Green Living Q & A

What are the benefits of sustainable development on the environment?

what is the meaning of sustainable development to the developing countries?

I am looking for a realy help here , thanks and please i need also more details thanks again !!!

What are the challenges to sustainable development and balanced economic growth in your country?

What is meant by ‘Sustainable Development’?

“what is meant by the term Sustainable Development and what changes need to happen in society in order to achieve this?” home work question, any help would be appreciated:-)

sustainable development?

wat is sustainable development and what can it look like?

where can i find eco-friendly clothes?

i was wondering if someone knew where i can buy green clothes (by green i mean eco–friendly)? Websites or stores, please and thanks 😀

Does anyone know any good eco-friendly clothes stores?

I’m trying to go green! 🙂

Does anybody know a cool clothing line thats eco-friendly & cruelty-free?

im vegan & i was just wondering.
also is there any certain types of clothes or brands that aren’t cruelty-free? so i can Not buy them?
please help! all the information you have to give, i will take.
lol, 🙂

What clothing store aren’t eco-friendly?

I was just wondering if there are clothing stores that do not use natural fibers, don’t recycle, and stuff like that. I would like to know if they are enviornmentally friendly. I’m looking for chain stores such as Aeropostale, American Eagle, and Hollister. Thanks so much!

Where can I buy eco friendly clothes… Hemp… Organic… etc…?

Do you know of a place I can buy clothes all the while being conscious of my impact on this earth? I am looking for eco–friendly clothes. I want to be able to try these clothes on, so I would not want just an online store. Please Give the names of these stores, and if they have them, their link to their store. Thanks a bunch!

Why do the republicans really care about the Black Panther incident at the poll?

Republicans are racist to the core. They new in the 1860s that the blacks would be decimated once they freed them from their owners. Today they want equal rights for all because they know the blacks will lose!! This is a terrible tragedy.

This Black Pather deal is just a smokescreen for republicans to hate on Obama some more. Obama is trying to do decent things to America.

The Blacks need all our help bacause they are unorganized. Where we have helped, they will protest for us in Gay Rights rallys, environmental issues, and you can always count on them for increasing government funding.

Meat Eaters: Was Einstein Wrong about Vegetarian Diets?

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” — Albert Einstein

* Please note that the factory farm industry produces the vast majority of the meat that is consumed in North America and most of the world (e.g., approximately 10 billion animals are slaughtered per year in the U.S. alone).
* Think about all of the grain, land space, and fresh water resources required to keep the factory farm industry in operation with all of the demand for cheap meat.
* Further reading found online:
-Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2006).
-American Dietetic Association’s 2009 position paper on vegetarian diets

– If you feel he was wrong, please explain why. Perhaps you can propose a sustainable alternative to the factory farm industry.
– If you feel he was correct, why are you not a vegetarian?

I look forward to reading your comments and citations.

What branch should I try to get a commission in?

I have currently been looking into OCS/OTS for when I graduate in July. I really want to join the military for many reason…. continued education/financial support, getting my foot in the door int he federal government, great benefits, and on and on. Anyways, I cannot decide which branch to apply for after speaking with all of them. I feel like the Coast Guard is closest to my degree (emergency administration and planning) since they deal with DHS and environmental issues, but Ive heard they arent taking anybody right now. That is really where my degree fits the best though. Plus Im a firefighter so I have taken haz-mat courses out the….

I have a 3.5 GPA graduating Cum Laude in emergency admin and planning
Firefighter/emt-basic
Volunteered with big brothers and sisters of America for a year

Is this a good topic for a Earth Day Proposal?

For Earth Day we have to make a proposal to fix an Environmental issue like for example clean up junk yards in america, this is just make believe it doesn’t matter how much it cost or how long it would take.
I thought about doing one about saving the trees, or conserve almost extinct animals, I also thought about cleaning up the sea and lakes to preserve marine animals I really would something to do With animals but nothing with Global Warming because my school doesn’t really support that, if you have any other ideas please feel free to offer them.

I don’t know why but something Obama said to the UN really bugs me, not sure if it is a good statement or bad?

what do you think?

Excerpt from yahoo article:

….Obama offered a litany of policy changes and actions his administration had undertaken during his first nine months in office, with the overarching message that the United States has no interest in a go-it-alone stance and instead wants to act as an equal partner with others on the world stage.

“In an era where our destiny is shared, power is no longer a zero-sum game,” Obama said. “No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed. That is the future America wants.”

“Destiny is shared”-is he talking about world economy or environmental issue? or both?

“No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed”-is he talking about America?

“That is the future America wants”-what future does America want?
Also “The world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise and that treaties will be enforced.”

Think about what that means for a moment. What if international law dictates that no citizen is to be armed? Do treaties trump a countries’ constitution?
I know he was talking about Iran on some of it but this will not only effect Iran.

Shouldn’t the debate about “Nuclear” energy be over? Natural disasters are part of Nature.. Atom Splitting ?

