h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The problem with global warming as a theory is that we really can't know how much of the warming is due to human activity and how much is just the planet going about its business. This, of course, allows the weasels who run *certain countries* to avoid doing anything about it.

(Aside: I can say that because I live in a *certain coutntry* and don't blame me, I keep voting for the other guys. It just amazes me that our fearless leader can say things like 'The Kyoto agreements are bad for our economy.' Like global warming and another ice age would be *good* for our economy?! On second thought, I'm not surprised by anything that man says. But back on topic...)

My feeling is that we should cut back on our fossil fuel consumption, regardless, because:

1. It's just good business not to waste resources.
2. The planet as a whole will be a lot more pleasant if we don't mess it up.
3. Needing to change our ways of doing business will spur creativity and new inventions and will help us deal with climate change. And we will have to deal with it, no matter what the cause, if we want to live on a planet where such things happen. Like this one.

Unfortunatly, it seems that burning fossel fuels is still the cheapest energy available.

If you look at the price of a barrel or oil, right now today this minute, yeah. But you have to look at cost over time, which will only go up in the very near future due to increased demand, dwindling supplies, and the cost of extracting fuels from increasingly-inaccessible areas.

We're also not taking into account the cost of cleaning up afterwards (which we pretty much don't do), the cost of any medical problems resulting from our burning fossil fuels, the cost of destroyed resources (the pollution of areas around mines and oil fields, for example), and on and on. I suspect that if we looked at the 'real cost' of using fossil fuels, even right now today this minute, they would no longer be the cheapest; they'd be the costliest.

So yeah, building a passive solar home with active solar backup takes more money today than buidling a conventional house, but over time you recoup the difference in lower fuel bills. And you get to breath cleaner air. And you don't care if there is a power outage. And you get the satisfaction of telling OPEC to take a flying leap, which is definitely worth the price of admission.

Just as nuclear energy costs do not include those associated with decommissioning, nor does the use of fossil fuels include the cost of cleaning up afterwards. However, the cost of extraction continues to grow as oil and other fuels have to extracted from ever-more hazardous environments. When the cost becomes too high then other technologies will take over. Necessity is the mother of invention. We're not at the "necessity" stage yet.

RF

Yes, that's what I ment by 'unfortunatly' and still. & the only thing worse than fossil fuels running out is them not running out... We have to get to the necessity stage quickly, cos we're already there in terms of cleanning up after ourselves, which, of course, is never taken into account in price checks. And, unfortunatly, if you do build a house that can afford to tell OPEC to take a flying leap, you'll still have to breath everyone else's dirty air. 5% of the world's population produce 25% of our CO2 emmissions (USA).

Wouldn't it be nice if we could make changes *before* they become necessary? Sigh...

Part of the problem is economics. This very imprecise 'science' only deals with things that are quantifiable. If something can't be quantified, either because it's too difficult to do or because the data just doesn't exist, then it isn't included in economic models. This allows decision makers to pretend that this 'something' isn't significant or that it isn't real. It's no wonder we get such bone-headed decisions.

IMHO we're already at the 'necessity' stage, but because the cost of energy doesn't reflect the real cost of using it, we're not feeling enough pain to change our ways. If oil didn't cost $40 a barrel, say, but instead cost $40, plus an additional $20 for clean-up, plus an additional $5 for extracting it from a difficult source, plus another $5 for medical costs, plus another $50 for the cost of political unrest and wars over a scarce resource -- and the price of gasoline and home heating fuel suddenly tripled -- we'd be feeling some real urgency.

And our fearless leaders -- at least in this country -- are in bed with the oil and energy companies. No wonder nothing changes.

Stoooopid humans...

If you ever said, somebody should do something about that, I just wanted to let you know that somebody did.

Unified our nation
Balanced our nation's budget
Created unbreakable consumer confidence
Eraticated poverty.
Made our communities safe and almost crime free.
Eliminated raceism
Ended corporate greed and political coruption.
Settled international trade disputes.
Solved the middle east crisis
and created world peace.

(A bold statement comming from your average suburban housewife, but ask yourself, who were you expecting to hear it from?)

Clean/green policy included, as well as corporate family values

Wow, it's like someone made a world of lies and you're living in it!

hello everyone,

My 70 year old father once said how fortunate he was to have survived so many doomsdays (according to expert predictions).

Weather the recent rise in global temps is related to global warming or a blip in the natural cycle is still up to debate. What is not up for debate is the matter of keeping the environment we live in clean when it comes to waste disposal, energy production etc.

Economics has alot to do with these problems but the solution does not need to invlove the destruction of the economy. A company will not go to the extra expence of making something more eco friendly if it does not have to by law. If it does another will seize the advantage. This is where our governments come in. Remember those guys we pay to look after our basic needs like security, health and education? Its up to these guys to create laws that channel how corporations do business and citizens use resources like water and electricity. Since we the people are still technically their bosses, it is our job to elect the people who will do that and not just elect the guy who promises to lower taxes and provide cheaper oil.

Thats enough ranting from me, take care

The next problem comes in when some politician in one country wants to do something about it (after all, why are they a politician if they don't want to do something?), puts through legeslatian, but can't enforce it cos it'll give they're companies a distinct disadvantage compared to those in nearby countries. Indigionus companies may be forced to close cos the competition isn't fair, & multinationals move out. The ecconomy would fall, so it's never enforced, & never would be unless done by all the countries in an area (or globally)at the same time. The EU manage to do a bit of this, & Kyoto (AFAIK) was an attempt at doing it globally. But unfortunatly, most people elect politicians who will work for the immediate good, not the long term.

Whilst all the politicians are politicking, our host planet (or 'mother', for the sentimental) is performing a few adjustments on its own: we are seeing a proliferation of new diseases.

imho, the planet belongs to the microorganisms ultimately. We can anticipate larger phytoplankton blooms, as well as exotic molds, lichens, etc., as well as the continuing virus outbreaks, which (like SARS and avian flu) apparently originate in Asia.

btw, the only microbiology I'm comfortably familiar with has to do with fermentation...

One major thing in politics in money. Like someone said, the leaders are in bed with oil companies... So if one country decides to clean the environment they need money (for the alternative energy resources, etc.). But then the big oil companies (and why not any other big companies as well) in the country can say "hey, if you're not buying our oil we take our business elsewhere - along with our money". And the truth is, those companies are the ones that run government budgets all over the planet... So if you do like they say they give you money but if you don't they won't play with you anymore...
Big boys have big toys and also a big playground...