Let's talk about the environment

[Beren One-Hand]

This is to be a thread where people can express their views on issues pertaining to the environment, global warming, climate change, etc.

[Leora]

I just finished my mock IELTS exam. The next person to mention environment to me will die.

[Lairënuriel]

I just finished my mock IELTS exam. The next person to mention environment to me will die.

What is this exam?

[Leora]

I just finished my mock IELTS exam. The next person to mention environment to me will die.

What is this exam?

Oh my-my-my! Our new MET mods really don't care about being off topic, eh? Curious. Wasn't allowed with the old mods...

It's an English exam that allows me to study in an English-speaking country or institution. Namely, my British School of Design in Moscow.


The reason I mentioned it is, in fact, because 90% of the time you get an environmental-orientated text in both reading and speaking. Sometimes in the listening. You get fed up

[Lairënuriel]

How was I to know I was being off topic?
I figured that this exam had something to do with the topic or you wouldn't have posted it in this topic.
Besides, there is not as much traffic as there was.
We would still like everyone to stay on topic.

[Beren One-Hand]

I'm with Lairen; not sure how she was off-topic.  The odd tangent isn't that bad either, at least it generates discussion.

[Leora]

How was I to know I was being off topic?
I figured that this exam had something to do with the topic or you wouldn't have posted it in this topic.
Besides, there is not as much traffic as there was.
We would still like everyone to stay on topic.

Generally when being off topic it's good sense to post something ON topic after it.

Like so: Actually, I was more concerned about the environment, global warming, etc. a few years ago than I am now. For a number of reasons one of which is, in fact, that I have more close-at-hand issues to deal with. Yeah, I still save water and never throw anything out in the streets (and collect rubbish off other people so *they* don't throw it) but it's not like I'd go into heated discussion about it. Environment should be a part of people's common sense, really. In that case there'll be no need for more worry. Not less, either, but it won't be something of a religion it is nowadays.

[Beren One-Hand]

How was I to know I was being off topic?
I figured that this exam had something to do with the topic or you wouldn't have posted it in this topic.
Besides, there is not as much traffic as there was.
We would still like everyone to stay on topic.

Generally when being off topic it's good sense to post something ON topic after it.

Yes that's the idea - to bring things back to the original topic.  Tangents still have their place though.

[Lairënuriel]

The last thing I'll say about this is that I thought the exam had something to do with the environment.

Enough.

I agree that taking care of the earth should be common sense.
Does anyone want recipes for household cleaners from common kitchen ingredients?

[Pulsifer]

I actually made thermite from household ingredients, once. True story.

(Why my parents kept aluminium powder and iron oxide in the kitchen is a good question, though. Obtaining the magnesium to light it was probably the hardest part, but ooooh, the purdy, purdy lights . . . )

ETA: Yes, the main thread. I'm for the enviroment, for pre-necessity carbon saving, for public transport - don't even have a car, myself, and don't think I want one unless my job requires me to drive - and generally for shooting Bush into the Sun. It's a pity, really, that Norway made it's riches out of oil, and while I'm for the revenue it generates, I also support the recent senate bill to halt production from March 2009 to whenever we get an efficient C02 cleansing facility up for our main production sites.

Also for windmill parks, water-generated electricity and spending an ungodly amount of money on research to convert our energy-consumption into enviroment-friendly based power. It's not as viable as fossil fueled technology, not as efficient, not as cheap and certainly not going to happen in my lifetime, but it *can* be done.

(Sometimes I spend a minute wondering where we would be if Norway had spent the millions of kroner we spend on our laughable first-year military service on developing technology for maintainable electricity. And then I sigh.)

[LOTRfan1414]

ummm about the main thread

the global warming issue is blown way out of proportions
yes the Green house effect is warming the planet up, but by how much really?

only the most severe scientists say major changes are possible within the next 100 years, but those are the ones that are alway reported on by major news networks...

wonder what that says about our media as a whole

[Pulsifer]

ummm about the main thread

the global warming issue is blown way out of proportions
yes the Green house effect is warming the planet up, but by how much really?

only the most severe scientists say major changes are possible within the next 100 years, but those are the ones that are alway reported on by major news networks...

wonder what that says about our media as a whole

Let's just say that investing in beach-side property in Holland is a bad idea . . .


Rumour has it that the UN will soon release the 450 million part treshhold of carbon in the atmosphere having been reached. This means the treshhold from which we could have recovered has been stepped over and that it's going to get worse from here.

[LOTRfan1414]

Rumour has it that the UN will soon release the 450 million part treshhold of carbon in the atmosphere having been reached. This means the treshhold from which we could have recovered has been stepped over and that it's going to get worse from here.

Do you even understand what that benchmark means?

or are you just afraid cause the U.N. told you to be?

[Andúnië]

At this point, what media, organizations, etc. say isn't of much relevance any longer. The environment has pretty much gone to pot- we should know it by now. Even if it weren't, we should have been responsible in the first place. If people had started listening earlier, or exercised common sense/good judgement, a lot of the damage could have been prevented. It's all way beyond arguing whether we should be concerned about the environment or not.

[Beren One-Hand]

I want to know your opinions on another environmentally focussed topic - Smart Cars.  Personally, I don't like them - they look ugly for starters.  They are too small, and simple impracticle.  Only two can sit in them, and there is no trunk space in them.  The only good thing about them is they are fuel efficient (good on gas) and are eco-friendly.  However, I think Smart Cars are one example of where environmentalism has been pushed to the extreme.  When it comes to these kind of issues I think the answer is to find the balance between environmentalism and pragmatism.  Smart Cars are just not "smart," they are ridiculous.  If you want to have a vehicle that releases less exhaust, buy a hybrid, or a smaller car that uses less gas.  BTW, I don't mean to offend anyone who owns a Smart Car, this is just my opinion, and a valid one at that.