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How would you like the world to be? In my dream world, I imagine people of different cultures/faiths all living together peacefully and the earth's land, crop, etc all shared equally between all the people. No "third world" or "first world" countries, just one equal earth. All sounds quite corny, but I'd love that. Also there'd be no zoos (santuaries, maybe) and animals would roam free, just like people do.
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Environment / wider world issues how many of you are concerned about these as well as the fun aspects of life/partying?
even if you are sceptical or just confused over the many conflicting arguments over peak oil/global warming etc, there are still obvious changes and issues affecting everyones life - traffic congestion and pollution of the countryside, higher petrol and food prices
I know people who are unwilling to drive to raves not because of paranoia over feds, but simply because they can't afford the petrol like they used to...
when i first started raving it was just hedonism until the mid 90s, then (perhaps because of the CJA?) we started teaming up with environmental groups, other activist groups... but now it seems to have gone back to just hedonism...
perhaps its time for everyone to look at the wider picture?
(especially as this time "normal society" seems to be getting more on the
environmentally friendly bandwagon!)
as well as partying, how many of you do something (however small) to help the environment or make society a better place?12
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What is this World coming to …
Please take a moment to read this ...:wink:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/front
The world is warming up. As we burn up the planet’s coal, oil and gas reserves, and cut down its remaining forests, greenhouse gases are pouring into the atmosphere. The delicate balance of atmospheric gases that sustains life is thickening, trapping more and more heat and irreversibly changing our world.
The causes
For all the technological gloss of the 21st century, the UK is still living in an industrial era, pumping out emissions from coal, oil and gas. Worse, our energy is supplied through a criminally wasteful, centralised energy system; two thirds of all energy generated in UK power stations is lost as waste heat – up the chimney and along transmission lines. But there are clean, affordable and proven solutions for the most polluting sectors: electricity, transport, industry and domestic.
The science
This massive and rapid change to our climate is like nothing humankind has seen before. As such, the science around it has been cautious and careful in reaching consensus over time. But a strong consensus has finally been reached; the scientific community now agrees that climate change is real, it’s caused by human activity and it’s already happening.
The impacts
The 0.6 degree rise we’ve experienced already kills 150,000 people every year. Glaciers, permafrost and sea ice are disappearing. Sea levels are rising, seasons changing and extreme weather becoming more extreme. As temperatures increase further, there will almost inevitably be more flooding, more drought, more disease, more famine and more war, creating hundreds of millions of refugees and causing the destruction of entire ecosystems and species.
How much climate change can we bear?
An average temperature rise of around 1.3 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels is already inevitable and will bring with it some terrible impacts worldwide. If that figure hits two degrees, many scientists say that not only will the impacts be much greater, but the probability of feedback mechanisms kicking in will be much higher; climate change could spiral completely out of control. Some studies say we have 10 years or less to tackle emissions if we are to stay below that temperature threshold.
The politics (UK)
So why do we keep burning fossil fuels? The problem isn't a scientific one but a political one. Despite the rhetoric, political cowardice and industry lobbying are preventing meaningful action. New Labour has overseen a rise in overall carbon emissions and is now set to miss its own emissions targets. And if the UK doesn’t deliver at home, how can it put pressure on other governments internationally?
The politics (international)
Carbon emissions don't respect borders and the sad fact is that the world's most vulnerable people are the ones that are suffering most from its impacts. With countries like China and India in the middle of their own industrial revolutions, it's clear we need a global framework and global cooperation to address the problem. The Kyoto Protocol is a crucial first step but far, far more needs to be done.
The nuclear distraction
While the government claims to care about the climate, in practice it has bowed to the demands of big business. The government has fallen for the nuclear industry's spin and decided that the UK needs 10 new nuclear power stations. Nuclear power can't stop climate change or ensure energy security. We need to start reducing emissions within a decade to avoid catastrophic climate change; the first new nuclear power stations won't produce a watt of energy before 2018.
