Category: Environment

We all have access to the internet – a friend mentioned why he did not want to purchase an EV Car. On fact checking – his arguments were not always correct! Cost of servicing, battery life and charging availability were all false. He does have genuine concerns that are relevant, but his argument against is no where near as strong as he made out!

Today we see in the news Badenoch spouting ignorance and hyperbole about net zero by 2050. So a fact check for you https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-how-scary-sounding-numbers-are-being-used-to-mislead-the-uk-about-net-zero/

Her argument for not meeting it is that other countries will not. That is LAME. The same argument is used against recycling. But every little bit helps!

Trying to understand! If Trump is protecting US steel and aluminium production then Ican see the point. However there are better ways (subsidies?), so this just seems vindictive. I assume that much of the imported steel and aluminium is for processes that add value to the product. The tarriffs will just add to the cost of these products – which if then exported will cost more? Canada is already cutting or adding a tariff to electricity exports. The increased nationalism caused by Trumps actions will also cut trade and therefore wealth between the two nations. Mexico looks more vulnerable, although as a looser and less regulated economy it may find that it can adapt more easily – although the impact of US and other international companies will have a significant impact on tax returns and thus the ability to police migrants and drug traffic?

The EU is responding to sanctions whilst the UK has no plans? Why not? For F sake Labour – stop worrying about the Daily F’ing Mail and do something positive for a change. All we hear from Labour are cuts to benefits, cutting Civil Service jobs and quango’s. Now all these might be necessary – I have no idea, but positive action is needed too. The last govenment earmarked £950 million for EV charging roll out – none of which has been spent! Do it!

And then do some sums! If a householder creates a mini-generator (Solar or wind or water) at their own cost, then they should be guaranteed a fixed price that will repay them in no more than 10 years – yes it is that fucking simple! As a home owner I would then be able to manage my finances accordingly. I am putting up the capital cost which means the govt. does not have to. My village is built largely along a road that is East-West – therefore most houses could have solar panels? The population is reasonably wealthy. This village, with some wind power, could be almost enrgy efficient with little outside cost and energy bills cut massively.

There is a debate ensuing about electrcity pricing! On one side the firm Octopus advocates local pricing supported by Ofgen whilst the rest of the energy companies are opposed. My thinking is driven by geography! The least populated and also some of the poorest parts of Britain are situated near sites suitable for wind turbines and tidal power and have space for solar. If energy became cheaper it would attract industry and alleviate the stress on the South East. The National Grid is undergoing a multi-billion pound refit which will probably still be needed, but maybe less pylons will be necessary if more energy is used locally. We need to avoid the situation where we shut down and pay for wind turbines to be shut off when it is windy, and at the same time import electricity for Norway!

Greater local energy production would also make the country less vulnerable to either physical or cyber attack.

London and the south east have less ability to generate electricity. I am sure the energy companies are happy with the status quo that delivers them large profits. I am also sure the RWP are preparing ludicrous arguments for either option Milliband choses!

I hear people complaining that it is Labours fault for rising energy prices (this is partially the fault of Labour which pledged to reduce the costs). However it is a no brainer economically to not back renewables! Only those who have shares in energy companies and pension funds would disagree.

My own example of solar panels works here. I was fortunate enough to be able to have the cash for the panels and installation – it took 7 years to write this sum off with lower energy bills. So a government scheme that added the cost to a mortgage with maybe 5% interest would take maybe 9 or 10 years to pay off. Oh and I am on a guaranteed sum from the govt. The sums get confusing, but if people are willing to put up the cost of power generation as individuals, it makes total sense to guarantee them a price that rewards their investment – I believe that nuclear power plants are offered nearly double the guaranteed price.

Welcome to a new world. Trump has said that he will get Greenland by whatever means! China says it is prepared to fight a trade war or any other type of war; Ukraine is under increasing attack by Russian drones whilst Trump suspends arms aid and intelligence (he really is on Russia’s side).

So we have a new world order. USA/Russia: China: and Europe. I am not sure where that leaves economic giants like Japan and S.Korea, or the growing might of India? NZ post Ahern is firmly placing itself in the USA camp and Australia is avoiding the limelight for now! South America is a mix of swinging left/right governments and has not gained attention from Trump – yet! Renaming the Gulf of Mexico is firstly pathetic but might make him turn attention to the European affiliations of many of the Caribbean Islands. What does American isolationism mean for Taiwan, or perhaps more imminently the disputed islands in the Sea of China? Should Indonesia and Philippines be concerned? I guess Africa is just seen as a source of minerals – but China has been making progress in many countries. South Africa appears rooted in Europe.

