Thursday, January 29, 2009

Climate Change Action Links

I`ve just been updating some links in the blog sidebar, and there are some really interesting sites, so if you havent done so already, check out the links!

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Climate Rush gets chained to Parliament

The govornment didnt want a vote on Heathrow. Previously Plane Stupid had been informed that 'decisions are made in the house of commons, noton the roof'. However, in reality a cushy backgrrom meeting between a couple of ministers and BAA is where decisions are really made...the govornment really dont want to let democracy mess up there plans.

This became somewhat more difficult when the concervatives put forward a proposal that the govornments airport plans be scrapped. So in the end, there was a vote of sorts...albeit with a 3 line whip, and several resignations; you cant be part of the govornment if you are voting against a 3 line whip. The govornment won by 16 votes.

Actions by both HACAN's early morning protest and the Climate Rush 10:30am...did however show to MP's that the pressure isnt going away. This airport isnt going to get built, at some point the govornment will accept that.

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Labour politicians 'not too pleased' about Heathrow.

News Flash: Labour Politicians are Developing a Conscience!

It's quite an interesting thing to see. Principled politicians. To be honest, this dosent suprise me as much as it suprises some people, but nice to see none the less.

Firstly, Labour MP Andy Slaughter, has quit his govornment job in order to continue his campaign against Heathrow.

Secondly, Labour councilor Cllr Mark Ereira-Guyernd is a party member member of over 20 years and he has given up trying to be a Labour MP swapping over to the Green Party.

Thirdly, Labour MP Virendra Sharma quit an unpaid government post to fight the plans.

These Labour Party members have set a great example for all those within the Labour Party who are opposed to Heathrows expansion. The next question is, will these MP's vote there conscience or there career. Labour Party whips have been strenuously trying to hold the party line.

[update: in the end, labour won the by 19 votes with only 28 of labour mp's who stated there opposition, voting that way]

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Jan & Feb Climate Change Events in London

I was at the weekly (Tuesday 7pm) Climate Camp London meeting last night. These meetings are open so if you feel like coming along, check the website for details.

I learnt about a few events that i wanted to share and encourage people to attend. (For short updates on all events, follow me on twitter.)

  1. Next Tuesday (3rd feb 2009)we aren't having our weekly meeting. Instead everyone from this weeks meeting committed to go to the Emirates Stadium next week and hand out the 3000 eon red cards that we have. Armed with these cards, stickers and eon f-off t-shirts we are going to do some large scale brand trashing. So if you are interested in highlighting the link between coal and bad health vs sport and good health then come along, we are expecting good numbers. Also, we are going to the pub afterwards for a social. We meet at 5:45 for 6:15 at Highbury&Islington Tube. (I finish work later so i`ll be delayed, so don't feel bad if you are late, the match doesn't start until 7:45).
  2. On Thursday 5th February the first talk in a series from 'Women of the global South' is being put on to engage a wider constituency in the issue of climate change. Women of the global south speak out about climate change 5th Feb 7-9pm. Ethiopian Community Hall, 2a Lithos Road, London, Nw3 6ef. No Charge.
  3. On Monday 9th February there is a discussion about the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Meet to discuss Copenhagen Climate Summit 7pm, Monday 9th February. The Studio, 22 Betterton St, London, WC2 http://www.radicalactivist.net

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Plots and Plans



Sowing and reaping becomes a more unpredictable affair as weather begins to dance to a new tune

Obama keeps his momentum going.

Please complain to the BBC about their shameful and cowardly refusal to broadcast appeals for humanitarian aid to Gaza. It won't take a minute.

Meanwhile, turbines get tougher, racism gets weirder and yeast levels begin to stabilise

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Compost Mentis



Obama puts a brake on Bush's last ditch planet mashers and The Democratic (?)Republic of Congo bravely attempts to put a break on deforestation (whilst scientists talk of bio-engineering solutions)

Meanwhile we run out of water, and water boarding

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Carried Away



Frank doesn't often get infected with enthusiastic optimism, but he's been listening to Frank Turner CDs and Barack Obama speeches so it had to happen sooner or later.

