Think of the little children...

As a climate denier, I find it hard to find time between my usual skeptic activities of reputedly drowning live puppies and raping your grandma. However, when I do get a free moment, I am also a parent.

A 2007 survey of 600 Australian children between the ages of 10-14 years old discovered that:

"...44% are nervous about the future impact of climate change."

I wonder how those kiddies would poll now, after such advertising campaigns as the recent UK Government climate change ad? This advert told a heartwarming, cautionary tale about a cute cartoon puppy who drowns because the little kid's parents are bastards and don't want to pay extra on their energy bills. Although arguably not as disturbing as kiddy classics like "Blue Beard" and "Little Red Riding Hood" (which features cross-dressing, violence and an underage love interest), its still not really prime-time viewing.

The advertising campaign has attracted 350 complaints so far (and counting), and is being investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

According to an article in The Times:

Ministers sanctioned the campaign because of concern that scepticism about climate change was making it harder to introduce carbon-reducing policies such as higher energy bills.

The same article mentions that a study by The Department of Energy and Climate Change found that:

When asked how they would react if they knew climate change were going to have a serious effect on their children’s lives, 74 per cent said that they would be willing to change their lifestyle. Fifteen per cent said that they would not make any changes.

Ulterior motives, much.