tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293701352024-03-14T09:08:23.461+00:00Sustainable Energy author Ireland (SEAI)A general personal and critical look at Sustainable Energy. More recently a focus on the Economic Crisis in terms of Individual and Community Sustainability.Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.comBlogger913125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-73844966179296273172018-06-10T23:44:00.001+01:002018-06-10T23:44:38.344+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqL6_JcKpc8/Wx2pvCUpAnI/AAAAAAAAEn0/6jIN9C9-WFo73Tw_hAR_Ch1dNgWUp8uYwCLcBGAs/s1600/Wind%2BTurbine%2Berection.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1134" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqL6_JcKpc8/Wx2pvCUpAnI/AAAAAAAAEn0/6jIN9C9-WFo73Tw_hAR_Ch1dNgWUp8uYwCLcBGAs/s400/Wind%2BTurbine%2Berection.JPG" width="282" /></a></div>
<br />Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-91397233356366190842016-05-03T17:08:00.001+01:002016-05-03T17:08:31.253+01:00Price of Cigarettes<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Price of Cigarettes</span></span></b></span></div>
<br />
Australia is to increase the price of the fags by 12.5% each year from 2017 to 2020. By 2020 the packet will cost AUD$45 or over €30 a packet. The given word is that this move is a health issue, and of course it is, but I would guess that the other main aim is the increase in tax revenue.<br />
<br />
I'm thinking that the Irish government, if we will actually see a government formed any time soon, could take a leaf from the Australian parliament. The revenue could go towards a lot of badly needed services like health and education, along with a bit of post recession relief for low earners, even pay some of the Irish Water losses!<br />
<br />
The cost to the nation of smoking is massive. The cost to individuals is even greater in terms of suffering. Did you know that:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aE0XpBhw7yk/VyjBtrBLPUI/AAAAAAAAEjE/UieLoxAW4zg8ozN5RyOHx0k49MhY_E6VwCLcB/s1600/Mouth%2BCancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aE0XpBhw7yk/VyjBtrBLPUI/AAAAAAAAEjE/UieLoxAW4zg8ozN5RyOHx0k49MhY_E6VwCLcB/s400/Mouth%2BCancer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">OVER 80% of lung cancers caused by smoking.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">OVER 65% of mouth & throat cancers caused by smoking.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span> </div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-60438550739957738832016-04-19T00:26:00.000+01:002016-04-19T15:04:43.334+01:00Celtic Tiger Devours Children<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Celtic Tiger is Returning</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-axxBbgw6A8s/VxYw6sB8FNI/AAAAAAAAEi0/uj6cPlDw-qcalTZIGWWFrOiPeQLBpF9ZgCLcB/s1600/tiger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-axxBbgw6A8s/VxYw6sB8FNI/AAAAAAAAEi0/uj6cPlDw-qcalTZIGWWFrOiPeQLBpF9ZgCLcB/s400/tiger3.jpg" width="357" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Returning Celtic Tiger Devours Irish Children</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
The IMF International Monetary Fund has issued a recent statement saying it expects the Irish economy to grow by no less than 5% this year. That figure, if it is realised, is more than three times 3X the expected EU average.<br />
<br />
At the same time that this “rising tide” is in the process of bringing back the Celtic Tiger, we have been given a glimpse of a very dark underside of the Irish economy. A place where nearly one third 33% of all Irish children are now living in deprived households. <br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>UNICEF Report on Ireland. </b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
This upsetting figure comes from a new UNICEF report in which that organization states that children are now the most neglected demographic in Irish society.<br />
<br />
Another black hole in the Irish economy is revealed in studies which indicate that while Ireland as a whole is doing very well financially on the world stage, it concurrently has the fourth worst income inequality figure in the EU, with an income gap of over 76%.<br />
<br />
The Irish income gap appears to look a lot better when Social Welfare payout figures are applied. The Social Welfare payments narrow the income gap to a little over 41%.<br />
<br />
The UNICEF report clearly says that this income gap is unsustainable and leaves many families "living on the edge".<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>The
Definition of a Deprived Household.</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The EU has deemed households as deprived if they are unable to afford at least three items from a list of essentials. The main items on this list are housing, heating, utility bills and a protein meal every other day. Other designated essentials include; the ability to face unexpected expenses, a yearly holiday of some sort, a telephone, a television, a washing machine, and in some cases a car.<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>UNICEF Statement on Ireland. </b></div>
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</div>
UNICEF Ireland, in a statement released by Peter Power, Executive Director said: "100 years ago this month, the Proclamation proclaimed to cherish all Irish children equally. This report demonstrates that as a demographic group Irish children are falling behind other sections of society."<br />
<br />
"The message is stark: as inequality increases, wealthy nations of the world are failing their most vulnerable children. " "Those with the least ability to narrow the gaps are being allowed to fall furthest behind."<br />
<br />
UNICEF has urged the incoming government to act on the findings of the report.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Constitution
of Ireland </b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>a reminder of some of its provisions.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Equality
before the law:
</b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Under Article 40.1. The equality of all citizens before the law is guaranteed.<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Family
and home life:
</b></div>
<br />Under Article 41.1 the state promises to "protect the Family", and recognises the family as having "inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law". <br /><br />Under Article 41.2 the state is required to ensure that "economic necessity" does not oblige a mother "to engage in labour to the neglect of [her] duties in the home". <div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Education:
</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Article 42 guarantees parents the right to determine where their children shall be educated (including at home), provided a minimum standard is met. Under the same article the state must provide for free primary level education. Currently Irish law also guarantees free second and third level education.<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Social and Economic Policy. </b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Article 45 outlines a number of broad principles of social and economic policy. <br />The principles require, in summary, that:<br /><br />(a) "justice and charity" must "inform all the institutions of the national life".<br />(b) Everyone has the right to an adequate occupation.<br />(c) The free market and private property must be regulated in the interests of the common good.<br />(d) The state must prevent a destructive concentration of essential commodities in the hands of a few.<br />(e) The state must supplement private industry where necessary.<br />(f) The state should ensure efficiency in private industry and protect the public against economic exploitation.<br />(g) The state must protect the vulnerable, such as orphans and the aged.<br />(h) No one may be forced into an occupation unsuited to their age, sex or strength.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: white;">. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-30065458047608512362016-03-06T22:37:00.000+00:002016-03-06T22:37:00.950+00:00World Stability in Jeopardy <span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial","helvetica",sans-serif;"><span><b><span style="font-family: "arial","helvetica",sans-serif;">T</span>he World</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">in </span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jeopardy</span></span> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not climate change, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>war, terrorists or asteroid strikes</span></i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Imbalance and Greed are the threats</span></i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am re-publishing this post because I am really concerned about the possible consequences of a dangerous imbalance in the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of my recurring
nightmares is that the world was returning to Medieval Feudalism with all
the horrors, disease, and ignorance associated with that time returning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pZCsqcjVcw/Vp7SX8EJ35I/AAAAAAAAEgw/GWkkUHiX-mk/s1600/Poor%2BMiddle%2BAges.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pZCsqcjVcw/Vp7SX8EJ35I/AAAAAAAAEgw/GWkkUHiX-mk/s400/Poor%2BMiddle%2BAges.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
A time when all the power and almost all the wealth was in the control
of a handful of emperors, kings, and war-lords, and church leaders. A
time of plagues, a time of migrations, a time of famines, a time of wars
and uprisings. It's happening again now, a return to a form of Medieval
Feudalism - just substitute the super rich, the mega businesses, the
financial manipulators, the big stock market players, for Emperors,
Kings, and War-Lords.<br />
<br />
Here is what I wrote then:</div>
<a href="http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/02/reset-your-calander-2015-to-1015.html">http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/02/reset-your-calander-2015-to-1015.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oxfam have just released </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a New Report </span></span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i></span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">62 <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of the richest p</span>eople - just a Bus full</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Own as much as 3,600,000,000 of the poorest</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">1% of people own 99% of everything </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Disaster is happening</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmvvSHCQHho/VpzXKUe-RXI/AAAAAAAAEgI/uObeQZ5Re4Q/s1600/Gandhi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmvvSHCQHho/VpzXKUe-RXI/AAAAAAAAEgI/uObeQZ5Re4Q/s320/Gandhi.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mahatma Gandhi</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Poverty is the worst form of violence"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Mahatma Gandhi</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Squirrels </span></b><br />
<br />
If Mother Nature went seriously awry and some few squirrels were able to
take and hide away some tens of thousands of times their normal share
of nuts, what do you think might be the outcome?<br />
<br />
Thankfully this is not happening in the woods and forests of the world,
but it is happening in the human world. The latest reports clearly show
that the rich are getting very much richer 44% in 5 years, while the
rest of society is getting poorer. What do you think might be the
outcome?<br />
<br />
<br />
Those who take and hide away more than their fair share, are depriving
others. Those who take vastly more than their fair share are committing
violence against the greater part of the peoples of earth.<br />
<br />
My fear is that the deprived, the starving, the under-privileged will rise up and chaos will ensure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWaCmCcXDcI/VpzXPsfIrmI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/dluwsDA8G3k/s1600/Fredrick%2BDouglass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWaCmCcXDcI/VpzXPsfIrmI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/dluwsDA8G3k/s320/Fredrick%2BDouglass.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Frederick Douglass</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced ... </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>neither persons nor property will be safe"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Frederick Douglass</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Oxfam Report outlines the GROWING Imbalance.</b><br />
<br />
Growing inequality means that the world's wealthiest 62 people, as many
people as would fit on a tour bus, own as much as the poorest half of
the entire world population - some 3.6 billion people - according to a
new report from Oxfam.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGo5LxYtlC4/Vp-t0GsKa9I/AAAAAAAAEhA/DR71zkVksyo/s1600/1%2525%2BRich%2B99%2525%2BPoor%2Bgraph%2Bshell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGo5LxYtlC4/Vp-t0GsKa9I/AAAAAAAAEhA/DR71zkVksyo/s640/1%2525%2BRich%2B99%2525%2BPoor%2Bgraph%2Bshell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't you think the shape of the graph of growing inequality is remarkably like a missile? </span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
It amazes me just how symmetrical both sides of the above graph actually
are. It worries and sickens me that the richest 1% of people - which is
around 73 million of the world's 7.3 billion people - now own as much
as everyone else put together. That is 1% of people own 99% of
everything. Too much water behind a dam - and the dam will burst.<br />
<br />
This is in a report published ahead of the annual World Economic Forum
of global political and business leaders in Swiss ski resort of Davos.<br />
<br />
The latest Oxfam report indicates that <i><b>world-wide imbalance, unfairness, and inequality has reached levels not seen in over 100 years..</b></i><br />
<br />
