pjf.org.uk» environment September 3, 2010 http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog Books, Photos and Paintings, Poems and Songs, Short Stories Environment, Arts showcase, Music, Videos, Vinyl records Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:26:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Arizona’s climate prospects http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/arizonas-climate-prospects/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/arizonas-climate-prospects/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:13:33 +0000 bookworm http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=5937 Studies by the UA’s Tree Ring Research Laboratory headed by Tom Swetnam have also found that warm, dry springs lead to a big increase in wildfires. Another study by UA researchers Sarah Kimball, D. Lawrence Venable and others published in Global Change Biology produced a seemingly contradictory result: cold-tolerating Sonoran Desert plants have actually gotten a boost from the warming trend. The most cold-tolerant wildflowers increased their germination rates, at the expense of the rest. Earlier work had shown that cold-tolerant annuals also do better on less water, which could account for the shift the researchers recorded. Arizona climate widespread decline in the number of pinyon pine — the scrubby, drought-tolerant pine tree that often grows at Payson’s elevation. Pinyon pines have died off on some 2.5 million acres in the past few decades. The researchers blamed a decade of drought, record-high temperatures, a dwindling snowpack and other changes. There's a wonderfully idiosyncratic take on Arizona's future here. Which also qualifies as the longest url I've ever seen :) nice work Emil Pulsifer. example: My solutions? 1) Stop all exurban development; 2) Stop all development outside the real urban footprints of cities and towns — that means no more Pinal or Buckeye sprawl; 3) Shrink the state's population through taxes, "anti-business" regulations and whatever other creative solution someone can reach (the heat may do this anyway); 4) Price water extremely high outside the SRP footprint and a few other quasi-sustainable areas; 5) Start to return much of metro Phoenix's fringes to natural desert — yes, tear down the crap; 6) Get a real handle on the state's water resources, based on science, not the venal appetite of the Growth Machine; 7) Fill in the old SRP footprint with high-quality dense development that includes plenty of shade tree and grass oases but also building based on Spanish and Moorish models rather than American tract houses with large expanses out front; also, with much less pavement 8) Tax the fringe areas to encourage migration either out of state or into the dense SRP footprint or other such areas. 9) Shut down any golf course built after 1970; 10) Have statewide, airtight water regulations. Not the least impediment to realizing these solutions would be building an economy based on more than sprawl. So...no chance. Arizona climate

records  Arizona’s climate prospects  home

un and climate change actionOfficials from UN member states are gathering..., Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., Climate protests target R.B.S. bankThe imminent annual general meeting of R.B.S...., .]]> Four recent studies from the climate research center at the University of Arizona have detailed a variety of impacts on the environment in Arizona:

A steady rise in global temperatures since the 1970s has already shifted the high-altitude jet stream to the north by more than 1,000 miles. That shift has dragged the winter and spring storm track with it. The change will result in fewer big winter storms in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Southern California, Western Colorado and Western New Mexico, concluded McAfee.

Arizona climate

Studies by the UA’s Tree Ring Research Laboratory headed by Tom Swetnam have also found that warm, dry springs lead to a big increase in wildfires.

Another study by UA researchers Sarah Kimball, D. Lawrence Venable and others published in Global Change Biology produced a seemingly contradictory result: cold-tolerating Sonoran Desert plants have actually gotten a boost from the warming trend.

The most cold-tolerant wildflowers increased their germination rates, at the expense of the rest. Earlier work had shown that cold-tolerant annuals also do better on less water, which could account for the shift the researchers recorded.

Arizona climate

widespread decline in the number of pinyon pine — the scrubby, drought-tolerant pine tree that often grows at Payson’s elevation.

Pinyon pines have died off on some 2.5 million acres in the past few decades. The researchers blamed a decade of drought, record-high temperatures, a dwindling snowpack and other changes.

There’s a wonderfully idiosyncratic take on Arizona’s future here. Which also qualifies as the longest url I’ve ever seen :) nice work Emil Pulsifer.

example:

My solutions? 1) Stop all exurban development; 2) Stop all development outside the real urban footprints of cities and towns — that means no more Pinal or Buckeye sprawl; 3) Shrink the state’s population through taxes, “anti-business” regulations and whatever other creative solution someone can reach (the heat may do this anyway); 4) Price water extremely high outside the SRP footprint and a few other quasi-sustainable areas; 5) Start to return much of metro Phoenix’s fringes to natural desert — yes, tear down the crap; 6) Get a real handle on the state’s water resources, based on science, not the venal appetite of the Growth Machine; 7) Fill in the old SRP footprint with high-quality dense development that includes plenty of shade tree and grass oases but also building based on Spanish and Moorish models rather than American tract houses with large expanses out front; also, with much less pavement 8) Tax the fringe areas to encourage migration either out of state or into the dense SRP footprint or other such areas. 9) Shut down any golf course built after 1970; 10) Have statewide, airtight water regulations. Not the least impediment to realizing these solutions would be building an economy based on more than sprawl. So…no chance.

Arizona climate

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un and climate change actionOfficials from UN member states are gathering..., Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., Climate protests target R.B.S. bankThe imminent annual general meeting of R.B.S...., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/arizonas-climate-prospects/feed/ 0 Climate protests target R.B.S. bank http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/climate-protests-target-r-b-s-bank/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/climate-protests-target-r-b-s-bank/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:42:55 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=3270 climate protesters, according to the organisers of Climate Camp. The protesters say that R.B.S. fund the oil industry (all banks do!) and engage in Carbon Trading.
Climate Camp spokesman Richard Bernard said: "The root cause of climate change is always governments, banks and corporations which support the fossil fuel industry."
which surely qualifies as one of the most wide-ranging and witless claims of all time. The root causes of climate change are environmental unawareness, rampant consumerism, inflated house prices (which lead young families to commute ever greater distances to employment of debatable value), rampant Consumerism (yes, it is the functional religion of the western world), and rampant consumerism. To blame banks for millions flying abroad several times a year to escape the meaninglessness of their lives seems psychologically inept. It is comforting to have someone to blame ... George Bush 3rd did so a little while back, and we'll all suffer the consequences for decades. If you really want to make a difference, picket the airports, invest (through R.B.S. if you like!) in renewable energy and quit driving to protests. electric cars

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Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., Doctors and World Bank agree on climate dangersThere is news today of European, Asian..., Disrupting the climate criminalsGreen protesters plan to disrupt traffic in..., .]]> The imminent annual general meeting of R.B.S. bank is to be targeted by climate protesters, according to the organisers of Climate Camp.

The protesters say that R.B.S. fund the oil industry (all banks do!) and engage in Carbon Trading.

Climate Camp spokesman Richard Bernard said: “The root cause of climate change is always governments, banks and corporations which support the fossil fuel industry.”

which surely qualifies as one of the most wide-ranging and witless claims of all time.

The root causes of climate change are environmental unawareness, rampant consumerism, inflated house prices (which lead young families to commute ever greater distances to employment of debatable value), rampant Consumerism (yes, it is the functional religion of the western world), and rampant consumerism.

To blame banks for millions flying abroad several times a year to escape the meaninglessness of their lives seems psychologically inept. It is comforting to have someone to blame … George Bush 3rd did so a little while back, and we’ll all suffer the consequences for decades.

If you really want to make a difference, picket the airports, invest (through R.B.S. if you like!) in renewable energy and quit driving to protests.

electric cars

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Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., Doctors and World Bank agree on climate dangersThere is news today of European, Asian..., Disrupting the climate criminalsGreen protesters plan to disrupt traffic in..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/climate-protests-target-r-b-s-bank/feed/ 1 Can BP subcontract environmental and ethical responsibilities? http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/can-bp-subcontract-environmental-and-ethical-responsibilities/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/can-bp-subcontract-environmental-and-ethical-responsibilities/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:18:18 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=4055 US president Obama is aiming to change US law to ensure that BP pay the total cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. And yet, the new climate bill that proposes cutting US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, to make the US the world's "clean-energy leader" includes provisions for relaxing rules on offshore oil-drilling - highly controversial in the wake of the huge Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The question is, can BP (or anyone) subcontract their moral and environmental responsibilities? I suggest not. The Transocean drilling enterprise is relatively minor in the scale of BP's operations; even more so the cement oil-well casing built by BP contractor Halliburton. If the environment is at risk from drilling and encasing in 'cement' (I suggest they mean concrete!), then BP have responsibilty and surely have the funds to do the job themselves. For example, last year their profits were close to £9,000,000,000:
Oil giant BP has reported a 45% drop in annual profit due to lower oil and gas prices and depressed refining margins. Its replacement cost profit for 2009 was $13.96bn (£8.75bn), compared with $25.59bn in 2008. The company said that its oil and gas production increased more than 4% in 2009 and its reserves had grown for the 17th year in a row.

records  Can BP subcontract environmental and ethical responsibilities?  home

BP Gulf calamity in picturesA very clear pictorial representation of the..., BP catastrophe and Japanese debtToday's horror stories come from Japan and..., Gulf of Mexico history lessonEnvironment news from the Gulf of Mexico..., .]]> On the news this morning, US president Obama is aiming to change US law to ensure that BP pay the total cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. And yet, the new climate bill that proposes cutting US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, to make the US the world’s “clean-energy leader” includes provisions for relaxing rules on offshore oil-drilling – highly controversial in the wake of the huge Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The question is, can BP (or anyone) subcontract their moral and environmental responsibilities? I suggest not.