The solutions
The good news is that we know exactly what needs to be done to stop climate change - and the technologies we need already exist. With the right policies at national and local levels, we would be able to deploy them on a large scale.
Clean energy
Two thirds of all energy going into the UK's power stations is lost as waste heat - up the chimney and in the cooling towers. If we captured this waste heat, there would be enough of it to heat every building and business in the UK.
To capture and use this heat, we would need to stop relying on our archaic, centralised energy system and start producing energy in smaller, local combined heat and power (CHP) plants. A number of countries around the world are already doing this; the UK needs to follow their example and undergo an energy revolution. With a decentralised energy system based on renewable technologies, we could double the efficiency of our power stations, slash our carbon emissions and reduce our reliance on foreign gas.
Transport
Transport is responsible for 22 percent of the UK's carbon emissions, and vehicles in the UK are pumping out more greenhouse gases than ever before. At the moment, EU car manufacturers only have a voluntary agreement to reduce the emissions of their cars. To make real progress towards low carbon cars, binding efficiency targets need to be imposed on manufacturers and gas-guzzlers need to be taxed more highly.
Aviation is the fastest growing cause of climate change in the world, and the popularity of short haul flights is still growing. According to the Tyndall Centre, if air traffic is allowed to keep growing at its present rate, then all other sectors will have to reduce their emissions to zero in order to reach the government's climate change targets. The government urgently needs to increase the cost of flying, and to scrap its plans to expand airports across the UK.
Industry
In 2005, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) was set up to tackle emissions from industry, which accounts for almost a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions, The ETS requires companies to either reduce their emissions or buy carbon credits from other companies that have exceeded their targets.
It's a helpful framework, but the ETS will only lead to lower carbon emissions when its carbon allocations are determined by the science of climate change, rather than by industry. Much more needs to be done to extend its scope and its value.
In the home
While it is crucial to start cutting the wastage at our power stations, that doesn't take the onus off the rest of us. Domestic usage accounts for 15 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions. A proportion of this can be cut out by very simple changes to our lives, like switching our light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs, turning off all appliances when we aren't using them, fitting insulation in the loft, and so on.
But we can go further. Decentralising our energy system enables homes to become power stations. By installing small scale solar or wind generators we can generate our own power; we could even sell our excess power to our neighbours through the national grid.
CH : Swiss folk say "Atomkraft – Nein danke!" The Swiss have had a referendum: no more nuclear power stations to be built anywhere in the country and all existing ones must shut down by 2050 at latest. (There are a lot of electric trains in CH as well as highly advanced businesses that depend on reliable power so removing power stations can't just happen overnight, but folk there are confident this can be done)
http://www.taz.de/Volksabstimmung-in-der-Schweiz/!5408096/
NL : Laat Groningen niet zakken / Don't let Groningen down! There is a big problem in Groningen (the Northern most province of the Netherlands) at the moment due to excessive extraction of natural gas (including fracking), to the point it is causing serious environment damage including earthquakes in the region.
Many people have had to leave their homes and land before their buildings collapse and others have had to put great big ugly metal pillars in their houses to keep the walls and roof from falling down!
I have seen pictures of the damage (I even mistook one of them for a retweet news from of some warzone from the Middle East rather than somewhere just across the North Sea from where I live!)
The company NAM which runs the gas extraction has told many lies to the locals and even the Government [which also has a stake in NAM] and has stalled on paying compensation.
There have been several protests in the city (as well as practical solutions to move towards more sustainable forms of energy and a petition that everyone in the EU can sign - as this could easily happen anywhere near the coast where gas is extracted.
If you cannot read Dutch the petition is also published in English, link is below...
https://laatgroningennietzakken.petities.nl/
CN : Beijing bans older cars in winter due to smog / pollution scares So much for Trump and various other American politicians claiming that pro-environment regulations are caused by "Chinese conspiracies" (the Chinese like motor cars as much as anyone else in the world, and were previously quick to fill up their streets with them and build yet more roads, and now have learned the hard way what this leads to. (The same happens across many other nearby Asian countries).
