Ontkennen genocide verboden in Frankrijk
Turkije verbreekt contacten met Frankrijk
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Going beyond dangerous
This is possibly one of the best, clearest and easiest to understand no bullshit explanations of global warming I've come ever come across - the situation as is, where we are heading, implications and the immense time pressure we are under to make a change in time.
Go pour yourself a very stiff drink (yes you will need it) and press play. Watch it to the very end (he does offer a scintilla of hope).
I try to remain hopeful, even in the face of this kind of thing. I try.
The world needs to act. Now.
Go pour yourself a very stiff drink (yes you will need it) and press play. Watch it to the very end (he does offer a scintilla of hope).
I try to remain hopeful, even in the face of this kind of thing. I try.
The world needs to act. Now.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Christopher Hitchens died
Oh I am going to miss his writing (and talk) so very much.
There are very few people who can get me laughing till my sides hurt, and flipped over into a red hot fury, all within a few sentences. He was such a person. I passionately agreed and disagreed with him on many issues. He had an amazing talent to use words as precision instruments and was the only person ever who had me yelling at the written word in a book or on a computer screen. Clever, acerbic, witty, sharp as a razor funny, infuriatingly intelligent man.
His was a life well lived, top to bottom. I'm thankful he shared some of that with the world.
There are very few people who can get me laughing till my sides hurt, and flipped over into a red hot fury, all within a few sentences. He was such a person. I passionately agreed and disagreed with him on many issues. He had an amazing talent to use words as precision instruments and was the only person ever who had me yelling at the written word in a book or on a computer screen. Clever, acerbic, witty, sharp as a razor funny, infuriatingly intelligent man.
His was a life well lived, top to bottom. I'm thankful he shared some of that with the world.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
You too will
end.
Money will not save you
Power will not save you
Your opinions will not safeguard you
Climate on a planetary scale will make no exceptions.
You who lied, misrepresented, twisted, leaned, pushed, forced, influenced, did everything you could to muddy the waters. You and your line won't be exempted. You too, will end.
So it goes.
Money will not save you
Power will not save you
Your opinions will not safeguard you
Climate on a planetary scale will make no exceptions.
You who lied, misrepresented, twisted, leaned, pushed, forced, influenced, did everything you could to muddy the waters. You and your line won't be exempted. You too, will end.
So it goes.
Durban, a washout
Not that anything really constructive was ever expected to come from Durban, but I had hoped for more than this. Truth be said, the sense of let-down is not as large as Copenhagen, back then I was simply stunned. But realistically, the outcome in Durban is a kind of insanity. These are all informed people who understand the odds and dangers, they have no excuse.
Well, that's it, then. At least Kyoto gets stretched a bit further. And it seems, the best we can hope for, now, is an agreement with legally binding limits around 2015 to take effect no earlier than 2020. This ensures that we are locked into the high end of the climate change spectrum. We should be happy with this????
This is not something I want at all, but I'm now hoping for this list to happen as soon as possible. Really. Sooner rather than later. It's awful to be hoping for catastrophe but I really don't see anything else having an effect. Perhaps a number of whammys, one right after the other, will get people riled enough to demand action without shredding the fabric of our civil society too much. The best outcome would be one where there is so much pressure worldwide, that politicians simply must act, but not so much that it leads to anarchy, chaos and political rigor mortis.
Waiting till 2015/2020 (and that's assuming we don't build in another five to ten years procrastination and nitpicking the details) locks this planet into am ecology where we humans and most current species simply won't be able to survive. That's unacceptable.
I think the odds of this working out just fine, went down astronomically.
I'm 53, I won't see the worst of it. I sometimes watch the neighborhood kids as they run around and play outside, and my heart aches for them. I would not wish any of this on them. I'm sure their parents -were they to fully understand the danger- don't either.
Well, that's it, then. At least Kyoto gets stretched a bit further. And it seems, the best we can hope for, now, is an agreement with legally binding limits around 2015 to take effect no earlier than 2020. This ensures that we are locked into the high end of the climate change spectrum. We should be happy with this????
This is not something I want at all, but I'm now hoping for this list to happen as soon as possible. Really. Sooner rather than later. It's awful to be hoping for catastrophe but I really don't see anything else having an effect. Perhaps a number of whammys, one right after the other, will get people riled enough to demand action without shredding the fabric of our civil society too much. The best outcome would be one where there is so much pressure worldwide, that politicians simply must act, but not so much that it leads to anarchy, chaos and political rigor mortis.
