Peter Chopelas wrote: - >The reality of human history is that organized >agriculture, which makes very intensive use of >land and water resources to grow food, is what >has allowed civilization to exist. G'Day Peter and Paddlwise, Agree with some of what you say in that technology has the potential to more efficiently support a large population, but that only works if we make efficient choices and pay the true cost of what we use - rational economics as opposed to short term economic rationalism. For example there are considerable costs associated with river degradation and ground water contamination caused by inefficient irrigation and as yet unassessed costs associated with the net production of greenhouse gas and climate change. I listened to a lot of people over the last couple of years. Kayakers describing the change in Australian rivers, meteorologists reporting climate change in Western Australia. Oceanographers writing about salinity changes in the Atlantic and ethnologists describing the Pacific Islanders perception of loss of shore line over generations. So last year tried to make my kayaking travel greenhouse gas neutral. I wasn't too worried about energy resources but quite concerned about climate change. I figured that: getting 17 trees per year planted by a carbon credits contractor (cost AUS$30), using public transport or cycling 50% of the time and sharing cars on long trips, would do the trick. Its a pretty hairy estimate in scientific terms but best I could manage. Other strategies, considered were buying a Toyota Prius (it combines regenerative braking with a combined petrol engine and electric motor). Converting my Ford Falcon to liquefied gas (LPG) would be another good option and a whole lot cheaper. Would be interested in comments and techniques others might have in this regard. Liked the idea of favouring wooden kayaks over plastic ones - good use for some of those trees! All the best, Petero *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Feb 05 2004 - 01:02:00 PST
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