Thoughts On - Eco Warriors 3

 Hi Everyone,

                     Cop 27 has finally rolled around. I was keen to hear what progress had been made since COP 26 in Glasgow had departed from the headlines. As many protesters had predicted, we are still showing the highest levels in methane and CO2 emissions. In other words, "Bugger All!". With another year wasted.

The political leaders will cite the assorted problems we have had in the last year, such as the war and the energy crisis, the UK election and the following fiasco of a budget. Their response was to go back on the same old solutions that got us into a mess in the first place. Start a new coal mine "But it will be very efficient, promise". Start a new nuclear power plant "It will be ready in about 15 to 20 years, all being well and within budget, promise" . To the energy companies, "Here are 101 licences to drill for more oil in the north sea, have fun! We won't mind if you spill a bit now and then."

BIGWIGS  Take Note, We are all out of Magic Wands, You need to fix it 

What they should be doing is change to a coalition government to stop all of the squabbling between them, pump more money into battery research and manufacture, boost jobs, increase renewable energy sources, including hydro power. If every bridge had a water wheel under it, we would have more power than we could shake a stick at. Make as much of them out of recycled materials as possible.

There is no planet B, we are here to stay

I do wish COP 27 well, its aim is less promises, more actual dosh on the table. Good luck with that at the moment. The developing countries say give us some dosh, we are not to blame for this. Which is true. To be fair, we have been giving them aid in one form or another, when it suits us, through charities etc. Hopefully, they can come to some sort of agreement. We are all in this together, as some folks seem to forget.

Another Lightbulb Moment

UK Science and research seem to think their funding will be cut in the latest funding review. Another short sighted move. We have world renowned science teams, but they can only produce results with a steady assured flow of money. Once the money stops, the "boffins" are poached to other countries where they get more pay and perks, then investment in this country goes somewhere else. When the breakthrough comes along, we have to buy it off them, instead of being able to sell it to them. Idiots. The politicians are supposed to be well educated, act like it.

Finally

A well known saying from the Second World War comes back into everyday use , "Turn that light off !". Good advice.

Ivor Cogdell

Thoughts On - Eco Warriors 2

 Hi Everyone,

                     I have my Green hat on again. I was chatting with one of my mates regarding the Pro's and Con's of protesting, leaving the legal argument aside. This had been prompted by a protest group demonstrating outside oil terminals recently. My friend stated that most of the protestors would be only there for the sake of protesting and causing disruption, regardless of what the actual issue was. As he put it, they belonged to "Rent-A-Mob".

                     I agreed that the "Any protest will do" attitude was not a good basis for protesting, but stated that some may be there for that reason, but that there would still be the vast majority of people who did care about the actual issues involved and whose voices should be heard and their views considered, none the less. He did give way on the vague possibility, but I don't think my argument gave him any misgivings.

         Another friend mentioned the problems that we face going along this route. I reminded him that these green activists are fighting for HIS future along with everybody else’s. I asked him "What would you prefer in your senior moments, to be relaxing in the back garden on a nice summer’s day, sipping a cool drink in hand, or coughing and spilling the warm drink all over your trousers, peering through smog and heat haze".

    There is a very good Podcast authored by The Guardian newspaper in the UK, entitled "Carbon Bombs". This gives an insight into what the energy companies are planning, against what they say they are doing. Have a listen. Then start worrying and do something to help the situation.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2022/may/18/the-carbon-bombs-set-to-blow-up-the-worlds-climate-pledges

To our Green Warriors out there, please keep plugging away, don't give up heart. Your voices and actions DO COUNT FOR A GEAT DEAL. You will prove to history that at least some of us had heard the alarm bells ringing and were trying to do something about it before it was too late. I personally think it is already too late, but we have got to mitigate the problems as much as we can.

Have you been on a protest march ? Would you go on another one ? How were you treated ?

I would like to read your comments below.

Regards to all,

Ivor Cogdell.