The Transocean drilling enterprise is relatively minor in the scale of BP’s operations; even more so the cement oil-well casing built by BP contractor Halliburton. If the environment is at risk from drilling and encasing in ‘cement’ (I suggest they mean concrete!), then BP have responsibilty and surely have the funds to do the job themselves.

For example, last year their profits were close to £9,000,000,000:

Oil giant BP has reported a 45% drop in annual profit due to lower oil and gas prices and depressed refining margins.

Its replacement cost profit for 2009 was $13.96bn (£8.75bn), compared with $25.59bn in 2008.

The company said that its oil and gas production increased more than 4% in 2009 and its reserves had grown for the 17th year in a row.

records  Can BP subcontract environmental and ethical responsibilities?  home


BP Gulf calamity in picturesA very clear pictorial representation of the..., BP catastrophe and Japanese debtToday's horror stories come from Japan and..., Gulf of Mexico history lessonEnvironment news from the Gulf of Mexico..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/can-bp-subcontract-environmental-and-ethical-responsibilities/feed/ 0 bird species in south america threatened by soy farming http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/bird-species-in-south-america-threatened-by-soy-farming/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/bird-species-in-south-america-threatened-by-soy-farming/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:24:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/07/bird-species-in-south-america-threatened-by-soy-farming/ swan and wren photos, in the paintings and photos category, here is news of wetlands under threat in South america; mostly in Brazil. the flood plain known as the Pantanal covers150,000 square kilometres. Most of it is in Brazil, but also extends into Bolivia and Paraguay. Within the Pantanal therre are known to be 700 species of birds, 50 types of reptiles and many fish. "The real danger is in the area around the Pantanal, in the tablelands, due to the very strong agricultural movement, agribusiness, soya plantations, sugar cane plantations," says Andre Thuronyi of the Araras Eco Lodge. full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8130261.stm Earlier this year was a report linking the threat to soya farming on a vast scale in Brazil's Mato Grosso state. Soy farming "In the United States, the government is spending $8bn [£4.2bn] to undo the environmental problems in the Everglades and that's a massive sum, too much for a country like Brazil," he added. The Everglades was hugely damaged by 1940s drainage projects. The current national park covers only a fifth of the original territory. links corrected August 24 2010

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South Ossetia and twitter attacksGoogle escapes the DOS (denial of service)..., British waste found in Brazilian portsOn the news this morning, the Brazilian..., reserve and bird sanctuaryreserve and bird sanctuary Upper Tamar Lake..., .]]> Following on from the recent swan and wren photos, in the paintings and photos category, here is news of wetlands under threat in South america; mostly in Brazil. the flood plain known as the Pantanal covers150,000 square kilometres. Most of it is in Brazil, but also extends into Bolivia and Paraguay.

Within the Pantanal therre are known to be 700 species of birds, 50 types of reptiles and many fish.

“The real danger is in the area around the Pantanal, in the tablelands, due to the very strong agricultural movement, agribusiness, soya plantations, sugar cane plantations,” says Andre Thuronyi of the Araras Eco Lodge.

full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8130261.stm

Earlier this year was a report linking the threat to soya farming on a vast scale in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state.

Soy farming

“In the United States, the government is spending $8bn [£4.2bn] to undo the environmental problems in the Everglades and that’s a massive sum, too much for a country like Brazil,” he added.

The Everglades was hugely damaged by 1940s drainage projects. The current national park covers only a fifth of the original territory.

links corrected August 24 2010

records  bird species in south america threatened by soy farming  home


South Ossetia and twitter attacksGoogle escapes the DOS (denial of service)..., British waste found in Brazilian portsOn the news this morning, the Brazilian..., reserve and bird sanctuaryreserve and bird sanctuary Upper Tamar Lake..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/bird-species-in-south-america-threatened-by-soy-farming/feed/ 1 Republican ranchers embrace wind power http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/republican-ranchers-embrace-wind-power/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/republican-ranchers-embrace-wind-power/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/06/republican-ranchers-embrace-wind-power/
read the story on the Beeb, complete with video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8076301.stm update from the US Department of Energy April 2010: thousands gathered at the commemoration of the state’s first wind farm. A group of local residents and US Interior Department officials were there to celebrate an event that had once seemed unlikely if not impossible. Bill Elkins was the driving force behind this new sustainable ranchers (!) movement. Bill lives in Navajo County, home to one of the largest Indian reservations in the U.S. He owns and operates the Rocking Chair Ranch. Families like Bill’s have been in ranching for over a hundred years, it’s one of the main industries in Navajo County. But as the years went by it was getting harder to make a living out of ranching and Bill didn’t want to lose his land. Wind turbines on Navajo County land in Arizona

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global warming and ’sapient’ psychologyOn today’s news, the CBI has declared..., wind farms and wild birds healthnews from Scotland Some of Scotland’s rarest..., Solar power roof grants, electric trucksPhotovoltaic cells Photovoltaic cells, that generate electricity..., .]]> Republican ranchers embrace wind power! also the income …

read the story on the Beeb, complete with video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8076301.stm

update from the US Department of Energy April 2010:

thousands gathered at the commemoration of the state’s first wind farm. A group of local residents and US Interior Department officials were there to celebrate an event that had once seemed unlikely if not impossible.

Bill Elkins was the driving force behind this new sustainable ranchers (!) movement.

Bill lives in Navajo County, home to one of the largest Indian reservations in the U.S. He owns and operates the Rocking Chair Ranch. Families like Bill’s have been in ranching for over a hundred years, it’s one of the main industries in Navajo County. But as the years went by it was getting harder to make a living out of ranching and Bill didn’t want to lose his land.
Wind turbines on Navajo County land in Arizona

records  Republican ranchers embrace wind power  home


global warming and ’sapient’ psychologyOn today’s news, the CBI has declared..., wind farms and wild birds healthnews from Scotland Some of Scotland’s rarest..., Solar power roof grants, electric trucksPhotovoltaic cells Photovoltaic cells, that generate electricity..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/republican-ranchers-embrace-wind-power/feed/ 0 popular environment / nature posts http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/popular-environment-nature/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/popular-environment-nature/#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:37:55 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=4485 Environment sterling-engine-for-solar-power
Ideal 4x4 for middle age!
archeological-find-cut-hill-dartmoor
sunderland-plant-gets-nissans-electric-car-vote
can-bp-subcontract-environmental-and-ethical-responsibilities
all nature / environment posts

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Ecology, environment and nature booksEcology, environment and nature books Ecology Facts..., Mitsubishi electric carHoping to compete with the Nissan electric..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., .]]> Environment

sterling-engine-for-solar-power

Ideal 4×4 for middle age!

archeological-find-cut-hill-dartmoor

sunderland-plant-gets-nissans-electric-car-vote

can-bp-subcontract-environmental-and-ethical-responsibilities

all nature / environment posts

records  popular environment / nature posts  home


Ecology, environment and nature booksEcology, environment and nature books Ecology Facts..., Mitsubishi electric carHoping to compete with the Nissan electric..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/popular-environment-nature/feed/ 0 Gulf of Mexico history lesson http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/gulf-of-mexico-history-lesson/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/gulf-of-mexico-history-lesson/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:04:03 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=4146 records  Gulf of Mexico history lesson  home

oil find bp – gulf of mexico BP oil discovery LONDON (Reuters) –..., BP Gulf calamity in picturesA very clear pictorial representation of the..., US senate hears blame game – BP oil disasterRepresentatives of UK listed BP (the oil..., .]]> Environment news from the Gulf of Mexico

BP history lesson

Remember the 1979 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

It started with a burst of gas through the drilling well. Workers scrambled to close the safety valves but within moments the platform caught fire and collapsed. Tens of millions of gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous attempts to stop the spill failed.

Three decades later, the 1979 Ixtoc disaster remains the Gulf’s — and the world’s — worst peacetime oil spill.

