From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
By Paul Homewood
From Spiked:
It feels like at COP28 the delusions of Western greens finally crashed against the shores of reality. The luxuriant doom-mongering of privileged eco-warriors who insist the world will end if we don’t phase out fossil fuels was confronted by a truth no reasonable person can deny: that fossil fuels remain vital to human life. In the gleaming oasis of Dubai it became clear that oil, gas and even coal are not going away anytime soon, however much the Gretas of the West might want them to. Why? Because – brace yourselves – India, China, Brazil and other nations are not prepared to sacrifice their economic health at the altar of our deranged anti-modernism.On the surface, COP28 was like every other UN climate-change conference of recent years. There was the usual hypocrisy. Kings and sultans flew in on private jets to wag a collective finger at the rest of us for our eco-sins. There was the foot-stomping of pampered greens who think the final agreement didn’t go far enough. ‘This text is bullshit’, they chanted, outside the conference venue. (How did they get to the Arabian desert? Not by bicycle.) And yet those who looked harder, beyond the decadence, will have glimpsed one of the key clashes of our time – a global conflict of interests that is likely to shape humanity’s future. That’s the clash between Western ideologues who are exhausted with the modern world and developing nations who want in on the modern world. Between our misanthropic turn against the Industrial Revolution and their longing for such revolutions.Most of the coverage is focusing on the final agreement. Some say it’s radical. This is ‘the first time’, says an excitable BBC, that a COP has ‘taken explicit aim at the use of fossil fuels’. Others say it’s disappointing because it only talks about ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels… in a just, orderly and equitable manner’. That’s a far cry from the ‘phaseout of fossil fuels’ eco-activists wanted to see. The absence of a promise to phase out such fuels is a ‘tragedy for the planet’, wails the Guardian, next to a photo of green activists blubbing outside the conference venue.
Yet it pays to look at why the idea of a ‘phaseout’ was, well, phased out. It’s because winding down fossil-fuel use would be suicidal for the developing world. It’s all very well for Westerners whose Industrial Revolutions took place 150 years ago to dry heave at the sight of coal-fired power stations, but for billions of people such stations are the difference between life and death, light and dark, food and no food. In admirably restrained language, African diplomats said at COP that ‘the idea of a fossil-fuel phaseout [is] unworkable’. A Bolivian official, speaking on behalf of a bloc that includes India, China and other large developing nations, went further: we cannot accept the targeting of ‘any sources of energy’, he said (my italics). ‘Any phaseout or phasedown… is unacceptable to us.’
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It’s not just the developing world. For many in the developed world, it’s becoming more and more difficult to afford food, energy and transport. For the green, misanthropic, monied classes they may be insulated from this struggle and able to afford the increases their ideologies are forcing on the rest of us but they are going to run into the same problems at some point. Let’s hope that the stand taken by developing nations filters through the thick layers of graft and kneejerk reactions of our politicians so they realise what they’ve been doing to the countries and people they vowed to serve, not plunder.
>> It’s not just the developing world.
I was just about to point out the same!
In all this there is the pretense that the Western world is insensitive to abandonment of the fossil fuel benefits, while in fact we are more sensitive to cheap energy prices, we use far more of it!
Exactly. Here in my little corner of rural Scotland we have
A new 400kV overhead line to go right over my house
Mandated heat pumps (in a 150 year-old property!)
Ban on replacing my gas boiler when it eventually fails
Probably have my diesel car taxed off the road
And I have to pay for all this with a levy on my inflated electricity bills…..
And you will be happy
If you’re that close, it’s a trivial matter to string up a ‘little wire something‘ under the line and harvest yourself unlimited free juice – and I don’t think anyone can stop you doing so.
Capacitance and Inductance are your friends
It won’t work when the grid goes down.
UK grid is evermore vulnerable – just that one ‘little wire something’ could bring it down. 🙂
Hysteria, two decades of socialist rule in Scotland have been so good for the country, have they not? Did anyone really think that Nicola Sturgeon and her cronies were going to be good for the Scots? Does anyone still expect that an impoverished Scotland will be bailed out by a bankrupt European Union?
It would seem that nothing has changed since 1513. Scotland’s history is still one of futility.
When dealing with ideologues, the first rule should always be: You First!
