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A Stark Warning On Climate Change
cliffski writes "In a report based on computer predictions, UK government advisor Professor David King said that an increase of even three degrees Celsius would cause drought and famine and threaten millions of lives
The US refuses to cut emissions and those of India and China are rising. A government report based on computer modeling projects a 3C rise would cause a drop worldwide of between 20 and 400 million tonnes in cereal crops, about 400 million more people at risk of hunger and between 1.2bn and 3bn more people at risk of water stress."
Would the US also get a pass if we ratified this treaty and then completely ignored it?
Of course! I don't think any industrialized country that signed the treaty is going to reach the target, but they all got a number of years of pointing at the US out of it. That, plus nobody really cares about it either, since everybody is reasoning "well, if the biggest polluter of all isn't joining in, why would we..."
I believe posters are recognized by their sig. So I made one.
RE: ...I still do not see how slowing emissions could slow the economy,
Well, let's take a look at motorcycling, shall we?
Once upon a time, people rode Harleys across the United States of America. Road films about this subculture were put on the silver screen. Harleys may have had their problems, most notoriously in the late 60s and early 70s when labor unrest meant people got bikes with tools in them, etc.
Fast forward. Sensible, roadside fixable stuff like pushrod technology, motors which could be mostly disassembled without removing them from the frame, carburetors which could be made to work just well enough to limp to the next town, etc. have been replaced by overcomplicated, ungainly crap machines whose systems, well - let's put it this way. Lose an oxygen sensor in the middle of nowhere, and you better hope someone comes by with a pickup truck. And bring your credit card. Take out old part, replace with new. Can't fix em. If your car goes down you can at least sit in it, sleep in it, whatever. Use it as shelter. Not so a bike.
Now, some spotted owl hugger ignores the vastly increased MPG of a motorcycle and screams WAIT A MINUTE! HOLD ON A SECOND! A BIKE PUTS OUT 4 g of carbon hypedupscaretacticane per gallon, versus a fraction of that even in a HUMMER! Apples and oranges comparison, considering how much less gets burned.
The same bunch that thought putting training wheels on motorcycles would keep them upright if something bad happened, or seatbelts on motorcycles was a great idea, decided that heretofore, bikes would pollute 60% less. OR ELSE. Did we elect these people? No. Five appointed folks.
And of course, building your own can only happen once in your lifetime. Not once and if it's stolen, wrecked, repossessed whatever you can own another one, ONCE IN YOUR LIFE.
Well, simpers the espresso sipping folk, Birkenstock hanging off one toe, all you need to do is simply put water cooling, catalytic converters, etc. on the motorcycle and preferably make them run with electric engines which do 40 miles an hour and make no noise.
Catalytic converters run REALLY hot. You can do that on a car because the car design doesn't put the fuel tank on top of the engine and exhaust, or have the rider straddle the working parts. How about sticking it right next to the rider's leg? The new fashion isn't leather chaps but reflective asbestos pants? Water jacketing is just another complicated system that can leak or break on you, it adds weight and cuts down the aerodynamics.
Motorcycles improve traffic flow, get better gas mileage and pollute, by the EPA's OWN ADMISSION, less than 1% of all pollution. They'd get more bang for their buck getting rid of lawnmowers and those SUVs of the sea, motorboats.
However, what happens with the EPA is they pick on those with the least money. Harley, Honda etc. are MORE than happy to comply cause they know that EPA certification of a vehicle runs into the tens of thousands of dollars, and the Orange County Choppers and the West Coast Choppers of this world cannot afford to pay that and compete. (Well, the Teutuls can.)
Has this translated to more Harley sales? Not at all. For the first time in a long time they've got bikes on the floor ready to be sold. Used to be there was competition for bikes before they were even built. Nobody wants the water-jacketed, overly complex V-Rod engine (except for a few enthusiasts) nor the "no user serviceable parts inside" Twin Cam 88 models out there. Engineering has removed all soul from these machines. Harley investors are threatening to sue.
My antique bike can be fixed with a few simple hand tools I can carry on my bike in a small tool pouch. It's simple enough that I can fix it, maintain it, by the side of the road if necessary. If I really want to travel long distances I can carry an extra chain and belt, set of points and some baling wire and deal with about 90% of all contingencies. (Can't repair an exploded case on the street, but then again the chanc
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