Monthly Archives: January 2012

The problem with inverting reality

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Rick Altman

OK, so people on both sides of the climate change “debate” claim the other party is deluded. How can all those people sitting on the fence know who is right? Well, perhaps the undecided should trust their senses a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Cognitive Dissonance, Confirmation Bias, Economics, Environment, Junk Science, Limits to Growth, Merchants of Doubt, Photography, Politics, Pseudo science, Scepticism | Tagged | 4 Comments

The storm clouds are gathering…

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Rick Altman

This photograph was taken on 9 December 2011, on a walk down the Dane Valley (in the Cheshire part of the UK’s Peak District National Park). For those who know the area, I took a wrong turn out of Lud’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Environment, James Hansen, Photography, Storms of my Grandchildren | Tagged | 6 Comments

If the CAP does not fit we should not wear it

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Rick Altman

A year ago, the Institute for Public Policy Research issued a report saying that the UK’s first-past-the-post electoral system was not fit for purpose in a multi-party democracy. Unfortunately, in a shameless piece of narcissistic political expediency, the majority of … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Economics, Ethics, Politics | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What to do if you get mugged…

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Rick Altman

Hopefully “mugging” has the same meaning in English-speaking countries all around the world. If not, for the avoidance of any doubt, I mean “what to do if someone steals your money from you while you’re walking down the street…” First … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Disorder, Climate Science, Economics, Environment, Ethics, Greenpeace, IPCC, Liberalism, Politics, Renewable Energy, Sustainable development, UNFCCC | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Living on the edge of an Environmental breakdown!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Rick Altman

I have just finished reading Derek Wall’s No Nonsense Guide to Green Politics, which was a very enlightening skip through the history of Green politics as well as some of its more esoteric recent developments. Amongst the most interesting facets … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropocene, Capitalism, Civil Disorder, Civilisation, Climate Science, Collapse, Ecological Modernisation, Environment, Ethics, Fossil Fuels, Growthmania, Limits to Growth, Politics, Renewable Energy, Sustainable development | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Green philosophy in a nutloaf

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Rick Altman

Although it is a bit more complicated than embracing vegetarianism and hugging trees (hence nutloaf instead of nutshell), it’s not really that complicated. So, from someone who had not really thought that hard about it until this time last year, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecological Modernisation, Environment, Ethics, Intergenerational Injustice, Philosophy, Politics, Sustainable development | Tagged | 2 Comments

Green politics in a nutshell

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Rick Altman

Green politics is not seeking worldwide Socialist government. Sure, social justice is common to both (hence people like James Delingpole can write stupid books like Watermelons) but, Green politics is also about promoting grassroots democracy and the empowerment of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Cognitive Dissonance, Economics, Environment, Ethics, Growthmania, Limits to Growth, Modernity, Politics, Scepticism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Obama takes one for Team Planet

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Rick Altman

Doing the right thing is not always easy, especially if you are the President of the United States of America. In a political system that is quite possibly more corrupt than North Korea, the Obama administration is surrounded by very … Continue reading →

Posted in Arctic, Cognitive Dissonance, Economics, Energy Crisis, Environment, Ethics, Fossil Fuels, Intergenerational Injustice, Liberalism, Politics, Populism, Renewable Energy, Scepticism, Sustainable development | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

All things are still connected

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Rick Altman

Apologies for the dearth of blog posts recently, which is due to Anthropocene Reality being affected by a lack of health: I have not known an illness like it for some years and, although I am beginning to feel a … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropocene, Carbon Capture and Storage, Civilisation, Climate Science, Ecological Modernisation, Economics, Environment, Ethics, Fossil Fuels, Growthmania, Limits to Growth, Modernity, Politics, Scepticism, Sustainable development | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Reflections on reaching 83 or 84

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Rick Altman

Completed in 1831, the Macclesfield Canal was one of the last (narrow) canals built in Britain. Furthermore, although I am clearly biased by living near to it, I think it is one of the prettiest in England: On a calm … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | 3 Comments