There are figures of every kind being hurled around at the energy summit in Abu Dhabi -amongst them these.

The electric car lobby still need to explain where all this extra capacity will come from - things being as they are. Lifestyle is still not on the table, it seems.

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Friday, January 16, 2009

Statement on the reasons why i committed aggravated trespass at Stansted Airport

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Thursday, January 15, 2009

bird-strike



As was widely predicted the UK government ignored the advice of science and went with the urgings of panicky economists to authorise a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Property Owning Democracy



Climate change activists buy land to thwart Heathrow developers. Good work.

The Times reports, with innappropriate zeal, that, as increasing levels of worldwide deforestation are being slightly moderated by a small degree of partial regrowth in some areas, we might stave off the end by an additional twenty minutes. Hoorah.

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Land Purchase + Climate Rush Heathrow: Video

There where many developments in the battle against heathrow yesterday. The climate rush held a "dinner at departures".




Also a video by the Guardian

Then it was announced that Greenpeace had organised a purchase of a key piece of land needed for the construction of the third runway! The clever bit about this is that the ownership of the land is being futher subdevided and everyone has to be contacted before a compulsory purchase can be made.

Leo Murray of Plane Stupid was on Newsnight (21 min in) talking about the ongoing battle against govornment hipocrisy.

Meanwhile, a decision looks likely to be delayed as both cabinet ministers and Labour back benchers worry about re-election and increasing already high local pollution levels.

All in all i`d agree witht aviation website domain-b "heathrow expansion plans under seige"

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Monday, January 12, 2009

Job Vacancy


The sea's capacity to absorb CO2 diminishes, promising further escalations, whilst we leap into action by building more airports, preparing for climate-conflict and ever so slightly reducing the size of our TVs.

Elsewhere the IDF breach 900 Palastinian dead and receives applause from a Washington administration that cares not for the future.

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Photos from the Climate Rush

A couple of great photos from the Climate Rush via Greenpeace. I couldn't be there sadly as i was bailed away from airports untill my court day (Wed) but i`m glad it seems to have gone well.































Pre-Publicity
Coverage:

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Case Against Heathrow

With the govornments decision on Heathrow airport expected soon it might be a good time for a refresher course in the argument against Heathrow.

Thanks to Nick Ferriday with have such a refresher. 3 page summary case against heathrow.

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

a fair C.O.P.



It might sound like Rex Tillerson is making a significant concession in recognising the reality of anthropogenic global warming and his industry's part in it. but, in the build up to Copenhagen, in the middle of a financial meltdown, Exxon are in fact seizing the initiative by putting their weight behind carbon taxation and against international regulation. That way they can stall meaningful action untill the public rebel and elect another bunch of redneck half-wits. Or am I being cynical?

For those unfamiliar with the reference . it is to the story of Sweeny Todd - the Demon Barber of Fleet Street - who killed his customers so that his mistress could turn them into pies.

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a figure of speech



I've been tediously going through all last year's cartoons to put them on a database for the new website (which WILL happen, honestly) and came upon this one, from September - which I'd forgotten about. It was originally published in Ethical Consumer Magazine. Whilst not wildly news related, it still holds water (!)


Contrasting sides of China compete for posterity - via Climate Progress and DotEarth

The US senate shows its contempt for the people of Gaza, whilst calls increase for an apartheid-style boycott of the Israeli state

Today's news features the welcome and long overdue re-education of the head of ExxonMobil, who has finally thrown in the towel and admitted that yes - we've screwed the climate. Hallelujah. But his main thrust seems to be trying to head off international action by putting the onus on domestic taxation - which is a safe bet in a recession. Once a Sith Lord, always a Sith Lord. Cartoon on this tomorrow. Just thought I'd mention it today

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Friday, January 09, 2009

The bigger they are...



