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A little while back commenter "pouncer" cited Paul Krugman claiming that the skeptics about global warming have all the advantages -- there is "more money" in being a skeptic, and the media coverage is biased in the skeptics' favor.

In the spirit of this week's Copenhagen meeting, I thought I'd follow up on that thought and salute those public figures who have faced down that media bias and incurred that monetary loss to lead the fight against global warming nonetheless -- bearing all the hardships involved. (Krugman's heroes!)

Krugman's brave fellow columnist at the New York Times, Thomas Friedman, has already been mentioned here ...

Friedman counsels, "[P]ersonally lead as environmentally sustainable a life as you can", but himself lives in a 11,400-square-foot mansion, whose carbon footprint may be visible from orbit...

Friedman's book-talk schedule for the first month alone of Hot, Flat, and Crowded promotion requires jet aircraft trips that, the calculator at TerraPass estimates, will generate about 3 tons of carbon dioxide —- the same as driving a Hummer for almost half a year.

But Tom is not the only soul bearing the hardship of fighting skepticism to save the planet...

Harrison Ford waxed his chest to raise awareness of over-logging in the Amazon rainforest -- (making an inspiring video!)

Paul McCartney drives around England in a fuel-saving hybrid Lexus, that he had flown from Japan ("like driving the car 300 times around the world”).

Al Gore's 2007 Live Earth concerts flew its performers more than 222,000 miles to get their chance to show off, putting 31,500 tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. (And you have to admire the personal sacrifices performers like the selfless Madonna made, no doubt, under the glare of hostile press, to get there.)

Woody Harrelson lets everyone know he wears "vegan" clothes -- but when he left his favorite shoes and belt behind in California, he had them flown to Cannes.

Jennifer Anniston says that because poor Africans have so little water she showers for only three minutes a day, and brushes her teeth while doing so to conserve water. (Does that give the poor of Africa more water? Even when brushing your teeth with the shower running consumes a heck of a lot more water than doing it with the sink tap running?)

And there' so much more...

Oprah Winfrey, who preaches eco-virtue from her TV pulpit, travelled in a 13-seat Gulfstream IV private jet for years...

Perhaps more egregious, because she is a much more in-your-face global-warming campaigner, is Dame Trudie Styler, film financier and wife of Sting... [to read her story click the link above, it can't be fit in here]...

David Cameron was once photographed virtuously riding his bike to the House of Commons, with his official car behind him, carrying his suit and briefcase...

Barack Obama had a St Louis chef flown 850 miles just to make pizza at the White House...

Which gets us to this coming week, in which Obama will be flying twice to Europe and back, first to Oslo to pick up his well earned Nobel Peace Prize, and then again to nearby Copenhagen to join his fellow world leaders as they defy press bias and the monied interests to stand up against global warming...

Copenhagen climate summit: 1,200 limos, 140 private planes and caviar wedges

On a normal day, Majken Friss Jorgensen, managing director of Copenhagen's biggest limousine company, says her firm has twelve vehicles on the road. During the "summit to save the world", which opens here tomorrow, she will have 200.

Ms Jorgensen reckons that between her and her rivals the total number of limos in Copenhagen next week has already broken the 1,200 barrier. The French alone rang up on Thursday and ordered another 42. "We haven't got enough limos in the country to fulfil the demand," she says. "We're having to drive them in hundreds of miles from Germany and Sweden."

And the total number of electric cars or hybrids among that number? "Five," says Ms Jorgensen...

The airport says it is expecting up to 140 extra private jets during the peak period alone, so far over its capacity that the planes will have to fly off to regional airports – or to Sweden – to park, returning to Copenhagen to pick up their VIP passengers..

As well as 15,000 delegates and officials, 5,000 journalists and 98 world leaders, the Danish capital will be blessed by the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, Helena Christensen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Prince Charles....

The top hotels – all fully booked at £650 a night [$1,060 a night] – are readying their Climate Convention menus of (no doubt sustainable) scallops, foie gras and sculpted caviar wedges.

... the local sex workers' union – they have unions here – has announced that all its 1,400 members will give free intercourse to anyone with a climate conference delegate's pass. The term "carbon dating" just took on an entirely new meaning.

At least the sex will be C02-neutral. According to the organisers, the eleven-day conference, including the participants' travel, will create a total of 41,000 tonnes of "carbon dioxide equivalent"

Which is regrettable enough -- but this this what you have to do stand up to for a your cause, when the biased press and moneyed interests are so lined up against it.

As Krugman would tell you, thank God, er, Gaia, for such self-sacrificing heroes.