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/21/beijing-bans-highly-polluting-cars-during-smog-alerts
UK : Hat tip to RS (Radiospares) British electronics components distributors Yesterday I ordered a parcel of various small components for a work project (indicator lamps and relays for an alarm system) from RS or Radiospares as the older generations might remember it (when I was in high school we would order components from them, although back then you needed a trade account).
They were initially a bit slow to provide easy online purchases (although they did have a website even in the late 90s it wasn't particularly easy to use) but recently updated it. (RS Components | Electronic and Electrical Components)
Their stock is a good mixture of "ultra modern" stuff and tried and tested items (or new developments such as small LED indicator lamps).
I was particularly impressed today when the parcel arrived in a sensibly sized box and other than the components that are traditionally packaged in sealed plastic (often a special kind that stops static electricity blowing up sensitive items) all the filler material used so they remain in one piece after going via Royal Mail or Parcelforce was plain recycled paper - a mixture of traditional brown and a somewhat "metrosexual" shade of magenta - wouldn't be surprised if that is either something to do with encouraging "diversity in engineering" and/or suggested by Germany and Denmark (where a lot of the stuff are still made) :laugh_at:
Even the sales flyers are on recycled paper with the biodegradable soya ink and not excessive (another supplier I use sends me 5 copies of the same thing to every place I work at and my home address!)
Then again a lot of the engineers who use RS are "old skool" from 1980s or even before then and grew up in the days when you repaired stuff before replacing it or designed your own systems rather than expecting it all to be done by pre-built China hardware and a mobile phone app :laugh_at:
The leap second: Because our clocks are more accurate than the Earth Noticed Louis Theroux has moved a few of my posts recent;y and wasn't sure where this best fir so have put it here. No doubt some religious nuts would believe this belongs in conspiracy theories or something, but in comparison to what they believe......
The leap second: Because our clocks are more accurate than the Earth | Ars Technica
From series of pics about humans impact on environment.
This is from Northern Greenland; a waste sorting depot. the rest of the very good article is below.Apparently they are burning some of the stuff in the open air (presumably to get at the metal) which lets off dioxins (very nasty indeed). To be fair it does look like everything has already been picked through for useful parts (interesting that the remains of at least 3 computers make up a large bulk of the trash; and those aren't small computers either (servers?) Plus you cannot even give away a working CRT monitor anywhere in Europe these days.
But what immediately struck me was that there was at least one fridge freezer. Why on earth would that be brought into Greenland in the first place? :you_crazy
Apocalypse now: horrifying scenes from our ravaged planet | Art and design | The Guardian
5hit hits the fan at my local authority Messy and VERY ugly. It's like Rotherham but the tabloids have been slow to catch this one.
Protests as councils fail to find abuse case files | Nottingham Post
http://daemon-hunter.org/mickey-summers-child-abused-molested-and-raped-by-a-paedophile-ring-that-ian-curryer-glen-oconnell-candida-brudenel-and-jon-collins-are-fully-aware-of/#.VBM2tSXfu8Y
I think Labour might have a problem with a formerly "safe seat" and the Tories are going to get hammered out in the sticks...
... which I guess means, next stop fascism.
FI/SE:NO : Threat to environment from mining They are not digging up these areas for fun; there is stuff there everyone has in their gadgets; or to bring the electricity and radio signals to them they require to operate.
This is a big reason why I try to get recycled/refurb computers (which are often put together in Norway!).
