An intellectual writes.....
George Monbiot is one of the most intelligent and challenging writers in the UK today. When he turns his attention to renewable energy, the opponents had beeter duck,as he throws out fact after fact. Some of his essays are listed below, and are well worth reading.
How much energy do we have?
A different kind of revolution
Goodbye, kind world
Correspondence with David Bellamy about the above article
and finally, a critique of David Bellamy's scientific knowledge
Junk science
Will MWT now disown David Bellamy as the bonkers, self-publicist that he obviously is?
How much energy do we have?
A different kind of revolution
Goodbye, kind world
Correspondence with David Bellamy about the above article
and finally, a critique of David Bellamy's scientific knowledge
Junk science
Will MWT now disown David Bellamy as the bonkers, self-publicist that he obviously is?
2 comments:
Dear Angus,
I agree with much of what George Monbiot says about renewable energy and I’ve been taking a huge interest in the LWP proposal in general and stumbled across your web blog while working on an assignment for my Town Planning course. Personally, I oppose the LWP wind farm on the basis of its location in an important bird area and size but, like many people, I support renewable energy – I even like the look of wind farms. I also believe in human induced climate change. But I draw the line at destroying huge tracts of the peatlands; this, in my view, is more important than jobs or achieving x per cent of the UK’s renewable energy targets. Though I am against the development, I do of course wonder what the island would be like, economically, with it. As I come from Lewis, I know very well about the economic difficulties facing the Western Isles. If the Scottish Executive does grant permission (though I can see either a public inquiry or legal action looming) then I hope that the economic benefits do come true (and then some) but I will be hugely saddened by the devastation of the moor and its wildlife. I don’t think the two major wind farm developments per se and the attendant spin-off jobs will keep many young people on the island or provide an economic panacea. Like many, I left when I was eighteen and I would find it hard to return now. What I find interesting about the LWP development is how it makes us question our values, what we believe is good/bad, important etc. and that is a good thing.
Yours sincerely
This is exactly the kind of discussion we need to have, rather than the simple for or against. Like Fin(dlay?) I left at 18, and was very, very, lucky to get a job back here.
Values are there to be questioned, and whilst I have never claimed the proposals will be some form of global panacea, I do strongly believe that benefits outweigh the costs to the environment.
But, I may be wrong, and I recognise that. Such is the nature of politics.
Thanks for a constructive comment.
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