Ten Billion

Forum for general discussion of Peak Oil / Oil depletion; also covering related subjects

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Kentucky Fried Panda
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Post by Kentucky Fried Panda »

nexus wrote:
Who on here has a car? Who still travels by air? Who buys most of their stuff new? Who still shops at Tesco/Asda instead of growing some of their own and getting the rest from local/ethical shops? Who lives in a house too big for their needs, that is energy intensive to heat and light? Who keeps pet(s)? Who eats meat?
I have 2 cars, I fly every couple of years.
Most of my stuff is new and imported.
I prefer the Morrisons because it's less than 500 yards away.
2 bed house all to myself.
No current pets.
I still eat meat 4-5 times a weeks.

I'm of the view that we're so fecked that only a major reset of the way the world works will save this place for future generations.

Try and reduce your own carbon footprint all you want, but Big Oil, Big Coal and others in the energy industry will produce more carbon by themselves than the environment can afford.

A lot of people who go on about reducing their own carbon outputs are infected with the same sort of smugness that you see in people who buy the latest fashions and drive expensive cars.

People will never change, that's why we're fecked.
Last edited by Kentucky Fried Panda on 15 Aug 2012, 18:07, edited 1 time in total.
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nexus
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Post by nexus »

A lot of people who go on about reducing their own carbon outputs are infected with the same sort of smugness that you see in people who buy the latest fashions and drive expensive cars.
I think that people who really make an effort, often don't go on about it (we don't talk to anyone about it, we just do this stuff because it is the right thing to do). I find that the people who go on about it a lot are the ones who do something small like not using plastic bags, but quite happily drive everywhere.

I can understand that if you think it's all fncked you won't care about what you do.
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Frederick Douglass
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Catweazle
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Post by Catweazle »

UndercoverElephant wrote:
Catweazle wrote:
RenewableCandy wrote:Anyway, the article recommended rabbits as the best food for dogs: as in find them, kill them (or let the dog oblige), then let the dog at them.
Dogs know this too. I cut a whole rabbit in half ( minus the head because there might be fragments of lead or copper in there ) and let them get on with it, they'll eat the lot. You have to remember to worm them regularly.
You remove the guts, I assume.
I gut them and piss them in the field because the stomach, intestines and bladder stink, I leave the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys. I rinse the cavity under running water and inspect for any white cysts which can be worms.

They could happily eat the lot though, but it makes them smell rank.

As well as the possibility of shrapnel in the head, my wife says she doesn't want them to eat anything with a head in case they get the idea they can eat other dogs ( daft, I know ).
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Cabrone
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Post by Cabrone »

Kentucky Fried Panda wrote:I'm of the view that we're so fecked that only a major reset of the way the world works will save this place for future generations.
.....
People will never change, that's why we're fecked.
Agreed, even if we stopped all carbon burning activities IMO it's too late now.

We've flicked the earth's heating switch on and it's a one way switch.

The machine will eventually raise temps by at least 4 deg C and quite possibly 6 or more.

I can't get too worked up about it now as once I'd accepted the situation I just became fateful.

C'est la vie.

PS: I do most of those things on the list. Whilst it's better for the environment it also saves you a packet which is a bit of a result in these straightened times.
The most complete exposition of a social myth comes when the myth itself is waning (Robert M MacIver 1947)
Little John

Post by Little John »

emordnilap wrote:
biffvernon wrote:Our late dog, healthy till he died aged 17, was pretty much vegetarian. I thought it quite unnatural but he got the runs every time we tried giving him meat.
Ours are semi-veggie but they'll eat anything, even the foil trays some food appears in.

Regarding grains, one of our dogs absolutely adores bread and will go to great lengths to steal it. Interesting subject. I've often thought we ought to just make a lot more food for ourselves and let them have whatever's leftover.
That's all our Henry ate. Leftovers from the rest of the family. Custard, apple pie, pork chops, gravy, mashed tatties etc all mixed in together with a bit of milk if it was too dry.

