Chief Scientist on TV ... huh?

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 06 Mar 2008, 22:30

I just caught the UK Chief Science Adviser, Professor John Beddington on BBC TV News.

It was a short article 18 minutes into the news, of which I only saw a part.

I do THINK he was predicting mega doom, with food and energy supplies needing to be increased by 50% (or was it 100%?).

Did he REALLY say that????

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 06 Mar 2008, 22:42

Yeah but he was predicting for *ages* away, like next summer or something. Not anything to be concerned about yet. And in any case, the higher prices will bring on more supply

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 06 Mar 2008, 22:55

I've just got in after a screening of Black Gold, the movie about Ethiopian coffee and Fair Trade http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/ Should be compulsory viewing for everybody.

SherryMayo · Post by **SherryMayo** » 07 Mar 2008, 04:13

I noticed that Prof Beddington is a population biologist - a chief science advisor that understands overshoot could be interesting....

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 07 Mar 2008, 07:59

And in any case, the higher prices will bring on more supply

So if the govt offers a few million, we will get anti-gravity and hydrogen fusion and toast that falls butter side up and clean hospitals .... the market will provide ... wow that's neat!

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 07 Mar 2008, 10:14

Vortex wrote:
And in any case, the higher prices will bring on more supply
So if the govt offers a few million, we will get anti-gravity and hydrogen fusion and toast that falls butter side up and clean hospitals .... the market will provide ... wow that's neat!

?? I don't think Tess is saying that!

Consistently higher prices makes it worthwhile to spend more money extracting the oil that is harder to get at. Not worth doing unless a high price is assured I would think.

Now if I can put forward my own pet idea: This will work so long as price keeps increasing because then the fuel bought relatively cheaply can be used to extract fuel that will fetch a higher price. However (as I see it) once demand destruction starts in, so the price of fuel levels off and so the fuel used for extraction is also high cost but the returns are not enhanced by rising prices.... (because presumably folk stop buying at a certain extortionate price).

How will this end? How far along the road are we? I still see the end result becoming messy and previously profitable projects being suddenly abandoned????????

Is my reasoning mad?

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 07 Mar 2008, 10:16

Vortex - is there a link for Prof Beddington? I would be interested to listen to his ideas. Population stuff is crucial....

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 07 Mar 2008, 10:29

biffvernon wrote:I've just got in after a screening of Black Gold, the movie about Ethiopian coffee and Fair Trade http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/ Should be compulsory viewing for everybody.

Agreed. Along with Fast Food Nation.

EqualExchange in Edinburgh bring in Ethopian fair trade organic coffee beans which I've been buying for several years. The best tasting coffee on the planet, bar none.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 07 Mar 2008, 10:30

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Beddington
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/ ... hange.food
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/ ... 94,00.html

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 07 Mar 2008, 10:46

Sorry I worded that wrong - I should have googled myself. I was actually thinking of the radio broadcast. I've found Neily has a link in the Discussion section.

Many thanks for the links ......

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 07 Mar 2008, 13:41

Vortex wrote: the market will provide ...

Supply and demand are always balanced.
If supply is constrained then demand will match it by some people getting none.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 07 Mar 2008, 14:13

Sally wrote:...I should have googled myself...

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 07 Mar 2008, 14:42

emordnilap wrote:
Sally wrote:...I should have googled myself...

Hmmmm!

Neily at the peak · Post by **Neily at the peak** » 07 Mar 2008, 15:39

Here is the link to the radio 4 pm programme on which Professor Beddington and Tim Lang had quite a long slot.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainfram ... io4/pm_thu

Neil

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 07 Mar 2008, 16:29

It's 5 mins into the program.