Oxfam has calculated that the richest 62 individuals had the same
wealth as 3.5 billion people, or the bottom half of humanity.<br />
<br />
The wealth of those 62 people has risen <b>44 percent</b>, or more than half a trillion dollars, over the past<b> five years</b>, while the wealth of the bottom half has fallen by over a trillion.<br />
<br />
<b>The Toxic Trend</b><br />
<br />
The saying that "a rising tide lifts all boats" could not be further
from the truth in this case. Wealth is being sucked upward at an
alarming rate, leaving a massive vacuum at the lower end. Of the
generation of wealth in our present day world the Oxfam report says the
following: <b><i>"Far from trickling down, income and wealth are instead being sucked upwards at an alarming rate"</i></b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmBWRZSnhJo/Vp_oOOHORZI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/vySdDA-LtX0/s1600/spider%2Bin%2Bweb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmBWRZSnhJo/Vp_oOOHORZI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/vySdDA-LtX0/s400/spider%2Bin%2Bweb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It points to a "global spider's web" of tax havens that ensures wealth
stays out of reach of ordinary citizens and governments, a recent
estimate puts the figure at $7.6 trillion in private individual wealth
held in offshore accounts. The figure is greater than
the combined economies of the United Kingdom and Germany.<br />
<br />
<b>Some Other Commentators on the Dangers of Inequality </b><br />
<br />
Jyrki
Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, which represents
50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining,energy and
manufacturing sectors.<b><i> "Inequality is one of the biggest threats to
economic well-being and it needs to be addressed."</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
Edelman's annual published it's "Trust Barometer" which shows that in
2015 there was a record gap in trust between the informed publics and
mass populations. This exists in many countries, and <i><b>is driven by income inequality and divergent expectations of the future</b></i>. The gap is the largest in the United States, followed by the UK, France and India.<br />
<br />
In the last year, trust has declined for three of the four institutions
measured. NGOs continue to be the most trusted institution, but trust in
NGOs declined from 66 to 63 percent. In 66% of countries surveyed there
is not trust in the media. Governments are not trusted in 19 of 27
markets surveyed. <br />
And trust in business is below 50 percent in half of those markets.<br />
<br />
<br />
In December of 2014 the New York City's police commissioner has reminded
us of the roots of crime, and recent acts of civil unrest.<b><i>"This
is about the continuing poverty rates, the continuing growing disparity
between the wealthy and the poor. It's still about unemployment issues"</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
I'm depressed and worried.Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-87087934798229497982016-02-21T17:28:00.001+00:002016-02-25T22:47:29.502+00:00Oil - Smokeless Coals - Reviewing the Situation<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Oil or Coal?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>and a further look at </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Formed Smokeless Coals</b></span></div>
<br />
Coal is not the best heating value just now, simply because the bottom has fallen out of oil prices, and this makes oil the cheapest heating method for a short space of time.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oil Best heating Value Just Now.</b></span><br />
<br />
Those with oil fired heating should top up their tanks now - that is if you have the cash, as the low price will not last too much longer. At the current price oil a a very good deal for home heating. I filled my tank for the 1st time in almost 5 years. The price was €477 for a 1000 liters, that's about half of what it cost at the highest point.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back to Coal.</b></span><br />
<br />
For those who do not have oil heating, and cannot afford any fancy geothermal heating etc. and especially for those who have to rely on solid fuel, coal is the next best on the value scale.<br />
<br />
As regular readers will know, I have long been a fan of Calco Mix, a blend of petro-coke and lignite, along with some other types of coal. Two of my fairly recent deliveries of Calco came with some FREE extras - in the form of rocks, stones and pieces of concrete. I was not the only one who got these free extras. My most recent delivery of Calco was a big improvement but not totally free of stones and other bits.<br />
<br />
The Calco with stones mix, with the dangers of exploding stones - put me to looking at the formed coals more closely and my supplier suggested Hi-Glo. In December I did a short review of Hi-Glo, that is the one on the right in the photo below.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRM3z_u_Dl4/VsjRTmnOk9I/AAAAAAAAEh0/sax_PqoUyjE/s1600/CosyGlo%2BEcoBrite%2BHiGlo%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRM3z_u_Dl4/VsjRTmnOk9I/AAAAAAAAEh0/sax_PqoUyjE/s640/CosyGlo%2BEcoBrite%2BHiGlo%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Left Cozy-Glo by Bord na Mona - Eco-Brite center - and far right Hi-Glo</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hi-Glo Smokeless Formed Coal.</b></span><br />
<br />
I have used over 10 by 40kg bags of Hi-Glo coal to date, here are my further observation about this fuel.<br />
<br />
The fuel is very smelly when burned. It is fair to say it stinks. You can smell this coal a kilometer away from the house. Once you get to know the smell, you can tell who is using it, and where it is being used. Hopefully the manufacturers can do something with formula to reduce the pong in time.<br />
<br />
The coal does not leave cinders as such, just the odd bit of un-burnt coal and a fairly fine ash.<br />
<br />
The winning points of this fuel are:<br />
<br />
(1) the high heat output,<br />
(2) the clean burn - except for the smell, and<br />
(3) the best point is the long burn it gives. I have not had to relight my stove in over 2 weeks. The fuel can be made to stay glowing hot for up to 11 hours.<br />
<br />
If the smell could be improved, this would be a very fine quality coal indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-47226242208383785812016-02-17T21:26:00.001+00:002016-02-17T21:26:23.282+00:00General Election and State of Irish Politics<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What is the State of Ireland's Politics </b></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-156PCAE6i5Q/VsTib-tGqBI/AAAAAAAAEhk/-poz5DYC-9o/s1600/ss%2BIrish%2BPolitics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-156PCAE6i5Q/VsTib-tGqBI/AAAAAAAAEhk/-poz5DYC-9o/s640/ss%2BIrish%2BPolitics.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Painting by Shameus O'Conman</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With an general election coming up in literally days, and the spin machines fully oiled and rolling, I wonder where this election is going to take the Irish Nation.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A survey in the not too distant past indicated that politicians are one of the least trusted profession in Ireland. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I find it very strange and I wonder why the Irish public don't trust the very people
they themselves have elected as their representatives, and law makers?<br />
<br />
The trust figures for the profession of politician were just staggering. It would seem that a huge 88% of Irish people
said that they do not trust politicians. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would you take a job where 88% of those employing you did not trust you? </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The question on my mind is will the people vote again for those they do not trust?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-88671123113343141932016-02-12T23:43:00.002+00:002016-02-12T23:47:24.916+00:00My 1st ever post<br />Coming up on the 10th anniversary of this Blog I am re-posting my 1st ever article. I have corrected the spellings, I was blind to many mistakes back then!<br />
<br /> <br /> <u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Wood Pellet Heating Rip-Off in Ireland</span></b></span></u><br /> <br />
<br />
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-114963564041654490" itemprop="description articleBody">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5784/3126/1600/WoodPellets%20hand.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5784/3126/320/WoodPellets%20hand.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Rip-Off Ireland</span>
has become a common catch phrase in recent times. There is now a completely new type of Rip-Off going on which is based on the new
Government Grant Scheme set up to promote domestic renewable source
heating systems.<br />
<br />
There are generous government grants for Solar,
Geo-Thermal, and Bio-mass wood pellet heating systems. Full details are
available at www.sei.ie. This is an excellent site with lots of
information. There are grant application forms etc., and the site gives
details of approved units and approved installers.<br />
<br />
What the site
does not detail are some of the major price rip-offs going on in the
business. For instance; the cost to install a pellet central heating
boiler and commission it, price not including materials, the time
amounts to about a half days work, was quoted by one recommended
installer at €1000 inclusive of VAT. Materials for plumbing and flue
etc. are extra. Now that's price gouging at its worst, and it is just
plain sickening!! I have a great dislike of gougers, I consider it
nothing less than thievery.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Government "Greener Homes" Grant has spawned green eyed monsters!</span><br />
<br />
Some
of the more common makes of wood pellet central heating units being
sold in Ireland are the Opop and Dor Boilers with either Boink or Scotte
burner mechanisms fitted. The Boilers are made in the Czech Republic
and I will have the retail prices posted here soon. But be assured that
the Irish price is perhaps 50 - 100% more expensive. I will also publish
some retail prices for the burner units from the mainland European
Continent. Again you can be sure the Irish price is 50% to 100% more
expensive.<br />
<br />
The single biggest rip-off is in the installation and
commissioning prices being charged. Like €1000 one thousand Euro being
asked for a single boiler installation. I kid you not! €1000 for
installing ONE boiler. The installation and commissioning time amounts
to roughly a half days work this information by the admission of two separate installers. The seller-installers tend to charge a bit less for
installation - but then they have the sale profit don't they? </div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-114963564041654490" itemprop="description articleBody">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-114963564041654490" itemprop="description articleBody">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-114963564041654490" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="color: white;">. </span></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-18780372856997064452016-01-20T23:27:00.001+00:002016-01-22T12:31:45.906+00:00Impending World Disaster.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span>he World</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>is <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">H</span>eading for <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">D</span>isaster</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">I am not talking about climate change, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nuclear</span> war, or asteroid strikes.</span></i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Greed and Avarice, in this case, are the Weapons of Mass Destruction</span></i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Just short of one year ago I posted a piece that voiced one of my nightmares; that the world was returning to Medieval Feudalism with all the horrors, disease, and ignorance associated with that time returning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pZCsqcjVcw/Vp7SX8EJ35I/AAAAAAAAEgw/GWkkUHiX-mk/s1600/Poor%2BMiddle%2BAges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pZCsqcjVcw/Vp7SX8EJ35I/AAAAAAAAEgw/GWkkUHiX-mk/s400/Poor%2BMiddle%2BAges.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
A time when all the power and almost all the wealth was in the control of a handful of emperors, kings, and war-lords, and church leaders. A time of plagues, a time of migrations, a time of famines, a time of wars and uprisings. It's happening again now, a return to a form of Medieval Feudalism - just substitute the super rich, the mega businesses, the financial manipulators, the big stock market players, for Emperors, Kings, and War-Lords.<br />
<br />
Here is what I wrote then:</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_2146916946"></a>
<a href="http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/02/reset-your-calander-2015-to-1015.html">http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/02/reset-your-calander-2015-to-1015.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oxfam have just released </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a New Report </span></span></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">62 <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of the richest p</span>eople - just a Bus full</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Own as much as 3,600,000,000 of the poorest</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">1% of people own 99% of everything </span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Disaster is happening</span></i></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmvvSHCQHho/VpzXKUe-RXI/AAAAAAAAEgI/uObeQZ5Re4Q/s1600/Gandhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmvvSHCQHho/VpzXKUe-RXI/AAAAAAAAEgI/uObeQZ5Re4Q/s320/Gandhi.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mahatma Gandhi</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Poverty is the worst form of violence"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Mahatma Gandhi</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Squirrels </span></b><br />
