On the Isle of Wight, our local bus company is complaining that its free-bus-ride project is threatened by rising fuel prices.A 35% rise in a year, in fact.
(County Press 14/3/08)
They’re not alone. In the last three months at least four other bus companies have said the same.
A political party has started acting on Peak Oil.
AT LAST!
What will they do?
Not much - they are not in power, nor are they likely to be for the foreseeable future.
It’s the British National Party.
BUT AT LEAST THEY HAVE A DISCUSSION GROUP.
All the same…
The Times recommends we follow the Transition Towns model.
Do it ourselves.
Work at a community level rather than a political level.
Talk to neighbours, friends and workmates.
Civilisation aims to protect us from the extremes of nature through a system of cooperation, mostly invisible (taken for granted) these days. Research indicates that the more ‘civilised’ we are, the less worried we are.
Civilisation is designed to reduce our need to worry about our environment.
We can worry about entertainment rather than food.
We can concern ourselves with philosophy instead of shelter.
“For decades, scientists in the US had pointed out that New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen.
The city lies in an area that is prone to annual hurricanes, half the city is below sea level, and a force 5 hurricane was bound to hit the city, so drastic measures had to be implemented immediately to avoid disaster.
Food security and the rapid rise in food prices are the urgent issue that politicians must face up to quickly.
Global grain stores are currently at the lowest levels ever, just 40 days from running out.
On 1st February 2008, the Isle of Eigg Electrification Project will switch on for the first time, allowing power generated from renewable energy sources around the island to be supplied to all residents, through the new island wide high voltage distribution network.
The system will generate over 95% of the islands annual energy demand through a combination of Hydro Electric, Wind Power and Solar Energy, which is believed to be the first time that anyone has successfully integrated these three renewable energy sources.
To ensure that constant power can be provided, a battery storage system has been designed which will compensate for short periods of up to 24 hours, where energy from renewable sources is not available. Two 80kW diesel generators have also been installed to provide emergency back-up and to supplement the supply should the output from the renewable sources be lower than the demand.
Reports in the County Press, the Isle of Wight’s independent newspaper, show the effect of just one storm.
Thousands lost electricity supply, a flood arrived in the capital town Newport, a tanker ship ran aground and the ferries were battered into paralysis.
The number of resolutions was nearly double the amount filed in 2006.
Investors clearly feel that companies in every industry, especially energy sectors, should be acting now to assess and reduce climate change risks.
Shareholder resolutions on climate are most often voted down. But they do raise awareness of potential business impacts of emissions of gases scientists blame for warming the planet.
Fourteen of the 54 resolutions were withdrawn by investors after the companies agreed to disclose potential impacts from emerging climate regulations and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Market prices for wheat have doubled in the last year. Market speculation is partly to blame.
Spreading fears of a recession make food commodities seem a safe bet because they will always be needed. But when they are needed most, this speculation makes them most expensive.
Global stocks of wheat have fallen to their lowest point in thirty years because of poor harvests caused by drought or flooding, population growth and increased wealth in developing countries and to ensure food supplies, rising transport costs because of fuel costs, and farmers are switching to growing bio-fuels. Many governments have placed restrictions on wheat exports.
The UK’s first Energy Saving Day achieved no noticeable decrease in UK electricity use.
E-Day asked people to switch off electrical appliances they did not need over a period of 24 hours, with the National Grid monitoring consumption. It found that electricity usage was almost exactly what would have been expected without E-Day.
Colder weather than forecast in some regions may have led to higher use of heating, masking any small savings.
The event also received very little publicity, despite having backing from campaign groups such as Greenpeace, Christian Aid and the RSPB, and from major energy companies such as EDF, E.On and Scottish Power.
Richard Branson was jubilant after last week’s successful Virgin Atlantic biojet test-flight.
Just one year ago, flying biofuels at 30,000 feet was deemed impossible. Now we know it works.
Next, Virgin Atlantic and Boeing intend to test biofuel made from algae farmed in seawater ponds on non-productive land in seawater ponds.
But early tests for algae look promising, says a Boeing spokesperson. Fuel derived from algae oil has a lifecycle CO2 advantage, he says, which means it absorbs CO2 when the feedstock is being grown.
It may also produce fewer particulates or other non-CO2 emissions when used in an engine compared to conventional petroleum-based fuel.
Guardian: Environment Sustainable Development
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U.S. investors have filed a record 54 shareholder resolutions, asking companies act to reduce risks of climate change on the bottom line. 
