Vote against the real Big Brother

[John Sims]

As a closet greenie I would like to think there is something we could do but have to accept that, as a tiny nation, our efforts have sod all impact while the rest of the world burns fuel as if it were going out of fashion.

I'm blowed if I'm going to walk while Hank, Pierre, Herr Schmitt, Chin, and Uri continue to drive. Global warming is a global issue.

I do believe air travel is way too cheap and am given to wonder how many cars worth of annual pollution one flight to Spain produces. Business travel is just that; people don't need to fly around the world just for fun. Sorry Fen, but if you have to forgo 3 months of motoring to off set your trip to NZ that's fine by me - assuming everyone else in the world has to do the same.

The more I think about it maybe the Carbon Credit scheme (or what ever it is called) is a damn good idea - if only everybody in the developed/developing world was subject to the same restrictions.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Well said Rob.

This is exactly the point I'm trying to make. If everyone has a kneejerk "Big Brother is making me paranoid" reaction, we'll be in an even worse position. Totally agree with better testing and education. Tony, if there was proper lane discipline on the major roads there would be no need to build any new roads. Maybe better train links would be an improvement for those of us who would never use the train, but prefer less road traffic?

I really don't know if the climate is changing due to us, but we are not helping. There may be enough oil, but if you look at the places it's in I'd personally prefer to rely on it a little less.........

I did a straw poll of how many people moaned about the one-pound-litre a while ago. About 100% of people I know. Absolutely no-one I know actually considered driving less because of it, so it was not enough of a shock to change the way people act. I stick to my view that if we want things to get better, they'll have to change. It's a shame that there's not been a debate over the solution, but a mass panic.

John, and someone will correct me, I heard that a one-way flight to New York is the equivalent to 12k in a modern "clean" car. I'd rather drive the miles, so I don't fly very often.

At least I've started a debate......[]

 

[944Turbo]

No argument from me about middle lane hogs - camera partnerships would be better employed with grenade launchers on bridges taking out those who do not comply []

I find lane discipline is generally much better in the North - carlisle up (not ringwood my usual measure of north) - could it be the signs advising 'let drivers pass frustration causes accidents' or similar.

Nothing against energy conservation either.

I do have a big problem with man made global warming from planes / trains / automobiles (not least the fact those with a vested interest promote it most). Temperature change is a natural phenomenon and has been much more violent before we exited the sea.
Interstingly the temp on other planets in our solar system are also warming and there are changes in the Sun that explain this and any warming we are experiencing.
On a related subject the headlines claiming "hottest june day ever" really get on my tit$. By ever they mean since records began (being generous) 150 years ago, on a planet that is around 3.8 billion years old.

Weather is exceedingly complex - control it? we can't even forcast it yet.

Tony

 

[Fen]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty
...and we have the luxury of living in a society that they will increasingly want to move to. Fact.

Actually I don't. I'm about 99% decided to do just the opposite in fact, because for me this country has just about reached tipping point for not wanting to be here anymore.

 

[chrisdenton]

ORIGINAL: Fen

Actually I don't. I'm about 99% decided to do just the opposite in fact, because for me this country has just about reached tipping point for not wanting to be here anymore.

Sometimes it takes some time away to make you realise what we have to endure. I am lucky enough to go to New Zealand and Australia fairly regularly. Every time I get back I wonder why I stay here.

 

[Fen]

You're probably right, though in this case we already thought we wanted out and the intent behind the trip to NZ was to see if we wanted to live there. I think we do, so it's time to start the visa process.

 

[944Turbo]

Yes I also believe the UK is on a very slippery slope, over regulation and control, poor infrastructure, a fear of litigation and an education system to pass exams not to learn,
Tony

 

[juliany27]

I just wonder how effective the whole road fee for usage system will be. After all the £12billion NHS computer system to link up all HNS based computers into one system, seems to be doomed to failure at the expense of the taxpayer.

I feel fairly confident that the same will apply to this idea with links to satellite technology coupled with computers. Someone will make a lot of money from the issue; consultants, computer companies etc. The benefits to the tax-payer [let alone the road user] = nil.

As for the assurances that any data will not be used other than for revenue purposes - I ask everyone to remember the value of that undertaking and have a good long look at the DVLA sale of data...

 

[carlmthompson]

Some very simple solutions to traffic:-

1) Build a road system that's road worthy. Maybe even use the shiny money that's paid in by motorists and diverted to fund MP's foreign jaunts.
2) Ban trucks between working hours, and shove all of the freight on an improved railway (which hasn't seen any major investment since Mr Brunnel and Mr Stephenson built the bloody thing!)
3) Remove drivers from the road who are obviously too stupid to drive (that includes the bimbo on the way home tonight who can afford £30k on her shiny new BM, but not the £100 car kit so she doesn't have to clag her mobile phone to her ear on Newcastle's busiest and most dangerous roundabout.)

There are more!

My solution to a GPS box in my boot is to remove it, and place it on my daughters little plastic motorised duck that goes round in circles around the living room. Let's face it, there isn't any deterent to not paying insurance, tax and MOT at the moment, so how are they going to enforce this?

I like Scott's idea of removing Road Tax and adding it to the fuel - much fairer than the current system, and much harder not to pay!

 

[sawood12]

What annoys me is that the government is using the fear factor of climate change as one of the excuses for introducing such draconian measures, but this is not a credible argument as by far the biggest emmitters of greenhouse gasses in the UK is domestic energy consumption, industry and farting cows (and people for that matter). Cars are surprisingly a long way down the list. So if you really want to save the environment turn your central heating down, boil the kettle less and eat less beans.

