Ahhh, the elephant in the room! How to reduce the UK population to 40 million over the next 3 generations.
Pat Morriss From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Adrian Stott Sent: 13 October 2009 16:10 To: [email protected] Subject: [canals-list] Re: British Canal History in Colour "Bob" <[email protected] <mailto:captain_pugwash_2009%40yahoo.co.uk> > wrote: >Am I alone here, or do many others believe that in these days of 'environmental concern' and 'reducing the carbon footprint', that we should be clamouring to have freight back on the waterways. I don't believe that we alone are responsible for Global Warming, but I still think to take as much off the roads and on the canals etc would make life that much better for all. Sure. But the economics are such that a vessel carrying less than about 1,000 T isn't competitive with trains and trucks. So although there is plenty of freight on the larger waterways in mainland Europe, the Freycinet network (~350 T gauge) is now about as bereft of it as the UK narrow waterways (~30 T gauge). This isn't going to change unless oil fuels becomes very much more expensive. That could happen through carbon cap-and-trade, but politicians are scuppering that idea by ensuring that those industries that produce/release a lot of carbon get substantial discounts/exemptions. >PS The best way to reduce carbon footprints is not to step in it in the first place! Yup. Have few (or no) kids. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
