LINKS
WEATHER
Rain Clearance
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/radar/index.html
Scottish Mountain Weather
http://www.mwis.org.uk/areas.php
5 Day Weather Forecasts
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml
Long Range Weather Forecasts
Canon Professional Network
http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/services.do
PROTECTING OUR LANDSCAPES
Scientists and engineers have divided views on whether or not man-made carbon emissions are one of the major causes of global warming.
I believe that global warming and cooling are natural phenomena. It also is my view that wind turbines will not contribute in a meaningful way to carbon saving. Wind is unreliable and wind turbines therefore require carbon emitting backup plant when there is too little or too much wind. I am therefore opposed to wind turbines being allowed on our best landscapes. The opposite views are widely published. Wind Energy is of course a highly profitable business for energy companies and land owners and it is much more expensive than conventional generation to the consumer.
All photographers have a great respect for our planet. Some photographers work for energy companies and others may even see the turbines as interesting elegant structures
In terms of landscape photography we could perhaps readily agree that wind turbines and pylons are visually intrusive and seriously detrimental to our best landscapes. The disagreement in the photographic community I believe is therefore limited to whether or not we think that the decimation of our landscape in this way is something which we must bear for contributing towards holding back Global Warming or not. Those who believe that wind turbines could be important in addressing man-made carbon emissions and Global Warming should be mindful that not only is opinion divided on the causes of Global Warming but in fact only one third of man-made carbon comes from electricity generation. Wind Energy only relates to electricity generation and represents such a small portion of that to be meaningless. I beg you to consider the pros and cons in detail before supporting this initiative which will decimate our prize landscapes.
I gave evidence to a Select Committee which covers my views in more detail and this is available at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeconaf/195/195we36.htm
Belts and Suspenders
Now to a lighter subject by Ron Lacey
BlackRapid Part 2: Belt and Suspenders