Climate Change (oh no not again)
- Thread starter JHC
- Start date
Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
It's an almost unproovable topic Colin ... too many "do gooders" will say man kind is to blame and an equal amount of rigorous defenders will say that "it's a natural cycle of mother earth".
As to me, I couldn't give a tincker's cuss ... I don't drive nor own a car and catch trains to work, so my carbon footprint is subjective.
As to me, I couldn't give a tincker's cuss ... I don't drive nor own a car and catch trains to work, so my carbon footprint is subjective.
JHC
Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Yet the supporters say it is virtually beyond doubt but when I hear it discussed they use the term "climate change" and not "man made climate change" is it a money making scam????
Montefalco
New member
I think that man might have started it but it eems a self-perpetuating process. If the world keeps heating up, it will keep melting the polar ice caps, which will make the ocean rise and set free the methane trapped in the ice, which will continue to heat up the world. The only thing we can really do is try to minimise our own impact on the environment to slow down the process (catching public transport is a good idea David).
I believe part of it is man made/created in certain regions. A hundred miles to the north lies the city of Phoenix, who by nature of population growth, keeps adding more concrete and asphalt, covering up the natural ground. With the ground sealed from absorbing the relentless heat of the summer sun, it has been causing temperatures to rise up there in recent years.
I've heard of other theories that claim our weather changes are cyclic ... meaning this gradual warming trend is part of a 100 year cycle. Since none of us here were around 100 years ago, we don't know, and we won't be here a hundred years from now to see if it was actually true.
What can I do about it? Nothing, really ... we don't have decent public transportation systems, so most everyone here has to drive everywhere. I suppose one could make the argument that the more cars on the road could cause some rise in our carbon footprint which also adds to the weather ... but when we have no choices in the matter, and have to get places, we have no alternative but to drive.
I've heard of other theories that claim our weather changes are cyclic ... meaning this gradual warming trend is part of a 100 year cycle. Since none of us here were around 100 years ago, we don't know, and we won't be here a hundred years from now to see if it was actually true.
What can I do about it? Nothing, really ... we don't have decent public transportation systems, so most everyone here has to drive everywhere. I suppose one could make the argument that the more cars on the road could cause some rise in our carbon footprint which also adds to the weather ... but when we have no choices in the matter, and have to get places, we have no alternative but to drive.
Dorsetmike
Member
[tongue in cheek] do they not have air con on bicycles?[/tongue in cheek)
teddy
Duckmeister
There is no doubt that the weather, not to mention sun-spots, go in cycles. When I was a boy they were predicting another ice age. Anyway there is little I can do about it all the while China is building another coal fired power station every week. They keep building these stupid wind mills all along the coast where I live which last winter when it was very cold and the wind dropped did nothing. Anyone who has seen the area in Canada where the batteries for electric cars are made would never buy one. Its like a wasteland with the polution. I believe that whatever the cause a lot of people are making a lot of money at the expense of the rest of us.
teddy (GOM mode)
teddy (GOM mode)
Dorsetmike
Member
I think wind farms are a complete waste of time and money as well as being an eyesore.
Tidal power makes far more sense. Tides are predictable, they occur twice daily, wind is not, some days it blows very hard, some days light breeze, others none at all, Solar power is also less predictable and only effective in daylight. water is more dense than air so a slower current can generate far more than wind.
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Tidal-Turbines.htm
Tidal power makes far more sense. Tides are predictable, they occur twice daily, wind is not, some days it blows very hard, some days light breeze, others none at all, Solar power is also less predictable and only effective in daylight. water is more dense than air so a slower current can generate far more than wind.
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Tidal-Turbines.htm
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Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
Lars, this is total goatsh*t. The reason Americans in general drive is because they think it's their god given right to do so; even in big cities with reliable public transport like San Francisco and New York. If a population of even a reasonably sized city (think Philadelphia or Cleveland) really wanted to get rid of their cars they COULD do it, but it's just not a big ticket item for politicians.
If average Americans actually bothered to look at their consumption (90% of the world's resources) and looked at their actions in relation to the poor of the world, we might get some change. Sadly, when you're a country run by fundamentalist christians (either Democrat or Republican) you believe that it's your god given right to be affluent. Spare me, just makes my blood boil.
No offence to my American friends by the way AND for what it's worth, middle and rich Australia is just as bad.
