The Dam Letter
Comedy Break, Working Animals — by Craig Mackintosh
Who says we’re not getting out of touch with nature? Well, I think we are, and read on to see a bit of a comedic look at this.
The following two letters are said to be the actual correspondence between a Mr. Price of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan and a Ryan DeVries of the same state (enjoy the letters first, then stay tuned for why I say ’said to be’ at bottom — no peeking though):
Comments (2)Posted on: July 1, 2009
On the Rebound
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Researchers suggest that our self indulgence might cancel out our cleverness, as we consume more of what we save in a “rebound effect“.
Which is, apparently, a variant of the Jevons Paradox (thanks to Marc Hudson).
What price water and food when there’s no water and food.
Elsewhere, Russia reserves the right to wage its own wars for oil; the planet becomes increasingly unbalanced; marine wildernesses go the way of all fish.
Some fine urban pollution materials here, at Urban Emissions.info.
I haven’t been through this, but it looks very interesting – Recalibrating the Law of Humans with the
Laws of Nature: Climate Change, Human Rights, and Intergenerational Justice.
Posted on: May 17, 2009
Infernal Combustion
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Frank is feeling a little better today. Thanks for asking.
While the UK entrenches itself up to its neck in car culture, the scientific world debates whether it is best to starve us all and destroy our biodiversity in the name of biofuel or bio-electricity – whichever gives most miles per acre. Motorists, as ever, expect to be coddled through without inconvenience.
Those on two wheels had better watch their backs.
So many choices, so little accurate information.
What price action?
China and Italy invest heavily in renewables.
Comments (0)Posted on: May 10, 2009
Surface Reflection
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Whilst the world’s media squeal about Swine-flu and worry about the sex lives of the rich and famous, some other stuff has happened
Al Gore has been talking about Black Carbon particulates, whilst temperatures at the top of the world soar. The Himalayas enjoy L.A. like pollution levels and record CO2 recordings. Burning down the planet may have something to do with it.
To combat this the only wind turbine factory in the UK closes down whilst the US steams ahead.
Perhaps we need to look at why we behave this way, and how we can stop it.
Meanwhile the oil shale monster ratchets up a perfect storm (thanks to Susan Anderson for this)
And the squillions at stake for the nuclear industry prompt the usual shenanigans.
Comments (0)Posted on: May 5, 2009
Happy “Fock the Earth Day”
Comedy Break — by Craig Mackintosh
Okay, this is a couple of days late – but… whatever.
Although Earth Day has merit in bringing people’s attention to environmental issues, since its inception in 1970 it doesn’t seem to have stopped us all trashing the planet on the other 364 days of the year (or even on ‘Earth Day’ for that matter). The following clip is a comical hand-wringing about this very fact – suggesting and introducing a “Fock the Earth Day” for April 23.
Hat Tip: Energy Smart
Comments (1)Posted on: April 25, 2009
From Each According to Their Ability?
Comedy Break, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society — by Marc Roberts
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
The wealthy in the UK are throwing all manner of hissy fits at the very idea of paying their fair share to help pull our collective fat out of the fire. They are once again threatening to leave the country in droves unless we all pucker up. Perhaps a concerted drive is needed to finally establish a clear distinction between the concepts of ‘earn’, ‘receive’ and ‘deserve’. These people are deeply confused.
From each according to their ability. To each according to their need.
As the emissions of rich nations continue to rise, the push for carbon capture picks up steam in a last ditch attempt to create tools to save the likes of orchards, fish and humans from the consequences of habitual greed.
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Earth Day – The Lotto Way of Thinking
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Global Warming/Climate Change, Health & Disease — by Marc Roberts
Click for full view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
Posted on: April 22, 2009
When Fixes Need Fixing?
Comedy Break, Food Shortages, Global Warming/Climate Change, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Water Contaminaton — by Marc Roberts
Click for full view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
Grist provides these two links to reports of pending agricultural collapse in the Punjab due to (profit driven?) over-exploitation of resources. [Editor's Note: for more on this, head here]
The Huffington Post posts this, by Lise van Susteran, on Moral Obligation.
