Regardless of Whether You Believe in Climate Change You Should at Least Believe in Better Environmental Practices

Cow burps contribute to greenhouse gases.
A beef cow flying through the clouds
wearing an open astronaut's helmet.
photorealistic. wide angle lens.
Dall.e + David Arandle

The Australian Government has been in the process of passing some bill that contributes towards meeting some goals on Climate Change that we probably agreed to at least two decades ago at a United Nations Meeting on the issue. I guess? I kind of researched it a little recently.

It's one of those issues I've kind of followed but generally don't like to argue because climate change deniers are some of the most negative and obnoxious people you'll ever come across.

These days climate change is closely linked to energy production and how we generate power because fossil fuel power plants are said to be big emitters of Carbon Dioxide, which contributes to global warming (apparently). Most of Australia's power plants are coal plants, with a small percentage leaning towards renewables like solar and wind. (It's worth noting at this point that SA generates more than 60% of its power from renewables).

...and I guess there's that big Tesla Battery at the Hornsdale Power Reserve in my state, South Australia, that is the inspiration for certain right wing politicians to attack how environmentally unfriendly the process of making lithium-ion batteries actually is.

While I'm not disputing that the creation of lithium-ion batteries isn't exactly environmentally friendly, you don't get a lot of Carbon Dioxide emissions out of a wind or solar power plant on a daily basis. Not that those right wing politicians care at all since they're busy trying to convince everyone the carbon emissions from coal plants is good for the trees because, as we all learned in school, trees like carbon dioxide. Science.

Like you (probably) I haven't looked into the science of whether global warming is actually a thing. It probably is but it really doesn't matter when it comes to looking after the planet.

Net Zero carbon emissions is a good thing. Actual Net Zero is even better than the con that is carbon offsetting - which hopefully only exists as we transition to Net Zero proper (or Gross Zero in accounting speak). Zero carbon emissions means you can make more energy with much less environmental impact. The world needs more energy.

Honestly, I don't think anyone actually believes fossil fuel power plants are good for the environment. At best, if you believe the right wing politician arguments, they're the least worst option for generating power (they're not but hypothetically).

There's a lot of money in the coal industry in Australia, along with a lot of existing infrastructure, as well as new, upcoming projects that will create jobs. All that I understand in a 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' kind of argument. Except it is broken because we know there are cleaner options with less environmental impact. Some of those technologies are still in development.

I've said it in this blog before. Australia is ideally positioned to be a world leader in renewable energy. Developing, implementing, refining and exporting those technologies.

Back to my point. It doesn't matter where you sit on climate change. Looking after the environment is a good thing. If there is a better, cleaner way to produce energy there's no sensible reason not to support that.

If we can drive cars that are cleaner, fly planes that are cleaner, make cow burps cleaner (I don't know, some climate change science says the planet is so over run by cows their burps are contributing to greenhouse gasses) we should be doing that.

Humans do contribute to the decline of the environment. That big city you live in probably used to be forest teaming with wildlife. That big city you live in is producing mountains of trash, pumping out rivers of sewage, and generating questionable air quality, every day. To do all that requires a lot of energy, every day. You know it. You see it. Every day.

Now list all the big cities you can and understand they're all affecting the environment, every day.

Even if you don't think the planet is going to burn up in a big global warming fireball, five years from now, probably on a Friday just to ruin the weekend, you can't possibly think it's a good idea to support anything widely considered bad for the environment if there's a cleaner option?

What are you even thinking if you do?

I mean, sure, Climate Change Activists are some of the most negative and obnoxious people you'll ever talk to but at least they have Climate Change Deniers to keep them busy. Watch the sparks fly... wait is that a renewable energy source?

The rest of us are over here saying that shit doesn't matter. Look after the planet because you know it's the right thing to do.

Bonus bit: This video by indy journalist, Cleo Abram, goes some way to explaining why Net Zero will allow us to generate even more power than we do now.

Comments

Bruce, South Australia - A Forgotten Aussie Town with Spectacular Landscape Views and Potential

The Bruce Railway Station. Now a private residence. V isiting the almost forgotten town of Bruce reminds me of visiting Silverton back in 2007, except Silverton has been revived into a kind of arts town with a very famous pub. Bruce, on the other hand seems a little too spread out, and a bit too out of the way to make a similar 'arts' kind of revival. Bruce's Pub appears to be an art studio with signs of restoration work in progress. The main part of town appears to be the Bruce railway station (now a private residence) and a pub, also privately owned and possibly was, or still is, and artist studio. Other buildings and homesteads are set fairly wide apart, and are mostly privately owned homes. You don't get much sense of being in a town as such. I'm told there are approximately 14 local residents/families? Once earmarked to be a commercial centre, Bruce fell by the wayside after successive floods and drought in its early years. Obviously the railway line is no lo...

Kids today are smarter than their parents?

