Question: Your Energy Lifestyle and Backpacking

Absolutely nothing here.

I live my life how best i can, nothing i can do will have any long tern effect on the planet.

Plus i don't buy into this global warming conspiracy and even IF it is occurring i don't believe we as a race are having any effect on it.

I've read reports, spent hours going over data and took years to form my opinion, i can understand it may upset some folks but it's my opinion from the data i've seen and my experiences.

Plus lets be honest, if i sold my cars and walked everywhere tomorrow it wouldn't make a measurable difference even if calculated over the rest of my life.

I save money where i can on house heating, hot water etc, but i can honestly say not one decision in my life is based upon global warming or saving the planet.

"I've read reports, spent hours going over data and took years to form my opinion"

Do you agree CO2 in atmosphere is going up, more than in previous 100,000s of years and it's because we're burning fossil fuels?

I don't care how you live or don't live in a personal sense. However, the attitude you describe is unfortunately more common than not, and with that passive attitude the necessary changes won't happen. If the majority changed their attitudes towards the more proactive and concerned, then important changes could happen, and more people ARE starting to care though it's a slowly growing trend.

Screw global climate change, which i think IS debatable some. Environmental pollution is a very real, measurable, and important issue that everyone should care some about. And it's an exponentially cumulative issue that will become worse and worse with more and more people and more and more consumption.

Well, whatev's, i can't even get my housemates to recycle properly and consistently despite very occasional gentle reminders.

We're likely f*^#@!, just too bad we'll be doing it to many other species for a long time as well.

I stopped drinking milk to lessen my methane "footprint"

"So, what are you doing to lessen your own carbon/methane footprint."

There are certain things that are just common sense Justin.

Recycling is one of them, i don't recycle to "save the planet" though i recycle because i don't want to see everywhere littered with plastic bottles.

I turn the heating down again not to save the planet but to save me money.

I walk or cycle to most places locally, again not to save the planet but because it's often quicker (with traffic) and i don't have to mess about finding a parking spot.

My cars are mostly gas guzzlers, one has not catalytic converter and i'm lucky to see 20mpg or 10mpg on the track, the other is more modern but again i'm lucky to see 20mpg.
My 3rd car is a Smart car, again i bought it because it's cheap to run and easier to park rather than to save the planet.

As i say if i dropped off the grid tomorrow ate foraged food and never burnt any wood or fossil fuel for the rest of my life it would absolutely no difference.

I could vote in the greenest of green parties, again in the global scheme of things Greece's pollution is inconsequential compared to China or the USA.
I can't vote in either China or the USA, so i have to face facts, even IF i believed all this nonsense there is absolutely nothing i can do that make even the smallest of small measurable differences.

So i live my life using as much common sense as i can muster but as far as me destroying the planet goes i life absolutely guilt free.

I walk or bike to work frequently and purposely live a mile from work so that even if I do have to drive it isn't much.

We recycle, drive a 2006' Caravan and a 97' Cherokee, both are in good working order and total between the two vehicles we put less than 5000 miles a year on the road.

We keep the thermastat at levels for heat and A/C that are right at where we're barely comfortable and in the winter usually wear sweats around the house.

We don't fly but that's because it's a pain with two kids under two years old. We don't buy things we don't "need" and we try to limit our electricity and fuel consumption.

Nothing above has anything to do with a belief in global cooling/warming/climatechange/endoftheworld/wealthredistribution etc. It is all financially driven and finances drive most of our decision making process.

"Do you agree CO2 in atmosphere is going up, more than in previous 100,000s of years and it's because we're burning fossil fuels?"

Hi Jerry,

I agree it's going up, but i don't agree that's it's main cause it burning of fossil fuels.
I also don't agree it's all bad that it's rising either.

So far not one single prediction has been proved correct by these quacks.
They predicted global warming at an alarming level, yet it's just not happened.

They come back with waffle like "measurements were not as accurate then" but then these people are getting sponsored by environmental organisations that will lose billions or dollars if it's proved to be a con.

Have a read of "Ian Plimer’s Heaven And Earth: Global Warming — the Missing Science"

Only one persons view, but as he is a geologist his time scale is a LOT more relevant than measuring stuff like polar ice caps that are babies in comparison.

Just think of how many organisations, companies and government agencies would be shut down if it proved to be a con.
How much money have governments made on "pollution" type taxes since this fashion of global warming came about, what have they done with all that money, absolutely nothing.
Yet we are the ones made to feel guilty and taxed to death.

I honestly believe with all my heart that future generations will look back and laugh at us on how wrong we got it.

But as i say there is absolutely NOTHING i can do about it so why worry?
Just enjoy your short time on this earth and be as good as a person as you can.
Not because your frightened, not because someones God says you should but simply because you want to be.
Works for me

"We currently burn only U235 which is only 5% of the Uranium ore and the other 95% is waste."

