Comments for Richard Zurawski

Comment on Reducing and ending consumption by richardzurawski

richardzurawski — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:50:24 +0000

Thank you both for the comments, They are well thought out and reflect what it is that we all have to do….which is think things over, make decisions based on information and try to step outside of what is obviously a system which is now hurting us all.

What to do is the big question. I don’t think there are any easy solutions ever, but in this case they are particularly onerous and difficult.

AK and I will touch on all the questions you raise in the next Science Files. Also my new book on climate change for the Maritimes has some suggestions (July it will be in the stores, but stay tuned to the exact date). I am writing my third book which is going to be dedicated on what we must do as opposed to setting up the poblem. I am finding an enormous interest in trying to fix the problem as we come to our senses,

Thanks for your thoughts and for listening

Comment on Reducing and ending consumption by John MacKinnon

John MacKinnon — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:12:44 +0000

Firstly let me say I love listening to your incites and opinions. You really seem to have a head on your shoulders.

This whole issue has been plaguing me lately to be honest. I am a father of 3…home owner…bla bla bla and I have been trying to push this new (or old) way of thinking to my family. Not always easy but were getting better I think. My biggest problem is that my home is older, heat and energy is just leaking out I’m sure, and I own a minivan for the family. I’ve already made it clear that the ’sweet’ van ride is coming to an end, provided I can even get rid of it at this point, and I’m planning on having a site inspection done on my house to see where I can make improvements. All of which is fine and good but the almighty buck makes the world go round.

Home upgrades are not cheap. These newer more fuel efficient cars are more then a few buck for sure. Most people are like me…we just have no clear idea as to where we should start/invest our money (or where the hell we are going to get money to do it :)). I have been trying to do some market research on alterative home heating/powering devices. Solar panels, thermal systems, home windmills…etc. Big setup costs but if it saves in the long run, financially and environmentally, it’s worth it. I’d love to see(hear) a show based on some of the new technologies out there for home owner. What the average guy with a modist income might be able to use.
Just a thought…

Thank you Richard for your time..

Comment on Reducing and ending consumption by Toshi Yoshimatsu

Toshi Yoshimatsu — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:12:37 +0000

Hi Richard,

Before I write anything, I have to say that, as my name may suggest, English is not my native tongue so please excuse my bad and incorrect use of the language. I apologize for it beforehand.

I agree almost 100 per cent with of what you say about our consumptive society as well as any other subjects you write or talk about.

We must fundamentally change our way of life so that our civilization may be able to survive a bit longer then I think it would last. However, I recently begin to suspect that our effort of changing our behaviuor to reduce our consumption in any degree, short of the magnitude of tectonic revolution, would not be able to change the outcome of our civilization in any meaningful way. One of the reasons is the population level we are in. As you often say, our population level is way too high to be sustainable, but we human being collectively doesn’t have any will or wisdom to change our population level or growth pattern peacefully or effectively.

The next problem is the lack of economic wisdom or tools to change our consumption pattern so that the shrinking economy would not destroy our social fabric or stability of our culture. For example, we still promote tourism and big events such as concerts or sports events in this province or entire country. In the viewpoint of consumption, such events must be eliminated first, even before we think about where and how the food we eat are produced.

These are the few of many things I could think of as problems we face. These problems may probably be too complex, profound and difficult for us to solve in the time frame we have.

I may be too pessimistic about this but I think the future of so called western civilization (incl. all developed and developing countries of the world) may break. As most of civilizations preceding ours, we may be facing the end of this civilization by depleting the resources and destroying the environment. This may well be the evolutionary development pattern of the civilizations, I hope not but…

I would be very happy to hear your comment on these points in your future blogs or talks on the radio.

I am a bit of science buff as you are, but not as educated or insightful as you are. I really enjoy your commentary and radio show. Please keep up good work you do. Thank you very much.

Sincerely

T.Y.

Comment on Do we make anything anymore? by John

John — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:03:52 +0000

nice blog. If pretty much all the common folks agree with things like this (free trade being bad) and so on, why is it that our government doesn’t do way more to keep things local!