Not so much?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake

If California had a 9 pointer which it may well at any moment.. all the power plants. refineries, military installations would be suffering the exact same thing.. so far the Japanese have been selective on which data they release.. but anyone paying attention will recognize the flow of info as controlled.. Reality is, even if the explosion helped diminish the radioactivity .. and that’s a big if…
It’s still pure luck of the draw…
Nuclear power is not clean or safe and isn’t it time we start moving away from polluting destructive forms of energy?

Tidal, geothermal,solar, wind and hydro, …. despite what the energy industry and their advertising dollars and pundits will tell you, is the solution to the worlds energy needs.

If the United States as an example stopped spending trillions on “securing Americas business assets” in Southeast Asia and instead began an international initiative to migrate to 100% renewable and alternative energy by 2030… the whole world would follow suit. How do I know? Because War is only good for a very small group of manufacturers and types of business.. if we moved to a technology based manufacturing economy with “New Energy” as the mantra.. America would once again return to it’s 1st world leading status… as opposed to becoming the worlds largest debtor.
” I think that the US, which is in a very stable area”
The California quake in LA back in 94 was a 7.9.. the strongest ever felt there was a “9” in the cascadia region (Northern California) http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1700_01_26.php

So what’s shoddy about my education? And what great scientific knowledge do you posses?
I grew up in the shadow of “Indian Point” google it.. I’ve been around nuclear power for 45 years.. I probably know more about the workings of the various kinds of reactors than anyone in this room short of a nuclear physicist..

The “built in safety measures” require electricity to function.. the power was interrupted and that is what caused the super heating in the first place… are you saying that Mankind has ever once in our history designed one single thing that is foolproof?

Do you agree with McCain’s claim that Sarah Palin knows more about energy than anyone else in the USA?

When asked about Palin’s national security credentials. McCain’s answer was “Energy….She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America.”

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/11/101042/343

This is the same Sarah Palin who thinks Iran controls 20% of the world’s energy supply

http://climateprogress.org/2008/09/04/most-revealing-palin-energy-whopper-iran-could-cut-off-a-fifth-of-the-worlds-energy-supplies/

and who said:

“alternative–energy solutions are far from imminent and would require more than 10 years to develop.”

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/aug/16/alaska_gov_wants_tap_oil_resources51051/

“I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can’t drill our way out of our problem”

http://www.omgili.com/newsgroups/talk/environment/C49F02AA10FDCleonard78spprimusca.html

Do you agree that Sarah Palin knows more about energy than anyone else in the USA, or has the Straight Talk Express broken down?

If drilling more oil is not the answer. Tell me wich of the following alternative should we use?

Some one tell me witch Alternative energy sorce we should use! The dems Go on and on
about useing alternatives but then Try to stop these also! So what are we to do? Can someone explain this to me?

Windmills:
Storm Over Mass. Windmill Plan
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/26/sunday/main560595.shtml
Wind Farms Face Green Resistance
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/07/tech/main535607.shtml
Altamont Pass so dangerous for birds of prey?
http://www.audubonmagazine.org/features0609/energy.html

Wind mills take Acers and Acers of land to prdouce the same as one Oil Well wich is more environmently freindly? And witch will be more harmful to animal speicies in the areas?

Solar:
Hearings to debate impact of solar farms on threatened species
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_solar15.48dbdb9.html
Solar farms’ impact to be explained
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/environment/246916
Solar panels take Acers and Acers of land to prdouce the same
as one Oil Well wich is more environmently freindly? And witch will be more harmful to animal speicies in the areas?

hydroelectric:
The fates of salmon and hydroelectric production lie in the hands of a federal judge
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/202025.html
Threatened and Endangered Fishes
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2000/ab91000/tefishes.pdf
So if Obama is elcted Witch will he push for?
Realy I am God the Libs say it is to dangerous. And the waste is not enviromentaly safe that is why there are no New nuclear plants
I see again the dems instead of looking at facts and answeringa question are far mor concerned about if I know the diference detween Witch and which its no wounder dms never get anything done. look for something small and ignore thebigger qeustion. That your average dem for ya!!
zorrothe well that is a nice dream but the batteries in these cars last about 3-5 years and coast $3000 to replace then you will have the enviromentalists complaining about the cemical toll this is taking on our enviroment!!

Where can one find authentic left-wing news sources which aren’t just LIBERALS masquerading as LEFTIST?

I’m talking about those that are :

1] neutral or deferential towards labor if not pro-worker, pro-organized labor, and/or pro-union

2] vigilant if not highly critical towards big business, corporate, Wall St interests, or those groups guided by profit motivation

3] pro-peace, antiwar, neutral, won’t cheer-lead government war efforts, won’t rely on “embedded” reporting, will report body counts on both sides

4] neutral or are able to report positive things about the US governments purported enemies or those nations or leaders which the USA’s mainstream media chooses to deride or do biased coverage

5] critical of privately insured health care and respects public health care arguments (single payer, universal, socialized)

6] pro: environment, small business, small media, net neutrality, abortion choice, alternative energy, fair elections,

7] pro-whisteblower (like Wikileaks)

8] pro-justice for those victims hurt by US policies
or report for those that are most vulnerable because of :
war, war crimes, the drug war, the war on “terror”, those low income or poor, joblessness, homelessness, no health coverage, sickness, incarceration, no legal assistance, etc.

