Better World Blog

The Better World Blog is about creating a vision for a better world, while not
forgetting what is wrong with the existing one.

It's about creating solutions to problems, about sharing activities,
important or symbolic.

The Better World Blog is about criticising while remaining proactive.
Anybody can rant but not everyone can offer ways to fix the problems.
This is what this blog aims to do……..

Enjoy and join in……..comments invited!

Glenn Ashton - Better World blogger.

Apr 7, 2009, Climate | Shockers About Climate Change, Global Warming

Ekogaia On Climate Change, Global Warming & Related Topics

Apr 7, 2009, Climate Change Denialist Andrew Kenny

Response by Glenn Ashton to Article by Climate Change Denialist Andrew Kenny

Apr 6, 2009, So Now Cheap Oil Is Back

So now cheap oils back, now what?

We need expensive oil!

Pundits and people tell me the drop in the oil price is a good thing. Now they can save money when they fill up their tanks. Less money for shonky Sheiks, nasty third world potentiates and all of that stuff. Hey, we can even buy bigger cars! If anybody could afford them.

But no, cheap oil is not a good thing. It will create the illusion that we can continue down the road to hell we seem so determined to travel. It will shift us away from and not towards alternatives. It will make us careless in how we treat our already threatened global environment, particularly as far as climate change is concerned.

No cheap oil is not a good thing, its a bad thing. Sure those lying bastards in charge of the worlds oil companies will earn less and that may be a good thing. If it were true. Fact is, they wont. Shareholders will get less – the fat cats have built in bonuses to cushion their fall from grace.

We need expensive oil. In order to investigate alternatives we need energy that at least reflects the true costs of its production and use. Oil, like all fossil fuels externalises most of its costs. Who calculates the health costs of oil use and adds them to your fuel bill?

Asthma, cancers, lung problems, early death just to name a few – hell I could fill a whole blog with the health problems caused by fossil fuels. Who pays for these ills? We do, taxpayers. We subsidise the bloody oil barons and oppressive regimes. Not even to mention the costs of the environmental problems this black curse causes.

Cheap energy will stop people from engaging their TV addled heads, will stop them even more from thinking about what they are doing. Expensive energy engages the mind. It encourages us to seek out alternatives. It makes bicycles appear like a good idea even to the dumbest most obstinate climate change denialist.

And even if oil is cheap at the moment, this is only an aberration, a blip in the price graph. Mark my words. Because oil IS running out. And when that realisation hits home, that's the real end of cheap oil. Bring it on!

Apr 6, 2009, Cynical about government?

Cynical about government? No wonder; politicians invented self interest.

It is remarkable how rapidly a government can pass legislation if it wishes, and how slowly it moves if it chooses.

We need look no further at how Parliament recently pushed through legislation to get rid of the Scorpions. This bill was not even on the radar before Polokwane in December last year.

On the other hand the government continues to dither about bills that will have direct impacts on both our lives and the environment. The Consumer Protection Bill has been tossed back and forth and now that Parliament has passed it, the president refuses to ratify it, until when?

Until after the elections, because it will look good if the incoming Prez passes it into law. This is nuts. Get the legislation signed, its just a squiggle for goodness sakes, so that regulations can be drafted and enacted and our hard pressed consumers (that's all of us, folks) can get some help and solace.

Are politicians really so self-absorbededly cynical? Okay, no need to answer that question.

Jan 28, 2009, Alien Birds In Cape Town | Crows, Peacocks And Upsetting The Avian Balance.

Aline Birds - Crows & Peacocks - Upset Avian Balance In Cape Town

Jan 27, 2009, Is Israel Guilty Of Using Illegal Weapons?

Israel is not only guilty of outrageous abuse of power but quite possibly use of illegal weapons. 

Jan 27, 2009, Media Concentration in South Africa – where are we going?

INM now accounts for nearly 60% of the English newspaper media coverage. The only other real opposition comes from 'The Mail and Guardian' (M&G), as well as the nations biggest newspaper the 'Sunday Times', which appears to have successfully kicked off its own daily prodigy, 'The Times.

Jan 27, 2009, The new international land and agricultural resources grab

Just when colonialism was considered dead and buried, along comes neo-colonialism in its latest guise. Allied with its close relatives globalisation, free marketeering and lack of transparency, it is currently launching a new offensive on the disempowered population of this continent.

Jan 27, 2009, Land Issues | Pollution, Urbanisation, Erosion and Other Land Related Issues

Urbanization, Erosion,Pollution And Other Land Issues In South Africa & Beyond

Jan 27, 2009, Food | Information On GM Foods, Organic Foods

Food | About Healthy Food, Food Practices, Food Agriculture

Jan 21, 2009, Energy | Nuclear Energy | Bio Fuels | Alternative Energy

Energy must be traded in a free market. How the nuclear lobby has undermined South Africas energy policy.

Jan 21, 2009, 57 Varieties Of Bullshit from Sir Tony O'Reilly

The mainstream media plays a huge role in dispensing misinformation about the ways and wiles of the world. There was a classic recent case published in the Cape Times, and presumably the entire Independent Group, an international group of newspapers headed by pro business interests, including Sir Tony O'Reilly, head of Heinz. Seems like the man wants to serve us up 57 varieties of bullshit.