<br />
If Mother Nature went seriously awry and some few squirrels were able to take and hide away some tens of thousands of times their normal share of nuts, what do you think might be the outcome?<br />
<br />
Thankfully this is not happening in the woods and forests of the world, but it is happening in the human world. The latest reports clearly show that the rich are getting very much richer 44% in 5 years, while the rest of society is getting poorer. What do you think might be the outcome?<br />
<br />
<br />
Those who take and hide away more than their fair share, are depriving others. Those who take vastly more than their fair share are committing violence against the greater part of the peoples of earth.<br />
<br />
My fear is that the deprived, the starving, the under-privileged will rise up and chaos will ensure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWaCmCcXDcI/VpzXPsfIrmI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/dluwsDA8G3k/s1600/Fredrick%2BDouglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWaCmCcXDcI/VpzXPsfIrmI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/dluwsDA8G3k/s320/Fredrick%2BDouglass.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frederick Douglass</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced ... </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>neither persons nor property will be safe"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Frederick Douglass</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Oxfam Report outlines the GROWING Imbalance.</b><br />
<br />
Growing inequality means that the world's wealthiest 62 people, as many people as would fit on a tour bus, own as much as the poorest half of the entire world population - some 3.6 billion people - according to a new report from Oxfam.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGo5LxYtlC4/Vp-t0GsKa9I/AAAAAAAAEhA/DR71zkVksyo/s1600/1%2525%2BRich%2B99%2525%2BPoor%2Bgraph%2Bshell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGo5LxYtlC4/Vp-t0GsKa9I/AAAAAAAAEhA/DR71zkVksyo/s640/1%2525%2BRich%2B99%2525%2BPoor%2Bgraph%2Bshell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't you think the shape of the graph of growing inequality is remarkably like a missile? </span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
It amazes me just how symmetrical both sides of the above graph actually are. It worries and sickens me that the richest 1% of people - which is around 73 million of the world's 7.3 billion people - now own as much as everyone else put together. That is 1% of people own 99% of everything. Too much water behind a dam - and the dam will burst.<br />
<br />
This is in a report published ahead of the annual World Economic Forum of global political and business leaders in Swiss ski resort of Davos.<br />
<br />
The latest Oxfam report indicates that <i><b>world-wide imbalance, unfairness, and inequality has reached levels not seen in over 100 years..</b></i><br />
<br />
Oxfam has calculated that the richest 62 individuals had the same
wealth as 3.5 billion people, or the bottom half of humanity.<br />
<br />
The wealth of those 62 people has risen <b>44 percent</b>, or more than half a trillion dollars, over the past<b> five years</b>, while the wealth of the bottom half has fallen by over a trillion.<br />
<br />
<b>The Toxic Trend</b><br />
<br />
The saying that "a rising tide lifts all boats" could not be further from the truth in this case. Wealth is being sucked upward at an alarming rate, leaving a massive vacuum at the lower end. Of the generation of wealth in our present day world the Oxfam report says the following: <b><i>"Far from trickling down, income and wealth are instead being sucked upwards at an alarming rate"</i></b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmBWRZSnhJo/Vp_oOOHORZI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/vySdDA-LtX0/s1600/spider%2Bin%2Bweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmBWRZSnhJo/Vp_oOOHORZI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/vySdDA-LtX0/s400/spider%2Bin%2Bweb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It points to a "global spider's web" of tax havens that ensures wealth stays out of reach of ordinary citizens and governments, a recent estimate puts the figure at $7.6 trillion in private individual wealth held in offshore accounts. The figure is greater than
the combined economies of the United Kingdom and Germany.<br />
<br />
<b>Some Other Commentators on the Dangers of Inequality </b><br />
<br />
Jyrki
Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, which represents
50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining,energy and
manufacturing sectors.<b><i> "Inequality is one of the biggest threats to
economic well-being and it needs to be addressed."</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
Edelman's annual published it's "Trust Barometer" which shows that in 2015 there was a record gap in trust between the informed publics and mass populations. This exists in many countries, and <i><b>is driven by income inequality and divergent expectations of the future</b></i>. The gap is the largest in the United States, followed by the UK, France and India.<br />
<br />
In the last year, trust has declined for three of the four institutions measured. NGOs continue to be the most trusted institution, but trust in NGOs declined from 66 to 63 percent. In 66% of countries surveyed there is not trust in the media. Governments are not trusted in 19 of 27 markets surveyed. <br />
And trust in business is below 50 percent in half of those markets.<br />
<br />
<br />
In December of 2014 the New York City's police commissioner has reminded us of the roots of crime, and recent acts of civil unrest.<b><i>"This is about the continuing poverty rates, the continuing growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor. It's still about unemployment issues"</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
I'm depressed and worried.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;"><b><i>. </i></b></span><br />
<br />Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-74382081344640076782016-01-13T13:21:00.000+00:002016-01-14T21:13:55.369+00:00Abel Pifre Solar Energy History.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Solar Energy History</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The French Connection 3</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I felt the need to find out more about </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>French engineering genius Abel Pifre</i><br />
<i>This post is my research </i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtF3dyq_rMg/VpQcVPENgaI/AAAAAAAAEfE/cKmvoJZH4X4/s1600/Solar%2BPrinting%2BPress%2BAbel%2BPifre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtF3dyq_rMg/VpQcVPENgaI/AAAAAAAAEfE/cKmvoJZH4X4/s400/Solar%2BPrinting%2BPress%2BAbel%2BPifre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A drawing of Abel Pifre demonstrating his Solar printing press in Paris</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I really wanted to know more about Abel Pifre</b></span><br />
<br />
I have had a keen interest in the history of solar energy for several years, and have written several posts on this blog tracing, as best I could, the far from clear lines of that history. Some of the most interesting and exciting episodes of solar history took place in France where Augustin Mouchot came up with the concept of a practical solar concentrator. Essentially a large parabolic mirror to focus the suns rays onto a target and extract the energy and drive machinery. The idea essentially was for a solar concentrator to produce steam to drive various machines. Realising the idea took the mechanical genius of his student and assistant Abel Pifre to actually bring it to
fruition.<br />
<br />
History has, for the most part, tended to place Abel Pifre in the
role of side-kick to Mouchot. I, on the other hand, tend to believe that if it were not for Pifre, the concept
would not have been demonstrated so effectively.<br />
<br />
Here is a link to the original referred piece: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2010/07/solar-energy-history-french-connection.html">http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2010/07/solar-energy-history-french-connection.html</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What I previously wrote. </b></span><br />
<i>Back in July of 2010 I wrote the following: </i><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Abel Pifre (1852-1928)</span>, Genius and showman.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">(I could find no photo or likeness of M. Pifre)</span><br />
<br />
Unfortunately
there is no photograph or likeness of, nor is there any great deal of
historical information to be had about Abel Pifre.<br />
<br />
He
was a French engineer who got his start in solar energy engineering by
working as an assistant / consultant with Augustin Mouchot the guy that
developed the first solar engine.<br />
<br />
Later on Abel Pifre
went on to build several improved solar engines of his own, including a
solar driven printing press, for which perhaps he is most remembered.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My recent research on Abel Pifre </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cl29ERhjr8/VpWBoreBbzI/AAAAAAAAEfc/JtN9lkhYHwc/s1600/Abel%2BPifre%2BCar%2BWorks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cl29ERhjr8/VpWBoreBbzI/AAAAAAAAEfc/JtN9lkhYHwc/s400/Abel%2BPifre%2BCar%2BWorks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Taken outside Pitre's Lyon workshop before the merger with Otis</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z84Wfw1G-lg/VpOe8XDiHmI/AAAAAAAAEeY/R-_3fnhjH64/s1600/Pifre%2BOtis%2Bworkshop%2BLeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z84Wfw1G-lg/VpOe8XDiHmI/AAAAAAAAEeY/R-_3fnhjH64/s400/Pifre%2BOtis%2Bworkshop%2BLeon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pifre merged with Otis new name on workshop in Lyon</span></span></b></div>
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I have been doing a lot of digging and searching and have come up with a few insights into the genius of Abel Pifre. What follows is a condensed version of what I have gathered. There are some questions about the quality and veracity of the data, and especially regarding a photograph taken in front of Abel Pifre's engineering works in Lyon. I am hoping, perhaps naively, that perhaps one of the gentlemen in the photo may be Pifre himself. If anyone has information on this, or any other point, I should be most grateful to have an update.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Man.</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eB9K6h0rBVY/VpWBK_XdCZI/AAAAAAAAEfU/qUgG2cfXuww/s1600/Pifre%2Bcar%2Bworkshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eB9K6h0rBVY/VpWBK_XdCZI/AAAAAAAAEfU/qUgG2cfXuww/s400/Pifre%2Bcar%2Bworkshop.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Could the man on the left possible be Abel Pifre?</span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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Marc Abel Pifre was born April 24, 1852 in Segonzac Charente. He died 24th March 1928 in Paris at his home at 54, rue de Monceau in the 8th Arrondissemen. He was 76 years of age.<br />
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On the 13th of April 1882 there was a marriage contract; between Marc Abel Pifre, civil engineer of Arts and Manufactures, residing 30, rue d'Assas, and Marie Tavernier, without profession, residing 30, rue d'Assas . Wedding at the town hall of the 6th arrondissement of Paris.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUQ18glzKhY/VpZKqdcHt3I/AAAAAAAAEfs/XzHWlcgsDvk/s1600/Pifre%2BSolar%2Bconcentrator%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUQ18glzKhY/VpZKqdcHt3I/AAAAAAAAEfs/XzHWlcgsDvk/s400/Pifre%2BSolar%2Bconcentrator%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>A replica of Abel Pifre's solar steam generator.</b></span></span> </div>
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Abel Pifre was a true hands-on leading inventor and engineer. While he is generally remembered for his solar energy work with Augustin Mouchot, he has many other achievements and credits including. Officer of the Legion of Honour (D. August 12, 1923, OJ August 16, 1923, p. 8155).General Albert Adviser (1919-1925). Aveluy mayor (1908-1919) ( Aveluy is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France). <br />
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Then mayor of Albert. Engineer of Arts and Manufactures. Industrial Albert (director of Otis-Pifre facilities (lifts)). Founder of Le Réveil of the Somme. <br />
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And the bit commonly known about him; his association with Augustin Mouchot the mathematician who worked on solar energy, but it was Abel Pifre who brought the idea into reality. Later, he developed Mouchot's idea far past the initial point, to where he demonstrated the first printing press using solar energy.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pifre's Patents. </b></span></div>
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Documents dated 11th to the 27th of August 1901, indicate that Abel Pifre transferred some 29 patents to the new merged company. The new company had already received patents relevant to the construction of elevators, hoists and electric motors (D. 26 Feb. 1902 proclaiming 87 assignments of patents, 47th to 65th, Bull. Acts 1901, No. 2449, Text No. 43116, p. 1477).<br /><br /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pifre's Workshops.</b></span></div>
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It would seem that Abel Pifre had several workshops on the go in various places and at different times. I am unable to figure the sequence. Here is a brief list of some workshops.<br />
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AteliersAlbert (Somme) for the manufacture of equipment and material for
sugar mills, oil mills and distilleries, but also for cement plants.