The arse falls out of the Chinese recycling industry, causing hardship to millions and stalling one of the few large scale attempts to limit the damage we're doing.
Of course we should repair, re-use and recycle wherever possible - that should go without saying - but this stuff is travelling thousands of miles to seek out cheap labour, and is still inextricably tied in to high levels of consumption - which is, of course, why it's flagging now. This international trade is a short term fix. The real solutions surely lie in reduction of waste through reduction in consumption.

Reports indicate that a reduction in consumption is coming our way anyway, so perhaps we might like to consider doing something about it?

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Thursday, January 08, 2009

Looks like i`m going to be doing community service.

My co-defendents in the Stansted trial have just been up in court, pleaded guilty to aggrevated tresspass and have overwhelmingly been sentenced to varying degrees of community service. The only exceptions being two of the youngest participants in the action.

That's a bit of a bitch. 50-90 Hrs of community service is going to take quite a bit of free time up when placed in conjunction with a full time job. Most likely if I recieve the same sentence the i`ll take a few unpaid days off work. Time is of value and ive not intention of cutting down on climate activism because i have additional workload.

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No Claims Bonus



Bradwell nuclear power station leaked like a cullender for years and nobody seems to feel responsible, whilst civil servants collude with government and the Sellafield mob to make sure they never need to say sorry in the event that their leaky buckets of toxic sludge go boom.
What's that you say? Too 1970s? Maybe. We at Throbgoblins International are aware that our choices about power are somewhat constrained -what with humans being a greedy and somewhat addled bunch, disinclined to switch anything off. So of course we must consider some short term fixes that would be best left alone in less pressing circumstances. But we don't think it unreasonable to ask that the mad dog be effectively chained.

Elsewhere Dubya's penny drops, for the briefest of moments
and
the Stanstead Plane Stupid protestors get their wrists slapped after their fine work of December 8th.

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Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Icarus Ascending



The UK gov't tries to cover up the scandal of the Heathrow expansion with the fig-leaf of a (rhetorical?) tagged on Rail hub, but a hub without spokes does not make a wheel.

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Transforming the Global Economy: Solutions for a Sustainable World

Over the past couple of months there has been a large amount of thinking and commentary on the connections between the environmental crisis and the crisis in capitalism. This isn't a discussion that i have involved myself in, but for those of us interested in dipping a toe into the discussion, a talk by Susan George would seem to be theperfect place to start.



Video thanks to Blip.tv

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James & Anniek Hansen open letter to Michelle and Barack Obama

29 December 2008

Dear Michelle and Barack,

We write to you as fellow parents concerned about the Earth that will be inherited by our children, grandchildren, and those yet to be born. Barack has spoken of 'a planet in peril' and noted that actions needed to stem climate change have other merits. However, the nature of the chosen actions will be of crucial importance.

We apologize for the length of this letter. But your personal attention to these 'details' could make all the difference in what surely will be the most important matter of our times.

Jim has advised governments previously through regular channels. But urgency now dictates a personal appeal. Scientists at the forefront of climate research have seen a stream of new data in the past few years with startling implications for humanity and all life on Earth.

Yet the information that most needs to be communicated to you concerns the failure of policy approaches employed by nations most sincere and concerned about stabilizing climate.

Policies being discussed in national and international circles now, which focus on 'goals' for emission reduction and 'cap and trade', have the same basic approach as the Kyoto Protocol.

This approach is ineffectual and not commensurate with the climate threat. It could waste another decade, locking in disastrous consequences for our planet and humanity.

The enclosure, "Tell Barack Obama the Truth – the Whole Truth" was sent to colleagues for comments as we left for a trip to Europe. Their main suggestion was to add a summary of the specific recommendations, preferably in a cover letter sent to both of you.