Fred Pearce, on consuming vs population. Did I post this already?
I just saw this – Ian Tomlinson’s death at the G20 demonstrations now being treated as possible manslaughter.
Comments (0)Posted on: April 20, 2009
The Gospel of Consumption
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Society — by Craig Mackintosh
It’s with a degree of dark fascination I watch as the current financial crisis brings substantial funding to the same people who’ve been instrumental in bringing it upon us – and who’ve single handedly manipulated and destroyed the local economies of dozens of countries (see this backgrounder on the food crisis for example).
The cartoon featured here is one of my favourites from the wizard enviro-cartoonist Marc Roberts, and works as a great intro to an article I’d like to draw your attention to, and strongly encourage you to read (see further below).
Click for full view
Posted on: April 12, 2009
Small is Beautiful
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society — by Marc Roberts
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
A journey of a thousand miles begins with etc etc.
As ice sheets crack off and ice cover thins, police crack heads and numbers break records.
Some of that mouse shit might be raisins!
Comments (0)Posted on: April 10, 2009
More Nails in Satire’s Coffin
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
Truth is far stranger and dumber than fiction.
Noel Lynch brought the Tesco idiocy to my attention thus:
Today’s Guardian has a half page advert for TESCO. It is headed ‘Turn lights into flights’. It shows a low energy light bulb and says that if you buy it you can get a clubcard voucher that you can turn into 60 Airmiles. So save a small amount of energy by buying a low energy light bulb and then consume a large amount of energy by flying an extra 60 miles. Doh
Quite so.
The Earth Hour folk also drop a bollock with Alanis – really quite breathtakingly numb of them:
Comments (0)Posted on: April 9, 2009
Choice and Prosperity
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts
Click for full view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? Development and climate change. Such a dilemma – convoluted and labyrinthine, loaded and provocative. Whilst India pushes for escape from endemic poverty by pursuing a Nano for everyone, its islands start to disappear, as do its neighbours. The result of success will be failure. Hmm. Tricky. Plenty of arguments to be had there. Good job we’re all totally focused on it and not distracted by beer and football.
Elsewhere the Murray dries up, as do the Cedars of Lebanon. Bankruptcy beckons.
The poles are not so far apart after all.
When even the CBI say we’re not doing enough, we know we’re in trouble.
Comments (0)Posted on: April 8, 2009
Capping C02 Emissions Will Steal “Plant Food”
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Craig Mackintosh
The nonsense that sometimes gets bandied about on climate change often leaves me gobsmacked – but when it comes from politicians it just plain leaves me fearing for the future. Watch these snippets from the March 25, 2009 hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment to see what I mean:
Rep. John Shimkus: Capping C02 emissions will steal “plant food”
I’m not old enough to personally verify this, but I’m pretty confident we had plants and trees before we started burning coal in the 1800s. If the world is “carbon starved” I can’t imagine how the vast forests and other plant life the world previously possessed before industrial times – when CO2 levels were at about 280ppm – ever survived as abundantly as they did. And, what’s more – if the world’s flora is CO2 deficient, why are CO2 levels still going up every decade? (we’re now at about 388ppm.)
Comments (0)Posted on: March 31, 2009
Apocalypse When?
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts
Click for full view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
This was much funnier in my head. Never mind. What d’ya want f’ nowt?
The “revolution” gets underway, and we’ll all be first up against the wall. The revolution will not be televised.
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Following Orders
Alternatives to Political Systems, Biodiversity, Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
More than 7 million quids worth of police will be ensuring that protestors don’t contaminate the G20 summit with any new ideas, thus making the world safe for inadequate investment, climate chaos, dehydration and myopia, with some open-ended blank cheques thrown in.
So, all in all, a nice little inheritance for the kids. But Nil Deperandum. The revolution starts at home.
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