Not sure any industry has got clean hands. Lithium and cobalt mining got worse when Chinese companies bought up the mining rights and aren't so fussy about who the staffing companies are hiring. But then the countries with the mines aren't children - they're adult politicians who have the ability to implement laws, the same as mining in Australia and Russia etc. but they choose not to... So who is responsible. As consumers, we could hardly buy anything ethical for the money we have, if we stripped it back to the beginning.
As I said, there isn't much appetite to consider it. Our reliance on and prioritising of cars is something that bothers me but most people don't really care, are happy with the status quo and will make an effort to find reasons not to try. In my experience, even amongst other people who would identify as left-leaning like I do, I'm in something of a minority in caring about it. So I certainly wasn't expecting you to agree with me.
Left leaning countries are more congested than we are with cars, motor bikes and mopeds buzzing about everywhere. From having no one able to have these things in the days of communist dictatorship, apart from the Party big wigs, they have gone to everyone having them in China, Vietnam etc.
If that's the case then I think they should look at improving that too, but obviously I'm more interested in here.
As I discovered today. An unplanned dash to Leeds. 24 quid. "Its half term, all the trains are full". So I sat down and waited for the train to fill. Only on the outskirts of Leeds did that happen. Pah.
It would be a start if we had public transport that functioned effectively and cheaply during even convenient hours. Say 6 till 10. Public transport is a shambolic super expensive disgrace in this country (except arguably in London - well, fancy that) and it's got progressively worse rather than better. It's such an obvious need to improve drastically for various reasons but literally no sign of it happening. Just one more thing we as a country are failing badly with (irrespective of party).
So, how do you think things will improve here if we get rid of cars and go back centuries to when no one could afford to have the their own transport and the freedoms it brings whilst other countries are carrying on regardless? Maybe you think their pollution will not travel here through the atmosphere? Or maybe you think it is possible to build an air conditioned dome over the British Isles? China is opening up a new coal fired power station at the rate of one a month and have built over 50 new airports in the time we have been discussing building a new runway. India is building over 50 new coal fired power stations. Germany is re-opening mines and increasing open cast mining of lignite, the filthiest coal of all. And you think our reducing our cars is going to have any lasting effect?
Pretty much every country in Europe now has better public transport than we do(at least outside of London), ours is a joke.
Didn’t say they don’t. But that was not the point I was making in that post. Having said that, I have always felt safe travelling on trams in Amsterdam, Germany, Belgium late at night, and after midnight. Which I don’t think I would if we had anything running at that time of night in most of the country. And I am sure a lot of females would not feel safe either.
I don't think it's realistic to get rid of all cars. I think we should reduce the reliance on them and the number of them on the roads, promote alternative means and stop prioritising them. As I said earlier, this isn't just for environmental/pollution reasons. That is one thing, but as you suggest it would be a drop in the ocean globally and more would need to be done elsewhere on that front. For me it's more about having a more functional and happier society. I drive a car so I am a small part of the problem, though I try to use it as little as possible.
It's not in the interests of those making all the money to reduce the number of cars. The most environmentally friendly car is the one that was built years ago and still being used, but they are using nudge system to get everyone to replace those cars with a newly built one.
Didn't know you worked with Chazz, it wouldn't be so bad if he had used the loo roll wiping his arse but no he takes it home.
Yes, I agree with that. In general we're too consumerist and unfortunately that suits the powerful people. Cars are one part of that.
It’s misleading at best. A digger may consume that much diesel but the resources are mined by children with spades and pickaxes that run on a few grains of wheat per hour.