Waiting till 2015/2020 (and that's assuming we don't build in another five to ten years procrastination and nitpicking the details) locks this planet into am ecology where we humans and most current species simply won't be able to survive. That's unacceptable.
I think the odds of this working out just fine, went down astronomically.
I'm 53, I won't see the worst of it. I sometimes watch the neighborhood kids as they run around and play outside, and my heart aches for them. I would not wish any of this on them. I'm sure their parents -were they to fully understand the danger- don't either.
Friday, December 09, 2011
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Fragile
That thin, thin layer is all that keeps us alive.
Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.
Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.
Wikileaks
It's no wonder Assange is fighting extradition so hard. Looking at the actions of the US government, they are putting in place a scaffolding that will be inescapable.
Here's my prediction: If/when he gets extradited, he'll be locked up while Sweden sorts out the charges and decide not to charge him after all as they extradite him to the USA straight from his holding cell.
Once in the USA, they'll pull a Bradley Manning on him: lock him up in more or less solitary confinement and throw away the key, classified as enemy combatant or suchlike. No trial, no fuss, no muss.
After a week or two of newspaper uproar the next celebrity will drunk-drive her way into the headlines and in my opinion, after that odds are that he'll end up the pet annual Amnesty postcard celebrity for the rest of his life.
Yes, in his shoes I'd fight the extradition with every ounce of energy I have.
Here's my prediction: If/when he gets extradited, he'll be locked up while Sweden sorts out the charges and decide not to charge him after all as they extradite him to the USA straight from his holding cell.
Once in the USA, they'll pull a Bradley Manning on him: lock him up in more or less solitary confinement and throw away the key, classified as enemy combatant or suchlike. No trial, no fuss, no muss.
After a week or two of newspaper uproar the next celebrity will drunk-drive her way into the headlines and in my opinion, after that odds are that he'll end up the pet annual Amnesty postcard celebrity for the rest of his life.
Yes, in his shoes I'd fight the extradition with every ounce of energy I have.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The big blue, it's too big to be affected by humans?
Don't we wish!
This is how ocean acidification works.
It's the lag time that's the elephant in the room... and that's why the climate scientists are so adamant to get serious steps underway NOW while the effects are hardly noticeable yet, because once the effects really start showing, it's too late to use the brakes.
It's the lag time that's the true killer. As the people in the article are noticing now. And we are already locked in for another 50-some years of increasing emissions. We are already locked in to that, over and above what they are experiencing now.
I wish these kinds of articles ended up on the front pages of newspapers. It's that important.
This is how ocean acidification works.
It's the lag time that's the elephant in the room... and that's why the climate scientists are so adamant to get serious steps underway NOW while the effects are hardly noticeable yet, because once the effects really start showing, it's too late to use the brakes.
It's the lag time that's the true killer. As the people in the article are noticing now. And we are already locked in for another 50-some years of increasing emissions. We are already locked in to that, over and above what they are experiencing now.
I wish these kinds of articles ended up on the front pages of newspapers. It's that important.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Volkstuintje!!!
Vanaf vandaag is ie van mij.
Ieder onkruidje en stukje rommel...
Hoera!!!
PS Sam en de kippen zijn bij mij thuis, in de deur van mijn schuur. Hopend op eten...
Ieder onkruidje en stukje rommel...
Hoera!!!
PS Sam en de kippen zijn bij mij thuis, in de deur van mijn schuur. Hopend op eten...
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Toppunt van ironie
Reynders, minister van Financiën uit België:
Uh huh. Een minister van een land dat sinds november 2009 demissionair voorthobbelt, is een grote voorstander van verregaande Europese integratie. Want al lukt het ze maar niet in België om de twee "volkeren" door één deur te laten lopen, Europa-breed is het geen enkel probleem???
Landen in de eurozone moeten ervoor zorgen dat ze de huidige crisis aangrijpen om de Europese intergratie te versterken
bron
Uh huh. Een minister van een land dat sinds november 2009 demissionair voorthobbelt, is een grote voorstander van verregaande Europese integratie. Want al lukt het ze maar niet in België om de twee "volkeren" door één deur te laten lopen, Europa-breed is het geen enkel probleem???
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Wacht effe. WAT???!!!
