This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Thursday, 23 September 2021
Your Car Might Not Be Waiting?
Toyota is currently the world's largest manufacturer of cars. Unlike General Motors (GM) in the US, they have not pledged to go all electric by 2050 (https://pjmedia.com/culture/bryan-preston/2021/03/19/toyota-warns-again-about-electrifying-all-autos-is-anyone-listening-n1433674). Toyota regard GM's position as simple 'virtue signalling'. They claim (as they have done in the past), they are not against electric cars (Toyota was one of the first companies to introduce a hybrid model). Toyota just don't think that a) all people can be convinced to go electric; b) the recharging infrastructure for electrics can/ will be put in place in time and c) car owners will be willing to wait for the time taken to recharge electric vehicles compared with filling up at a gas station. Their logic seems impeccable. Perhaps we ought to accept that it's the aspiration to have a private car that is the unsustainable feature (sorry, Toyota, GM, AA etc)? It would be much more logical to make all buses electric and free for use. These could be charged at their depots, when not in use. The same could also be done for HGVs, essential transport such as ambulances, delivery trucks etc etc. I appreciate that lots of people will vigorously oppose any loss of their ability to hop into a car, when they feel like it (people have had cars for more than 100 years) but this seems the only way out of the quandary.
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Birder's Bonus 241
Noted a Curlew ( Numenius arquata ) on the Loughor estuary at Bynea.
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Greater spearwort ( Ranunculus lingua ) has been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, skin conditions and digestive problems.
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Green buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tartaricum ) is also called 'Tartar buckwheat'. It's a domesticated food plant, producing kernels. ...
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Daily shots of my fully compostable Oyster mushroom pot, received for Christmas. Omelettes ahoy!
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