There is a profound disconnect between actions that policy circles are considering and what the science demands for preservation of the planet. A stark scientific conclusion, that we must reduce greenhouse gases below present amounts to preserve nature and humanity, has become clear to the relevant experts. The validity of this statement could be verified by the National Academy of Sciences, which can deliver prompt authoritative reports in response to a Presidential requesti. NAS was set up by President Lincoln for just such advisory purposes.

Science and policy cannot be divorced. It is still feasible to avert climate disasters, but only if policies are consistent with what science indicates to be required. Our three recommendations derive from the science, including logical inferences based on empirical information about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of specific past policy approaches.

(1) Moratorium and phase-out of coal plants that do not capture and store CO2. This is the sine qua non for solving the climate problem. Coal emissions must be phased out rapidly. Yes, it is a great challenge, but one with enormous side benefits. Coal is responsible for as much atmospheric carbon dioxide as the other fossil fuels combined, and its reserves make coal even more important for the long run. Oil, the second greatest contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide, is already substantially depleted, and it is impractical to capture carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles.

But if coal emissions are phased out promptly, a range of actions including improved agricultural and forestry practices could bring the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide back down, out of the dangerous range.

As an example of coal's impact consider this: continued construction of coal-fired power plants will raise atmospheric carbon dioxide to a level at least approaching 500 ppm (parts per million). At that level, a conservative estimate for the number of species that would be exterminated (committed to extinction) is one million. The proportionate contribution of a single power plant operating 50 years and burning ~100 rail cars of coal per day (100 tons of coal per rail car) would be about 400 species! Coal plants are factories of death. It is no wonder that young people (and some not so young) are beginning to block new construction.

(2) Rising price on carbon emissions via a "carbon tax and 100% dividend". A rising price on carbon emissions is the essential underlying support needed to make all other climate policies work. For example, improved building codes are essential, but full enforcement at all construction and operations is impractical. A rising carbon price is the one practical way to obtain compliance with codes designed to increase energy efficiency.

A rising carbon price is essential to "decarbonize" the economy, i.e., to move the nation toward the era beyond fossil fuels. The most effective way to achieve this is a carbon tax (on oil, gas, and coal) at the well-head or port of entry. The tax will then appropriately affect all products and activities that use fossil fuels. The public's near-term, mid-term, and long-term lifestyle choices will be affected by knowledge that the carbon tax rate will be rising.

The public will support the tax if it is returned to them, equal shares on a per capita basis (half shares for children up to a maximum of two child-shares per family), deposited monthly in bank accounts. No large bureaucracy is needed. A person reducing his carbon footprint more than average makes money. A person with large cars and a big house will pay a tax much higher than the dividend. Not one cent goes to Washington. No lobbyists will be supported. Unlike cap-and-trade, no millionaires would be made at the expense of the public.

The tax will spur innovation as entrepreneurs compete to develop and market low-carbon and no-carbon energies and products. The dividend puts money in the pockets of consumers, stimulating the economy, and providing the public a means to purchase the products.
A carbon tax is honest, clear and effective. It will increase energy prices, but low and middle income people, especially, will find ways to reduce carbon emissions so as to come out ahead. The rate of infrastructure replacement, thus economic activity, can be modulated by how fast the carbon tax rate increases. Effects will permeate society. Food requiring lots of carbon emissions to produce and transport will become more expensive and vice versa, encouraging support of nearby farms as opposed to imports from half way around the world.

The carbon tax has social benefits. It is progressive. It is useful to those most in need in hard times, providing them an opportunity for larger dividend than tax. It will encourage illegal immigrants to become legal, thus to obtain the dividend, and it will discourage illegal immigration because everybody pays the tax, but only legal citizens collect the dividend.

"Cap and trade" generates special interests, lobbyists, and trading schemes, yielding non productive millionaires, all at public expense. The public is fed up with such business. Tax with 100% dividend, in contrast, would spur our economy, while aiding the disadvantaged, the climate, and our national security.

