BALI IS OVER Monday, Dec 17 2007

So the global warming conference at Bali is over. Agreement has finally been made, following the United States’ agreement to allow green technology for developing countries. But what have they actually agreed?
Well, in typical global political style, they’ve agreed to keep talking towards a new treaty in a couple of years’ time. So that’s alright, then. They haven’t actually done anything.
I do hope the delegates are going to off-set their carbon emissions in terms of all the hot air they spouted as well as the footprint involved in getting there. But somehow I doubt it.
I am skeptical of such conferences. I am skeptical of words from people such as Al Gore. Even if agreement is finally made, I doubt if many countries will ratify it, or make real concessions to combating climate change.
I think this because politicians are the wrong people to do it. It is technology that needs to change, and that happens through enterprise. And there will be no real moves towards halting the problem until a new business ethic arises to actually do it.
And that’s another thing I do not really see at this moment.

© Anthony North, December 2007

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HOME ENERGY Monday, Nov 5 2007

According to a recent report, energy savings in British homes are going to fall short by 30%, threatening government CO2 targets. Well, us naughty British – always sinners, just like Christianity tells us.
Of course, the government has craftily ‘forgotten’ the only reason that they even came close to previous targets. That reason was the previous decimation of the coal industry following the 1984 miner’s strike. Without it, our levels would be astronomic.
So that’s it, then. Britain will fail miserably to reach CO2 targets, just like everyone else. And guess what? We always will. Targets will never be met until a simple reality hits home.
This is the role of big business in raising the levels in the first place. Until big business begins buying local, we’ll fail. Until big business invests massively in alternative fuels, we’ll fail. Until big business gets rid of ridiculous packaging, we’ll fail.
It’s as simple as that.

© Anthony North, November 2007

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SATURATED OCEANS Monday, Oct 22 2007

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have advised that the oceans are soaking up less CO2. It is unknown whether this is due to global warming or a natural cycle, but it suggests the possibility of adding to climate change effects.
A great deal has been said in recent years that computer modeling as evidence for climate change is inefficient, in that it cannot correctly predict the effects. This is quite true. Science is never an exact thing.
But in the past, criticism has always been used to suggest there is an over-reaction to global warming. Perhaps this new evidence of oceanic effects – also not catered for in computer modeling – will show skeptics that the process can work the other way, too.
But I won’t hold my breath.

© Anthony North, October 2007

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CLIMATE CHANGE MEDIA Monday, Oct 15 2007

The decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore is worrying. Awarded jointly to him and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it places global warming at the forefront of global security.
This may indeed be the case in the near future, but not yet. And my worry is that, the science of the problem is getting lost in the hype. This is clearly seen in Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. With an accurate message, it did, however, contain errors.
The science of man-made involvement in climate change is not proved, but highly likely. This is always the case with science. But if we begin nudging towards hype and milking the consensus, those who disagree with man-made climate change will be handed an invaluable weapon.
I think it is time to return to commonsense in this issue, and forget the hype.

© Anthony North, October 2007

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CLIMATE PROTEST Monday, Aug 20 2007

A few thousand climate change protesters have begun their campaign at Heathrow, tentatively moving out of their camp. In most instances, the protest is peaceful, but the inevitable trouble makers will do what they do and will clash with the police.
They won’t stand a chance, of course. The police are there in significant numbers, whilst the protesters are pitifully few. And this is, in itself, disturbing. For instance, with millions worried about climate change, WHY are there so few?

Intimidation

Recent mass protests have shown a definite trend in terms of authority. Police arrive in large numbers and coral protesters into pockets, making movement impossible. In full riot gear, this is technically illegal imprisonment of innocent people.
But more than this, it gives a clear message. The police have moved slightly further than upholding the law, and become the vehicle of intimidation. How many would-be protesters have stayed away because they don’t want their heads cracked open?
For a democracy, these police tactics are shameful.

Protesting in the wrong place

Of course, the protesters are actually protesting in the wrong place. They should be in the travel market place demanding that the truth be told about the technology available for air travel.
In particular, not much is known about wave rider technology. This is a concept where a ‘boat’ reaches optimum speed and takes off, riding above the waves. Speeds of 300 mph have already been achieved.
This technology could well be cheap, involves more eco-friendly low level flying, and can operate from coasts, taking long haul air travel away from the land. Perhaps the question is this: why are the aviators ignoring it?

© Anthony North, August 2007

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CLIMATE CHANGE SCEPTICS Thursday, Jul 5 2007

Is climate change a great big conspiracy? According to an Ipsos Mori poll between 14-20 June, it definitely is. Of 2,032 people asked, 56% believed scientists were still questioning the idea of humans being to blame.
But this is only part of the problem. Many believe both scientists and politicians exaggerate the problem in order for big business to make lots and lots of money. So how true are these criticisms?

THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

It is not in doubt that something is presently happening to our climate. Global warming IS occurring – this is generally accepted. But some scientists put the blame on natural cycles that we can do nothing about.
Proving HUMAN involvement is a tricky issue. Evidence exists by the bucket load, but is subject to the simple fact that science cannot actually prove anything. All science is based on probability. The definitive answer cannot be had, and never could be.
For this reason, we have the ‘precautionary principle,’ which is, in effect, a preventative measure similar to insurance. You don’t expect to die tomorrow, but you pay to make sure your family will be alright just in case. So surely it is sensible to take measures based on the probability that we ARE responsible for global warming.

