I see that star prat Micheal Meacher is at it again. He says that pollution across the North of England is bad at the moment, mainly due to PM10 particulates not being shifted 'cos of the still weather. He is urging drivers to 'use their cars less' and walk *or use public transport*.
Would this be the public transport that uses ancient diesel engines which belch out more crap than 50 cars? The same public transport that uses 30% MORE energy per passenger than a car? Do me a favour, Micheal - put a sock in it!
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Thats a polititian for you. He knows that what he is saying is rubbish, he almost certainly will ignore his own advice, but he also knows such a statement is gauranteed to get his name in the papers.
For a polititian, it is better to be thought to be a pratt than to be ignored.
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Mr Meacher is on record as saying he will base his environmental decisions on the teachings of James Lovelock and his Gaian hypothesis.
Thats right, just a theory, a hypothesis, not scientific fact. Pagans have the same beliefs.
This government is staffed by some very strange people who are making mad decisions based on no evidence whatsoever.
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Andy,
Your stats impress; what is their source?
Hopefully Michael Meacher will continue to remain in the wilderness.
Regards,
Julian
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Julian - try the ABD website. I think it goes something like www.abd.org.uk - then follow the various links.
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Andy wrote:
>
> I see that star prat Micheal Meacher is at it again. He says
> that pollution across the North of England is bad at the
> moment, mainly due to PM10 particulates not being shifted
> 'cos of the still weather. He is urging drivers to 'use
> their cars less' and walk *or use public transport*.
> Would this be the public transport that uses ancient diesel
> engines which belch out more crap than 50 cars? The same
> public transport that uses 30% MORE energy per passenger than
> a car? Do me a favour, Micheal - put a sock in it!
There should an incentive for ride sharing in large Cities and Towns to lessen traffic, the amount of parents I see carrying the child (singular) to school is causing huge traffic and pollution problems, lets address that also. The engineers and scientists of the world not Politicians with both open and hidden agendas should drive government policy.
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actually i wouldnt trust the engineers
lots of the problems seem to be caused by engineering consultancys milking the councils by recommending road thinning, extra cameras etc, because there is lots of extra cash in it for them... they need more input from high mileage drivers i think
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On pollution, the scientists say that cars are not a problem. This from ABD.
ABD EXPOSES FLAWS IN MINISTER'S PRONOUNCEMENT
Environment Minister Michael Meacher this week showed that he has no grasp of environmental science by making a public statement which flies in the face of the facts.
In response to supposedly poor air quality across northern Britain, Mr. Meacher urged drivers to stop using their cars, saying "By making use of public transport instead, we can all do our bit to improve air quality."
The Transport Research Laboratory disagrees. Their Report 431 "A Low Emission Zone for London" said "Restrictions on cars on air quality grounds have been shown not to be warranted".
The main pollutant in question is a fine particulate called PM10. The ABD would like to point out that according to the London Research Centre, a petrol car emits 0.013 grams of PM10 per km, and a diesel car 0.091 gm/km. A diesel-powered bus, on the other hand, emits 0.985 gm/km - nearly eleven times as much as a diesel car and over SEVENTY FIVE times as much as a petrol car.
Far from reducing levels of PM10's, increased use of buses will lead to an increase, further lowering air quality.
The ABD's Environment Spokesman Bernard Abrams commented "This illustrates how this Government siezes any scare story to advance their anti-car agenda, even when the facts don't support what they say. This isn't even spin, this is just plain wrong-minded. Either Mr Meacher appears to have no idea what he's talking about, or he's deliberately using scare tactics to force drivers out of their cars knowing that the facts are against him".
ABD Chairman Brian Gregory said "The scientific research shows that there is no need to reduce car use on environmental grounds. Only politicians and pressure groups with an anti-car agenda persist in telling us that there is". He added "If Mr Meacher wants to try and improve air quality by changing people's mode of transport he would be better off banning buses from town centres and advising people to use their cars instead".
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Why do parents buy huge 4x4's to ferry two kids to school? My next door neighbour drives an absolutely monstrous Mitsubishi Pajero. They have two kids, no dogs and are not antique dealers. These vehicles cost more, drive worse, use more fuel and cause more pollution than 'normal' cars. I think they should carry an extra tax burden.
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Andy wrote:
>
> Why do parents buy huge 4x4's to ferry two kids to school?
Why do parents choose schools to which their children must be driven?
I feel a rant starting, better leave now before I start ...
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They do, they use more fuel and pay more tax - I walk my children to school, well its only 15 miles.
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Why do parents buy 4x4s...?
One hypothesis might be that as they are not allowed to discipline the little dears any more and these behave just as would be expected, it is perhaps better to have a vehicle in which they can be put in a pen and the noise of which deadens the impact of the squalling.
Another is that they just want something as unlike any vehicle which interests me as possible!
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See: www.bogush.fsnet.co.uk/Ecology.htm#MotoringTaxSurv...y
And the leading speed camera police force have a "marketing" dept ?!
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I thought the Pajero was a pretty average cooking mid-size 4WD. To me a Humvee is the real business.....
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I could get lost in a Pajero just looking for the heater knobs.....
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Why do parents buy 4x4s...?
They think they are safer due to their monstrous size (I presume).
We are thought somewhat eccentric as the only family to walk their kids (6 & 8) to school whatever the weather.
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