He lived to over 17 years old. Apart from worming him occasionally ourselves, he never had any medical treatment in his entire life except for the day he died when we took him to the vet after he got run over by a car. He was blind as a bat and deaf as a post at the end and didn't hear or see it coming.
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Kentucky Fried Panda
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Post by Kentucky Fried Panda »

I found the article about the show.

Sounds like it would make a useful film, but people forget so quickly.

How many years ago was An Inconvenient Truth released? 6 years ago.
People forget, they move on. The information overload and busy lives ensure that they're looking for the next new trend to follow.
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emordnilap
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Post by emordnilap »

Kentucky Fried Panda wrote:People will never change, that's why we're fecked.
Oh, people can change. Self-centred, greedy feckers are just the most difficult, that's all.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
snow hope
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Post by snow hope »

Kentucky Fried Panda wrote:
nexus wrote:
Who on here has a car? Who still travels by air? Who buys most of their stuff new? Who still shops at Tesco/Asda instead of growing some of their own and getting the rest from local/ethical shops? Who lives in a house too big for their needs, that is energy intensive to heat and light? Who keeps pet(s)? Who eats meat?
I have 2 cars, I fly every couple of years.
Most of my stuff is new and imported.
I prefer the Morrisons because it's less than 500 yards away.
2 bed house all to myself.
No current pets.
I still eat meat 4-5 times a weeks.

I'm of the view that we're so fecked that only a major reset of the way the world works will save this place for future generations.

Try and reduce your own carbon footprint all you want, but Big Oil, Big Coal and others in the energy industry will produce more carbon by themselves than the environment can afford.

A lot of people who go on about reducing their own carbon outputs are infected with the same sort of smugness that you see in people who buy the latest fashions and drive expensive cars.

People will never change, that's why we're fecked.
My family (of 5 adults) has 3 cars and 1 motorbike - all cars are diesel and do 50+ mpg with low CO2 output (intentional). We have 2 buses pass our house every day and 4 of us work at different times and directions, it would be VERY difficult to get to work without the vehicles we have currently. We might have to in the future but while we can afford fuel we take the realistic option.
We buy from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and M&S - all because they are handy for shopping for 5 or provide the variety and value we want. We might have to buy differently in the future, but currently we take the realistic option for our situation.
We had a dog (which recently died) and won't be replaced. We have a semi-wild cat that is very good at catching vermin and birds.
Live in a 5-bed house which is big - no plans to move to smaller at the moment as we have almost an acre of garden which could be converted if/when necessary to vegetable growing and I value this. Lots of fruit trees growing.
We have a few TVs - all old CRT. :shock:
I am just back from Morocco on business - travelled to Heathrow and Cassablanca by air. Hope to get a holiday in Spain in September (by air) to get some sun and heat. Haven't had a proper holiday from work for 4 years and the weather sucks here! :evil:
We eat meat 6 days a week and have no plans to change.
I try not to buy anything I don't really need or won't be useful in the future PO world. I am past consumerism/materialism, but still like to eat and drink while I can.
I am not ashamed of any of the above and if anybody thinks that is wrong or bad, that is there problem.
My view is that we are fecked, it is only a matter of time. It IS going to get bad in the future, but for the meantime I do not see any reason to suffer now. If that offends some people then fair enough. Not eating meat offends me and one day it may well happen, I will deal with it then. :roll:
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extractorfan
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Post by extractorfan »

We have 2 cars, a petrol people carrier and a diesel.
We live in a 3 bedroom house.
We shop at a supermarket for meat and cleaning products but at a grocer (most of the time) for fruit and veg, mostly due to cost and quality.
We have a cat, I hate the bloody thing [well not quite] it but we will see it through until it dies of something.
We grow some of our food, soon to be more but for enjoyment reasons rather than morality.
The house is well insulated.
We know our neighbours relatively well.

I don't believe we are f*cked, but I do believe things are changing and the rate of change is going to accelerate, many people will think they are f*cked.

