A few photos that might make you think twice.
Guardian - Where the billions of bags end up
Sometimes Freecycle gets me down
So, I put this wanted advertisement on my local site.
Wanted: Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Continental Coupe Convertible
Not too many miles on the clock, please.
Original leather and decor.
Can collect.
Wanted: Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Continental Coupe Convertible
Not too many miles on the clock, please.
Original leather and decor.
Can collect.
Wow, that was some earthquake!
12:59am, central England. Must have been at least a five second tremor. I've been in quakes in Mexico and this one was worse than anything I have witnessed before. I felt the bed twitch twice. Then there was a short pause before the whole room shook. I'd say it must have hit magnitude 4. Car alarms were set off throughout the neighbourhood. No damage. Back to sleep.
USGS - Magnitude 4.7 - ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
USGS - Magnitude 4.7 - ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
The beginning of the die-off?
World food stocks are at their lowest for decades. Most countries in the world either survive on hand-outs from developed countries or have price controls to protect the poor.
With energy, commodity and food prices at record highs it can only be a matter of time before the too many chasing the too little tips the balance. Not only are there too many people but there are too many cars chasing food.
Land is now as likely to be cultivated for fuel production as for food. More land can be put to the plough but this just adds to the ecological disaster we are creating.
To be brutally honest, I stopped giving money to any charity that did not benefit me, my family or the country I am in. Charity starts at home. It is sad to see starving children throughout the globe. However, many of these children come from large families that do not practice birth control and from a poor country living beyond its means on UN handouts. My money would just prolong the agony because in the future aid organisations won't be able to help. Mass starvation will lead to a global die-off as the world finds a sustainable population size.
The living standard for the developed world will decrease in the years to come as an ever-growing percentage of our population enter the poverty trap. Fuel and food poverty will come to many of us as the price of oil deems it to be a luxury that only the rich can afford. Food processed by oil will be very expensive. At least it will decrease our waistlines as we will be not be able to afford to gorge ourselves.
Guardian - Feed the world? We are fighting a losing battle, UN admits
BBC - Fresh records for price of wheat
With energy, commodity and food prices at record highs it can only be a matter of time before the too many chasing the too little tips the balance. Not only are there too many people but there are too many cars chasing food.
Land is now as likely to be cultivated for fuel production as for food. More land can be put to the plough but this just adds to the ecological disaster we are creating.
To be brutally honest, I stopped giving money to any charity that did not benefit me, my family or the country I am in. Charity starts at home. It is sad to see starving children throughout the globe. However, many of these children come from large families that do not practice birth control and from a poor country living beyond its means on UN handouts. My money would just prolong the agony because in the future aid organisations won't be able to help. Mass starvation will lead to a global die-off as the world finds a sustainable population size.
The living standard for the developed world will decrease in the years to come as an ever-growing percentage of our population enter the poverty trap. Fuel and food poverty will come to many of us as the price of oil deems it to be a luxury that only the rich can afford. Food processed by oil will be very expensive. At least it will decrease our waistlines as we will be not be able to afford to gorge ourselves.
Guardian - Feed the world? We are fighting a losing battle, UN admits
BBC - Fresh records for price of wheat
Eco-driving could save the UK £2.2 billion per year
Here are the governments tips for you to save petrol.
• Pump up to cut down. Under-inflated tyres create more resistance when the car is moving, meaning that engines have to work harder, so more fuel is used and more emissions produced.
• Less clutter means less CO2. A full boot adds weight and therefore increases the load on your engine. Remove clutter to save fuel.
• Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2. Not only does staying at or within the speed limit increase driver safety, it also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on petrol costs.
• Less stopping and starting means less CO2. Anticipating traffic flow can reduce the need to start and stop engines.
• Over-revving accelerates emissions. Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear.
• Idling is wasting fuel. If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, switch off the engine.
• Don't get lost. Don't waste fuel by going the wrong way - plan your route before leaving.
Hopefully, the government itself will take heed of these tips with its fleet of big engined limousines.
Mind you, I have always been an eco-driver and can only get 27.6 mpg out of my 1.1 litre engined car.
Guardian - Motorists urged to adopt greener driving practices
• Pump up to cut down. Under-inflated tyres create more resistance when the car is moving, meaning that engines have to work harder, so more fuel is used and more emissions produced.
• Less clutter means less CO2. A full boot adds weight and therefore increases the load on your engine. Remove clutter to save fuel.
• Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2. Not only does staying at or within the speed limit increase driver safety, it also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on petrol costs.
• Less stopping and starting means less CO2. Anticipating traffic flow can reduce the need to start and stop engines.
• Over-revving accelerates emissions. Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear.
• Idling is wasting fuel. If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, switch off the engine.
• Don't get lost. Don't waste fuel by going the wrong way - plan your route before leaving.
Hopefully, the government itself will take heed of these tips with its fleet of big engined limousines.
Mind you, I have always been an eco-driver and can only get 27.6 mpg out of my 1.1 litre engined car.