Oil kept gushing for another three months after the first well was completed.

140 million gallons of oil spilled before it was finally sealed.

BP news today

4 June 2010

Today’s news:
Waves of gooey tar blobs were washing ashore in growing numbers on the white sand of the Florida Panhandle and nearby Alabama beaches Friday as a slick from the BP spill drifted closer to shore.

Spotters who had been seeing a few tar balls in recent days found a substantially larger number starting before dawn on the beaches of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and nearby areas, a county emergency official said. The park is a long string of connected barrier islands near Pensacola.

Keith Wilkins from Escambia County emergency management said tar patties were pretty thick on parts of the beach, as much as one every foot.

And the reaction of the London Stock Exchange?

BP shares rose over 30 pence for a while today, and are still higher than yesterday’s close. It makes you wonder if the bread-heads ever venture outdoors into the fumes and din of this car-obsessed ‘civilisation’.

Despite many buyers at the share price 30% lower than 2 months ago, the big money is all ditching the shares. Today’s top 7 deals (to 2.30p.m.) were all selling:

£8,968,460 448.42p 2,000,000 11:00 Sell NT
£8,050,455 450.00p 1,788,990 08:00 Sell UT
£1,796,388 449.10p 400,000 08:59 Sell NT
£1,095,500 438.20p 250,000 14:17 Sell NT
£1,032,397 449.85p 229,498 10:48 Sell AT
£995,022 449.50p 221,362 10:09 Sell NT
£961,698 452.50p 212,530 12:31 Sell AT

update 17th Agust 2010

BP has raised $5bn in new loans by pledging revenues from oil sales for the first time in a bid to bolster its liquidity in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico spill.

The new financing is the latest effort to diversify its sources of funding and shore up liquidity, people close to the process said.

The proceeds will be used for general corporate financing rather than as financing for a $20bn escrow fund to pay for damages caused by the spill.

The UK oil group said it was taking a “prudent approach” to managing its balance sheet and its financial liquidity, including providing a liquidity buffer, to ensure that BP has the flexibility to meet all its future financial obligations.

“This form of financing creates further flexibility for BP as an alternative form of financing in addition to its more conventional debt financing such as corporate lending or project finance structures where appropriate,” BP said.

“The company had previously been more reliant on bond market funding.” says Financial Times.

BP engineers and US government scientists are concerned that cement poured into the well from the top earlier this month has squeezed back up into a space between the well pipe and the surrounding rock, trapping about 1,000 barrels of oil.

records  Gulf of Mexico history lesson  home


oil find bp – gulf of mexico BP oil discovery LONDON (Reuters) –..., BP Gulf calamity in picturesA very clear pictorial representation of the..., US senate hears blame game – BP oil disasterRepresentatives of UK listed BP (the oil..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/gulf-of-mexico-history-lesson/feed/ 4 Solar power roof grants, electric trucks http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/solar-power-roof-grants-electric-trucks/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/solar-power-roof-grants-electric-trucks/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:01:22 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=2481 Photovoltaic cells Photovoltaic cells, that generate electricity from electromagnetic waves (typically sunlight), were initially so expensive to produce that they only appeared in tiny devices such as pocket calculators or high-tech applications like satellites and space exploration. With improved design, technology and sales volume it is now feasible to use them in your own home or business, and government grants are available to help encourage the pioneers!

Selling solar electricity to the national grid

It is now possible to sell the electricity you don't use to the national grid, and a premium is payable to encourage the pioneers.

The energy saving trust guide

energy saving trust guide to calculating what works for you: the guide

Clean Energy Cashback

About the Feed-in Tariff (Clean Energy Cashback) scheme The scheme covers the following electricity-generating technologies, up to 5 Mega Watts: - Solar electricity (PV) (roof mounted or stand alone) - Wind turbine (building mounted or free standing) - Hydroelectricity - Anaerobic digestion - Micro combined heat and power (mCHP) (limited to a pilot at this stage) The tariffs available and the process for receiving them vary, depending on when the technology was installed, and whether the system and the installer were certificated under the MCS* scheme. See below for further details

qualifying for the full FIT payments

You will qualify for the full FIT payments if: - The technology was installed between 15th July 2009 and 31st March 2010; OR - It is installed on or after 1st April 2010 using an MCS certificated product and by an MCS* certificated installer; - The system installed on or after 1st April 2010 is MCS* certificated

Microgeneration Certification Scheme

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme website has lists of certified suppliers and installers, and guidance on deciding what is best for your home or business. With the development of rechargeable batteries in recent years, as evidenced by their almost universal replacement of mains leads in hand operated power tools (drill, jigsaws, etc.) and small vehicles, it is now feasible for determined individuals to convert a truck to electricity; either using solar electric as described above, or having similar panels on the roof of the truck. electric van An example of local government determination to encourage cleaner transport is shown for London: London's electric vehicles organic roots

records  Solar power roof grants, electric trucks  home

Sterling Engine for solar powerHow to convert solar energy (or any..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth LeitmanApprox 250 pages of useful info by..., .]]> Photovoltaic cells

Photovoltaic cells, that generate electricity from electromagnetic waves (typically sunlight), were initially so expensive to produce that they only appeared in tiny devices such as pocket calculators or high-tech applications like satellites and space exploration. With improved design, technology and sales volume it is now feasible to use them in your own home or business, and government grants are available to help encourage the pioneers!

Selling solar electricity to the national grid

It is now possible to sell the electricity you don’t use to the national grid, and a premium is payable to encourage the pioneers.

The energy saving trust guide

energy saving trust guide to calculating what works for you:

the guide

Clean Energy Cashback

About the Feed-in Tariff (Clean Energy Cashback) scheme

The scheme covers the following electricity-generating technologies, up to 5 Mega Watts:

- Solar electricity (PV) (roof mounted or stand alone)

- Wind turbine (building mounted or free standing)

- Hydroelectricity

- Anaerobic digestion

- Micro combined heat and power (mCHP) (limited to a pilot at this stage)

The tariffs available and the process for receiving them vary, depending on when the technology was installed, and whether the system and the installer were certificated under the MCS* scheme. See below for further details

qualifying for the full FIT payments

You will qualify for the full FIT payments if:

- The technology was installed between 15th July 2009 and 31st March 2010; OR

- It is installed on or after 1st April 2010 using an MCS certificated product and by an MCS* certificated installer;

- The system installed on or after 1st April 2010 is MCS* certificated

Microgeneration Certification Scheme

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme website has lists of certified suppliers and installers, and guidance on deciding what is best for your home or business.

With the development of rechargeable batteries in recent years, as evidenced by their almost universal replacement of mains leads in hand operated power tools (drill, jigsaws, etc.) and small vehicles, it is now feasible for determined individuals to convert a truck to electricity; either using solar electric as described above, or having similar panels on the roof of the truck.

electric van

An example of local government determination to encourage cleaner transport is shown for London:

London’s electric vehicles

organic roots

records  Solar power roof grants, electric trucks  home


Sterling Engine for solar powerHow to convert solar energy (or any..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth LeitmanApprox 250 pages of useful info by..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/solar-power-roof-grants-electric-trucks/feed/ 2 settee nav http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/settee-nav/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/settee-nav/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:09:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/07/settee-nav/ records  settee nav  home

shell profits and house prices shell profits Shell profits are down..., pandemic swine fluhe world health authority (no, i don't..., Vote for Slavery landlordsThe pressure on councils to do more..., .]]> yippee; maybe people will stay home:

“A report presented recently to the US Congress warned that sat-nav – satellite navigation – systems could start to fail from next year as the US Air Force’s satellites deteriorate.”

(Less traffic :) )

records  settee nav  home


shell profits and house prices shell profits Shell profits are down..., pandemic swine fluhe world health authority (no, i don't..., Vote for Slavery landlordsThe pressure on councils to do more..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/settee-nav/feed/ 4 Mitsubishi electric car http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/mitsubishi-electric-car/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/mitsubishi-electric-car/#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:05:53 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=4733 Nissan electric car, The all-electric i-MiEV city car, manufactured by Mitsubishi, is now on sale in London, UK. (Mitsubishi Electric Vehicle Centre, St James’s Square, London). Mitsubishi electric car. This new electric motor: Mitsubishi electric car engine boats 160km Cruising Range (about 100 miles). And the environmental impact?
based on an annual mileage of 12,500 miles, the i-MiEV produces two tons less CO 2 per year than a gasoline version.
If you want to achieve even better environmental damage limitation; buy an old car and do a conversion to electric!

records  Mitsubishi electric car  home

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth LeitmanApprox 250 pages of useful info by..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., .]]> Hoping to compete with the Nissan electric car,

The all-electric i-MiEV city car, manufactured by Mitsubishi, is now on sale in London, UK. (Mitsubishi Electric Vehicle Centre, St James’s Square, London).