Also I'm not loosing any sleep about flying when aircraft contribute to less than 5% of total global man-made pollution (although it is set to rise dramatically over the next 20yrs). If these environmental campaigners think for one second that getting a train to spain is less polluting than the plane then they clearly haven't done their research. Again, if you really want to reduce your impact on the environment then take an alternative form of transport to and from the airport as the transport network that gets passengers to and from airports is far more polluting than the aircraft themselves.

But all this talk about saving the planet and reducing conjestion is just a smoke screen for the real reasons why the government wants to implement such a system which is to raise more cash for our beloved Chancellors pockets and to support the big brother state our increasingly paranoid politicians seem to want to create. If the government was really serious about tackling congestion it could simply build more roads. Easy.

Well that's my two penneth worth anyway!

 

[sawood12]

ORIGINAL: 944Turbo

Temperature change is a natural phenomenon and has been much more violent before we exited the sea.
Interstingly the temp on other planets in our solar system are also warming and there are changes in the Sun that explain this and any warming we are experiencing.
On a related subject the headlines claiming "hottest june day ever" really get on my tit$. By ever they mean since records began (being generous) 150 years ago, on a planet that is around 3.8 billion years old.

Weather is exceedingly complex - control it? we can't even forcast it yet.

Tony

Absolutely - the question we should be asking is 'Do we really want to be trying to affect global warming? If it is a natural cycle, and there are far more credible theories and evidence to suggest it is, then by trying to disrupt it we could be causing a far more serious environmental catastrophe by upsetting a natural climatic cycle.

The worst thing about global warming as far as I can see is no more skiing holidays.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

The worst thing about global warming as far as I can see is no more skiing holidays.

I'm having a few issues with my Ark plans and was wondering if anyone had a scale rule calibrated to cubits please.

 

[georgethackray]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

The worst thing about global warming as far as I can see is no more skiing holidays.

Not forgetting the flooding and the possibility of the Gulf Stream missing the UK and oddly enough turning our lovely Green island into a sub zero wasteland. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article520013.ece) - No need then for skiing holidays, we'd be able to ski daily. Or so they say.

 

[morris944s2john]

Last chance to vote on the petition as it closes tonight at midnight- the best thing is its thoroughly irritated this the most irritating government ever for the motorist.

BTW, global warming is a natural phenomenon due to a series of natural cycles depending on the earths orbit and suns output and when the suns output and global earth temperature drops in a few years time and CO2 has not then there will be a lot of egg on a lot of faces. It will be fun to watch the envronMENTALists squirm. I'm not saying we should pollute or waste resources, far from it, but the CO2 thing has got out of hand- a acientific theory made true by keep saying it is, its not science- there is no proof, its religious politics.

In the meantime, don't believe the propaganda- its great doom and gloom stuff for the media, keeps global warming scientists in lucrative jobs and gives the government more excuses to tax us needlessly.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: morris944s2john
Last chance to vote on the petition as it closes tonight at midnight- the best thing is its thoroughly irritated this the most irritating government ever for the motorist......

Here, here. I wish to be associated with the last remark of the good member. []

 

[Mikie_gb]

and a chance for the europhobes to have a froth.....

http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=12491&channel=0

Dual fuel porsche in the pipeline? Either that or a wind up Porsche

 

[georgethackray]

Or what about an lpg conversion: http://www.chpltd.com/911_porsche_world/fuel.html

 

[Diver944]

Putting aside the environmental issue, this proposed tax is aimed at reducing the congestion on our roads. Mcnulters is absolutely right in his previous post that this is a massive and real problem that affects each and every one of us whenever we try to use our pride and joys. There is no easy solution, even adding an extra lane to every road in the country would probably make little difference to all the major trunk roads.

However, did everyone notice how quiet the town roads were last week during half term? This is absolute proof to me that there are far too many children being driven to school. Back in the day I used to walk two miles to school, my own children walk 1/2 a mile yet they are far and away in the minority with most beng dropped off by one or other of their parents.

I have no idea how we can persuade a whole generation to get back into the habit of walking but it's got to be a viable start to reducing suburban congestion. I recently heard an amusing excuse that most children are driven to school because the roads are far too dangerous to cross with all the vehicles on the 'school run' [&:][&:][&:]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Back in the day I used to walk two miles to school

Presumably after picking up the coal for breakfast.....[&:]

So, that's two of us agreed that doing nothing isn't an option. I wonder how many signatures the "other lot" have....[]

I agree that adding more lanes, or even more roads, isn't the solution. Witness 12 lanes of the M25 and STIL the inside lanes are empty! How about:

More working from home, less pointless cr@p being bought, and therefore delivered, more driver training, more video conferencing, more public transport and more kids walking to school?

None of these would add a net cost after the benefit of less journies is taken into account, and wouldn't penalise anyone who actually NEEDS to use a car, or just enjoys the roads more if there's less traffic.

 

[944Turbo]

Problem with 12 lanes on the m25 is it still only takes one accident to block (half of) them. If they had linked the M3 M4 M40 maybe even round to the M1 further out the m25 would have eased.
Lower speed limits on A and B roads ( and the differential for lorries over 7.5tons) are also causing unecesary congestion and choking on the alternatives to motorways.
Slower journey times = traffic on the road for longer = slower journey times.
Most town plans (check yours - should be online somewhere) include sections on increasing congestion to make the car less desirable and public transport more attractive - this was at the behest of the government who control the funding, yes the same government who want to charge us to relieve congestion.
Tony
PS it has been in the press the number of cars on the road has increased x amount since Y year - I am pretty sure car ownership now exceeds licenced drivers so while the number of cars are increasing the traffic isnt we can only drive one car at a time.





Tony