But, the problem at hand is that this issue of global warming has been hijacked by anyone who wants to pull an ear to their cause. It's ridiculous.

I think that is the salient point. People are always looking for a 'one-size fits all' philosophy to explain the vagaries of the weather (or life and death) and global warming has been used to cover everything from hurricanes to droughts.

For me, the problem is just pollution and respect for nature. Forget about what effects it may or may not have on a grand global scale - pouring chemical waste into the river posions the eco-system of that river - filling the sky with smoke causes acid rain and smog - building hotels on sandy beaches uglifies the natural landscape. That should be enough already without having to consider global warming.