Mitsubishi electric car.

This new electric motor:

Mitsubishi electric car engine

boats 160km Cruising Range (about 100 miles). And the environmental impact?

based on an annual mileage of 12,500 miles, the i-MiEV produces two tons
less CO 2 per year than a gasoline version.

If you want to achieve even better environmental damage limitation; buy an old car and do a conversion to electric!

records  Mitsubishi electric car  home


Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth LeitmanApprox 250 pages of useful info by..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/mitsubishi-electric-car/feed/ 0 short haired bumblebees return to UK http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/short-haired-bumblebees-return-to-uk/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/short-haired-bumblebees-return-to-uk/#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:31:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/06/short-haired-bumblebees-return-to-uk/ records  short haired bumblebees return to UK  home

Return of the RavensNot a gothic band or dubious bankers..., The Return of the King Soundtrack – Into the WestThe Return of the King Soundtrack-19-Into the..., Funny Short StoriesFunny Short Stories by category Hopefully this..., .]]> On BBC radio this morning I heard that a rare bee is being reintroduced to Britain.

the short haired bumblebee was exported to New Zealand as a pollinator for clover in the 1800s, and has survived there while becoming extinct in the UK.

The 100 or so bees will be brought back during their hibernation and a breeding plan implemented. The bees are then to be released into a specially created habitat in Kent, which will also encourage butterflies, nesting birds and water voles.

records  short haired bumblebees return to UK  home


Return of the RavensNot a gothic band or dubious bankers..., The Return of the King Soundtrack – Into the WestThe Return of the King Soundtrack-19-Into the..., Funny Short StoriesFunny Short Stories by category Hopefully this..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/short-haired-bumblebees-return-to-uk/feed/ 2 Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth Leitman http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/build-your-own-electric-vehicle-bob-brant-seth-leitman/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/build-your-own-electric-vehicle-bob-brant-seth-leitman/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:18:53 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=3169 Build Your Own Electric Vehicle - Bob Brant, Seth Leitman D. I. Y. , projects to build electric-cars . bargain-books and popular-books to help the engineer (!) and save the environment: renewable-energy The publishers view: Save money on gas and turn your car into an electric and efficient machine. What really happened to the electric car? This completely revised and updated edition of the "bible of electric car books" gives you the component-by-component coverage you need to convert your gas-guzzler to a clean-running electric powered vehicle. The book begins with a history of electric vehicles and the latest international advances in EV technology, and goes on to describe every component - from motor to chassis - showing how to put them all together to create a working vehicle.

records  Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth Leitman  home

Chrysler to build electric car by 2012Today Chrysler announced that they will build..., electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., .]]> Approx 250 pages of useful info by authors who’ve done the job.

Currently 5% off at WHSmiths (£14.24) and £12.21 (free delivery) at Amazon.

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle - Bob Brant, Seth Leitman

D. I. Y. , projects to build electric-cars . bargain-books and popular-books to help the engineer (!)
and save the environment: renewable-energy

The publishers view:

Save money on gas and turn your car into an electric and efficient machine. What really happened to the electric car? This completely revised and updated edition of the “bible of electric car books” gives you the component-by-component coverage you need to convert your gas-guzzler to a clean-running electric powered vehicle. The book begins with a history of electric vehicles and the latest international advances in EV technology, and goes on to describe every component – from motor to chassis – showing how to put them all together to create a working vehicle.

records  Build Your Own Electric Vehicle – Bob Brant, Seth Leitman  home


Chrysler to build electric car by 2012Today Chrysler announced that they will build..., electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/build-your-own-electric-vehicle-bob-brant-seth-leitman/feed/ 2 Sterling Engine for solar power http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/sterling-engine-for-solar-power/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/sterling-engine-for-solar-power/#comments Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:59:28 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=4604 solar energy (or any heat) into mechanical work. The scope for renewable energy generation in any country with reliable sunlight is tremendous:

the principle: Stirling Engine video

Because the mirrors need to track the sun (unlike with solar panels) this Sterling engine technology is suited to large installations. In other words - power stations in semi-desert and the like :) You won't need to put one on every house roof!

Using a Fresnel lens to concentrate sunlight

records  Sterling Engine for solar power  home

Australian environmental shameGiven that they have both the ideal..., renewable energy for TuvaluThe tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu..., solar powered cars for Earth’s sakeSolar Powered Car video a diy project!..., .]]> How to convert solar energy (or any heat) into mechanical work.

The scope for renewable energy generation in any country with reliable sunlight is tremendous:

the principle: This amazingly simple engine runs at 700rpm heated only by a small candle. Powered by an alcohol burner the Lamina Flow engine quickly accelerates up to ~ 1000rpm.

Stirling Engine video

Because the mirrors need to track the sun (unlike with solar panels) this Sterling engine technology is suited to large installations. In other words – power stations in semi-desert and the like :) You won’t need to put one on every house roof!

Using a Fresnel lens to concentrate sunlight

records  Sterling Engine for solar power  home


Australian environmental shameGiven that they have both the ideal..., renewable energy for TuvaluThe tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu..., solar powered cars for Earth’s sakeSolar Powered Car video a diy project!..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/sterling-engine-for-solar-power/feed/ 0 Ideal 4×4s for middle aged fatties http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/ideal-4x4s-for-middle-aged-fatties/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/ideal-4x4s-for-middle-aged-fatties/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:40:48 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=2847 Ideal 4x4s for middle aged fatties It's all downhill once you're middle aged ... so you might as well enjoy the ride! My 2 favourite bikes:

Claud Butler Explorer 300 2009 Hybrid Bike

(Replaces the Legend, 2009, which I bought) Typical spec:for the Claud Butler Explorer 300 2009 Hybrid Bike Claud Butler Legend Frame: 6063 T4-T6 Aluminium, with replaceable gear hanger and oversize head tube. Sport commuter design with mudguard capability Fork: RST Sofi suspension with pre load adjustment and 50mm of travel Front Derailleur: SHIMANO ACERA Rear Derailleur: SHIMANO ACERA Shifters: EF60 STI shifters Chainset: Guarded TRUVATIV X-Flow chain set Chainrings: 28/38/48 tooth Chainrings Bottom Bracket: TRUVATIV bottom bracket Front Brake: Black alloy Promax "V" style Rear Brake: Black alloy Promax "V" style Handlebars: alloy flat bar and bar ends Stem: A-head stem Headset: Oversize A-headset Rims: MT20 double wall alloy rims with GSW braking surface Front Hub: Cross-X lacing equipped 24 hole quick release alloy hub Rear Hub: cross-X lacing equipped with 24 hole quick release alloy hubs Front Tyre: KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 47 Rear Tyre: KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 47 Saddle: Claud Butler Tri-panel comfort saddle Seatpost: Alloy micro adjust seat pillar

Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2010 Mountain Bike

A typical review of the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2010 Mountain Bike: great bike, bought to do a mix of on and off road riding, and does that very well, and comfortably.good in the snow ive found out this weekend. feels solid, and everything works well together. and looks awesome! a wee bit heavy, but as i said, feels well built, so a good balance. specialized-hardrock-sport-disc-2010-mountain-bike spec for the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2010 Mountain Bike: Frame: Specialized A1 Premium Aluminium, fully butted, externally relieved Head Tube, reinforced disc mount, forged dropouts with replaceable hanger, disc only Fork: SR Suntour SF10-XCT-V2D-MLO, 80mm, 1pc. alloy lower, 28mm Hi-Ten stanchions, , disc only Front Derailleur: Shimano Altus Rear Derailleur: SRAM X-4, mid cage Shifters: SRAM X4-R trigger Chainset: SR SunTour, Octalink spline Chainrings: 42t x 32t x 22t chainrings Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-ES25, Octalink spline, cartridge bearing, 68mm x 118mm Cassette: SRAM PG-830, 8-speed, 11-32t Chain: KMC X8 with reusable Missing Link Pedals: Steel cage, composite body, 9/16" Front Brake: Avid BB5, mechanical disc, 160mm G2 Clean Sweep rotor Rear Brake: Avid BB5, mechanical disc, 160mm G2 Clean Sweep rotor Brake Levers: Alloy, linear pull Handlebars: Alloy riserbar, 25mm rise, 640mm wide Stem: 3D forged alloy, 10 degree rise Headset: 1-1/8" threadless, loose ball Grips: Specialized Enduro, dual compound Kraton Rims: Alex RHD, 26", pinned, alloy double wall with eyelet, 32h Front Hub: Forged alloy, double sealed, ground race, steel QR, 32h Rear Hub: Forged alloy, double sealed, machined disc mount, cassette, 32h Spokes: stainless Front Tyre: Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport, 26x2.0" Rear Tyre: Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport, 26x2.0" Tubes: Schrader valve Saddle: Specialized XC Seatpost: Alloy two bolt, 12.5mm offset, micro adjust Seat Binder: Alloy QR, nylon washer Notes: Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat, owners manual Weight: Weight for Medium Version - 29lb 7oz / 13.36kg After riding a cheaper bike, this feels like it weighs slightly less than nothing, and it's a good idea to sit on it to prevent it floating away!

records  Ideal 4×4s for middle aged fatties  home

electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., optimum excercise for middle age Excercise increases arthritis in excess A..., 8 fold pattern with muddy middle I’m hoping this has scope for..., .]]> Ideal 4×4s for middle aged fatties

It’s all downhill once you’re middle aged …

so you might as well enjoy the ride!

