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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Scientists warn Christmas lights harm the planet
2008-12-25
Green SCIENTISTS have warned that Christmas lights are bad for the planet due to huge electricity waste and urged people to get energy efficient festive bulbs.

GRINCH CSIRO researchers said householders should know that each bulb turned on in the name of Christmas will increase emissions of greenhouse gases.
As does every breath exhaled by a terrorist.
Dr Glenn Platt, who leads research on energy demand, said Australia got 80 per cent of its electricity by burning coal which pumps harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
So does cow flatulence.
He said: "Energy efficient bulbs, such as LEDs, and putting your Christmas lights on a timer are two very easy ways to minimise the amount of electricity you use to power your lights."
I'd rather shoot terrorists and eat cows.
He said the nation's electricity came from "centralised carbon intensive, coal-based power stations" which were responsible for emitting over one third of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
Switch to nuclear.
Dr Platt added: "For a zero-emission Christmas light show, you may consider using solar powered lights or sourcing your electricity from verified green power suppliers."
Or using candles.



Bite me.
Posted by:gorb

#19  If Christians don't wake up and realize that they are on the receiving end of a cold war right now, they'll wake up one day fairly soon and be on the receiving end of government rifles.

Yes. It's pretty overt in Britain these days, not so hidden here either.
Posted by: lotp   2008-12-25 20:40  

#18  CSIRO can Blow-Ho-Ho me.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-12-25 14:07  

#17  "Christmas lights bring joy to millions on the shortest days of the year."

There's the problem right there, Darrell.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2008-12-25 14:04  

#16  Great inline commentary.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-12-25 13:34  

#15  Christmas lights bring joy to millions on the shortest days of the year. AGW is just the latest passing cult of the self-appointed expert posers, the Chicken Littles of the human species.
Posted by: Darrell   2008-12-25 13:04  

#14  I say: Bogus scientists with nothing better to do than say everything under the Sun harms the planet...harm the planet. The sooner they reach stasis the better.
Posted by: Huporong Dingle8993   2008-12-25 12:39  

#13  I've been lobbying the genetic engineering folks for a long time. Stupid lawyers and eco types keep holding them back.

THE SOLUTION IS DO-ABLE!

It goes like this:
1) Kits to add a firefly gene are so common an artist even made a flashing bunny.
2) Synthetic genetic timers are in the tool kit of MIT genetic enginners.
3) A synthetic genetic timer that clocks itself based on the daily light dark ratio (Photosynthesis gives it to plants and they use it) can cause itself to trigger for say about 1 month either side of the solstice. For Oz they could use the longer day solstice...
4) The trigger in 3 would enable the firefly gene kit in 1.
5) The combined kit would be applied to conifers and other trees you wanted to flash at Christmas time...

No stringing outside lites, No effort but planting the trees. (or infecting existing ones with a virus containing the genetic modification).

A better show each year.

Win Win Win...
and
Could you imagine the view from space on a winters night with all of say Canada's forests flashing? Awesome....

Posted by: 3dc   2008-12-25 12:14  

#12  And how many jet-setting fact finding missions did the good Dr need to determine this "fact"?
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2008-12-25 12:08  

#11  If Christians don't wake up and realize that they are on the receiving end of a cold war right now, they'll wake up one day fairly soon and be on the receiving end of government rifles.
Posted by: no mo uro   2008-12-25 11:09  

#10  disparaging:
a) a western tradition of lighting christmas lights for decoration
b) celebrating a Christian holiday season
c) in the name of phony AGW cult

it's a three-fer for Dr. Platt! Perhaps this will even merit an email from the Goracle?
Posted by: Frank G   2008-12-25 10:58  

#9  
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC   2008-12-25 10:55  

#8  Gawd Ima hear you Dr. BP...

also... jeez... old computer is old
Posted by: Thomas Woof   2008-12-25 10:01  

#7  You're a mean one, Dr. Grinch.
Posted by: DMFD   2008-12-25 09:15  

#6  I say we reduce our carbon footprint starting with people like him.
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-12-25 09:09  

#5  Send the dude to North Korea for the next holidays. He can have a 'Christmas Lights Free' experience along with bark soup. See how he can save the planet by reduced consumption up front and personal.
Posted by: P2k on holiday   2008-12-25 08:07  

#4  Anthropomorphic Global Warming is bunk.
Posted by: Dr. Bright Pebbles   2008-12-25 06:02  

#3  FYI - Qualifications of Dr Glenn Platt (of CSIRO) to comment on Climatology from here (includes a pic)

Background
Dr Platt's background in electrical engineering and wireless communications has given him a sound platform to apply his theoretical knowledge to the world of distributed energy management and intelligent agents.

Numerous industry roles, including his experience as a research engineer in Denmark with Nokia Mobile Phones, have given him an understanding of the practical characteristics of real-world systems and how research can be applied to solve specific challenges.
Academic qualifications

Dr Platt studied electrical engineering at the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, completing a thesis titled Power line carrier communication methods.

During his undergraduate degree he won a scholarship to study overseas and spent time studying at Ohio University, USA. His Doctorate was in electrical engineering in the area of telecommunications.

'I have been interested in how and why things work from a very early age' says Dr Platt. 'I used to be a member of CSIRO’s Double Helix club and I can vividly remember a science show they performed at high school where they showed us how rockets could be made. After the show, I went straight home and tried it for myself – I had to have a go and know how it was done. I’ve always been very inquisitive!'

In other words he's as qualified to comment on Global Warming as I am. I wonder if he thinks he can perform surgeries too, after all he has that 'Dr.' in front of his name.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-12-25 05:17  

#2  Well, then, the answer is obvious. The government should sell a Christmas Light credit that allows one to offset their holiday illumination by buying said credit.
Posted by: crosspatch   2008-12-25 04:45  

#1  Why don't those "Scientist" spend their time inventing a better Christmas light, instead of pooping on someone's holiday?


Posted by: Grolush Darling of the Hatfields3195   2008-12-25 03:15  

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