"Kern economisch beleid naar EU"
Samenvattend: Een minderheidsregering draagt bepaalde Nederlandse soevereine bevoegdheden zonder referendum, zonder een enkele volksraadpleging, zonder slag of stoot over aan een nog niet bestaand, geheel ondemocratisch centraal Europees orgaan???!!??
(en in de kranten, artikels over studenten, onthoofdingen, nek bommen, snelweg schutter, en dan dit bericht in een klein hoekje)
Oh nee. Dacht het niet.
Het kabinet wil een aantal kernbevoegdheden op het gebied van economisch beleid uit handen geven aan de Europese Unie. Het denkt dat de economie in de eurozone alleen kan worden gestabiliseerd door het nemen van fundamentele, verregaande maatregelen.
Samenvattend: Een minderheidsregering draagt bepaalde Nederlandse soevereine bevoegdheden zonder referendum, zonder een enkele volksraadpleging, zonder slag of stoot over aan een nog niet bestaand, geheel ondemocratisch centraal Europees orgaan???!!??
(en in de kranten, artikels over studenten, onthoofdingen, nek bommen, snelweg schutter, en dan dit bericht in een klein hoekje)
Oh nee. Dacht het niet.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
The biologist, the oil industry and the drowned polar bears
These three really don't mix. With the ice and permafrost melting, the area becomes increasingly attractive to the oil industry and then, strange shit happens.
Five years after publishing what amounts to little more than a scientific note (peer reviewed and administratively approved), one of the scientists who wrote it, is getting hammered.
This complaint has been filed on his behalf by PEER. It looks like a witch hunt, it walks like a witch hunt, it smells like a witch hunt (and meanwhile, the projects he's working on -he's one of the main researchers in the field of arctic biology- screech to a halt and become worthless.
Criminal investigators.... you really should read this complaint. it contains some transcripts of the interviews from the investigation. Mind boggling. And this is done with American tax money.
(soon nobody will want to do the research any more)
This article - a scientific note - was published in 2006 by Gleason & Monnett. Both received so much flak from their own department over this, that Gleason decided to up and leave for a lower pay scale elsewhere, So he could work without being harassed. It's a long read but really, everyone should take the time to read through this transcript of the interview investigators had with Gleason.
It's a prime example of ideology in action, bending facts to your own version of events.
Some newspaper articles; key quotes from the second article:
It's not a good time to be a biologist or climatologist or any kind of scientist even remotely connected with climate science!!
Five years after publishing what amounts to little more than a scientific note (peer reviewed and administratively approved), one of the scientists who wrote it, is getting hammered.
This complaint has been filed on his behalf by PEER. It looks like a witch hunt, it walks like a witch hunt, it smells like a witch hunt (and meanwhile, the projects he's working on -he's one of the main researchers in the field of arctic biology- screech to a halt and become worthless.
Criminal investigators.... you really should read this complaint. it contains some transcripts of the interviews from the investigation. Mind boggling. And this is done with American tax money.
(soon nobody will want to do the research any more)
This article - a scientific note - was published in 2006 by Gleason & Monnett. Both received so much flak from their own department over this, that Gleason decided to up and leave for a lower pay scale elsewhere, So he could work without being harassed. It's a long read but really, everyone should take the time to read through this transcript of the interview investigators had with Gleason.
It's a prime example of ideology in action, bending facts to your own version of events.
Some newspaper articles; key quotes from the second article:
Monnett is overseeing several scientific studies that would affect decisions on permits for oil and gas development, according to PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. The group filed a misconduct complaint today against government officials on Monnett’s behalf.
The state of Alaska filed a lawsuit claiming the polar-bear decision would limit resource development and the economy.
A federal judge rejected that challenge last month. The agency’s listing “represents a reasoned exercise” of its discretion based on the facts and the available science in 2008 when it made the determination, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in Washington wrote in a 116-page ruling.
President Barack Obama created an interagency working group led by the Interior Department to oversee oil and natural-gas exploration in Alaska. The group will coordinate permit decisions and environmental reviews for onshore and offshore projects, including Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA)’s plan to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas.
“As we go into this period, this critical window where permits are going to be decided, you’ll do it without the benefit” of Monnett’s work
It's not a good time to be a biologist or climatologist or any kind of scientist even remotely connected with climate science!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Magnus Malan is dead
Good riddance.
He is dead.
He carries so many deaths, injuries and mental anguish with him - certainly approaching the league of the worst dictators and tyrants on this earth.
This atheist wishes there were an afterlife so he could meet and greet all his victims.