If you want the rest of us to phase out fossil fuels, you remove them completely from your lives first.
Prove that it can be done.
In the meantime, we’ll enjoy the peace and quiet that comes from you ceasing to exist. (/Sarc off, because we all know those hypocrites will never shut up nor stop relying of fossil fuels.)
Or to put it differently, build a non-trivial net-zero self-sufficient electrical grid somewhere. Enough of the demanding that we change all existing grids to fit their fancies, is there any way to compel those who make these insane demands to build a demonstration project?
Bad tidings for the eco-colonialists.
All this was passed over by the meejah I wonder why!
Monday funny
“”Charles has appointed a homeopath. Why do the elite put their faith in snake oil? “” – The Grauniad
Like climate change….
Homeopathy may be a hoax, but it’s been favoured by the House of Windsor for about two centuries. George V liked it because it treated his sea sickness.
The real Charles, Stuart Charles II (1630-1685), had the gift of the “royal touch”. The disease scrofula was epidemic in the United Kingdom, among the many misfortunes of his reign, including plague, the great fire of London and the calamity of the Raid on the Medway by the Dutch Navy. It’s estimated that over 100,000 scrofula victims either touched the king or were touched by him and cured by natural remission or psychosomatic means. Or the royal touch.
Charles II Stuart, like many monarchs before him and one or two after, was encouraged to do ‘the royal touch’ as a sign of legitimacy of his reign. Whether it did anything, or not, is highly debatable – Charles II touched about 92,000 scrofula sufferers although it’s unknown how many of those subsequently got better, if any.
Charles II is known more as a student of science – he was very knowledgeable on a variety of subjects and had his own laboratory in the palace. It’s our loss that Charles III hasn’t inherited that particular skill from his namesake.
He was a founder of the Royal Society and, as an attractive, intelligent royal, a magnet for the ladies, who obliged him with an array of descendants. He was also noted for riding his own horses in serious races. The Puritans were wise in staying out of his way during his reign. His return from the continent in the aftermath of psychotic Cromwell’s death has been judged to be the most celebrated and joyful event in UK history. Cromwell’s head was displayed on a pike for 18 years.
Psychotic is the belief that the last murderer should be considered better than a “commoner”, and therefor fit to rule all those BELOW him of her.
A dictatorship is just that, whether called a Monarchy or otherwise.
Cromwell apparently ended one monarchy but essentially created another.
All the more to the greatness of George Washington, who instead of taking a crown, insisted on a democratic republic with no “royalty”.
Although the Modern Democrat Party, the descendants of the loyalists, still want that to be returned. They really thought they had it with Kennedy and “Camelot”!
And as per the actions of the last two Democrat presidents, using the vast deep state to perpetuate their policies and reach their goals though regulations without the vote of the legislature is as close to a dictatorship as the US has seen since FDR.
Every revolution starts with lofty ideals and ends with exchanging one group at the top for another, only the names and titles changed. If George Washington thought that his actions would result in Biden’s regime, he’d likely stayed at home and given it all up as a bad deal!
Cromwell’s power came through the parliament, of which he was a member. The residents of the UK at that time, always cognizant of the Magna Carta, considered themselves the world’s most free people. They were repelled by Cromwell’s joyless Puritan administration.
Interestingly, the wife of Charles II, Catherine of Braganza, upon arriving in Britain, wished for a cup of tea. No one in Britain could make one. The Portuguese had been trading for it in the Orient for some time and it was popular there. It was procured for her and the British are now addicted.
Speaking as a brit, but of irish descent, I’ve never really cared for tea – I much prefer a nice cup of coffee.
I am so fond of tea that I could write a whole dissertation on its virtues. It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spirituous liquors. Gentle herb! Let the florid grape yield to thee. Thy soft influence is a more safe inspirer of social joy.
James Boswell 1740-1795
“ politicians so they realise what they’ve been doing to the countries and people they vowed to serve, not plunder.”
They are just find plundering and doing their damnest to destroy the middle class. It’s all about accumulating power, serving the citizens isnt even on the list anymore. HRC let the cat out of the bag with her “basket of deplorables”, upping it up a notch from BHO’s “bitter clingers”. They despise most of us, and openly talk of depopulation schemes.
We work for them…
Brendan,
I have lived in Australia longer than most people and so have lived through good times and bad.