My 2 favourite bikes:

Claud Butler Explorer 300 2009 Hybrid Bike

(Replaces the Legend, 2009, which I bought)

Typical spec:for the Claud Butler Explorer 300 2009 Hybrid Bike

Claud Butler Legend

Frame:
6063 T4-T6 Aluminium, with replaceable gear hanger and oversize head tube. Sport commuter design with mudguard capability
Fork:
RST Sofi suspension with pre load adjustment and 50mm of travel
Front Derailleur:
SHIMANO ACERA
Rear Derailleur:
SHIMANO ACERA
Shifters:
EF60 STI shifters
Chainset:
Guarded TRUVATIV X-Flow chain set
Chainrings:
28/38/48 tooth Chainrings
Bottom Bracket:
TRUVATIV bottom bracket
Front Brake:
Black alloy Promax “V” style
Rear Brake:
Black alloy Promax “V” style
Handlebars:
alloy flat bar and bar ends
Stem:
A-head stem
Headset:
Oversize A-headset
Rims:
MT20 double wall alloy rims with GSW braking surface
Front Hub:
Cross-X lacing equipped 24 hole quick release alloy hub
Rear Hub:
cross-X lacing equipped with 24 hole quick release alloy hubs
Front Tyre:
KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 47
Rear Tyre:
KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 47
Saddle:
Claud Butler Tri-panel comfort saddle
Seatpost:
Alloy micro adjust seat pillar

Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2010 Mountain Bike

A typical review of the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2010 Mountain Bike:

great bike, bought to do a mix of on and off road riding, and does that very well, and comfortably.good in the snow ive found out this weekend.
feels solid, and everything works well together.
and looks awesome!
a wee bit heavy, but as i said, feels well built, so a good balance.

specialized-hardrock-sport-disc-2010-mountain-bike

spec for the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2010 Mountain Bike:

Frame:
Specialized A1 Premium Aluminium, fully butted, externally relieved Head Tube, reinforced disc mount, forged dropouts with replaceable hanger, disc only
Fork:
SR Suntour SF10-XCT-V2D-MLO, 80mm, 1pc. alloy lower, 28mm Hi-Ten stanchions, , disc only
Front Derailleur:
Shimano Altus
Rear Derailleur:
SRAM X-4, mid cage
Shifters:
SRAM X4-R trigger
Chainset:
SR SunTour, Octalink spline
Chainrings:
42t x 32t x 22t chainrings
Bottom Bracket:
Shimano BB-ES25, Octalink spline, cartridge bearing, 68mm x 118mm
Cassette:
SRAM PG-830, 8-speed, 11-32t
Chain:
KMC X8 with reusable Missing Link
Pedals:
Steel cage, composite body, 9/16″
Front Brake:
Avid BB5, mechanical disc, 160mm G2 Clean Sweep rotor
Rear Brake:
Avid BB5, mechanical disc, 160mm G2 Clean Sweep rotor
Brake Levers:
Alloy, linear pull
Handlebars:
Alloy riserbar, 25mm rise, 640mm wide
Stem:
3D forged alloy, 10 degree rise
Headset:
1-1/8″ threadless, loose ball
Grips:
Specialized Enduro, dual compound Kraton
Rims:
Alex RHD, 26″, pinned, alloy double wall with eyelet, 32h
Front Hub:
Forged alloy, double sealed, ground race, steel QR, 32h
Rear Hub:
Forged alloy, double sealed, machined disc mount, cassette, 32h
Spokes:
stainless
Front Tyre:
Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport, 26×2.0″
Rear Tyre:
Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport, 26×2.0″
Tubes:
Schrader valve
Saddle:
Specialized XC
Seatpost:
Alloy two bolt, 12.5mm offset, micro adjust
Seat Binder:
Alloy QR, nylon washer
Notes:
Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat, owners manual
Weight:
Weight for Medium Version – 29lb 7oz / 13.36kg

After riding a cheaper bike, this feels like it weighs slightly less than nothing, and it’s a good idea to sit on it to prevent it floating away!

records  Ideal 4×4s for middle aged fatties  home


electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., optimum excercise for middle age Excercise increases arthritis in excess A..., 8 fold pattern with muddy middle I’m hoping this has scope for..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/ideal-4x4s-for-middle-aged-fatties/feed/ 3 photovoltaic powered airplane http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/photovoltaic-powered-airplane/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/photovoltaic-powered-airplane/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:46:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/06/photovoltaic-powered-airplane/

Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard has unveiled a prototype of the solar-powered plane he hopes eventually to fly around the world.

The initial version, spanning 61m but weighing just 1,500kg, will undergo trials to prove it can fly at night.

Dr Piccard, who made history in 1999 by circling the globe non-stop in a balloon, says he wants to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies.

He hopes to fly a later version of the plane across the Atlantic in 2012

more

a related story from last year

"UK-built solar-powered plane has set an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.

The Zephyr-6, as it is known, stayed aloft for more than three days, running through the night on batteries it had recharged in sunlight.

The flight was a demonstration for the US military, which is looking for new types of technology to support its troops on the ground.

Craft like Zephyr might make ideal platforms for reconnaissance."

records  photovoltaic powered airplane  home

solar powered cars for Earth’s sakeSolar Powered Car video a diy project!..., electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., renewable energy for TuvaluThe tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu..., .]]> a plane powered entirley by solar panels is set to attempt a round the world flight.

Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard has unveiled a prototype of the solar-powered plane he hopes eventually to fly around the world.

The initial version, spanning 61m but weighing just 1,500kg, will undergo trials to prove it can fly at night.

Dr Piccard, who made history in 1999 by circling the globe non-stop in a balloon, says he wants to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies.

He hopes to fly a later version of the plane across the Atlantic in 2012

more

a related story from last year

“UK-built solar-powered plane has set an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.

The Zephyr-6, as it is known, stayed aloft for more than three days, running through the night on batteries it had recharged in sunlight.

The flight was a demonstration for the US military, which is looking for new types of technology to support its troops on the ground.

Craft like Zephyr might make ideal platforms for reconnaissance.”

records  photovoltaic powered airplane  home


solar powered cars for Earth’s sakeSolar Powered Car video a diy project!..., electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., renewable energy for TuvaluThe tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/photovoltaic-powered-airplane/feed/ 0 Greenhouse effect, carbon cycle and political failure http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/greenhouse-effect-carbon-cycle-and-political-failure/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/greenhouse-effect-carbon-cycle-and-political-failure/#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:55:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/08/greenhouse-effect-carbon-cycle-and-political-failure/ Government failure likely

The UK Environmental Audit Committee said it was "unconvinced" that the government would reach its own target of reducing emissions by 12.5% by 2011. As a result, the government might have to pay private firms that do better in meeting their targets (as part of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme - due to begin next year).

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy, warming the Earth enough to support life.

Most mainstream scientists believe a human-driven increase in "greenhouse gases" is increasing the effect artificially.

These gases include carbon dioxide, emitted by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, and methane, released from rice paddies and landfill sites.

There is a simple animated guide to how the greenhouse effect works, here

and

the carbon cycle

"The carbon cycle

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas of concern. A finite amount of carbon is stored in fossil fuels, the sea, living matter and the atmosphere.

Without human influence, transfers between these stores roughly balance each other – for example, plants absorb carbon as they grow, but release it as they decay.

