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Nudging with a bulldozer — 10 Comments

  1. In the wake of all these grand-sounding Green schemes emanating from the backsides of our great leaders over the last few weeks I wonder if in fact they are tentative steps in the direction of making us all get behind fracking and shale gas, of which the British Isles, I understand, has loads.  At the moment there are huge objections to it wherever it’s proposed, but given a few years of freezing homes and power cuts, I think they’re hoping that people will start to say: “Oh, stuff the risks and the inconvenience and the unpleasantness of having a massive industrial works just up the road – let’s for God’s sake start extracting the wretched stuff so that at least we can be warm in the middle of winter.”  Just a thought, bearing in mind that whatever reason our PTB on both sides of the Irish Sea give us for doing stuff to us is NEVER the real reason they’re doing it.  Just a thought.

    • I'm not sure about fracking.  It hasn't been such an issue this side of the Irish Sea.  I'm all for it, but of course it falls under the remit of "non-renewable" so the Greens will be against it no matter how sensible.

      I would stick with my notion that by forcing everyone in the country it gives enormous control over the population.  Apart from control, just think of the financial implications – want more tax income?  Just tax electricity!  Putting all the eggs in one basket is an horrendous concept.

  2. So diesel and petrol engines are banned.As I recall, Ireland is mainly rural with the majority of the population living in towns. Now just suppose that the Manor caught fire and you called the fire brigade. Where is your nearest fire station?  Is it within a 5 minute drive or miles away. "Yes we are sending our new EV pump  and will be with you as soon as the pump has finished charging from the last job, should be about 8 hours or so."

    No Greenie ever stops to think about the practicalities of real life before opening their mouths.

    • No greenie stops to think.     The other words are superfluous.

      Well you live in a democracy.  You need to find someone to stand in your area with a working brain cell.

      We have the same over here btw.  Bunch of incompetent fuckwits with about 3 brain cells between them.

      • The majority of the electorate here seems hell bent on voting in Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael [two parties with virtually identical philosophies].  Independents do occasionally get elected but their voice is generally drowned out by the two main parties.

        Incidentally, our nearest fire service is well over five miles away, so we are very careful with matches and lighters.

  3. You're right, these proposals make no sense.  Air source heat pumps are probably the cheapest alternative to oil and gas boilers, but I can see no government investment to vastly increase the country's electricity infrastructure to match the increase in demand that their universal use would demand.  How would they generate all this new electric anyway?  Would a nuclear Ireland be acceptable, and is so where would they build the new power stations?

    On cars, until hydrogen fuel cells become the norm, electric cars are just a fantasy.  On that note, here are two interesting links for you:

    http://www.ballard.com/docs/default-source/motive-modules-documents/tfl-case-study-2018-low-res.pdf?sfvrsn=2  Note that the buses are made here in Ballymena, then ask why we don't use them in Ireland?

    https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hydrogen+fule+cell+scooters+hawai&view=detail&mid=4051ACAF5239B7F018834051ACAF5239B7F01883&FORM=VIRE  This is a method of transport that I could live with.  The cover on the bike rack collects water and is a photovoltaic cell.  The electricity generated splits the water by electrolysis and collects the hydrogen.  When the bikes are parked, their fuel cells fill up.  Neat, self contained and free fuel once the system is installed.  What is not to like?

    Don't forget, any time you are feeling particularly pissed with the Republic's government, just have a look at our absent, squabbling shower here in the north and think yourself lucky!

    • Hydrogen is indeed a good answer, but along with electricity it has the disadvantage of a) requiring a lot of extra space and weight to the vehicle and b) the lack of refuelling points throughout the country.

      Having said that the Hawaiian scooter looks brilliant!  Ideal for nipping down to the village.  Though I wonder where I could store the dog and the shopping!

  4. I live in Huntingdonshire about 10 miles from anywhere that is a connurbation, such as a market town or one nearby (relatively) city. Forget buses. Too infrequent to bother about. If I was banned from driving into said city I would visit the market towns round about more often. If I was banned from them then it's out of town shopping malls only. Or of course order online or both. This of course will finally kill the high streets of cities and towns.  I make an exception for Cambridge as it has an excellent park and ride scheme.

    • We do have a bus service here which is infrequent which could bring me to the village or Skobieville.  My personal problem with them [apart from the unreliable service] is that they don't allow dogs.  If I had to dispose of the car, the dog would never get a walk!  The village is within walking distance, but the problem is that the Manor is around 400ft higher than the village which is quite a climb for an old pair of legs.

      I try to give the village as much custom as I can but the lifesaver here is the Interweb!

      • Forgot to mention – Dublin has a great park and ride area.  Cruach Woods in the Dublin hills.  The carpark there is always littered with condoms!

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