If news sources have few (if any) of the above criteria, then they would appear to be adhering to (or towing) the mainstream line or parameters of reporting, analysis, and discussion. This means we won’t hear reports on the evil-doings of US and/or Western imperialism or such imperialist behavior (by “Marxist” definition).

Mainstream reporting is usually construed as either liberal or conservative and are often thought of as two sides to the same coin. That is because they are different only in tone and rhetoric and a few domestic issues, but are dramatically similar in foreign policy regarding international relations, business, war policy & interventions, protecting Wall Street investment or “interests” and all the skulduggery involved in it.

Why do Conservatives fail to understand that preferential treatment and state subsidization of established?

industries, combined with an utter disregard for the potential of new technologies, and reinforcement of party viewpoints via a major media outlet is one of the textbook elements of Fascist Socialism?

When FOX News tells you that we should let the oil companies have their tax breaks but we should ignore alternative energy because if it doesn’t work now then it obviously never will, that’s Fascist Socialism. In a Democratic society all technologies should be given equal consideration and time to achieve a state of technological development. As technologies mature the amount of government sponsorship devoted to that industry is based upon expectations of economic growth to be derived from that technology.

Whats the best way to raise £500 Million Pounds for a renewable energy Project with £100 BILLION IN REVENUE?

BY 2015 THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST PROJECT IN THE WORLD SPACE ISLAND CHECK IT OUT

Should the next US President launch a national renewable energy research program…?

A program similar to JFKs successful race to the moon space program in the 1960s.

We all know that domestic drilling will not make any significant difference in the world‘s oil supply (and price).

Why can’t all the world’s energy problems be solved by hooking excersise bikes up to the national grid?

That’s always been my answer when people say “Well what would YOU do about emissions from power stations and non-renewable fuel and efficient energy and the ever-approaching energy crisis?”
But two cyclists pedalling is enough to power three microphones, two electric guitars, a PA system etc. Apparently, bicycles are 90% efficient.
Well think of the millions of people across britain pedalling on excersise bikes/step machines in the gym or at home, and think of all that energy going to waste!

Why is Japan not doing enough to produce more renewable energy?

I spent 2 years living and working in Taiwan. Taiwan is a way smaller country in size than Japan, and yet they have countless numbers of wind turbines in the west cost and in some high mountains in Taiwan. But here in Japan, I have never seen any wind farms at all. Here in Kanto I have seen only one wind turbine.
From what I have read, Japanese utility companies are reluctant to using renewable energy sources to produce heating and electricity. In fact, this whole damned country is so dependent on electricity to run the trains, heat houses in winter and keep places cool in the summer. There is too much dependence on electricity, and worst of all it is too damned expensive. Not to mention how Japan has proven to be behind the rest of the industrialized world with producing wind energy.
Also I think that it is time that Japan needs to come up with something more innovative. Japan is sitting on a major plate tectonic hot spot on the Pacific ring of fire (it burns burns burns). If you go to a place like Beppu, the ground there is so hot, that you can even boil eggs in the Beppu Hells hot springs. There is a possibility to use volcanic ground heating as a source of renewable energy to heat millions of homes in Japan. I do not recommend sifening hot springs waters for hot water heating.
Is there any possibility to use volcanic ground heating to replace electrical heating? Why has Japan not moved forward with that? Why is Japan not moving forward with using wind powered energy either?

Power Plant With Renewable Energy?

Okay, so you know how there is like solar power, wind power, etc. Well, is it possible for power plants to generate it’s power by solar pannels or wind turbines then getting that electrical current and sending it out to houses around the world? Rather than having every house individually switch to solar power, wouldn’t it be easier and more cost effective to have power plants make the switch?
Oh, so every house would have to get one itself, that’s a bummer.

Homemade Eco Friendly Cleaning products?

I want to start cleaning my home with eco–friendly cleaning products.But what are some easy ones I can make using stuff I can find in my kitchen?Any recipes?

Eco friendly products?

What are some affordable eco friendly/ go green products? And in what stores can you buy them? Various examples please!!

I was wondering what others thought of eco friendly product lines?

I was wondering what others thought of eco friendly product lines made from recycled materials like tires, and soda pop bottles? I get the feeling some people are really into it and other dont really care at all.

http://hautehideout.goodbarry.com/_catalog_38708/Eco-Friendly_Products

eco friendly products…?

for this project, we have to be as eco friendly as possible. the project is to sell our own products and i was thinking to get eco friendly packaging stuff. is there any place where i can get recycled or some kind of eco friendly packaging stuff?

is there money to be made in eco-friendly products?

nowadays the new “thing” is protecting the environment, reducing pollution and our carbon footprint. wherever theres a new way of doing something, theres money to be made, right? but is it most likely that people are already doing this and by the time i have the money to do it the market will already be saturated!?

