Forum

[singleminded]

Hmmm.. more than enough for all....

I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'all.'

As an example, over the last 20 years the population of India has increased by 320 million, or approximately 30%. Population worldwide is expanding, albeit not at the same rate and it would seem that the question of how many people the world can support is totally ignored.

So, when 'all' people are being considered, do we mean 'all' today or in 20, 40 or 100 years time?

I think that the point you make about greed is very relevant. Why is it acceptable for anyone to have as many children as they want?
If there is an ideal limit for the number of people on the planet, given the technology we have today, what would this number be, I wonder? More to the point, what number is too many?

When multinational corporations have the economic clout that they do, governments worldwide will inevitably bow to their requests. Which businesses do not want more customers? The capitalist system depends upon 'growth' and this means that corporations from Coca Cola down to the local corner shop need to sell more stuff.

Therefore they need more people to buy this stuff. Hence the lack of interest shown by everyone but David Attenborough in answering the real problem of population growth.

Do you remember the TV adverts with Bono or Sting or someone snapping his fingers to illustrate the rate at which people are dying from easily treatable diseases? All very moving stuff and easy to dismiss when it is not on your doorstep, but I think that they miss the point entirely.
The real problem is not the number of preventable deaths. The lack of contraception and what they used to call 'family planning' is the problem (call it a lack of preventable births, if you like,) together with political will.

Did you see the documentary by David Dimbleby, when he visited Russia? He visited a family in a two-bedroomed flat. They had (from memory) 10 children and she had received a medal from Vladimir Putin for producing them....
Apparently, after the fall of communism, economic growth in Russia stalled, as did the birth rate. Therefore Mr.P. decided to encourage the populace to breed.
More consumers can only be a good thing, surely?

With that kind of leadership, what chance do we all have?

If the economic model favoured worldwide only works on a continuation of 'growth,' then all the financial, corporate and governmental forces will be allied to support it. The result will be continual population expansion.

Right, back to putting an alloy barrel and forged piston on the Bullet...

Ride safely.

[Andy C]

All very interesting stuff, back to the EV issue, I came accross this in the paper today.

Assuming the facts to be true, it's the wort of stuff the ECO warriors and Government dont want us to know.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/arti ... NAISH.html

All of us keeping our old clunkers on the road are actually helping the environment - well done.

[windmill john]

Remember, these are my view.

It’s not rocket science. The disaster in Australia didn’t help and the general deforestation in Brazil etc.

We need to plant trees. Not just thousands, but millions.
Up air travel prices, rather than plane numbers; travel abroad is not a god given right.
Stop removing greenery for building and profit.
If you move into a house with a tree nearby that is blocking your light, remember the tree was there first; you cannot remove it.
People should work more locally - no idea how we manage that!
No more house building. They knocked down hundreds of terrace houses in Burnley because they ‘didn’t meet current regs or thinking’
So many things are too cheap, therefore raping the earth of materials; stop it.
People change their kitchen etc, not because it’s buggered but because they want a change.

Do t shoot me, these are my thoughts.

BTW, I believe there’s not enough lithium in the World to go all battery.... unless we had far fewer vehicles I guess....

[rustygman]

We stand to lose a lot more than our petrol powered bikes if we don't stabilise the climate and that will take enormous sacrifice and change of lifestyle for pretty much all of us.

Personally I haven't eaten meat for years, no longer fly and live as minimal lifestyle as I can. However, pottering around on my bullet seems to be the one thing I would be reluctant to give up. I don't consider for a minute that buying an electric car or bike is going to help save the planet. Not buying any vehicle would be the greenest thing to do.

[Andy C]

@windmill john - A lot of truth in what you say, I have a classic case of replace for no reason at the moment. Other half has insisted that the bathroom fittings be replaced as they are "gold" effect and the "gold" is wearing off. All in perfect working order, yet she insists they must be replaced, if I had my way they would remain in service. I call it patina

@rustygman without doubt the climate is an issue, whether we can actually do something about it is another issue. I have tried abstaining from meat (my Daughter is a vegetarian for ethical reasons) there are a few veggie dishes that I enjoy, but I find that I cannot go without meat totally. I applaud you for living a minimalist lifestyle - i was very frugal until the other half moved in and our daughter came along. Having said that we dont live a decadent lifestyle and try to do the "right" things like recycle, walk, ride pushbikes, dont waste electircity / water etc.

At then end of the day it will take more that the population of the UK t to change things.

[Wheaters]

I own a three cylinder, Suzuki Swift 1.0 hatchback. It's 20 years old and still does 50-51 mpg on unleaded (it was one of the most economical cars of its day). I bought it six years ago (for just £825) to use to teach my daughter to drive in. She has moved on to another car but the Suzuki is too good to sell on so we just keep it as the "family spare".

It seems to get through its MOT every year and it is so reliable I hardly ever have to do anything to it. The emissions are as per a new car so it contributes very little to air pollution. I did fit a new exhaust system two years ago (only cost £105 including the catalytic convertor).

Now, if I were to scrap it it would cause pollution and use up energy. To replace it with another car would cause a lot more environmental issues than it does to keep it on the road.

I was speaking to my colleague at work yesterday. He runs a two year old VW Golf hybrid that cost him almost £28,000. He says it will do a disappointing 35-40 mpg on unleaded if not fully charged up and on battery power alone it will do about one gallon's worth of miles. It's because it's so heavy, lugging around big batteries (as well as all the modern electronics and "connectivity" gimmicks that manufacturers try to make us all see as essentials).

I intend to keep this one running as long as I can.

[Leon Novello]

Didn`t we all learn in school that co2 is good for the planet; it`s essential for plant growth.

[Bullet Whisperer]

Didn`t we all learn in school that co2 is good for the planet; it`s essential for plant growth.

Leon Novello - how dare you

[Wheaters]

We need to grow more plants and lock up CO2.

Plant more barley and hops and put the excess CO2 into beer.

[Bullet Whisperer]

Just feeding the plants ... https://youtu.be/srifdJbJJkg