Comment on The cost of driving by Abe

Abe — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:06:31 +0000

Richard, my wife and I have advanced to the next stage of Transportation , we both bought small four cylinder cars as we both work in different parts of town and between the two of us we burn less fuel a week now than we were were on a big single car. It’s time to drop the statis simbles and get real. I would love to see the government allow the small electric cars on the road. Their excuse is the electric cars are too slow, is that not what we need on our streets slower fuel saving traffic on the roads? How long would it take to adjust to geting up a bit earlier to be at work on time?
This area needs to get more traffic on rails also. There is away to much truck traffic on our main high-ways that could be sent by rail.
In Sussex N.B. they are trucking waste water from the potash mines to Saint John and dumping it into the harbour (360 trips )when this could be brought by rail in one trip and cause no road dammage. I don’t know if this makes any sense or not but it’s does to me.

Comment on The cost of driving by Tony

Tony — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:34:33 +0000

My beef with car companies (GM, Ford, etc.):
They say millions of dollars are being poured into R&D for electric, hybrid and alternative fuel cars. If so don’t you think they should be able to make a cost effective zero, or close to it, pollution vehicle? (excluding manufacture and electricity generation). Don’t share me opinion? Take a look on Youtube and search “Gav’s EV” and “Say No to Gas”. You find two people who were frustrated with gasoline prices and did something about with there own simple mechanical knowledge and the internet. Wow. Seems a little odd doesn’t it?

My question for Mr. Zurawski would be: In your opinion, do believe that having fully electric cars would be more “environmentally friendly” keeping in mind that somtimes the electricity to power them is generated by coal and other polluting fuels?

Comment on Of Seals and Science by David fm CH

David fm CH — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:21:21 +0000

I don’t often agree with Richard Zurawski so I thought I would comment. We will always consume animals and animal products, there is nothing wrong with this. However, there is no need for cruelty and when the time comes to slaughter an animal, it should be dispatched humanely.

Comment on Earth Day….It is Dark Up There! by Hawkeye Girl

Hawkeye Girl — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:08:58 +0000

These “gestures” are kind of like training wheels on a bicycle: we’re just wobbling along trying to get used to doing something new… while heading towards the Autobahn. Environmental change is well underway, yet we’re still trying to wrap our heads around the idea of sorting our garbage.

Today is Earth Day. I marked the occassion by selling trees…. and trying to get my colleagues to use ceramic mugs at their coffee break instead of disposable paper cups… Do you think tomorrow they’ll use ceramic mugs or back to the throw-aways…?

Maybe I’m just picking up on your cynicism, but I just get the feeling that by the time we get those training wheels off & figure out what we’re supposed to be doing, it will be too late.

Comment on Earth Day….It is Dark Up There! by poetryman69

poetryman69 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:18:18 +0000

Want to protect the earth and save energy? Then stop all wars, conflicts and terrorism. How do you do that? Make the United States free of foreign oil. When the US is energy independent there will be no more oil wars and the terrorists will no longer be able or interested in reaching us. This will save lives AND energy. Let’s study what Denmark, France, Brazil, and Australia have done on diversifying their energy supplies and do likewise. Let’s drill wherever we have oil and put a new nuclear power plant in every state. Let’s use all our coal and natural gas. We don’t need foreign energy. And we will be safer, greener, and richer with out it. All of the earth’s natural resources will be eventually used by someone at some time. Would your rather these resources be recovered in an ecological friendly and sustainable way by the US or that some dictator who could not care less about the environment exploit the earth. All alternative sources of energy will take decades to bring online because their conversion efficiencies are not yet high enough. Eventually, the US will lead the world into a sustainable green economy, but energy independence comes first. It is the low hanging fruit and gives immediate benefits now.

Comment on Slums by Bob

Bob — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:41:06 +0000

I think it is almost time for a a virus to wipe most of us out. Mother nature has a way of correcting overpopulation. It may even be a man-mait pathegen used as a terror weapon.