How ‘sustainable’ will the London Olympics really be?

The London bid for the 2012 olympics pledged to be the greenest games so far. But will it be delivered? The planning documents and environmental statement for the Olympic Park suggest that no energy performance requirements further than current building regulations will be enforced, leaving it to the building’s developers’ to incorporate sustainability measures. Furthermore, London 2012 nor the ODA have released details on their carbon offsetting plans for the travel aviation emmisions released during the games. Marketing material suggest that the Olympic Park will be fueled by renewable energy, whereas a CCHP plant is planned running on fossilfuels, again leaving any implementation for solar, wind and biogas energy up to the constraints of the developer’s construction programmes and budget. It seems yet again that the UK authorities are issuing spin giving a misleading impression, whilst missing a unique opportunity to ensure a truly environmentally sustainable olympics.

How ‘sustainable’ will the London Olympics really be?

The London bid for the 2012 olympics pledged to be the greenest games so far. But will it be delivered? The planning documents and environmental statement for the Olympic Park suggest that no energy performance requirements further than current building regulations will be enforced, leaving it to the building’s developers’ to incorporate sustainability measures. Furthermore, London 2012 nor the ODA have released details on their carbon offsetting plans for the travel aviation emmisions released during the games. Marketing material suggest that the Olympic Park will be fueled by renewable energy, whereas a CCHP plant is planned running on fossilfuels, again leaving any implementation for solar, wind and biogas energy up to the constraints of the developer’s construction programmes and budget. It seems yet again that the UK authorities are issuing spin giving a misleading impression, whilst missing a unique opportunity to ensure a truly environmentally sustainable olympics.

Is the current prevalent market economy and resulting consumerism in the west really sustainable development?

If the consumerism of the west would be equally present in the rest of the world, then additional five earth-like planets would be necessary to have enough resources to uphold this ideal. Is this kind of market economy really sustainable development? Wouldn’t a tighter plan economy and increasingly socialist policies, be needed to combat this and create sustainable development?

Thanks for your thoughts.

How is high speed rail in the UK sustainable?

I’ve heard that high speed rail in the UK is sustainable. Obviously I know it hasn’t been built yet but the government say it will be sustainable? How so? And also what is the argument about it? WHY IS IT CAUSING SUCH A STIR?

how to look ahead to a sustainable future?

What is going on with a sustainable future? What are the problems associated with this and what can be done to solve it? What are real world examples?

please summarize this article?

you dont have to read the whole thing, thank you!!

Democratic countries in the developing sector, such as Poland and South Africa, are losing out in the race for American export markets and American foreign investment. Dictatorships such as China or semidictatorships such as Indonesia are winning.

And the trend is growing. As more of the world’s countries adopt democracy, more American businesses appear to prefer dictatorships.

If trade and investment strengthen developing countries, then U.S. businesses may be weakening the very countries they say they most want to help.

These are the conclusions of a report recently released by the New Economy Information Service (NEIS), a think tank set up to gauge the effects of globalization.

“The democratic countries in the developing world are losing ground to more authoritarian countries when it comes to competing for U.S. trade and investment dollars,” NEIS said.

“This finding,” it said, “raises the question of whether foreign purchasing and investment decisions by U.S. corporations may be inadvertently undermining the chances for survival of fragile democracies.”

NEIS compiled the report using U.S. government and World Bank figures on trade and investment. It borrowed political ratings compiled by Freedom House, a human rights organization that ranks countries as “free,” “partly free” or “not free” based on the level of their political rights and civil liberties.

In 1989, when the Cold War ended, democratic countries accounted for more than half–53.4 percent–of all U.S. imports from Third World countries, not counting oil. Today, with more democracies to choose from, the democratic countries supply barely one-third–34.9 percent–of U.S. imports from the Third World, it said.

After the same decade, democracies got 28 percent of American manufacturing investment in developing countries, up from 26.2 percent when the Cold War ended. This slight improvement–1.8 percentage points– paled beside the 5.7 percentage-point growth in U.S. investment reported by dictatorships, especially China.

China, which ranked 18th among recipients of U.S. investment in 1989, is in fourth place now, ahead of long-established democratic partners such as Argentina and South Korea.

The NEIS report asked why dictatorships are outbidding democracy for the American market, but said it does not know. “We are left with as many questions as answers,” the report said.

“Something is going on, and it’s worth pursuing,” said NEIS Executive Director David Jessup. “We can’t say that U.S. businesses have an absolute preference for authoritarian countries. I doubt that the issue of democracy-or-no-democracy is on businessmen’s minds when they make an investment decision. But maybe it’s an unconscious preference.”

Wages tend to be lower in dictatorships than in democracies, giving businesses in dictatorships an advantage on selling exports abroad. The investment question is more complex than that, Jessup said, but the report suggested a combination of factors–lower wages, easier environmental laws, bans on labor unions–that give dictatorships an edge.