(3) Urgent R&D on 4th generation nuclear power with international cooperation.
Energy efficiency, renewable energies, and a "smart grid" deserve first priority in our effort to reduce carbon emissions. With a rising carbon price, renewable energy can perhaps handle all of our needs. However, most experts believe that making such presumption probably would leave us in 25 years with still a large contingent of coal-fired power plants worldwide. Such a result would be disastrous for the planet, humanity, and nature.

4th generation nuclear power (4th GNP) and coal-fired power plants with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) at present are the best candidates to provide large baseload nearly carbon-free power (in case renewable energies cannot do the entire job). Predictable criticism of 4th GNP (and CCS) is: "it cannot be ready before 2030." However, the time needed could be much abbreviated with a Presidential initiative and Congressional support. Moreover, improved (3rd generation) light water reactors are available for near-term needs.

In our opinion, 4th GNP deserves your strong support, because it has the potential to help solve past problems with nuclear power: nuclear waste, the need to mine for nuclear fuel, and release of radioactive materialiii. Potential proliferation of nuclear material will always demand vigilance, but that will be true in any case, and our safety is best secured if the United States is involved in the technologies and helps define standards.

Existing nuclear reactors use less than 1% of the energy in uranium, leaving more than 99% in long-lived nuclear waste. 4th GNP can "burn" that waste, leaving a small volume of waste with a half-life of decades rather than thousands of years. Thus 4th GNP could help solve the nuclear waste problem, which must be dealt with in any case. Because of this, a portion of the $25B that has been collected from utilities to deal with nuclear waste justifiably could be used to develop 4th generation reactors.

The principal issue with nuclear power, and other energy sources, is cost. Thus an R&D objective must be a modularized reactor design that is cost competitive with coal. Without such capability, it may be difficult to wean China and India from coal. But all developing countries have great incentives for clean energy and stable climate, and they will welcome technical cooperation aimed at rapid development of a reproducible safe nuclear reactor.

Potential for cooperation with developing countries is implied by interest South Korea has expressed in General Electric's design for a small scale 4th GNP reactor. I do not have the expertise to advocate any specific project, and there are alternative approaches for 4th GNP. I am only suggesting that the assertion that 4th GNP technology cannot be ready until 2030 is not necessarily valid. Indeed, with a Presidential directive for the Nuclear Regulator Commission to give priority to the review process, it is possible that a prototype reactor could be constructed rapidly in the United States.

CCS also deserves R&D support. There is no such thing as clean coal at this time, and it is doubtful that we will ever be able to fully eliminate emissions of mercury, other heavy metals, and radioactive material in the mining and burning of coal. However, because of the enormous number of dirty coal-fired power plants in existence, the abundance of the fuel, and the fact that CCS technology could be used at biofuel-fired power plants to draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide, the technology deserves strong R&D support.

Summary
An urgent geophysical fact has become clear. Burning all the fossil fuels will destroy the planet we know, Creation, the planet of stable climate in which civilization developed.
Of course it is unfair that everyone is looking to Barack to solve this problem (and other problems!), but they are. He alone has a fleeting opportunity to instigate fundamental change, and the ability to explain the need for it to the public.

Geophysical limits dictate the outline for what must be donev. Because of the long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the air, slowing the emissions cannot solve the problem. Instead a large part of the total fossil fuels must be left in the ground. In practice, that means coal.

The physics of the matter, together with empirical data, also define the need for a carbon tax.
Alternatives such as emission reduction targets, cap and trade, cap and dividend, do not work, as proven by honest efforts of the 'greenest' countries to comply with the Kyoto Protocol:

  1. Japan: accepted the strongest emission reduction targets, appropriately prides itself on having the most energy-efficient industry, and yet its use of coal has sharply increased, as have its total CO2 emissions. Japan offset its increases with purchases of credits through the clean development mechanism in China, intended to reduce emissions there, but Chinese emissions increased rapidly.
  2. Germany: subsidizes renewable energies heavily and accepts strong emission reduction targets, yet plans to build a large number of coal-fired power plants. They assert that they will have cap-and-trade, with a cap that reduces emissions by whatever amount is needed. But the physics tells us that if they continue to burn coal, no cap can solve the problem, because of the long carbon dioxide lifetime.
  3. Other cases are described on my Columbia University web site, e.g., Switzerland finances construction of coal plants, Sweden builds them, and Australia exports coal and sets atmospheric carbon dioxide goals so large as to guarantee destruction of much of the life on the planet.

