And not so far away, lies an inevitable point. Now, consider what you like about climate change (and I've got a few opinions), but at some point we will be faced with oil decline. Rising prices and a massive cultural and economic shock will follow. There is a new buzz phrase soon to trundle past Climate Change. It's called "Peak Oil".
Various sources believe it's a lot closer than we think. Either way, at some point we have to face it.
This Rte Documentary hits the nail on the head. Certainly, rising prices will drive new technologies and change in logistical arrangements, but oil is more pervasive than just what you put in your car, and those technologies need effort expending now, not later.
So, there are some people out there who are facing the change. A movement has started to grow in the UK, called Transition Towns. These are towns, starting on journeys that will take their energy usage down so the impact of Peak Oil is not quite so dramatic.
One of the features of a transition town model, is that of local community involvement. Our town, Newport, Pembs, is embarking on that journey, and it's a very affirming experience. I just hope that we can look back one day and realise that the small pebbles we're kicking around now, were enough to start a change big enough to help us through...
Here's hoping...
Friday, June 29, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
The Circle of Life
Eat what you're meant to.
I reckon.
Following the BSE crisis the government realised that feeding animal protein to herbivores probably wasn't sensible, so it banned it.
Now the industry is trying to reverse that decision (see article below for starters), in the name of more profits for slaughterhouse by products. They believe that opening up this source of protein again will help consumer prices. Now, chickens eat meat. Ours love worms and woodlice, but I still can't envision a flock of chickens hunting a pig down. Why feed them pork?
The question is. Should meat be "cheap"? Meat should be expensive, trouble is we all want plump breasts, and lean loins and fillets. The demands of production determine the price. How many more food scares do we need before this filters through?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6711179.stm
I reckon.
Following the BSE crisis the government realised that feeding animal protein to herbivores probably wasn't sensible, so it banned it.
Now the industry is trying to reverse that decision (see article below for starters), in the name of more profits for slaughterhouse by products. They believe that opening up this source of protein again will help consumer prices. Now, chickens eat meat. Ours love worms and woodlice, but I still can't envision a flock of chickens hunting a pig down. Why feed them pork?
The question is. Should meat be "cheap"? Meat should be expensive, trouble is we all want plump breasts, and lean loins and fillets. The demands of production determine the price. How many more food scares do we need before this filters through?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6711179.stm
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