Monthly Archives: June 2012

Tragedies – Shakespearean and Greek

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Rick Altman

It’s the weekend so, to celebrate, here is a special offer: Two posts for the price of one (i.e. nothing). A Shakespearean Tragedy in the making Last night I stumbled upon the second and final part of the BBC’s Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Disorder, Climate Science, Consumerism, Economics, Environment, Financial Crisis, Growthmania, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Lack of moral environment

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Rick Altman

This may have little to do with the environment but – I’m sorry – I simply cannot remain silent any longer about the revelation that the financial services industry in London is almost unbelievably corrupt. We are watching history being … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Economics, Environment, Ethics, Financial Crisis, Liberalism, Money Fetishism, Politics | Tagged , , | 28 Comments

Nature is not your enemy (but it may bite you if provoked)

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Rick Altman

Over the last two days, I have explained why I am not a Socialist (despite dabbling with it in the past); and why I have lost my faith in Capitalism (despite being unavoidably enmeshed in it to this day)… So, … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Collapse, Ecological Modernisation, Economics, Environment, Intergenerational Injustice, Philosophy, Politics, Sustainable development | Tagged | 9 Comments

Why I am not a Capitalist

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Rick Altman

Amongst other things, I explained why I am not a Socialist yesterday. Therefore, it seems only fair that I should also explain why I am not a Capitalist either. Actually, since anyone with money invested in a pension scheme is … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Climate Science, Economics, Environment, Financial Crisis, Politics | Tagged , | 22 Comments

Why I am not a Socialist

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Rick Altman

…and other things “sceptics” should bear in mind! In responding to the amazingly erudite blogger who is Patrice Ayme, on the subject of how we should treat all other life-forms with which we currently share this planet, I recently found … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Cognitive Dissonance, Denial, Environment, Liberalism, Lindzengate, Richard Lindzen, Scepticism | Tagged , | 32 Comments

Can we stop talking about AGW now?

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Rick Altman

AGW = Anthropogenic Global Warming. But, let’s be honest! It just isn’t that simple, is it? Here in the UK, the weather is literally unbelievable. 100mm of rain falling in one day. At the end of June. It’s ridiculous. Just … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Denial, Economics, Environment, Financial Crisis, Growthmania, Intergenerational Injustice, Limits to Growth, Politics, Sustainable development, UNFCCC | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Rio+20 = A testament to human stupidity, arrogance and greed?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Rick Altman

I have been alerted to the impending failure to agree anything substantive at the Rio+20 Summit, thanks to Christine’s latest post on 350orbust.com: ‘Health Warning Attached To Rio+20 Text: If You Care For The Future Of This Planet, This Document … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Economics, Environment, Intergenerational Injustice, Politics | Tagged | 4 Comments

Why don’t we mine asbestos again?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Rick Altman

Yesterday, I mentioned that I worked as a mine geologist in Australia in the late 1980s. One of the weirdest places I visited, while living and working in the Hammersley Range of Pilbara Region in the NW of Western Australia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Politics, Scepticism, Sustainable development | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

When in hole keep digging?

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Rick Altman

To mark the occasion of our World leaders converging on Rio de Janeiro this week, the BBC’s Science Editor, David Shukman, has visited the World’s largest iron ore mine, Carajas, in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. See: Forests and caves … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Consumerism, Economics, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Limits to Growth, Politics, Renewable Energy, Sustainable development | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Denial… is not a river in Egypt!

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Rick Altman

People like Anthony Watts and Barry Woods will be incensed by the title of this post; and I will no doubt be accused once more of failing to comply with the need for civilised debate on the subject of climate … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Science, Denial, Environment, Scepticism, UNFCCC | Tagged , | 7 Comments