Guardian - Motorists urged to adopt greener driving practices
The emperor's new drink
Tonight, BBC1's Panorama programme discussed the crime of buying bottled water. Not even a team of wine tasters could distinguish the difference between tap water and bottled water. A waste of energy and resources. Bottled water generates six hundred times more carbon emissions than tap water. Government and local government offices buy water millions of pounds worth of bottled water every year. Not exactly the greenest of credentials.Less than 25% of the plastic bottles are recycled. Most end up in a landfill, where they persist for thousands of years, leaching their chemicals into the water table. The sheer numbers of these bottles make them worse than nuclear waste. These bottles find their way into the sea, where they are smashed into pellets on the rocks, to be eaten by sea birds, whereupon they die. And yet people will drink water out of this poisonous plastic.
Twenty years ago, hardly anyone drank bottled water. Were they worse off than us? Were our ancestors? The lowest life forms on this planet are to blame, marketers and advertisers, selling their "lifestyle product". Water shipped across the globe. You will never go to Fiji but at least you can drink its water. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Fiji can't get a decent glass of water because the corporations bottle and ship out clean water from aquifers whilst the Fijians have to drink dirty river water.
If it can't be banned then bottled water should have a big fat carbon tax slapped on it. Not to mention a nice big slap on the face of anyone seen drinking bottled water.
If you need to walk around with a plastic of water then make sure it is one made from "food grade" plastic and fill it with tap water.
A car that runs on hot air?
The MDI air car has been in the news for many years. Maybe now it is getting closer to production with Tata Motors getting involved.Tata is the Indian car manufacturer that introduced the car for £1277.
MDI says their car runs on compressed air and will do the equivalent of 120 MPG. Though how many of those 120 miles can be travelled in one journey remains to be seen.
BBC - Five-seat concept car runs on air
How peak oil affects your pocket
There is no doubt now that we are at the peak of oil production. Non-OPEC countries like Britain and Norway have seen their oil reserves declining since the late 1990s. OPEC nations are unable to replace non-OPEC losses. Global oil production appears to have stalled at about 85 million barrels per day.
In the UK, high oil prices have boosted inflation. The prices of ingredients for home produced food have risen by 36%. Wheat producers can sell their produce to bio-ethanol manufacturers rather than flour producers thus inflating prices in the wheat market. The price of bread increased by 7.5% last year. Milk, eggs and cheese increased by 15% as cows and chickens are fed wheat as part of their diet.
There is little in our modern lifestyle that is not tainted by oil. Raw ingredients have increased in price. Increased diesel prices means that the transportation of raw materials and finished products have increased too and that further inflates shop prices.
Meanwhile, central banks are lowering interest rates to stimulate our stagnant economies. This means that inflation (true inflation and not the government's CPI figures) is higher than the interest rate your money receives in the bank. Our wealth is being stripped from us.
This is a good time to be more self-reliant. Inflation proofing your life will help to save money. Walk or cycle as much as possible. Public transport prices have increased faster than the price of petrol and diesel for personal transport so leaving the car at home and taking a bus will leave you further out of pocket.
Food inflation can be countered by lowering the consumption of processed food and by lowering the intake of meat and bread. Most of us in the western world are overweight so now is a good time to cut down on calorie intake. Processed food has more calories used in its production than we get from eating it. Meat uses a lot of oil in its production. Reduce meat consumption to avoid having the price of oil being passed onto you. Bread is full of calories. By lowering the amount of bread eaten you avoid the high price of bread and you will decrease the waistline.
Growing backyard vegetables is simple and inexpensive. By filling a plate with garden greens and then adding just a little meat, dairy and bread, you can help to avoid the worst of what peak oil and inflation is going to bring.
Energy bills are increasing due to competition between the energy suppliers for wholesale oil and gas. Lower the thermostat. Turn off radiators in unused rooms. Close the doors and fit draught excluders. Get a wood burning stove that conforms to urban smoke regulations.
There is much you can do to decrease the effects that peak oil is having on price inflation. Think twice before reaching for the pocket. Do you really need it?
Guardian - Rise in cost of living hits 7-month high
Guardian - Record rise in food prices fuels inflation
In the UK, high oil prices have boosted inflation. The prices of ingredients for home produced food have risen by 36%. Wheat producers can sell their produce to bio-ethanol manufacturers rather than flour producers thus inflating prices in the wheat market. The price of bread increased by 7.5% last year. Milk, eggs and cheese increased by 15% as cows and chickens are fed wheat as part of their diet.
There is little in our modern lifestyle that is not tainted by oil. Raw ingredients have increased in price. Increased diesel prices means that the transportation of raw materials and finished products have increased too and that further inflates shop prices.
Meanwhile, central banks are lowering interest rates to stimulate our stagnant economies. This means that inflation (true inflation and not the government's CPI figures) is higher than the interest rate your money receives in the bank. Our wealth is being stripped from us.
This is a good time to be more self-reliant. Inflation proofing your life will help to save money. Walk or cycle as much as possible. Public transport prices have increased faster than the price of petrol and diesel for personal transport so leaving the car at home and taking a bus will leave you further out of pocket.