Such rulers tend to be strong leaders who can provide quick decisions, deliver results and stamp out opposition. These qualities can appeal to many business leaders, who themselves operate in a non-democratic structure.

When Indonesia overthrew its dictator, Suharto, and installed a less authoritarian leader, investors tended to sit on their hands. One currency expert, Ron Leven of J.P. Morgan, was quoted as saying that “democracy is a desirable form of government, but it’s not necessarily the most efficient form of government.”

There is an “amorality” here, said Thomas I. Palley, assistant director of public policy at the AFL-CIO and a member of the NEIS team. “Profits and morality don’t mix very well.”

Palley noted that dictators, not having to answer to voters or a legislature, can often deliver investment incentives–such as tax breaks, freedom from environmental laws and a docile work force–that are powerful lures for foreign corporations.

But the U.S. government is part of the reason democracies come up short in luring investors, Palley said. “It says that, if you deal with these guys (dictators), you make them more open. This provides the moral reasoning that businessmen want.”

The result is a boom in investment and trade with China in the interest of “engaging” the Communist regime there.

Charity choices vs. social pressures?

Just wondering what “the people” think about this. I’ve worked for a few companies in my career and everyone donated to charity. This is great and I think more big businesses should donate their millions of profit to the more needy, hell, I even donate what little money I have plus my time. Here’s my issue with their (big business) logic…

Every company donated to foundations that help the kids of Africa or some other third world country, buying food and cloths for the people of “X” who don’t have the benefits we have here (they walk to water, we truck our fat butts to the fridge for ours….. we have “FUBU” cloths that cost an arm and leg and they have hand woven sweaters which are logo free). I’ve talked to the people within these companies that deal with the donations (out of personal interest) and out of all these companies that donated to 3rd world country’s, not one donated to a foundation in its own country! (other than heart&stroke and other medical groups which do help world wide but their efforts there are greatly shadowed by the other donation)

At first glance it looks like these companies have the biggest hearts giving a few hundred grand (a SMALL percent of their annual profit) to these charities yet I walk by hungry, cold, homeless, uneducated (due to lack of money cause university defiantly is not cheap) people where ever I go in my own country!! Our funding to environmental initiatives are minimal and our own country is in a less than perfect state.

Are these companies donating to these charities because they truly feel that they are doing good or are they giving this money and making public who they donate too to get the support of their customers for future business? Again, helping anyone out is great, no matter how big or small the contribution, but shouldn’t we get our own sh*t together first. Take care of our own? If my family was hungry I would feed them first….. but in the public eyes, you are a “better” person if you donate to Indigenous groups than if you help the man sleeping on your corner.

Just a discussion topic….

Wha are you views on the UN? Where is the future of this complex organization?

The UN was paralyzed by the Cold War. The five veto wielding members, permanent members, which are superpowers have also served national interest during and after the Cold War. What are your thoughts on the world organization? Share what you think the pragmatic future is, the ideal future, and also-if you have one-you’re favorite Secretary-General. An example is below. Share anything.

I believe the UN will get weaker due to national interest. I believe that IMF and World Bank are cancers within the UN and will widen the North-South divide between developed and developing nations. The UN might sadly fall apart if drastic steps to reform aren’t taken.

These are my ideals. Like Albert Einstein Einstein said the General Assembly should be superior the other UN bodies. In my opinion the General Assembly shall assume the role of the Security Council. The Security Council will dissapear. 2/3 of the countries represented in the General Assmebly are developing nations. When the General Assembly is the executive body it will open door for development and improve global justice, which the lack of is the cause of terrorism, and therefore will be a security measure. The veto is not needed because Cold War is over. An issue of trust won’t get in the way of clean water in Israel and Palestine.

My fave Secretary-General is U Thant. Not afraid to be against apartheid in South Africa, Vietnam War, the US entanglement in the Mid-East, and was an advocate of the Non Aligned Movement in Bandung–before he became Secy-General. He opened the UN Development and Environmental Programmes. He ended Congolese Civil War. He also won the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding.
Those who dislike the UN, completely that is, please don’t answer. Not to be rude or exclusive but I’d just prefer people who prefer such an organization to nothing at all. It’s for a project.

Why do enviornmentalists and poverty advocates ignore the fundemental problem of overpopulation?

The media, social welfare types , humans in general but especially , enviornmentalists, seem to gloss over this issue and vehemently fight the effects of overpopulation like dwindiling wildlife areas and wildlife populations, increased pollution, globalwarming/cooling/climate change/whatever, deforestation and dwindling resources and completely overlook the fact that the human population is expanding, people are living much longer infant mortality rates are much lower even in regions that they are traditionally high.

