Cal wrote:TheTurnipKing wrote:Maybe we could work on addressing the problems in our own culture first before we complain about others? Like the fact that we largely maintain our standard of living on the back of crippling third world debt?
I agree, but the way to do it is to bring less developed nations
up to our standard, not to force them into a bogus 'sustainable' future
on our terms. The strawberry floating cheek of 'green' NGOs in this regard is frankly staggering. It's no wonder the Chinese and the Indians have just said 'strawberry float you!' to the West and developed their fossil fuel industries with vigour. Their children also happen to want excellent health care and dentistry, their populations, strange as it may seem, also want reliable energy and a stable industrial infrastructure.
When we can accept that progress
is for everyone on equal terms - and that means fossil fuels for all - then perhaps we can start feeling as if we are treating LDN's 'equally'. Foisting inefficient 'renewables' onto poverty-stricken nations still struggling to achieve a decent life expectancy is tantamount to discrimination.
What's the point in buidling up a fossil fuel based economy in developing countries when fossil fuels will most likely cease to be a viable energy source later into the century? A wasted investment that pays off int he short term but not the long. One of the west's biggest disadvantages in the years and decades to come is that we are already so reliant on oil based infrastructure. IMO, places such as northern Africa should be taking advantage of abundant renewable sources like solar. If things go well they might even end up exporting energy to Europe one day. It is similair to the state of telecommunications; a lot of poorer countries now have better, more up to date communications than we do because they build up using newer technology.
It was be nice if progress really could be equel, but unfortunately we all share the same planet and the state of world resources and technology march along the same for everyone regardless of their current status.