Very Political

[KMWylie]

Ah yeah, you are always going to get environmental fundamentalists, same as any other area of life. By and large most people want to preserve the environment so that our future can thrive. Yup, other countries are polluting a sick amount, such as China. There needs to be international agreements across the board so as to not run into the Tragedy of the Commons situation.

China definitely needs to get onboard. About 18 months ago, my daughter and I, and some of her classmates, went to China. She studies Mandarin.

We get off the plane, and the kids were shocked at how brown the air was and how it smelled so gross. Having grown up in a relatively smog-free country, they had no idea how bad it could be. I remember when the inversion layer in Denver would make the smog so bad, it made this look like nothing.

Between the dry air of a 12-hour direct flight and the smog, my daughter was plagued with nosebleeds the entire time we were in China. Thankfully, when we went to Taiwan, after a few days there, they stopped.

But, it was definitely an eye-opener to these kids!

[kickinthemebs]

Yup, it has been a massive reason I have been completely put off going to China - the pollution. It has been getting worse and worse for years and the people's health is suffering drastically as a result. The air pollution there is supposed to be ridiculous. A good few Asian countries with highly populous cities have notoriously bad pollution issues, another one springing to mind off hand would be India. I have done a good bit of travelling and it is always horrific to see the attitude taken elsewhere towards pollution, animal welfare and environmental destruction.

[Georgeoz]

Just to revert to an earlier theme. There is a report in the Australian press today that the (new) head of the Cia is coming here with the stated objective of "mending fences" with Australia.

There is no doubt that the US has enormous assets invested in Australia which enable the collection of immense
amounts of invaluable intelligence. Because of where we are, these assets are only valuable in situ.

Somewhere in Washington DC the penny has dropped. Maybe some one in State will be heard above the vulgar clamour about whether Melania can or should make money because she is FLOTUS, and the Whie House will stop patronising a country"of which America has no greater friend".

We also read that two Democratic Senators want our PM to be invited to address the Congress. Nothing to that effect from the Republican Senators nor the White House.

[WIItard]

We have to start somewhere.

Doesn't matter. In the end every population that gets better living conditions will start to multiple with people living longer, fewer children dying. Anything you do will over whelm the earth's resources down the road some time. Humans themselves are polluters. Every human releases green houses gases and CO2 using O2 in the process. Without world population control it doesn't matter what is done about fossil fuels.

On the EV thing. Let say the US fleet ends up 20% EV in 5 years. It will over whelm the power plants and power grid. Renewables will never cover all that electric being used to charge those cars. Nuclear is about the only solution there. The cars will be at work when solar is activate. You going to wire an entire country with charger stations at their work places? A normal building can't handle a couple of hundred cars all charging at the same time. Expensive wiring would be needed along with the entire power grid upgraded, etc. etc. Sounds good in theory but it is a path to no where.

[Georgeoz]

Just to add to what I wrote@ 203.

We learn that Michael Flynn has been constrained to resign - after being National security Adviser to POTUS for only 3 weeks - because he had some apparently indiscreet conversations with the Russian Ambassador. We do not know what the content of those con ersations was but we can bet the CIA and NSA do. We can also bet with some confidence that what was said was not in the US's national interest, and therefore quite probably not in Australia's interest either. And I would assume that Australia will never be told.

The National Security Adviser is an extremely important post and (s)he must be a person of the utmost discretion and integrity. It appears that Mr Trump did not take sufficient steps to assure himself this nominee could be trusted.

What do the friends and allies of the US make of this? But what if the real story is that Flynn was acting under his boss's instructions, but is now taking the rap for him?

And what will the CIA emissary to Australia tell our Government that can mend the huge hole now in the fence to be "mended"?

You cannot be POTUS and play in the amateur league with matters of national security, nor with that of friends and allies. Putin must be laughing his face off.

[NOWHARD]

When you think back both Australia and America both fought in Korea and Vietnam against communism, and now there they are in the white house right under the noses of Blun****** all part of his hand picked team, this news come from the BBC where else,, they may not stand up commy's but have lots of Russian friends.

This must make a lot of vets from both wars, sorry Korea was a police action, but it must make them sick as a lot lost a lot of good buddy's in both, fighting against communism. and now there in the white house, well done Blun******.

This also goes for a lot of good Australian's lost in both conflict's .

May they all rest in piece.

NOWHARD

[CUSP82]

You guys don't think there is big money to be made and big money talking with climate change stuff?

[NOWHARD]

You guys don't think there is big money to be made and big money talking with climate change stuff?

How can there be, when Blun****** says its all rubbish and is not happening.

NOWHARD

[closed224]

Where is All Gore when you need him?

[CUSP82]

Maybe Blun****** is right. By the way who is Blun******?