Did you hear the one about the Irishman...

Who thought he had discovered a source of unlimited free energy?Well it might sound daft but this guy has certainly put his money where his mouth is. he took out a full page advert in The Economist challenging the scientific community to validate his company's claims.

Several eminent scientist are now currently working on validating their findings.

Moresources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steorn
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6283374.stm
http://www.steorn.com/news/releases/

Well they may be crackpots, who knows. But let's say for a second they are not and they have stumbled upon a discovery that provides unlimited and entirely emission free energy.

Changes the environmental debate somewhat doesn't it?

I will watch developments with interest.

Live Earth - Pointless?

I am inclined to agree with Bob Geldof when he says the holding of the Live Earth concert today was pointless. It is just another example of people taking the easy way out and convincing themselves that they are making a difference. Well the bad news is you’re not.

Attending a concert and having a good time is NOT a sacrifice.
Playing to thousands of adoring fans for free is NOT a sacrifice.
Listening to the droning of pontificating pop stars is NO…well actually that is a sacrifice but not one that will make a difference.

We really need to move away from tokenism that gives the illusion of action and if we are serious about tackling these problems start to do things that actually make a difference. What’s that you say, “we are up for it, lead us, lead us…”

Ok how about these measures for starters:

• Double the price of petrol tomorrow to £2 a litre.
• Let’s have a £500 surcharge on any flights above a single flight in any given year.
• Let’s have some serious road pricing.
• Let’s quadruple the road tax on the cars that use the most fuel.

Like the sound of that? No didn’t think so. I am sick to death of people bleating that the government should do something about Global Warming. When you ask them to do something the reality is that YOU have to do something and to date you have been spectacularly unwilling to accept even the smallest sacrifices.

So let the pop stars, whose entourage and lifestyles have a carbon footprint the size of T-Rex carry on preaching to us but I am afraid it will make little difference. If Global Warming is coming, buy a boat or a house on a hill because humans will do fuck all to avert it.