Jerry, in naturally occurring uranium ore, the U235 is only about 0.8% and U238 is most of the rest. However, that mix won't work in a normal reactor. Most uranium fuel rods have the U235 enriched up to about 4%. The exception to all of that is for a submarine reactor where the U235 is enriched up to weapons-grade, about 90%.

Plus, you don't want to call U238 waste. The so-called depleted uranium is used as a high-mass projectile for some gun systems.

–B.G.–

The problem is not really carbon or pesticides or litter, it's too damn many people. When the global human population was a few million, everyone could pollute to their hearts content; and they did – and it didn't make any difference.

In fact, all of our environmental problems could be solved in fifty years if all male babies were given a vasectomy at birth. This may be a bit draconian for most people's taste but every environmental problem humans face is a direct consequence of baby-making. Pollution and unsightly clutter will continue to get worse until human population starts to decrease significantly. No government, other than that of China, has, or is likely to have, the courage required to limit reproduction. Most of humanity feels a right to have as many children as they please and anyone who disagrees is no longer in elective office. For this reason, I am pessimistic about the future.

Recycling, insulating one's house, driving a hybrid, walking, cycling and such are really just feel-good measures since they are pretty much cancelled out by your, or somebodies, neighbor's sex life. It is a truism in ecology that populations of a species will increase until the carrying capacity of its environment is exceeded. At that point, population is controlled by other than voluntary means and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are back in the saddle. Humans are not exempt from this rule, they just think they are.

Sure, I do the proper green things because I think they are right: I have a 1400 sq. ft. well-insulated house (in the desert) that I heat and cool electrically for an average of $80 per month, my basic transportation is a 120 mpg moped or bicycle and my wife and I are basically vegans. But, I don't do these things primarily for the sake of the environment, I do them because I am frugal (or a cheapskate according to my son) and am a firm believer that exercise and a plant-based diet are better for one's health than is the conventional American way of sloth and gluttony.

I agree that the American way of life is wasteful and extravagant and is certainly unsustainable in the long run. And, things are little different in the rest of the developed world. Moreover, developing nations feel thy have a right to develop similar ways of life and IMO thy are justified in feeling this way. So, I fear that the present trajectory of increasing population, pollution, clutter and conflict will continue until it all comes crashing down around us as the Four Horsemen ride again.

I think maybe that's what you just said

Pretty much; LFTR is a thorium fuel cycle reactor, it's also an example of a molten salt reactor type (i.e. not water-cooled and operates at low pressures). As you also mention, much of the waste problem goes away when you're able to feed it back into the reactor as more fuel.

I agree Mark, as an individual in our individual efforts, there is not much direct effect or change we can make in overall pollution etc

However, as an individual part of a large and growing group of individuals who do care and who are making changes, we can eventually make more significant differences.

I would rather place the emphasis on the latter, rather than the former. Personally speaking, i know there is a lot more that i could do as an individual, but i have my weaknesses like all or most humans plus the inevitable compromises. To some extent, i'm a hypocrite, but i do try.

Part of the issue in America, is the pathological emphasis/focus we have developed and given to the "individual". Obviously some of that is important and necessary, but surely we could use some more focus on the collective and the larger whole, no? Balance is always nice, extremes usually not so helpful.

"Plus, you don't want to call U238 waste. The so-called depleted uranium is used as a high-mass projectile for some gun systems."

Yeah, wouldn't want the stuff to go to waste when it could be salting the earth in places like Serbia or Iraq, now would we? Sad, Bob, sad.

If everybody thinks that they personally don't have an influence, then, of course nothing is going to change… I have absolutely no respect for that kind of mentality. That's kids logic. Grow up.

We have absolutely nothing to lose if we act as the climate scientists tells us to, and it should be that they are wrong.

IF it should be that they are right, and we have done nothing to prevent it, then we are screwed.

Why would anyone want to gamble? The only explanation would be good old egocentric behaviour. Me me me, want, want want, now, now, now.

"I agree it's going up, but i don't agree that's it's main cause it burning of fossil fuels."

It's pretty easy to estimate the amount of fossil fuels burned, and the volume of air in the atmosphere.

Only problem is the CO2 has gone up half as much as this simple calculation

But that's explained by the fact that the ocean has absorbed half of it

Where else would the CO2 have come from and where did all the CO2 go that we put into the atmosphere?

"I also don't agree it's all bad that it's rising either"

I think a lot of climate scientists are making a lot of well intentioned predictions, like if the CO2 goes above 390 PPM it will be a tipping point and things will get much worse. But things are so complicated there's a lot of uncertainty.

Maybe the effect of added CO2 will be minimal. Maybe things will be much worse than predicted. Who knows, maybe we'll stave off an ice age that would have occurred otherwise.

Better to minimize added CO2 until we know better. At least do the easy things like improving efficiency, switching to natural gas, more wind mills,…

And I agree, we as a world should stop our growth as a species.