Director in 1899: Théophile Colinot. Workshops destroyed during the
war.</div>
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Aterlers Abel Pifre, later Ateleirs Otis Pifre in Lyon, at 28 bis, rue Dumoulin - now street of Father Chevrier 7th Arr.</div>
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Ateliers Bezons (Seine-et-Oise - Val-d'Oise today -), at 2, quai de Seine,
workshops created after the destruction of workshops Albert.During the great war, workshops Bezons were employed in the manufacture of
shells:</div>
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Ateliers Otis-Pifre built for the Navy including pumps, cranes,
electric folding cranes, intended for battleships Danton, Mirabeau
and Vergniaud, as well as up-munitions, which were equipped with the
first two buildings.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Disappearing name of Abel Pifre.</b></span></div>
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It would seem that Pifre's name was deleted leaving only the Otis name. I wonder how much Otis owes to Pifre in terms of invention and development? I also wonder why Pifre's name was quickly lost when it comes to the development of lifts.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Was Abel Pifre Shafted by a Lift Company? </b></span><br />
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Some old postcards show workshops in Lyon where Abel Pifre's name has disappeared from
the facade. Otis remains the great name in elevators but I suspect Pifre was much of the genius in the early development of aspects of elevator technology. I also have a nasty feeling that Abel Pifre was to some extent shafted by the elevator company, if you will pardon the pun, but I could be very wrong in that feeling and stand to be corrected.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMvsOVLWvCQ/VpZMk8tS98I/AAAAAAAAEf4/SG6AgyW58vQ/s1600/Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMvsOVLWvCQ/VpZMk8tS98I/AAAAAAAAEf4/SG6AgyW58vQ/s400/Map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rue Dumoulin in Lyon is where were the Otis-Pifre workshops once existed. The street is now called Rue Pere Chevrier. The old workshops have long gone. One can locate the site which was on the corner of
the Rue Anvers.<br />
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<a href="https://www.google.ie/maps/@45.7496174,4.8425194,3a,75y,19.28h,89.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWkaD1oZD2ygn7dHtus5CHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en">https://www.google.ie/maps/@45.7496174,4.8425194,3a,75y,19.28h,89.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWkaD1oZD2ygn7dHtus5CHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en</a><br />
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You can go to Google Maps and visit the corner. which gives us a 3D look at the street junction.<br />
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This post contains as much as I have been able to find on Abel. If you are able to add to this information about Abel Pifre, I would be very happy to hear from you.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span></span></b></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-54950326536112326712015-12-19T20:45:00.003+00:002016-01-05T12:44:11.179+00:00Recession Statistics Ireland<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Lest We Forget</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="st"><span class="f"> </span>As it would appear,</span> Ireland <span class="st">looks to be on a steady pathway out of the</span> recession<span class="st"> - better IMHO termed the DEPRESSION, for what transpired over the last 8 years amounts to a DISASTER of enormous proportions.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"><b>500 Deaths </b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">One single statistic alone serves to give us a clear impression of the enormity of the disaster. It has been estimated that there were 500 extra suicides as a result of the Recession / Depression. Those who helped cause the recession / depression have 500 deaths on their conscience.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"><b>Irish Youth Dispora </b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">Add to that the 1000's of our youth and our finest minds who have fled the country in search of a better life, and who will not be in a hurry to return. Recent estimates put the figure at almost 10% of our youth had left the country. Then there are the many thousands of damaged families, the lost homes, the lost life-savings etc. etc. </span><br />
<b><span class="st"><br /></span></b>
<span class="st"><b>Greed</b></span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Greed was the essential cause of the calamity. Along with a very imbalanced society. The gap between the rich and the poor is WAY WAY WAY too wide in Ireland. There is an elite in Ireland who are completely out of touch the what happened. The top elite actually benefited financially by as much as 7% during the recession, while others lost everything including in some cases their lives. Members of the Irish Parliament can be numbered among the elite, I say this based on their large disproportionate and self-appointed salaries and huge expenses. Many failed to apprehend the level of suffering that the people endured due to their financially insulated positions. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">The Irish Prime Minister draws €183,350 p.a. PLUS €296,000 in expenses. An ordinary member of the Irish parliament, who only attends the house for very short numbers of hours in a year, draws €87,000 p.a. PLUS average expenses of around €25,000 p.a. and some have claimed twice that amount - that salary exceeds what the Spanish Prime Minister is paid. Not-imbalanced? Small country - in deep recession - 500 extra suicides provoked by the hardships - can pay that sort of money to it's politicians - BALANCED compared to other countries - compared to the work involved - compared to those on minimum wage?</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"><b>Faulty Political System and Gross Imbalances </b></span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Are we out of the depression? Perhaps we are seeing clear skies again after the deluge, but what worries me is too many of the imbalances still remain, and our politics are fundamentally faulty and incapable of delivering any real changes.</span><br />
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<span class="st"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="st"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>LEST WE FORGET</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="st">Compiled October 2012</span></span></div>
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STRESS and DEPRESSION IN IRISH CHILDREN up in 2 years by 30%<br />
<br />
ALCOHOL and SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN IRELAND up by 42%<br />
(increased 42% in 5 years 2005 to 2010)<br />
<br />
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE up from 2010 to 2011 by 15%<br />
(11,000 women and children sought refuge in 2011 according to SAFE organisation).<br />
<br />
UNEMPLOYMENT has increased by 352%<br />
( from 4.2% in 2007 to 14.8% by October 2012)<br />
<br />
UNEMPLOYMENT among 15 to 24y group nationally stands at 39%<br />
<br />
UNEMPLOYMENT in the 15 to 25y group in some areas is at 74%<br />
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HOUSE BUILDING homes built 8,488 has dropped over 90% since 2006 at 93,000, and is 20% down in one year.<br />
<br />
BUSINESS INSOLVENCIES Up 13.30% from 2010.<br />
(1,684 companies failed in 2012 alone)<br />
<br />
FUEL POVERTY, (the decision to Eat or Heat) estimated to affect 40% of citizens<br />
<br />
FOOD POVERTY in 2010 was estimated to be at 10%<br />
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FOOD PRICES have risen by an average of 12% in the last two years.<br />
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HOMELESSNESS up by as much as 45% in Dublin.<br />
(from 70 in 2010 to a current estimate of as much as 101)<br />
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RETAIL SALES are down by 5.50%<br />
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SUICIDES are up in 2011 from 2010 by 7%<br />
<br />
TRUST in the Irish Government in a recent survey fell to a mere 20%<br />
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DISSATISFACTION WITH GOVERNMENT stands at 73%<br />
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POLITICIANS are the 2nd least trusted profession in Ireland.<br />
(Only 14% of Irish people trust politicians - I wonder why? How about 26 TDs, members of the Irish Parliament, each claimed €5,000 expenses for August - when there are no sittings of the House)<br />
<br />
DISPOSABLE INCOME SURVEY: 1.60 million Irish have €50 or less left each month after paying for essentials. In other words, roughly 36% of the Irish population have disposable income of €600 or less per year.<br />
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DISPOSABLE INCOME in lower income groups effectively down by nearly 19%<br />
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By contrast the imbalance in incomes:<br />
<br />
INCOME FOR TOP IRISH EARNERS is up on average by over 4%<br />
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DUBLIN CITY MANAGER salary €190,000<br />
<br />
COUNTY MANAGERS salary €153,260<br />
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Compare salaries:<br />
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SPANISH PRIME MINISTER'S salary €78,185<br />
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Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-33983009744918680112015-12-16T17:40:00.000+00:002015-12-19T18:45:15.112+00:00Ireland's Energy Future & National Security<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Irish Energy Minister introduces </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"White Paper"</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">which outlines Energy Future</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A moment of quiet <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">reflection</span>? Energy Minister Alex White</span></b></span></div>
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While introducing a Government paper outlining Ireland's energy future, Minister for
Communications and Energy Alex White said: <i><b> </b></i><br />
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<i><b>“Customers will have to pay more in their energy bills as Ireland
moves away from fossil fuels in the coming years”.</b></i></div>
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According
to the "White Paper" on Energy published today, Ireland will be using no fossil
fuels by the end of the century. <i>(I would imagine that plan might be helped by the fact that most of the fossil fuels will be used up by then).</i></div>
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The
Irish "White Paper"outlines aspirations for long-term energy goals and proposed strategies for Ireland. Mr
White also said in his statement that Ireland was still dependent on
fossil fuels to the extent of 92 per cent.