He did not deserve a long, prosperous life ending in a natural death in old age.
He is dead.
He carries so many deaths, injuries and mental anguish with him - certainly approaching the league of the worst dictators and tyrants on this earth.
This atheist wishes there were an afterlife so he could meet and greet all his victims.
He did not deserve a long, prosperous life ending in a natural death in old age.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Unimaginable!
That the rich upwelling biomass producing areas of the oceans will ever be empty... of the life we need to survive. Empty, no I don't think it ever will be. There will still be food so there will still be organisms that make use of the food to grow and flourish. But it won't be the creatures we have seen all these generations that grow in that rich broth, this is becoming a hostile world for them. Instead, other animals better equipped to survive these conditions, will take over and evolve.
It's evolution on a grand scale. I played the computer game once. What a shame that the human life is too short to see the changes fluctuate over time, perhaps that would change the mindset of most short-term thinkers.
Interesting times.
It's evolution on a grand scale. I played the computer game once. What a shame that the human life is too short to see the changes fluctuate over time, perhaps that would change the mindset of most short-term thinkers.
Interesting times.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Konijnenhok van Karwei
Wat een rommel.
In de karwei folder van 16 t/m 27 mei 2001 stond deze foto van een konijnenhok in de aanbieding, voor € 79. De afmetingen volgens de folder zou zijn 128x56x115cm.
Perfect!!
Die wou ik wel hebben, dus in gestrekte galop naar Karwei.
Toen ik daar kwam vroeg ik aan een van de medewerkers naar deze aanbieding. Ik werd geleid naar een stapel verpakkingen. Volgens de medewerker waren de deurtjes een beetje anders, platte dak, maar verder precies hetzelfde! Het prijs was in ieder geval hetzelfde. Er was eentje in elkaar gezet en ach, het leek wel prima zo. Met de hulp van deze medewerker heb ik het op een kar geworsteld, langs de kassa en hup (welnee, veel gezwoeg en geswets) in de auto. Toen ik thuis kwam, en mijn leesbril had aangedaan om de instructies te lezen, zag ik dat er wel degelijk een verschil was: de afmetingen van deze hok waren 105x92x53cm, een hele stuk kleiner:
Ik dacht nog even om alles weer in te pakken, naar de auto te zeulen en retour te brengen maar tja, in al dat gesleep had ik geen zin. Het was wat kleiner dan gewenst, maar ok, ik zou een konijnenhok hebben.
Bij het in elkaar zetten van het geheel (bouwtekening was een lachertje) kwam ik nog een "foutje" tegen - de afmetingen van de meegeleverde schroeven:
Je ziet het al! Je kan proberen tot je een ons weegt, maar met deze schroeven kon je het niet in elkaar zetten. Gelukkig had ik nog wel houtschroeven van de juiste afmeting en met een klein beetje gepuzzel en gemopper had ik uiteindelijk een buitenhok voor de konijn:
Zo is het uiteindelijk wel goed gekomen, maar niet helemaal zoals het moest. Op de website van Karwei bestaat geen enkele mogelijkheid om ze een bericht te sturen hierover en naar de winkel levert precies nul op. Het staat er nu en ik zal het hiermee moeten doen.
Neemt niet weg dat ik dit heel slecht vind van Karwei. Zal in de toekomst ook echt geen bouwpakket van wat dan ook daar kopen!
In de karwei folder van 16 t/m 27 mei 2001 stond deze foto van een konijnenhok in de aanbieding, voor € 79. De afmetingen volgens de folder zou zijn 128x56x115cm.
Perfect!!
Die wou ik wel hebben, dus in gestrekte galop naar Karwei.
Toen ik daar kwam vroeg ik aan een van de medewerkers naar deze aanbieding. Ik werd geleid naar een stapel verpakkingen. Volgens de medewerker waren de deurtjes een beetje anders, platte dak, maar verder precies hetzelfde! Het prijs was in ieder geval hetzelfde. Er was eentje in elkaar gezet en ach, het leek wel prima zo. Met de hulp van deze medewerker heb ik het op een kar geworsteld, langs de kassa en hup (welnee, veel gezwoeg en geswets) in de auto. Toen ik thuis kwam, en mijn leesbril had aangedaan om de instructies te lezen, zag ik dat er wel degelijk een verschil was: de afmetingen van deze hok waren 105x92x53cm, een hele stuk kleiner:
Ik dacht nog even om alles weer in te pakken, naar de auto te zeulen en retour te brengen maar tja, in al dat gesleep had ik geen zin. Het was wat kleiner dan gewenst, maar ok, ik zou een konijnenhok hebben.
