Ben Taskers Blog

Changeable Weather Conditions - Global Warming?

25 07 07 - 12:26


We have had some glorious weather in the last two days,yet the last week has been one of the dreariest that I care to remember. I imagine that the west of the country faced a continued onslaught of rain over the last few days however. The question is, is this a result of Global warming?


It could be, but I think it probably isn't. It's a very easy label to apply to any bad weather we get, but scientists have been telling us for quite some time that weather conditions were going to change anyway. If anything the recent weather should simply be seen as an example of what Global warming could bring about. I think this weather is more down to bad luck than anything, and hopefully will soon pass.


The Guardian announced recently that the average temperature of our summer so far is still quite high. Whilst the weather has been bad the overall temperature has been about what should be expected in the UK. In fact August is set to be quite warm.


It seems to me as though our summer is gradually drifting across the year, I'm not suggesting that the earths poles are reversing, but simply that perhaps we should be expecting summer to start a little later in the year.


Of course I could be completely wrong, and it could be Global Warming causing these issues, the problem is we won't know until it is too late.


#If you are worried about Global Warming then you need to try and reduce your own contribution to it. Have a look on the main index and you will find a link to the Guardians view on the matter. I agree entirely that being 'green' is the latest popular fad, and that the middle classes pay to be green and then still fly around. It is not so much a case of buy more 'green' stuff, it's a case of buying less in the first place.


Not everyone has the room for mass recycling facilities in their back garden, nor would everyone want rows of compost heaps, but if you simply buy less then your contribution is diminished. Don't buy so much food that you end up throwing half of it out. Yes meats will rot quite well in the landfill, but think of the manufacturing processes that have gone into processing that meat (not to mention making it look how consumers want it to).


The Guardian gives a good example, a remote controlled car powered by hydrogen. It uses a fuel cell to run, and is charged by solar power. Thats all very well and good, but as the Guardian pointed out, think of the precious metals and the manufacturing processes that have been used in the manufacture of that car. It is far better for the environment just not to buy the remote control car at all.


If you are serious about going 'green' then put some thought into the manufacturing processes that go into the various "ecologically friendly" products that are on the market. It is far better to simply buy less, you cannot go 'green' by simply spending more money, it is about reducing consumption.