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The
paper proposed over 90 lines of action. Among the big and bold
proposals there are references to “improved domestic grant schemes and
financing options for energy efficiency upgrades” and “a new
support scheme for the development of renewable energy technologies”.<br />
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My focus and concern is with the impact these Clean - Green - and Carbon Reducing Policies will take on the less well off.<br />
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Simply adding taxes to dissuade the use of coal etc. is only going to add to fuel poverty in Ireland, and will ultimately fail as people will find ways to get cheap fuel. </div>
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<b>What about 0% Disposable Income Families and Energy Costs?</b><br />
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I sincerely hope that the discussion and planning fully considers how carbon taxes and energy costs impinge on the less well off. "You cannot get blood from a turnip" and low income families cannot just go out and buy expensive heating systems - taking advantage of grants etc. There needs to be a LOW-TECH and LOW-COST strategy applied in addition to the high flying ones.<br />
<br />
I hope also that any grant schemes would consider the real carbon value of the investment. The huge State grants schemes, of recent years, given for geothermal heating systems and wood-pellet systems, I am fairly sure, did not factor-in the carbon costs in terms of the heavy reliance on non-green electricity, or indeed failed to properly calculate the carbon costs of the machinery itself and its regular servicing and replacement.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would the Minister consider the following? </b></span><br />
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<b>1. A Scheme to eliminate all open fires and replace them with Stoves?</b><br />
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I hope that low-tech and low-cost green solutions might come into the focus for the planners. Solutions like encouraging the installation of simple and very inexpensive stoves to replace open fires would be one very important investment which would offer HUGE long-term pay back, and very low maintenance costs.<br />
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Advantages would include:<br />
<br />
(a) A large reduction in fuel usage for home heating.<br />
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(b) A reduction in heat loss caused by the excessive airflow of an open chimney. <br />
<br />
(c) An additional financial and social advantage of such a scheme is that it would <u>substantially</u> reduce fires and fire related accidents in the home, saving lives, suffering and money. <br />
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<b>2. A Massive up-scaling of timber production in Ireland? </b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhs_Wbg_ACk/VnGhr8l3ntI/AAAAAAAAEcw/tqOKVa2t1N4/s1600/forrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhs_Wbg_ACk/VnGhr8l3ntI/AAAAAAAAEcw/tqOKVa2t1N4/s640/forrest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another long-term and perhaps initially costly investment would be in a massive up-scaling of forestry in fast growing timber to feed a wood-based solid fuel industry to replace coal in domestic heating. We are talking National Security here, so costs should reflect the importance.<br />
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Sally tree plantations would provide quality wood suitable for bio-mass use in a very short space of time and can be cropped repeatedly for several years before replanting is necessary.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dvrJx1OL1EE/VnG9RI4E5BI/AAAAAAAAEdA/swtY8gjb0jk/s1600/Coal%2BImports%2Bto%2BIreland%2BGraph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dvrJx1OL1EE/VnG9RI4E5BI/AAAAAAAAEdA/swtY8gjb0jk/s640/Coal%2BImports%2Bto%2BIreland%2BGraph.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In 2012 Ireland imported 2.4 Million Short Tonnes of coal. If we assume, (I do not have actual delivered price per tonne), a cost per tonne including shipping and transport of say just €100 - that would give us a figure of roughly €240 Million Euro leaving the country every year for coal.<br />
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Additional benefits from a 3x expansion of current managed forest acreage would include:<br />
<br />
(1) an increase in wild life, pollinating insects etc.,<br />
(2) additional oxygen creation,<br />
(3) the re-building and stabilization of eroded soils,<br />
(4) planned forests can add to amenity areas for the public, and <br />
(5) provide many more jobs in that industry.<br />
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<b>3. Investment in Super-Hard Fused Wood Briquette Production. </b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDA4UyhMmQI/VnGd5HwgL0I/AAAAAAAAEck/btDYM9g-BvQ/s1600/Hermanson%2Bbriquette%2Blogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDA4UyhMmQI/VnGd5HwgL0I/AAAAAAAAEck/btDYM9g-BvQ/s320/Hermanson%2Bbriquette%2Blogs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The proposed type of wood briquette / log differs widely from the types generally available in Ireland at the present time. There are currently 3 types being sold. Non of which are good substitutes for coal products in stoves etc.<br />
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Below are 3 less satisfactory types of wood briquette. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnSoAiPpP9A/VnPTP3CXl-I/AAAAAAAAEdQ/zT5UD64ZuPU/s1600/Wood%2BBriquette%2BHammer%2Bmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnSoAiPpP9A/VnPTP3CXl-I/AAAAAAAAEdQ/zT5UD64ZuPU/s320/Wood%2BBriquette%2BHammer%2Bmill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9MyNrPIXoQ/VnPTPzgl8NI/AAAAAAAAEdY/vZwaSs2MObc/s1600/Wood%2BBriquette%2BSawdust%2Bblock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9MyNrPIXoQ/VnPTPzgl8NI/AAAAAAAAEdY/vZwaSs2MObc/s320/Wood%2BBriquette%2BSawdust%2Bblock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGYhyM-9_KU/VnPTPzVfkWI/AAAAAAAAEdU/RpB3thTD-GU/s1600/Wood%2BBriquette%2BScrew%2Bextruded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGYhyM-9_KU/VnPTPzVfkWI/AAAAAAAAEdU/RpB3thTD-GU/s320/Wood%2BBriquette%2BScrew%2Bextruded.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The top two, of the above 3 photos, show briquettes, which are essentially compressed sawdust are the least desirable, as they expand up to twice their size in the fire.<br />
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Expansion of fuel in a stove etc. can present Carbon Monoxide poisoning danger by restricting the flue. The burn pattern is also quite poor. They tend to fall apart in the fire.<br />
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The bottom photo shows a slightly better type of wood briquette. This type is screw extrusion type and tends to hold its shape better. However, it burns much to quickly and is therefore not a good substitute for coal. While this type burns well, it is incapable of giving long duration burn and long duration of burn overnight is exactly what is needed when a stove is the primary source of heat in the home.<br />
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The proposal:<br />
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Along with massively developing timber production, the Minister might also consider investment in a wood-fuel production industry to produce primarily super-hard fused wood logs / briquettes, but also wood pellets. This type of briquette / log is not currently available in Ireland, as far as I am aware, let alone produced here.<br />
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Contrary to general belief, this type of fused wood briquette can 100% successfully be produced from most soft woods, and from waste wood or sawdust. </div>
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Fused wood briquettes are capable of fully replacing coal as a fuel for stoves and ranges.<br />
<br />
Advantages in using this fuel include: <br />
(1) It forms 'coals' in the burning process and therefore can burn for up to 10 hours,<br />
(2) It releases heat in a pattern not too unlike coal,<br />
(3) It does not expand in a stove or fireplace unlike most other forms of wood briquette and is therefore much safer in use. <br />
(4) It is very easily stored and handled.<br />
(5) It has a lower creosote deposit, and lower particulate release to the atmosphere.<br />
(6) It is a 100% carbon neutral fuel.<br />
(7) Replacing coal with this type of home produced briquette would save many millions of Euro leaving the country each and every year sustainably in perpetuity.<br />
(8) An industry based on this type of fuel would create many long-term sustainable jobs in the country.<br />
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This would also represent a fairly large investment for Ireland to make, but if one was to think about it again, it could spell no less than an investment in the National Security, future economic stability, and help to ensure a sustainable energy future for the country.</div>
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Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-68229417754624990812015-12-13T22:04:00.002+00:002015-12-14T16:03:34.167+00:00Paris 2015 Implications for Ireland<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34CFknCOHVY/Vm3onxt2K8I/AAAAAAAAEb8/5-UwRFlPB1o/s1600/Paris%2B2015%2Bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34CFknCOHVY/Vm3onxt2K8I/AAAAAAAAEb8/5-UwRFlPB1o/s640/Paris%2B2015%2Bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Implications for Ireland + some suggestions</span></b></div>
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The recent highly acclaimed Paris climate agreement is certainly a big step forward in International Relations and its approach to environmental protection. The start of the end of the fossil fuel era!<br />
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What it will take to convert the words into reality will be another days work.<br />
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Cutting Carbon Emissions and the so called “cost of carbon” will become a really big issue in many countries. This will be especially true for rural Ireland where many households rely 100% on open solid fuel fires as the primary source of heat. <br />
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The poorer part of the population will, going on previous knowledge, be asked to proportionally bear more of the burden as has become the usual practice. Just like India and China, which are fairly recent polluters, are being asked to forgo on cashing in their fossil fuel deposits. <br />
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<b>Implications for Ireland </b><br />
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Grant schemes in Ireland have tended to heavily favour the better off, where massive grants were offered for very expensive geothermal and wood-pellet heating systems, things that marginal earners cannot even begin to consider.<br />
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What is needed are schemes to entice the low earners away from fossil fuel usage. With not so much of the BIG STICK of more taxation.<br />
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I have suggested, several times over the years, on this blog that it would be a prudent investment for Ireland to invest in several areas that could impact positively on the situation.<br />
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1. A large-scale investment in timber planting and production.<br />
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2. Investment in high-density “fused” wood briquette production. This type of pressure fused wood briquette, and only this type of wood briquette is fully capable of properly replacing coal. Hammer mill and screw extrusion hollow briquettes simply do not measure up and will NEVER be widely accepted.<br />
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3. Subsidize the price of wood briquettes and keep them tax free. <br />
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4. A grant aided scheme to eliminate all open fires by installing multi-fuel stoves.<br />
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5. Get the price gougers and also the "expert" BER certificate issuers out of the grant picture. This is complicating the issue and adding cost.<br />
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Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-84722609871360796412015-12-07T10:51:00.001+00:002015-12-08T14:11:41.200+00:00Rich to Pay Heavier Court Fines?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAW - JUSTICE</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FAIRNESS - REDRESS - ATONEMENT - BALANCE</span></b></span></div>
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I see in the news today a proposal by the Road Safety Authority to have a sliding scale of speeding fines based on the income of the offender, in order to act as a greater deterrent for the well off.<br />
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<b>Rich More Likely to Offend</b><br />
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Those who are better off financially tend to have an inflated sense of entitlement, and this has been shown to negatively affect behaviour on the roads. Piff. Berkley etc.<br />
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Interestingly, an online survey by "The Journal" suggests that over 60% of Irish drivers are against the sliding scale of fines - I wonder why?<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/poll-drivers-speeding-2487046-Dec2015/" target="_blank"> http://www.thejournal.ie/poll-drivers-speeding-2487046-Dec2015/ </a><br />
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In February 2015, I wrote an article on this blog about Justice and Atonement. One factor in correcting and updating our medieval system that I suggested was that Court fines should be made proportional to the means of the defendant. The Justice and Atonement issue is so strongly felt by me, that I even went to the trouble of writing to the Minister for Justice and to the Justice Reform Commission. I just got the usual sort of stock replies.<br />
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<a href="http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/02/atonement-redress-andjustice-recent.html">http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/02/atonement-redress-andjustice-recent.html</a><br />
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I have very strong feeling about how the Law is currently administered. Our current system of
law focuses on simply punishing the guilty parties. It however does little or
nothing to compensates the victims and make atonement. <br />
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<b>Fine Fines.</b></div>
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When a fine is imposed
it usually is not linked to the resources of the guilty party. If a
person on £10,000 a year is fined £5,000. By all justice and
fairness, a person on £2,000,000 a year should receive a fine of
£1,000,000. This should apply not just to motoring offenses but it should apply across the board. The funds from these fines should go, at least
partially, into victim redress and compensation funds. It should be
possible nowadays to operate such a system by linking with the taxation
system etc.<br />
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Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-72970478395726557252015-12-04T15:28:00.000+00:002015-12-04T15:31:26.843+00:00Update on Calco Mix<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An Update on </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Calco-Mix</span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBCSTq44V0A/VmGt18zN8pI/AAAAAAAAEbg/H_lZLcUjd4U/s1600/Calco%2BMix%2BEXTRAS%2Bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBCSTq44V0A/VmGt18zN8pI/AAAAAAAAEbg/H_lZLcUjd4U/s640/Calco%2BMix%2BEXTRAS%2Bed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It
has come to my attention from several regular users of Calco Mix that
there has been high level of stones and pieces of concrete etc. found in
Calco. One lady told me that an exploding stone had broken the glass of
her stove - that can cost a fair bit to replace depending on the type of stove..<br />
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I myself have found a collection of
extraneous bits and pieces in my Calco-Mix of late. Some are harmless
bits of wood etc. - others are less benign. Either the agents or those
making the mix are quite careless, or could it ever be possible that this
EXTRA material is being added intentionally for some reason unknown??<br />
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Above
is a photo I have just taken showing a collection of rocks and concrete
I found in my Calco. The lignite briquette and the 1 Euro coin are
there just to show scale. The two brownish stones are that colour
because they came out of the fire. Luckily I had discovered the rest
before placing them in the fire. That collection represents the use of
perhaps 2 to 3 bags of Calco - that is a fair bit of extraneous matter.
