Andy ScollickJan 25, 2023

One minute I'm reading about how we've reached 'peak oil & gas'. Next minute I'm reading about new oil & gas developments in the Arctic, North Sea, Middle East and elsewhere.

We're already at 420 ppm atmospheric CO2 and a global average 1.2 deg C heating (2 deg C regionally in Europe).

Meanwhile, CEOs of state oil & gas producers are applying liberal coats of greenwash via the UNFCCC #COP28.

Are we, as a species, really this stupid and weak? Apparently so. Committing "climate suicide".

Show threadShield MaidenJan 25, 2023
@Andy_Scollick Because I'm a naturally suspicious person, I do wonder whether one day the oil companies will decide to do some massive geo-engineering to 'cool the planet' by scattering say sulphur into the upper atmosphere...and no-one will be able to stop them...
Show threadAndy ScollickJan 25, 2023
@Judeet88 It's a valid conern. It is actually a concern that is discussed by strategists and planners, both military and civil, in the NATO community. The big 'fear' is that China could extend its cloud-seeding geo-engeneering efforts further across the Hamilayas and impact India's water resources (or even weaponise it to cause flooding), resulting in tensions, war, even nuclear exchange. That's just one example. Needs 'eyes on' and proper consideration for sure.
Show threadShield MaidenJan 25, 2023
@Andy_Scollick I read the other day that a small sulphur-seeding project had been operating on the Mexican border, run by the US, but no info as to whether it'd been shut down. I've literally just finished reading a book about this very thing, only published last yr I think...which has kind of primed me to think about it.
Show threadMarcelJan 25, 2023
@Judeet88 @Andy_Scollick I recently read about a startup that is doing just that. We need regulation on this, worlwide. https://gizmodo.com/make-sunsets-solar-geoengineering-sulfur-climate-change-1849931460
Startup Claims It's Sending Sulfur Into the Atmosphere to Fight Climate Change

Make Sunsets sells "cooling credits" for $10 and alleges that 1 gram of sulfur particles offsets the impacts of 1 ton of carbon emissions.

Gizmodo
Show threadAndy ScollickJan 25, 2023
@kritischelezer @Judeet88 This start-up is dangerous. However, they have done us all a favour by highlighting the issue and threat. The problem will come when someone like Elon Musk decides he can geoengineer the climate - I'm surprised he hasn't already, as he wants to do it with Mars!
Show threadJust Matthew 🙏Jan 31, 2023

@Andy_Scollick

The startup stopped of their own volition. I don't consider them dangerous: I believe they were making a political statement about the dangers.

@kritischelezer @Judeet88

Show threadAndy Scollick
@Irreverent_B @kritischelezer @Judeet88 Without proper oversight and regulation, and a system of international governance, all geoengineering are potentially dangerous in multiple respects: from fraud through greenwashing, well-meaning but effectively useless, to downright dangerous by exacerbating climate system instability and risking conflict between armed state and non-state actors. Wait until some group like PMC wagner gets involved in armed geoengineering on behalf of some client somewhere
Jan 31, 2023 at 9:23amWeb
Show threadJust Matthew 🙏Jan 31, 2023

@Andy_Scollick

It's bad enough that Peter Thiel is a backer. That says much to me. My thoughts on the state we're in below (written autumn 2019) ..

@kritischelezer @Judeet88

Show threadShield MaidenJan 31, 2023
@Irreverent_B @Andy_Scollick @kritischelezer Your concerns are universal ones, but so many are in denial, or ignorant or too engrossed with other things or desperately trying to just survive day to day, or have no political power whatsoever.
Show threadJust Matthew 🙏Jan 31, 2023

@Judeet88

Indeed. My first response to Andy's post was about this.

https://kolektiva.social/@Irreverent_B/109782516650875821

@Andy_Scollick @kritischelezer

Just Matthew (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Yes. We have been disrupted in our functioning, disembodied by screen-life, and dis-empowered by the corporate takeover of political power resulting from Thatcherite-Reagan reforms.

kolektiva.social