Dave's Diary

The only future is green. So let's face it now...

• How would we vote if we loved the children, our own, and the worlds?

• Policies on the same scale and the same planet as the problems

• ‘No change’ - not an option. This is a time for bold new green beginnings

• Lib Dems ‘dissing’ Greens is like someone ‘shopping’ their sister!

• The only future is green. So let’s face it now

• Will those who held true to the dream of a brighter cleaner greener world be rewarded on June 4th

I was 50 in May. My entire adult life I’ve voted Labour or Lib Dem, usually the former. Over the last decade I became a fervent LibDem supporter. But lately it feels like 32 badly wasted years. I feel betrayed. I have, at long last, realised that ‘the main parties’ are the parties of ‘no change’. Business as usual, politics as usual, and denial of climate crisis as usual. (“The government is not just in bed with big oil, the government is big oil” as states the ‘Age of Stupid’ movie.) At a time when we urgently need big change, in terms of radical shifts towards sustainability, ‘no change’ or ‘slow change’ are simply not an option. This is a time for bold new green beginnings.

My Tory MP refuses to represent me, and has banned me from his surgery. I wrote to Gordon Brown a year ago letting him know he’d lost a long-term labour supporter for good, following his blatant pro airline, pro road and pro coal decisions. And I don’t trust the Tory’s, however polished they sound, to work for a more equitable world. It’s just not in their nature.

The LibDems used to be ok, but have now resorted to campaigning negatively– even ‘dissing’ Greens. That’s like ‘shopping’ your sister! I’m also dismayed that they are talking down the Greens' Euro-prospects at the very time when the polls show them improving. Such grubby politics, at a time of national concern at the dirtiness of politics, is the height of foolishness. Are the Lib Dems showing their true colours by running from the truth of Greens new popularity?

The party with a leader I passionately agree with, on almost every single topic – is the Green Party. Caroline Lucas is a very sensible lady and in my opinion will be PM.

The Greens – for all their obvious failings and inexperience - are the only party with policies remotely on the same scale and on the same planet as the problems we face. They are the only sane vote if we loved the children, our own, and the world’s.

I hope to wake up on June 5th to a see those who have held true to the dream of a brighter, cleaner, greener world rewarded with a green landslide. Or at least a brave new world with 4 main parties. The bright future is green. The only future is green. It’s time to welcome the future.



Dave Hampton MA (Cantab) C Eng C Env FRSA - and still can't remember where his coffee cup is

pic by andy hobsbawm in soho yesterday

FT say 'no chance' (they print) - but I comment anyway...

Sustainable Economic Growth, and Perpetual Motion
Or
Making the ‘special vehicle’ that is ‘one earth holdings’ viable once more 
  
 
I admire Economists.  But my hunch is that the currency crisis, the dark cloud we feel, grieving the loss of  “little green slips of paper” is a mere hiccup.  In 50 years time, when looked at by Historians, the events of October 2008 will register at less than 0.1 out of 10 on their new ‘Richter’ scale of ecological and climate crisis.
Is it possible we are taking our eye off the ecological ball, our home planet, at precisely the wrong time? Everyone knows that Mammon plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mother Earth, in whose good company we are strictly limited.  
So, "for kids sake", could FT please return to the underlying crisis, seek Ecologists comment, and resolve to leave no footprint unturned in making the ‘special vehicle’ that is ‘one earth holdings’ viable once more.
 
 
Dave Hampton
the carbon coach

Protect Children: Don't make them breathe our smoke

It was the same once for smoking

THIRTY years ago, a ‘debate’ was raging – about whether or not smoking was bad for health.

Now cigarette packets carry the following warning: PROTECT CHILDREN: DON'T MAKE THEM BREATHE OUR SMOKE.

I’d like to ask readers to reflect on how and why our beliefs get manipulated: by government, media, commerce and individuals. Please consider the consequences of holding the two differing beliefs below: First, imagine that you tend to believe the health dangers of smoking are being wildly exaggerated. How are you likely to behave? You are unlikely to stop smoking. Perhaps you will smoke a little more in protest at Government. You will be unconcerned about inflicting your smoke on others, even your own children.

Eventually you may develop mild paranoia (as well as terminal illness.) Next, imagine that you tend to believe the real dangers of smoking are being hushed up, by the tobacco industry in collusion with Government and media, so as to maintain markets, advertising and tax revenues.

How are you likely to behave? If you are a smoker, you are likely to strive to come off your habit, improving your health, and that of others too. You will save money, pay less tax, and feel liberated.

Now replace ‘smoking’ with “burning fossil fuel”.

I hope BFP readers may recognise the motivations of those who try to tell us that (black is white) and that it is fine to carry on burning fossil.