The human population is getting exponentially larger , millions upon millions ahead of the death rate every year. Each one of these surplus people I guess you can call them for now, will consume a lifetime of resources, food, gas, electricity, plastics, paper, everything. And generate a lifetime of waste. Each person will demand a certain amount of space to live as well. You cant tell some poor guy in Africa hey don’t build your tiny family sustaining farm there, we need to preserve the environment. Or maybe you can but for how long?

Its very obvious to me that looking forward there will come a point where the struggle to prevent poverty and conserve the environment will become useless because the rate of conservation and poverty reduction will be surpassed by the growth of the human population. Any gains made will be cancelled out by new people generating more waste and demanding more resources and space. Trying to reduce the effects of overpopulation can only at the very most slow the inevitable fate of total environmental destruction and a Catastrophic loss of human life from famine, war, starvation disease.

Let me create a picture to illustrate my point

Imagine the world with twice as many people as there are today?( this is coming by the end of this century). I see a place where everything costs much more, more waste much less resources to go around starvation war animal extinction, habitat elimination.

Now imagine the world with only half as many people as there are now? Everything is cheaper resources are abundant poverty is miniscule because everyone has jobs and education is affordable, plenty of room to live for wildlife and humans, waste is manageable and can realistically be eliminated etc, etc…

I know some might say we can eventually populate other planets but to that I say who will go? Who will want to live on Mars in a bubble where there’s only 1/3 of earths gravity?? or on the moon? or on some giant space ship where you know you will die long before you reach a new world . The human race will of destroyed ourselves by the time we figure out some way to get to other stars quickly. That’s if a way even exists.

So I ask why is this fact ignored and instead everybody chases global warming or climate change or whatever it is now. And the other effects of overpopulation??
Optimus I agree with your fundemental argument but Humans will not stop reproducing “until” it is unsustainable by that point the enviornment will already have been destroyed.
Kelly, that does not answer anything! race, spices whatever, take your anger somewhere else please.

Anti Immigration in Britain, Racist?

I am am concerned about the overcrowding of England as it is way above the norm in Europe:
(check the stats)

England
People per sq Mile: 1022

Germany
Per sq Mile: 602

Spain
Per sq Mile: 235

France:
Per sq Mile: 305

I am concerned about the environmental aspect of allowing millions of more people to settle. Surely this will have an adverse effect on England’s wildlife as well as an increase in human waste and the nation’s carbon footprint.

There has been a dramatic increase in diseases due to immigration from countries experiencing endemics: (2007) The Hepatitis B Foundation estimates that the numbers infected by the disease in Britain have almost doubled in the past five years, to 326,000. More than half of these people are immigrants from Africa, Asia, Russia and the new EU nations

(2008) The majority of people actually diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2008 (58 %) had been infected through heterosexual sex, Two thirds of those infected heterosexually were black African and the vast majority (87%) of these people had probably acquired HIV overseas.

Do these opinions make me a racist? As whenever immigration is discussed the issue of racism is automatically bound to all possible concerns no matter how unrelated to hatred of another’s race and/or customs.

What do you think of Obamas past votes, as opposed to what he is saying now?

Why on the BIG issues that were put before him in office, did he choose NOT TO VOTE. But he voted and pushed for little meaningless things like “Congradulating the White sox on winning the World Series??”

Examples:

2/28/08 Vote 35: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R.3221; New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 : NOT VOTING

2/26/08 Vote 33: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2633; A bill to provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq. NOT VOTING

2/7/08 Vote 10: H R 5140: H.R. 5140 As Amended; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 : NOT VOTING

4/10/08 Vote 95: H R 3221: Ensign Amdt. No. 4419; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the limited continuation of clean energy production incentives and incentives to improve energy efficiency in order to prevent a downturn in these sectors that would result from a lapse in the tax law. NOT VOTING

4/4/08 Vote 91: H R 3221: Voinovich Amdt. No. 4406 As Modified; To protect families most vulnerable to foreclosure due to a sudden loss of income by extending the depreciation incentive to loss companies that have accumulated alternative minimum tax and research and development tax credits. NOT VOTING

4/3/08 Vote 87: S RES 501: S. Res. 501; A resolution honoring the sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. NOT VOTING

Yet he did vote inbetween all those votes for things like:

3/14/08 Vote 82: S CON RES 70: DeMint Amdt. No. 4339; To provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund for providing an above the line Federal income tax deduction for individuals purchasing health insurance outside the workplace. VOTED NO

3/13/08 Vote 77: S CON RES 70: Kyl Amdt. No. 4372; To protect small businesses, family ranches and farms from the Death Tax by providing a $5 million exemption, a low rate for smaller estates and a maximum rate no higher than 35% VOTED NO

Im confused, if he is so for or against these like he says, why didnt he vote? And if he is for small falmilies and those needing insurance, why did he vote against them?? Any help ??

Australia will have a Carbon tax next financial year?

Well the carbon tax didn’t sound as bad as I thought it would be on average citizens, but I still don’t really understand why we have it?

I mean within 1 country I get that if the biggest polluters have to fork out the most cash than there is a definite incentive for big business to research and use carbon saving and renewable energy. I have no issue with the creation and installation of new technologies.

