commustan
Diplomat
Japanada Ambassador
Posts: 19
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Post by commustan on Oct 8, 2005 16:27:13 GMT
Tractors aren't just on big corperate farms. Most family farms have them. And you must drive them on the road to get them to the fields. Though, I would like to see crop-based fuels. Bush's energy policy promotes them, but he says alot of things. THey talk about less dependence on foreign oil. I want less dependence on domestic oil.
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Post by D.S. of Soviet Sexy Girls on Oct 8, 2005 18:03:03 GMT
The population problem is a "semi-problem" according to recent studies of populations growth. Indeed, it has been calculated that the rate of the aging process of the population of western countries and hugely populated countries such as India or China will increase sharply in the next years. I don't remember the exact figures but it was something like in only 15 years China will lost a hundred millions inhabitants each year ! The average age in China is already close to the ones of western countries and it will only increase in the next decade. The same should happen in all Asia and South America as well.
That large decrease of population, which has already begun in Europe (only France will continue to grow according to these studies), is mostly due to the new ways of living introduced by "modern world" and that are not very pro-children. Active men and women make less children. Asian will reach that situation soon. I remember that the US would not loose population also...
I don't remember about Africa, but I think their situation is different since they haven't yet reached the same level of economical development as Asian or American countries.
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Ketoprofen
Defence Forces
Ketoprofen - The Proletariat Coalition
Posts: 1,883
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Post by Ketoprofen on Oct 9, 2005 14:11:13 GMT
An outright ban of cars will halt much of our modern civilisation and it's progress. The governments should be funding research on less polluting cars instead and we will be forced too anyway since the petroleum stocks will dry out sooner or later within our lifespan.
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Post by canteria on Oct 9, 2005 14:17:16 GMT
One word- SOLAR POWER. Okay, maybe it's two words. But still, solar power is the answer.
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gilligus
Diplomat
Ambassador from the Alliance of Socialist States
Posts: 100
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Post by gilligus on Oct 9, 2005 16:55:56 GMT
I agree that solar power could definitely contribute to the switch from fossil-fuel dependency. However, while excess could be stored in batteries, there is nonetheless merit to the argument that solar power only helps while the sun is out. Energy is used in mass quantities at night, especially in places like NYC and Las Vegas. However, when supplemented with other sources like wind, geothermal, and nuclear power, solar power definitely has a niche in the market. I think part of the key to making the switch successful is to ensure that multiple sources are maintained; one of the problems that I forsee with the switch from oil is that, after a period of using wind, solar, etc. together, one will emerge as the best source and the market will become dependant on it.
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Post by Revolutionary Masses on Oct 9, 2005 17:17:43 GMT
Indeed one of the biggest problems today (well for the future) is that our energy supplies have no redundancy.
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Post by D.S. of Soviet Sexy Girls on Oct 9, 2005 17:36:30 GMT
Solar power is a good thing but can hardly work alone. Combined with some wind power and nuclear power it could work well, and don't buy the argument that it's only work when sun shines, it work even on cloudy days (less efficiently of course, but still work).
The ultimate solution to that : Solar panels in space. Large solar "farm" orbiting earth on geostationary orbits and sending the power they harvest trough concentrated micro-waves beams (or maybe lasers). That is a solution !
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gilligus
Diplomat
Ambassador from the Alliance of Socialist States
Posts: 100
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Post by gilligus on Oct 9, 2005 22:21:59 GMT
Sure sounds nice...
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Ketoprofen
Defence Forces
Ketoprofen - The Proletariat Coalition
Posts: 1,883
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Post by Ketoprofen on Oct 10, 2005 8:23:49 GMT
Yes, I read about it in a scientific magasine, sounds interesting but is it realistic? Secondly, I was wondering what "The Chinese Solution" was about, the one EuroSoviets jokely spoke about in another thread I believe.
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Post by D.S. of Soviet Sexy Girls on Oct 10, 2005 20:06:41 GMT
It'd be realistic in 25 or 30 years if enough funds goes into space technologies and research.
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EuroSoviets
Defence Forces
Founders of the Allied States of EuroIslanders.
Posts: 697
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Post by EuroSoviets on Oct 12, 2005 13:12:11 GMT
The Chinese solution: Bicycles. Lots of them. Given to people for free.
Banning cars is perfectly viable - just no government could possibly do it without annihilating themselves electorally - the ruling class would crush any political party under their sway that even discussed it on a serious level.
Trains for intercity, bus for big cities, bicycles for towns and cars for the disabled and emergency services. We have the means. It will never happen under capitalism, which is just as well since the capitalists don't have the ability to centrally plan anything *cough British Rail cough*
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Post by D.S. of Soviet Sexy Girls on Oct 12, 2005 16:43:05 GMT
Paris' suburban trains, metro and but network is one of the most extensive of the world. You don't need to have a car if you live less than 30 Km from the city borders (that already makes something like 8 million people). Yet it was created by capitalists
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Ketoprofen
Defence Forces
Ketoprofen - The Proletariat Coalition
Posts: 1,883
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Post by Ketoprofen on Oct 13, 2005 12:22:07 GMT
You're talking about Paris. What I think is envisionned is a country-wide network of public transport to all areas of France ( mountains and remote villages included ) for example, which is currently not a realistic project.
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Post by Revolutionary Masses on Oct 13, 2005 14:05:45 GMT
Public transportation, yey, birmingham to cardif for 16£ yey, actually should be free though :.<! Ahem after taxation.
You're talking about Paris. What I think is envisionned is a country-wide network of public transport to all areas of France ( mountains and remote villages included ) for example, which is currently not a realistic project.
A railway to every door would be nice but quite unworkable. However there is no excuse for not providing alternatives to a car 99% of the time, it would be a big aid in the fight against emissions! In the UK you can get pretty much everywhere by public transport, which is a definate good thing, indeed I pretty much do have a railway on my doorstep (selly oak station + student railcard = woot).
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Post by D.S. of Soviet Sexy Girls on Oct 13, 2005 14:23:51 GMT
How will you support the railway if it is totally free ? A country wide railway such as the one of Ile de France, not only Paris, would indeed be a good thing. It does not need to reach each village however, just use buses to carry passengers to rail hubs. And by the way, I was responding to ES' comment on capitalists.
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