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wljmrbill
Member
Yup, David ,alot of what you say is true. I am Episcopailan and disagree alot with the fundamentalist philosophy.. Looks like the rich and upper middle classes always carry the upper hand for many of our so called "choices" in most of the world. Us poor bastards must carry on as best we can with what we have to work with in life. Many of the wind,sun water solutions are cost prohibitive for many of us without outside help. I remember my younger days when I lived on the water in the Sarasota Bay for nine years. with solar panals, batteries , oil lamps and no refrig.. occasionial ice and 2 dogs.. we made it.... will admit electricity is nice but can use alternate ways of obtaining it also ( it is expensive to get set-up which is the draw back). Hopefull countries will spend more funds on alternate energy sources for the future...Probably not in my time however...time will tell....
Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
JHC
Chief assistant to the assistant chief
We (NZ) have enough coal to last us approx 500 years, methods of burning are greatly more efficient today but what do we do we export it to China (They do not use latest burning tech) and use some of our imported oil for electricity production (along with Hydro) any form of energy is expensive in one way or another in particular Nuclear
No offense taken, David
And, I appreciate your comments ... it's true what you are saying. But, there are some places in the world where driving is a necessity, like where I live, because there is no other alternative.
My wife uses public transportation to/from work everyday - it works for her as there is a stop a block away from our home, and the drop/pick-up point is downtown right in front of her building.
My twice weekly trip to church is possible using public transportation, but the journey would entail 3.5 hours of time and also require walking the last 4 miles. I am not willing to walk 4 miles in this wicked heat in my Sunday best, carrying a satchel full of music. The distance is 13 miles and I can drive it in 22 minutes, exercising my "need to drive".
Heck, our city can't even keep up with decent road repairs - potholes all over the place (I have to have my cars alignment done twice a year) - and our city council seems far more concerned with voting themselves raises instead of doing what needs to be done. Unfortunately, the blokes still have two more years before the next election. Pooh!! :crazy:
Agreed, it needs to stop somewhere ... and I personally would love to not even have a car, but until the politicians get off their duffs and do something about it, there's little hope for change.
Even if our legislators decided today that there were unlimited funds for building light rail systems, monorails and such all over the state, it would take another 10 years or so for all the "studies" on how it would affect the pigmy owls, the lizards, desert vegetation, and how it would restrict access to illegal aliens crossing the borders ... then another 10 years on the drawing boards ... then another 10 years to revise the drawings, and ... well ... I'll be dead and long gone by the time it even becomes a reality
.
methodistgirl
New member
Krummhorn, Madisonville,Ky doesn't have a good bus system
either. We have a system called PACS. I noticed a lot of
them are always breaking down. Only about four or five are
still in driving condition. But just like any other city or small
town, they can build a courthouse but they can't afford a
good bussing system to replace PACS. If you don't know
what PACS stands for it's Pennyrile Allied Community Service.
Not really a good bussing system unless you want to catch
a Greyhound outside of town.
judy tooley
either. We have a system called PACS. I noticed a lot of
them are always breaking down. Only about four or five are
still in driving condition. But just like any other city or small
town, they can build a courthouse but they can't afford a
good bussing system to replace PACS. If you don't know
what PACS stands for it's Pennyrile Allied Community Service.
Not really a good bussing system unless you want to catch
a Greyhound outside of town.
judy tooley
teddy
Duckmeister
I have the same problem geting to work. One and a half hours on the bus, or twenty minutes by car. Do I want to add over two hours to my working day, unpaid? The round trip of thirty miles to Canterbury with the family would cost £15.00 by bus or £5.00 by car. It might be said it is my own fault for living in a village instead of a town, but at least I have some peace and quiete here.
teddy
teddy
Dorsetmike
Member
We have quite a good bus and rail service here, not as good as it used to be in terms of some of areas served but better in terms of buses on the main routes, there being two companies competing for custom. Fares don't bother me, I have a free senior citizens pass.
Express bus service hourly to Central London and London airports, other destinations less frequent. If you book well in advance you can often get to London for £1. Also senior citizen concession fares.
Rail service 2 each hour from about 7 am through 7pm to London (110 miles) one express at 1H.40 with 1 stop at Southampton, the other stops at more places and takes about 2 hours: less frequent services to the midlands and north with connections to Scotland.
But as Teddy says living out of town is entirely different.
Express bus service hourly to Central London and London airports, other destinations less frequent. If you book well in advance you can often get to London for £1. Also senior citizen concession fares.
Rail service 2 each hour from about 7 am through 7pm to London (110 miles) one express at 1H.40 with 1 stop at Southampton, the other stops at more places and takes about 2 hours: less frequent services to the midlands and north with connections to Scotland.
But as Teddy says living out of town is entirely different.
JHC
Chief assistant to the assistant chief
That may not last long if BP wobbles, UK has a lot of its pension fund invested in BP or so I understand