In the good times, say 1970-90, the newspapers were full of stock market info, people bought and sold shares in mining companies and tech startups and manufacturing. Electricity was as cheap and reliable as any on the globe, attracting investment in smelting and refining metals like aluminium, copper, nickel. Governments tended to act in response to the demands of society. At age 6, my school class had 55 pupils under each teacher, half of whom were male, yet we learned our reading, writing and arithmetic.
In the bad years since year 2000, the happiness in society started to disappear. Good jobs earning us export sales dollars dropped, the share market ceased to buzz, manufacturing left our shores, schools taught topics provided by green groups, not the 3Rs.
Many more workers were paid to tell others what they could not do, manufacturing of saleable goods was overtaken by people becoming servants in hospitality or academia.
Valuable criticism and feedback was censored, even punished. Governments were doing what they wanted, bugger the man in the street. Electricity prices nearly trebled, reliability became a cover-up.
A rant like this does not stop the decay. Sadly, I can offer no cure, other than a plea to preserve values like honesty, truth, ethics, morals, fair play, happiness over doom and a love of hard work.
Geoff S
“ I can offer no cure, other than a plea to preserve values like honesty, truth, ethics, morals, fair play, happiness over doom and a love of hard work.”
THIS! Thanks.
How are alarmist supporters of COP28 going to spin all this?
Countdown for Mozambique mega gas project quickens
“Mozambique’s $80 billion energy transition strategy will harness its offshore natural gas reserves in a diverse energy mix that will also exploit its abundant hydroelectric, wind and solar resources, said President Filipe Nyusi.
He was speaking at a high-level panel event at the just-ended United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) summit in Dubai — a watershed moment for Mozambique’s energy future.”
“TotalEngeries is preparing for the resumption in early 2024 of its stalled $23 billion Mozambique liquified natural gas (LNG) project with a view to launching commercial operations in 2028.“
https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2023-12-18-countdown-for-mozambique-mega-gas-project-quickens/
Meanwhile across from Mozambique on the west side of Africa the Namibian president is pushing for the development of the huge recently discovered off shore gas reserves.
“Al Gore blasts COP28 outcome as biggest failure in history—it ‘reads as if OPEC dictated it word for word’”
https://fortune.com/asia/2023/12/12/climate-cop28-dubai-uae-failure-fossil-fuels-lobby-al-gore/
The louder he shouts, the more you know the opposite to be true.
Who is All-Gore?
11 countries in Africa also have considerable coal reserves led by South Africa with the eighth largest reserves in the world.
Why isn’t China there… oh, wait…
Electricity was generated for the first time by a nuclear reactor on December 20, 1951, at the EBR-I experimental station near Arco, Idaho, which initially produced about 100 kW. In 1953, American President Dwight Eisenhower gave his “Atoms for Peace” speech at the United Nations, emphasizing the need to develop “peaceful” uses of nuclear power quickly. This was followed by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 which allowed rapid declassification of U.S. reactor technology and encouraged development by the private sector.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_nuclear_power
More than 70 years ago … and we’re back to windmills, burning trees and covering the earth with solar cells. So sad.
Here is a clear defence of promoting nuclear in South Africa by nuclear physicist Dr Kelvin Kemm who knows what he is talking about. (This is critique of the opposition party spokesman who ignorantly denigrated nuclear development).
DA’s Mileham spewed political propaganda – nuclear power is cheaper, safer, faster.
We can do a lot to reduce the cost of nuclear- we have nuc plants all over the world that just keep steaming along since they were built ( many upgraded and renovated) And we can do much better than the 70 s. Most of the structure of the things are tons of concrete and high quality metals when it comes down to it.
Thanks Michael, that was a excellent video
The nuclear power plant about 50 miles(80 km) from me in Ohio, USA just applied for a new 20-year permit.
Good Luck!
John – bizarrely I was at COP28 for one day – Friday December 8. I had just finished a business trip to nearby Abu Dhabi and the university there (New York University of Abu Dhabi) laid on free transport to COP28 and back. It was a spectacular show as one might expect with no expense spared and school children everywhere being suitably indoctrinated. In a technology exhibit hall there was a nuclear energy exhibit area where an interesting debate was being held with some pro-nuclear campaigners from Belgium, Germany, Spain, Taiwan and other countries. I took part in this for a while and got some nice Taiwanese cake at the end. There were some positive mentions of modular nuclear technology in some of the statements emerging from COP28.
