Meanwhile, Congress dithers over a few trillion dollars that could begin to change our nation’s emissions course and help save us all from a flaming nightmare
Our last hours of ancient sunlight: Will they be our "lost" hours?
FFs are, like all things, a temporary resource. What could have been, and still may be, a steppingstone to more sensible energy sources - thus far have been accepted as "the way we do things".
This acceptance of false permanence is a death pit. Our obsession with consistency and familiarity, and the comfort that comes with such things, are an obstacle to our growing, to our evolution.
The self-crowned Ted Bundy's atop our contemporary metaphorical pyramids will do everything imaginable to remain in power. Telling the people that there are no viable alternatives to the poison they push is a strategy well-practiced.
We must look past the conveniences and comforts of a life flown on autopilot. The way things were cannot be the way things are. Our time on Earth is not the only time - we have not, nor will we ever, reach some nebulous destination in which leisure and self-interest are a sustainable norm. This is not a theme park. Change can be uncomfortable and rigorous, but it is necessary being fundamental to survival itself.
Environmental respect is more pro-life than any other stupid incarnation of the term. Demand conditions which support this. There truly is nothing more important than the very plane on which all our issues play out.
Worshiping industry and resource extraction has gotten us in this mess. Add to that the hype about jobs, jobs, jobs, by politicians who do not want any regulations, and you have a formula for disaster. Economies across the globe dependent on a single commodity ensured our hell was created. People of Earth, it's time to take your medicine.
I believe we are inventive enough to lessen the damage and create great jobs. New systems for "battery storage" are the most fascinating, and we are not talking about lithium. Anything that is a means to turn a turbine to create electricity will work to pick up the slack when you use it with wind and solar. Weights in mine shafts, water going up and downhill, reversible-rust technology, etc. The tides are reliable as is Geo-thermal. Science, engineering and invention are the answer, not unsustainable growth.
A beautiful awakening is happening along with the damage, but tragically every day brings more human, wildlife and habitat loss.
Here's more info worth a read on the "conveyor belt" phenomenon Thom is talking about -- a critical piece of the puzzle in forecasting some of the worst possible effects, which are becoming more likely each passing day of inaction and wrong action:
Thom is against nuclear power because it takes a lot of carbon to mine uranium, build the plant etc. I am sure that there is more. Solar or wind power also take a lot of carbon to build. There is a lot of rare earth and environmentally unfriendly products in Solar. Megawatt to Megawatt it is probably very similar. Plus Nuclear is 24 hours per day. Nuclear has become very expensive. We built 100+ reactors at reasonable costs but do not seem to be able to now. China, South Korea and Russia can. Biggest problem that I see is we built plants with the cart in front of the horse. No place to store the nuclear waste and no recycling of the spent fuel. Solve these problems and it is a much better alternative. Also do not build plants on earthquake faults like Fukushima.
Most that visit Europe do not realize the warming effect that the Gulf Stream has on the continent. Madrid Spain is about the same latitude as Boston. London is way north at 50+ degrees, North of St. Johns Newfoundland. Without this circulation it will be extremely cold. Currently it is relatively warm.
If you want any change. Any change at all. Democrats will have to have a super majority in both houses and the Executive Office. Republicans have shown zero interest in the Environment or Climate Change. That is the cold hard truth. I live in a Republican stronghold and can see a huge difference every year. Republicans have their head in the sand and could care less, about what they leave their children and grandchildren.
Our last hours of ancient sunlight: Will they be our "lost" hours?
FFs are, like all things, a temporary resource. What could have been, and still may be, a steppingstone to more sensible energy sources - thus far have been accepted as "the way we do things".
This acceptance of false permanence is a death pit. Our obsession with consistency and familiarity, and the comfort that comes with such things, are an obstacle to our growing, to our evolution.
The self-crowned Ted Bundy's atop our contemporary metaphorical pyramids will do everything imaginable to remain in power. Telling the people that there are no viable alternatives to the poison they push is a strategy well-practiced.
We must look past the conveniences and comforts of a life flown on autopilot. The way things were cannot be the way things are. Our time on Earth is not the only time - we have not, nor will we ever, reach some nebulous destination in which leisure and self-interest are a sustainable norm. This is not a theme park. Change can be uncomfortable and rigorous, but it is necessary being fundamental to survival itself.
Environmental respect is more pro-life than any other stupid incarnation of the term. Demand conditions which support this. There truly is nothing more important than the very plane on which all our issues play out.
Worshiping industry and resource extraction has gotten us in this mess. Add to that the hype about jobs, jobs, jobs, by politicians who do not want any regulations, and you have a formula for disaster. Economies across the globe dependent on a single commodity ensured our hell was created. People of Earth, it's time to take your medicine.
I believe we are inventive enough to lessen the damage and create great jobs. New systems for "battery storage" are the most fascinating, and we are not talking about lithium. Anything that is a means to turn a turbine to create electricity will work to pick up the slack when you use it with wind and solar. Weights in mine shafts, water going up and downhill, reversible-rust technology, etc. The tides are reliable as is Geo-thermal. Science, engineering and invention are the answer, not unsustainable growth.
A beautiful awakening is happening along with the damage, but tragically every day brings more human, wildlife and habitat loss.
Here's more info worth a read on the "conveyor belt" phenomenon Thom is talking about -- a critical piece of the puzzle in forecasting some of the worst possible effects, which are becoming more likely each passing day of inaction and wrong action:
https://www.salon.com/2021/08/10/the-ocean-is-about-to-flip-a-switch-that-could-permanently-disrupt-life-on-earth-study/
We are number 1 in prison incarcerations. What else? https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/us-trails-behind-other-countries-in-health-care-145243663.html
Thom is against nuclear power because it takes a lot of carbon to mine uranium, build the plant etc. I am sure that there is more. Solar or wind power also take a lot of carbon to build. There is a lot of rare earth and environmentally unfriendly products in Solar. Megawatt to Megawatt it is probably very similar. Plus Nuclear is 24 hours per day. Nuclear has become very expensive. We built 100+ reactors at reasonable costs but do not seem to be able to now. China, South Korea and Russia can. Biggest problem that I see is we built plants with the cart in front of the horse. No place to store the nuclear waste and no recycling of the spent fuel. Solve these problems and it is a much better alternative. Also do not build plants on earthquake faults like Fukushima.
Most that visit Europe do not realize the warming effect that the Gulf Stream has on the continent. Madrid Spain is about the same latitude as Boston. London is way north at 50+ degrees, North of St. Johns Newfoundland. Without this circulation it will be extremely cold. Currently it is relatively warm.
If you want any change. Any change at all. Democrats will have to have a super majority in both houses and the Executive Office. Republicans have shown zero interest in the Environment or Climate Change. That is the cold hard truth. I live in a Republican stronghold and can see a huge difference every year. Republicans have their head in the sand and could care less, about what they leave their children and grandchildren.