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Environmentalism in "The Greatest Generation"
It is often said that we inherited global warming from these people. But they grew up in the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt the greatest environmental president; like generation X to JFK. Their families worked for the WPA and helped to expand the national parks directly. Their voices founded the EPA, raised awareness of fragile ecosystems, the show "Our Vanishing Wilderness" comes to mind. The co-founders of Greenpeace were of this generation. Perhaps they loved the environment too exuberantly and quickly lost faith in diplomacy, villainizing and making enemies of the politicians and corporations that they needed cooperation from, a trend that continues today.
At the same time they did witness and promulgate the rapid expansion of earth’s exploitation, with nuclear bomb testing, strip mining and the advent of industrial farms. I have seen in historical references both astute predictions of global warming and asinine predictions of using A-bombs to loosen the oil from Canadian tar sands. (that was from popular mechanics I beleive)
What is the true environmental legacy of "The Greatest Generation" did they throw us in the hole or give us a rope?
You can find both former captains of industry and possibly former/current activists that might have things to say at Terwilliger Plaza or other retirement clubs.
posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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on Oregon: The Next 150 Years
THE PREDICTION:
The cost of goods will drop significantly and the rate at which we tear apart our world (AKA "mining") will drop by 90 - 95%
The technology involved with this is less than currently existing; but based on principles 120 years old. Mass spectrometry separates molecules into their constituent atoms. Mass spectrometry is responsible for the dating of fossils and observations of charged particles. It uses electric means to break the bonds between atoms. If it is possible to collect the atoms and scale up the device we can recycle our trash in a way never possible before. We can take our junk and turn it into like-new raw materials. No more landfills. This would be incredibly power hungry and could only come about with a cheap energy supply. I think of this as equal to the invention of agriculture when we stopped relying solely on nature to carry us and started to produce for our selves and we are just so damn close!
Signed:
Sorrytobe Awindbag Neverhappenagain
posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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on Oregon: The Next 150 Years
THE PREDICTION:
As the planet experiences climate change the water supply will fall. By alot. But humans will find the silver lining in the acid rainstorm cloud.
The technology, BOWLS! As old as cupped hands this technology will be result in a pollution free and well quenched world. Humans in many parts of the globe will want to collect rain water to drink. We will raise levies around our cities and miles out on either sides of our highways. Cities will look like bowls, and highways like ice cube trays, these levies will separate us from the worlds rivers creating a self-contained human habitat like a termite mound. Our deadly run-off, oil from highways, fertilizers from lawns, will no longer permeate nature. We will create pipelines and canals to bring water collected in deep reservoirs from other places to be cleaned resulting in potable water and a valuable recyclable sludge. Further more the levies, being quite high, will be perfect places for solar panels and windmills. We'll paint them all pretty like and call them "wind flowers" as we drive by. Dogs may bark.
posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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on Oregon: The Next 150 Years
THE PREDICTION:
The energy supply of Oregon at 250 will be cheaper than it is now and nearly limitless. WHAT? Did I just say that? Well it's true.
Three years ago the first paper thin solar technology was created in a lab it is nearing production now. It is a chemical that you paint onto a thin light weight substrate. Further more lasers are a reliable means of transmitting power long distances, in fact the Nazis tried very hard to make lasers because they couldn't build power lines and fight at the same time. the result is SOLAR FARMS IN SPACE! Thousands of satellite launch and unroll like toilet paper to form hundreds of "daisies" and beam their power to a central hub which beams power to earth. Our society has low self-esteem and doesn't believe we can do such things so we laugh at the idea but the technology is all ready here. Some assembly required.
posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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on Oregon: The Next 150 Years
I've seen a lot of dread in the dreams of the future and a few fantastic technologies. I believe the power of the oracle lies in the pragmatist, the moderate and not the pessimist or technophile. So let me try my hand:
Every technology I will mention exists in some form TODAY! No need to wait for the birth of the next big egg head or to go and clone Edison.
The challenges of the future, demand for energy, exploitation and pollution of nature, water supply
posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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on Recycling in the Recession
posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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on Recycling in the Recession
In our rapidly progressing world the maxim ?if its too good to be true it probably is? has become a hindrance. The innovative technology is called ?plasma gasification? and it turns the worst most un-recyclable waste into clean burning fuel for green energy and a solid similar to obsidian rock that can be used as bricks or ground into sand or gravel usurping the need for quarries, like the one that scars Ross Island, and the land fills that often replace them. It?s not futuristic it?s not even in development because it already exists. The first five real working facilities went up this year and there are many companies happy to build one for our fair city. The problem as with many high capital infrastructures is an abundance of tax-payer skepticism. It?s not science fiction it?s real and it can clean up our world, build up our manufacturing sector, rehab our oil addiction, and return its own investment. It would make Portland proud.
This geek is so enamored by the quantum leap in green tech that I hope to eventually hear you interview the engineers designing the first plant to open on the West Coast (besides Vancouver) right here in Portland. In the mean time I?ll just cross my fingers in the hopes that maybe you can swing a five minute phone interview today with some one from any of these companies.
www.startech.net
www.plascoenergygroup.com
www.advancedplasmapower.com
Here are some sources of more information if you need them. The first and best is Popular Science Magazine. Go to www.popsci.com and type ?plasma gasification? in the search field. The Wikipedia Page (Plasma arc waste disposal) has a list of both existing and planned facilities and very useful external links including a must see ?Pros vs. Cons? page on Slate.com.
posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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