My work brings me into contact with about half the world's climate change deniers. These are largely poorly informed people who collectively regurgitate the same few dodgy interpretations of "evidence" over and over again. "Global warming must be a lie - this chart I found on the internet shows clearly that Chipping Norton had its coldest afternoon ever on April 5th 2008" is the sort of nonsense we get to hear. Again, and again, and again...
I never once met a denier who had any kind of academic background in the subject. Funny that...
Environmentalism is not my main subject, although I did go back to Uni not so long ago to study international environmental policy. I found that every committee in the European Parliament has to factor environmental concerns into its policy-making processes, and I needed to gain a greater understanding of the subject. I also discovered very quickly that it is a fascinating and rewarding subject to study. One of the basics of environmental science is that rising temperatures lead to increased precipitation. Its a fact that is almost as absolute as the existence of gravity, and it explains why we are experiencing so many extreme weather events at the moment.
It also explains last night's mid-July hailstorm. Armageddon, it seems, will be spectacular!
Evidence of a permanent rising in temperature surely is reflected in nature where an abundance of change of cycle has been noticed and recorded.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fact that seeds, bulbs, flowers, fruit and veg are now flourishing 6-8 weeks earlier that they did 40 years ago.
8 years ago my snowdrops which in the past always appeared in January, now blossom in early December. Winter pansys planted last September blossed in May this year and lastly, my daffodils which always flower in March are now appearing in late December. Christmas daffodils, how strange is that!
I am concerned that no mention is ever made of the detriment global warming might be causing to our health. After all, as we all know bacteria and viruses thrive in warm conditons. It could be that in the future in Europe we will see an increase in viral infections.Have any studies been done to find this out? Not only that, crops will be affected by more disease as there will not be the same length of decreased temperature needed to kill off disease and harmful bacteria. Disease will spread and flourish over crops because of this. A nightmare for farmers.And it raises concerns too for adequate food production. Chilly winters and Jack Frost biting your face might be a nuisance, but it's power to kill disease and bugs is unquestionable. It wouldn't surprise me if the day will come when a special chilling compost is developed that helps keeps the temperature of soil low and is distributed routiny over all crops.
ReplyDeleteConcerning environmental concerns and the conservation of water. Here in the UK I have noticed organisations and public services now installing 2 choice flush toilets.
ReplyDeleteOne is a mini flush, using less water and the second the traditional flush. The idea being that you choose the mini flush in order to conserve water.
A good idea in principle, but in practise the mini flush is inadequate.This means you use the mini flush first, and then because it doesn't flush properly, you are required to flush again. If you choose the traditional flush, that means you have used extra water.
This is complete wastage and a serious waste of water, a precious commodity, and considering the millions of toilets like this being used routinely around the globe as a new conservation 'fad' worrying.
Cruise ships only use the mini flush system, because of course, water is precious on board. One of the topics of conversation is always the toilets and the ineffectiveness of this mini flush system.
Surely it cannot be that hard to measure the amount of water to clear human waste from a toilet. By getting measurements correct trillions of water could be saved. At the moment clean water is literally being flushed down the pan.
Waste. Waste. Shameful, considering the great need of water in the 3rd World.
Big organisaions are keen to spout their environmental concerns.
ReplyDeleteOn a trip to the toilets at Marks and Spencers the long passageway wall were covered in political correct rhetoric informing customers how committed they are to recycling etc.
Personally, I would have preferred the walls to be tastfully decorated with pictures.
The toilets had been improved so I was told. Previously 5 ladies thrones were provided. Totally inadequate. Instead of giving us the public more toilets, they decide to use the precious space in their Leeds store as a winding corrider for feeding us polical blurb to please whom I wonder? Not me.
I am sick and tired of organisations telling me how committed they are to saving resources, only to find that everything I buy from them is needlessy wrapped in celaphone, tissue paper,and cardboard.
The previous UK government's conservation of energy policy is I think questionable considering the rising temperatures that we are all experiencing.
ReplyDeleteAre we really all going to need our homes insulated and is it doing us any good anyway? I think not.
Having lived in 2 properties with insulation with a manmade material that is 'unbreathable' and for which the workmen need to wear a mask at all times when handling the material (Surely that is not a good sign) I have found that during the considerable increase of long periods of raining, which pour continuously for weeks at a time that my homes became damp, seriously very damp with white mould.
The problem clearly is that homes in the UK are now becoming too well insulated.
Much as the Brits claim to love the outdoors, they are reluctant to open windows in their homes (for fear of robbery) especially in Winter, so this damp increases and mould can appear and everything then stinks to high heaven.
The antidote has to be fresh air and the local Environmental Officer told me few people realise the importance of letting fresh air circulate their properties.
If you are a private tenant you cannot refuse to having your home insulted as housing associations and councils are mandated by the government to increase insultion in tenants home.
Not only that, the government has been spending millions on grants to encourage people to insulate their homes, this when global temperatures are increasing.
What are the future effects going to be in peoples homes?
Unless people take ventilation as seriously as they do insulation then damp is going to be a major headache for many.
What the new Coaltition position will be I don't know but with the British obsession with home insulation and last winter's unusually cold winter, I think there won't be any changes.
Millions of pounds will continue to be wasted on grants to insulate home that in years to come will become damp hothouses.
I read of a chap stuck out in Siberia who made a nice warm bed for himself by throwing stones in a fire and leaving them there for hours. When it was bedtime, he removed the stones, covered them with thick snow,lay a thick blanket on top then lay down. Strangely his clothes did not get wet. The only complaint he had that he was a little too warm. 'A little too warm in Siberia, how funny is that', he thought to himself.
Better to be warm and dry, than warm and wet in a British house.
The fact that the European Parliament has to factor enviromental concerns in all its policy decision making is no comfort for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, we all know the Greens will be lobbying, but also big corporations with millions of Euros who have plenty to spare will be trying to persaude individual members of these committees to put foreward THEIR case and support it. To expect otherwise is naive.
'Every man has their price' so the well-known saying goes. Even the most highly principled person can be tempted to accept bribes.
We shouldn't just rest on our laurels and presume that these committees will be sympathetic to enviromental concerns to the extent that they won't be tempted by euros placed in their bank accounts scattered round Europe.
Jesus once said, " Be as innocent as doves, but as shrewd as snakes".
Did He have in mind the European Parliament
when He said these words? Probably.