Inconvenient truth

[Icebound]

Nothing is going to reverse the population growth on the planet, unless the planet stops supporting population growth.

And increasing population will result in ever increasing use of energy and of resources to support it.

Probably 75 percent of individuals from Western populations would not survive two weeks if they had to live in the "green" spaces of this planet, anyway, even if they do champion them so much. Probably more like 95 percent of the under-30s...

So, like it or not, left-leaning though I may be, I have resigned myself to believe that science will ultimately come to the rescue... the planet will slowly divide (already IS dividing to some extent) into the habitable and the inhabitable. The habitable will be shared by the food-producing areas and the human-population areas, and the rest will be the mines, the garbage dumps, and the nuclear power generators.

If the air gets too bad or the sun gets too hot, we will filter them artificially. If the natural water becomes impotable, Zenon's membrane bioreactor and similar technologies will clean it. We will lose our patience with wild predators and nuisances, so urban geese, racoons, skunks and squirrels will lose their protected status. If we lose the ability to produce food in a "natural" environment , we will do it hydroponically.

We are talking already about building such self-contained worlds on the moon or on Mars. We will be forced to start right here instead, but so what?

Ultimately, to a large portion of the population, "nature" is a luxury. Only the rich can afford "nature". The rest NEED food and shelter, and if you provide it better, cleaner, and cheaper, they won't much care what you destroy to do it.

As a playground, "nature" is only available to the rich-people's polluting SUV's anyway, not your average slob working in the city for minimum wage. Hundreds of times more people get their entertainment from a video screen, rather than from Lake Louise.

It will make a nice remote landfill.



...

[2R]

Kyoto ,another broken promise.

If the Lieberals did not keep the Liberal promises .Why would anyone who does not live in a looney bin think or expect the Conservatives should keep promises that the liberals had no intention of keeping ????
Maybe that was the hidden agenda that the Martin camp was fearmongering about ,A politician that actually does what he said he would do if elected by the people.
It should be interesting to see what happens the next time a CSL ship is stopped with large amounts of drugs onboard .It might make the newspaper next time .

[mellow_pilot]

Regardless whether you believe in global warming or not, making 'greener' choices can't really hurt you. I really don't see a need to argue this.

So exactly what convenient or inconvenient tangible steps are you taking in your own life towards a 'greener' earth?

Flourescent light bulbs, solar/wind/tidal power, hybrid cars, hydrogen cars/power/mopeds, mass transit. It's as simple as not buying that stupid Escalade that you drive to work and back, and never fill with anything othre than your briefcase. No one needs a friggin' H2 Hummer. Maybe it does look nice to you, but do you need it? If you need to tow something buy a damn truck. If you just drive to work, buy something smaller and more efficient. Sure it may not be snazzy, but it costs less in gas, and doesn't pollute as much. I realise it may hurt your wicked-bad-ass-cool style, but c'mon...

There are tons of other things you can do. Turn off lights. Insulate your house. Upgrade your furnace. Don't run the dish washer for 5 plates and a spoon, wait til it's full. Recycle. It's as simple as closing your blinds in the day, so your house doesn't heat up so much, less need for the air conditioner. Things as simple as keeping your car tires inflated to the proper pressure can save up to 5% or more on gas. You not only helped the environment, but you save some money in the process.

The Green Party (shut up, I know what you're all thinking) had a proposal to require all taxis to be hybrid within 5 years or something to that effect. While this would cost a fair bit up front, the savings in feul are astronomical, to the tune of millions... and if taxi fleets were replaced with hybrids, they would be cheaper for the rest of us due to the volume manufactured/sold.

All I'm saying is that there are plenty of ways to do your little bit, even if it is only tossing your can in the recycle instead of the garbage, it's something. If you can't think of something to do to help out, GOOGLE.

[Dust Devil]

Regardless whether you believe in global warming or not, making 'greener' choices can't really hurt you. I really don't see a need to argue this.

So exactly what convenient or inconvenient tangible steps are you taking in your own life towards a 'greener' earth?

Flourescent light bulbs, solar/wind/tidal power, hybrid cars, hydrogen cars/power/mopeds, mass transit. It's as simple as not buying that stupid Escalade that you drive to work and back, and never fill with anything othre than your briefcase. No one needs a friggin' H2 Hummer. Maybe it does look nice to you, but do you need it? If you need to tow something buy a damn truck. If you just drive to work, buy something smaller and more efficient. Sure it may not be snazzy, but it costs less in gas, and doesn't pollute as much. I realise it may hurt your wicked-bad-ass-cool style, but c'mon...

There are tons of other things you can do. Turn off lights. Insulate your house. Upgrade your furnace. Don't run the dish washer for 5 plates and a spoon, wait til it's full. Recycle. It's as simple as closing your blinds in the day, so your house doesn't heat up so much, less need for the air conditioner. Things as simple as keeping your car tires inflated to the proper pressure can save up to 5% or more on gas. You not only helped the environment, but you save some money in the process.

The Green Party (shut up, I know what you're all thinking) had a proposal to require all taxis to be hybrid within 5 years or something to that effect. While this would cost a fair bit up front, the savings in feul are astronomical, to the tune of millions... and if taxi fleets were replaced with hybrids, they would be cheaper for the rest of us due to the volume manufactured/sold.

All I'm saying is that there are plenty of ways to do your little bit, even if it is only tossing your can in the recycle instead of the garbage, it's something. If you can't think of something to do to help out, GOOGLE.

@#$! it

[North Shore]

@#$! it

Once again, Dust Devil proves that the dust storm in his head produces his handle...

[corporate joe]

@#$! it

and then get fucked...
it's your choice if that's what you like...

[Dust Devil]

You guys are waaaaayyyyyyyy too easy!

[mellow_pilot]

@#$! it