Climate, AI, plastics: we are either tipping or are blundering blindly towards tipping into irreversible damage from our own activities. As well, nuclear weapons lurk, ready to kill off most of who or what might be left. Either we pay attention to why we are engaging in this collective insanity, and act on it, or we… Read More Tipping into the approaching dark age
It is the most cynical of moves, clearly we’re supposed to have forgotten about it in 3 years’ time.… Read More Albo’s true colours already plain to see
What are the five most precious things in my life? [Published by Pearls & Irritations 21 Dec.] I have wondered often lately what might catch the attention of those who are busy despoiling our planet, and cause them to reflect on what they are destroying, and whether that matters to them. What if they asked… Read More Barack Obama wants us to care about the oceans
The fossil fuel corporations and their enablers treat us with complete contempt. This is not very polite to say, I know, but they spit in our faces and laugh. [Published at Pearls & Irritations 19 Nov.] The great majority of people around the world want more serious efforts to stop global warming. The International Energy… Read More They spit in our faces
The global consumer-capitalist machine is well-programmed to consume the planet in its quest to produce ever-more stuff. Avoiding pollution is incompatible with its present functioning. If we want to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions we need to know how to get inside the machine and turn it off, or transform it. [Published 6 Nov by… Read More Why are climate warnings ignored?
Your actions are inconsistent with the weight of scientific advice and with the wishes of the majority of voters. Do you understand that we are now at serious and imminent risk of tipping irreversibly into a hellish future?… Read More Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Australia
Wind, solar and pumped hydro energy storage can provide all the electrical energy we need, on demand, cheaply, quickly, with minimal carbon emissions.… Read More The cut-through message: wind, solar and pumped hydro are all we need, and cheaper
A 2021 paper by Bin Lu and others in Blakers’ group at ANU uses detailed modelling to conclude that a 100% renewable energy system, replacing 80% of Australia’s carbon emissions, would cost $70-$100 per MWh (megawatt-hour).… Read More Off-river pumped hydro energy storage – summary and sources
The weather is freakish, the climate is freakish and politics is, well, freakish. They have pushed me to where my head tells me the chance to pull ourselves out of the fire is about gone. But it is not as simple as slipping into despair and apathy, though that would be easier in some ways.… Read More Letting go of rational hope
Without a large and rapid change in politics, not much in evidence, it now seems unlikely we can avoid climate apocalypse. [Published by Pearls & Irritations, 16 Dec 23.] The COP28 conference in Dubai on (allegedly) reducing greenhouse gas emissions has come and gone with the usual proclamations of triumph. Wow, this time they actually… Read More COP out: apocalypse next
Thrival Economics 