Thursday, August 29, 2013

Fukushima problem 100 times worse now, Japan government taking over

Abe: Government will take charge of Fukushima radioactive water leak - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun: "The Nuclear Regulation Authority said Aug. 28 that it has formally raised the severity evaluation of the leak of 300 tons of highly radioactive water from a surface tank to Level 3 (serious incident) on the eight-level International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES). The leak was discovered Aug. 19."

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Taiwan should not follow in U.S. footsteps

Seven out of 10 floors set aside to accommodate cars

In 1956 the U.S. built the interstate highway system. This was a major part of a commitment to an economy dependent on cars. Now cheap oil has peaked, and the U.S. is in big trouble.

It is entering a long period of degrowth. Unemployment will stay high for many years and debt will take away any gains in productivity.

Taiwan is far ahead of the U.S. in the efficient use of energy. That does not mean there will be no problems. Climate change will mean more and more energy used for air-conditioning and storm mitigation. But if we were to build roads and sprawl like the U.S. that would be inexcusable as we can see before us the problems they cause.

The solution is to let the birth rate stay low, don't interfere. Make bus fares gradually cheaper and cheaper. Make cars pay their fair share based on the space they occupy and require to operate, the resources they use in manufacture, repair, and decommissioning, and the low efficiency by which they use fuel.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

China heat wave is a warning on global warming

China is experiencing a deadly heat wave. Meanwhile auto sales are up in Taiwan. Does that make sense? Taiwan has excellent public transit. Why go the way of the USA and China and become dependent on cars? Eventually world governments will have to start taking action as more people die in heat waves, floods destroy cities, and drought raises food prices. They will then force a cut back in energy use. Will Taiwan be ready?