quote:
Originally posted by Magness:
So ... I see that you are opposed to oil and nuclear. I'm assuming that you are also opposed to coal as well, given its polluting nature.
Question ... what currently existing and in use form of energy do you support? While I definitely support research alternative energy generation (although probably different reasons than you), we have to live in the real world. Until those new generation methods exist, we have to use those methods that do exist.
On the topic of energy generation, I get very tired, very fast of protesters that always seem to be against every existing method of power generation. Opposing everything that exists gives the appearance (whether intended or not) of wanting to turn the clock back two or three hundred years.
Rather than protest against the "bad power", why not get involved in the research for developing "good power"? If the "good power" is good enough, it will defeat the "bad power" in the marketplace, both of ideas and of economics.
Look. I'm a realist, and a long term thinker. Short term profits are great, but what happens when the goose that lays the golden eggs is dead?
We have a situation where we are burning huge amounts of irreplaceable fossil fuels for energy. A. continuing to do this at present rates will accelerate global warming and we KNOW this. B. There is only so much of these fossil fuels under the earth. We need to use them slower and more carefully, - thinking of the future and the needs of generations to come. Okay? You got that?
Exxon Mobile (to take the worst example out of a bad bunch) spends nothing on research and development into alternative, clean and sustainable methods of generating energy for the human race. It is patently absurd for you to tell me I should be off helping to find new ways of doing this. It is not the business I am in. It is the business the oil companies etc are in.
I do my share by buying 'green' energy generated from sustainable sources (windpower) from a supplier here in the UK. By doing that, I help fund the growth of the sustainable energies industry. Consumers can help by signing up to green energy deals, thus helping momentum.
Exxon made $17.7 billion dollars in PROFIT alone last year. They are the biggest company on the planet. They are doing just fine out of encouraging us all to gas guzzle - big bucks for them, lovely jubbly. To my mind, huge companies like Exxon have a responsibility to the people of this planet, (the people and planet that allow them to make massive profits, incidently) to act in a way that is socially and environmentally responsible. Exxon doesnt agree.
Well, next Saturday Exxon garages all over the UK will be picketed by campaigners persuading motorists to buy elsewhere. We've been doing this for a while now, and Exxon is not pleased, not pleased at all, gollum. Local councils all over Britain have cancelled their contracts with Exxon. It's time that companies learned that some degree of social and environmental responsibility is required.
It is the job of government to put the curbs on. However, as government doesn't seem to give a flying ■■■■, environmental and social activists (who are all consumers themselves don't forget - only game in town, these days - consumers have power, IF THEY CAN BE BOTHERED TO USE IT) have to take up the slack, unpaid and unthanked - in many cases, laughed at and reviled by people who don't think past tonights hot meal and the week's paycheck. I'm into having a future. Don't know about you.
Nuclear is not a sustainable option due to the amount of long lasting dangerously polluting waste it generates, its bad record with regard to polluting and life threatening accidents, plus its excellent potential as a tempting target for terrorists. Arent all your nuclear installations covered with military and protective gear like fleas on a dog right now? So why give the terrorists yet more targets to plow into? Like that is MAJORLY bright.
Lastly, yes, of course we have to use what we've got until we've got replacements. Do you think I'm some kind of idiot? Like let's all down tools and stay in bed until whoever have got the clean energy thing susssed. Activism is about raising awareness about a situation, and getting the people with clout to take action to change things. That's why we do all that whinging you keep banging on about.
It'll be a relatively slow process, replacing what we have now with sustainable means of energy generation, such as wind power, wave power and solar. (Wave and solar have a number of drawbacks currently.)
But we'll never get anywhere until government realises that short termism isn't going to get us very far, and starts embracing alternative technologies with enthusiasm. We need more research and development money and some tax incentives to encourage people to go for alternatives). At present, they cant see any futher than the end of their coal and oil smeared noses. Vested intests? Perish the thought, Mr Bush......