Post 9i6NGMIbPDSCNiOIhk by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
(DIR) More posts by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
(DIR) Post #9i4kMn6iYUEdtQwrIW by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:15:28Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
So this is a thing I've seen in a few places recently which I think is damaging to the cause of trying to help the environment.What we *need* to do is to reconfigure society in such a way that it works harmoniously with nature. One aspect of this is to reduce our carbon footprint. Collectively. As a society.Something which I call "someone-else's-problem environmentalism" eschews this, focusing solely on individual impact and ignoring the big picture.
(DIR) Post #9i4kMnVX4E5J8OYfya by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:18:31Z
1 likes, 2 repeats
As an example, a sentiment I've read recently is that public transport causes emissions and if you use busses every day (for example, to get to work), this is increasing your carbon footprint and therefore bad.And I mean, sure, if you consider only yourself. But the busses will be running anyway. By using the bus, you're sharing those emissions with every other person on that bus. By joining them, you're reducing all of their carbon footprints.
(DIR) Post #9i6L0c22wYDIdQ0k2C by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T14:08:28.068111Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@chillgamesh @maloki @anne @InvaderXan bio-methane has a lot of promise imo. leaks are less likely during production since the entire process happens in a digester AND you can convert common gasoline engines to run on compressed bio-methane. it’s a clean fuel that is still much more energy dense than lithium cells. we DO need something better, but what does that even look like? energy storage is a hard problem and we need to reach and surpass hydrocarbon levels of energy density if we want to keep ascending.
(DIR) Post #9i6NGLvCoCjrD9RcEi by maloki@elekk.xyz
2019-04-22T19:22:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan Yeah, shared costs of living (both in the environmental sense and others), is definietly the way forward. And like, changing our cities into our own pantry by planting more edibles everywhere.
(DIR) Post #9i6NGMIbPDSCNiOIhk by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:25:08Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@maloki This is tangential, but... Turning cities into orchards is one of my favourite ideas for the future. But to do that, we need to first get rid of combustion engines. All the pollution they cause makes food grown nearby... unpalatable. When all vehicles use electric engines, that's when we can start growing fruit trees everywhere.
(DIR) Post #9i6NGMV0f5NX0CCD2m by anne@beach.city
2019-04-22T19:27:10Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXanAre natural-gas heating/cooking or even oil heating a similar problem? Natural gas is regrettably common here.@maloki
(DIR) Post #9i6NGMjXn30LjGzohM by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:32:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@anne @maloki Natural gas is a simpler hydrocarbon, which burns far more cleanly (provided the boilers are regularly serviced). It gives fewer things like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur oxides which petrol produces.But it still comes from fossil fuels. At least, for now.
(DIR) Post #9i6NGNQnCFbDtPEM6q by chillgamesh@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T13:58:50Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @anne @maloki The problem with natural gas is that although it produces less CO2 than other fossil fuels- half as much as coal and 4/5 the amount of oil- the primary component of it is methane, which traps even more heat than CO2. It's extremely messy to extract (fracking is a seriously nasty process) and when the gas leaks in transit or storage, it's nearly undetectable. It would reduce street-level pollution somewhat, but it's not an effective solution to any other part of our problems with energy.
(DIR) Post #9i6NGO1J0Uo3ieJW1Q by maloki@elekk.xyz
2019-04-23T14:06:52Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@chillgamesh @InvaderXan @anne How does biogas fit into this?
(DIR) Post #9i6NGOXv3EtVLnZYrA by chillgamesh@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T14:20:15Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@maloki @InvaderXan @anne Biogas is a lot cleaner to produce, and is carbon neutral since the carbon it contains is pulled out of the air. It's still mostly methane, which I should note is broken down when it burns like in conventional natural gas, but the problem of leaking unburned gas is still pretty big. Also, both natural gas and biogas produce other pollutants like hydrogen sulfide.
(DIR) Post #9i6NGP3T9w8CveKl28 by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T14:31:17Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@chillgamesh @maloki @anne Some of us are working on solar fuels to find an even cleaner solution to this problem.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_fuelThe intention is to create carbon neutral fuel while humanity is being weaned off its dependence on natural gas, and then use it as a mechanism to help manage Earth's atmospheric CO2 levels because reforestation takes time.