But when humans cut down trees or burn fossil fuels, they release extra carbon into the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect."

here

update - 11 months later, little has changed

records  Greenhouse effect, carbon cycle and political failure  home

CO2 cuts, plutonium chaos, plasmas defeat superbugsChinese CO2 cuts promised http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8380106.stm Beijing said..., Ambitious Japanese greenhouse gas targetsAmbitious Japanese greenhouse gas targets Japan’s next..., Witless Ones decimate Planet EarthAll today’s news appears to be bad,..., .]]> Government failure likely

The UK Environmental Audit Committee said it was “unconvinced” that the government would reach its own target of reducing emissions by 12.5% by 2011. As a result, the government might have to pay private firms that do better in meeting their targets (as part of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme – due to begin next year).

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the Sun’s energy, warming the Earth enough to support life.

Most mainstream scientists believe a human-driven increase in “greenhouse gases” is increasing the effect artificially.

These gases include carbon dioxide, emitted by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, and methane, released from rice paddies and landfill sites.

There is a simple animated guide to how the greenhouse effect works, here

and

the carbon cycle

“The carbon cycle

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas of concern. A finite amount of carbon is stored in fossil fuels, the sea, living matter and the atmosphere.

Without human influence, transfers between these stores roughly balance each other – for example, plants absorb carbon as they grow, but release it as they decay.

But when humans cut down trees or burn fossil fuels, they release extra carbon into the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect.”

here

update – 11 months later, little has changed

records  Greenhouse effect, carbon cycle and political failure  home


CO2 cuts, plutonium chaos, plasmas defeat superbugsChinese CO2 cuts promised http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8380106.stm Beijing said..., Ambitious Japanese greenhouse gas targetsAmbitious Japanese greenhouse gas targets Japan’s next..., Witless Ones decimate Planet EarthAll today’s news appears to be bad,..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/greenhouse-effect-carbon-cycle-and-political-failure/feed/ 3 global warming and ’sapient’ psychology http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/global-warming-and-sapient-psychology/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/global-warming-and-sapient-psychology/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:10:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/07/global-warming-and-sapient-psychology/ records  global warming and ’sapient’ psychology  home

Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., Analytical PsychologyAnalytical Psychology An introduction to Jung records..., Psychology – The Science of Mind and Behaviourtext books for sale Psychology – The..., .]]> On today’s news, the CBI has declared that the government should focus more on nuclear and clean coal power, and less on wind power.

It’s true that wind power has a very limited role in combating the escalating power needs of an overpopulated ’society’ dedicated to consumerism and witless extraversion. Wind power is both finance and energy greedy to set up.

Maybe the constant humiliation of consumer idiocy would be more effective?

records  global warming and ’sapient’ psychology  home


Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., Analytical PsychologyAnalytical Psychology An introduction to Jung records..., Psychology – The Science of Mind and Behaviourtext books for sale Psychology – The..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/global-warming-and-sapient-psychology/feed/ 0 Nissan back electric car future http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/nissan-back-electric-car-future/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/nissan-back-electric-car-future/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:43:48 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=1894 records  Nissan back electric car future  home

electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., .]]> The future of electric cars (zero emissions) is central to the plans of Nissan-Renault, according to their boss, Carlos Ghosn.

Many claim that the current limit of approx 160km range, then a 20 minute charge-up time will deter most buyers. But public demand for cleaner lifestyles and environmental awareness are improving faster than expected.

But Mr Ghosn says that “80% of the people on earth, driving a car, drive less than 100km a day”.

Plans were announced in the UK in February 2010 to generate 20% of all electricity from wind turbines placed in the shallows of the North Sea and west of Lundy. It may be electioneering, but it gives interested voters a stick with which to beat backsliding MPs in the future :)

records  Nissan back electric car future  home


electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/nissan-back-electric-car-future/feed/ 3 US senate hears blame game – BP oil disaster http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/us-senate-hears-blame-game-bp-oil-disaster/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/us-senate-hears-blame-game-bp-oil-disaster/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 08:35:46 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=4024 oil company), Swiss owned Transocean (the rig owner), and Halliburton (BP contractor) have been grilled in the US senate as the giant oil leak in The Gulf of Mexico continues to pour approximately 200,000 gallons of crude oil a day into the sea. The latest "high-tech solution" is to ram the hole full of garbage ... little comfort for the wildlife, especially the sea birds that continues to suffer from a 'dominant' species dedicated to witless consumerism and needs frantic levels of industrialistion to ...

records  US senate hears blame game – BP oil disaster  home

Australian environmental shameGiven that they have both the ideal..., the cost of Greek financial disasterGreece dominates the banking news lately as..., UK banking chaos continuesDevaluation fears for Lloyds shareholders Lloyd’s Bank..., .]]> Representatives of UK listed BP (the oil company), Swiss owned Transocean (the rig owner), and Halliburton (BP contractor) have been grilled in the US senate as the giant oil leak in The Gulf of Mexico continues to pour approximately 200,000 gallons of crude oil a day into the sea.

The latest “high-tech solution” is to ram the hole full of garbage …

Transocean chief executive Steven Newman said there was no reason to believe its BOP had been at fault.
“Offshore oil and gas production projects begin and end with the operator, in this case BP,” he said.
He also pinned blame on the failure of a cement oil-well casing built by BP contractor Halliburton.

Amazingly, the value of BP shares on the London stock exchange is still over £5.40, which is good news for the bankrupt UK government and pension schemes, but little comfort for the wildlife, especially the sea birds that continues to suffer from a ‘dominant’ species dedicated to witless consumerism and needs frantic levels of industrialistion to cover 50 years policy of paying the idle and dishonest to breed. Not that I’m losing hope or anything …

BP victim sea bird in oil slick

Latest news from Scientific American magazine shows troops and prison inmates helping to clear up:

Troops using helicopters and bulldozers, helped by prison inmates, rushed to shore up Louisiana’s coast against a huge oil slick on Tuesday as oil company executives traded blame in Washington over what could be the worst spill in U.S. history.

troops and convicts help BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill

records  US senate hears blame game – BP oil disaster  home


Australian environmental shameGiven that they have both the ideal..., the cost of Greek financial disasterGreece dominates the banking news lately as..., UK banking chaos continuesDevaluation fears for Lloyds shareholders Lloyd’s Bank..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/us-senate-hears-blame-game-bp-oil-disaster/feed/ 0 Australian environmental shame http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/australian-environmental-shame/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/australian-environmental-shame/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:10:46 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=3451 records  Australian environmental shame  home

token environmental aim, boost cars sales!The government in the USA is planning..., world bank and ‘upbeat’ environmental rescuethe world bank has published a report..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., .]]> Given that they have both the ideal climate, the skills and the capital – how come Australia isn’t leading the world in solar power?

Solar radiation – quantitative

Typical values for daily global solar exposure range from 1 to 35 MJ/m2 (megajoules per square metre). (http://www.bom.gov.au/sat/glossary.shtml), and suitable sites (I.e. between the tropics, usually clear skies) average at least half of this best figure; say 15 MJ/m2. About 1kW over most of the daylight hours.

The whole world’s population of ~6billion people, each using 1KW for most of the day, would use the energy equivalent to 6,000,000,000 square metres of such terrain. this is 6,000 square kM. Imagine a rectangle 100 kM by 60 kM. That’s about 60 miles by 40. About the size of Devon.

The amount of energy the ‘developed’ world burns gives some idea of the scale of waste involved in chronic consumerism and obsession with ‘things’.

In such climates the expensive high-tech photovoltaics aren’t necessary. Existing technology simply uses mirrors to concentrate the solar radiation onto collectors.

Solar power plants

A “solar trough”

solar trough

Using liquid sodium to transport the energy

Early designs used these focused rays to heat water, and used the resulting steam to power a turbine. However, designs using liquid sodium in place of water have been demonstrated; this is a metal with high heat capacity, which can be used to store the energy before using it to boil water to drive turbines. These designs allow power to be generated when the sun is not shining.

Today’s news:

Given its reliance on coal, Australia has the highest per capita emissions of any developed country, and this decision could draw strong criticism from abroad.

The Australian government has put plans for a flagship emissions trading scheme on hold until 2013 at the earliest.

The move comes after the scheme was rejected twice by the Senate, where Prime Minster Kevin Rudd’s government does not have a majority.

Last December:

Australia’s Senate has rejected a bill on the government’s flagship climate change policy for a second time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8389909.stm

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token environmental aim, boost cars sales!The government in the USA is planning..., world bank and ‘upbeat’ environmental rescuethe world bank has published a report..., Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/australian-environmental-shame/feed/ 0 intelligent birds research and videos http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/intelligent-birds-research-and-videos/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/intelligent-birds-research-and-videos/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:17:38 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=3192 birds including nature video. rook On this morning's news, a report of crows using 3 separate tools to access food. The research is published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The team headed to the South Pacific island of New Caledonia, the home of Corvus moneduloides (New Caledonian crows). They are the only birds known to craft and use tools in the wild. The discovery ...