Mining threatens to eat up northern Europe?s last wilderness | Environment | theguardian.com
the best documentary i’ve ever seen i found this amazing list of documentaries of a facebook feed. watched the 1st one at the top of the list today; 'Home.' Incredible, mind expanding. I couldn't possibly recommend it more...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU
oh, and all these videos are free to watch on youtube, all you need to do is click on the film name in this list:
UPDATED: 166 Documentaries To Expand Your Consciousness |Higher Perspective
:smile:
UK : East : Ermine vs stoat My friend Richard (whose nickname is Ermine) runs the low carbon community farm with his wife. He is an electronics genius and has got the whole farm monitored for several temp sensors, humidity (for incubators), water supplies for chickens and geese, and also security monitoring. all of this is powered from a 12V local battery charged with a solar panel along with an electric fence to guard the livestock. There is also an audio amplifier and outdoor loudspeakers that usually relay ICR-FM or a local selection of music from ipods/smartphones for those who are packing veg boxes to listen to.
The stoat (look carefully at RHS bottom of picture) will get about 1 500- 2 000 volts across its snout if it breaches the perimeter. This is a nasty bite (even 120V DC from ISDN extra power isn't pleasant!) but at a low current so will not do it (or any other creatures) any permanent harm, it should hopefully discourage it from trying to get at the chickens....
I am Stoat | The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm
Anti-fracking activists arrested at West Sussex drilling site Sussex police have made 14 arrests at an oil drilling site near the village of Balcombe after local people and anti-fracking activists attempted to block the delivery of machinery for a second day using a human chain and tree trunks.Activists said police removed people who had blockaded the gates to the rural West Sussex site where the energy company Cuadrilla, headed by the former BP chief Lord Browne, intends to start test drilling for oil next week.
Sussex police said five people were arrested for causing danger to road users, and nine under trade union law for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site. Police said the arrests were peaceful, but activists said there were struggles.
On Thursday the protesters, who had gathered by the gate to the drilling site on London Road, were warned by police that they would be committing an offence if they blocked trucks from entering.
Police protect a lorry delivering drilling equipment to the Balcombe fracking site. Photograph: Lee Thomas/Demotix/CorbisThe alliance of environmentalists and villagers succeeded in turning away at least one truck carrying parts for the drilling operation, which Cuadrilla says could result in controversial hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Sussex shale. Many camped overnight, but on Friday there was a heavier police presence, according to reports from campaigners.
"A human chain was formed in front of the gates and the police have made the first arrests," said Andrew West from the campaign group Frack Off. "People are really shocked it escalated so quickly."
This week the Environment Agency and the Department for Energy granted permits for oil exploration on the site to Cuadrilla, which also operates fracking rigs in Lancashire.
Opponents of the exploratory drilling fear that water sources could be polluted by fracking, rural lanes in the area might be congested with heavy lorries and that there could even be earthquakes from blasting liquid into the rocks to release oil and gas. The operation to break up the protest involved an estimated 75 police officers who marched down the road in formation, according to Lilias Cheyne, a anti-fracking activist who witnessed the arrests.
G4S staff guard the entrance to the Balcombe fracking site. Photograph: Lee Thomas/Demotix/Corbis"They just started taking people out one by one," she said. "Not everyone went voluntarily and there were some struggles. A girl was shouting at one point and seemed to be quite upset and the police seemed to be quite rough. I saw a policeman with his knuckles pressing on the side of a guy's face until he released the man he was holding onto. He was obviously hurting him. Another looked like he was bending someone's little finger back."
About half an hour later a tanker made its way onto the site – the first vehicle in over 24 hours since the blockade began on Thursday morning. The main road was reportedly closed to any other traffic, a move which anti-fracking activists said was interfering with their right to protest.
"Sussex police fully supports the right to demonstrate peacefully and within the law and also facilitate the contractors to carry out their business," said Superintendent Steve Whitton. "Our aim is to provide a safe and secure environment for protesters, residents and the contractors, to minimise disruption to the community and to prevent crime and disorder."
Ashley Williams, who witnessed the arrests, said: "This is a totally disproportionate response. The community are standing up for themselves against a company that is trying to poison them. As soon as regular people put their head above the parapet the state jumps in to defend the interests of a wealthy few."[ATTACH=CONFIG]153389[/ATTACH]
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