Living Lightly

I am reminded today of a favourite quotation from John Maynard Keynes, the maligned and now rediscovered British economist. I had the opportunity to live in his former house — now the “Keyneside” student residence of Clare Hall at Cambridge University —  while taking my masters degree in international relations. Okay, that is completely irrelevant, it but makes a nice lead in. So, the quotation:

“When convincing evidence refutes what I previously believed, I change my opinion. What do you do sir?” John Maynard Keynes

So, today President Barack Obama moved swiftly and decisively to chart a new course for American energy security, reversing eight years (or perhaps eighty years) of energy policy which has made oil, coal and nuclear the king, and renewable forms of energy, the peasant. The “New White House” policy emphasizes clean energy, renewables, green collar jobs and the health of humans and the ecosystem. Without seeing all the details yet, just the broadstrokes, I am impressed. Canadian Prime cheap ambien pharmacy Minister Stephen Harper, this is your time to shine! Surprise us with something even better. Or at least something just as good, please! I know Keynes is not your favourite economist, but you might at least take a cue from his words above.

Without the details, I still have a niggling fear that nuclear energy will feature in President Obama’s version of clean energy. That would be a shame. History, and the present, show us that nuclear is not the way to go, being neither clean, resilient nor cost-effective. The following page from a Danish government website touches on why I feel this way, even if some green-tinged folk have been tempted by nuclear as a preferable option to other greenhouse gas-generating energy sources.

Have a look at this helpful summary. 10 big energy myths — renewable energy versus conventional energy. #mce_temp_url#

It would make a useful guide to the structure of my next film: Powerful: re-energizing people, communities and democracy.

David Chernushenko