Alarming video on Fukushima impact on the world. May 9, 2012
Posted by @Karen_Fu in change, climate change, environment, ethics, faith, life challenges.Tags: Fukushima, Fukushima nuclear accident aftermath, Japan nuclear disaster 2011, Man made disaster, radioactive danger, World disaster
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Far worse than what I thought about the fukushima radioactive leak. So cancer prevention should be the first to come into consideration if what Dr Helen Caldicott said is true.I can believe it is mostly true. But what I didn’t know was the extent of the disaster. We should never place complacency in what we know and play with fire. I will leave you to watch the video. It is very concisely presented. Anyone who still thinks nuclear is a viable source of power to expand economically should have their brains ‘washed’ by now. Technology should gear towards to how to cancer prevention and cure. I think that’s the most important task now — not the power struggle, fights and material greed. It doesn’t pay. — Karen Fu
Design for the New Climate March 29, 2011
Posted by @Karen_Fu in climate change, design, environment.Tags: Blackburn report, cities, climate change, Design Ideas, Fukushima, John O Blackburn, Nuclear Energy Concerns
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Recently, I saw The Ideas Economy’s website and posted 2 ideas that I thought it would be useful. One was to design modular mobile smart housing that acts as a self sustainable unit; and the other a kind of ‘lead net’ that covers the entire nuclear plant in several layers before it actually explodes.
It just came to me after reading and following up the number of natural and man-made disasters that seems to erupt in a short span of 3 years. Regardless if the Mayans had been right about 2012, we have to prepare for a definite real climate that is today and the near future.Highly populated areas, usually in cities, do not have much open space for escape. As such, I am thinking of the many possibilities of designing the units and the ‘safety net’.
Climate change does not confine to the natural environment, about melting ice caps and the rise of sea levels. We are now facing another impending problem that is more instaneous and dire: terrorism. While we can add in rows of CCTVs, sending police and guard dogs to patrol at stations, airports, and sub stations; we must first eliminate any possible attack inland. For that reason alone, nuclear plants, oil rigs in danger points should be seriously considered for a permanent removal.The energy that we should use must be some form that we can contain in a much higher possibility. With the recent Fukushima Nuclear accident, signs are begining to show that the spread of radioactive pollution is going world wide. I think that is itself an expensive lesson to take and we have yet to see the full impact of the disaster.
I particularly liked the idea of solar energy. Many may not for the actual costs of producing them as compared to nuclear energy. But recently I have accidentally stumbled upon a paper by the late John O Blackburn, who wrote ‘The Historic Crossover:Solar Energy is Now the Better Buy’.(see reference below)
I really wouldn’t want to try nuclear in the long term given the change of climates now where there appears to be a rise in the number of
earthquakes.Naturally people may doubt about statistics. Despite the nature of hard core research stats, we live under the sky to know what is really happening. Sometimes, a better trust is within us. Within me, myself, I do not believe that nuclear is the solution. It has never been. With the Fukushima Nuclear incident, I am more than adament to vote against nuclear energy. You know how the Japanese work. They are very merticulous and responsible people. If this could happen, I think its serious enough to make a resolution. — Karen Fu, adapted from my own post to PhD forum.
Reference:
(A) The late John O. Blackburn, Duke University’s Professor Emeritus of
Economics and former Chancellor,
Solar and Nuclear Costs—The Historic Crossover: Solar Energy is Now
the Better Buy’ http://www.azocleantech.com/details.asp?newsID=11407
Obituary of Dr John Blackburn, which reflects his personality:
http://news.duke.edu/2011/01/blackburn.html
Prof Blackburn’s paper:
http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NCW-SolarReport_final1.pdf
(B) Nuclear waste recycling problems:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=rethinking-nuclear-fuel-recycling
http://www.nuclearwasterecycling.com/
(C) Nuclear reactors in quake zones: http://tinyurl.com/4kxux8u
Quick thoughts about COP15 Copenhagen Climate Talks December 19, 2009
Posted by @Karen_Fu in climate change, environment, ethics, human quality.Tags: Chinese saying, Climate talks, COP15, Copenhagen Climate talks, humanity
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Picture originally from: http://www.linfield.edu - burning earth
Its in the news: disappointment is shown on many faces around the world. Why have we become so complex that a simple progressive solution cannot be found? Actually sustainability is not difficult to achieve. It is so because people have different agendas to fulfill in an incredibly complex system. Many people refuse to compromise.The system becomes tedious that we have to satisfy various economic and political agendas before we can progress. How did we get to this point? While there are the usual arguements about material comsumption of goods and services that increase the carbon footprint which are very relevant, I often think the real root cause is right in our minds. The thoughts are the ones that create the unsustainable culture of consumerism. The use and throw culture is one of those. The others are to create products and services that are really more fad than really useful. Our minds have to come clean before we can talk about saving the earth. Sustainability to me does not only restrict to how to cut down pollution of the physical environment. It should really include cleansing polluted minds of deceit, selfish and scheming thoughts to plot for individual material attainments.
All we need is just to be considerate and wise in the way we live life. Count around how many products and services you really want. Bang on those. Discard festish products and ideas that waste energy. If many more would make use of public transport, fewer people would need the usual car that much. If public transport is not possible because of a lack of safety, then think of some policies to run the place as safe. We should think along these lines. Its far less smokey, costs less, way more healthy and better still, the generosity of being self giving will recipocrate. How hard is that ? The way we live is actually a reflection of how we would treat people. The way we treat people will in turn affect how others will treat the rest. Its infectious. They are all linked. Treat all under the fairness of justice, and people will not be disappointed enough to fight. Unless there is an abuse of such fairness, then we should need to instill in peace and explain. People rebel because they feel they are disadvantaged.
I’m not very good in western philosophy, but there is one Chinese saying that’s really applicable to the last respect on treating people:
泛爱众： 凡是人， 皆须爱，天同覆，地同载。
Basically it means regardless of race, language and creed etc, equality of treatment should apply to all. We are sheltered under the same blue sky and we all walk on the same common earth. Hence we must treat all as equals without selfish and cunning schemes. So is our treatment to animals and the ecological systems around us. Both the natural and the artificial environments are part of our survival. I feel that we should not keep thinking about improving the products and services all the time. We need to think about the moral education which we instill in our students and in the people. That’s where our real roots of evil/good start.
Hope I’ve made sense..
