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Our children will suffer if we do not act
OH BOTHER! It's a fair cop. Mr Weeden has me bang to rights' in the BFP letters page! Or does he?
In his letter on July 25 ("CO2 is not to blame"), he has "exposed me" to the people of Marlow! It's true!
Shamelessly I try to "earn my living out of convincing everyone that global warming is their fault".
Some readers may be a little perplexed as to how such a business model could work out.
Well it's simple: (1) Blame your client and make them feel bad; (2) Suggest they stop doing things they like, e.g. flying away on holidays so much; (3) Plunge them into darkness, and make them feel bad again; (4) Submit large invoice; (5) Hope they pay.
There. See how easy it is! The truth is out.
No. It's a bit more subtle than that. Just Google carbon coach' to find out more. Also, legally speaking, any readers thinking of taking up this career path should be warned in financial terms, that "the living I make" is around HALF what it was before, just over three years ago now, when I was enjoying the directorship of a top London consultancy, and winning national awards for my leadership in sustainability.
I left that job on a mission to protect my children's inheritance - their home planet.
I take this subject deadly seriously, and I have done my homework.
Any accusation that I am in it for the money, is frankly laughable. I am in this game for the sake of the kids. It is that simple. Our children will not thank us for a good education, or a fat legacy, if they inherit a broken planet. Ask yourself, what could be the (latent) motivation of those who say it's okay to carry on burning fossil fuel?
The other belly laugh is the ridiculous notion that I have failed to submit my own personal proof' to the BFP letters page. Mr Weeden tells us that he was in science education until he was 25.
I have oft referred my readers to bodies as The Royal Society www.royalsociety.org whose freely downloadable and up-to-date publication "Is Global Warming a Swindle?", on their website homepage, no less, is an easy but authoritative read. Readers who have any real curiosity about this subject will find this document surprising.
Its conclusion is alarmingly unequivocal. When 99% of eminent independent world scientists agree something, then, (unlike your correspondents Messrs Weeden and Taylor,) I do not consider that I have that much to add.
The Professional Institutes that they proudly list after their names do not share their scepticism.
Sir David Attenborough made up his mind in 2006. And in 2007, even the US administration of President George W Bush concluded that mankind's contribution to global warming was no longer up for debate!
But in small pockets in Bucks, the denial, astonishingly, and shamefully, continues.
The Canute analogy is a good one. But it will take more than a few die-hard obfuscators: doggedly denying despots in Bucks, to stop the rising tide of the free-thinking world from joining the dots, and seeing the truth, behind the oil industry smoke screen.
It's undeniably tough, very tough indeed, for all of us to face the music, and bravely face the rough climate that lies ahead.
But if we don't, we are simply letting the children down. Saying "CO2 is not to blame" is simply a whopping great oil-soaked fantasy.
May I repeat my hope that those who urge complacency will be around long enough to be held responsible, by today's children, who will have to live with the consequences.
Dave Hampton, The Carbon Coach, Hyde Green, Marlow
1:12pm Friday 8th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: wayne, wycombe on 6:35pm Fri 8 Aug 08
David, I might not share your views on global warming but at least you have the courage of your convictions and are willing to stand firm. Quite frankly as soon as Government gets involved, I switch off; I don't trust them, I find them patronising and they are of course deeply unpopular which I'm afraid has damaged your cause.
The rest of your website,from a resource reduction perspective, is certainly interesting and is much easier o relate to and emphasise with. I think you could have the same, (if not better results) were you to concentrate on this element.Either way, best of luck to you.
David, I might not share your views on global warming but at least you have the courage of your convictions and are willing to stand firm. Quite frankly as soon as Government gets involved, I switch off; I don't trust them, I find them patronising and they are of course deeply unpopular which I'm afraid has damaged your cause.
The rest of your website,from a resource reduction perspective, is certainly interesting and is much easier o relate to and emphasise with. I think you could have the same, (if not better results) were you to concentrate on this element.Either way, best of luck to you.
Posted by: Dave Hampton, Marlow on 1:18pm Sun 10 Aug 08
Dear Wayne
Thanks for that generous comment, much appreciated, and understood. I can certainly emphasise the cash and resource saving benefits of what I do - but I would be inauthentic to omit or conceal the big driving passion behind what I do. You are right though, this may get in the way for some people - so i am grateful.
We can certainly warmly agree that government's involvement has been counterproductive.
And hey wouldn't that fit another pattern: Governments are 'in bed with oil' the world over, in fact, in many countries, government is oil.
As you say, its a no-brainer to help people cut their consumption of non-renewable resources, to save them money, and to make them feel better about the future regardless of the benefit of CO2 pollution reduction.
The only question is how rapidly it would be wise to come off our addiction to burning fossil and replace it with a whole new efficient clean safe cheap renewable (solar wind and wave) energy based economy. Because we will have to sooner or later.)
I think it's urgent.
But it will do us no harm atall to rapidly embrace renewables, improve energy efficiency, fuel economy, car mileage, and shift a few lifestyle habits to boot.
One quick CORRECTION to the interview with me in BFP (not my letter).
I would not have said "Al Gore and OTHER scientists" as Al Gore is simply not a scientist.
But I am fortunate to have met, and had discussions with, a large number of the worlds top scientists, just as I have also met with the USA former VP and Nobel Prize winner twice.
Oil whistle blowers are much derided (is there a pattern here?) But humankind's pact of silence - not to mention our species collective act of suicide, needs challenging. It's simply not healthy to beleive those who say: "Don't worry. It's all scare tactics to control us. We can party on. Let the fossil bonfire burn!" (Sick.)
A large, growing number of wise, caring and intelligent individuals have now satisfied themselves that it is wise to listen to the climate warnings and not dismiss or deny them.
And to make a few bob by doing something that will help our children, not harm them.
Dear Wayne
Thanks for that generous comment, much appreciated, and understood. I can certainly emphasise the cash and resource saving benefits of what I do - but I would be inauthentic to omit or conceal the big driving passion behind what I do. You are right though, this may get in the way for some people - so i am grateful.
We can certainly warmly agree that government's involvement has been counterproductive.
And hey wouldn't that fit another pattern: Governments are 'in bed with oil' the world over, in fact, in many countries, government is oil.
As you say, its a no-brainer to help people cut their consumption of non-renewable resources, to save them money, and to make them feel better about the future regardless of the benefit of CO2 pollution reduction.
The only question is how rapidly it would be wise to come off our addiction to burning fossil and replace it with a whole new efficient clean safe cheap renewable (solar wind and wave) energy based economy. Because we will have to sooner or later.)
I think it's urgent.
But it will do us no harm atall to rapidly embrace renewables, improve energy efficiency, fuel economy, car mileage, and shift a few lifestyle habits to boot.
One quick CORRECTION to the interview with me in BFP (not my letter).
I would not have said "Al Gore and OTHER scientists" as Al Gore is simply not a scientist.
But I am fortunate to have met, and had discussions with, a large number of the worlds top scientists, just as I have also met with the USA former VP and Nobel Prize winner twice.
Oil whistle blowers are much derided (is there a pattern here?) But humankind's pact of silence - not to mention our species collective act of suicide, needs challenging. It's simply not healthy to beleive those who say: "Don't worry. It's all scare tactics to control us. We can party on. Let the fossil bonfire burn!" (Sick.)
A large, growing number of wise, caring and intelligent individuals have now satisfied themselves that it is wise to listen to the climate warnings and not dismiss or deny them.
And to make a few bob by doing something that will help our children, not harm them.
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