Apart from devaluing the Calco, there is always the dangers presented by
an exploding stone in the fire.<br />
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I will reserve final judgement but suffice it to say I have lost some of my enthusiasm for Calco-Mix.<br />
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Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-55073258667730597752015-12-03T14:06:00.000+00:002015-12-12T22:04:59.444+00:00Smokeless Coals and Solid Fuel Stoves<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Of Smokeless Coal and Stoves</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Cheaper Way to Heat</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A look at a New Smokeless Briquette</span></span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1st Part </span></span></i></span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9cyL0VCLhhI/Vl2wUzwsIII/AAAAAAAAEbE/UhYI9ns4xpc/s1600/CosyGlo%2BEcoBrite%2BHiGlo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9cyL0VCLhhI/Vl2wUzwsIII/AAAAAAAAEbE/UhYI9ns4xpc/s400/CosyGlo%2BEcoBrite%2BHiGlo4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left to Right: CosyGlo - HiBrite and Hi-Glo</span></b></span></div>
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When the stormy season starts blowing and the temperatures drop, it is the time I start to think of how to best maintain heat and hot water in the home at the lowest cost.<br />
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For 8+ years now I have heated our house on an increasing basis using solid fuels. Over 4 years ago I have gone to some 95% heating using solid fuels, mainly coal. I do recognize and accept that coal is not a good environmental choice in fuels. It is dirty and releases a very large amount of carbon and particulates. However, smokeless coal based fuels are, at the present time, still despite carbon taxes etc., the most economical fuels to use.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Little Rant.</span></span></b><br />
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If the government or the more financially better off community want to protect the environment, then they should seek ways to encourage the use of wood based and other non fossil fuels by the poorer half of society. One way to do this is (a) to subsidize these wood based fuels, and (b) seek to have high-density fused wood briquettes introduced to the marketplace. But it seems the preference if for the STICK method over the CARROT method. Which do you think might work the better?<br />
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The general environmental debate is a little like the argument between the USA and India over climate change. For over 100 years the USA has belched massive carbon into the air without a thank you to the rest of the world. Now they want to stop India benefiting from it's coal deposits. They can do that OK, and easily too, if they are prepared to pay and compensate India.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n Initial </span>Look at Hi-Glo </span></b><br />
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I got two 40Kg bags of Hi-Glo just over a week ago and have been experimenting with it in both my 6 Kw Blacksmith stove and also in my fire with its back-boiler and fire-front door. Additional I have a friend also testing this coal and giving me feedback.<br />
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First and foremost the Hi-Glo which is in a full size 40Kg bag is currently on promotional offers by some dealers. Econ Fuels Monavalley Tralee are my local suppliers is, for a short time, offering this fuel at €17.50 a bag. This represents terrific value while it lasts IMHO.<br />
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The fuel looks very like Bord na Mona CosyGlo, it is also very like Eco-Glow - maybe even the same thing under a different name? Hi-Glo has a blacker and finer texture look to it than CosyGlo. See the photo above. It appears to have a binding agent holding the briquette together - this may explain the smell it gives off when burning. (see below)<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Does the fuel match up? </span></b><br />
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The feedback I have received to date gives the following indications:<br />
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PROS:<br />
1. This fuels burns really hot and with some flame.<br />
2. It lasts through the night and up to 9 hours without quenching.<br />
3. It burns to a fairly fine ash, no cinders or lumps left.<br />
4. There is 0% waste and no stones or other foreign bits in it.<br />
5. My initial perception is that is gives greater heat output than Bord na Mona CosyGlo.<br />
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CONS:<br />
HiGlo has an unpleasant smell when burning. The smell is something between burning paint and an electrical burning smell. It is not a problem in my big fire as the smell all goes up the chimney, however, in my little stove, there is a bit of a waft into the room when the door is opened and this can cause a very unpleasant smell in the room. I have since limited HiGlow in the Blacksmith stove to last fueling at night. That way the door of the stove is not opened again until morning when the fuel has burned down and no further smell comes from it.<br />
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I will come back to this again <br />
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<br />Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-78441866211483976932015-09-22T19:12:00.002+01:002015-12-31T18:03:12.443+00:00Vapour Ware from Audi e-Diesel?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Vapour-Ware from Audi?</b></span></span><br />
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I apologize for not attending to this blog for some months, or, for that matter, not writing a promised follow-up to the last post. This post is a lesser effort to follow through on the Audi Eco Diesel story.<br />
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Last April the media was buzzing with the story that the car manufacturer Audi had succeeded in manufacturing a high quality diesel fuel from essentially nothing more than Air and Water. I was very excited by this news in the belief that a major player like Audi would lend its name to to a publicity stunt or mere vapour ware.<br />
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Five months after the hoopla and the WWW, the media, and just about all other sources, have gone deathly quiet on the Audi Eco Diesel from air and water story. When that happens, I have learned that the project is either dead or, at the very least, some major wrinkles have appeared.<br />
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It saddens me that 90+% of stories that I have followed over 9 years about new super batteries, new types of generators, super water splitting techniques, super conductors, natty nano science super electronics etc. etc. etc. have all gone down the same road into SILENCE. Elon Musk might perhaps an exception to my above rule, and there are a few other exceptions. Alas they are so few.<br />
<br />
I just hope that Audi has enough self-respect to give this story a decent burial or perhaps re-open it with fresh developments. Owners VW are gaining new insight into morals and ethics in business, perhaps the Audi team will follow?Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-63961582358003805092015-05-16T17:07:00.000+01:002015-05-16T17:07:09.213+01:00Audi e-Diesel<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Alchemy by Audi</b></span></div>
<br />
Audi's Announcement on its e-diesel has sparked quite a bit of excitement in me and I have written a couple of pieces on it as a result, the main one linked below.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/05/diesel-from-air-and-water.html">http://wood-pellet-ireland.blogspot.ie/2015/05/diesel-from-air-and-water.html</a><br />
<br />
However, years of experience has taught me to be cautious. That cautious attitude set me looking for some more meaty and substantial analysis of Audi's stories.<br />
<br />
I have just very recently stumbled upon an article by oil expert and science writer Robert Rapier where he uses his deep knowledge to pick a few holes in the Audi story. Primarily on what realistically it might cost per litre for this magic diesel from air and water.<br />
<br />
Robert has kindly given me permission to quote from his article and I am currently preparing a post which I will hopefully publish in a few days time - please watch this space.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-38522765581767241302015-05-10T20:09:00.000+01:002015-05-12T09:38:42.734+01:00Ireland an Oil Producer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68D9M4obu8I/VU9k8ClzEGI/AAAAAAAAEaA/HAOT9JQQqt0/s1600/Ireland%2BGambling%2Bhistory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68D9M4obu8I/VU9k8ClzEGI/AAAAAAAAEaA/HAOT9JQQqt0/s640/Ireland%2BGambling%2Bhistory.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Government of Ireland</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It's Gambling History</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
In September of 2008 Ireland's Government took the biggest financial gamble EVER in the history of the nation. Under duress, it undertook to guarantee a total of €440 BILLION the which to cover the bad ass banking systems mistakes, its bad judgements, and what amounted to nothing short of its sheer criminality. <br />
<br />
That fatal decision caused Ireland countless losses, much depression, and not a few suicides. It directly cost the Irish taxpayer €40 BILLION or €10,000 for every woman, man, and child in Ireland. <br />
<br />
It was possibly the biggest single policy decision ever taken by an Irish government. The decision bet the stability, the very future of Ireland and of its people, on the survival of the banks.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROJ3zOzBGwo/VU-GML0394I/AAAAAAAAEac/GM9Vg9CK_Ng/s1600/Where%2Bis%2Bmy%2Bbailout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROJ3zOzBGwo/VU-GML0394I/AAAAAAAAEac/GM9Vg9CK_Ng/s320/Where%2Bis%2Bmy%2Bbailout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you boil the whole thing down to its bones what the government decided was that those who made and played with millions were to be guaranteed and bailed-out by the struggling masses, by those on welfare, by the sick and by children, and by future generations.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">1925 Ireland Gambled and </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">WON</span></span></b><br />
<br />
In 1925, the Irish Free State took another very large gamble. But at that time it wasn't putting the nation and its future generations into hock, nor was it guaranteeing the rich at the expense of the poor. The gamble was on new technology to bring Ireland into the industrial age. It was the so called "Shannon Scheme".<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9INCKhVsWU/VU-GdqdhtfI/AAAAAAAAEak/P_K3CzBoShE/s1600/Shannon%2BScheme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9INCKhVsWU/VU-GdqdhtfI/AAAAAAAAEak/P_K3CzBoShE/s400/Shannon%2BScheme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the 13th of August 1925 Ireland awarded the German company Siemens the contract for the electrification of the entire country. The core of the project was the hydroelectric power plant on the river Shannon with three 30 Mega Watt water turbines. The whole project including the distribution grid came to £6,721,000.The decision proved to be one of the best investments in the history of the nation.<br />
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<b>Time for Another Bet?</b><br />
<br />
What if Ireland had its very own Green-diesel oil supply? <br />
<br />
(1) We would prevent hundreds of millions of Euro leaving the country (in recent years total oil imports averaged around €4 billion a year). <br />
(2) There would be jobs from the refining and distribution of this oil. <br />
(3) We would be less subject to the massive market fluctuations in oil prices.<br />
(4) We could insure minimal supply at times of crisis.<br />
(5) It would give Carbon Credits to Ireland. <br />
<br />
Would Ireland taking a chance on Audi's e-diesel process be a fair bet at this time? Ireland has tons of spare Green Electricity being generated every night by our increasing number of wind farms. During the night much power is generated when it is not needed and therefore goes mainly to waste. This waste wind energy could be purchased at a cheap price and used to turn our other plentiful resources WATER and AIR into Blue Crude. Stripping Carbon from the air would gain Carbon Credit to Ireland.<br />
