Shynney

In my life time have been involved with small scale farming both in the U.S. and Europe and have noticed the difference between trying to farm on poorer soils and difficult climate in the U.S. compared to here in Europe. This can only be done with the use of chemicals and pesticides over large areas whereas in Europe organic farming is much more viable.

Maybe the reason for our current situation goes back to the time that people started settling the United States, Australia and other areas of the world that were very underpopulated. There was a reason for this under population. Except for the native indians who thrived living a hunter gatherer existence there were very few people living in the North American continent. This also applies to the Australian continent. These were not parts of the planet that could naturally sustain a large population living a formal settled, agricultural existence as had been done for centuries in the more amenable climates and soils of Europe and Africa. Maybe these lands were better farmed as the original native people farmed. Using permaculture where the soils were not disturbed to a great extent and a more nomadic lifestyle.

In order to live and thrive in hostile climates and conditions the original settlers from Europe had to conquer the land. Natural fauna and flora eliminated so that the new settlers could live the kind of existence they wanted. From then on more and more abuse was heaped on their new continents. It became very necessary to use fossil fuels with the resultant pollution in order survive there. No wonder the U.S. will not contemplate changing the way they live as this would threaten their very existence on the their continent. It is not that they are greedy or uncaring but that they have to live like that in order to survive in on their land. It is not the poor of the world who will be the first victims of climate change but people living in places where human existence is not viable without polluting and destroying much of the environment they live in. If this is not the case I challenge the people of the North American continent to make the changes that are increasingly being made on the other side of the Atlantic with very little ill affect. There is a reason you found these empty lands waiting for you but by trying to live in great numbers in areas of the world that are not viable for such population you are destroying the whole planet.

This is just a theory I have been thinking about while trying to explain why some people refuse to take this issue seriously. Would be glad to hear what others think.

To grow your vegetables organically does not take a lot of space. Have been growing our own for many years and it great to know where your food is coming from and under what conditions it is grown. With climate change it might be a very useful hobby! With a quarter acre and a freezer its possible to grow all your needs for a small family.

The last year or so we seem to be having ever increasing periods of high pressure. The latest was 1044 mb which lasted for a few days. Very close to the limit of our pressure guage. This is close to the record I remember in this area which was 1046 mb but which happened in mid-summer. Have other people noticed increasing number of high pressure periods and does anyone think this is related to Global Warming

Many of the CFC gasses that are supposed to have caused the Ozone Holes over the Arctic and Antarctic have now been banned but the still the holes do not show much signs of healing. We are told this should happen by 2065 but are people convinced that there is no longer a problem?