Global warming - hype or threat ?

Politicians and protesters at the Copenhagen climate change conference have put global warming into the headlines again this week.

But after leading scientists were accused of doctoring e-mails and burying evidence to support their theory that climate change is a man-made phenomenon, who can blame the public for being confused?

So are our efforts to use cars less, switch lights off and recycle materials just token gestures while major industries and developing countries still pollute the skies? Janice Barker discovered that some people in Oldham are convinced global warming is a real threat, but sceptics think its is part of the earth’s natural cycles.

ELSIE Mellor, from Shaw, is completely convinced there is a problem: “My son is a scientist, a microbiologist, and I believe him.

“I use low energy light bulbs at home and have everything insulated, so save costs as well as saving energy.

“I do hope the conference is not just a lot of hot air and some good comes out of it.”

But Jean Preston, from Oldham, believes it is a lot of hype: “I think it happens over centuries and is just a natural phenomenon. The planet will regenerate.

“I do use low energy bulbs and I’ve never flown, but that is because of the price.”

Paul Harrop, originally from Oldham but living on the Costa Blanca in Spain, was visiting relatives and said the Spanish don’t seem to take global warming as seriously as we do here

He added: “They lag behind Britain. They are better for collecting waste quickly, but they have only just started recycling collections.”

His partner Linda Haymes added: “You can get low energy light bulbs there but they are very expensive. It costs us more to keep our home cooler in summer, but there are big new air-conditioning units which are more economical to run.”

Wayne Bentham, of Chadderton, is another sceptic. He said: “It is part of natural evolution. No-one is going to stop using cars and planes anyway. I would drive to the local shop. The only thing I do do is turn the telly off stand by at night.

“It is inevitable. You won’t slow it down.”

But friends Joanne Ginty and Sharon Wood, of Chadderton, do their bit for the environment by recycling, and changing light bulbs.

Joanne added: “I walk the children to school, it’s about a 15-minute walk. But I’m not sure about the Copenhagen conference, it is all talk but nothing gets done.”

Sharon said developing countries like China are also adding to pollution problems.

Amoy Lindo, at the Caribbean food stall in the Christmas market, said: “Global warming probably is happening, but I think it is a natural cycle.

“I try to recycle things and save electricity, as you get older you start to turn off the lights, and I don’t drive as much as I used to any more, but that’s a bit of both saving environmental and fuel costs.”

Michael Coles, from Oldham, also believes there is a lot of hype about the dangers of global warming: “There is no actual proof.

“It doesn’t seem to be making a lot of difference to me, the weather isn’t changing, it’s just cold all the time.”