Opinion

Rich nations cheat the poor of fossil fuels

Published

3 years ago

2022/08/27

The rich world became wealthy by massively exploiting fossil fuels, which today provides more than three-quarters of its energy.

The rich world’s fossil fuel hypocrisy is on full display in its response to the global energy crisis following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While the wealthy G7 countries ask the world’s poor to use only renewables because of climate concerns, European countries and the United States are begging Arab countries to raise oil production, with Germany reopening coal power plants and Spain and Italy prodding African countries to increase gas production. In fact, so many European countries have asked Botswana to mine more coal that the country will have to triple its exports. Now consider this: A single person in the rich world uses more fossil fuel energy than all the energy available to 23 poor Africans. The rich world became wealthy by massively exploiting fossil fuels, which today provides more than three-quarters of its energy. Sunlight and wind deliver less than 3 percent of the rich world’s energy.

Yet the rich are choking off funding for new fossil fuels to the developing world. Most of the world’s poorest 4 billion people have no meaningful access to energy, so the rich blithely tell them to “leapfrog” from no energy to a “green nirvana” of solar panels and wind turbines. This promised nirvana is a sham consisting of wishful thinking and green marketing. The world’s rich will never accept off-grid, renewable energy themselves-and nor should the world’s poor. Consider the experience of Dharnai, a village in Jehanabad district of Bihar, which Greenpeace tried to turn into India’s first solar-powered community in 2014. Greenpeace received widespread global media attention when it declared that Dharnai will refuse “to give in to the trap of the fossil fuel industry”. But the day the solar electricity was turned on, the batteries were drained within hours.

A boy remembers wanting to do his homework, but there wasn’t enough power to light one bulb in his home. Villagers were prohibited from using refrigerators or TVs because they would exhaust the system. They couldn’t use electric stoves either, and had to continue burning wood and dung, which create terrible air pollution. Across the developing world, millions die from indoor pollution that the World Health Organization says is equivalent to each person smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Greenpeace invited Bihar province’s chief minister to inspect and admire its work.

But on arriving at the village, he was confronted by a crowd waving signs demanding “real electricity” (the kind you can use to run a refrigerator or a stove and your children can use to light lamps to do their homework) and not “fake electricity” (meaning solar energy that could do none of these things). When Dharnai was finally connected to the state power grid, an increasing number of villagers gave up their solar connections. A study found a big reason for that was that the overwhelmingly coal-powered grid electricity was three times cheaper than the solar energy. What’s more, it could actually power home appliances and devices like stoves and TVs.

(The China Daily/ANN)

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Opinion

Feeling sad and blue?

Published

13 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rowan Atkinson

Here is what you can do!

Comedy and the ability to have a good laugh are what keep us sane. The good news to announce is that there are many British and American comedy shows posted up and available on the internet.

They will bring a few hours of welcome relief from our present doldrums.

Firstly, and in a class of its own, are the many Benny Hill shows. Benny is a British comedian who comes from a circus family, and was brought up in an atmosphere of circus clowning. Each show is carefully polished and rehearsed to get the comedy across and understood successfully. These clips have the most beautiful stage props and settings with suitable, amusing costumes. This is really good comedy for the mature, older viewer.

Benny Hill has produced shows that are “Master-Class” in quality adult entertainment. All his shows are good.

Then comes the “Not the Nine o’clock news” with Rowan Atkinson and his comedy team producing good entertainment suitable for all.

And then comes the “Two Ronnies” – Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, with their dry sense of humour and wit. Search and you will find other uplifting shows such as Dave Allen, with his monologues and humour.

All these shows have been broadcast in Britain over the last 50 years and are well worth viewing on the Internet.

Similarly, in The USA of America. There are some really great entertainment shows. And never forget Fats Waller in the film “Stormy Weather,” where he was the pianist in the unforgettable, epic, comedy song “Ain’t Misbehavin”. And then there is “Bewitched” with young and glamorous Samantha Stevens and her mother, Endora who can perform magic. It is amazing entertainment! This show, although from the 1970s was a milestone in US light entertainment, along with many more.

And do not overlook Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, and all the Disney films. Donald Duck gives us a great wealth of simple comedy.

The US offers you a mountain of comedy and good humour on Youtube. All these shows await you, just by accessing the Internet! The internet channel, ‘You tube’ itself, comes from America! The Americans reach out to you with good, happy things right into your own living room!

Those few people with the ability to understand English have the key to a great- great storehouse of uplifting humour and entertainment. They are rich indeed!

Priyantha Hettige

Opinion

There is much to learn

Published

13 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

After the recent disaster, a great deal of information has been circulating on WhatsApp and YouTube regarding our reservoirs, highways, etc.

In many of these discussions, people have analysed what went wrong and how the damage could have been prevented. My question is this: why do all these knowledgeable voices emerge only after disaster strikes? One simple reason may be that our self-proclaimed, all-knowing governing messiahs refuse to listen to anyone outside their circles. It is never too late to learn, but has any government decision-maker read or listened to these suggestions?

When the whole world is offering help to overcome this tragedy, has the government even considered seeking modern forecasting equipment and the essential resources currently not available to our armed forces, police, and disaster-management centres?

B Perera

Opinion

Disasters: Hidden danger

Published

13 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

A great deal has been said about Cyclone Ditwah and its impact. To my mind one important aspect of it has not been addressed.

During the 1,400 odd landslides, it washed off a vast volume of soil which entered the various water bodies like tanks, lakes, rivers and streams etc. This process has raised their water levels reducing the water holding capacities (water holding capacity has a different meaning in soil science). What it means is that they cannot hold the same amount of water as before without spilling. Therefore, a precipitation which would not have been significant then can cause spilling of tanks leading to floods now. Hence there is a possibility of experiencing more floods in the future. Due to silting the tanks will carry less water than before, thus reducing the irrigable areas under their command. They will not be able to irrigate the same extents of paddy, thus affecting production.

How do we rectify this situation? It is desilting which can be very expensive.

It is good if these are considered in future planning.

Gamini Peiris
Panadura
Experienced agriculturist