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According to his publisher’s web blurb, George Monbiot has established that “we need a 90% cut in our emissions within 25 years if we are to stop ourselves reaching the point where the “climate feedback” becomes unstoppable”, and “for the first time, … explains how this cut could be achieved. ”

My problem is more with the latter than the former (although I am doubtful that the 90% cut can reliably to be shown to be either necessary or sufficient), and arises largely because the blurb reads to me like one for a secret ‘get rich quick’ scheme whose author will tell me how to make millions doing absolutely nothing in five easy steps (which just happen to be available only in book form).

If Monbiot can’t tell me in one page what the essence of his strategy is then he probably can’t do it in a book either. But just in case I’m missing out on hearing about the magic bullet that noone else has thought of I’ll be going to today’s seminar. And I urge anyone else at Langara who cares about the very real threat of global warming to do likewise.

Unfortunately I don’t think this initiative has had enough publicity in this part of the world for there to be a noticeable dip as seen by BC Hydro but there’s nothing wrong with joining in to the extent that we are able.

It’s a shame that we are not using air conditioning at this time of year, but perhaps there are some other College-wide systems (other than computers) which could be temporarily shut down. And perhaps with regard to computers we could ask ICS to use those 5 min to test our emergency power supply system.

Of course if we wanted to send the strongest possible correct “signal” then we could start up the air conditioning and every available electric heater etc (arc welders would be good if we have them) earlier that morning then turn them all off at 10:55 and on again at 11:00 for another half hour or so (and off again at random times after that). But I suppose that might be seen as a cynical and dishonest manipulation of the data.