DISSENSION OVER GEO-ENGINEERING MEASURES
23 June 2011
Papers leaked from inside the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) before a meeting in Lima, Peru in a few days, show a range of proposed radical measures which include
Blasting sulphate aerosols in to the stratosphere to reflect sunlight into space.
Depositing massive quantities of iron filings into the oceans.
Bio-engineering crops to be a lighter colour to reflect sunlight.
Suppressing cirrus clouds.
Other measures to be discussed are orbiting giant mirrors in space to shield the Earth from the sun, spraying sea water into clouds to reflect sunlight away from the Earth, adding lime to oceans, and finding ways to suck green house gases out of the air and deposit heat into oceans.
More than 125 environment, development and human rights groups from 40 countries published a letter to Rajendri Pachauri, warning that the body had no mandate to consider the legality or political suitability of using geo-engineering. To quote "Geo –engineering in not a scientific question, but a political one. International peasant organisations, indigenous peoples and social movements have all expressed outright opposition to such measures as a false solution to the climate crisis".
The meeting has added weight, since Christiana Figueres, had of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, has said that geo-engineering might be necessary because emissions were still rising, and "We are getting into very risky territory."
Like the US Britain is strongly backing geo-engineering research, and has funded millions of pound towards it, including a Bristol University plan to develop a hose held up by balloons through which sulphates can be sent into the stratosphere
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL BOSS, UNVEILS LARGEST PRIVATE SOLAR ELECTRIC GENERATING SYSTEM IN UK.
15 November 2010
Michael Eavis, Glastonbury supremo has unveiled an array of 1,116 solar panels installed on the cowshed nicknamed the Mootel, to the sound of a musician, playing Here Comes the Sun on the vibraphone, chosen because its aluminium bars resemble solar panels. Eavis built the cowshed 7 years ago, and made sure the roof sloped southwards and was strong enough to support 20 tonnes of PV panels.
The PV modules will generate enough to power the equivalent of 40 homes annually. The 1,500 acre site at Worthy Farm also has reservoirs so that water is on-site, and they are linked into the sewage system.EU WARNED THAT EXCESSIVE USE OF IMPORTED BIOFUELS WILL HIT FOOD PRODUCTION
15 November 2010
A report by the independent Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), says that European countries have chosen to meet EU renewable energy targets by importing so-called first generation biofuels from African countries, Indonesia and Brazil, rather than by promoting the use of advanced biofuels, electric vehicles or energy efficiency to reduce the environmental impact of transport.
The indirect effect of this will be to take between 4.1m and 6.9 hecatares out of food production, and forcing other farming activity in producing countries deeper into forests.
The director of IEEP, says it is vital that the impact of conventional bio-fuel use is urgently addressed, and the situation rectified.US NAVAL SHIP POWERED BY SEAWEED COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL TEST
06 November 2010
The US Navy plans to run 50% of its fleet on a mix of renewable fuels and nuclear power by 2020. At the US naval base in Norfolk, Virginia a 49 foot gunboat, with a 50/50 mix of algae-based fuel and diesel completed test manoeuvres against an enemy gun boat.
The boat, intended for use in rivers and marshes, is eventually destined for the Middle East.
