Sunday, April 16, 2006

Not In My Back Yard

So the energy crisis is looming in Britain. We will not have enough to meet our needs in the very near future. Not so long ago Tony Blair was all for renewable energy sources - wind power, wave power, solar power - all things which would go on indefinitely without dangerous emissions or waste. All systems which would need strong investment to make them happen. But lots of energy consumers, ordinary people like you and me, didn't like the thought of windmills across their lovely green hills spoiling their panoramic view. Or large barrages across their estuaries causing problems with the wildlife etc. So what seemed to be an ideal answer to the problem became a problem in itself. So now Tony has reverted to thoughts of a new generation of nuclear power stations. That in itself has all sorts of issues over nuclear waste, decomissioning of old power stations, disposal of the radioactive materials left behind etc.
Has nobody thought that the best answer is to use less energy? If we all switched off our televisions and computers instead of leaving them on standby there would be a considerable saving in electricity. If we only used energy efficient lights - and then only when needed - we could save 80% of our lighting energy. If more people walked to work and didn't take their children to school by car but made them walk even more fossil fuel-burning energy would be saved.
Good idea, you say. But it needs to be acted upon by us all. It's no good expecting everyone else to do it without your own contribution.
Nuff said.

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