changing habits

By: Gemma (Registered ) on 17-10-2007 07:21

I also think people are willing to change. I dragged my sister and some friends along to see Al Gore's movie when it came out. They all bitched about having to see it but when we came out they all mentioned that they didn't realise global warming was such a big problem. Although none of them were environmentally minded they all wanted to know what they could do on a personal level to help. However lifestyle changes can only help so much and I think it is up to the government to implement and promote sustainable environment practices. Driving species to extinction by building a dam that probably won't even fill up (the Traveston Dam), investing in 'clean coal' and building massive pulp mills are all things the government decides and I honestly can't see how alternatives to any of these decisions would impact on our lifestyles.

» Report this comment to administrator

Water and arable land

By: AlanK (Registered ) on 17-10-2007 11:20

I am astounded that no-one has thought of the relationship between arable land, water, and food production, under present circumstances. I can remember a report in the early 70's in the National Times, stating that the then conditions ment that at 30 million population Australia could grow sufficient food for that number and still be a food exporting nation. If, however, we reached 40 million, Australia would have to become a food importing nation from then on. Conditions have changed markedly over the past 40 years, and I wonder what a similar study would show on todays conditions. No doubt the numbers would be in the order of 35 million, or, lower. 
This is the only study of this nature I have seen, and still gives me pause!

» Report this comment to administrator

Gaia has a fever

By: greybeard (Registered ) on 18-10-2007 06:43

Normally I say my piece and then stay out of subsequent discussion (if any). I am not sure why I decided to respond to the last comment, but anyway, here it is. 
 
My conversion to the cause of mitigating global heating came about over a period of years and through much reading. I don't have the time or inclination to chase up references, but there is a lot of material about for anyone who truly wishes to understand why " . . . so many people believe that humans are having such a tremendous impact on the environment.". Off the top of my head I can suggest authors such as Tim Flannery, George Monbiot and James Lovelock. Perhaps Al Gore, although I have not read his books. Clive Hamilton's "Scorcher: The Dirty Politics Of Climate Change" is an interesting read, as well.  
 
James Lovelock coined the name Gaia for the concept that "planet earth is a living organism" that dickshafer quoted. His most recent book is called "The Revenge Of Gaia". 
 
For a thoroughly tamed and neutral(?) view on climate change, its causes and consequences, there is "The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change", which can be found at www.ipcc.ch. 
 
Amongst many other things, they conclude that there is a better than 90% probability that human activity has caused the climate change observed during the last few decades. So puzzle no longer on that aspect. Finding a succint summary of the impacts is more difficult, but read enough and you will get the idea. The IPCC do state unequivocally that we cannot avoid the consequences of that which has happened, so some adaptation will be necessary. However, "Adaptation alone is not expected to cope with all the projected effects of climate change.". 
 
A summary of the IPCC findings can be found at the web site of the Union Of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org), in particular http://www.ucsusa.org/ global_warming/science/ipcc- highlights3.html. 
 
However I wish to emphasize my impression, from multiple sources, that we have less time to make signficant changes, than most people think.

» Report this comment to administrator