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wind farms and wild birds healthnews from Scotland Some of Scotland’s rarest..., green consumers assist organic pesticide researchthe good news! Natural pest control using..., Birds of Fire – Mahavishnu OrchestraBirds of Fire – Mahavishnu Orchestra Progressive..., .]]> There have been a spate of reports lately on the intelligence of birds including nature video.

rook

On this morning’s news, a report of crows using 3 separate tools to access food.
The research is published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The team headed to the South Pacific island of New Caledonia, the home of Corvus moneduloides (New Caledonian crows).

They are the only birds known to craft and use tools in the wild.

The discovery that they whittle branches into hooks and tear leaves into barbed probes to extract food from hard-to-reach nooks astounded scientists, who had previously thought that ability to fashion tools was unique to primates.

And further research in the laboratory and the field has revealed that New Caledonian crows are also innovative problem solvers, often rivalling primates.

The Beeb have a video here

Not to be outdone, the rooks show that SIZE MATTERS when seeking one’s breakfast! here

Maybe they should get the vote in the forthcoming elections, and the layabouts lose theirs …

Most intelligent bird video

Amazing Raven intelligence BBC Animals

following the example from Aesops fable!

Q. Could Sally the dog do the same? An experiment for the summer, maybe :)

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wind farms and wild birds healthnews from Scotland Some of Scotland’s rarest..., green consumers assist organic pesticide researchthe good news! Natural pest control using..., Birds of Fire – Mahavishnu OrchestraBirds of Fire – Mahavishnu Orchestra Progressive..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/intelligent-birds-research-and-videos/feed/ 1 Archeological find, Cut Hill, Dartmoor http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/archeological-find-cut-hill-dartmoor/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/archeological-find-cut-hill-dartmoor/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:29:34 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=3181 Dartmoor , Devon , has said that carbon-dating the stones suugests they were placed about 3,500BC. They were aligned with the rising of the midsummer sun, and so have symbolic or astronomical significance. As a result of this discovery, more work will be done on the site looking for further clues about the activities and beliefs of the people at the time. More moorland photos , nature reserves .
The discovery will hopefully give a new impetus to prehistoric studies. The implications for what else might be buried beneath Dartmoor are massive.
said ...

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granite cliff on Dartmoor Part of the valley. It’s amazing..., Dartmoor ponies near Okehampton, Devon Dartmoor ponies near Okehampton, Devon. I..., Dartmoor rapids, Devon, UK A better quality photo of the..., .]]> On the news this morning, an archeologist working on Dartmoor , Devon , has said that carbon-dating the stones suugests they were placed about 3,500BC. They were aligned with the rising of the midsummer sun, and so have symbolic or astronomical significance.

As a result of this discovery, more work will be done on the site looking for further clues about the activities and beliefs of the people at the time.

More moorland photos , nature reserves .

The discovery will hopefully give a new impetus to prehistoric studies. The implications for what else might be buried beneath Dartmoor are massive.

said Tom Greeves, who made the discovery.

Bonehill Rocks, Cut Hill, Dartmoor

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granite cliff on Dartmoor Part of the valley. It’s amazing..., Dartmoor ponies near Okehampton, Devon Dartmoor ponies near Okehampton, Devon. I..., Dartmoor rapids, Devon, UK A better quality photo of the..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/archeological-find-cut-hill-dartmoor/feed/ 2 Return of the Ravens http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/return-of-the-ravens/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/return-of-the-ravens/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:13:12 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=3018 records  Return of the Ravens  home

wind farms and wild birds healthnews from Scotland Some of Scotland’s rarest..., The Return of the King Soundtrack – Into the WestThe Return of the King Soundtrack-19-Into the..., Delibes – Lakmé – Dôme épais le jasmin video – flower duetDelibes – Lakmé – Dôme épais le..., .]]> Not a gothic band or dubious bankers – THE BIRDS!

On the news yesterday was a report that Ravens, which had spread from the West Country, Wales, the Lake District and Scotland into the more heavily populated areas to the South and East, had finally set up base in Kent, near the white cliffs of Dover. A pair of Ravens succesfully nested last year and have two bambinos! :)

Well done the Ravens.

nature photography ,

birds ,

The definitive description comes from the Royal society of Birds:

The raven is a big black bird, a member of the crow family. It is massive, bigger than a buzzard. It is all black with a large bill, and long wings. In flight, it shows a diamond-shaped tail. It breeds in the west and north only. Most birds are residents, but some birds, especially non-breeders and young birds wander from their breeding areas but do not travel far.

raven in flight

ravens being sociable (relatively!)

Ravens philosophical debating club

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wind farms and wild birds healthnews from Scotland Some of Scotland’s rarest..., The Return of the King Soundtrack – Into the WestThe Return of the King Soundtrack-19-Into the..., Delibes – Lakmé – Dôme épais le jasmin video – flower duetDelibes – Lakmé – Dôme épais le..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/return-of-the-ravens/feed/ 2 Chrysler to build electric car by 2012 http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/chrysler-to-build-electric-car-by-2012/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/chrysler-to-build-electric-car-by-2012/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:13:30 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=2537 records  Chrysler to build electric car by 2012  home

Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., .]]> Today Chrysler announced that they will build an electric (not hybrid) vehicle based on the Fiat 500

Known as the Fiat 500EV, the new car will use no internal combustion engine, propelling itself exclusively on the power derived from a lithium-ion battery. Like the conventional Fiat 500, it will be a two-door vehicle seating four.

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Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car voteToday Nissan have announced that the Sunderland..., electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/chrysler-to-build-electric-car-by-2012/feed/ 2 Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car vote http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/sunderland-plant-gets-nissans-electric-car-vote/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/sunderland-plant-gets-nissans-electric-car-vote/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:41:17 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=2506 The manufacturer said the Leaf would be the world's first mass-produced zero-emission car, and around 50,000 a year will be made in Sunderland. The investment will be supported by a £20.7m government grant and a proposed finance package from the European Investment Bank of up to £197.3m. Sunderland had been tipped as favourite for European production of the Leaf since the Nissan sited its electric car battery plant nearby. In Sunderland, about 50,000 Nissan Leaf hatchbacks, which run entirely on lithium-ion batteries, will roll off the production line a year. Lord Mandelson said the development was a "fantastic vote of confidence" in the plant and its "excellent workforce". Trevor Mann at Nissan said the government had played "quite a significant role" in the carmaker's decision to build the Leaf in Sunderland. "Not just in monetary terms, but also setting its stall out in terms of the infrastructure needed to power electric cars." This news follows hot on the heels of UK governments incentive to persuade homeowners to invest in photovoltaic cells for their roof (the excess power being fed into the national grid; and makes more sense than planning 250 mile per hour trains for commuters who still haven't got the hang of communicating by sound, image and text ...

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electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., .]]> Today Nissan have announced that the Sunderland plant in North East England will build their first mass production electric car – The Leaf.

zero emmissions electric car The Leaf

The manufacturer said the Leaf would be the world’s first mass-produced zero-emission car, and around 50,000 a year will be made in Sunderland. The investment will be supported by a £20.7m government grant and a proposed finance package from the European Investment Bank of up to £197.3m.

Sunderland had been tipped as favourite for European production of the Leaf since the Nissan sited its electric car battery plant nearby.

In Sunderland, about 50,000 Nissan Leaf hatchbacks, which run entirely on lithium-ion batteries, will roll off the production line a year.

Lord Mandelson said the development was a “fantastic vote of confidence” in the plant and its “excellent workforce”.

Trevor Mann at Nissan said the government had played “quite a significant role” in the carmaker’s decision to build the Leaf in Sunderland.

“Not just in monetary terms, but also setting its stall out in terms of the infrastructure needed to power electric cars.”

