Tuesday, May 02, 2006

War on the atmosphere: military aircraft emissions

Low-flying aircraft above our polytunnel Insult to injury: George Monbiot's recent piece on aircraft emissions prompts this post; something I've been considering for some time. It is, in turn, prompted by the daily screech and roar of military aircraft over this 'peaceful' country haven in north Wales. Quite apart from any other considerations, this daily air and noise pollution is a continual affront to our attempts to live here as sustainably as possible. With one economical car (65mpg average and 116 grams/kilometre CO2 output), a wood-burner, low-energy lights, insulation and central heating used sparingly, our lifestyle is as low carbon as you can reasonably get in the carbon-fuel-dependent UK. Probably these aircraft burn up what we use in a year in just a couple of hours... but I don't know. Who does?... Or is it secret?

Aircraft emissions and the atmosphere: Okay, here's the issue: we know aircraft emissions are really bad for the environment, especially those at high altitude. Just how much fuel do the airforces of the world squander on training flights (or war games for big boys and their very expensive toys as I'm uncharitably inclined to regard them after the tenth jet in twenty minutes)? What proportion of total aircraft emissions do they represent? I have no idea but I'll bet it's more than you might think. No doubt it's a closely-guarded military secret. And what's it all for? That gross euphemism 'defence' (Orwell warned of this) is bandied about by politicians everywhere. But what's the point of it all (and upgrading nuclear 'deterrents' come to that)? In what way are these scary warplanes and their undoubtedly skilled pilots increasing our security in Britain? Consider little Costa Rica appropriately about the size of Wales: This little country doesn't have an airforce or any military force. The country is still there... and it has land borders with its neighbours making invasion easy, unlike seabound Britain.

Is war more important than climate? The biggest problem facing the planet now is climate change. Most of us, including politicians, would agree with that. So who is about to attack the UK which requires a large active fuel-burning airforce to repel? Terrorists? But everyone knows that terrorists' weapons are suicide bombers and cars packed with explosives. They don't use aircraft - except as flying bombs, one infamous day, in 2001. So why must we put up with this squandering of limited resources on things like military aircraft and the resultant pollution which endangers everyone, not to mention useless nuclear weaponry? Or is there another agenda we ordinary folk don't hear about, like invading Iran - as if the disaster of the US/UK invasion of Iraq wasn't lesson enough? Or maye it's just successive UK governments' desire to have access to the 'top tables' with their American friends, perpetuating the absurd post-colonial notion of 'punching above our weight' and the so-called 'special relationship' which must be nurtured at all costs? That's a lot of questions but how can I get some answers? I have asked my MP to enquire and he is doing so.

Lives are at stake here.

1 comment:

American Man said...

I will profess my opinion as an American being well informed in the study of organized crime in our government. In my honorable pursuit for redemption I herby state to the world I am the spiritual enemy of my nations’ state and federal clan based on hard evidence I possess in support thereof. I am being oppressed by an occupational army of word soldiers. Mercenaries are in the alliance behind secretly manipulated treason of our atmosphere, the global conflict has multiple frontiers, without opposition, beyond injustice against our intelligence and our economy for financial reward. The public placed at large by their lack of [dis]respect for this invasion guilty by association. Ignorance is not a defense, and it is not going away this time the spiritual alliance has become the GOD of inhumane creation. Note: God is [virtual] a spiritual concept of human belief in what is to be chief! Clearly time is the boss and the speaker for our united time expenditures is the masters’ master! Quality and quantity E = MC2 it’s about time and knowledge ~ intelligence is available ~ outside of our jurisdiction! The more perfect union is in time with itself the enemy of the many is the spiritual conviction of the few in control of the dominion ~ where justice is served vs. preserved ~ in our hearts!

The atmosphere has been the greatest war the world has ever endured killing ice by making weather [war]. With a pay lode: that is not the issue herein, but if it were; it could be volcanic ash (weapon of choice) ~ (virtually) natures trash a very heavy pay lode to be lifted to extreme altitudes dispersed mechanically into the atmosphere, with knowledge it will alter our climate (Katrina). It is draining our treasury and by secret loans ((our children’s)) future hopes and dreams to have the legacy that America ostensibly alludes to promise ~ in the eyes of a candid world! Loans are our publics property cash, yours and mine based on our worker bee potential and acquired assets, including our character, and we wonder why the economy has lost like Rome we, are part of the falling. This war is the greatest in cost requiring more new high flying chemical bombers to be built (check emergency funding post 911the precursor for a war without end against justice in our world! Justice is also spiritual in human understanding heaven as opposed to injustice leading to hell. Emotions rule where reason has no fathom but is an overwhelming domination in questions oppressed by the only central authority with the power to police try judge and convict with advanced authority ~ the constitution!

Leaving a trail that is sewn into a woven # pattern to block the sun. According to reports the strategies requiring more aircraft than all the commercial flights on earth combined every day to maintain in one operation the cloud that covers the earth!