Happy Fossil Fools’ Day, everyone!
This is an idea that has been slowly building for years - that April Fools’ Day should be transformed into a global day of action on climate change, focussing on the need to move away from fossil fuels because of climate change and peak oil. Finally it’s getting some real traction!
The big focus for the Greens and others this year is drawing attention to the massive subsidies that currently go to fossil fuels in Australia and calling on the Rudd Government to turn that around in its first Budget next month, putting the money into renewables, efficiency and public transport instead.
Here is what Christine had to say this morning.
And here is the quick wordpress site that was put up for the event in Australia.
GetUp pointed out to me in an email today that the fossil fuel industry gets a subsidy 28 times the size of the one available to the renewable energy industry. How fossil foolish is that!?
Yes and Rudd wants to cut funding for the existing renewable grants scheme as well. Even more fossil foolish.
It just shows doesnt it that most governments have got the priorities completly wrong. Its hard to think how the Greens can turn this around with so little MP in the Government. This is why we need a Greens government.
what would be just as sensible is a concerted effort to convince jesters like Iemma that what we need in our largest city is less emphasis on cars and more on people.
Less money for new roads and more for public transport.
Less subsidies for suburban 4 wheel drive importers and at least some encouragement for all electric commuter manufacture.
Roads for people and push bikes not metal compensatory devices.
There are cities in this world where people take precedence over vehicles. Roads are used for pedestrian and push bike traffic, public transport is the main mode of commuting (just like the whole world in the early 1900’s before public transport was dismantled by auto and petrol cartels).
These cities are bigger than Sydney.
The people still get where they need to go on time, they are safer, happier and healthier for it.
And it costs much, much less, for everybody..
Its a wonderful concept to have city councils charge a premium for fools who need to bring thier high rise v8 luxury lounges into the city, better still, how about a feasibilty study for the banning of vehicles all together in the CBD area’s. Do the bean counts and establish a costs Vs benefits comparison against the existing model.
Its all very well you guys making jokes, but we can continue to burn coal and save the planet…. have you not heard of carbon capture bottled water…. we are about to start trialling it over in the UK..
check out this animation which explains the process…
http://www.ev-eon.com
Turn the sound up…
Ian
I’m most of the way through a book called “The Oil Depletion Protocol” and recommend that everyone read it.
It states the dual problems of emissions and geological depletion (”Peak Oil”), and proposes steps we can take at all levels, from individuals to nations, to help wean ourselves off oil dependence.
Combined with a strong emissions policy, we have a chance to save this beautiful, fragile planet we all share.
The EEstor ultra-capacitor designed for cars looks interesting. Apparently the ongoing energy running cost (i.e. for milage) is equivalent to petrol at 15 cents per litre, which is obviously (and surprisingly) massively than cheaper for driving cars present fossil fuel is.
They take 5 minutes to fully charge (if you have the power delivery rate). One charge has enough energy to go 400km or so. They have unlimited discharge-recharge cycles without degradation since its not a battery (there is no chemical storage) its a capacitor. They have twice the energy density of lithium ion batteries.
They are also expected to be relatively cheap ( a few thousand dollars). They are mooted as a storage system that would make renewables reliable for baseload.
The company behind it is secretive but they are meant to be shipping product this year. Lockheed Martin are behind them.
If it is what it promises to be it will turn the whole fuel paradigm utterly on its head for passenger cars. It could also massively slash the cost of running a car which is very unexpected.
It really means we should focus maximum attention on getting clean generation. If these things do what they promise then they’ll eliminate the peak oil pressure on reducing car use so we need to make sure the energy they use is from a clean (renewable) source.
They sound a slightly unbelievable. I wonder ….
Love the heading! The writing is on the wall, and the message is sinking in……………… http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/06/2209058.htm