I have been reflecting lately on the way we obsess about issues. 'We' meaning, in this case, 'the American social organism as reflected in media and personal interaction
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I totally agree with you. It seems like Global Warming is in the process of being commodified into something that can be made profitable, and ends up just being another venue for marketing and the proliferation of consumer culture. And, too, the fervor and frenzy of it, well, it smacks a little of religious zealotry. You have the beginnings of a great article in the above entry (I know, there's probably not time.)
Locally, here in WV, my community recently lost a case against a company who is going to build a wind farm. The ridge where this farm will be built is home to many species of bats and birds..... The wind farm was opposed by our local community because it will kill many birds and bats as well as destroy the wild vistas and habitat
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It gets really tricky too, because the newer turbine designs that have less impact on the birds, are the super mega huge ones. So if they're uglier, but better for the environment, could we live with that? Is it better than a coal mine? How important is a pretty view?
I'd personally like to see a lot more done with reducing demand. We all have to take responsibility for our contribution to demand.
My understanding is that the larger the turbine is, the less effect it has on birds, because the blades of the giants move much slower. And the giants really aren't all that ugly -- they're kind of pretty in their own sort of ponderous fashion. Tehachapi has just about every type of commercial wind turbine that's ever been installed in any numbers in US in operation -- 6000 or so in all.
There's about 40-50 megawatt-class turbines sitting at Mojave airport waiting for installation. They've been sitting there a year -- not sure what the holdup is.
Trade Offsblack_reaverDecember 11 2007, 21:15:38 UTC
It seems to me that one of the biggest problems with the media induced version of collective consciousness is that it is devoid of any critical thinking. Trade offs are not viewed as trade offs they are viewed as nullifiers. If there is a "bad" consequence to something then the proposal is condemned as a whole. The trend is to simply paint any given thing as either good or bad. Right now renewable and low/no emission is good. Well, it’s not that simple, but that’s as complex as sound bites allow the debate to get.
If you save the spotted owl, hundreds of lumber industry workers loose their jobs. Let them work you loose an environment. Trade offs are inevitable.
The other problem with trade offs is weighing them. It can quickly become a form of analysis paralysis trying to weigh the merits of any course of action. Renewable energy versus dead birds, versus the expense of protecting the birds, versus how much environment is saved versus destroyed, versus the consequences of not pursuing renewable energy, etc. etc.
I'm hopeful that the global warming issue will bring other environment issues to the consciousness of people who otherwise wouldn't even think about it.
Last night I was listening to a conservative talk radio host (that's all we get here) rant about how Al Gore is taking attention away from other environmental issues. Granted, he was a hunter... but I was amused to see environmental issues cutting across political lines.
We have a few of the mega turbines here in Tehachapi. I actually kind of like the way they look.
I'm not sure "rush to judgement" is the phrase I would use. More like "too little, too late, OMGWTFBBQ!!!"
Also, the kind of change you're talking about as a better option is a basic change in values and worldview. That just doesn't happen quickly, period. The up side is that the real way to change the values of a society is by living them, one person at a time. That puts it within the scope of each of us.
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You have the beginnings of a great article in the above entry (I know, there's probably not time.)
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I'd personally like to see a lot more done with reducing demand. We all have to take responsibility for our contribution to demand.
Reply
There's about 40-50 megawatt-class turbines sitting at Mojave airport waiting for installation. They've been sitting there a year -- not sure what the holdup is.
Reply
If you save the spotted owl, hundreds of lumber industry workers loose their jobs. Let them work you loose an environment. Trade offs are inevitable.
The other problem with trade offs is weighing them. It can quickly become a form of analysis paralysis trying to weigh the merits of any course of action. Renewable energy versus dead birds, versus the expense of protecting the birds, versus how much environment is saved versus destroyed, versus the consequences of not pursuing renewable energy, etc. etc.
Reply
Last night I was listening to a conservative talk radio host (that's all we get here) rant about how Al Gore is taking attention away from other environmental issues. Granted, he was a hunter... but I was amused to see environmental issues cutting across political lines.
We have a few of the mega turbines here in Tehachapi. I actually kind of like the way they look.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Also, the kind of change you're talking about as a better option is a basic change in values and worldview. That just doesn't happen quickly, period. The up side is that the real way to change the values of a society is by living them, one person at a time. That puts it within the scope of each of us.
Reply
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