Tuesday 9 January 2007

Tony Blair's ridiculous comments in the media

Dear David Miliband,

I am writing to you as a UK citizen who is extremely concerned about climate change, along with a great many other UK and world citizens... unlike Tony Blair! He is a man in denial and trots out the same arguments about flying and the UK's carbon emissions that I would expect from a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother! He is completely out of touch with the reality of the climate science, despite having attended the Hadley conference in 2005. He also made it 100% clear in his interview in today's Guardian that all he has really cared about was getting elected - that is now plain to see. Tony Blair represents a selfish and unsustainable view of life and way of living and the sooner he goes the better for all of us...

8 comments:

Philip said...

Indeed Tony Blair’s lack of political leadership on this one is astonishing. If we are to have any hope of preventing the worst impact of catastrophic climate change we simply must rein in the projected growth of the aviation industry.

Research by the Tyndall Centre on Climate Change, shows that if we don’t act to limit the airlines’ projected growth (doubling by 2020, trebling by 2030) then flying is likely to account for the UK’s entire carbon emissions in just a few decades!!

As Green MEP Caroline Lucas has said: "Leaving the job to the airlines themselves and hoping for a ‘techno-fix’ that will enable them to increase flights whilst cutting emissions is like crossing our fingers and hoping for a miracle: efficiency savings are
running at about 1-2 per cent a year whilst actual emissions are growing three times faster. The figures simply don’t add up."

Basically we have to fly less, and, uncomfortable as it might seem, this requires government action.

While Mr Blair's Government refuses to take legislative action to limit aviation growth, all the Government is left with is showing leadership and setting a good example. Tony Blair has signally failed to do even this.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cathy,
I agree with what you beleive in and am currently 'doing my bit' as well. If you could put some information about what people can do to reduce their environmental impact on your site it would increase its effectiveness. Keep up the good work.

Molly said...

Hi anonmyous (it would be nice to know who you are?!), is it too cheeky to suggest you look at a couple of others sites? I write a green economics blog (http://gaianeconomics.blogspot.com/) which has some practical suggestions and lots of thought about changing the economy. The other is the Transition Towns website (http://transitiontowns.org/Stroud/Stroud).

Anonymous said...

Concern about the environment, surprisingly to you no doubt, ISN'T the precious preserve of Guardianistas like yourself. I read more common sense opinion in the Daily Mail than in any edition of the PC Guardian. Try leaving your wine bar clique behind for a night and visit a pub for once.

Anonymous said...

I am in total agreement with anonymous regarding the reading of the Mail. I myeself read it and am very concerned about the environment and climate change. Whilst I wouldn't be seen dead reading the Sun newspaper, I don't presume that those who do are ignorant.
Keep up the good work regarding the environment, but cut the toffy nosed implications.

cathyclimatechange said...

OK OK keep your hair on you Daily Mail readers - anonymous and CB! Glad to hear awareness and concern about Climate Change crosses the political divide and isn't just occupied by 'greenwash' tories jumping on the bandwagon... I have changed the blog to something much more topical I hope you'll agree! Please check out my blog after 2nd Feb. as I will be posting all my 'Low Carbon Action Plan' tips then... Cathy.

Anonymous said...

I would just like to say that you shouldn't make accusations without thinking about them. First of all Tony Blair alone is not alone in passing government legislations. The Houses of parliment decide aswell. Also what proof do you have and on what grounds is "Tony Blair’s lack of political leadership on this one is astonishing"
Aswell airlines are not the only source of carbon emmisions! The majority of the public today do not realise that there are natural carbon dioxide emmisions. Volcanoes are a prime source. Tectonic activity releases vasts amount of CO2, but not always when errupting, small oozes and small breaks emit Carbon Dioxide. Also respiration itself causes oxygen levels to drop and co2 to dominate.So surely preventing forestation and planting well help reduce our carbon foot print shouldn't it? even if the effects are slight.
Also "Research by the Tyndall Centre on Climate Change, shows that if we don’t act to limit the airlines’ projected growth (doubling by 2020, trebling by 2030) then flying is likely to account for the UK’s entire carbon emissions in just a few decades!!" is not valid data. Being a scientist myself i find that very hard to believe as i do not have a full set of results. Saying that it can treble in just a few decades is one method the media use to twist facts to make them sound more sinister. Say the 1 in 1 billion air molecules are CO2 and by 2030 it is expected to be 3 in 2 billion the emissions have still trebled but it is not sinister as it is made out to be. It is a common misconseption.
I am not denying that carbon emmisions and global is a problem, but this article doesn't prove anything. I personnally think it's time to find alternative fuels as the oil supplies are dwindling and global warming is getting out of hand.
Thank you

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