Jan 14, 2009, About Ekogaia

The story behind Ekogaia

Jan 14, 2009, Contact Ekogaia

How to contact Ekogaia

Jan 14, 2009, Search Ekogaia

Welcome to Ekogaia SiteSearch. Wondering where exactly to find information on our site? Can't remember which pages feature peak oil or South African Politics etc? Ekogaia SiteSearch solves your problem.

Jan 14, 2009, Have your Say!

Do you have any further comment or opinions you'd wish to add on any articles or topics on Ekogaia? Please do. I'd love any feedback or criticisms!

Jan 14, 2009, Useful Resources & Links

Other Useful Websites

Jan 14, 2009, Pollution - Various Articles On Pollution In South Africa & International

Pollution | Pollution in South Africa & International

Jan 14, 2009, Library

Library and Book Reviews

Jan 14, 2009, Better World Blog

What you can do to make your world a better place..

Jan 14, 2009, Biofuels Are Uneconomical

Are Biofuels Uneconomical?

Jan 14, 2009, South Africa's Energy Policy | Energy

Energy must be traded in a free market. How the nuclear lobby has undermined South Africas energy policy.

Jan 14, 2009, Endgame Book Review | Review of Endgame by Derrick Jensen

Book Review Of Endgame by Derrick Jensen

Jan 14, 2009, Book Review |Animal Vegetable Miracle | A Year Of Food Life

Animal Vegetable Miracle is yet another great book by an excellent writer - and her family.

Jan 13, 2009, The Nigerians are still killing the Biafrans because of religious differences, and Biafra must have its own government to see that peace reigns.

Oil can cause much trouble on earth and that was why the lord Jesus told John in the book of revelation that every thing on earth will be destroyed

Jan 13, 2009, Richards Bay Smelter Electricity Usage Stats

I seriously doubt the veracity of the stated consumption of electricity by the refineries. The Richards Bay smelter cluster has an estimated

Dec 4, 2008, Ekogaia Is About Making a Better World for People and Environment

Make Your Difference | Make A Better World For People And Environment

Dec 4, 2008, Record Oil Prices | Oil At Record Prices Will Engender A Shift

Record Oil Prices Will Engender A shift To New Economic Opportunities

Dec 4, 2008, Activism Article | Activism 101

Activism - Activism 101 - Taking Charge Of The Space We Are In

Oct 7, 2008, Financial Crisis - a scenario for change

10/07/08 The World Financial Crises..... Part Two Could this be the time for a change........? Essay by Michela Collett

Oct 7, 2008, Financial Crisis - a scenario for change

10/07/08 The World Financial Crises.... Part 1 Could this be the time for a change........? Essay by Michela Collett

Aug 24, 2008, Allergies - Something needs to be done for people with allergies!

For the past thirteen years, I have been in a phenomenal world. If I had not experienced it for myself, I would have never thought anything like

Jul 27, 2008, Aerosol Sprays in ABSA Bank

Hi, I've long been bothered by the aerosol dispensers in my ABSA bank that every 10 minutes or so spew out, with a gentle swoosh noise, some

Jul 8, 2008, Bush Thinks We Have Lost Our Minds

Bush Thinks We Have Lost Our Minds

Jul 1, 2008, Wasteful Newspapers | The absolute wasteful printing and transporting of the Property pages etc.,

Every weekend I buy the Argus newspaper for various really good reasons. Every week, for the past 12 years I have discarded kilos, KILOS of paper, the

Jul 1, 2008, The World Does NOT Need Saving!

Before you become angry with the above title, there is a secret. We are created in the image of god, that is, we have the same creative powers as

Jun 24, 2008, SBI-Template

Jun 24, 2008, Pollution in South Africa | Article by Glenn Ashton

How To Live Safely In A Polluted World | article on Pollution in South Africa

Jun 24, 2008, Low Petrol Consumption Cars | Choosing A green Car In South Africa

Choosing A Low Petrol Consumption Car In South Africa - Fiat Punto The Winner!

Jun 24, 2008, Does Lake Michelle Property Development Award

Lake Michelle Property In Noordehoek - What REALLY Went Down Behind The Scenes

Jun 24, 2008, Intellectual Property Rules | Intellectual Property Favours The Have's

Intellectual Property | Intellectual Property Rules Benefit The Rich

Jun 24, 2008, Intellectual Property | Stealing Our Ideas & Banning Creativity

Intellectual Property article | Stealing Our Ideas & Banning Creativity

Jun 24, 2008, Green Homes - How To Make Your Home Green In South Africa.. Or Anywhere!

Green Homes | A Green Home means clean, unpolluted, free of toxins and dangerous residues, substances and materials

Jun 24, 2008, Genetically Modified Food Crops

Genetically Modified Food Crops

Jun 24, 2008, Definition Of Activism

Activism Defined | Oxford and Enviropaedia Definition of Activism