Monthly Archives: December 2011

Top UK Christmas Sales

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Rick Altman

Following on from yesterday, my second revelation courtesy of Christmas television is this: The 1984 Band Aid single “Do they know its Christmas? (Feed the world)” is the biggest-selling Christmas Number One of all time in the UK (selling twice … Continue reading →

Posted in Betrayal of Science and Reason, Consumerism, Environment, Ethics, Limits to Growth, Optimum Population | Tagged , | 6 Comments

First green superpower?

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Rick Altman

I am interrupting my blogging holiday to publish a couple of links to a thought-provoking items of Christmas television (one today and one tomorrow). First up, an item re-broadcast on the BBC News Channel on Monday: First broadcast in June … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecological Modernisation, Economics, Environment, James Hansen, Politics, Renewable Energy, Storms of my Grandchildren, Sustainable development | Tagged | 11 Comments

Sherry Christmas and a Schnappsy New Year!

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Rick Altman

Normal service will resume here on or after 3 Jan 2012. Until then, please enjoy these images… Remember the words of Edward O Wilson, who pointed out that we are not the most important species on the planet, which would … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged | 5 Comments

Our worst import from the USA

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Rick Altman

No doubt, I will be labelled as a Scrooge for saying this but, running the completely-overblown Trick or Treat hysteria surrounding Halloween into a very close second place, this is the ludicrous practice of covering your house and garden with … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Consumerism, Economics, Energy Crisis, Environment, Financial Crisis, Fossil Fuels | 9 Comments

Alarmville or Calmville – which is the fantasy?

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Rick Altman

About 18 months ago I was struggling with an addiction to Zynga Poker on Facebook. It was so bad, I would happily spend 6 hours on a Saturday and frequently stay up half the night, playing with anonymous people and … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Ecological Modernisation, Economics, Environment, Ethics, Intergenerational Injustice, IPCC, Limits to Growth, Maketplace of Ideas, Merchants of Doubt, Optimum Population, Politics, Scepticism, Sustainable development | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

There are none so blind…

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Rick Altman

…as those that can’t read! This photo was taken outside the Ranger’s House – an English Heritage (EH) property – on Blackheath, near Greenwich, south-east London. Although I can promise you it was not set-up for the camera, I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged | 2 Comments

A letter to the (right-wing) Editors

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Rick Altman

A transcript of my recent email to the Editors of the Daily Express, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph newspapers here in the UK… Dear [x], Please don’t let your newspaper become anachronistic Please forgive the unsolicited email, which I hope … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Cognitive Dissonance, Confirmation Bias, Environment, James Delingpole, Scepticism | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

When will we have enough Supermarkets?

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Rick Altman

On the day after it was announced that unemployment has reached a 17-year high in the UK, I hesitate to complain about the fact that Morrisons has promised to open 25 new supermarkets in the UK next year and create … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Consumerism, Ecological Modernisation, Economics, Environment, Growthmania, Modernity, Money Fetishism | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The pollution of death

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Rick Altman

Having gotten a little depressed about not being able to find relevant employment, I have decided it is time to publish this item: We hear a lot about death caused by pollution but, have you ever stopped to consider the … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilisation, Climate Science, Environment, Ethics, Limits to Growth, Optimum Population | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Climategate 3 it is not..!

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Rick Altman

Not satisfied with artificially engineering controversy using old data-mined and cherry-picked emails taken out-of-context in an attempt to discredit climate science and scientists, those who would have us believe climate change is not a problem are now trying to artificially … Continue reading →

Posted in Arctic, Climate Science, Climategate, Environment, Mass Extinctions, Politics, Scepticism | Tagged | 5 Comments