Environmentalism? Why make a virtue out of the unecessary?

Mark Lynas raises many issues in ‘Bring in the Police to save the Planet’ (9th. May) (1)but does give vent to something of a barely muted class bias and a huge degree of ignorance.

Perhaps the environment as an issue was dropped from the headlines during the election because it doesn’t fit in with the aspirations of people – any people. This would apply to our good Mr. Lynas himself, after all, his solutions imply going with out – your PC, holiday, means of transport, books, etc., etc. or being ‘guilt’ taxed for the privilege of being able to consume.

Instead, our self loathing Mr. Lynas reveals everything that is wrong with the Green ‘movement’ – its anti human content. He completely ignores the benefits that mass production of food and transport links have provided to both the producing and consuming countries, of course far from evenly spread but the general effect is that living standards throughout have risen.

As with much, if not all, Lynas’ arguments the energy issue is contradictory, if not simplistic. Wind power can only offer small scale promise; to do otherwise utilises far greater land mass or sea area - both having problems for man and beast.
Supposedly free power poses far more problems than it will solve – more effort and resources goes into less and inconsistent energy supply.

Nuclear power is still in its infancy - progress thwarted by alarmist and chauvinistic environmentalists and incoherent government.

As for depleting fish stocks then the solution would be to develop and intensify fish farming. (Here we go) When on Holiday in Keffalonia (wi' me lad)I loved a boat trip we went out on (I'll spare you the Karaoke, moped, barbie, fucking gorgeous smell the moment you walk off the plane - sunbaked fir tree sap that smelt like a baker's or toffee). Our boat passed a fish farm - two large steel cylinders with net at the top and bottom. The ship's Captain said that now the bone structure of the fish had altered and they were meatier - well fed topfeeders as to bottom scraping scavengers. And now the fisherman no longer has to go to the trouble, expense, and effort in going out not quite all weathers but for quite a long time. And we get cheaper, meatier fish.(2)

(Back to the 'plot')

Of course, Lynas’ argument has little backbone as what he really means is that we should trade Bridlington for Barbados, and then likely in a hands off ‘environmentally friendly’ way.

Whatever happened to constructive criticism? Our good friend Lynas whinges much but can only offer spoilt brat solutions.
His satisfaction is in denial.


(1)http://www.newstatesman.com/nssubsfilter.php3?newTemplate=NSArticle_NS&newDisplayURN=200505090019
(2)Of further interest http://www.farmfreshsalmon.org/images/PDFS/rptupdate.pdf