So, so far so good.

What I don’t understand is the low impact it is expected to have. Apparently by 2020 it is predicted to lower the Earth’s global warming impact by 0.0002% (not to screw with statistics, it’s also meant to be equivalent to 40mil cars off the road) which sounds like next to nothing seeing China is expected to have a 500% in carbon pollution by 2015 and India set for 350% by 2015.

I don’t get it, is this really about Australia sticking it’s hand up saying “We support a Global Emissions Trading Scheme, hope you guys come along.” ?

If this is the case than the part of the money that doesn’t compensate citizens cost’s of living or go to grants for big business to develop new technologies is for the Carbon Credits.

This is the bit I’, concerned about. I heard the EU trading scheme had significant amount of fraud going on. I don’t see how this will be any different, if not worse, if any country is buying carbon credits off any other country around the world.

So how are the Credits allocated, per capita? So what happens, countries that use a lot of carbon buy credits off countries that use less than their allotted carbon credits to fund projects that save the environment? Will this include paying to keep the Amazon, which is the point that I’m starting to wonder about what the money will be used for.

Thoughts?

Do you think Foreclosure Bill will help the average person?

Thinking this may be a help to consumers? Wait until you read what the people who you elected are going to do.

First of all this bill is ‘bi-partisan’ and was voted ‘yea’ at 84-12. The Senate has proclaimed it as a package designed to help businesses and homeowners ‘weather the housing crisis.’ The supporters of the bill in the Senate also acknowledge it does little to help borrowers losing their homes.

it actually does nothing to help them at all, there are no provisions for those in duress.

For Builders

The plan gives them large tax breaks. Over a three year period no less.

The same guys who made huge fortunes building homes and condos at inflated prices the last 6 years.

For investors

$7000 tax credits for buying foreclosed properties. This can include big businesses like lenders.

Buying a foreclosed home means going to a foreclosure sale. At this time this will mean 99-100% lenders tax credit as no one else will be there.

$4 billion in grants for communities to buy and fix up abandoned homes.

Grants will probably be given to those that can afford to buy lots of those homes, like large investment firms, lenders, and builders. Local Joe Public will see little of this in my opinion

For the oil companies and their ‘renewable energy divisions.’

$6 billion in unrelated tax breaks. This tax break goes against the Senates own rules regarding revenue increases.

Well, you elected corrupt people to lead, what did you expect. The businesses that made the most money in the last 10 years were Oil companies. They are the ones that will get this $6 billion tip. What the heck is this doing in a foreclosure bill?

Other notes

The plan modernizes the FHA to allow more people to refinance into loans back by ‘the depression-era agency.’

So, if you have good credit and payment history, the FHA will be there for you. Of course that helps no one in trouble at all.

Rumors of what the House will do when it receives it.

Try to reject 25 billion in tax breaks to ‘money-losing’ businesses like home builders.

I think, if I were to be cynical, that only ‘money-making’ home builders will get this.

The House seems to want to drop the tax credit for buying foreclosed properties.

Maybe they are afraid too many regular people may be able to buy a foreclosed home?

For the people

$150 billion for pre-foreclosure counseling and stronger loan disclosure requirements.

The only ‘foreclosure counselors’ will be your lenders. The only ones doing disclosure requirements will be your lenders. Lenders, say hello to another 150 Billion, thanks for the memories.

Tax breaks for ‘first-time’ home buyers and investors in low income rental housing.

You could sum this up as ‘Nobody and slum lords.’

A separate house bill would be paired with it that gives $300 billion to refinance loans for 1 million+ homeowners who ‘might face’ foreclosure.

Keyword ‘might’, this means if you are in foreclosure or probably cannot stop heading towards it you will not be eligible. This is a sad joke.

The White House

George Bush, the President, ‘opposes’ the plan but has no plans to veto the final version coming from the House.

Thanks for ‘almost’ George!

The Bush administration countered those plans Wednesday with its own, far narrower, proposal. It would expand an existing FHA program to allow more homeowners who are facing large rate hikes to refinance into more affordable government-insured loans

And this will preclude everyone in trouble or who already faced huge rate hikes

Would you be mad if Congress stole power from You?

Did you know that Congress is Crushing the renewable energy industry?
The govt is turning its back on the solar and wind industries, Congress is set to vote a new energy bill and they left out ALL benefits for the solar+wind industries! All tax credits for these systems are out the window. it reminds of me of how they killed the electric car…

We are at the whim of big oil companies,

SO MUCH FOR GLOBAL WARMING, this proves that even congress + the democrats dont REALLY believe we are causing global warming.

you can do something now, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-barlow/news-alert-if-you-love-r_b_71888.html

Can the US economy handle $850 billion in new spending?

