| Abuse of our environment arises from actions that | | | | bi-product. Older stations (especially coal-firedones) |
| cannot be sustained bynature. For instance, if 3 trees | | | | are pumping out relatively large particles compared to |
| are felled in order to make way for a newhouse, | | | | modern stations. |
| then nature has lost three trees and any offspring | | | | These large particles are responsible for seeding rain |
| forever. This is notsustainable. | | | | clouds and changingweather patterns. If all these |
| If, after felling the three trees, four new trees are | | | | particles, large and small, were added up andweighed, |
| planted in analternative location where growth and | | | | you can imagine that they would add up to |
| reproductive prospects are the same as inthe | | | | thousands of tons a day thatare being pumped |
| previous location, then this is sustainable. Why four | | | | upwards - and eventually falling back down again. This |
| trees, you may ask? | | | | is likechartering 100's of airliners every day to take |
| Two reasons: 1, because not all saplings survive into | | | | off loaded with tons of carbonparticles and then |
| maturity, 2. to compensatefor the time lag before | | | | letting them free into the atmosphere. Old power |
| the new trees reach the age of those that | | | | stationswere built this way, when pollution and waste |
| werereplaced. This is a simple example to illustrate | | | | was not the main consideration. |
| the point. Inreality, the calculation for restocking tree | | | | Most countries around the world have brought in |
| plantings involves many factors andis quite a bit more | | | | legislation to curb theseemissions, along with sulphur, |
| complicated! | | | | mercury and other harmful substances and thingsare |
| Power Stations - a Special CaseAnother example: if a | | | | improving all the time. I would contend though, that in |
| power station is to be environmentally friendly then | | | | time, this wouldhave happened through market |
| itshould either ensure that no pollutants or excess | | | | forces. For example, another bi-product of coalfired |
| carbon dioxide is pumped intothe environment or | | | | power stations - fly ash - is now routinely made into |
| take alternative actions that will restore the quality of | | | | bricks for buildingconstruction and is also used in road |
| theenvironment. Historically we know this has not | | | | construction. Modern power stations alsorecycle much |
| been achieved. If the cost ofmaking power stations | | | | of the heat produced in emissions as a way to |
| environmentally sustainable was reasonable then we | | | | improveefficiency. Many also heat local homes and |
| wouldhave done it long ago. The fact that this is a | | | | businesses, including the powerstation itself, using this |
| widely known problem has led to amajor | | | | heat output. As I stated, though, power stations |
| misconception across society that being | | | | area special case, and their struggle to be |
| environmentally friendly costs money. | | | | environmentally friendly has led to themistaken belief |
| This is simply not the case. Modern power stations | | | | that environmentally friendly measures are costly. |
| are generally far kinder tothe environment than older | | | | |
| ones. They still pollute the environment, but notnearly | | | | ConservationTo recycle, and even better, to re-use |
| as much as the older ones did. To translate the | | | | is surely preferable to a constantcycle of dumping old |
| power station experienceto other aspects of life, and | | | | and buying new. An even better way is summed up |
| industry in particular, is a mistake. | | | | in an old-fashioned term:conservation. This is not only |
| Pollution Production | | | | the most environmentally sound way to proceed, itis |
| Pollutants are unwanted bi-products. They have been | | | | also the most cost effective. By turning down your |
| produced and thisproduction has cost money. Trash | | | | thermostat a notch or two,or by walking instead of |
| that goes into land-fill is a bi-product ofgoods that we | | | | driving occasionally; by turning off lights when |
| want. This trash is made up primarily of packaging. | | | | youleave an empty room: these may seems small |
| Somebody wentto the trouble of making the | | | | measures to take, but if multipliedaround the world, |
| packaging, using valuable energy and probablyemitting | | | | would make a real difference to the environment. |
| some pollution in the process. Somebody else went | | | | Take travel:why do we travel so much? Can't some |
| to the trouble ofpurchasing this packaging - then, at | | | | people work from home and therefore avoidthe rush |
| the end of its life it is dumped. The same principle can | | | | hour and have a better quality of life? Can schools |
| beapplied to all pollution. It has been produced and | | | | and homes be nearerto each other? Perhaps there |
| paid for. To say, therefore, thatpollution reduction | | | | should be more/smaller schools and instead of less |
| costs money is illogical. | | | | larger? In fact, more and smaller of everything may |
| | | | not be a bad idea whenconsidering travel reduction. |
| Improving Power StationsLet's apply this logic to | | | | Perhaps the time has come to consider a steep rise |
| powerstations: virtually all power stations around the | | | | in fuelprices? |
| world are pumping outparticles into the air as a | | | | |