All posts by John O'Brien
Biodiversity Offsetting Is A Fallacy
Recently, the UK’s Ministry of the Environment (DEFRA) published a green paper on the concept of biodiversity offsetting and how it could be used to facilitate economic growth. Basically, biodiversity offsetting means that development could be allowed in environmentally-sensitive locations as long as the developer pays for conservation activities elsewhere (such as protecting or restoring […]
Continue readingAnimal Welfare Versus Animal Rights
What is the difference between ‘animal welfare’ and ‘animal rights’? The two terms are often confused and used inter-changeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. However, both are vital components of the debate on the use of animals for human needs. As people are becoming increasingly aware of the need to apply ethics in […]
Continue readingThe Fuss About Fracking
Induced hydraulic fracturing (or ‘fracking’) is a means of mining natural resources (typically oil and gas) from the ground. The technique was developed in the 1940s in the United States, but classical drilling remained the method of choice for many decades. However, over the last decade as classical wells have become depleted, fracking has been […]
Continue readingForeign Direct Investment And Foreign Aid As A Path To Sustainable Development
In times of economic crises such as these, the concept of bolstering foreign investment and foreign seems alien and antithesis to austerity and the ‘tightening of belts’. Most countries bemoan the fact that there is often a concomitant reduction in foreign direct investment (FDI) by larger economies when times are tough and foreign aid is […]
Continue readingDevolving Climate Change Decisions From National Governments
The time has come for a dramatic change in approach to tackling climate change on a global level. Successive rounds of climate change talks under the auspices of the UN have failed to generate anything like the impetus necessary to make any headway into decelerating the increased production of greenhouse gases or other environmental damage, […]
Continue readingNatural Climate Change – Climate Sceptics Are Deluding Themselves
There is an on-going and heated debate as to whether the current trends in climate are due to natural climate change or are being driven by anthropogenic impacts. This is a moot argument and, in fact, it distracts attention from the real issue of what should be done about mitigating the inevitable impacts that will […]
Continue readingThorium Energy As The New ‘Green’ Nuclear Power Source
Following the devastating tsunami in northern Japan in 2011 and its impact on the Fukushima nuclear energy plant, practically all nations with nuclear energy programmes initiated an assessment of nuclear safety in their countries. Although this single event prompted a global review, nuclear energy programmes have been under severe scrutiny in many countries for many […]
Continue readingArctic Fossil Fuels – Race To Reach The Poles Threatens Climate Change
In the early part of the last century, global attention was captivated by the endeavours of explorers racing to reach the poles and to map the surrounding terrain and waters. While there can be no doubt that it was the prospect of financial gain through geological prospecting that drove many of the benefactors to fund […]
Continue readingUsing Defence Budgets To Mitigate Climate Wars
While current military flashpoints worldwide largely reflect racial and religious tensions, it is widely regarded that food, water and energy security will increasingly become the predominant drivers of military activity in the future. This is because climate change is likely to significantly alter the distribution of these vital resources and lead to climate wars. Even […]
Continue readingMake A Contribution To Local Biodiversity Preservation By Creating Green Industrial Zones
Do you work in one of those numerous drab and dreary industrial or enterprise zones sited outside a town or city? Are you sick of the tarmac and cement vista, only obscured by metal and brick partitions? Is your building surrounded by dead space? Does the view when you enter the gates of your factory […]
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