Jun 2009
Airplanes Greener than Trains?
Jun 08, 2009 10:14 Filed in: Environment
Strange as it may seem, when everything that it takes to deliver a passenger by train from one place to another is taken into account, including the cost of cars, engines, tracks, stations, and other railroad infrastructure, CO2 emissions per passenger-mile of trains is actually greater than the total emissions of CO2 per passenger-mile of commercial aircraft.
That is the conclusion of researchers Mikhail Chester and Arpad Horvath of the University of California, Berkeley, as reported in NewScientist online via the newsletter from Scientists & Engineers for America:
Train can be worse for climate than plane
The article points out, however, that the concentration of passengers is critical. A city bus with only 5 passengers is one of the worst offenders, whereas a full city bus is relatively efficient. The same goes for autos and planes.
The lessons: 1. no matter how certain we are, things are not always what they seem; and 2. looking at the big picture frequently invalidates the lessons we learned from looking only at the small picture.
That is the conclusion of researchers Mikhail Chester and Arpad Horvath of the University of California, Berkeley, as reported in NewScientist online via the newsletter from Scientists & Engineers for America:
Train can be worse for climate than plane
The article points out, however, that the concentration of passengers is critical. A city bus with only 5 passengers is one of the worst offenders, whereas a full city bus is relatively efficient. The same goes for autos and planes.
The lessons: 1. no matter how certain we are, things are not always what they seem; and 2. looking at the big picture frequently invalidates the lessons we learned from looking only at the small picture.
Comments
Watching Home
Jun 05, 2009 21:26 Filed in: Environment
I spent the evening at the Rainbow Coop watching the movie Home. It’s about climate change and it is quite convincing. Everyone concerned about the future of the human race should watch it.
The scientific evidence is overwhelming that our civilization is creating almost insurmountable problems for the human race by heating up the planet, and that if we are to avoid almost certain catastrophe there will have to be drastic changes that will affect every one of us.
Climate change skeptics are either deliberately blinding themselves to the evidence, or they are being highly paid to prevaricate.
Dr. James Burke made a two-hour movie about global warming around 15 years ago, After the Warming, and it seemed to have no impact whatever. Now that the ice cap at the North Pole is fast disappearing, perhaps Home will get a better reception.
Watch it on YouTube. It’s about an hour and 33 minutes in length.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU
The scientific evidence is overwhelming that our civilization is creating almost insurmountable problems for the human race by heating up the planet, and that if we are to avoid almost certain catastrophe there will have to be drastic changes that will affect every one of us.
Climate change skeptics are either deliberately blinding themselves to the evidence, or they are being highly paid to prevaricate.
Dr. James Burke made a two-hour movie about global warming around 15 years ago, After the Warming, and it seemed to have no impact whatever. Now that the ice cap at the North Pole is fast disappearing, perhaps Home will get a better reception.
Watch it on YouTube. It’s about an hour and 33 minutes in length.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU
Obama's Cairo Speech
Obama gave a stemwinder of a speech yesterday in Cairo. The press was duly impressed and laudatory, for the most part, but others pointed out that the main thing Obama changed was the mood.
I am optimistic; before U. S. policy can change for the better, the conversation must first change. The speech was aimed mainly towards the American public, and, considering the demonization of Islam and its adherents we have seen in the post 9/11 period, it is indeed a breath of fresh air.
It committed Obama to nothing substantial and concrete, however, and that was surely by design. The political mindscape must change before the political landscape can be transformed. Simply by treating Islam and muslims with respect, Obama is altering the mindscape.
I am optimistic; before U. S. policy can change for the better, the conversation must first change. The speech was aimed mainly towards the American public, and, considering the demonization of Islam and its adherents we have seen in the post 9/11 period, it is indeed a breath of fresh air.
It committed Obama to nothing substantial and concrete, however, and that was surely by design. The political mindscape must change before the political landscape can be transformed. Simply by treating Islam and muslims with respect, Obama is altering the mindscape.