PrometheusFire

Action is killing our country. We want so badly to solve the problems of the world that we immediately jump into the bandwagon of whatever the first solution is, whether it be the Kyoto Protocol or fluorescent light bulbs. The problem is, we believe what the media says (problem #1) and we never question it (problem #2).
Here’s the deal: any idiot can read a graph. My parakeet could tell you that we’re seeing a global trend of massive CO2 output and a slight verrry slight rise in temperature. What my parakeet (as well as the media) can’t (or won’t) tell you is that the earth goes through cycles… remember a little thing called the ice age? Or wait, wasn’t there two of them? Maybe it’s just me, but I think we’ve gotten through both of those on the winning end of the spectrum. We did survive.
Now this may be a personal preference, but I think I’d rather see our earth get warmer then colder. New York is not nice in the winter. In fact, sometimes I think that New York winters hate me and my car. The problem here is that by saying that you’re going to think that I believe in global warming. Well, I don’t. I’m just saying that if, if it does exist, and our earth is going to get warming (as many “experts” say it is whether we do anything or not) then I don’t want to be one of the losers who keeps their air conditioning off in the hope that it’s doing something. It’s not.
But back to this action idea. Basically I think that we’ve turned into a society of do-gooders. This is great, it’s what our society needs to do to get back on track, but the problem is that most do-gooders have no idea what they’re talking about. If we want significant change we need real solutions, and I feel that we’re not getting any. But as long as people want to feel good about themselves they’re going to jump in line to buy methane-powered cars and not even think that methane is more harmful then carbon dioxide.
Just a side note: could you image methane powered cars? I mean usually you have to worry about opening the windows when somebody lays one down inside, but that would just make the problem worse.
So, in conclusion, please stop trying to fix a problem you don’t understand. While I love the fact that everyone wants to help, get over your inflated sense of importance and just get back to solving the real problems- like the Mexicans taking our jobs and the Iranians taking our money. Thanks.

demosthenesX

Though i do agree with you about the media i dont agree about your points regarding the environment and some of the other comments you made at the end.

But the point of the post is to talk about action,
first of all cars wouldnt produce methane out their exhaust system after going through a combustion engine so if people want to buy methane cars let them. Second people she be willing to take action even if they dont quite understand the circumstances because if no one ever took action anywhere nothing would ever get done. Let people continue to try and do what they think is best for the environment. Dont criticize them for buying lightbulbs that burn 10W of electricity and produce the same light as a 60W, or for buying a car that runs off of hydrogen whos by product is H2O.

Future Leader

people shouldn't take action if they have no idea what they are doing, going in without a plan is foolish.

people think different things are better for the environment, if you have no idea what your actions are going to do the environment you shouldn't be screwing around with it.

AzTeK

We have quite a few methane (aka "natural gas") powered cars in my town, a whole taxi company switched to methane powered cars a couple of years back. Nothing hard to imagine.

You do know that that methane is burned (aka "combusted"), right? By using Methane as a fuel, specially in the case of biogas, you'r actually preventing methane from entering the atmosphere, harnessing its energy and "converting" it to the less dangerous CO2.

Methan furthermore has the most favorable C to H-ratio, which in essence again reduces the amount of CO2 that is formed in its combustion. It should come at no surprise that a natural gas powerplant, for instance, burns a LOT cleaner than a powerplant using oil.

You haven't been buying oil from Iran either since 1979, Iranian exports to the US (aka "money being taken from you") amount to a whooping - hold on to your seat - $90 million in 2006.

So maybe some people are misinterpreting the problems the world faces today, but so are you.

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Comrade Hentzler

Oh! Smacked down. But anyway, I'd like to talk about the few degrees warmer. That could be completely catastrophic you know? With a few more degrees everything happens faster. Which is what I believe. Humans are make the cycle of ice age and warming period much more speratic causing environmental instability leading to a whole bunch of other bad stuffs.

Ethenal is ruinous to the economy! It's increasing food costs as more and more farmers are making it as it is more profitable. Those the capitalist cycle of supply and demand kicks in and we're all screwed. I've watched my grocery bill go up throughout the last few months and I live in the freaking, hicest, farming state; Kansas!

Also, no no no... never act or say things if you haven't thought them out!

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Kingdom of Heaven- A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time. This will not suffice. Remember that.

Helder Camara- When I give food to the hungry, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.

indvdlthnkr

Well if your parakeet can read a graph then he should obviously be able to tell that CO2 emissions have gone up because of....wait for it....humans. GASP! It is not global warming but global climate change. Your few degrees makes a huge difference. There are so many positive feedback loops in the environment that it snowballs into an avalanche.

You are right about action without knowledge is ridiculous and harmful. Ethanol being a lovely example. But taking no action at all can be as equally as harmful.

demosthenesX

You guys are acting like people are making decisions on large scale that is affecting the entire united states, their not, most of their decisions are affecting their household, and what they do with there household to make it more efficient is up to them, along with what car they drive that is more efficient is up to them.

And yes ethanol was a good dream but a bad idea.

Comrade Hentzler

..personally I'd rather be caught sleeping than wandering around aimlessly...

__________________


Kingdom of Heaven- A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time. This will not suffice. Remember that.

Helder Camara- When I give food to the hungry, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.