Ethically, the responsibility is undeniable. By continuing to expand production, fossil fuel companies are prioritizing shortterm profits over longterm planetary survival. As academic Naomi Oreskes points out in her book Merchants of Doubt, this is not mere negligence – it is a calculated decision to disregard human and environmental well-being.
The beneficiaries of the production and usage of fossil fuels are consumers. It’s us, wanting toasted food and toasty homes.
Think on it a moment. BP would be pretty pissed if it stopped making money. Or even stopped doing anything. We’d die in our billions if there were no more oil after teatime today.
This is, in fact, one of those occasions when Dr. Heinz Kiosk is correct – we are all guilty. But the standard tactic is to insist – from the left – that it’s all someone else’s fault. Don;t worry, won’t be long before someone starts sayin’ it’s the Joos.
The Curse of the Naomis
An invasive species of giants from a foreign land, striding through the country devouring sense and intelligence wherever they find it.
Fans of Japanese anime might see the similarity with Attack on Titan. Purely coincidental.
OK…. So… A failed fashion designer turned “Environmental Academic” lectures us on the fact that the LA disaster is all the fault of Big Oil and Climate Change.
The simple fact that building entire suburbs with nice airy dwellings whose major components are plywood, plasterboard and tar for roofing ( all materials that can only be made in bulk exactly because Big Oil exists…) in areas that have been historically and archeologically proven to be major firehazards, with the very soil and vegetation being proof of such events, may, possibly, be a contributing factor in the whole mess is, of course, “Trivial”.
Because Worbal Gloaming explains everything.
If the fossil fuel companies were to restrict production they’d immediately be criticised for profiteering by forcing prices up, even if their revenue actually fell.
One thing I’ve not seen in all the blather about the fires is that if you live in an area where hot dry winds cause fires regularly, it’s not a good idea to plant trees which evolved in a fire-ridden country to reproduce using fire and thus have highly inflammable wood to start fires.
As oil is now considered to be a mineral formed by heat and pressure deep in the bowels of the earth, and not from the skeletons of baby dinosaurs, I wonder why this is included in the term “fossil fuels”?
Penseivat, it’s because no big boy has told them to change the brand. In the same way that it took Blair to tell Starmer that women didn’t have penises, so the Greens are waiting for someone to tell them “fossil fuels” is now passe and what the new name is..
Having officially become an ancient old geezer, I feel I’m entitled to believe in conspiracy theories or else think the PTB are morons. Did Gavin Newsom think that diverting water supplies back to the sea and so creating a shortage for drinking and putting our fires was a good idea or was he told to? And what about stopping building fire breaks? Given the nature of politicians they must know that, despite the hype about Gerbil Worming, it’s not possible for ants to shrivel up and burn to a crisp without using a magnifying glass…
Bit on the local news this morning – Stansted Airport had its’ busiest ever year last year – 30 million passengers in and out.
Now THAT demonstrates just how much people worry about using fossil fuels……..
AtC @ 8.47, perhaps Boganboy can elaborate on the Aussie householder who broke environmental rules by clearing brush and scrub around his property and got fined (AU$150,000 I think). I believe his house was the only one left standing after the fire…….
I like owning shares in oil and gas companies. Makes me money. I am not sorry.
“… planetary survival…” nonsense phrase.
However the planet “survived” significantly higher (and lower) temperatures in the past, and significantly higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
For 70% of Earth’s history there were no ice caps; most of the rest only one. Two ice caps is rare so we are in a rare cold period for the “planet”.
Remind me again why it was in most cultures throughout history that educating women was regarded as a waste of time because they were irrational hysterics?
[email protected]
Don’t remember that one. However a quick google gives brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/propertyowner-fined-1m-for-clearing-350-hectares-in-rural-queensland-20170322-gv494h.html.
Must admit I feel a A$1 000 000 fine is a trifle excessive. Especially since the value of money was quite a bit greater in 2017.
– As oil is now considered to be a mineral formed by heat and pressure deep in the bowels of the earth, and not from the skeletons of baby dinosaurs, I wonder why this is included in the term “fossil fuels”?
Biogenic origin of oil is still the mainstream scientific view and thus the one that gets to claim the “now considered” status. Even if the source were abiotic, “fossil fuel” would still be an appropriate descriptor because it would be an ancient origin and, most relevantly, be from outside the active carbon cycle affecting current conditions.
As oil is now considered to be a mineral formed by heat and pressure deep in the bowels of the earth, and not from the skeletons of baby dinosaurs, I wonder why this is included in the term “fossil fuels”?
Interesting point of view. Wiki still has oil deposits as being of organic origin.
One of the differences between vegetable oils & mineral oils is mineral oils don’t polymerise at normal temperatures in the presence of oxygen. Nor, generally, do animal oils.
Since long chain hydrocarbons regularly turn up in spectral analysis of deep space objects, it’s suspected that what is referred to as “fossil” oil may to an extent be a product of heat on hydrogen & carbon within the earth. No fossils required since there’s plenty of H & C about. Same processes as deep space, just difference source of energy. C+H+energy=CH4(methane). CH4+H+C+ energy= further linking up = petroleum deposits. Methane emissions on Mars are thought come from this source, so Mars could have oil deposits. Titan certainly has abundant & varied hydrocarbons.
Los Angeles decided to put women and minorities in charge of its fire protection, and now Los Angeles has burned to the ground.
It’s like poetry, it rhymes.
Steve
I thought the line from the film ‘Road House’
‘Steve, you’re history’
Had been enacted and Patrick Swayze had kicked you out but you have returned
They who committed the rhyme, as the saying goes…
VP – How that film didn’t win any Oscars, I’ll never know.
“Pain don’t hurt” – Patrick Swayze
PS – VP, about the Diversity hires running the LA fire brigade. It’s the Mike Judge movie, Idiocracy, come sooner than anyone thought:
LAFD’s diversity chief blames fire victims in shocking viral video defending DEI
13 Jan 2025
By MELISSA KOENIG FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
She then addressed concerns that female firefighters may not be strong enough to carry a man out of a burning building, to which she simply responded: ‘He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire.’
It’s unknown if the Chief of Fire Diversity (are we respecting fire’s pronouns?), who is a husky black lesbian lady, then snapped her fingers, sassily, and said “Mmmhmmm…” while LA burned.
But I like to think that she did.
who is a husky black lesbian lady
Of course she is. Two mighty boxes ticked right there. Is she planning to acquire a cock, by any chance, and go for the triple? By the look of her she might. Apparently people with cocks can be lesbians. Tits off too and all the meds, and she could probably qualify for
disabled“differently abled”. Make that four checkboxes! Top Trumps! How topical..