The Earth Bites Back
This was the title of a lunchtime lecture at University College London on March 3rd. Professor Bill Mcguire argued that we’d see a lot more natural disasters, as the earth responded to our treatment of it.
And now we’ve had two major earthquakes in a short space of time in Christchurch and now Japan.
They may not be connected, but it doesn’t man that we should let up in our efforts to cut carbon emissions and other practices that damage our environment.
Petrol and Diesel Prices
As someone who doesn’t drive at the moment and gets free travel on buses and the tube, I can’t say I’m sad that petrol and diesel prices are rising fast.
I know that I will see price increases in goods because of the increase in transport prices, but then a lot of prices are rising anyway as China and other developing countries demand a bigger share of global resources.
But having moved to London, if I look at my finances, I see a drop in gas and electricity costs, as this house is modern and fully insulated, a severe fall in transport costs and because I now have choice, my everyday food and living costs are lower too!
I know my lifestyle change has been forced on me because of the stroke, but by changing it, I have been able to make substantial savings in my cost of living. I’m also enjoying myself much more, as there is so much more to do here in the city, rather than being trapped without transport in the countryside.
So those that complain about high petrol and diesel prices, would be better to use their energy to change their lifestyle using ways that cut that energy usage.
After all, we’re going to have to cut our CO2 emissions whether we like it or not!
Fuel Prices
Someone has sent me an invitation to join their group protesting about fuel prices.
I will not be joining, as I’ve always felt that a large part of the problems of this fragile planet are caused by people, and especially Americans, who create just too much carbon dioxide, which every scientifically correct individual knows has a lot to do with global warming. Today, as I write, the Zoological Society of London, launches the Edge Coral Reefs project to save them from extinction.
So what should we do about fuel prices?
It’s not so much about what you do with the prices it’s what you do with the tax revenues they generate.
I have seen the benefits of putting container traffic on the trains in and out of Felixstowe Docks. There are less trucks on the road for a start and how much is this contributing to reduction in carbon emissions and shorter journey times for other motorists. So the first thing we should do is make sure that more and more containers go between the ports and inland depots by train. And preferably by electric trains. There are a few links that need to be built, like one to the new container terminal in Liverpool and we also need better road-rail interfaces in some large conurbations.
I actually think that one of the reasons truck drivers are militant, is tat they can see these job losses arriving as the containers shift to rail. The rail freight companies are talking about saving truck journeys in hundreds of thousands with each new scheme.
Railway electrification and better commuter trains and buses should be another beneficiary of extra tax revenue, as give people better services and they use them. I know it’s only a small line across Suffolk, but as the Ipswich-Cambridge service has improved over the last few years, more and more people have used the service. I also know examples of couples, who have effectively gone from two to one car, because of better public transport.
I’ve worked at home for over forty years and this can easily be encouraged by faster broadband everywhere. I also believe that this can in itself be a strong engine for growth in rural areas, where public transport of a sufficient standard will never be available.
I would also like to see fuel taxes used to reduce Income Tax and increase benefits in some cases.
We must use all of these things to nudge people towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Technology too has its part to play in this and I’d like to see developments like these cars proposed by Gordon Murray. But would these wean people away from their beloved 4x4s and people carriers? Probably not, but fuel prices are one way to make them pay for their selfishness!
So in my view, high fuel prices should be here to stay.
C Would Not Have Been Amused
I most certainly aren’t and she would have been with me on this one.
The lights in this house are generally wall units, which were originally fitted with 40 watt tungsten bulbs, that I believe should be removed immediately, as we do need to do something about our electricity consumption and carbon emissions. As half of them have failed, the light in some parts of the house is not good. The fittings were designed for 100 watt tungsten screw bulbs, which despite being available in markets round here should not be sold. Finding an adequate energy-saving replacement is proving tiresome, as it seems that many shops only carry a few very standard and expensive bulbs. So perhaps people in London stick with their illegal tungsten bulbs. As an example, I’ve not seen one of the clever light sensitive bulbs I used to use outside in Suffolk.