On the domestic front Starmer seems to be doing OK as a world leader – however we have had a poor team for years, to compare him with! Johnson, Truss, even Sunak appeared disinterested! And Cameron appeared like an Eton School Boy in a debating competition! Fortunately for him it has taken the spotlight off domestic policy – which is what he needs if his plans are to come to fruition?

NHS and Civil Service reforms will take years to have an effect – trade deals with whoever, hopefully Europe, will also take time to bear fruit. It is also interesting that the farmers are still protesting – the RWPress seem to think this issue is worth pursuing despite evidence to the contrary! In general they seem to have tasked “journalists” with finding obscure cases of migrant misbehaviour or criminality, and stating this as government policy or promoted by the ICJ? That or having a go at Meghan for being coloured, divorced, annoying, a woman, whatever! We should get this one sorted and give them DNA tests!

Oh and Alfred is casusing mayhem in NSW, and https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/2024/

For all the durhh brains out there. The EU is so much closer than the USA. So it makes total sense that we trade more with the EU. This is not rocket science! Eventually, perhaps sooner! the world will make transport pay for not just the fuel used for transport, but its environmental damage. On which the seed heads of Evening Primrose are proving to be very popular with one goldfinch!

On the EU I have to comment further. Since we left migration has gone through the roof. I am not sure how they calculate the figures, but (OK!) to my little brain it would seem that we had a lot of EU migrants who stayed for a while, made some money and then went home. New migrants from more distant parts, come, like it and then bring their families over! This was what Brexit was voted for? I do not believe most people who said the vote was about freedom from Brussels and independence – most were voting based on racism.

Taking control ws only an imaginary issue – the world is so interlinked that it is the likes of Musk who determine policy. Strangely it seems that the companies most at risk from the orange peril are the MNC’s in manufacturing. If DT wants to make America great again, maybe he should subsidise American industry? This would encourage american companies to compete rather than his vindictive tarrifs.

Interestingly Kate mentioned that Canada was a member of the Commonwealth, but before I criticised this, I realised that Canada actually has more ties with the UK than the USA. Also interesting is that Canadians are targeting products from “red” states to retaliate.

Reeves is trying to kick start the economy, I am not being hypocritical here – the economy needs attention but not necessarily growth! RyanAir boss O’Leary complains that runway for Heathrow would not be complete for 15-20 years (good reason to start now AND impose pollution restrictions. On EV’s the government is considering a guarantee scheme for EV loans. Until second hand EV’s become widely available and affordable the market will stagnate. More rapid charging points will help.

Labour is still shackled by Brexit. Farage still dominates the politics of leave. There is no environmental sense in developing ties with the rest of the world and ignoring Europe. Europe is a very diverse area, culturally, economically, politically, socially, etc. – the UK should welcome the challenge. Diversity is good for the environment. The USA might appear to be a homogenous whole, but the cracks that are there are likely to widen with the OMC!

I am not suggesting that we tell the rest of the world to fuck itself, just find markets and production that makes sense. Africa and South America does not need to fuck its environment just because we did! Our rampageous MNC’s are causing havoc and should be reined in.

Pension funds – I have my own which has been paid for over 40 years. But is not huge. It allows me to retire (to early in my opinion there should be a staggered retirement for people like me). But there should be regulation on who they invest in, and ….. sustainability? Perhaps more later!

The buzz word for this government is growth. I think tthey are SOO wrong! Britains population is greater than France for the first time ever. I know we have an ageing population and thus will have a rapid drop in working aged people. However we just need to get cleverer. Yesterday I posted about housing for the elderly. I guess that whilst migration is a favorite topic for those on the right, they do not want to deal with the consequences of a falling population.

However, the planet requires it. Insect populations and thus those organisms higher up the food chain (apart from humans) have suffered too. So not growth but cleverer should be the mantra of government. Only new roads allowed should be where efficiency is enhanced. Use AIto control access to motorways and cities at sustainable levels. Only non-electric flights would be those where the technology for long distances does not exist yet. Solar and wind power increased, and heat pumps made mandatory on all new builds and where gas boilers are being replaced.

Farming – ban harmful chemicals but subsidise sustainable crops. Of course a balance is needed between imported foods and locally grown – no polishing of UK apples in Kenya, or imported flowers from there.

On a social front a move to a shorter working week is desirable, emphasis on quality of life not profit. Longevity of electrical appliances and furniture should be priced in with variable vat!

I think you get the drift of my thinking. Move from a society based on wealth creation and growth to one where happiness is the main objective. Happy clappy nonsense or just pragmatic common sense? You decide!