Wind Tunnels - Am I Fick?

There is lots of potential for micro-generation on buildings, however the main limitation on effective windpower is, well, the wind. So for the largest arrays the windiest spots are the best and these tend not to be in areas of dense population. Whilst every city could no doubt be retro-fitted for windpower generation this is not a silver-bullet for the problems of power generation and consumption. The first answer is for everyone to consume a great deal less electricity and then for us to develop a diverse range of renewables so that we are dependent on no single source. It cannot be over-stressed that the first and most important solution is reduced consumption.

I think plans for an offshore wind farm were scuppered by an MoD/RAF objection that they use that bit of the sea for flying fighter jets. I found this quite disturbing and wondered how much of the sea the MoD needs. jude

Somehow I'd have had you marked down as a national security freak Jude; how refreshing to learn that you find the needs of the MoD disturbing. Personally speaking, the sooner every single one of their bloody killing machines is grounded the better - and the more sustainable. Of course it'd be a good idea to transfer some of their helicopters to a purely civilian air-sea rescue role, but other than that moth-ball the lot. Still, I return to my original point that reduced consumption would be a much better first step than a coastline surrounded by huge capital projects like massive wind farms.

I understand why you may have had that hunch. People who hold the position I do on economic and social issues tend to be pro-military but I try to consider each issue on the evidence available. I am very much in favour of disarmament especially nuclear disarmement. Reduced consumption would be better but I suspect we part company on how to achieve that. I think new energy efficient technologies are the only realistic way of achieving this. People on the whole won't be persuaded to change their lifestyles to an extent that will make a difference. That said, I have reduced my energy consumption for a couple of weeks due to the generous act of some burglars who broke through a wall with a sledgehammer and relieved me of a P's playstation, an HD DVD player and a 32 inch LCD TV. Will be a short while for the insurance company to replace them. Interestingly, when the community support police came round, I was defending the burglars as probable victims of multiple social problems and since this type of burglary are often committed by addicts, they were probably people who had their free will compromised by the disease of addiction and I therefore felt no resentment or anger. My problem is I can't live up to my own expectations and be the arsehole I aspire to be.

James Lovelock the climate scientist predicted in 1965 that the main concern by the year 2000 would be the environment. He was laughed at. He also thinks wind turbines are a joke a little like inflating balloons on the Titanic as she went down. (O.K. I'll admit that's my metaphor.) He also thinks as do I that we've passed the tipping point - WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!! I've said many a time on this site that we're all going to hell in a handcart. Me a doom monger? You wait until Africa becomes too hot to live in, get the nukes out because that'll be the only way to stop millions wanting water and somewhere cooler to live. Lovelock states that by the year 2100 80% of the worlds population will be dead. You see, Mother Earth knows best.

The saddest thing is, the 20% who survive aren't necessarily the ones worth saving. It breaks my heart that a literary genius in Latin America could perish before penning the last chapter of his novel; a masterpiece equal to '100 Years of Solitude', whilst some neanderthal thug over here not only survives but grows ever fatter on Stella and pies as do his numerous progeny. I recommend the reasonably funny and quite dark US comedy 'Idiocracy' for a lightheated look at my vision of the future! jude

I don't drink Stella Jude!

No, quite right. Survival is just a lottery of where one was born. If Lovelock is right and we're all going to die, we're not all going to die at the same time. First, those in the poorest, hottest and driest parts of the world. Then the hot dry countries that only have oil as a revenue source. The first developed nation to go will be Australia. Anyway, I have looked at all the variables and if you want your bloodline to be the very last to perish, or to be in with a chance if there is any small hope of survival, Canada or Scotland are the best destinations!