I may have mentioned that I get daily emails that cc: a huge number of people, promoting nuclear energy and denigrating renewables. Tonight, one of these people writes about his ultimate fantasy: the implosion of renewable energy: (more…)
Natural disasters are a part of life. How you prepare for them could mean the difference between survival and death. At the same time, you might not have the time or money to put together an elaborate emergency plan. Fortunately, you don’t need to. Here’s how to protect your family in 4 simple steps.
Be Informed
What kind of emergencies can happen in your area? Know this, and the battle is half-won already. (more…)
In the lead up to the 2015 general election there was a great deal of debate about the United Kingdom’s place in the European Union. In line with this the Conservatives included in their election manifesto the promise that should they win at the polls they would hold a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU. On election the Prime Minister pledged that the referendum would be held before the end of 2017, although it is now widely anticipated that it will take place next year. (more…)
Construction industry today is revolutionized by several innovative concepts including the most popular eco-friendly construction concept and the concept of using ready-mix products for faster and efficient build up processes. The process of eco-friendly construction has made a way to save up the non-renewable sources of energy which are feared to be depleted in course of time. This is an innovative approach towards the development and usage of building materials that do not affect the environment or human health. (more…)
Here’s one of many dozens of ideas I’ve seen to suck the CO2 directly out of the atmosphere. Its promoters claim to have a great number of smart people supporting the concept, but it sure seems asinine from here.
• Where does the energy come from to run the machine? How much carbon is emitted in the process of generating it? They imply that it can be run with renewable energy. Of course it can. But then that renewable energy can’t be used as it otherwise would be, i.e., to displace fossil fuel consumption. (more…)
Today is the birthday of English author Aldous Huxley, best known for his dystopian novel Brave New World. Huxley wed in 1919 and the couple traveled a lot during the early years of their marriage. According to The Writer’s Almanac: He liked the vitality and energy of the Americans they met, but he thought that energy was wasted on mindless pursuits. “Nowhere, perhaps, is there so little conversation […] It is all movement and noise, like the water gurgling out of the bath – down the waste. Yes, down the waste.”
It’s hard to imagine what he would say about the racket we Americans are making surrounding our presidential race in 2016. I don’t think he’d be too impressed.
I take great delight in the fact that every day, more Americans are becoming mindful of the issues surrounding fossil fuels and the migration to renewable energy. Americans “overwhelmingly” prefer solar and wind energy to coal, oil, and nuclear energy, according to a Harvard political scientist who has conducted a comprehensive survey of attitudes toward energy and climate for the last 12 years. (more…)
I’m often called upon to defend renewable energy against its critics. Here are my words of rebuttal to Alex Cannara, a nuclear advocate who for some reason feels compelled to denigrate renewables at every opportunity. My remarks are in italics below each of his assertions.
• There’s no such thing as “renewable” energy. Remember conservation of energy? “Renewable” is a marketing term.
The word “renewable” doesn’t mean that we’re manufacturing energy from nothing, only that we’re taking it from sources that are virtually infinite and comparatively non-polluting. The sun will be shining in our sky for the next 7.59 billion years, continuously bestowing our planet with 6000 times more power than we are consuming right now. By contrast, since the dawn of industrialization, humankind has reduced the store of hydrocarbons in the Earth’s crust by over 50%. That resource depletion alone is scary, when you think about it, though that’s the very least of our concerns with fossil fuels. (more…)
It’s remarkable how stand-up comedians can make serious points in extremely effective ways. You’re laughing you butt off at the same you’re saying to yourself, “That’s EXACTLY correct.” I’ve mentioned several times how Robert Morgan pulls this off so astonishingly well with his hilarious piece “The History of Oil.”
If you’re looking for a similar experience on a different topic, here’s Australian comic Jim Jeffries (pictured) tackling one of the most controversial subjects in the US: gun control. Part One, Part Two
My recent post: The Social Contract and the U.S. Government makes the point that the American people are in the process of putting a spear through the U.S. Supreme Court decision “Citizens United.”
A reader responds: Hi Craig. When you look at a map of the U.S., think of the people who live there. (more…)
