ChinaDialogue: Latest responses to Debate: what will you do for Live Earth?

Market economy vs sustainability

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:58:27 -0400

The development of the modern prosperity is built on sustainability of financial cycles. It needs positive money flow to sustain a business. The laws and regulations should be developed so that money cycles matche environmental cycles. This means that taking non-renewable resources from the environment and impacting invironment should be priced in the money cycle. It apparently needs more treaties like Kyoto so that developing countries will not be the dumping ground of waste for developed countries. ZJ

not bad, but a few points

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:17:40 -0400

On Point #1 What about developing countries? They need to curb their emissions also and not just because of CO2. Developing countries tend to emit more toxic chemicals and of course their leaders would rather spend more of the national treasury on themselves than their people. Though being anti-Bush, not signing Kyoto was a good thing for the US. Besides, the EU signatories and Canada are utterly failing to meet their Kyoto targets and China is nothing less than a toxic pit and India's big cities are just as bad. Kyoto can be called "failed window dressing". On point #3 Where will the CO2 be stored? Under whose land? What happens if an earthquake opens up the storage vault? You would be looking at a major release of compressed CO2 into the air. The same problem dogs the nuclear industry. On point #7: To truly buy from "green" companies will require alot more due diligence than the vast majority of people are willing to do, so we'll be relying on the marketing and advertising shills to do the thinking for us. Not a good idea.

Clean up your act!

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:24:40 -0400

Despite cheapo airline tickets we keep our feet on the ground and instead of using a guzzling Commanchee Jeep (or similar!) we have a brilliant 1.5 dci Clio that guzzles just 4.5 litres to 100Kms (would that be 60miles/gallon?)and come back to a super-duper insulated house(er, floor,walls,roof & windows) heated with state-of-the-art wood-burning stove using wood bought in a year ago. Now, all you globe-trottin' centrally-heated, air-conditioned Jeep-driving freaks....how-about-that? .....actually ,no tips from Al to us all about HOW to clean up our acts so just thought the above might be useful...ROB

[TRANSLATED] In response to comment 12

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 02:27:24 -0400

China is not a democratic polity, hence citizens are unable to influence the policies made by the government through election. Nevertheless, the public can make changes by taking personal actions. In this regard, Pledge 2, 4 and 7 are applicable to China. Specifically: 1)energy consumption relating to lodge: temperature adjustment, household appliances, office equipments, lighting, cooking; 2)energy consumption relating to transport: cycling instead of taking cabs so that one can exercise and reduce carbon emission; minimize driving even if one can afford a car. Furthermore, make appeals, in one’s capacity, to the government to improve public transport and roadway infrastructure, to create a cycling-friendly environment

Check this Map out

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:12:24 -0400

Check this US Carbon Footprint Map out, has United States Interactive Carbon Footprint Map, illustrating Greenest States. This site has all sorts of stats on individual State energy consumptions, demographics and State energy offices. http://www.eredux.com/states/

[TRANSLATED] Does the pledge apply to China?

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:45:31 -0400

I support comment 7. Given the circumstances in China, if individuals can change their lifestyle a little bit, say, saving electricity and water, etc., there will be contributions made to environmental protection. To most of Chinese people, the 7-point pledge is neither feasible nor realistic, and the target is set too faraway and too big.

Should apply to the rich!

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:48:37 -0400

I agree the pledge shouldn't burden impoverished people, but China's nouveau rich need to acknowledge the impact their Western-consumer-inspired lifestyle has and will have on future generations. The rich of the East Coast can't use their poor co- patriots as an excuse to freely pollute the global commons.

the 7 point pledge

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:35:51 -0400

If the seven point pledge is not realistic for China, do you have a pledge that you would suggest.. ? I would be rally interested to know what is realistic for people in China to do.. hannah, london

Biosphere

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 17:43:21 -0400

http://liveearthpledge.org/answer_the_call.php “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best is now.” Chinese proverb http://biosphere.freehostia.com/WordPress/

Better than a pledge

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:01:36 -0400

At Global Eco we can tell the world how to take the carbon out of the air and make it into world resources: Simply, easily, immediately, profitably and world wide. Harry Hart. World-wide documentary cinematographer since 1946. Fellow of The British Interplanetary Society studying life-support systems since 1957. Global Eco, and predecessors over thirty years, are committed to world wasteland recovery to provide the resources for the future using natural energy, atmospheric carbon and organic cultivation. harry@global-eco.org.uk