observer Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Extreme Weather Events: now seem to be more frequent, and the experts are predicting that 1 in 100 year floods will occure perhaps every 10 years or less. Whether this is ascribed to Global Warming is frankly irrevelent, because we're way past the stage of preventing it by lifestyle changes. Perhaps it's time to shed our arrogance and just admit with humility, that the power of nature exeeds that of mankind. However, there are things we could do - with drought threatening large areas of the globe, we are blessed with a deluge of fresh drinking water falling within hours - so perhaps we need to start thinking about catching some of it and storing it. Perhaps we also need to finally take serious the idea that planning restrictions on building in low lying areas should actually be applied, and begin to consider high rise developments or building in up-land areas? So should we prepare and adapt, or just carry on paying ever higher insurance premiums? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 Sure I have said it before. "Common Sense" is no longer a job requirement for people making decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 Extremely good ,concise & common sense post Obs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 22, 2009 Report Share Posted November 22, 2009 I agree... very good post Obs But alas where there is often a common sense factor the 'need for greed' factor is usually against it and inevitably 'wins' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2009 The problem is; that the kinds of massive civil engineering projects required, would incure huge overt costs to the tax-payer. The bonus would be however, aside from providing water and energy storage, it would provide labour intensive employment (particulary for un-skilled labour), who would be paying taxes and spending money. Just to put the scale of challenge that can be overcome into perspective: the Chinese have just completed a huge tunnel, a 1,000 miles long, to carry water from the Himalayas to a drought stricken N/E region; meanwhile, we can't resolve the annual droughts in S/E England. The current Government concentration on the long term life style changes, are imo a tactic for the introduction of ever increasing (green) stealth taxes, without the delivery of tangible outcomes. By all means tackle "waste"; but IF they were serious on that front, they would be attacking the source of waste EG; excess packaging, insufficient home insulation, two for one retail gimmicks etc; rather than threatening to tax your bin contents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted November 23, 2009 Report Share Posted November 23, 2009 All good stuff and I agree with everything that?s been said. Personally, I think it?s quite sad because this country was once at the forefront when it came to engineering challenges but now our key expertise seems lie in money making scams like carbon trading. I get a call almost every week on this and they all get told the same and that?s to go out and get a real job! There are aqueducts and viaducts built by the Romans and Incas 8000 BC that are still in use today and ok, they probably didn?t need planning permission or have daft heath and safety legislation to deal with but none the less they got the job done! Now consider what we have these days, floods and droughts but all supported by countless thousands who only job in life is to argue the toss of who?s going to pick up the tab! We really have lost the plot somewhere along the line. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted November 23, 2009 Report Share Posted November 23, 2009 Since when was Civil Engineering an unskilled job? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2009 Such projects tend to be labour intensive, and a large portion of that workforce tend to be labourers, as against tradesmen or artisans - no disrespect intended - the point being made is; that lots of unemployed young males now leaving school without any qualifications could be employed - which could slay several dragons with one blow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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