Greetings
November 5, 2011 - 6:06pm
Hello.
My name is Joey, I've been lurking here for a while. I enjoy the lively debate on the boards and wanted to join in. I align generally with a lot of the public policy relating to social issues, but believe in the role of business in the economy.
I'm originally from Saskatchewan, now working and living in Alberta in the environmental management profession.
I look forward to healthy debate on a wide range of issues.
-J
Always good to have someone managing the environment, Pl, and business naturally ruling uber alles. Like to see your views on the Petroleum Patch and chances of our survival, when you have a mo.
I would love to talk about the patch, as I'vs been working there for the last 10 years. I believe in trying to change from within, but it's a hard slog. The thing I get angry about is watching both sides manipulate facts to support their point of view.
I'll be weighing in where I have something to say.
I see far too many of my "environmentalist" friends and aquaintances just as dependent on fossil fuels as the biggest redneck. But perhaps if you burn fossil fuels while adopting a morally superior attitude it is less polluting?
I think the solution comes from all of us as individuals and we need to stop blaming. If there was no demand there would be no profit in supply. Let's get real here.
I would love to talk about the patch, as I'vs been working there for the last 10 years. I believe in trying to change from within...
Speaking of working from within, do you know Jessica Ernst's story?
And the question [first] is do you know of her story- not just what do you think of it if you do know?
Welcome, and ahould it get to this, dont feel so obliged to speak to the issues of the patch that you have no energy for engaging on other issues.
I see far too many of my "environmentalist" friends and aquaintances just as dependent on fossil fuels as the biggest redneck. But perhaps if you burn fossil fuels while adopting a morally superior attitude it is less polluting?
I think the solution comes from all of us as individuals and we need to stop blaming. If there was no demand there would be no profit in supply. Let's get real here.
Yes, it's a matter of degree of "dependency", isn't it though, 1.5 litre engines (yay) as opposed to 4.0 litre (boo) ?
Can't wait to get it down to watts and amps, myself.
I know Jessica Earnst! She is an amazing woman, environmentalist and human being. I can also testify that she was born that way! :) (I've known her since I was 2 and 1/2 years old and even when we were kids she was my hero.)
ETA: GO JESSICA!!!
Yes unfortunately the human race currently has a major addiction to fossil fuels! Myself included (I say as my oil furnace comes on)
So what would happen if fossil fuel production was all halted? Chaos at this point! We have to put more resources into finding alternatives in my opinion! Also in the meantime cleaner ways to extract it.
As individuals we can cut back a lot once we realize that some of our perceived "needs" are actually luxuries. I have lived off grid for years when i was younger and healthy and it isn't as painful to give up electricity as you might imagine. We had a tiny solar panel to listen to music occasionally, or made our own music. And it charged the electric fencer to keep the horses out of the veggie garden. We had to learn to live without refrigeration though but again that is not a need it is a luxury. I think that was the biggest challenge at first, then we adjusted.
I am familiar with the Ernst story and the southern Sk on insofar as I am in the industry and pay close attention to matters like these. However I don't have inside information on either case.
I make my opinions in these matters based on science, rather than what could happen. While I believe that these situations could occur given the right set of circumstances, specific situations must exist to allow it to actually manifest into a problem.
For example, many areas where shale gas would be exploited (some areas in the US) have natural methane in the groundwater, and so landowners use this fact as a lever to extract more surface land payments out of the oil company. It also depends on stratigraphy, target zones, hydrogelogy in the area, and drilling practices. Just because there is methane in groundwater doesn't mean the oil company put it there. But, if the target zone is very shallow, the domestic use aquifers are deep, there is potential connectivity, and some poor drilling practices are employed, it's possible to create a problem. I'm not convinced that it has in most cases though.
And I drive a Prius, have only one car, and use public transit preferentially. :). Not sure I could go off grid . . .
Your formulaic defense of the effing fracking industry is quite enough by way of explanattion, thanks. Happy motoring in your individualized world, where you can afford to drive a prius. Can you envision a world where only electric vehicles are allowed around town and public transit is required for inter-city travel? No more frickin' frackin? For bedtime reading I can recommend Paul Gilding's The Great Disruption.
Wow Gaian, quick to pull out the shots huh?
I'll use whatever methods I can to benefit the planet. Because I saved up for a fuel efficient car and take transit wherever possible that somehow makes me a shill for perpetuating the individualized world? And Spenser should have little to do with it if it is benefiting the planet.
I thought this board was about discussion and debate, rather than baseless pot shots.
And I'll find your book and read it. Will you open your mind to considering science in the discussion?
Wow Gaian, quick to pull out the shots huh?
I'll use whatever methods I can to benefit the planet. Because I saved up for a fuel efficient car and take transit wherever possible that somehow makes me a shill for perpetuating the individualized world? And Spenser should have little to do with it if it is benefiting the planet.
I thought this board was about discussion and debate, rather than baseless pot shots.
And I'll find your book and read it. Will you open your mind to considering science in the discussion?
Always open for more, Pl. But we must keep in mind the difficulty that so many will have in following our lifestyles, not having a pot to pee in when out shopping for a way out of the environmental "dilemma" our species has devised for itself...while devising the technology to turn the vertical drill bit to horizontal penetration a kilometre or two down in that 400,000,000 year old formation. Science rocks.
A few weeks ago I saw a story - but didn't save it - that said solar panels are plummeting in price, and so is the industry - can't make a profit off them. Anyone else hear this?
Yep. Governments no longer have the loot to subsidize their installatiion and use. The local example of this is Arise Technologies, that survived with subsidy and aid in Ontario and Germany, but filed for bankruptcy last week. It was a predicted fate for that form of solar power (photovoltaic).
Sure be nice if all builders were required to adopt passive solar heating in their designs. Politicians are always faced down by the developer/builder industry, the largest single source of campaign funds for politicos at one time.
Gaian, now you're talking about the rise of the western world on the backs of the third world. I don't agree with it either, but should I forego buying a fuel efficient automobile and instead send the money to a third world nation, so it can be used to purchase energy from a coal fired plant with no emission standards?
There are cities in China that you can't hang clothes on the line without them turning black from the Pollution, yet China would not be bound by any Kyoto or Durban pact because of its 'developing world' status, despite it being one of the largest ( if not the largest) polluter in the world. Is this right?
The world is an imperfect place. I believe what I believe, and I believe in making it better in some manner. I aim to accomplish that rough personal choices, advocating where I have influence, and by supporting solutions, through either time or finances. However, I am practical too, so practicality and usage factor in.
There are cities in China that you can't hang clothes on the line without them turning black from the Pollution, yet China would not be bound by any Kyoto or Durban pact because of its 'developing world' status, despite it being one of the largest ( if not the largest) polluter in the world. Is this right?
I find it odd that many people don't understand China's priorities. They are trying to reduce emissions at the same time as they are building new fossil-fired power plants, but not because of global warming, simply out of desperation at their air-quality problems. I have not gone looking for articles on why they aren't building more nuclear plants; I think the QinShan CANDUs are performing well. I have also not gone looking for articles on their plans to cope with rising ocean levels, but I expect they have them. The new skyscrapers in Pudong have shorter lifespans than most Chinese construction because they are built on sand which is measurably subsiding; I'm not sure whether subsidence or rising ocean levels will get them first, but the Chinese likely know. If you have any links to post on such topics, I'm interested.
And because China has the most GHG output of any nation in the world, but is way down the list on a per capita basiis, we should moan equally about China and give a pass on our own government hiding behind what China will not do?
No thanks.