“Kings and sultans flew by private jets …..
……(How did they get to the Arabian desert? Not by bicycle.)”
We three Kings of Orient are,
One in a taxi, one in a car,
One on a scooter, blowing his hooter,
Following yonder star.
America is both a leader and a laggard on climate actionThe United States must take a tougher stand on fossil fuels.By Edward J. MarkeyUpdated December 18, 2023, 3:00 a.m.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/18/opinion/ed-markey-climate-change-op-ed/
and much more lunacy but I didn’t want to copy it all here
Who is Edward J. Markey? Aah, a lawyer, a politician – the best of the best 🙂
Just imagine, in 30+ years from now, somewhere in Africa, a person will be watching a large flat screen TV. Featuring an article pleading for help, as they show poor children, with distended stomachs, mothers, with deflated breasts, struggling to feed their offspring.
As the image fades, the message appears; “please help feed the starving children of Western Europe”.
“ “please help feed the starving children of
Western EuropeAmerica”.I think if any sane person just takes a look at GM and Fords current pull back from their disastrous foray into EVs not to mention an underlaying cost and quality control problems- well the hand writing is on the wall. It might literally be on the wall in the form of graffiti ed up walls of many closed plants or maybe the entire company. ( there is not enough credit left even in the form of government money to bail out or subsidize everything and everyone.)
That’s how capitalism is supposed to work. Management that makes errors in reading the market place, in this case with the influence of the regulatory state, are left to expire and be replaced by others. It’s not the role of government in a free society to revive failed business.
What an insipid statement.
The ONLY reason that GM and Ford are even in the EV market is to TRY to keep from buying 0 mpg credits from Tesla to increase their CAFE MPG rating to meet the ever higher EPA MPG corporate average requirements.
They were, and are, just trying to cut out the middle man, in the form of Tesla.
Free enterprise would leave Management, really the ownership, of a corporation to produce the best product that customers will willingly buy, and a profit to the company, and to HAPPY customers.
Americans want safe, comfortable, efficient vehicles, not EVs of 60 MPG midget cars.
I love road trips in my 1 ton diesel truck. Rides well, distance from the road to my ears is BIG so with insulation (added weight) and the distance, the cab is reasonable quiet. And when not towing, and driving 80 + mph, it gets up to 19 MPH. My wife’s Rav 4, Toyota only gets 21 MPG highway and is much noisier, is less comfortable, and not as safe due to its small size.
BUT you are right, this whole scam is how Crony Capitalism works, government setting up rules that benefit their cronies in wind and solar. “Energy” suppliers can not produce the electricity consistently at the best price due to NO COMPETITION is allowed through the governments picking winners through penalties for FF and rewards to unreliables.
Finally, the shutting down of MANY small refineries across the country by revoking TRUMP’S! Executive order allowing them to operate without paying EPA mandated penalties (and requiring those not paid during TRUMP’S presidency to be repaid) is why gas and diesel prices are so high, allowing EVs to claim some “energy” savings, another way to skew the reality that EVs cost more per mile to own and operate than ICE vehicles, even with all the tax credits and subsidies and avoidance of the road taxes paid by ICE vehicles owners.
You call the statement “insipid” and then agree with it.
“with the influence of the regulatory state”
There is no accounting for the rancid idiocy of the NutZero, anti-CO2 scam agenda.
They don’t have a clue what they are doing, how can anyone hope to guess in advance !
Let’s review that: Banks, Chrysler, GM…
For the future of humanity and the planet, we need a phaseout of future COPs. Think of the children!
Start by going around all the nice, warm holiday destinations and get laws passed banning and criminalising prostitution. Get rid of them and the COPfests will look less attractive!
That’s been tried… any measureable success?
“Transitioning away” is the equivalent of saying “we’ll get around to it”; i.e. we might do something about it at some future date when it’s convenient though we won’t say when and to what extent. So in other words it’ll be business as usual and expect fossil fuels to continue to dominate the world’s energy supply for a long time yet, and it’s a good thing too because renewables are nowhere near to the point where they can become dominant.