POLITICS AND BIG BUSINESS

Do politicians exaggerate the dangers of climate change? The probable effects, no. But it is the nature of politics to convince a population of an idea. And in this sense, politicians put far too much blame on the general public. And this is due to big business.
Does big business plan to make money out of global warming? Absolutely. But they would, wouldn’t they? This does not mean there is no problem. But it does mean big business and politicians should accept what has to be done.
Politicians put climate fighting measures onto the public – such as recycling and saving energy – when the onus should really be placed on big business to get their act together. And it is here, I’m sure, where public skepticism really comes in.
The man in the street did not cause the problem. Big business caused the problem. And when they accept this, and carry out measures themselves instead of getting the politicians to blame us, scepticism will go, and the fight for our future can begin.

© Anthony North, July 2007

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CHINA AND THE POWER Friday, Jun 22 2007

Dragons and China go hand in hand. When China is quiet, the Dragon sleeps. But when the Dragon awakes, the world trembles. And as China continues to open two new power stations a week, the dragon’s fire certainly has a new slant.
China is said to be racing towards being the world’s largest economy, and a thriving economy needs power. Indeed, some organizations report that China is already the world’s biggest polluter. And if not, it soon will be.

WESTERN ATTITUDES

Western environmentalists are predictably outraged by this onward march of a big carbon footprint. Doomsayers congregate behind the media to tell their worse, and a new Yellow Peril creates more smoke than the opium dens of old.
On the more rational side, other environmentalists want laws to change attitudes in the west, forcing the consumer to cut back. Such cowardice is astonishing. The targets they should be aiming it are big business, who caused environmental chaos in the first place.
And on the world stage, this constant brew of hot air is empowering western politicians to lecture the Chinese on their failings. But seeing they are simply following the failings of the west, the whole thing leaves a nasty hypocritical taste in the mouth.

THE FUTURE OF CHINA

At this moment in time there is nothing the west can do about China, and our past record will not inspire China to change it ways. However, there is possible news on the horizon that, whilst not stopping the global dangers, could certainly slow it down.
This is found in the history of China – a country so big that it has rebounded, throughout history, from being a dictatorial bureaucratic state, to a disintegrated, chaotic mess. And there is good reason to believe the latter is going to happen soon.
In particular, China is racing ahead with capitalism without placing the democratic and rights-based politics that are essential to the process. Hence, the workforce is being worked without the benefits they will eventually expect.
When the critical point arrives, industrial action and strife will be on a grand scale – and the Dragon will puff no fire a while.

© Anthony North, June 2007

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AMERICA AND THE ENVIRONMENT Sunday, Jun 3 2007

George Bush has suggested a greenhouse gas conference in the US in the autumn. Does this massive release of hot air suggest a cooling on their attitude to warming, or is it designed to head off criticism at the upcoming G8 summit?
I’d opt for the latter – you’ve always got to be cynical with politicians. But we should maybe examine just what America, and the rest of the world, can do to crack the climate change problem.
Let’s face it. Even if America DID throw itself headlong into deflecting global warming, they are so into power use that there simply wouldn’t be enough time for their transition to green. So getting America to change is a no no straight away.
It wouldn’t happen at the Federal level anyway. The Federal government is too divorced from the people, and too close to big business. If change IS to happen in the States, this is where it must happen – in the STATES. In other words, change must happen despite the Federal government.
Because of the problem with getting America on board, there is a pessimism that other countries, such as the UK, are wasting their time trying to go green. With many issues, this is true. But sensible green strategies still have an important role.
The argument that they would have no effect is wrong. What small scale, sensible policies could do is transmit ideas. Being small scale, they could be acted upon below governmental levels. And lots of small scale ideas eventually gather momentum and become big.
It is the nature of America that it is impossible for them to go green, at the Federal level, at this time. So the rest of the world should increase its region of green ideas, and I can guarantee you the majority of the world, including the Americans, would grasp them.

© Anthony North, June 2007

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BARRIER TO CLIMATE CHANGE Monday, May 21 2007

So the UK government has decided how to save the planet. Details of the new white paper are clear. Eight new nuke stations and a 10 mile concrete barrage across the Severn Estuary to capture tidal power.
There are infinite possibilities for small projects to harness alternative power. There are infinite possibilities for encouraging business to provide new, eco-friendly products. But the government seems to be opting for the most unpopular alternatives possible.
I never expected anything different. Of course they’re going to go for the monstrocities and the controvercial, for this is the only thing big business will accept. Big business can only ‘do’ big, for small doesn’t require big business to do it.
So measures to fight global warming become cosmetic; and when people complain because the power stations are ugly and the Severn barrier is destroying wildlife, then it isn’t government’s fault but stupid people who will not be ‘eco.’
One day the public will realize what is going on with the environmental debate. One day they’ll realize there isn’t one. One day they’ll realize they’ve been suckered, carrying all the responsibility themselves instead of big business.
Hopefully that day will come while there’s still time.

© Anthony North, May 2007

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THE GREAT GLOBAL WARMING SWINDLE Friday, Mar 9 2007

The above programme on C4(UK), 8 March, seemed a convincing polemic on why man made global warming is a lie. They gave some interesting facts. But are these true facts? Let’s see.
CO2 emissions account for a fraction of the atmosphere. Yes. CO2 emissions have been shown to have no effect on climate change in Earth’s history. Probably. Climate change is actually controlled by the sun. Probably. Global warming is used as a political agenda to stop Third World development. Probably.
The point to note is that you could have a programme with the opposite agenda which would be just as convincing, but you still end up with use of the word, ‘probably.’ Common sense suggests we hedge our bets and go with man made global warming.
Perhaps the major factor here is that studies of CO2 in Earth’s past deal with natural CO2 emissions. These are part of the natural system. Man made emissions are above the system.
My favourite analogy regarding their disproportionate danger is to imagine a car balanced on the edge of a cliff. It takes just a human finger to upset the balance and send it over.
An interesting programme. But their point is unproven. And probably dangerous.

© Anthony North, March 2007

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