that was another time and we have learnt from it, i just dont feel comfortable with any nation having such weapons, even if they are usually used for good. I mean when we learnt to split the atom, it wasnt long until the thought of weapons crept into our minds. We could just use fissionand fusion for energy sources, not weapons, but its our nature to be dominative, and obviously nuclear weapons are pretty scary. Then again in a way nuclear weapons have caused peace. After that first usage we all knew what they could do. No country wants to use one as they know they'll probably get one thrown back at them, so for now, its made a nervous peace. lol but remember thats just my random opinion at the age of 16, so its probably full of crap:p Oh and also, just because a government says it has stopped development of something that may be weapon, does not mean they truly have, im not a conspiracy nut but i doubt something powerful like a weather controller would be totally ignored. If a weather device got advanced enough then tornados wouldnt be out of the question..gulps. * Hopes they wont notice England cos its soo teeny*

[Howie]

WOW. Responses. It sat idle for many days and I figured it was a flop. Not to point fingers but who is the only Country that has used an atomic weapon, knowing full well from tests what it could do. I'll admit maybe they didn't think the explosion would be so large, but they didn't tell the pilots what they were dropping, which is something. Those two bombs were irrelevant in the entire scope of things (*pollution wise) What the USSR had done with it's enormous stockpile that they could not keep up and the massive amounts of testing they did had a much more global impact in addition to the USA and their many tests. We can't forget Chernobyl either. That is more pollutants But manipulating weather.... I don't think that most people realize that, although destructive to us at times, has a role to play. To put it plainly, let's take a thunderstorm for example. In short, it turns the atmosphere right side up. When all the hot, humid air is ground level, convection occurs. As a result, the atmosphere is once again stable. On a much larger scale, Hurricanes do the same thing but with hemispheres. They serve a purpose. Even wind. It cleans the dead wood out of forests. Forest fires as well cleans out much of the under growth to leave the old growth forest remain. So we put our houses in the way of these hurricanes. I say have at it. But insure yourself. Cut down all the old growth forest and all that remains is huge brush fires and houses. Whose fault is that? Yes Joe. On paper it was abandoned. They are still trying to come up with a type of atmospheric friendly oil slick so that the hurricanes cannot suck up the hot moist water. So we save insurance Companies who back these efforts 250 Billion dollars. But what happen when this same water that never was able to cool down continues to heat up. You can eventually kiss the coastal cities goodbye anyway. Which in turn leads to more population in land and less land to develop agriculture huuuuuh deeep breathe,. where was I. Sorry for the rant. I have seen the Government ^*$#*&! up enough things. The weather is the last thing they should mess with. They usesd cloud seeding back in vietnam to try and flodd the adversaries from thier trenches. The then great Agent orange. Good one!

[Universal Mind]

Gulf War III: "Our intelligence indicates that the new leader of Iraq has hurricane capabilities and has already flooded the Kurds. The U.S. government gave him weather of mass destruction capabilities when he was our ally against Iran, and as a result, he hit Tehran with 800 tornadoes." This world is screwed. Enjoy it while it lasts for a few more decades. April fool!