Post 23 Global Hope

GLOBAL HOPE

Hope is still global and has an effect
Despite all the news of chaos unchecked
Of pollution of oceans and habitats wrecked
All over the globe there are people now seeing
The effects of past excess on our very being

The wastage of war always causes division
The results of old rulers, hard wired on a mission
To subjugate others with set tunnel vision
But as the floods rise and the fires burn again
We are asking for change; and not if, but when

The climate’s in crisis; a fact not in doubt
But human invention is in with a shout
And has a good chance to turn it about
From CO2 capture by ‘Mechanical Trees’
Or the growing of ‘Seagrass’ in our estuaries

Renewables can save our planet I’m sure
As we learn from mistakes, made often before
Inventive techniques will come to the fore
Adapting the power of tides, wind and sun
The new global lifestyle has already begun

 

 

 

I tend to get a bit depressed when reports of the inadequacy of renewable living, suggest that we are unable to live comfortably without our old energy industries. Last year I read that our sun produces enough energy, each day, to fuel global energy needs for a whole year! Surely the human genius for adaption of our environment will learn how to utilise this amazing resource, which affects our weather, winds and tides; and it will still be pumping out the therms when the human race has long gone.

Old technology depends, mainly, on large production, funded by big money with financial gain, as it’s main criteria. With the ever increasing growth of global communication and awareness of what is possible, I predict that new energy ‘industries’ will proliferate locally, and spread globally; being affordable and doable on a smaller scale.

And, already, there have been amazing advances for climate friendly large scale production. Industries powered by hydrogen are already in use; and have the potential to be completely fossil free as solar power comes into it’s own.

I have to admit that this new hope, burgeoning in my breast, has been fired by one programme in particular. It’s on BBC Radio 4 and titled ’39 Ways to Save the Planet’; an offshoot of ‘Costing the Earth’ with it’s presenter Tom Heap. Each episode is only fifteen minutes long, and describes clearly and concisely how the subject of the day can affect our future lives.

An example of some of the subjects covered:

Mechanical trees; structures that can collect carbon from the air and store it underground, a thousand times more efficiently than real trees. In the future they could become ubiquitous in our landscape

Seagrass growth: Fifty percent of carbon capture is actually in our oceans; and seagrass has the ability to store it, and grow on ‘seeded’ ropes, crustaceans for food, also it can diversify for compost, animal feed and biofuel. We have already discovered that there is 30-40 times more sea life in underwater seagrass ‘meadows’ than sea floors devoid of vegetation. There is at least one of these projects being trialled along the shores of West Wales. 

Solar panels: There are now solar panels that are so thin and adaptable, they can be fixed to almost any surface; roofs, walls, vehicles. Just think; we could make long journeys without having to worry about topping up the batteries; and there are solar panels that can float on water!

Satellite technology is now advanced enough to spot polluters, wherever they may be on the planet; a good use of that intrusive industry for global interaction.

Green Hydrogen technology: This will replace ‘dirty fuel’

These are just five of the ’39 ways to Save the Planet’.  I don’t think enough people are aware of the potential of these new technologies to shape our lives for the better; and, possibly, with less depletion of creature comforts than most of us assume will be the norm. One thing’s for sure. We have to change our ways; or existence is going to get more unpleasant for all of us; whether rich or poor, old or young, ignorant or aware of change. ‘Global Hope’ is alive and well!