Climate Change (oh no not again)

[JHC]

How many believe that climate change is the fault of mankind, if so how much of an impact have we made ?

[Contratrombone64]

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.

[wljmrbill]

I tend to think that it is a combination of mankinds' distructive processes and the natural course of climatic conditions.( which may well equal an evolutionary process)

[JHC]

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"

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]

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).

[Krummhorn]

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.

[Dorsetmike]

but when we have no choices in the matter, and have to get places, we have no alternative but to drive.

[tongue in cheek] do they not have air con on bicycles?[/tongue in cheek)

[Krummhorn]

@ Mike

Hey, I'll have to check that out ... maybe a plastic bubble cockpit sort of thing with a little generator attached to the wheel ... has possibilities .

[teddy]

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)

[Dorsetmike]

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

[teddy]

Here here Mike. When are the idiots going to realise that we are an island surrounded by water. If they would only get their snouts out of the trough long enough to look out of the window.

teddy

[Contratrombone64]

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

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.

[wljmrbill]

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]

[QUOTE=wljmrbill;108484] ( it is expensive to get set-up which is the draw back). QUOTE]

And therein lieth the problem. What government is going to turn its back on big business (and energy providers) and approve so called "green" (spare me) alternatives where revenue stops, not one.

[JHC]

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