| I think that it is high time we turned our attention | | | | be buried in concrete. |
| to Green energy sources. The day of fossil fuels | | | | The power of the sun and wind have been used |
| is coming to an end and there is now good | | | | for centuries, yet only now are we planning large |
| evidence that they damage the planet. We | | | | offshore wind farms to reduce our dependence |
| currently use fossil fuels for our cars, to heat our | | | | on oil. We should have started the process years |
| homes and to generate electricity. It is time to | | | | ago. In the UK it is estimated that we will have a |
| change. | | | | blackout due to high demands on electricity as |
| Why should we use green energy sources like, | | | | early as 2017. Obviously we are not doing nearly |
| solar, wind, wave, hydropower and geothermal? | | | | enough to switch to green energy. |
| The key reason is that they do not produce | | | | It is reckoned that in the UK some 25% of the |
| harmful emissions that damage the environment. | | | | total carbon dioxide emissions come from our |
| Secondly they save money and thirdly we will | | | | homes, yet the number of homes with solar |
| never run out of green energy because it is | | | | panels or wind turbines is very small. The |
| renewable. | | | | government gives grants for installation, but there |
| Governments around the world and certainly in | | | | is so much red tape and regulation that the |
| the UK talk of using more coal fired power | | | | process is slow. A determined DIY person can still |
| stations, but coal produces carbon dioxide which | | | | build their own energy at home, but somehow |
| damages the environment. They state that the | | | | you get the feeling that it is not exactly |
| emissions can be channelled underground, but that | | | | encouraged. So much for the nanny state. |
| will be expensive. They also plan further Nuclear | | | | Future generations will curse us for our slowness |
| power stations, yet they cannot even afford to | | | | to adopt natural energy sources. Imagine how |
| decommission the existing power stations. | | | | many green energy projects could be funded for |
| Whilst nuclear energy does not directly cause | | | | the price of just one new nuclear power station. |
| emissions, we can all remember Chernobyl. The | | | | The use of natural energy is the solution to the |
| UK has also had leakages from nuclear | | | | environment, it is low maintenance. If only |
| reprocessing plants like Sellafield into the Irish sea. | | | | governments could realise that by investing now |
| People in Ireland testify to the affects of the | | | | future generations can reap the rewards in |
| leakage and site the resulting increase of incidence | | | | cheaper energy. The resulting savings could then |
| of cancer in Ireland. There is also the fact that | | | | be diverted towards important areas such |
| nuclear material cannot be destroyed and has to | | | | poverty and healthcare. |