Bij het in elkaar zetten van het geheel (bouwtekening was een lachertje) kwam ik nog een "foutje" tegen - de afmetingen van de meegeleverde schroeven:
Je ziet het al! Je kan proberen tot je een ons weegt, maar met deze schroeven kon je het niet in elkaar zetten. Gelukkig had ik nog wel houtschroeven van de juiste afmeting en met een klein beetje gepuzzel en gemopper had ik uiteindelijk een buitenhok voor de konijn:
Zo is het uiteindelijk wel goed gekomen, maar niet helemaal zoals het moest. Op de website van Karwei bestaat geen enkele mogelijkheid om ze een bericht te sturen hierover en naar de winkel levert precies nul op. Het staat er nu en ik zal het hiermee moeten doen.
Neemt niet weg dat ik dit heel slecht vind van Karwei. Zal in de toekomst ook echt geen bouwpakket van wat dan ook daar kopen!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Uitgeversverbond wil downloaders vervolgen
Uitgeversverbond wil downloaders vervolgen | nu.nl/internet | Het laatste nieuws het eerst op nu.nl: "Bij het downloaden uit legale bron moet ook gekeken worden op deze download niet gebruikt wordt voor meer dan eigen gebruik. In dat geval moet er volgens het verbond ook gestraft worden."
Welja! Heel Nederland een politiestaat en meer dan half Nederland een boete opleggen. Dat tikt lekker aan, en je hoeft er niets voor te doen. Voor je het weet wordt het een industrie op zich!
Ik vraag me af wanneer deze moraalridders uiteindelijk achter de bibliotheken aan gaan... daar kan je tenslotte ook (audio)boeken gratis en voor niets lezen, CD's en films voor bijna nop luisteren en kijken. Schande toch, dat de producenten en vooral de brancheorganisaties hier niets van kunnen vangen. Toch??
De orde-en-regelmaat gilde slaan nu wel helemaal door.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Planning tweede kerncentrale in Nederland gaat door
Planning tweede kerncentrale in Nederland gaat door | nu.nl/binnenland | Het laatste nieuws het eerst op nu.nl
Tja.
Global Warming.
CO2 steeds omhoog.
Zeespiegel gaat onherroepelijk omhoog...
Lijkt me dan niet zo logisch om een kerncentrale hier te bouwen, toch???
Naar mijn idee zou het verstandig zijn om de oude centrale te sluiten en af te breken. De boel opruimen.
Ik denk dat je met de getijdeverschillen veel meer success hebt dan met kernenergie - en zeker wel op deze plaats!!!
Monday, March 07, 2011
Banken en zelf-regulering
Weer een tweetal nieuwsberichten op nu.nl, direct onder elkaar voor maximale ironie.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Lekker kassa bij de NS!!!
Ik gebruik al geruime tijd mijn voordeel abonnement kaart als OV chipkaart. Vrolijk word ik er niet van - ik reis niet vaak met de trein en moet iedere keer weer goed opletten wat ik doe, onthouden om UIT te checken enz. Ik kijk niet altijd op de automaat om het bedrag te zien, maar laatst viel mij op dat ik de volle tarief betaalde terwijl ik in de voordeel uren was.
Meeltje gestuurd naar de NS.
Vandaag kreeg ik dit antwoord terug:
Ja, daar sta je dan. Bijna een jaar lang dus, reis ik voor de volle tarief op mijn voordeeluren kaart. Geen idee meer welke datums ik waarheen ben gegaan. Ik had een forse saldo op mijn kaart gezet dus lette ik niet zo goed op.
Dat is dus weggegooide geld.
Waarom is mij dit nooit verteld??!! Ik vind het best ingewikkeld, dit OV chip systeem. En verdomd duur ook, blijkt nu!
Als ik de tijd en energie had, ging ik hier achter aan. Maar dat heb ik niet. Mooie winst voor de NS. De vorige keer dat ik probeerde om mijn kaart bij te werken bij zo een automaat, heeft dat mij drie bezoekjes gekost bij de klantenservice balie op station Den Haag. Eens maar nooit weer...
Ik ga maar mijn voordeel uren abonnement opzeggen, denk ik. Ben wel goed maar niet gek.
