Pre-Budget Report

[Nemesis]

Subtext - I am happy to not modify my manner of living in any meaningful way... cos it doesn't prick my conscience. And hey it might be inconvenient.

Good job some of us feel that as individuals joining together we can change things we don't like at times.

 

[Flyfisher]

If you continue beating your wife however I may be forced to intervene

That's a good point, assuming you'd have any influence. Perhaps when Biff has stopped beating his wife he can go to China and spread the word, at which point they'll all spontaneously stop as well :wink:

(I think we stop the wife-beating analogy at this point and find another one!)

We can carry on wasting earth's resources or we can be a tad more prudent with them.

. . . which simply delays the inevitable. Alternatively, we could accept the fact that our global society is founded on an abundant supply of energy and do everything we can to find an alternative to fossil fuels.

 

[biffvernon]

I suggest there are more productive things we could be worrying about.

Like what? Worry about what you like but it's what you do the matters.

And don't bother voting - no MP is elected on a majority of one so your vote won't count.

 

[Flyfisher]

Subtext - I am happy to not modify my manner of living in any meaningful way... cos it doesn't prick my conscience. And hey it might be inconvenient.

I would interpret it slightly differently. I would prefer to do things that might lead to a way of supporting my current standard of living in the long term, rather than do things that will only postpone the inevitable.

 

[Nemesis]

We could try to find an alternative yes - in the meantime we could try to conserve what we have.

Inconvenient maybe for some.

However, I have buildings to try to save - re-using existing is at times conserving the world's diminishing resources, and my energy at the moment is probably better being spent trying to change things in the real world.

I appreciate that you have views on we misguided conservationists though. Buildings, energy...

 

[Flyfisher]

Flyfisher, of what I have read from the references no conclusion should be derived from the data as it is sparse, supplied by those with a vested interest, is not country/region specific and is very, very woolly!

So you're happy to stick with the original statement in question?

 

[Flyfisher]

I suggest there are more productive things we could be worrying about.

Like what? Worry about what you like but it's what you do the matters.

OK, 'worrying' was not a good word choice. You're right that worrying is of little use for anything. I should have written 'doing' instead.

Doing what? Well, how about injecting massive funding into hydrogen research and/or fusion research for a start. Something that might be able to replace the energy levels we currently enjoy from fossil fuels. Something that might shake governments out of their apparent complacency and realise that we really are in a race against time to preserve our world and that pushing low-energy lightbulbs and cycling to work is really just taking the . . . . well you know.

Maybe what we need is a sort of 'asteroid-about-to-hit-the-planet' type of attention - something that would galvanise mankind to really throw everthing into solving the problem. Rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic really is quite a good analogy whereas what we really need is a team of people to dive below decks to stop the leak. Nothing else will really help in the end.

 

[Nemesis]

Ah - asteroids.

We are the Cheeky Girls...

 

[Flyfisher]

I appreciate that you have views on we misguided conservationists though. Buildings, energy...

I don't dispute the contribution of conservation, of course it all helps, but in the finaly analysis I don't think it's going to be the solution.

I suspect we're all agreeing on the problems we face, it's the scale of the response we seem to be arguing about. I'd vote for more drastic action that might fully solve the problem rather than tiptoe around the inevitable fact that fossil fuels will eventually run out, at which point all the energy saving schemes in the world will be of no consequence at all.

We should be pushing to solve the energy crisis, not just delay it. Going back to living in caves might be one solution (OK, slight exaggeration :wink: ), but I'd like to think we can do much better than that.

 

[Flyfisher]

Ah - asteroids.

We are the Cheeky Girls...

Sorry, you've finally lost me with that one . . . .

 

[Nemesis]

Oh, well. Try a google.

Touch my buuuummmm....

 

[Flyfisher]

Blimey!
I really must get out more - on second thoughts, maybe not.

I wondered about Private Eye making fun of that nice Mr Lemsip Orbit MP and figured I must have missed something in the news.

That'll teach me to go away on holiday over Christmas - still if it's good enough for our dear leader . . . . . :wink:

 

[Nemesis]

And as for pushing to solve the energy crisis not just delay it - gosh well - who would have thought of doing that??? (Slaps forehead in amazement...)

But possibly a bit of both???

And a great deal of the delaying might actually be in order in order that technology which is in its infancy can be developed?
With regard to asteroids hitting the earth moments...

Let's hope it moved for her.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6188147.stm

(The News of the World had the best report though...)

 

[Flyfisher]

And as for pushing to solve the energy crisis not just delay it - gosh well - who would have thought of doing that??? (Slaps forehead in amazement...)

I know, amazing isn't it? So simple you'd think people in positions of power would have caught on by now instead of fiddling around with another £5 on flying tax, congestion charging, vilifying car drivers etc etc etc.

But possibly a bit of both???

. . . and risk diverting attention from the real issue?

And a great deal of the delaying might actually be in order in order that technology which is in its infancy can be developed?

Now that's a fair point, unless encourages complacency of course.

 

[Nemesis]

Call me parsimonious, but I do think that waste is never a good thing.

And I do think that the congestion charge has made London a rather more pleasant place to be for pedestrians.

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree with both those sentiments (and I've never understood anyone driving into London during the day anyway), but I don't believe such things will ultimately save the planet as many so-called environmental groups would seem to have us all believe.

Still, I think we've given this particular deceased equine a damn good thrashing, so shall we call it a day for now? :wink:

 

[Nemesis]

So called?

I think that you'll find them actually called that.

I don't know any environmental group either which isn't looking at alternative forms of energy, but there you go.

 

[Flyfisher]

'alternative' energy, yes, but I was thinking about something a bit more substantial than a wind-turbine or PV on your roof. Something that will fly me to carribean holidays for a couple of hundred pounds perhaps without contributing to global warming. But don't get me started again, I was trying so hard to get on with other things this afternoon

 

[Nemesis]

In yer dreams.

And I have a public inquiry to write a submission for.

You know, those nice owners of listed buildings who care so much for them - this one wants to demolish his. For a crappy housing development.

 

[biffvernon]

Doing what? Well, how about injecting massive funding into hydrogen research and/or fusion research for a start.

Here's a very recent article, published yesterday, explaining just why throwing a lot of money at fusion will not solve this century's problems.
The Oil Drum
Hydrogen, of course, is not a fuel, just an energy carrier, so cannot be a substitute for fossil fuel.