] When the Gulf Stream abruptly turned off about 12,700
] years ago, it brought about a 1,300-year cold period,
] known as the Younger Dryas. This froze Britain in
] continuous permafrost, drove summer temperatures down to
] 10C and winter ones to -20C, and brought icebergs as far
] south as Portugal. Europe could not sustain anything like
] its present population. Droughts struck across the globe,
] including in Asia, Africa and the American west, as the
] disruption of the Gulf Stream affected currents
] worldwide.
]
]
] Some scientists say that this is the "worst-case
] scenario" and that the cooling may be less dramatic, with
] the world's climate "flickering" between colder and
] warmer states for several decades. But they add that, in
] practice, this would be almost as catastrophic for
] agriculture and civilisation.

If this story sounds like the radical ranting of a crypto-communist green faction, that seems to be mostly because you're desenitized. I tried to find a counterpoint to this, and couldn't, other then more questionable commentary from "techcentral." I'll post CNN's version (where Russian politicians are arguing that they would benefit from global warming because its cold in Russia) to the thread.

Britain is likely to be plunged into an ice age