Mother's Bed Art Board Print by TET. Available from RedBubble . How often have you heard it said that kids today are smarter than their parents? I’ve heard it quite frequently in the media – even Dr Phil has said it. I say speak for yourself. It’s not true and don’t let the media fool you. Today’s kids may have access to more information that may give them more choices but in my experience, they only take in what they want to hear and still make stupid, uninformed decisions. Just like we used to at their age. Like any cross section of people there will be exceptions. There are kids that are genuinely smarter, more mature and responsible for their age. However the vast majority know everything they need to know by the time they turn fourteen. They’re ‘adult’ enough to be responsible for all their own decision making so parents should just let them do what they please…right? Just like we thought at fourteen. Don’t be fooled. Just because your son knows how to download MP3’s onto an i...

Is AI Art 'Art'? The Say NO to AI Art Movement, and Why Human Artists Will Adapt

AI Art No T-Shirt by TET Also available on other items . Right now there is a big debate over not just whether AI art is 'art' but whether AI's are actually ripping off the work of actual human artists, without their consent, to create their images - particularly images 'in the style of' specific artists. From my own observations this debate started to get more traction when artist's signatures began appearing in the output of AI Art image generators. Is It Art? Cool Froyd the Cat Sketch by TET. My style is very much influenced by classic Disney and WB character styles. To get some clarity on how real human artists work (of which I am one)... we, that is all of us... take influences from the art that has come before. i.e. whatever artists we like, have studied, seen etc. we are influenced by. It shows up in our work, intentionally or not. If you really study my own cartoony art style you'll see I'm heavily influenced by early Disney and Warner Bros cart...

Boom Crash Opera Born Classic But Not Again

Boom Crash Opera are an Australian Band that reached the peak of their popularity in the mid to late nineteen eighties. They are a band that I knew about at that time but was never really excited by until they released their ill fated double album Born and Born Again in 1995 (Album cover pictured). At the time of its release I was very much into emerging Australian musical acts and was also looking out for new sounds that were different and had kind of a futuristic/electronic sound. Artists that I was buying at the time included; Swoop , Nine Inch Nails and Pop Will Eat Its Self . As well as a really interesting release by David Bowie, the concept album, Outside . Born was a fairly radical departure for Boom Crash Opera (BCO). The first single, Gimme , was often compared to the sounds of Gary Glitter, particularly his single, Rock n Roll part 2 , because of the pounding drum loops. Watch the video below. My favorite single from the album is dissemble which probably went now...

Embarrassing Yourself with Doof Doof Music

Ever since Spinal Tap popularized the notion of turning an amp up to eleven audio systems have been rising to the challenge of louder, more awesome sound. In particular, car audio systems have embraced the notion of the bigger the noise the better the sound must surely be. What I'd like to know is, if these sound systems are so good, why do they make all music sound the same... Doof, Doof, Doof? You've all heard them. Pimped up cars, with audio systems seemingly worth more than gold, volume blasting way past eleven. Sound waves booming long before you make a positive visual on the car... Doof, Doof, Doof. It has to be the audio system right? Surely all these people can't be playing the same tune? Doof, Doof, Doof. Could it be that the more money spent on a car sound system the less musical range it will actually play? Maybe these people can't afford to buy music after purchasing the audio system so they all play the same demo track? Doof, doof, doof. In my own car I hav...

How to Transfer Any Line Art to Your Griptape - Easy Skateboard Griptape Art Tutorial

Dog Star Griptape Art by TET Griptape art is once again gaining popularity amongst modern skateboarders. For those of us who have tried to create our own griptape art, using paint pens, you'll know reproducing your design onto the grip, without making any mistakes is incredibly challenging. Mostly because you just have to go for it and draw the design freehand, with paint pens, directly onto the griptape. You can make the odd mistake here or there but if you get the proportions of the design completely wrong, it can be very difficult to fix. Often you just have to live with the mistake. To address the problem I've come up with an easy way anyone can transfer a line art design to their griptape, removing almost all the anxiety of getting the proportions wrong. In fact, you could do this with any line art design, even if you have no drawing skill at all. Watch the video below to see my technique in action and/or skip past the video where I highlight the basic steps to get your de...

James Gunn's Social Media Monkeys Joke Was a Highlight of His Superman Movie For Me

B efore James Gunn's Superman Movie was released there was a whole rumor going around that the movie would feature monkeys on computers trolling Superman's social media, sparking much outrage. #supersh*t. I didn't know this was even a thing until just prior to writing this article. I did a search to see if anyone had posted a clip of the monkeys scene from the movie and got pages of discourse featuring videos and articles prior to the film. Most of it from Gunn detractors (let's say) seeing it as some kind of childish swipe at them... well not them specifically but, you know, those other people who have every right to hate on anything sight unseen. Anyway, I'm not going to give even one such example a link or air because it's kind of sad watching someone devote so much commentary to a throw away gag that is absolutely a nod to James Gunn's Superman trolls. The whole reason this post exists, is to say I loved the joke, because fourteen years ago, and I...

TET.Life (The Extraordinary Tourist Life)

Search This Blog