I like Fray Bentos Pies.
snow hope
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Post by snow hope »

extractorfan wrote: I like Fray Bentos Pies.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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emordnilap
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Post by emordnilap »

It's the 'realistic' options that have us fecked.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
SleeperService
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Post by SleeperService »

nexus wrote:Who on here has a car? Who still travels by air? Who buys most of their stuff new? Who still shops at Tesco/Asda instead of growing some of their own and getting the rest from local/ethical shops? Who lives in a house too big for their needs, that is energy intensive to heat and light? Who keeps pet(s)? Who eats meat?

Most of us on here know about climate change and still persist in doing things which contribute massively to climate change, so there's your answer- if we can't be arsed to make proper, major lifestyle changes then we certainly can't be asking anyone else to.

(Before anyone dives in to have a go I can answer 'no' to all the above).
Well done to you :D

Yes, sort of, I have the use of my elderly neighbour's (she can't drive anymore) in exchange for running her around. Done nearly 1000 miles since January :shock:
Not for at least ten years.
No, and I've been getting rid of stuff for a while now.
Only for items I can't get in other local shops.
Two bed semi single occupant (but trying to sell it)
No
Maybe three times a week one of which is fish

I'd be really happy if I could click my fingers and live the sort of life I'd love to, but it needs time to change, what a small group does may fade away if it's a fad or become normal. I hope the latter.
Scarcity is the new black
Little John

Post by Little John »

SleeperService wrote:
nexus wrote:Who on here has a car? Who still travels by air? Who buys most of their stuff new? Who still shops at Tesco/Asda instead of growing some of their own and getting the rest from local/ethical shops? Who lives in a house too big for their needs, that is energy intensive to heat and light? Who keeps pet(s)? Who eats meat?

Most of us on here know about climate change and still persist in doing things which contribute massively to climate change, so there's your answer- if we can't be arsed to make proper, major lifestyle changes then we certainly can't be asking anyone else to.

(Before anyone dives in to have a go I can answer 'no' to all the above).
Well done to you :D

Yes, sort of, I have the use of my elderly neighbour's (she can't drive anymore) in exchange for running her around. Done nearly 1000 miles since January :shock:
Not for at least ten years.
No, and I've been getting rid of stuff for a while now.
Only for items I can't get in other local shops.
Two bed semi single occupant (but trying to sell it)
No
Maybe three times a week one of which is fish

I'd be really happy if I could click my fingers and live the sort of life I'd love to, but it needs time to change, what a small group does may fade away if it's a fad or become normal. I hope the latter.
Bugger me, I've done about 4000 since January
featherstick
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Post by featherstick »

I've heard the exact opposite re dogs' diet - that they can and should eat semi-digested grains and this is why they'll tear into the stomach of anything they kill first - some lovely pre-digested veggies in there for them. We certainly had a dog with the canine equivalent of coeliac disease. He was a very handsome but mangy and skinny German Pointer whom we called Slim after we rescued him. We took him off tins and dried food and started going down to the local slaughterhouse to get paunches and lights for him. Happy memories, me and my Dad up to our elbows in a waste barrel behind the slaughterhouse, hauling out paunches and letting the slurry inside drain away, before taking them home, washing them again, and cutting them up for the freezer. Golden memories. Slim recovered very quickly on this diet and lived to a ripe old age. He was the only dog I ever came across with this condition though, in many years of owning and training dogs.

We have a car and we do about 5000 miles pa in it. We shop at Asda, God help us, as it's the nearest. We do grow quite a bit of our own produce. I try not to fly on holidays but I fly for work. Our house is just right, I'd say, for a family of three who have frequent visitors. It's snug and well-insulated and pretty efficient. We don't have a dog or cat, although I miss keeping dogs dreadfully. We have a child and we're expecting another. We eat organic, locally produced meat infrequently.

We're trying to reduce our impact and prepare for voluntary simplicity as best we can. However it has to be within our current constraints. I would go further than we have done by getting rid of the car for instance, but SWMBO won't have it. We may have to soon if she loses her job.
"Tea's a good drink - keeps you going"
extractorfan
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Post by extractorfan »

I really miss flying off to faraway lands but if I'm honest I'd probably still be doing it if a) I had the cash and b) I was still single and childless.

Come to think of it, settling down and having a child has reduced the amount I (or she) travel significantly.
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