RYA and red diesel (On my high horse)

[duncan]

Ken,
Thank you for starting such an interesting thread which has so clearly brought naked self interest to the fore.
Your responses when pushed, and it did seem that people were ganging up on you a little for your views, were exemplary and you are clearly a pillar of eco-society as we understand it.
If anything my concern would be that you stop here. The financial impact of tobbaco alchol and fatty meat product (including Fraybentos) consumption and agriculture that strives to meet the emerging population needs instead of applying sensible population growth restrictions (strictly enforced) would all seem to have a place here and need a voice.

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[Evadne]

Hear hear

I don't think that the popular moral warnings about destroying the globe should be the only incentive to bahave in a sensible manner. I happen to think that not making the world less pleasant to live in, in the short term is a good enough reason.
The eco-brigade (present company excepted) bring their ill-founded warnings of doom as the only reason we should use resources prudently. If, as usually happens, they are proven wrong then that is not a justification to use petroleum as if it is going out of fashion, IMHO, and when they get their sums drastically wrong (e.g. Brent Spar) then it sends out entirely the wrong message to the dimwits of the world (present company of journalists and politicians excepted). Harumph.

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[jimi]

Re: Hear hear

Actually Dave I've got my doubts about Ken. He's of pinko politicque, drives a beamer, destroys the rainforest to get teak, drinks Chardonnay and listens to Jazz.
Not only that he rants on about the seaworthiness of a Twister but fails to get past Bembridge. Waffles on about bikes but is too fat to get on one ... what more can be said?

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[Twister_Ken]

Not as green as you.

I so admire you for fitting a biodegradeable rudder.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[jimi]

Re: Not as green as you.

OOhh ... you bitch .. I'll hit you with my handbag!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[Bergman]

I have some sympathy for your point, but I can't see the proposal as any other than a gesture to the environment whilst raking in cash for the chancellor.

If he really wanted to make a dent in greenhouse gas he ought to have a go at the aeroplane.

I believe a trans-atlantic flight uses something like 150 TONS of fuel. So if my sums (and Exeter uni's) are right that will be in the region of 400 tons of CO2, most of it 6 or 7 miles up in the atmosphere where I understand it does the most damage.

I can't be bother to calculate how many hours you would have to drive a Predator to match that but I guess its a lot, and how many trans-atlantic flights are there every day.

I reckon over the last 3 years I have spent less than £25 on diesel so I now feel extremely smug and self righteous.

PS

Can't help feeling that if all the people with power boats got rid of them and spent the money on holiday flights to foreign parts there would be a negative balance on the carbon account.





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[Rowana]

mileage

I live at the bottom of a steep hill. Pub is at the top. Work up a thirst going up, then roll down afterwards.

Who needs a bike?

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[Rowana]

Re: Not as green as you.

I thought you were going to try your handbag as a drogue in the hypothetical F8 mid-chanel - Or should that be drag??

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[bigmart]

Re: Being a miserable

whinging old Git, as I am, I disagree with you about the amount of tax we pay on fuel for one reason.

I simply don't believe that the amount of tax, our wonderous Government charge, on fuel has anything to do with a green desire in the politicians tiny little mind. It is just an excuse to increase the revenue from an element of society they can blame for being antisocial.

I havn't seen one instance where the government, of any political colour, have made any reasonable effort to provide a customer friendly public transport system that will provide a green alternative.

For that reason alone I am anti any "Green Tax" that is no more than an excuse to swell the general taxation coffers. The day that policies change will be the day I am happy to cough up but in the meantime I think all us boaters should stick together. You never know when we might need each other.

Do you really thingk that Fray Bentos might damage the Ozone Layer.

Martin

BTW thanks for helping to swell my lo tech thread I am amazed at the response. All those posts & I've spawned another Forum. There's a claim to fame. I feel like a new father!

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Hear hear

Not the anti-Chardonnay again. You and Chris Robb make a matched set.

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[kds]

I do support your arguments, - and many of the others here - most of them are attacks on the same problem, but from different perspectives.
I did post on this forum some time last year my support for so many of the efforts that the RYA makes - with the exception of the time and effort they waste on this issue.
As leisure boaters, surely we do so because we value the time we spend enjoying "the Geat Outdoors" ?
So we must be concerned for our effects on the environment - even if others are not.
As an afterthought - I was chatting with one of the lock-keepers at Chichester Yacht Basin 2 years ago - he commented that more than half of the mega-motor yachts moored there had not been out of the lock gates that season.
So an increase in diesel price won't worry them much.

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[Ohdrat]

Re: drives a beamer...

apart from the pinko bit I would say that's a pretty good description of New Labour.. or is it the New Conservatives??? I dunno which party is which anymore..

And to pass comment on Ken's original post.. I agree that because the fuel is for a leisure persuit as apposed to essential (as you can argue that petrol/diesel powered transport in rural areas) there should most definately be taxes on red diesel.. or more taxes.. whichever.. for leisure users.

As for global warming.. it's here, it's happening and is most definately not in our interests.. Mass exctinction is a real threat.. but we still have time to lessen global warming and its effects.

As for the RYA have little time for them as they seem to have little grasp of being representative of anyone whose sailing ground isn't the South Coast / Channel.