(DIR) Post #9i6OLU5NyvrxvyDVw0 by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T14:27:17Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@xj9 @chillgamesh @maloki @anne IMO, we don't need to keep ascending. We should learn from plants. They use only the energy they need and do not aim to capture excess except to nourish other organisms for mutual benefit.However, it is true that chemical energy is an extremely efficient way to store and use energy (unless combustion engines are involved). Fuel cells and solar fuels show some promise.
(DIR) Post #9i6OLULL1cd6jRgFnc by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T14:45:53.648090Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @anne @maloki @chillgamesh we need several orders of magnitude more energy capability if we even want to think about doing stuff in space. ascension is crucial to our survival. if we can’t into space we will surely die.
(DIR) Post #9i6OsINoVtB3C8Tx32 by anne@beach.city
2019-04-23T14:49:15Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXanI don't know if this qualifies as ascending, but I think it would be good to provide electricity to everyone in, say, India and Africa. So we're probably going to have to use every low- or no-carbon energy source we can get our hands on.@xj9 @chillgamesh @maloki
(DIR) Post #9i6OsIbzfAWHu77H9M by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T14:51:51.998606Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@anne @maloki @chillgamesh @InvaderXan > giving people stuff let them seize it for themselves
(DIR) Post #9i6PhpVl6SwghzluVc by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T14:52:12Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@anne @xj9 @chillgamesh @maloki If we're only talking about electricity, photovoltaics do work pretty well for that...https://solarpunk-aesthetic.tumblr.com/post/166830167814/there-are-over-4-million-private-solar-power
(DIR) Post #9i6Phq21AWkYK2rfn6 by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T15:01:05.285190Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @maloki @chillgamesh @anne silicon-based photovoltaics are not sustainable and not nearly as clean as you think. same goes for lithium ion. the environmental impact of these technologies is seriously undersold. they seem very nice, but on the balance bio-methane is probably significantly less damaging.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaics#Environmental_impacts_of_photovoltaic_technologies
(DIR) Post #9i6Q0lWOA51Hpv5zU0 by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T14:56:26Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@xj9 @anne @maloki @chillgamesh Ok, I guess. But if everyone shares everything then no one needs to seize anything. That seems like a far more pleasant world to live in.
(DIR) Post #9i6Q0lnP8odAgh3a0O by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T15:04:33.679264Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @chillgamesh @maloki @anne sharing is nice, but we live in a really shitty complicated world. sharing and getting along seems easy until you go outside and try to get everyone to do it.
(DIR) Post #9i6QLCfOwg3fom3Zw0 by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T15:07:18Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@xj9 @maloki @chillgamesh @anne If you say so. What do I know?
(DIR) Post #9i6QLD73HsAzCWzf28 by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T15:08:14.572248Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @anne @chillgamesh @maloki at least where i live, people get really angry if you start talking about sharing resources in a meaningful way.
(DIR) Post #9i6SFsv58Yb129yzvE by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T15:10:28Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@xj9 @anne @chillgamesh @maloki You should consider that your local culture (particularly if you're in an English speaking capitalist country) tints your entire worldview, and this may not be representative of humanity more generally.
(DIR) Post #9i6SFtOVNA8EVPkUme by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T15:29:44.872856Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @maloki @chillgamesh @anne the rest of humanity is kind of irrelevant to my local situation (as great as they might be). this is what i have to work with and i can't move too far because my family is here.i hope somewhere else can create a solarpunk utopia, but i'm not going to hold my breath.
(DIR) Post #9i6SrsvvXDAM52UwKm by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-23T15:36:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@xj9 Then I am not relevant to your local situation either. Which seems like a good place to end this strange exchange.
(DIR) Post #9i6SrtVNPPWRqz5Faa by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T15:36:39.473902Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan when you're right, you're right
(DIR) Post #9i6Ual1LtqYiWdzpi4 by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T15:55:54.503367Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@anne @maloki @chillgamesh @InvaderXan i suppose there's a reason i'm not directly aligned with #solarpunk i like the idea, but there's too much cultural baggage that i don't care about. default is smothering my curiosity and inhibiting my ability to explore science and technology. i wish to end this arbitrary suppression of FUN by moving away and building an independent system that can sustain me, my friends, and family while we work and play together.i think we will probably end capitalism with this project, but that's just a secondary effect. the real goal is autonomy and technological acceleration. #walkaway is more #hacker than #punk
(DIR) Post #9i6nmQ21f2PA26aMZk by hushroom@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T19:27:56.068416Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@xj9 what do you think of the thermo-chemical, rather than biological, methods of converting biomass to usable energy? same goals, different tech. depends on your local climate and resources for sure, and preferences. i think machines are easier to keep happy than micro-organisms
(DIR) Post #9i6nmQHGkMb8nNiXKq by 361.xj9@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T19:30:53.204875Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@hushroom could you link me to some info on the topic? tbh i'd be a lot more prepared to maintain a machine vs. a biological system. i think biology has a lot of exciting applications for #walkaway systems, but its well outside of my mechanical/electrical area of expertise.
