The UK Low carbon Transition Plan (Cont'd)

[Penners]

The world’s first deep-sea tidal-energy farm will be built off the Welsh coast next year to provide electricity for 5,000 homes.

If it wasn't such an abysmal pun, I would describe that as a drop in the ocean.

 

[Moo]

If it wasn't such an abysmal pun, I would describe that as a drop in the ocean.

But you just couldn't resist, could you?

However, on a more serious note, the anniversary of the moon landings raises an intriguing (to me, at least) question:

What if all the money and expertise that was poured into space exploration had, instead, been used on the development of renewable energy?

 

[biffvernon]

Another drop in the ocean, if that's not an abyssal pun. We spend zillions on ring tones. Now if that were to go to renewables it might actually make a difference.

 

[Penners]

We spend zillions on ring tones.

Who are all these people spending money on ringtones.

Mine goes "brrr-brrr" and I can (usually) hear it. What more do you need?







I just sounded extremely old, didn't I?

 

[Flyfisher]

Good point about the race to the moon - not so much the money but more the way it focused effort and captured the imagination. Bear in mind that Kennedy's famous gauntlet was thrown down even before the US had put a man in orbit yet within 10 years they were walking on the moon. Against that sort of achievement you'd think heading off climate change should be fairly straightforward, except there is no focused effort just political posturing.

But there are similarities; many people believe the moon landings were a hoax. :roll:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

many people believe the moon landings were a hoax. :roll:

Surely not! Then again, how on earth did they film this (which is apparently the lift off from lunar surface of Apollo 17, the last manned moon landing):

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2009/lift-off-from-moon-p1.php

Surely the point of the lunar landings is that they were relatively cheap, relatively low tech (try going there today with less computing power than a ZX Spectrum), and that the scientific spin-offs were immense? It's a bit like the expense of Formula 1 racing, but the spin offs into exeryday motoring are significant - eg ABS, etc.

 

[biffvernon]

Actually Penners, I have no idea what ringtones are, but I am assured that they cost more than trips to the moon.

Going to the moon was easy-peasy compared to tackling global warming. It was only three men and no dog.

 

[Flyfisher]

I wouldn't describe Apollo as low-tech at the time, but I entirely agree that it now seems an even more amazing achievement than it did at the time because of how far technology, and particularly computing, has advanced in just 40 years.

But these days, 'elf & safety would probably be the ruin of such a project. Can anyone imagine Apollo 8 getting H&S approval as a manned mission these days? - first ever Saturn V launch, first ever escape from Earth orbit, first ever Moon orbit, first ever escape from Moon orbit. Millions of things that all had to work absolutely correctly, and all built by the lowest bidder. Astonishing really.

Still, at least they had plenty of rehearsal for the first landing speech: http://www.boreme.com/members/viewviral2.php?viral_id=23311&siteid=60259

As for it all being a hoax, well this proves it beyond all doubt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mouUUWpEec0

 

[skier-hughes]

Watched a bit on newsnight last night, didn't realise every application for a wind turbine on the Isle of Wight has been turned down, yet they are unhappy at losing their jobs at a wind turbine factory.
I realise those 600 people may not have objected and that the turbines wouldn't end up in the Isle of Wight, but it is a bit sad.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I wouldn't describe Apollo as low-tech at the time, but I entirely agree that it now seems an even more amazing achievement than it did at the time because of how far technology, and particularly computing, has advanced in just 40 years.

But these days, 'elf & safety would probably be the ruin of such a project. Can anyone imagine Apollo 8 getting H&S approval as a manned mission these days? - first ever Saturn V launch, first ever escape from Earth orbit, first ever Moon orbit, first ever escape from Moon orbit. Millions of things that all had to work absolutely correctly, and all built by the lowest bidder. Astonishing really.

Still, at least they had plenty of rehearsal for the first landing speech: http://www.boreme.com/members/viewviral2.php?viral_id=23311&siteid=60259

As for it all being a hoax, well this proves it beyond all doubt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mouUUWpEec0

Nah - here's the real proof: http://stuffucanuse.com/fake_moon_landings/moon_landings.htm I can't help thinking they're missing something though...

 

[biffvernon]

Back to Earth. Isle of Wight police prepare for activists after cancellation of green festival.