Indeed, 'goals' and 'caps' on carbon emissions are practically worthless, if coal emissions continue, because of the exceedingly long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the air. Nobody realistically expects that the large readily available pools of oil and gas will be left in the, ground. Caps will not cause that to happen – caps only slow the rate at which the oil and gas are used. The only solution is to cut off the coal source (and unconventional fossil fuels).

Coal phase-out and transition to the post-fossil fuel era requires an increasing carbon price. A carbon tax at the wellhead or port of entry reduces all uses of a fuel. In contrast, a less comprehensive cap has the perverse effect of lowering the price of the fuel for other uses, undercutting clean energy sources In contrast to the impracticality of all nations agreeing to caps, and the impossibility of enforcement, a carbon tax can readily be made near-global.

  • Given the brilliant scientists Barack has appointed to his team, is there need for a National Academy of Sciences meeting? Yes, his team surely would welcome not only clarification of the urgency of the climate situation, but also interdisciplinary (economics, engineering, physics, biology…) discussion and evaluation of policy options. Barack's first year or two in office is almost surely our last best chance to get the climate and energy strategy right in time to save the future of our children and grandchildren.
  • I am not referring to the DOE's "Generation-4" nuclear program, which is a diffuse program that will not yield rapid payoff. Instead, as discussed below, there would need to be a Presidential directive to pursue a path(s) with the potential to contribute to decarbonization of global energy systems as rapidly as practical.
  • 4th generation reactors can include automatic shutdown in case of an earthquake or other interruption. It is noteworthy that, even with the presence of poorly designed nuclear power plants in the past, and in some cases demonstrably sloppy operations, the waste from coal-fired power plants has done far more damage, and even spread more radioactive material around the world than all nuclear power plants combined, including Chernobyl.
  • Urgency derives from the nearness of climate tipping points, beyond which climate dynamics will cause rapid changes out of humanity's control. Concern about such behavior derives not from theory or speculation, but from improving knowledge of how the Earth responded to past changes of atmospheric composition and from observations of ongoing changes.

Tipping points occur because of amplifying feedbacks. Feedbacks include loss of Arctic sea ice, melting glaciers and ice sheets, release of 'frozen' methane as tundra melts, and growth of vegetation on previously frozen land. The surface changes increase the amount of sunlight absorbed by Earth. Added methane reduces heat radiation to space, amplifying the warming effect of carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels.

Analysis of Earth's history helps reveal the level of greenhouse gases needed to maintain a climate resembling the Holocene, Creation, the period of reasonably stable climate in which civilization developed.

That carbon dioxide level, unsurprisingly in retrospect, is less than the current 385 ppm (parts per million). The safe amount for the long-term is no more than 350 ppm, probably less. Pre-industrial carbon dioxide amount was 280 ppm. Precise definition of a safe range requires better knowledge of all climate forcing mechanisms. What is clear is that continuing fossil fuel emissions will put Earth on an inexorable course toward an icefree state, a course punctuated by increasingly extreme disasters with hundreds of millions of climate refugees.
A large fraction of species on Earth face certain extinction, if we burn most fossil fuels without capturing and storing the carbon dioxide. New species may come into being over many thousands of years, but all generations of our descendants that we can imagine will live on a far more desolate planet than the one we knew.