<br />
<b>1.25% of our BIGGEST Gamble Might suffice? </b><br />
<br />
It would no doubt be taking a chance a gamble, and it would take a fair sized financial investment.<br />
<br />
I am suggesting that a mere 1.25% of the size of our biggest gamble, the one we will be paying for far into the future, might buy us a foothold in this new Green Oil technology. I have no idea of what I am talking about in terms of costs but just maybe a half a billion would get us a foot in the door - maybe?<br />
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<br />Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-81793004514669594392015-05-08T22:27:00.002+01:002015-05-09T19:45:07.485+01:00Diesel from Air and Water<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></span> </span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Super Clean Diesel Oil</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">from just</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Air and Water</span></b></span></span></div>
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Tesla
Cars and Elon Musk have been hogging the Green Lime Light. And I say good
luck to Mr Musk I admire his open patent on his battery technology.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFs1YB1S0ZY/VU0o5Z_O8jI/AAAAAAAAEYo/aAJqLU-R31s/s1600/Audi%2Blogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFs1YB1S0ZY/VU0o5Z_O8jI/AAAAAAAAEYo/aAJqLU-R31s/s320/Audi%2Blogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Audi,
yes the car maker, has recently been sounding trumpets and letting
off fireworks in announcing it is a major investor / player along
with two other companies ClimeWorks and SunFire in the advanced
development of an alchemy to create very high quality diesel from
just the air and water.<br />
<br />
<b>This is NOT a Spoof </b><br />
<br />
A joke? No, no joke here, it has, to my nose, the smell of
something far more substantial. If the hoopla is not overstated, it might
just prove to be something REALLY BIG in green technology and in saving
the planet.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiMVvgscwrY/VU0nWlEUJwI/AAAAAAAAEYc/bIo8Uf1ljos/s1600/Air%2Bwater%2Bto%2BOil%2Bplanr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiMVvgscwrY/VU0nWlEUJwI/AAAAAAAAEYc/bIo8Uf1ljos/s400/Air%2Bwater%2Bto%2BOil%2Bplanr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A
pilot plant is already producing approximately 160 litres or 35
Gallons of so called "Blue Crude" per day with a stated 70% overall
efficiency figure. Nearly 80% of this Blue Crude can be converted
into synthetic diesel<b>. </b></div>
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<b>Very
High Quality Diesel</b> </div>
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<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This
fuel – they are calling Audi e-diesel – is totally free of
sulphur and aromatics. It also has a high cetane number, which means
that it ignites very easily. This means the burn is very good and
clean giving excellent results. The chemical properties of this oil
facilitate its blending with regular diesel.</div>
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<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>The
Alchemy Step by Step</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9R26Q5GbCCc/VU0pd7miQeI/AAAAAAAAEZA/lsRPIIKrh44/s1600/Audi%2BOil%2Bfrom%2BAir%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9R26Q5GbCCc/VU0pd7miQeI/AAAAAAAAEZA/lsRPIIKrh44/s400/Audi%2BOil%2Bfrom%2BAir%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4JdP-RTF3cI/VU0pnIjSFAI/AAAAAAAAEZI/pSUZPwrQcZw/s1600/Air%2Band%2BWater%2Bto%2BOil%2Bpressure%2Bvessel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4JdP-RTF3cI/VU0pnIjSFAI/AAAAAAAAEZI/pSUZPwrQcZw/s400/Air%2Band%2BWater%2Bto%2BOil%2Bpressure%2Bvessel.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(1)
Air in motion = wind. Wind turbines generate green electricity,</div>
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(2)
The green electricity is used to to power the splitting water into it
two components Oxygen and Hydrogen,</div>
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(3)
A separate plant extracts Carbon Dioxide from the air,</div>
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(4)
The Carbon Dioxide is processed into Carbon Monoxide,</div>
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(5)
The Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide are then put through two processes
at very high pressure of 25 bar or 363 psi and high temperature of
220C. "Blue Crude" is what comes out the far end.</div>
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(6)
The Blue Crude can be processed into various fuels etc.<b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Not
New Science</b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
essential process is not a new concept. What is new is that this
manifestation takes carbon from the atmosphere and uses water as the
basic ingredients. The process was developed by <b>Franz Fischer and
Hans Tropsch</b> at the "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für
Kohlenforschung" in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, way back in
1925.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ly5TVME3fYI/VU0pDadFW2I/AAAAAAAAEYw/GeRMJWPxnbw/s1600/Fischer%2BTropsch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ly5TVME3fYI/VU0pDadFW2I/AAAAAAAAEYw/GeRMJWPxnbw/s320/Fischer%2BTropsch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The 1925 Fischer–Tropsch
process is a series of chemical reactions that turns a mixture of
carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. The process
has been explored by various researchers over time. It is only now it
has gone fully GREEN and left the laboratory and been demonstrated as
capable of proving a viable source of low sulphur diesel.<b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>The
Possibilities</b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If
the Audi - SunFire - Climeworks process can be successfully up-scaled
from a shed in the car park to a facility producing tens of thousands of litres a day and those factories replicated all over the
world, while continuing to make use of the ClimeWorks extraction
process of CO2 from the air as its raw material, it certainly could make an
impact on global CO2 and be a major contribution to climate
protection. Let's just say I am excited and hopeful that this one is a runner.<br />
<br />
SunFire
say that their analyses have shown that the synthetic fuel is more
environmentally friendly, and additionally has superior combustion
qualities when compared to regular fuel. This would possibly mean
better starting and better running of the engine, much less pollution
from the exhaust, better fuel efficiency, more engine power.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-qPb_Er1yk/VU0pMJx7guI/AAAAAAAAEY4/b_MsSQ-QPT8/s1600/Oil%2Bfrom%2BAir%2BSvief%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-qPb_Er1yk/VU0pMJx7guI/AAAAAAAAEY4/b_MsSQ-QPT8/s320/Oil%2Bfrom%2BAir%2BSvief%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"The
engine runs quieter and fewer pollutants are being created,"
SunFire Chief Technology Officer <b>Christian von Olshausen</b> says
in a press release.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cost of this New Super Eco Diesel?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
Audi announcements suggest that their e-diesel will sell to the
public for between 1 and 1.50 Euros per litre, dependent on the price
of Green Electricity. That should be able to favourably compete with
normal diesel that is if governments don’t tax the ass off it.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"If
we get the first sales order, we will be ready to commercialise our
technology", said von Olshausen.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: white;">. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-51189573457009749282015-05-06T22:00:00.003+01:002015-05-07T13:07:15.105+01:00FreeTrade Ireland <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KzTTWerS1_M/VUp9dFNGQmI/AAAAAAAAEX0/ug05QXVDq6o/s1600/FTI%2Blogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KzTTWerS1_M/VUp9dFNGQmI/AAAAAAAAEX0/ug05QXVDq6o/s1600/FTI%2Blogo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Dumping Rubbish</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Costs Dearly</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bin
charges increasing? All rubbish is now weighed so it's costing a fortune
to get rid of heavy items. At 23+ cent per Kg to get rid of rubbish
it is worth thinking about other ways of disposing of unwanted things
and materials.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">So
for instance maybe you have some left over stuff after renovating the
kitchen, the old sink and taps, some left over tiles, the old but
still good work-tops, and perhaps perfectly good old kitchen
cabinets. It would cost you a considerable amount to hire a skip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Also disposing stuff over time using bin collections will lead to smaller
but still significant cost 50Kgs will most likely run up a bill of
around €12.50.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many
people will think of placing an advert in the local advertiser etc.
and that is even going to cost and you will have the trouble of
placing the advert. Local paper adverts will not of course have a
photo of what is on offer, so they are likely to have limited effect.<b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Totally Free Adverts</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now,
through an innovative bunch of people there is a totally FREE on-line
system that offers completely free adverts of stuff you don't want
complete with your photos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
really great news is that you are also saving the environment by
re-cycling the goods and additionally helping out a fellow citizen in
the process.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a52McnTgeIQ/VUp_Hr83iJI/AAAAAAAAEYE/5llardKUtxc/s1600/Enda%2Bpromoting%2BFTI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a52McnTgeIQ/VUp_Hr83iJI/AAAAAAAAEYE/5llardKUtxc/s1600/Enda%2Bpromoting%2BFTI.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our Enda promoting FTI (Our Enda the Irish PM)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
effort is called Free Trade Ireland, and is funded through. an Irish
Government scheme. The basic idea is you want rid of something - you offer it free - the advert and the service are free. It is an alternative to charity shops and you have almost no restrictions in what you offer. The service has been active since July 2010. The graphic below shows the results for 2013.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoZBoUs2Lo0/VUp-hljV9xI/AAAAAAAAEX8/9UojTV31pI0/s1600/FTI%2Bchart%2Bsavings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoZBoUs2Lo0/VUp-hljV9xI/AAAAAAAAEX8/9UojTV31pI0/s1600/FTI%2Bchart%2Bsavings.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
2013 FreeTrade Ireland announced the following figures:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">•
Over 14,000 items were reused</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">•
Over €1.4 million in savings made by users of the site</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">•
Over 412,000 unique visitors to the site.<b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So What Kind of Stuff is on Offer?</span></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FdAx5mRJFc/VUp_fMOahYI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/vVE79AuGyfE/s1600/FTI%2BItem%2BOffered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FdAx5mRJFc/VUp_fMOahYI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/vVE79AuGyfE/s1600/FTI%2BItem%2BOffered.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The stuff being advertised and recycled ranges from pianos
and furniture down to teddy bears and hair straighteners. As the process spreads wider across the nation, a wider range of goods and materials are being offred<b>.</b></span> It needs many more people participating in order to really get motoring, consider signing up as a members - it is totally free.<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>SmartPhone App</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Recently
Free Trade Ireland launched a free smartphone app. as part of the EU
Week of Waste Reduction. The app works much the same as the website.