Meeltje gestuurd naar de NS.
Vandaag kreeg ik dit antwoord terug:
Geachte mevrouw XXX,
Graag beantwoord ik uw e-mail. U geeft aan dat het volle tarief in rekening is gebracht, terwijl u een geldig Voordeelurenabonnement heeft. Het spijt ons dit te vernemen en bieden onze excuses aan voor het ongemak. Graag lichten wij de oorzaak toe.
Op XX-XX-2010 jongstleden is uw Voordeelurenabonnement opnieuw verlengd. Wanneer u reeds reist op saldo met uw Voordeelurenabonnement dan is het belangrijk dat u met uw huidige kaart bij de kaartautomaat opnieuw uw reizen op saldo activeert wanneer het abonnement verlengd is. De reden voor dit verzoek is van technische aard: uw Voordeelurenabonnement is verlengd maar de koppeling met reizen op saldo moet nog gemaakt worden.
Wij adviseren u dan ook om naar de kaartautomaat te gaan en hier alsnog uw bestelling op te halen.
U wilt tevens het teveel betaalde terug ontvangen. Dit kunnen wij niet via de e-mail afhandelen, u kunt een brief sturen naar NS Klantenservice, Postbus 2372, 3500 GJ Utrecht.
Mocht u nog vragen hebben, dan beantwoorden wij deze graag.
Met vriendelijke groet,
Ja, daar sta je dan. Bijna een jaar lang dus, reis ik voor de volle tarief op mijn voordeeluren kaart. Geen idee meer welke datums ik waarheen ben gegaan. Ik had een forse saldo op mijn kaart gezet dus lette ik niet zo goed op.
Dat is dus weggegooide geld.
Waarom is mij dit nooit verteld??!! Ik vind het best ingewikkeld, dit OV chip systeem. En verdomd duur ook, blijkt nu!
Als ik de tijd en energie had, ging ik hier achter aan. Maar dat heb ik niet. Mooie winst voor de NS. De vorige keer dat ik probeerde om mijn kaart bij te werken bij zo een automaat, heeft dat mij drie bezoekjes gekost bij de klantenservice balie op station Den Haag. Eens maar nooit weer...
Ik ga maar mijn voordeel uren abonnement opzeggen, denk ik. Ben wel goed maar niet gek.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
I'm not scared of dying
It's a given - it will happen some day. Some vital body part will stop functioning and I will cease to exist. It bums me out, yes. I feel vaguely wronged that I probably won't be around to see two suns in the sky. Or what happens to humankind, what happens to life in general on this planet and -if there still is life capable of planning and executing a planetary escape- what will happen when our sun dies and swallows up this beautiful planet of ours. And of course on a personal level, I wonder what will happen to my own line - what will be the end result of all my ancestors' brave survival and reproduction? Will it die out, or carry on?
(Selfishly, of course, I hope it will go on and produce wondrous human beings in an endless progression)
That does not worry me, aside from a hope that my end will be painless.
No, what worries me, is this: Europe's ageing population problem. I am supremely pissed that we are in this situation! After all, it's not a surprise: governments and financial people have known all along that this was coming. All these old people did not just fall out of the sky! As for "we are all getting older", I say nonsense. My forefathers often lived up to hundred and beyond (strong stock from Zeeland, Gouda and Rotterdam), as did many others from those days. So this is nothing new. No, this is a result of a world war skewing European demographics and everyone in politics knew about it, or should have - Sociology and Actuarial sciences are not new! We had many golden years where there was more money than people knew what to do with. Where were our prudent politicians, storing up for the lean years? They were enriching themselves and not planning further than the next election cycle!! Dammit, this is what politicians should be doing: planning for a continuous healthy and secure state! They fell down on the job, and they still are falling down on the job.
Because:
Intersecting this wrinkly nightmare, comes the down slope of peak oil. Energy is about to become very expensive. We could have been okay, had there been prudent planning (sound familiar?). Again, our gas reserves were squandered in the times of plenty as if they would never run out, instead of following a sensible, conservative (NO not the political party!!) policy that would have had us all living good lives while at the same time investing in future energy security. Well, our gas reserves are running out now. We are in for dark, difficult times because of this. Our past and current politicians did not live up to their responsibilities (and won't face the consequences either).
Then, as if the above is not enough, there is climate change. In this, politics of denial are useless - the laws of physics will trump them any time. Especially in this low-lying country, this water sodden piece of earth, living close to the lowest point of the Netherlands and next to Europe's biggest port, I'm vulnerable.
