Global warming; what can we do?

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Global warming; what can we do?
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Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 6:07 pm Post subject: Global warming; what can we do?

Given that global warming is something we are experiencing now & no amount of bickering over wether it's caused by cattle, cars or China will change that, what should we do to cope with it?

It's wet out at the moment, OK it's December but it was wet in August too. Milder winters are not as hard on pests that affect crops & livestock, so we're going to see more of those problems, interupted growing seasons, shorter planting & harvesting windows. So what can we do to deal with it, grow different crops? breed smaller animals? build crannogs?

I'll set two requests for this thread:

1) None of the aforementioned bickering over the cause and;
2) Practical proposals at Downsizer level only, not government or other non-personal actions.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 6:09 pm Post subject:
What's a crannog?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 6:11 pm Post subject:
A house built over water.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:26 pm Post subject:
Population is the problem. Stop reproducing? Form a cult and encourage mass suicide? Each of us go out with a gun and cull as many chavs as we can? Post anthrax to people we don't like? Do I hear the cry 'Oh dear Bebo's being flippant again........'

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:30 pm Post subject:
Raised beds drain better. Small-scale, intensive horticulture. Break up concrete so the land can drain And we could all shelter from the rain inside Bebo's pants.

boisdevie1

Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3897
Location: Lancaster

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:32 pm Post subject:
Overpopulation is the problem so the solution is to kill people and eat them.

mousjoos

Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Posts: 1986
Location: VERY Sunny SW France

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:32 pm Post subject:
Be careful Bebo, I got a right b*****king on another forum for advocating the culling of chavs & undesirables......albeit a brilliant idea in so many respects.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:34 pm Post subject:
On a local, downsizerish level there is nothing we can do to stop global warming. the only thing we can do is be prepared to minimise its effects.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:36 pm Post subject:
I think that was what Rob was asking about.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:36 pm Post subject:
I don't think one would need to cull anyone - natural selection would do the job. Everyone who couldn't apply post-apocalyptic eyeliner effectively in the manner of Survivors would eventually die out. JB is right. But that doesn't mean that one should stop trying, does it?

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:37 pm Post subject:
Oi Chez, don't go inviting all and sundry to shelter in my pants. They are my fall back strategy for when civilisation as we know it ends. I plan to us them to save a careful selection of people to ensure the continuation of the human race....... Couple of thousand or so.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:42 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

Everyone who couldn't apply post-apocalyptic eyeliner effectively in the manner of Survivors would eventually die out.

Hah, I'm OK then. Dab hand with the kohl pencil me.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:42 pm Post subject:
Jus' sayin', that's all.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:46 pm Post subject:
Why smaller animals? Surely they need to be tall to survive the flooding? Realistically - I take solace in the fact that we live at the top of a girt big hill. I don't know what else we could do to minimise the effects personally. Go with the flow and start growing rice?

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 08 9:58 pm Post subject: Re: Global warming; what can we do?

Rob R wrote:

I'll set two requests for this thread:

1) None of the aforementioned bickering over the cause and;
2) Practical proposals at Downsizer level only, not government or other non-personal actions.

Right bearing in mind the 2 above proviso's..

1) Personal responsibility - being aware of own carbon footprint or other eco badness and trying to amend ways. This is much our problem as someone else's.

2) Localising things - going for local as much as possible be it for food or entertainment. Working together to solve local issues.

3) being adaptable - its struck me how out of date gardening books are quickly becoming - look at the advice from a book of the 80s - would it work now? doubtful!. We have to adapt quickly in terms of what to grow when, so being flexible and observant.

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