If Obama Could Enact All Of His Campaign Proposals, Taxpayers Would Be Faced With Financing Over $850 Billion In New Spending Over One White House Term:

Obama’s Health Care Plan Will Cost Up To $65 Billion A Year; Equal To $260 Billion Over Four Years.”[Obama] campaign officials estimated that the net cost of the plan to the federal government would be $50 billion to $65 billion a year, when fully phased in, and said the revenues from rolling back the tax cuts were enough to cover it.” (Robin Toner and Patrick Healy, “Obama Calls For Wider And Less Costly Health Care Coverage,” The New York Times, 5/30/07)

Obama’s Energy Plan Will Cost $150 Billion Over 10 Years, Equal To 15 Billion Annually And $60 Billion Over Four Years.”Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of bio fuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 25)

Obama’s Tax Plan Will Cost Approximately $85 Billion A Year; Equal To $340 Billion Over Four Years.”[Obama’s] proposed tax cuts and credits, aimed at workers earning$50,000 or less per year, would cost the Treasury an estimated $85billion annually.” (Margaret Talev, “Obama Proposes Tax Code Overhaul To Help The Poor,” McClatchy Newspapers, 9/19/07)

Obama’s Plan Would Raise Taxes On Capital Gains And Dividends, And On Carried Interest. Obama’s tax plan includes: “Increasing the highest bracket for capital gains and dividends and closing the carried interest loophole.” (Obama For America, “Barack Obama: Tax Fairness For The Middle Class,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/8/08)

Obama’s Economic Stimulus Package Will Cost $75 Billion.”Barack Obama’s economic plan will inject $75 billion of stimulus into the economy by getting money in the form of tax cuts and direct spending directly to the people who need it most.” (Obama For America, “Barack Obama’s Plan To Stimulate The Economy,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, 1/13/08)

Obama’s Early Education And K-12 Package Will Cost $18 Billion A Year; Equal To $72 Billion Over Four Years.”Barack Obama’s early education and K-12 plan package costs about $18billion per year.” (Obama For America, “Barack Obama’s Plan For Lifetime Success Through Education,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, 11/20/07, p. 15)

Obama’s National Service Plan Will Cost $3.5 Billion A Year; Equal To $14 Billion Over Four Years.”Barack Obama’s national service plan will cost about $3.5 billion per year when it is fully implemented.” (Obama For America, “Helping All Americans Serve Their Country: Barack Obama’s Plan For Universal Voluntary Citizen Service,” Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, 12/5/07)

Obama Will Increase Our Foreign Assistance Funding By $25 Billion.”Obama will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and he will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 53)

Obama Will Provide $2 Billion To Aid Iraqi Refugees.”He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 51)

Obama Will Provide $1.5 Billion To Help States Adopt Paid-Leave Systems.”As president, Obama will initiate a strategy to encourage all 50states to adopt paid-leave systems. Obama will provide a $1.5 billion fund to assist states with start-up costs and to help states offset the costs for employees and employers.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 15)

Obama Will Provide $1 Billion Over 5 Years For Transitional Jobs And Career Pathway Programs, Equal To $200 Million A Year And $800Million Over Four Years. “Obama will invest $1 billion over five years in transitional jobs and career pathway programs that implement proven methods of helping low-income Americans succeed in the workforce.” (Obama For America, “The Blueprint For Change,” www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/14/08, p. 42)

Obama Will Provide $50 Million To Jump-Start The Creation Of An IAEA-Controlled Nuclear Fuel Bank. Obama:”We must also stop the spread of nuclear weapons technology and ensure that countries cannot build — or come to the brink of building — a weapons program under the auspices of developing peaceful nuclear power. That is why my administration will immediately provide $50million to jump-start the creation of an International Atomic Energy Ag

How come the liberal entitlement programs are not economically sustainable?

There are great inefficiencies in EVERY single entitlement program passed by liberals in the past like:

– Medicare

– Medicaid

– Social Security

– Welfare

– Food Stamps

– Section 8 housing
@Gee Willy – Even if I wanted to, it’s going to be broke by the time I retire which is in 44 years.

how to solve the world food shortage in the long term?

This isnt going to happen overnight. Lets say you have 100 years to fix this mess

You can make any policies you want, but they must be sustainable (and not just demanding big nations to pay for all the starving countries)

why is food so expensive EVERYWHERE?

I would understand if the price were going up in some areas alone..but if food prices are going up everywhere, how is that even sustainable, who profits?
and why is this a global problem?

I need a creative name for a whole food bar.?

Open to suggestions. The bar is all natural, made with local produce, and the companies thing is being sustainable. Also, it is handmade in the mountains.
Open to suggestions. The bar is all natural, made with local produce, and the companies thing is being sustainable. Also, it is handmade in the mountains.

If you can tell me how to transfer them, I will pay 50 points to the winner.

ridiculous sign posted in “hippy” health food store?

In my town there is a health food store called “new leaf” that sells only organic, sustainable, earth-friendly foods and I love their products. However, I read a sign posted in one of the aisles that read “we do not have cameras in this store; everybody should have access to quality, earth-friendly foods”. I’m sorry, but I don’t care how “liberal/hippyish/etc” a store is, are they out of their minds?