Finally, world demographics, and food production. This is where a rock meets a hard place with no room in between. Especially when increasing energy needs will continue to usurp food production.
The intersection of these four issues is what creates a true survival bomb. Pity the small children of today, they will inherit it all. I think if a person is young and healthy and relatively financially well off, they should be okay. But when you are old(er) like me and perhaps with health issues, and not financially well off...??? No, we won't be okay, not even close. I certainly won't be okay in my old days. My only option will be to become a burden on my son, without any means of making things better for myself. What a bitter pill after a lifetime of hard work!
The combination of all this scares me. For myself, for the the world.
(Selfishly, of course, I hope it will go on and produce wondrous human beings in an endless progression)
That does not worry me, aside from a hope that my end will be painless.
No, what worries me, is this: Europe's ageing population problem. I am supremely pissed that we are in this situation! After all, it's not a surprise: governments and financial people have known all along that this was coming. All these old people did not just fall out of the sky! As for "we are all getting older", I say nonsense. My forefathers often lived up to hundred and beyond (strong stock from Zeeland, Gouda and Rotterdam), as did many others from those days. So this is nothing new. No, this is a result of a world war skewing European demographics and everyone in politics knew about it, or should have - Sociology and Actuarial sciences are not new! We had many golden years where there was more money than people knew what to do with. Where were our prudent politicians, storing up for the lean years? They were enriching themselves and not planning further than the next election cycle!! Dammit, this is what politicians should be doing: planning for a continuous healthy and secure state! They fell down on the job, and they still are falling down on the job.
Because:
Intersecting this wrinkly nightmare, comes the down slope of peak oil. Energy is about to become very expensive. We could have been okay, had there been prudent planning (sound familiar?). Again, our gas reserves were squandered in the times of plenty as if they would never run out, instead of following a sensible, conservative (NO not the political party!!) policy that would have had us all living good lives while at the same time investing in future energy security. Well, our gas reserves are running out now. We are in for dark, difficult times because of this. Our past and current politicians did not live up to their responsibilities (and won't face the consequences either).
Then, as if the above is not enough, there is climate change. In this, politics of denial are useless - the laws of physics will trump them any time. Especially in this low-lying country, this water sodden piece of earth, living close to the lowest point of the Netherlands and next to Europe's biggest port, I'm vulnerable.
Finally, world demographics, and food production. This is where a rock meets a hard place with no room in between. Especially when increasing energy needs will continue to usurp food production.
The intersection of these four issues is what creates a true survival bomb. Pity the small children of today, they will inherit it all. I think if a person is young and healthy and relatively financially well off, they should be okay. But when you are old(er) like me and perhaps with health issues, and not financially well off...??? No, we won't be okay, not even close. I certainly won't be okay in my old days. My only option will be to become a burden on my son, without any means of making things better for myself. What a bitter pill after a lifetime of hard work!
The combination of all this scares me. For myself, for the the world.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
So, what can YOU do?
...about climate change, that is.
I have been thinking on this a lot, lately. When I tell people how bad the situation is and how imperative it is to act now, and fast, they clearly feel overwhelmed when they realise the enormous scope of this issue:
You may feel like walking away from it ("let someone else figure it out, this is too big for me"). This is entirely understandable. Climate change IS too big for people, as individuals. And yet, the only way of fixing this is by starting on the individual level and building out from there.
So:
...and so on.
All the above is not only sensible for the climate but will pad your wallet too!
I think it's vitally important to know what actually is going on in the world of science, especially in the meeting place between science and government. That means you have to broadly understand the science and more importantly, recognise the disinformation on climate change that's being spread thick and wide.
I recommend subscribing to this youtube channel: not only is he really good at explaining and debunking, he's funny as hell too.
Whatever you personally do, won't make a dent in the problem. This is true. In fact, even if your entire town/village/city starts being as green as broccoli tomorrow, it won't change global CO2 levels in any way you'd notice.
BUT
It is so very important that you look past that and get involved in your local community anyhow. If enough people do this (believe me, it's contagious), you can help create a movement countrywide, that will have the clout to change things.
ASK the candidates at the local elections what their stand is on global warming, and what measures they will be taking to ensure lower carbon emissions in your community. Ask visibly, publicly, often.
Get involved in various local activities, groups, and bring up carbon emissions, climate change whenever appropriate.