You can download the app free from iTunes and Android Play Store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
facility is in its infancy - simply because not enough people are
aware of the advantages. However, to date, the website has clocked
up over 3 million visitors, and more than 42,000 items have passed hands to new
users and been reused.<b> </b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Free and Kosher</b>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
Free Trade Ireland service is funded by the Environmental Protection
Agency under the National Waste Prevention Programme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I recommend you visit the site and sign up as a member. It is Free - it is Kosher - it saves money - it saves the environment. The more people involved - the better it gets.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.freetradeireland.ie/" target="_blank">http://www.freetradeireland.ie/ </a></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-77391126356047946792015-04-09T14:10:00.003+01:002015-04-09T14:18:17.871+01:00The Rip-Off Republic<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A Real Bargain at</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>ONLY Twice the Price in Ireland!</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ha_G1hadkw/VSZ0SnpovCI/AAAAAAAAEXg/BqxpQdJRrwI/s1600/Unica%2BModerator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ha_G1hadkw/VSZ0SnpovCI/AAAAAAAAEXg/BqxpQdJRrwI/s1600/Unica%2BModerator.jpg" height="396" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I received a note from Brendan in Donegal recently which confirms my suspicions that Ireland is still leading the field in the race for being the 1st in the Rip-Off Republic Stakes. Brendan has kindly agreed to allow the publication of his letter:<br />
<br />
<div>
<i>I find your blog very interesting re Irish suppliers prices. in 2013 I
bought two Unica Moderator 35kw biomass heating boilers for my brother and
myself direct from Kolty in Poland for less than the price of one of these from
an Irish dealer. Local price for one at that time was euro 2200 plus vat the
cost of two delivered to Donegal from Kolty was euro 2400 including VAT.</i><br />
</div>
<i>Regards Brendan</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: white;">. </span></i>Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-37489528553148023992015-04-03T14:26:00.001+01:002015-04-10T21:20:13.564+01:00Cost of Dumping EXCEEDS cost of buying a Kilo of Potatoes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZGOGeBhnJM/VR6TeYETB_I/AAAAAAAAEXQ/OJQQj2jeTno/s1600/Aldi%2BLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZGOGeBhnJM/VR6TeYETB_I/AAAAAAAAEXQ/OJQQj2jeTno/s1600/Aldi%2BLogo.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>DUMPING a Kg of Potatoes</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Costs More </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Than Buying a Kg of Potatoes </b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When the cost of dumping a kilo of rubbish is greater than the cost of buying a kilo of potatoes - what do you think will begin to happen to rubbish??</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This week Aldi have a Kilo of white potatoes priced at 26cent. Getting rid of trash now exceeds this cost per kilo.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My prediction is that more such stupid planning by Government and Local Authority agencies will lead to a big increase in people getting rid of their rubbish in places they should not. It might also increase the number of people who choose to burn their rubbish in stoves etc.<br />
<br />
The increasing cost of rubbish collection is another form of taxation taking money out of the pocket of those who can ill afford to pay more. <br />
<br />
The bottom layer of society, with regard to income, have been squeezed and squeezed, again and again by a range of "stealth taxes" a desperate government have imposed, and they have no more to give. Taxes that include a double helping of Carbon Tax, a VAT increase, Water Charges etc.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Do planners ever consider the law of diminishing returns?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
.</div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-12333797231787949082015-02-17T12:35:00.001+00:002015-02-18T23:55:49.269+00:00The Losses of Winning<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCoWizrbFC0/VOM0a_8dPTI/AAAAAAAAEVY/5RXobMwXRGU/s1600/Abstract.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCoWizrbFC0/VOM0a_8dPTI/AAAAAAAAEVY/5RXobMwXRGU/s1600/Abstract.JPG" height="291" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Coming into Money</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Can Carry a Very Big Price</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Suddenly coming into big money or
having a large lottery win may be more of a curse than a blessing. Winnings, for many,
have extracted a heavy price. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Some interesting
research projects suggest that we are better off generally staying on even ground.
A large upward surge in your finances can give a spike on the happiness scale
initially, but over time that effect fades and in fact leaves you
much worse off.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Adaptation Level Theory.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The reason the happiness spike fades is
because of a psychological phenomenon known as “adaptation level
theory.” When something new and exciting happens to us, we feel a
surge of pleasure. Our brains release a chemical called serotonin,
which is a happy drug, and we feel a glow for a while until the drug
fades.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>The transient and relative nature of
happiness.</b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Adaptation Level Theory also defines
the transient and relative nature of happiness. For instance, with
the passage of time, the loss of the use of say an arm generally
tends NOT to make you significantly unhappier, once you have had
sufficient time to adjust to the new norm.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>For Better or for Worse - in the end
much the same.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Two interesting studies carried out
back in1978 looked at this factor. The studies took 22 lottery
winners, 29 people paralysed in accidents, and measured against
controls. The experiments in both cases clearly showed that people
were not significantly worse off or better off than the controls.
When either a positive or negative event begins to fade into the
past, the levels of happiness or unhappiness that were initially
created tend to go back to a general norm.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Among other interesting factors that
emerged from various studies are the following;</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>(1) The Erosion of Satisfaction.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This one is what I would describe as a
sort of Monday-itis or post-holiday-blues, or maybe it is more like
drug adaptation? The studies showed that lottery winners, with the
passage of time, not only were they no happier than the controls, but
they took an additional and negative hit. I call this "the
erosion of satisfaction". Ordinary everyday events, activities
and chores etc. that previously gave a sense of satisfaction or
pleasure no longer gave them that effect.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>(2) The Losses of Winning.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This one I would describe as “The
Losses of Winning”. A research project in 2009 at Vanderbilt
University and the University of Kentucky showed two interesting
trends: (a) Individuals who won between $50,000 and $150,000 failed
to pay off debts that they had from before the winnings. (b) Lottery
winners are twice as likely to go bankrupt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>(3) Sudden Money Shortens Life.</b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another bit of research has shown that
many individuals who have big wins, or otherwise come into big money,
tend to smoke a lot more and increase their social drinking, so they
are more likely to die younger and suffer more illness. These
findings come from a 2010 study done by Bénédicte Apouey and Andrew
E. Clark, who are economists at the Paris School of Economics.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So perhaps you are better off not
buying that lottery ticket.</div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-17217597057735698242015-02-13T11:00:00.001+00:002015-03-04T14:37:10.508+00:00Atonement Redress and Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZOk8gpVxuc/VN3XkKE9viI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/INEzSOEdjoU/s1600/blind%2Bjustice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZOk8gpVxuc/VN3XkKE9viI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/INEzSOEdjoU/s1600/blind%2Bjustice.jpg" height="292" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Atonement Redress and
Justice</span></span></b></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The recent news items
about the high level of hidden slavery in the EU and UK has made me
very very angry. One item outlined the case of women in the UK have been virtual slaves to very rich
families who, in many cases, did not pay them, and did not even
provide them with the most basic of necessities.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This news has
re-triggered thoughts that have bothered me for some time about how
our justice systems operated.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As it exists, our legal
and justice systems would appear to be stuck back in time some
hundreds of year in the past. The archaic use of wigs and gowns in
court, and the sometimes obtuse language of the trade, attest to this
fact alone. However, it is not lawyers and judges in fancy dress that
concerns me here, it is how the law addresses serious crime.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Our Justice Systems =
Punishment not Redress.</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The current system of
law focusses on PUNISHING the guilty parties, but does little or
nothing to compensates the victims and make atonement. Over the
centuries, the punishments meted out have become less and less.
Prison to some is a holiday, and a time to catch up on their trade
from more skilled fellow trades-people. They can get a free education
in prison and do not have to worry, like the rest of us, about
providing accommodation, food, heating, medical care, etc. etc.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Fine Fines.</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When a fine is imposed
it usually is not linked to the resources of the guilty party. If a
person on £10,000 a year is fined £5,000. By all justice and
fairness, a person on £2,000,000 a year should receive a fine of
£1,000,000. The funds from these fines should go, at least
partially, into victim redress and compensation funds. It should be possible nowadays to operate such a system by linking with the taxation system etc.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Victims and the Law.</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Meanwhile our justice
systems generally leave the victims of crime to fend for themselves,
except maybe in cases where the victims have their own resources to take actions, or
where some agency or charity initiates a civil action on their
behalf. This part of the law is at best ad-hoc and in most cases not
successful in redressing the injury or loss.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I believe that the
justice system should first and foremost redress the harm done or
loss sustained, and put punishment into second place. The State or
justice system should, without being requested initiate a civil
action, using all the Justice Department and the States resources,
including tax and revenue systems, to secure redress.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the case of rape,
redress should include payment for full medical and psychological
treatment over a period of at least 5 years, a lump sum, and a
pension to the victim.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In addition to the Law
seeing to redress and atonement on behalf of victims, IMHO
individuals guilty of serious crimes, who own resources, should be made
to pay the full cost of their own prison upkeep in addition to the
costs of redress and atonement. Those on welfare should at least have
a deduction made from their future welfare payments to pay back some
of their prison upkeep.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370135.post-79205622111027146092015-02-12T14:05:00.002+00:002015-02-15T21:43:51.110+00:00The Return of Medieval Feudalism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArhYyLN4oFE/VNyyZxgPknI/AAAAAAAAESc/0F0ahPApvHo/s1600/Beggars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArhYyLN4oFE/VNyyZxgPknI/AAAAAAAAESc/0F0ahPApvHo/s1600/Beggars.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reset your Calendar <strike>2015</strike> to 1015 </b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Immanent Return of
Medieval Feudalism</b></span></span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>or if you like, you can call it
Economic Apartheid</b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There was a time when
more than half of the world's wealth was owned by a tiny percentage
of super-rich kings, dukes and lords etc. 1000 years on, and history is
about to repeat itself!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oxfam has projected
figures which show that the wealthiest 1% will by next year own more
than the rest of the world's population put together.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The figures show a
clear rapidly rising trend - indicating that we are heading back into
Medieval times.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>The Figures.</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 2009 the very rich,
who represent just 1% of the world's population, owned 44% of the
entire wealth. By 2013 that figure had inflated to their owning 48%
of everything. On that trend any forecaster would easily pitch the
figure at 50%+ by 2016.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 2014 the global
elite had average personal wealth of $2.7m per adult.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Davos Talking Shop.</b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No doubt the talk shops
like Davos will table some well meaning spin-doctored stuff, and no
doubt the well meaning projections will most probably never be
reached - going on past performance.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bono, an Irish
musician, didn't put a tooth in it when he told the assembled Davos
elite <i>“Some of the criminals around here are not wearing ski masks,
they are wearing skis.”
</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Warnings.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Oxfam have warned that
this virtual explosive widening of the gap between rich and poor is
<i>"holding back the fight against global poverty at a time when 1
in 9 people do not have enough to eat and more than a billion people
still live on less than $1.25-a-day".</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* Allowing extremes of
wealth and poverty to exist is simply morally wrong.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* The imbalance
undermines economic growth,</div>
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* It threatens the
national security as well as economic stability.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* It leads to revolt
and revolution and promotes extremism.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oxfam is advocating 7
point plan to tackle inequality:
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(1) Clamp down on tax
dodging by corporations and the rich,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(2) invest in
universal, free public services health, education etc.,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(3) Fair tax laws to
shift taxation from labour and consumption towards capital and
wealth,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(4) Enforcing minimum
wages and a living wage for all workers,
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(5) Equal pay and
conditions for women,
</div>
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(6) Adequate
safety-nets for the poorest,
</div>
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(7) And a global goal
to tackle inequality.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Some Interesting
Quotes.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 2013 Economics Nobel
prize winner Robert J. Shiller said that the economic stratification
of society into "elites" and "masses", is a major
danger to world stability. And that it played a central role in the
collapse of other advanced civilizations such as the Roman, Han and
Gupta empires.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oxfam made a bold
assertion in 2013. It stated that worsening inequality is impeding
the fight against global poverty. The 2013 report stated that the
$240 billion added to the fortunes of the world's richest
billionaires in 2012 was enough to end extreme poverty four times
over.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oxfam Executive
Director Jeremy Hobbs said that <i>"We can no longer pretend that
the creation of wealth for a few will inevitably benefit the many –
too often the reverse is true."</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Jared Bernstein and
Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute suggest that poverty in
the United States could have been significantly mitigated if
inequality had not increased over the last few decades.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Tony McGinleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04483400946840035707noreply@blogger.com0