(DIR) Post #9i6o17R15OhAhQHgVU by ryanlittlefield@lazer.pizza
2019-04-22T19:25:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan yeah, by this logic, one more person on a bus is one less person in a car, so one less vehicle, which, sure. absolutely. that's totally reducing your footprint. why is that bad?it's the "we should improve society somewhat" / "then why do you continue to participate in society" people who are bringing this up, and that sucks
(DIR) Post #9i6o17uRK0EOAg3BMu by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:28:21Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ryanlittlefield Yeah, I think so. It's one of those takes which I read somewhere and I was like – wait, what? Is this a joke?
(DIR) Post #9i6o18Fi2vFFEe0AWO by ryanlittlefield@lazer.pizza
2019-04-22T19:30:08Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan Yeah. The constant policing and "you're doing it wrong"-ness of social media is why I've left most of it. People can't stand someone other than themselves doing things that they, themselves, don't even do.It's "well, actually"-ing to the millionth degree, and I hate it, and it's awful. The point is that even small changes are good changes. Rome wasn't built sustainably and without a carbon footprint in a day.
(DIR) Post #9i6o1qiGk6EZ7xhb96 by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:22:13Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
We need to avoid falling into the trap of someone-else's-problem environmentalism. We cannot have the attitude that we're doing our part and everything else is someone else's problem. It doesn't work like that. It can't.By all means, consider the environmental impact of your actions. I'd encourage anyone to do so. But also remember the bigger picture. It's not just about you. It's about all of us, everywhere.🌍
(DIR) Post #9i6o1rDSs7BggiIVlo by boisdevache@guineapig.party
2019-04-22T19:27:32Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan I feel like there's an undercurrent of "it doesn't matter what I do, superglobalmegacorp is millions times worse anyway" too
(DIR) Post #9i6o1rgt6iiu9y40dE by InvaderXan@sunbeam.city
2019-04-22T19:29:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@boisdevache Yes, and I don't like that either. One one hand, yes, there are a handful of private companies who are doing massive damage. On the other hand, I've actually seem some people use this as justification to effectively do nothing. 😕
(DIR) Post #9i6o1satkTWgxgGjw0 by Torie@todon.nl
2019-04-22T19:31:58Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @boisdevache aghhhhhh this is my biggest pet peeve like someone will be like “the mega corporations are doing all the damage” and I’m like “ok so we need to vote with our dollars for better products and also simultaneously collectively rise up against the system that allowed them to do that. You know. As a group of individuals” and they’re like “when has organizing ever actually helped” and it’s like.
(DIR) Post #9i6o3JckjmtN5CoygK by Torie@todon.nl
2019-04-22T19:32:40Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXan @boisdevache aghhhhhh this is my biggest pet peeve like someone will be like “the mega corporations are doing all the damage” and I’m like “ok so we need to vote with our dollars for better products and also simultaneously collectively rise up against the system that allowed them to do that. You know. As a group of individuals” and they’re like “when has organizing ever actually helped” and it’s like. I don’t know Frank how about in EVERY MOVEMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME
(DIR) Post #9i6o45shJoAQkYeOCO by anne@beach.city
2019-04-22T19:35:56Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@InvaderXanI kind of like the idea of using renewables to manufacture hydrocarbons, but that doesn't solve their local-pollution issues. It's also challenging because carbon dioxide is quite a small fraction of the atmosphere so it takes some work to extract it. There have been proposals to use ammonia as a fuel, since getting nitrogen is easy, but there are some technical issues (and the local-pollution thing).@maloki
(DIR) Post #9i6uuUiCqJV0Xp73VQ by hushroom@social.sunshinegardens.org
2019-04-23T20:22:25.971824Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@xj9 i consider 2 categories - #1 stationary use, as microscale combined heat and power utilities#2 transportation, where the entire reactor is mobile. gasifiers can run most internal combustion engines with minimal modification. for #1, https://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/old/3022.pdf or search for FEMA gasifiers which is well known but not really optimalfor #2 there is no greater resource i've found than the Drive on Wood forums.