One thing would be to abandon all religions, and make abortion and birth control totally acceptable.

I had no idea that this was a general lightweight backpacking discussion!

–B.G.–

"One thing would be to abandon all religions, and make abortion and birth control totally acceptable"

Now you've done it, good one

Maybe have more guns so people will shoot each other and reduce population?

Jerry, that comparison doesn't make any sense.

Religion, birth control, and abortion are controversial topics. Just mentioning them may stir up a huge argument.

Gun control thrown in because it's also controversial.

Ah, got it Jerry :-)

Maybe a less subtle way of saying it is "great! Bringing up religion, abortion, and birth control, this is going to turn into a huge argument, only thing worse would be to bring up gun control"

Except I'm just trying to make stupid joke, not being critical of your comment or anything.

Funny, in Denmark there's absolutely nothing controversial about saying no to religious beliefs, and nothing controversial about birth control and abortion.

Nothing should be protected in the discussion about the survival of mother earth and human existence.

I'm ready to discuss if anybody disagree with my beliefs ;-)

"However, as an individual part of a large and growing group of individuals who do care and who are making changes, we can eventually make more significant differences."

Justin,

We have never met and i think this is the first time we have talked on the forum, please don't take this the wrong way as we all have different life experiences and different personalities, but in my opinion that's an extremely naive way of thinking.

Some people do truly care and some of those have the courage of their convictions.

Mostly though people care up until it encroaches on their lifestyle.
How many people really NEED a 2000kg car with 300 ft/lb of torque?
How many people NEED to take their car down to the nearest store rather than walking.
People complain about animals being mistreated yet still chose the cheapest pieces of meat.

As i say i personally do not believe we are having the effect on the environment we are being lead to believe, i am also sure that it's not all doom and gloom if it does occur.

I do know my fellow humans will complain and be outraged up until the point where they have to nip to the local burger joint in their car.

"If everybody thinks that they personally don't have an influence, then, of course nothing is going to change… I have absolutely no respect for that kind of mentality. That's kids logic. Grow up."

Hi Peter,

Problem is though you don't know me, you don't know how our lives compare or as the greenies put it how our carbon footprints compare.
So how can you judge me?

I could well be making a smaller carbon footprint than you just by trying to save money.
Insulation for the house, walking, cycling or taking public transport, strong dislike for flying, solar water heater, solar panels etc
ALL things i do in my life to save money and life a easier life, just because i don't buy into this "end of days" stuff doesn't mean i'm not "grown up"

Even if i bought into it, please tell me what could i do tomorrow to make a noticeable difference?
Please note i said noticeable as a measurement, lets take the CO2 output from underground fires many of which have been burning for thousands of years, certainly long before we relied on fossil fuel.
It's said that these fires many started naturally make up around 1% of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions.
So what i do as a person that could have a noticeable impact even on that 1% during my entire lifetime?

"We have absolutely nothing to lose if we act as the climate scientists tells us to, and it should be that they are wrong.

IF it should be that they are right, and we have done nothing to prevent it, then we are screwed.

Why would anyone want to gamble? The only explanation would be good old egocentric behaviour. Me me me, want, want want, now, now, now."

Actually we have a LOT to lose.
First off we have other natural resources that are being plundered in the name of "saving the planet" countries thrown into wars because bluechip companies want to make more money for their share holders.

Have a look at how many materials are mined from many African countries that go into say a Prius.
Coltan, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold all mined with absolutely zero consideration for the environment.
Vast scars made in the land by workers that are or are bordering slave labour, all the time lining the pockets of dictators and the large companies supplying them to Toyota, Nissan etc for their batteries and electronics.
Or how about China raping Tibet of it's Lithium to put in said cars batteries.
What about the factories CO2 outputs that make all the components in said "green" cars.

And this is just cars as an example, it's the same for solar panels, the bits that go into wind turbines etc etc etc.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Problem is folks get on their high horse and judge others yet really don't see the whole picture.
The keyboard/touchscreen we're typing on, the cables that power the internet, the harddiscs that store the server data, they've all been ripping out of the earth in some way of form, then had thousands of kilowatts of power thrown at them throughout the production process.
It's then boxed with packaging that would have come from trees being cut down at some time in the recycling process, all manor of bleaches then added.
Then they're loaded up on a fossil fuel powered truck, driven to a airport that uses thousands of watts of coal powered electricity to sort it and ship it on a plane that burns gallons and gallons of fossil fuel to ship it to other countries.

You see what i mean, it's easy to judge until you start to look at the life of things we use daily and the impact it makes on the enviroment

Mark, just because some green technologies aren't that green after all, doesn't change one bit about the fact that we should try to be more responsible as a species.

Getting people to care and raising awareness is the first to do.

I'm only attacking your attitude, I have no idea who you are.