#53885
01/25/2002 11:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,385
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,385 |
An article in the current issue of the Harvard International Review, "Environment" Issue, presents two conflicting explanations for the speedy pace of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. Those in favor of speed cite the "bicycle" effect. If you stop moving forward, you will fall over. Those who urge less haste, say they are getting the "bum's rush". Haste puts pressure on decision-makers to decide without understanding the consequences of their decisions, in particular, environmental impacts. Obviously, there is wisdom in both arguments. What is the moral of this story, I wonder? You can run a bum outta town on a rail but never put him on a bicycle.
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#53886
01/26/2002 2:01 AM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
without understanding the consequences of their decisions, in particular, environmental impacts. [...] What is the moral of this story, I wonder? You can't get a nuclear fission a-bicycle 
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#53887
01/26/2002 2:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
A some Roman put it, Festina lente. There is a need for both groups.
Great to see you posting again, plutarch. We need you.
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#53888
01/26/2002 3:32 AM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
A new clear shona. I'm not sure about that. He always kinda babbled on.
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#53889
01/26/2002 11:05 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
A New Zealander, Mike Moore (former PM for what must have been one the shortest governments in NZ history) is currently heading the WTO. While he's there, things will tend to move quickly. He's not one for sitting round and reflecting on things. Even when he should!
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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#53890
01/26/2002 3:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
i am not sure speed is always the answer..
people were very happy when cars first became popular.. after all they were cleaner.. no more horse flys, no more piles of manure in the road.. and worst of all, no horses dropping dead of heat stroke on a hot summers day, and becoming really offencive in just a few hours..
i feel strongly about environmental issues.. (d'oh!) and fully agree americans, on the whole, are wasteful of resourses.. but i also think changes are going to come from unexpected places..
it would be nice to see a revolution in generating electricty comparable to the revolution in phones.. In some ways, because we had great infra structure in place for land lines, we (US) are behind the curve on cell phone use. but the changes they have made are mind boggling.. the US will lead in creating the technology.. but we won't end up using it for a while.. once again, our investment in generating plants, and hard wiring.. make small, portable generators, (that use renewable resoursed,ie, solor or wind) less cost effective here.
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#53891
01/26/2002 4:28 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
The next great innovation in the mass production of "safe" energy is almost bound to be one of two approaches, in my view:
(a) Fusion reactors. I haven't been keeping up with this, but last time I looked the Japanese seemed to be doing quite well in that area. Is Princeton still playing around with that balky tokomak reactor of theirs?
(b) Beamed energy from space (solar collectors). This is still in pipedream land, but seems to be feasible, given enough do re mi to fund the development. I know the ESA is looking at this but, again, I haven't taken a lot of notice lately.
Nuclear fission and windfarms seem to be pretty inefficient. Fission reactors are, as we all know, messy and uncertain beasts. Yet they seem to be the two areas which are currently available for relatively low-impact generation, using the term in its loosest possible sense.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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