With the current global financial crisis, there has been much talk about the dot.com bubble, the housing bubble, and the stock market bubble. Unfortunately, we have another already huge and growing bubble that is being ignored... the global population bubble. Currently, there are 6.5 billion people, and that is projected to increase to 9 billion by 2050. Already, humans are causing widespread global devastation, which will only increase as the population increases. Genocide, famine, and wars will only increase as the population increases and resources become more scare.
I propose a fix to the population bubble: when a man or woman reaches adulthood, each would get a certificate for one child. This is a fair method for halting global population growth. If a family wanted to have more than two children, they would need to obtain (buy or receive) additional certificates. If individuals didn't have children, they could sell or give away their certificate. Unwanted pregnancies could be aborted or could be delivered for adoption to another person who had a certificate. Governments would safeguard the certificates.
The religious would oppose this solution saying, "It is God who must decide this." My reply is, "If it is God's will for families to have more than two children, then pray and He will get you another certificate." No octomoms or procreating like other animals.
If you agree that we are ignoring the population bubble and need to implement some kind of zero population growth, then please publish this solution at other sites. Just like Global Warming is a looming disaster, unregulated human population growth will likely lead to the worst disasters on this planet.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Energy Cost of Bottled Water
Summary of the March 6, 2009 Science Magazine podcast:
200 billion liters of bottled water consumed worldwide in 2007
33 billion liters of bottled water consumed in the U.S. (1/6th of the world, yet our tap water is clean).
The 200 billion liters required 50 million barrels of oil to make, bottle, transport, cool, dispose, etc.
Essentially, when you drink bottled water, it might as well be 1/4 filled with oil.
Recycling of the empty bottles only helps reduce trash, as they are mainly used for other purposes like making carpets.
A Pur or Brita water filter on the faucet works well for removing chemicals and unpleasant taste. A reusable aluminum, stainless steel, or Nalgene water bottle works for carrying water. If you consume some bottled water, try reusing the bottle by refilling it with filtered tap water. Because the U.S. uses over 25% of the world's energy, we are the biggest wasters of energy, and we need to learn to save in EVERY way possible.
200 billion liters of bottled water consumed worldwide in 2007
33 billion liters of bottled water consumed in the U.S. (1/6th of the world, yet our tap water is clean).
The 200 billion liters required 50 million barrels of oil to make, bottle, transport, cool, dispose, etc.
Essentially, when you drink bottled water, it might as well be 1/4 filled with oil.
Recycling of the empty bottles only helps reduce trash, as they are mainly used for other purposes like making carpets.
A Pur or Brita water filter on the faucet works well for removing chemicals and unpleasant taste. A reusable aluminum, stainless steel, or Nalgene water bottle works for carrying water. If you consume some bottled water, try reusing the bottle by refilling it with filtered tap water. Because the U.S. uses over 25% of the world's energy, we are the biggest wasters of energy, and we need to learn to save in EVERY way possible.
Friday, January 30, 2009
W stands for Woops
Woops, didn't prevent 9/11. Woops, didn't get Bin Ladin. Woops, didn't prevent 1000 Katrine deaths. Woops, no WMDs. Woops, 4000+ soldier deaths. Woops, 500,000+ iraqi deaths. Woops, financial meltdown. Woops, should NEVER have been president.
I am writing this because W said in his last interview, "I wasn't prepared for war." That's like saying, "Woops, I wasn't prepare to be president." W acted like being president was just another job, with weekends off. Cheney even allowed W to have elementary school duty, on 9/11, so there wouldn't be any mistakes on W's part that day (WTC7 = inside job).
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Price of Climate Change
A recent article in the LA Times titled, "Climate change may carry huge price tag for California" puts a monetary price on global warming: "About $2.5 trillion of real estate assets in California are at risk from extreme weather events, sea level rise and wildfires, with a projected annual price tag of between $300 million and $3.9 billion, according to a new report".
"Our report makes clear the most expensive thing we can do about climate change is nothing," Roland-Holst said. But he adds, "This is not a Doomsday report . . . . If we make the right investments, we can avert much of the damage in any scenario."
When reading the above, please keep in mind that is only the cost for California and that is an annual cost, meaning that it never goes away until global warming is reversed. Acting quickly could potentially reduce the cost ten-fold. Also remember that our quality of life (food, water, the environment) will be diminished as a result of continued global warming. Paying now to reduce global warming is less expensive than the price and consequences of not acting.
"Our report makes clear the most expensive thing we can do about climate change is nothing," Roland-Holst said. But he adds, "This is not a Doomsday report . . . . If we make the right investments, we can avert much of the damage in any scenario."
When reading the above, please keep in mind that is only the cost for California and that is an annual cost, meaning that it never goes away until global warming is reversed. Acting quickly could potentially reduce the cost ten-fold. Also remember that our quality of life (food, water, the environment) will be diminished as a result of continued global warming. Paying now to reduce global warming is less expensive than the price and consequences of not acting.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Top Ten Reasons "Palin is Bush"
#10 What's the difference between Palin and Bush.... lipstick.
#9 Palin and Bush were both governors of big oil producing states with strong ties to the oil industry.
#8 Palin and Bush are just plain likable: the soccer mom and the boy scout sheriff. Sarah winks and W grins like a puppy dog.
#7 Palin and Bush are both extremely loyal, so they reward supporters by putting them in positions that they are unqualified for.
#6 Palin and Bush are good at reading speeches prepared by professional speech-writers. They are just actors reading other people's words, and the gullible buy it.