Make sure people understand the issue, and also understand the urgency and importance.
Help this spread, from one group to the next, one community to the next. Who knows, public service and politics may even become cool again!
I would suggest you also take this attitude right up the political food chain. Yes: the more local, the more you will have direct influence. Going higher up, the influence of an individual is lessened considerably but is not gone!! Emails, phone calls, letters, these all help influence opinion of politicians that represent you. If you don't bother, almost the only voices they will hear are from industry leaders and lobbyists whose interests are not your own. You can get other constituents to act too, to call, write letters, speak out (especially if you already are active, locally). Write to your president, ask him to act. All this costs you very little in time or money - so why not just do it?
(Oh, and by the way, whatever you can do to get rid of fools such as this man and his ilk, would be good too. The tea party caucus has 52 members: that's insane!! These should be outer fringes people, they seem to be becoming mainstream!)
Join an organisation that works to get CO2 down, such as 350.org.
Make a BIG voice, together. It's not even necessary to do anything other than add your weight to the numbers already joined up. Simply give them the clout to lean on countries and their leaders, to tackle this issue effectively. Stop the lip service and demand action.
Oh yes. And every chance you get, plant a tree!
(I've written this for the USA situation but it really translates perfectly well everywhere else)
I have been thinking on this a lot, lately. When I tell people how bad the situation is and how imperative it is to act now, and fast, they clearly feel overwhelmed when they realise the enormous scope of this issue:
You may feel like walking away from it ("let someone else figure it out, this is too big for me"). This is entirely understandable. Climate change IS too big for people, as individuals. And yet, the only way of fixing this is by starting on the individual level and building out from there.
So:
- It's important on a personal level to watch what you eat: where is it from, how many miles did it travel to get here, how was it produced.
- It's important to isolate your home well so you need less cooling/warming.
- It's important to reduce your use of electricity by buying equipment that are not energy hogs, and yes, also by changing your lightbulbs.
- It's important to think about your use of fossil fuels and try to find ways of reducing use of this energy source. Examples: drive a more economical car, change your driving style, think about combining trips, work from home whenever possible, etc.
- It's important to recycle whenever you can and choose durable products.
- It's important to consume less, to contract your world.
...and so on.
All the above is not only sensible for the climate but will pad your wallet too!
I think it's vitally important to know what actually is going on in the world of science, especially in the meeting place between science and government. That means you have to broadly understand the science and more importantly, recognise the disinformation on climate change that's being spread thick and wide.
I recommend subscribing to this youtube channel: not only is he really good at explaining and debunking, he's funny as hell too.
Whatever you personally do, won't make a dent in the problem. This is true. In fact, even if your entire town/village/city starts being as green as broccoli tomorrow, it won't change global CO2 levels in any way you'd notice.
BUT
It is so very important that you look past that and get involved in your local community anyhow. If enough people do this (believe me, it's contagious), you can help create a movement countrywide, that will have the clout to change things.
ASK the candidates at the local elections what their stand is on global warming, and what measures they will be taking to ensure lower carbon emissions in your community. Ask visibly, publicly, often.
Get involved in various local activities, groups, and bring up carbon emissions, climate change whenever appropriate.
Make sure people understand the issue, and also understand the urgency and importance.
Help this spread, from one group to the next, one community to the next. Who knows, public service and politics may even become cool again!
I would suggest you also take this attitude right up the political food chain. Yes: the more local, the more you will have direct influence. Going higher up, the influence of an individual is lessened considerably but is not gone!! Emails, phone calls, letters, these all help influence opinion of politicians that represent you. If you don't bother, almost the only voices they will hear are from industry leaders and lobbyists whose interests are not your own. You can get other constituents to act too, to call, write letters, speak out (especially if you already are active, locally). Write to your president, ask him to act. All this costs you very little in time or money - so why not just do it?
(Oh, and by the way, whatever you can do to get rid of fools such as this man and his ilk, would be good too. The tea party caucus has 52 members: that's insane!! These should be outer fringes people, they seem to be becoming mainstream!)
Join an organisation that works to get CO2 down, such as 350.org.
Make a BIG voice, together. It's not even necessary to do anything other than add your weight to the numbers already joined up. Simply give them the clout to lean on countries and their leaders, to tackle this issue effectively. Stop the lip service and demand action.
Oh yes. And every chance you get, plant a tree!
(I've written this for the USA situation but it really translates perfectly well everywhere else)
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