Originally posted by AThousandYoungActually there is a reason for it. The book I mentioned earlier in the thread goes over the history of the two countries in detail and looks for what made the difference.
The Haitian side is in the rain shadow of the mountains. I hope you're not implying there is some racial or political reason for what you saw.
Originally posted by HumeAI disagree that our dependance on oil will directly result in the end of our civilization. I doubt that oil and other sources of energy such as coal will run out suddenly. Hopefully the human race will adapt as the resources run out. As the price of oil goes up, people will look for alternatives. The no 1 reason why alternatives are not currently heavily invested in today is that in most cases they are more expensive.
I can not think of a better example as to why we should start taking care of our planet, and start giving back as we take away. It seems to me that we are already fighting over an extremely important, and dwindling resource: oil.
However I am an environmentalist and do think that global warming is taking place and is probably mostly human caused and that we should do something about it now.
I also think that governments should play a much stronger role in encouraging energy conservation and that it would dramatically benefit the economy if they did.
People dont see that a bit of investment now in energy conservation will save them money in 10 years so policy is required to ensure that they do.
Originally posted by HumeAThe Peak Oil theory has been discredited; in other words, the world is not running out of oil. Also, if the American consumer is willing to pay for a big-engine car and the associated costs, why do you care? It's none of your beezwax if we drive an SUV or a Hummer on this side of the pond. Keep your Trabants, I prefer a good old Detroit muscle car myself.
At 19 I like to think I'll have a little time to work on that one...
There are a lot of people, tends to be in countries like the U.S. or Australia, where they have too much space for their own good, where everyone seems to want to have big cars, with big engines, even where a smaller car would do just as well. Wasting precious oil without which our societ ...[text shortened]... precious resources, then we may just give ourselves a little more time to work something out.
Originally posted by RagnorakEnvironmentalists have gotten every major prediction wrong: at any one time, they've claimed that the planet was entering a new ice age, that there were too many people, that we'd run out of food, that we’re running out of oil, that there were going to be more hurricanes due to global warming this season, , etc.. In every instance, they were wrong.
Recced if I could.
You never considered yourself an environmentalist before you read this piece of history? I recommend you read Daniel Quinn's "My Ishmael", to provide you with further nuggets to help you understand the importance of our environment, which is essentially our life support system.
D
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterWhy is it discredited? I'm curious.
The Peak Oil theory has been discredited; in other words, the world is not running out of oil. Also, if the American consumer is willing to pay for a big-engine car and the associated costs, why do you care?
Your choice in vehicle is none of my concern unless your country decides to go to war to ensure that the oil keeps flowing to support your spending patterns, to ensure that vested oil interests continue to profit in the short-term. Maybe oil does replenish itself, but that's a slow process; currently, there does seem to be an energy crisis. Maybe park the SUV in the garage until nature takes its course and oil deposits are replenished...
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterThe reason we tend to look down on Americas obsession with oil is that America represents about 1% of the world’s population but emits 1/4 of its pollution.
The Peak Oil theory has been discredited; in other words, the world is not running out of oil. Also, if the American consumer is willing to pay for a big-engine car and the associated costs, why do you care? It's none of your beezwax if we drive an SUV or a Hummer on this side of the pond. Keep your Trabants, I prefer a good old Detroit muscle car myself.
Originally posted by HumeAThere's a problem with using Easter Island as metaphor for the entire world. Easter Island is one small place, isolated, with no neighbors to trade with. Consequently, it has more in common with Iceland after the Vikings colonized it, than the entire world. Researchers often make the same mistake when they feed 80 lbs. of sugar to a lab rat and proclaim that because the rat got cancer, humans will too, unless they eliminate sugar from their diets. In other words: lab rats are not little humans.
The short version of the story goes like this...
People come on boats to Easter Island, quite possibly the most remote place on this earth, bringing some supplies with them, some animals to breed, and some plants to grow, etc. But with the main intent to live off the land. They cut trees down down to engage in a little bit of arable farming, all is happy. T ...[text shortened]... le I have never been an enviromentalist, this little bit of history has been making me think...
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterThese just seem to be your opinion and not based on any fact?
Environmentalists have gotten every major prediction wrong: at any one time, they've claimed that the planet was entering a new ice age, that there were too many people, that we'd run out of food, that we’re running out of oil, that there were going to be more hurricanes due to global warming this season, , etc.. In every instance, they were wrong.
Originally posted by EsotericYou Euro-centric socialists aren't looking down at us, you're standing still as we go by. The United States has the largest national economy in the world, with a GDP for 2005 of 12.41 trillion dollars. In effect, we're the straw that stirs the drink.
The reason we tend to look down on Americas obsession with oil is that America represents about 1% of the world’s population but emits 1/4 of its pollution.
(BTW -- North America's population is 8% of the world total according to Wiki. Also, you will have to define "pollution" before I could confirm or deny the 25% figure.)
Originally posted by Bosse de NageStart here: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=49434
Why is it discredited? I'm curious.
Your choice in vehicle is none of my concern unless your country decides to go to war to ensure that the oil keeps flowing to support your spending patterns, to ensure that vested oil interests continue to profit in the short-term. Maybe oil does replenish itself, but that's a slow process; currently, there does s ...[text shortened]... e park the SUV in the garage until nature takes its course and oil deposits are replenished...
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterThe article doesn't say anything like oil is "shot up through the mantle" though it discusses the possibility that oil isn't a biological byproduct. It raises no scientific hypothesis that oil creation isn't a long process even in geological terms. Therefore, it isn't much help to you.
The dinosaurs didn't die and turn into oil. The oil comes from the core of the earth and is shot up through the mantle.
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Originally posted by der schwarze RitterWhen the world's resources run out, will we have anyone to trade with? Our planet is just as isolated as Easter Island was, in fact moreso. The fact that they had no trade is exactly the reason that their system fell apart. Other Island groups(?) such as Hawaii survived because they were able to maintain contact with others.
There's a problem with using Easter Island as metaphor for the entire world. Easter Island is one small place, isolated, with no neighbors to trade with. Consequently, it has more in common with Iceland after the Vikings colonized it, than the entire world. Researchers often make the same mistake when they feed 80 lbs. of sugar to a lab rat and p ...[text shortened]... , unless they eliminate sugar from their diets. In other words: lab rats are not little humans.