Food inflation can be countered by lowering the consumption of processed food and by lowering the intake of meat and bread. Most of us in the western world are overweight so now is a good time to cut down on calorie intake. Processed food has more calories used in its production than we get from eating it. Meat uses a lot of oil in its production. Reduce meat consumption to avoid having the price of oil being passed onto you. Bread is full of calories. By lowering the amount of bread eaten you avoid the high price of bread and you will decrease the waistline.
Growing backyard vegetables is simple and inexpensive. By filling a plate with garden greens and then adding just a little meat, dairy and bread, you can help to avoid the worst of what peak oil and inflation is going to bring.
Energy bills are increasing due to competition between the energy suppliers for wholesale oil and gas. Lower the thermostat. Turn off radiators in unused rooms. Close the doors and fit draught excluders. Get a wood burning stove that conforms to urban smoke regulations.
There is much you can do to decrease the effects that peak oil is having on price inflation. Think twice before reaching for the pocket. Do you really need it?
Guardian - Rise in cost of living hits 7-month high
Guardian - Record rise in food prices fuels inflation
Bottled water is a waste - the facts
It takes seven litres of water to manufacture each of the 13 billion plastic bottles in which water is sold in the UK. Each bottle uses 162g of oil and creates 100g of carbon dioxide emissions.Most of these bottles end up in landfills, which breakdown and leach their chemicals into the water table, poisoning our water supply.
I have been drinking 1 litre of UK tap water everyday since July of last year, with no ill-effects. The water travelled six miles from a reservoir, not hundreds or even thousands of miles from a factory. There is no need to think twice before buying bottled water. Just don't do it.
The Observer - It's just water, right? Wrong. Bottled water is set to be the latest battleground in the eco war
A "bye-gone" era
I could hear the noise from this thing over the noise-cancelling earphones I was listening to the television with. It's certainly a sexy car. A pick up in more ways than one.The engine capacity must be five times that of my car and more than five times the road tax too.
A view of a bygone era when fuel was cheap and so was everything else.
Bio-fuels are bad for the environment
As I have said many times before, any benefits from bio-fuels are out-weighed by the damage. The EU wants a small percentage of all diesel and petrol sold in Europe to have bio-additives. Yet this paltry amount will require land from outside the EU being cultivated so that Europeans can carry on living as before. Our footprint stomps on the rest of the world to keep our bankrupt lifestyle running.
Now, another study shows that land clearance to create bio-fuel plantations releases so much carbon dioxide, from the rotting of the former bio-mass on the land, that it takes hundreds of years to pay back the resulting carbon debt.
Bio-diesel or bio-ethanol results in millions of acres of monoculture, destroyed ecosystems and borrowed time so we can continue driving to the gates of a hell that will befall us sometime this century.
The answer is simply for us to use the car less. No excuses. Urban people should have little need for a car. If town planners have conspired to make their urban nightmare one that requires a car then obviously they are in the wrong job.
Guardian - Biofuel farms make CO2 emissions worse
Now, another study shows that land clearance to create bio-fuel plantations releases so much carbon dioxide, from the rotting of the former bio-mass on the land, that it takes hundreds of years to pay back the resulting carbon debt.
Bio-diesel or bio-ethanol results in millions of acres of monoculture, destroyed ecosystems and borrowed time so we can continue driving to the gates of a hell that will befall us sometime this century.
The answer is simply for us to use the car less. No excuses. Urban people should have little need for a car. If town planners have conspired to make their urban nightmare one that requires a car then obviously they are in the wrong job.
Guardian - Biofuel farms make CO2 emissions worse
Busy, at last
I'm working on an experimental no-weld downdraught gasifier at the moment. The reason for the no-weld is that many people would like to build a downdraught gasifier for running an engine on wood gas but are put off by all the welding.It is surprisingly easy to weld, as I discovered when renovating a trailer last year. However, it is still my intention to build a no-weld downdraught gasifier so that anyone can build one and see if they want a larger, more robust, fully welded gasifier in the future.
I went to the hardware store today to get some bolts and noticed a bag of seed potatoes. I just had to buy them. The compulsion to grow is unabated. Surprisingly, my parents have allowed me part of their garden in which to grow them. However, I may or may not grow them there. The plans to move to Spain have taken a positive turn and so I could well be there in a matter of weeks.
Time to press on with the gasifier. I have all the scrap collected together and am making some alterations to the design. I will publish everything on my wood gas site in due course.
Happy self-relianting!
More damned lies and statistics
The UK government announced that the UK lowered its carbon emissions by 0.1% in 2007. The government had set an 80% target for cuts by 2050. That is a 1.9% cut every year for the next 42 years. Now it's 1.95% per year for the next 41 years. Obviously the UK is not on schedule. Of course, as is to be expected from the kind of government the UK has, the 0.1% cut was achieved by excluding flights and shipping from the figures. As I said last year, there is no way these cuts in emissions can be made with the kind of governments we elect for ourselves.
BBC - Carbon emissions show a slight fall
Guardian - Green groups cry foul as UK claims progress towards Kyoto targets
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