If challenged I will vehemently deny being a Greenie (of the big-G variety, at least), but maybe, just maybe I am becoming a small-g greenie. I am not about to join any band of duffel coat clad tree-huggers (do they still wear duffel coats?). However, I must admit I am seriously concerned about big picture environmental issues like global warming and the tightening water crisis here in Australia. In particular it concerns me that so many powerful people still deny the dangers of excessive CO2 emissions from vehicles and coal fired power stations.
I am also worried that so much of the debate, so many of the arguments, are based on what amounts to little more than superstition, hearsay and cynical manipulation of public opinion based on political/economic expediency (so what's new?). Take the case of an Australian Government minister attempting to disallow a windfarm because of the risk to an endangered species, the orange bellied parrot. It turned out to be a load of baloney, and the minister eventually had to back down. The real reason for his decision was that this was a marginal electorate etc., etc ... (you know how it works!). Of course, when he was found out he resigned in disgrace (Sorry, bad joke. Government ministers don't resign over major blunders any more, do they?).
The result of all this is that the truth is drowned out by the noise of cynicism and ignorance. Things get done that should not be done and things fail to be done that desperately need to be done. In the long run our planet, our children and our grand children will suffer the consequences.
One aspect of the whole environmental debate that strikes me as very worrying is the scientific ignorance and the expectation of there being a magic bullet to solve all problems. Also solutions are proposed without any consideration of the wider implications.
An example: "Hydrogen powered cars will solve all the problems of CO2 emissions from motor vehicles." That is the expectation, but it is simply not true. If the hydrogen is produced using electricity from coal fired power stations, it simply becomes a pollution displacement technology, not a pollution reduction technology. Believing hydrogen powered cars will in and of themselves solve any problems is silly.
Anyhow, what I actually set out to say was this: I am concerned about the environment. Therefore I always get an extra thrill when one of our customers is using our SPLat controllers in a product that will help the environment in some way. We have customers in a variety of conservation related fields, including water saving showers, marine sewage treatment, water treatment, odor control, fuel cells, bio-diesel and vegie oil engines. I will showcase them from time to time in this blog.
Stop press! I just came across an article just published describing a new development that could result in direct conversion from sun light to hydrogen, without using electrolysis.
