Latest comments posted about I’ll take the slow road on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/828-I-ll-take-the-slow-road http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/828-I-ll-take-the-slow-road Thanks for your comments. I will be blogging this trip at www.lowcarbontravel.com and excerpts will be occasionally posted on China Dialogue. I take on board some of the comments, but I would defend my trip against the accusation of frivolity. I have a very low carbon footprint already (& live in a flat so have no loft to insulate!) & want to inspire slow, low carbon travel which will undoubtedly mean holidaying closer to home, however to spread this message internationally it's important to demonstrate this globally. Surface transport is up to 10 times more carbon efficient than flying so there are clear, demonstrable benefits to avoiding planes. As for being smug, I am sorry if it comes across this way, the trip is as much about provoking debate & discussion as it is about showing a practical alternative, and it seems it is already doing just that! Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:31:47 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2675 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2675 England's transport system is very developed, rail lines crisscross the country, highways are interconnected, airlines fly to important cities worldwide, maritime shipping reaches major ports on all five of the major continents. In 1947, the government mandated that the entire rail system and major roads be handed over to state ownership. In the '80s of that century, Britain's rail system stretched 17,700 km, and every type of train, rail coach, and railcar numbered 162,800, and the rail system covered the entire country. In 1991, the rail passenger transport system stretched for 3,331,600 km, making it the world's 11th biggest. At the beginning of the '80s, England's network of public roads covered 361,400 km, of which 2,593 km were highways. The most important mode of transport for British people is the private automobile, with the second being all manner of long-distance public coaches. The importance of shipping freight by road is growing daily, using tons to estimate it is now 85% of total national shipping. Britain's aviation sector is very developed. International aviation routes link Britain to 68 different countries and territories. There are 145 terminals, international aviation lines reach for 58,000 km and, besides this, there are also scheduled charter flights from 26 cities. Every week there are more than 1000 flights.... Wed, 14 Mar 2007 06:17:09 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2540 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2540 This week I came to Beijing from Shenzhen to take an examination. I took a flight when I came because I did not want to be too tired before the test. But when I go back tomorrow, I will take a train (24 hours). Luckily that my boss is generous enough to allow me this long time for travel. Angie Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:37:25 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2310 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2310 On what blog will Ed be sharing with us his trials and tribulations? Will it be China Dialogue? Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:07:01 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2263 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2263 Yes - China Dialogue will be publishing updates on Ed's travels as the circumnavigation continues. Watch this space... Sam Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:06:49 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2279 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2279 I have some sympathy for the first comment - agreed, most people don't have the time or money to indulge in round-the-world trips like this, and so highlighting the benefits of holidaying closer to home would be more relevant to most. That said, the author is not flying and should be applauded for that reason. Travelling on container ships that would sail already is hardly very polluting - and if more people travelled by ship and land rather than air it certainly wouldn't be 'as bad for the environment as everyone jumping on planes'. Sea transport is simply far less carbon-intensive than flying. Of course, container ships may be used to transport goods whose production is responsible for large amounts of emissions (e.g. for agricultural products: through the use of fertilizers, greenhouses, heating etc) and so we should be careful to take account of such things when comparing different transport methods; but for transporting people, air is simply and by far the worst option in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Our responses to climate change will have to include showing people how to work, holiday and have fun without increasing their carbon footprint; telling people to stay at home and insulate their lofts just isn't going to cut it. Most importantly, a post-Kyoto agreement will have to ensure that the environmental costs of flying are included in ticket prices. Voluntary action by conscientious consumers won't be enough: demand will have to be suppressed by rising prices. Andrew Stevenson Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:38:40 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2241 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2241 Oooooh, you sound horribly smug. Reading this sort of thing makes me want to run out and buy an SUV. Only joking (sort of). Surely the best way to cut down on your carbon emissions would be not to make your frivolous world trip in the first place. Emissions from aircraft are dangerous, but what about emissions from container ships, which will make up a very large part of your journey? A recent article in the Guardian highlighted the damage they do to the environment. And what if everyone decided to take a trip such as yours? That might be as bad for the environment as everyone jumping on planes. Of course, not everyone will make such a trip because they don't have time. Most people in Britain get about 25 days of holiday a year, and do not want to spend half that time sitting on a train/boat/whatever. The solution is holidaying closer to home, not sailing across the Atlantic. Your blog may backfire. People will want similar experiences to yours in exotic locations, but due to time limitations will fly there rather than go overland. Plus, media oversaturation on this subject from people who could easily be mistaken for smug middle-class do-gooders (who have the luxuries of time and money that most do not) may encourage a fatalistic attitude towards the environment among most people. I urge you to reconsider your trip. It would be better for the environment if you stayed at home and insulated your loft. Wed, 07 Mar 2007 06:01:53 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2224 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/828#comment-2224