There are also loads of the dreaded MR16 halogen bulbs. I hate them as they give me headaches, but the LED replacements don’t. They also give out a lot more light, use a lot less energy and last for ever. I did manage to find two and they helped, but I need to find a lot more, as quite a few of the old ones have either failed or flash on and off.
Hospital Car Parking
The government seems to change its mind about whether there should be charges for hospital car parking.
In these times of austerity, I believe that it should not be, as obviously this would mean loss of revenue and perhaps cuts in other services.
But we should in fact be creating good systems and alternatives, that remove the need for the parking in the first place.
- I have to go to the West Suffolk Hospital occasionally for my Warfarin test. My driver drops me and then goes and does something else and I phone to be picked up. But a National Anticoagulant Service would avoid that, as I could probably be tested in a pharmacy. How many other people have to go to a hospital for something that could be done by the GP or a local clinic, or even over the phone?
- West Suffolk Hospital has also banned staff car parking.
- Hospitals should also be well served by public transport. I can’t get to either West Suffolk or Addenbrooke’s by public transport. But saying that, last time I went to Addenbrooke’s, I took the train into Cambridge, played real tennis, had lunch and took the bus for an afternoon appointment, after which I was picked up. So sometimes a little thought can remove the need for parking.
- I think too, that many hospitals have been designed so that you are supposed to go there by car.
- We also put new hospitals in the wrong places. Imagine a hospital built by the train station or close to the city centre, so that it was more convenient for everyone.
So if we can cut the number of journeys, then we can reserve the car parking spaces for those that really need them!
Perhaps too, we should make car parking free in the evening for visitors to those in hospital. When I was in Addenbrooke’s, it was the evenings, where I wanted to see someone. But I’d have preferred to be at home, so perhaps hospitals should really concentrate on getting people home or in the community.
It is also a green issue to me. We shouldn’t need to drive to hospital, spewing carbon emissions!
Israel’s Crazy Clocks
I am a great believer in that you put the clocks forward in the summer to gain the greatest economic advantage to as many people as possible.
For instance, in the UK, I’d like to see us go to the same time as most of the EU. Not only would it make it easier for business and travel with the continent, but it would also give us longer leisure evenings for a greater period of the year, so perhaps outdoor activities would benefit. Horse racing would be able to stage many more evening meetings, which properly handled might create a lot of new jobs. But there are lots of other examples.
So what are the Israelis doing. They’re moving the date the clocks go back forward to fit in with religious groups, who have a strong hold in the Knesset. According to The Independent, it’s not very popular. Even the Jewish Chronicle reports that Israelis are angry.
In the report in the Jewish Chronicle this is said.
A campaign against the early end to summertime is being spearheaded by Dr Shimon Eckhouse, chairman of Nasdaq-traded medical device company Syneron. He also wants to adopt the EU norm and has collected over 90,000 signatories on a petition.
Starting winter time before the end of October “will shorten quality time that parents have with their children, increase the chance of road accidents and cost the Israeli economy millions of shekels”, he said.
There are estimates that the 48 days between September 12, when Israel changes its clocks, and October 31, when the UK and the rest of Europe change their clocks, will cost Israel £4.6 million in higher electricity consumption.
“The only reason to end summertime early is because it supposedly shortens the fast on Yom Kippur,” Dr Eckhouse added. “This is warped because either way the fast continues for 25 hours. I am a Jew who observes tradition and fasts on Yom Kippur.”
Let’s hope Dr. Eckhouse’s reasoned approach succeeds. If nothing because it is better for global warming.
Exxon Funds Climate Change Sceptics!
Now there’s a surprise, but just think what would happen if governments really clamped down on the burning of fossil fuels to companies like Exxon. Read about it in The Times.
I shall not be buying any more Esso petrol and diesel.
The Anonymous Widower 