The largest polluters in the world - the United States, China and India

[Demetris]

Although a Rover P6 forum might not sound like an obvious place to discuss politics or related issues, since there a whole lot more appropriate places, i wouldn't really avoid it. You see, what seems to be fascinating at least for me, is that there is the opportunity to listen to the opinion of people that live far far away from my place. It is an opportunity that i take whenever i travel abroad for work. However, in most cases, and in my disappointment, i discover that most people just echo whatever is blasted through the mainstream media, and in which almost everyone has access. Nothing new there then. Although i must admit that there are rare cases that i would discover genuine thoughts on various subjects.
What seems to be a rule though is that the distance from the centre of action tends to transform one's perception about the facts.
I, for example, would never call the Clintons amusing and entertaining, after having offloaded some peaceful depleted uranium, just next door to me. Or, to give another hypothetical example more relevant to the majority of users of this forum, it would be interesting to hear how Britons would be feeling about the Dutch, in case Netherlands 45 years ago invaded and occupied Kent, slaughtering the locals.

Anyway, to return to the original subject, it is all about the eternal struggle for resources and power on earth. This at the moment is masked behind various political moves, and is the actual reason why we don't see any real progress in problems such as pollution, and why politicians find difficult to conform to people's choices when these are not according to their plans.

 

[ghce]

Although a Rover P6 forum might not sound like an obvious place to discuss politics or related issues, since there a whole lot more appropriate places, i wouldn't really avoid it. You see, what seems to be fascinating at least for me, is that there is the opportunity to listen to the opinion of people that live far far away from my place. It is an opportunity that i take whenever i travel abroad for work. However, in most cases, and in my disappointment, i discover that most people just echo whatever is blasted through the mainstream media, and in which almost everyone has access. Nothing new there then. Although i must admit that there are rare cases that i would discover genuine thoughts on various subjects.
What seems to be a rule though is that the distance from the centre of action tends to transform one's perception about the facts.
I, for example, would never call the Clintons amusing and entertaining, after having offloaded some peaceful depleted uranium, just next door to me. Or, to give another hypothetical example more relevant to the majority of users of this forum, it would be interesting to hear how Britons would be feeling about the Dutch, in case Netherlands 45 years ago invaded and occupied Kent, slaughtering the locals.

Anyway, to return to the original subject, it is all about the eternal struggle for resources and power on earth. This at the moment is masked behind various political moves, and is the actual reason why we don't see any real progress in problems such as pollution, and why politicians find difficult to conform to people's choices when these are not according to their plans.

Which dutch invasion are you referring to? the 1667 one or was there 45 years ago another dutch invasion that I am unaware of.

I tend to find that the US foreign policy is anything but amusing with successive governments going back 100 years or more riding rough shod over other sovereign nations.

 

[Demetris]

The Dutch invasion in Kent was a hypothetical example in order to highlight that the distance can be a great buffer to the impact of terrible events. If it doesn't affect our house, it's all fine mate. Actually i was referring to the Turkish invasion in the north part of Cyprus in the summer of 1972.

It's not only US. The human history is full of such examples. It is just that the US example is one of the most recent, and still very much active.

I must stress here that i don't confuse government policies with actual people. Of course people sometime support problematic policies, but i would like to forgive them for ignorance and naiveness.

 

[ghce]

The Dutch invasion in Kent was a hypothetical example in order to highlight that the distance can be a great buffer to the impact of terrible events. If it doesn't affect our house, it's all fine mate. Actually i was referring to the Turkish invasion in the north part of Cyprus in the summer of 1972.

It's not only US. The human history is full of such examples. It is just that the US example is one of the most recent, and still very much active.

I must stress here that i don't confuse government policies with actual people. Of course people sometime support problematic policies, but i would like to forgive them for ignorance and naiveness.

Modern day bad behaviour seems little different from days of old and all our "enlightenment" is just wishful thinking, we are no more advanced morally than the dark ages or ancient antiquity.

I try to believe that the common folk of a country is not reflective of their elected or unelected governments but really people get the government they elect either thru complacency or design.


Graeme

 

[Ban306]

God I think I need anti depression tablets or jump off the roof of the nearest rover p6 have you all fallen in to depression and swallowed the Oxford dictionary on the way,
You would think you was on the Rolls-Royce forum have a beer guys be happy it’s not all doom and gloom

 

[ghce]

 

[Phil Robson]

There are too many of us, consuming too many resources. Full stop.

To encourage people going forward to have fewer children is the biggest step we can take but it probably isn’t quick enough.....

This was in the 'i' newspaper several weeks ago:

 

[falkor]

looks good to me Phil and in addition to that David Attenborough isn't finished YET!!

humans have made ‘a tragic, desperate mess’ of planet
Speaking at the launch of his new TV programme, Sir David, who presents the programme, said: “We are now universal, our influence is everywhere. We have it in our hands, and we made a tragic, desperate mess of it so far. But, at last, nations are coming together and recognising that we all live on the same planet ... and we are dependent on it for every mouthful of food we eat and every breath of air we take.”

Asked what we can do to save the planet, Sir David, 93, said: “The best motto ... is not to waste things.

“Don’t waste electricity, don’t waste paper, don’t waste food – live the way you want to live, but just don’t waste.”

 

[Phil Robson]

“Don’t waste electricity, don’t waste paper, don’t waste food – live the way you want to live, but just don’t waste.”

I agree wholeheartedly with this. However, as the economy (sales & jobs) would suffer this will not happen in earnest. Think of the jobs tied up in the 25% + of food that is wasted - farmers, seed & fertiliser suppliers, machinery dealers, repair men, lorry drivers, lorry parts people, wholesalers, retailers..... you get the drift .

As much as the TV programmes with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall et al are interesting, they never address these points.