#5 Palin and Bush know so little that they show their ignorance when they say what they really think.
#4 Palin and Bush both have egos so big that they think that they can do anything and don't even realize that they are unqualified to be President of the United States.
#3 Palin and Bush are two decent humans who ascended to positions of leadership that were beyond their capabilities, so they ended up descending into bigger and bigger disasters.
#2 Palin and Bush are just puppets of the neo-cons. Their lack of intellect makes it easy for neo-cons to advise/manage/control them.
#1 The same people who like Palin also liked Bush enough to vote for him twice.
#9 Palin and Bush were both governors of big oil producing states with strong ties to the oil industry.
#8 Palin and Bush are just plain likable: the soccer mom and the boy scout sheriff. Sarah winks and W grins like a puppy dog.
#7 Palin and Bush are both extremely loyal, so they reward supporters by putting them in positions that they are unqualified for.
#6 Palin and Bush are good at reading speeches prepared by professional speech-writers. They are just actors reading other people's words, and the gullible buy it.
#5 Palin and Bush know so little that they show their ignorance when they say what they really think.
#4 Palin and Bush both have egos so big that they think that they can do anything and don't even realize that they are unqualified to be President of the United States.
#3 Palin and Bush are two decent humans who ascended to positions of leadership that were beyond their capabilities, so they ended up descending into bigger and bigger disasters.
#2 Palin and Bush are just puppets of the neo-cons. Their lack of intellect makes it easy for neo-cons to advise/manage/control them.
#1 The same people who like Palin also liked Bush enough to vote for him twice.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
McCain/Palin Fairy tale
Hope everyone is aware that neo-cons are con-artists who excel at misleading.
I started to realize that this sudden announcement of Bristol Palin's 5 month pregnancy is a little too strange to buy. Over the past month, Sarah Palin and her family must have been thoroughly investigated, and a 5 month pregnancy had to have been known. Even I don't think the neo-cons and their links to the FBI would have missed that. Really, it seems more like a planned announcement, to help McCain/Palin get votes. Now that I realize that is the plan, it almost seems funny that it might work.
Somebody at one of the neo-con think tanks came up with this fairy-tale story and now the unfolding has begun. There will be plenty of people working on telling the tale. The basic outline has been created with McCain and the Palin family standing up for conservative ethics and morals. As the months roll by, everyone will be interested in the latest on the Palin family. People will grow to like Sarah Palin even more, and darn but even though they don't like McCain, they'll have to vote for McCain/Palin. The economy, oil prices, healthcare, Iraq, Afghanistan, global warming all fade into the background.... what's the latest on that young couple is what everyone wants to talk about. Was it love that brought them together? Hey... do I hear "Made-for-TV" movie here?
This is so cheesy, yet this has got to be the basic plan. Too many $Billions/Trillions are at stake, for the greedy to give up. Since neo-cons operate using, "The Ends Justify the Means", what's wrong with another fairy-tale? With corporate media behind them, pundits will be focusing on the Sarah Palin story/controversy.
If this is what starts to be played out, and I highly suspect that it is, another election will be stolen using puppets. Sarah Palin was chosen because a winning strategy could be created around her and her family, not on her qualifications. When they win the election, they will claim a mandate for everything Sarah Palin stands for: unbridled oil exploration, no abortions, no gun control, no global warming, creationism, a wild west mentality... another words, neo-cons in control for another 4+ years. It might win them the election, but the crash and burn will be all the harder when it comes. Just remember that the greedy aren't worrying about that day/year/decade. It's profits now for the greedy that is what they are after.
I started to realize that this sudden announcement of Bristol Palin's 5 month pregnancy is a little too strange to buy. Over the past month, Sarah Palin and her family must have been thoroughly investigated, and a 5 month pregnancy had to have been known. Even I don't think the neo-cons and their links to the FBI would have missed that. Really, it seems more like a planned announcement, to help McCain/Palin get votes. Now that I realize that is the plan, it almost seems funny that it might work.
Somebody at one of the neo-con think tanks came up with this fairy-tale story and now the unfolding has begun. There will be plenty of people working on telling the tale. The basic outline has been created with McCain and the Palin family standing up for conservative ethics and morals. As the months roll by, everyone will be interested in the latest on the Palin family. People will grow to like Sarah Palin even more, and darn but even though they don't like McCain, they'll have to vote for McCain/Palin. The economy, oil prices, healthcare, Iraq, Afghanistan, global warming all fade into the background.... what's the latest on that young couple is what everyone wants to talk about. Was it love that brought them together? Hey... do I hear "Made-for-TV" movie here?
This is so cheesy, yet this has got to be the basic plan. Too many $Billions/Trillions are at stake, for the greedy to give up. Since neo-cons operate using, "The Ends Justify the Means", what's wrong with another fairy-tale? With corporate media behind them, pundits will be focusing on the Sarah Palin story/controversy.
If this is what starts to be played out, and I highly suspect that it is, another election will be stolen using puppets. Sarah Palin was chosen because a winning strategy could be created around her and her family, not on her qualifications. When they win the election, they will claim a mandate for everything Sarah Palin stands for: unbridled oil exploration, no abortions, no gun control, no global warming, creationism, a wild west mentality... another words, neo-cons in control for another 4+ years. It might win them the election, but the crash and burn will be all the harder when it comes. Just remember that the greedy aren't worrying about that day/year/decade. It's profits now for the greedy that is what they are after.
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