  • Total carbon in conventional fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal), if released to the air, is enough to initiate a dynamic transition to an ice-free climate state, a transition that would be out of humanity's control. A large fraction of the carbon dioxide emitted in burning fossil fuels stays in the air many centuries. Thus the climate problem cannot be solved by only slowing the rate at which we burn the fossil fuels.

Solution requires that a large part of total fossil fuels is left in the ground, or the carbon dioxide captured and stored. In addition, the unconventional fossil fuels (oil shale, tar sands, methane hydrates) must be left largely untouched or the carbon dioxide captured and stored.
  • Now, with oil prices down, is when a hefty carbon tax should be added. In the future, when the price of gasoline again reaches and passes $4/gallon, most of this cost will be tax, staying in the country, spread among consumers, and driving our economy to a clean future. The public can understand this, if Barack explains it, and they will accept it, if there is 100% dividend.
  • A carbon tax requires agreement of only several major nations. If any given nation does not apply the tax, an equivalent duty can be applied to their products at ports of entry.
  • A Presidential directive for prompt investigation and proto-typing of advanced safe nuclear power is needed to cover the possibility that renewable energies cannot satisfy global energy needs. One of the greatest dangers the world faces is the possibility that a vocal minority of anti-nuclear activists could prevent phase-out of coal emissions.
  • The challenges today, including climate change, are great and urgent. Barack's leadership is essential to explain to the world what is needed. The public, young and old, recognize the difficulties and will support the actions needed for a fundamental change of direction.

James and Anniek Hansen

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Friday, January 02, 2009

Outrage gives us hope?

The text of a leaflet for an anti-war march.
---
An occupied land, a downtrodden people, a flicker of resistance, a sustained and indiscriminate air assault.

It is sometimes hard to comprehend the arrogance of the Israili state. The hatred that this engenders is equally difficult to fully comprehend.

The eminent solubility of the situation makes the problem even more emotionally agonizing. Just what will it take for the USA to see that it's massive and unquestioning support for Israel is benefiting no one?

Palestine has one hope, however. That hope is our indignation, our unwillingness to accept a state of permanent violence and intimidation as some sort of insane status quo. Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve better than violence without end. Those pictures of American fighter jets dropping bomb after bomb on dense urban populations give us that drive, seeing small children carried--dead--out of the bloody aftermath inspires the world to respond. Will our response win out, that is an open question but we are not easy to ignore.

Unfortunately world leaders are also failing on issues of far broader and more lasting impact than the situation in Palestine. It is true, despite the boldness of the statement. So while Palestine is rightfully in our minds—and our placards--we must take the heartbreak and outrage of Palestine as a gift of moral insight. Can we start to imagine what sort of world we will have if we do nothing to curtail the worst of climate change? We all 'know' what sort of world this will lead us toward but can we feel outrage for those children 30 years from now being dragged out of houses flattened by strengthened storms? Can we imagine how our current government will look to the children of a planet undergoing rapid climate change?

We are waging inter-generational warfare on our children and in order to have the hope of a solution, hope that I truly feel for the people of Palestine, we need to connect emotionally with our future.

Once we have done this we can take the action needed in order to stop climate chaos. There is time for marching, a time for lobbying your mp; and now there is a time for taking direct action against the root causes of climate change.

Now is not the time for the first new coal plant in the UK for over 30 years. It's time to fight for our future. No New Coal.

www.climatecamp.org.uk/london

We meet every Tuesday evening at 7pm at: Room V301, Vernon Square Campus School of Oriental and African Studies Penton Rise WC1X 9EW

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Slip Hazard



A percentage of Climate scientists expect that climate engineering of some sort will be required - because we as a species just can't be arsed with changing our behaviour.
Marvellous. Can I have my Jet-Pack now?

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Thursday, January 01, 2009

Wrong Track



UK train operators push rail travel out of the range of many by magically manipulating......TIME ITSELF!!!

Elsewhere, The future is put on hold, Ukraine has its gas cut off and engineers come up with a cement that is carbon negative.

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