This news follows hot on the heels of UK governments incentive to persuade homeowners to invest in photovoltaic cells for their roof (the excess power being fed into the national grid; and makes more sense than planning 250 mile per hour trains for commuters who still haven’t got the hang of communicating by sound, image and text …

records  Sunderland plant gets Nissan’s electric car vote  home


electric car production at Nissan, SunderlandGood news for the environment as the..., Riva electric car Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building..., electric bikesA highly economical environmentally friendly bike: http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/City-Commuter-Hybrid—Electric-Bike/547.htm..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/sunderland-plant-gets-nissans-electric-car-vote/feed/ 1 morrisons profits; high-speed rail proposal http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/current-affairs/morrisons-profits-high-speed-rail-proposal/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/current-affairs/morrisons-profits-high-speed-rail-proposal/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:41:25 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=2498 records  morrisons profits; high-speed rail proposal  home

UK supermarket battleToday Morrisons announced that their profits were..., UK supermarket battleToday Morrisons announced that their profits were..., BP profits, July 2009 and house pricesBP announced their quarterly profits today and..., .]]> New rail network from North to South of UK

On this morning’s news plans for a new high-speed rail network will be announced by the government. If their strategy is to entice car drivers onto the railway that would be good news, but the Conservatives, who turned down an invitation to see the plans ahead of today’s announcement, are keen for the route to go directly to Heathrow airport in west London. It seems that the witless wanderings of rampant consumerism – in this case tourism – are still close to the Tory heart. The connection between air transport and global environmental damage, burning capital (irreplaceable fossil fuels) as though it is income, seems to have still failed to penetrate the minds of the rich. Maybe they have shares in BP and aviation companies?

Quote:
Plans for a high-speed rail (HSR) network featuring 250mph trains will be announced today by the Government.

But it is likely to be 2025 at the earliest before the first section of new track – from London to Birmingham – is completed.

Nearer to home>>

Morrisons profits continue to grow

In a year where Morrisons supermarkets have invested in many new stores. They opened 45 new stores this year (2 were replacements) taking their total to 425.

Pre-tax profits climbed to £858m from £655m from the same period the previous year, including an exceptional credit of £91m arising from steps taken to strengthen pension schemes, as turnover climbed to £15.4bn from £14.5bn. Like-for-like sales excluding fuel and VAT were up by 6%, lower than the 8.2% growth seen the previous year.

The full-year dividend was lifted by 41% to 8.2p a share.

records  morrisons profits; high-speed rail proposal  home


UK supermarket battleToday Morrisons announced that their profits were..., UK supermarket battleToday Morrisons announced that their profits were..., BP profits, July 2009 and house pricesBP announced their quarterly profits today and..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/current-affairs/morrisons-profits-high-speed-rail-proposal/feed/ 0 Breathe the Earth poem/song http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/poems-and-songs/breathe-the-earth-poemsong/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/poems-and-songs/breathe-the-earth-poemsong/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:17:04 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=1804 records  Breathe the Earth poem/song  home

Valentines’ poem – Earth and SkyEarth and Sky The Earth so loved..., Spoiled brat attitude poem Spoiled brat attitude Blonde and Witless..., A favorite very short songSmall Fruit Song – Al Stewart Said..., .]]>

Environmental rage poems

Pigs in Spacesuits

my turn – to see the Earth
to feel her pulse, to smell her breath

just in time – to catch her smile
to walk upon her for a while

==

the Witless Ones – dash to and fro
glued to fashion – friend or foe
forever fleeing …

chasing illusions in a whirl
they trample the Soul of the World
never seeing …

==

take turns – to see the Earth
to feel her pulse, to smell her breath

make time – to feel her breathe
communal healing through the leaves

==

the Witless Ones – breed and blather
grasp and gobble – in a lather
never heeding …

reading commandments – on a screen
Gimme! Mine! – Hear them scream
force feeding …

==

about turn – recall the Earth
I felt her pulse, I smelt her death


environment ,

poems and songs ,

satirical songs ,

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Valentines’ poem – Earth and SkyEarth and Sky The Earth so loved..., Spoiled brat attitude poem Spoiled brat attitude Blonde and Witless..., A favorite very short songSmall Fruit Song – Al Stewart Said..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/poems-and-songs/breathe-the-earth-poemsong/feed/ 2 Consumerism and carrier bag re-use http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/consumerism-and-carrier-bag-re-use/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/consumerism-and-carrier-bag-re-use/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:28:43 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/?p=1715 records  Consumerism and carrier bag re-use  home

G8 emissions targets,The G8 leaders are set this week..., Bottled water – consumerism Bottled Water, photographs by James Worrell..., Crap TV might take a break!At last, a chance for people to..., .]]> UK energy supply woes

On today’s news, the OfGem Chief executive, Alistair Buchanan, warns that Britain’s privatised energy suppliers will struggle to deliver supplies of electricity and gas in the coming decade. Also he warns that many people will struggle to afford the rising energy bills.

Given that it is several decades since the alarm bells were ringing, and even longer since the environmental damage caused by chronic Consumerism was well publicised, one wonders what to do?

A search on Google suggests that a tourist 747 uses 300 gallons (about 1.5 tonnes) just to take-off. A carrier bag weighs about 1 gram, hence it takes about 2 gram of hydrocarbons to make it. Some bags are much heavier, but re-usable in many ways.

http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:4rOFzdUkEMwJ:www.carrierbagtax.com/downloads/Carrier_bags_Norwegian_report_summary.doc+oil+needed+to+make+1+carrier+bag

The government could either quit supporting and promoting Consumerism (yes, it is a religion; the dominant religion of the western world), and make serious inroads into solving the problem. Or they could make a big fuss about re-using carrier bags and engender a false sense of ‘doing our bit’.

A significant difference between carrier bags and 747 take-offs is that all carrier bags are potentially useful in other ways – recycling in fleece manufacture, storing and carrying other things, use as rubbish bags. (Aim to dispose of your non-recyclable household rubbish in ONE carrier bag per week and you will really achieve something!). When aviation fuel is burned, it has gone forever.

( One tourist take-off ) = 1,500,000
( one carrier bag ) 2

750,000 : 1

Which do you suppose our elected leaders will choose? The token or the cultural transformation?

I fear people will still be trekking to the supermarket in the 4×4s, tourist brochures in their hand, and reusing their carrier bags. :(

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G8 emissions targets,The G8 leaders are set this week..., Bottled water – consumerism Bottled Water, photographs by James Worrell..., Crap TV might take a break!At last, a chance for people to..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/consumerism-and-carrier-bag-re-use/feed/ 3 Copenhagen Discord/whitewash http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/copenhagen-discordwhitewash/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/copenhagen-discordwhitewash/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:49:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/12/copenhagen-discordwhitewash/ records  Copenhagen Discord/whitewash  home

Copenhagen, French, Danish and US viewsDenmark’s doubts over Copenhagen Summit Denmark’s prime..., world bank and ‘upbeat’ environmental rescuethe world bank has published a report..., Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., .]]> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8423097.stm

US President Barack Obama defended the accord he helped broker with China and other main powers.

The non-binding pact, called the Copenhagen Accord, was not adopted by consensus at the summit in Denmark.

Instead, after two weeks of frantic negotiations, the 193-nation conference ended on Saturday with delegates merely taking note of the deal.

In other words, the ‘developed’ nations would rather ‘compensate’ for global environmental destruction than address the problems of rampant consumerism and a political system that refuses to address real, serious and unpopular issues such as Consumerism and a combination of electorally popular benefits and taxes that has socially-engineered the prevailing degradation of responsibility, understanding and vision.

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Copenhagen, French, Danish and US viewsDenmark’s doubts over Copenhagen Summit Denmark’s prime..., world bank and ‘upbeat’ environmental rescuethe world bank has published a report..., Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summitHave the witless of UEA given the..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/copenhagen-discordwhitewash/feed/ 1 Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summit http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/climate-change-protests-due-before-copenhagen-summit/ http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/climate-change-protests-due-before-copenhagen-summit/#comments Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:03:00 +0000 pete http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/2009/12/climate-change-protests-due-before-copenhagen-summit/ records  Climate change protests due before Copenhagen summit  home

un and climate change actionOfficials from UN member states are gathering..., Copenhagen, French, Danish and US viewsDenmark’s doubts over Copenhagen Summit Denmark’s prime..., Witless Ones decimate Planet EarthAll today’s news appears to be bad,..., .]]> Have the witless of UEA given the climate changers a peg to hang their greedy illusions on?

Demonstrations are to be held across the UK and in the Irish Republic later to demand action on climate change ahead of the Copenhagen summit.

Protesters in London, Belfast, Glasgow and Dublin want world leaders to reach a tough new deal on cutting emissions.

The protests come as the Met Office prepares to publish the raw figures it uses to assess man-made global warming.

It follows a row, dubbed “Climategate”, about the reliability of data from the University of East Anglia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8396696.stm

Have the witless of UEA given the climate changers a peg to hang their greedy illusions on?

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un and climate change actionOfficials from UN member states are gathering..., Copenhagen, French, Danish and US viewsDenmark’s doubts over Copenhagen Summit Denmark’s prime..., Witless Ones decimate Planet EarthAll today’s news appears to be bad,..., .]]> http://www.pjf.org.uk/blog/environment/climate-change-protests-due-before-copenhagen-summit/feed/ 0