Reformed environmentalists

I think I had mentioned in my Yucca (RIP) note that even former environmental activists had begun to reassess their opposition to the nuke in the light of the even more calamitous potential consequences of global warming. As if on cue, I came across a quote in New Scientist from Stephen Tindale, former director of Greenpeace UK, saying that he and other environmentalists now backed nuclear power. He is quoted as saying, "It was kind of like a religious conversion."

In the same issue was a rather frightening piece about the possible consequences of the planet rising by 4 degrees Celsius this century - a possibility some say. A map reveals the new deserts and the new fertile areas. Much of the United States and Europe (except Great Britain I was happy to note) would become deserts, not to mention South America and Africa, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and China. Canada and Siberia will become the desirable places to live, though the living conditions may not appeal to those currently enjoying the comfortable suburban lifestyle where 4,800 square feet is just not enough room. The world population could indeed move en masse and occupy Canada with room to spare, provided each individual occupied only 20 square meters - more than double what is accepted under English planning regulations apparently. Of course this would mean transforming the vast emptiness of Canada into a forest of high-rises. One suspects that the Canadian government would take quite a bit of persuading to buy into the idea. It makes the point though that any solution to global warming will naturally be a global one and that national interests and local politics will present the greatest obstacles to legitimate success.