As the scale of the post-oil crisis unfolds, over the next few years, I hope they stay around, so that the children can hold them to account.

Dave Hampton, Hyde Green, Marlow.

As printed in the 'Bucks Freee Press' along with considerable local climate denial and obfuscation, shamefully.

http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/yoursay/opinion/yourletters/3726352.It_was_the_same_once_for_smoking/

Sport Gold Inspires Energy Future?

Let Britains Paddle their Own Canoe - with Olympian Energy

 

A few brave Olympians can yet change world history for good.  We witnessed mastery - of self, along with wind, tide and wave. Whether on bikes, on water, or with sails:  whether cooperating in small teams, or paddling their own canoe:  our Team recycled our national pride and natural heritage. ‘True Grit’ style. Just in time for 2012.

 

Success comes from fully utilising every ounce of resource, and from pure self-reliance.  They had no power cable, no outboard motor, no wonder-drug nor imported fossil.  Just nature's energy.

 

We can demand the same of UK energy policy. Over the next four years, we can invest to power up the kids future sustainably, instead of repeating past mistakes.  

 

We can politely 'retire off' the dirty relics of yesterdays power base.  We can dismantle the ailing, failing, haemorrhaging, spoiling, over-centralised, costly and domineering fossil and nuclear 'teams'.  (Whilst respecting their contribution to past success.) 

 

We can transplant our faith, cash and creativity into the rising energy stars of our common future, the multi-discipline renewable energy team. As if our lives depend on it. They do. 

 

A Britain powered, happily ever after, by local sun, wind and wave!  Now that would be a baton to pass on: a Golden economy.  The rest of the world would run hard to follow that lead! 

 

Self sufficiency for 2012 is a prediction worth dying for.  Renewable energy is the new gold dream. Let the clean energy race begin.

 

What if ‘the lights went out’ and nobody noticed?

 

(Climate Camp - August 2008)

 

Hoards of brave men and women are amassing at Climate Camp for a bit of police harassment.  The police harassing the people, that is, let’s be clear. Never before have so many “people like us” decided they must go, whoever the “us” may be.  Not the usual suspects atall (officer.)

 

Even left and right unite.  But the ‘overactive policing’ tactics will backfire. The fear factor is only increasing my resolve to attend. (I travel down today.)

 

This is a good thing.  At this point in history anyone can see (even without the lights on) that fossil carbon is best left undisturbed.

 

A nice little twist, mostly overlooked, is that the thousands at the camp who consider the climate crisis far more vital than the dratted “lights going out” will all be fine this week, in the event of a power cut! The camp is crammed full of renewable energy sufficiency. Perhaps it is the camp technology that ‘those in power and addicted to it’ wish to confiscate.

 

Dave Hampton

Marlow

Bucks

Shorts in The Sun - 5

Only The Sun can Save The Planet plc

Gordon Brown says 'hold tight' for a bumpy ride of the economy. Sure, the pound in my pocket is important to me, but the bigger issue by far is the planet my kids inherit, with climate now in crisis.

The PM needs to adapt his prudence and Treasury prowess into the new job.  Will he steer us in the face of new weather ahead. 

Our species precious Earth (let's call it "The Ecology Inc.") is the holding company of "The Economy plc". So let's fix the Planet plc?

There is brave new hope (money, jobs, purpose) in a solar-only energy future, as any child can tell you.  Fossils deny this, but ultimately it is only the Sun that can save the children.

Shorts in The Sun -4

Dear Sun

Put that in your pipe and smoke it

In reply to letter (last Weds.):

Yes, it is true a gas-guzzler driven 1,500 miles a year does less climate damage than a Mini driven 15,000.  It's also true that a Mini diesel driven 15,000 miles does less damage than said guzzler, driven 5,000.  Put that in your large pipe and (let the kids) smoke it!

Dave Hampton

The Carbon Coach

Shorts in The Sun -3

Dear Sun

The Price is Not Right! 

It's only Free Sun can save our children Some say fossil fuel is too dear. But even after the latest energy price hikes, I say 'fossil' is much too cheap.

Gordon Brown says 'hold tight' for a bumpy ride of the economy. Sure, the pound in my pocket is important to me, but the bigger issue, by far, is the worsening state of my kids planet. Can the PM recycle his old Treasury prowess, grow into the new job, and steer the ship well - in the face of rough weather ahead? Our precious Earth is the holding company of "The Economy plc". So let's all fix the Planet before its FUBAR?

There is hope, money, jobs and purpose in a solar-only energy future - any child knows this. Old fossils may deny it, but ultimately it is only the free power of the sun that can save our children.

Dave Hampton