Comments on: An inconvenient truth http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/ Tom Raftery, social media consultant, speaker, blogger and podcaster Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:34:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100175 Tom Raftery Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:10:23 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100175 Tim, there's a lot of truth in what you say and the petroleum industry isn't entirely to blame. Lack of political leadership and will is probably the main culprit. If George Bush had diverted all the money he squandered on trying to secure the Iraqi oil, in research into renewable energy instead we'd be in a very different world today! Tim,

there’s a lot of truth in what you say and the petroleum industry isn’t entirely to blame.

Lack of political leadership and will is probably the main culprit.

If George Bush had diverted all the money he squandered on trying to secure the Iraqi oil, in research into renewable energy instead we’d be in a very different world today!

]]> By: Tim http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100166 Tim Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:25:14 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100166 Hi Tom, I can see how it may seem like a poor argument and maybe I was too simplistic in my formulation, but there are some benefits to be had from oil, and all the byproducts associated are not all bad, plastics being the biggest. Tobacco has little or no benefit to anyone. Personally I believe that the usage of oil will change with the further developement of bio-diesels and hydrogen technology, the trick will be to convince countries like China and India to develop these also. As I said in my previous comment I am a cog in the industry where there are many cogs, and often it is easy to slag off and blame something that many are responsible for, even those blaming are responsible. In Ireland, the sugar beet production could make alcohol for example, not necessarily in the old sugar plants but build new ones, the money is there and it's not rocket science, all it needs is political will. Importing alcohol from Brazil where rainforest is destroyed to grow sugar cane is crazy. Anyway, like a lot of my blogs the stuff pours out before I think too much about it, reading a comment again after a reply puts it in perspective. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't want a cleaner environment except this biker we had as a cook on the ship once, he had a tatoo "FTW" (fuck the world), nice. Cheers Tim Hi Tom,
I can see how it may seem like a poor argument and maybe I was too simplistic in my formulation, but there are some benefits to be had from oil, and all the byproducts associated are not all bad, plastics being the biggest.
Tobacco has little or no benefit to anyone.

Personally I believe that the usage of oil will change with the further developement of bio-diesels and hydrogen technology, the trick will be to convince countries like China and India to develop these also. As I said in my previous comment I am a cog in the industry where there are many cogs, and often it is easy to slag off and blame something that many are responsible for, even those blaming are responsible.
In Ireland, the sugar beet production could make alcohol for example, not necessarily in the old sugar plants but build new ones, the money is there and it’s not rocket science, all it needs is political will. Importing alcohol from Brazil where rainforest is destroyed to grow sugar cane is crazy.
Anyway, like a lot of my blogs the stuff pours out before I think too much about it, reading a comment again after a reply puts it in perspective. I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t want a cleaner environment except this biker we had as a cook on the ship once, he had a tatoo “FTW” (fuck the world), nice.
Cheers Tim

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100094 Tom Raftery Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:13:08 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100094 Hey Tim - thanks for the kind words and for stopping by and commenting. your point on the petroleum industry is the same point the tobacco industries used to make about cigarettes - the tobacco industry isn't responsible as long as people voluntarily smoke. It is a bit of a cop out of an argument to be honest. As for Al Gore's motives, personally I don't care if he has ulterior motives as long as what he is saying is accurate. In any case, Al Gore has been singing this song since the 70's (long before it was fashionable) so if he has ulterior motives, he hasn't achieved them yet! Hey Tim - thanks for the kind words and for stopping by and commenting.
your point on the petroleum industry is the same point the tobacco industries used to make about cigarettes - the tobacco industry isn’t responsible as long as people voluntarily smoke. It is a bit of a cop out of an argument to be honest.

As for Al Gore’s motives, personally I don’t care if he has ulterior motives as long as what he is saying is accurate. In any case, Al Gore has been singing this song since the 70’s (long before it was fashionable) so if he has ulterior motives, he hasn’t achieved them yet!

]]> By: Tim http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100092 Tim Sun, 25 Feb 2007 15:39:45 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-100092 Hi Tom, like the site, inspiring and good for all the techie stuff that I am crap at. On climate change and the petroleum industry in which I am a cog, I would say to those who think/claim that climate change is the fault of the petroleum industry, stop driving cars, don't use any plastic. Then tell us how you are doing. As for Al Gore, he seems like a convincing enough guy but don't you feel that there is an ulterior motive? Cheers Tim Hi Tom, like the site, inspiring and good for all the techie stuff that I am crap at. On climate change and the petroleum industry in which I am a cog, I would say to those who think/claim that climate change is the fault of the petroleum industry, stop driving cars, don’t use any plastic. Then tell us how you are doing.
As for Al Gore, he seems like a convincing enough guy but don’t you feel that there is an ulterior motive?
Cheers Tim

]]> By: Milan http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-99927 Milan Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:22:01 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/an-inconvenient-truth/#comment-99927 You may be interested in reading <a href="http://www.sternreview.org.uk/">Professor Sir Nicholas Stern’s report on the economics of climate change</a>. I saw him give a presentation on it yesterday. You may be interested in reading Professor Sir Nicholas Stern’s report on the economics of climate change. I saw him give a presentation on it yesterday.

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