How many cars do we really need

[Wiggles]

Not quite the case. In Singapore the government only permits cars with certain licence plates to use the roads every day. The idea is to cut down on pollution and traffic jams and the like. This should mean that Singaporians should only be able to dive every other day. Unfortunately, the locals get round the blue laws by having two or more motors with the appropriate number plates.



It is impossible to legislate folk into being virtuous.

Sorry Borchester, we had moved on, and I think you missed the point. I was referring to the World's population, not cars.

[Borchester]

 My point is that no government is addressing the issue,

Not quite the case. In Singapore the government only permits cars with certain licence plates to use the roads every day. The idea is to cut down on pollution and traffic jams and the like. This should mean that Singaporians should only be able to dive every other day. Unfortunately, the locals get round the blue laws by having two or more motors with the appropriate number plates.



It is impossible to legislate folk into being virtuous.

[Baron von Lotsov]

Here's another fact about London. This is from a Chinese paper.



https://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2018/07/29/14b19068-92d8-11e8-9656-94877fce2da3_972x_110856.JPG">



Despite what people say about the city, it is still very much in the front runners for some things.

[Hyperduck Quack Quack]

People can have as many cars as they like as long as they keep them on their own land and don't park them on the road. After all you can only drive one car at a time.  



We currently only have one (small) car but have had multiple cars in the past. There are times when having two cars would be useful but we manage with one and that's probably cut our total car miles somewhat.



Car sales are down and while Brexit uncertainty might explain some of that, I see other reasons.  One is that people don't want to commit to a new diesel or petrol car because legislation might render them prematurely obsolete, affecting their resale value adversely. Yet they might be uncertain whether to go for a hybrid or full electric car next time.  And if they're considering an electric car, is it better to buy one now or wait a couple of years, by which time they'd probably be able to get one with an even longer battery range for less money. Another reason is that fewer young people are learning to drive or aspire to owning a car.

[Wiggles]

Well actually for once I agree with you (well partly anyway) yes we do consume far too much and there are far too many people.



It's your solutions I find distasteful but the end of the world isn't nigh,humanity perhaps but if we disappeared the world and life would continue.



Anyway nature usually has its own way of dealing with these things,some call it god I call it nature and some balance will be restored eventually.

I didn't mention my way of dealing with it, albeit I realise you are aware of my solutions. My point is that no government is addressing the issue, and if the issue isn't addressed the measures to get things in check will have to become more drastic as time goes on. Yes, nature does have a way of dealing with the problem, and that's what global warming is all about. I totally agree, we will not and not destroy the planet, but we can destroy ourselves.

[cromwell]

The majority of issues that effect the long term future of our planet is determined by the size of the human population. I am sure I don't need to go into detail regarding the damage we are doing. Putting batteries in cars, building wind turbines, and getting on the bu, isn't going to help the planet as long as China is building a new coal fired power station every week. The people of the advanced world need to reduce the consumables they purchase, but try telling someone who earns a £1m a year they can't treat themselves. After all, if we stop buying things we create unemployment and further poverty. The only viable answer is downsizing the world's population. You poo poo the idea because the measures required to do so are complex, and some may say unethical, however, the planet is not capable of sustaining our growing population, and if we continue to ignore it things will continue to get worse. Of course, some people kid themselves we are capable of dealing with every problem we encounter, but it's becoming obvious we aren't !

Well actually for once I agree with you (well partly anyway) yes we do consume far too much and there are far too many people.



It's your solutions I find distasteful but the end of the world isn't nigh,humanity perhaps but if we disappeared the world and life would continue.



Anyway nature usually has its own way of dealing with these things,some call it god I call it nature and some balance will be restored eventually.

[Wiggles]

That's where you lose me. There is another poster who advocates mass murder. It is only from one source so I'm out.

The majority of issues that effect the long term future of our planet is determined by the size of the human population. I am sure I don't need to go into detail regarding the damage we are doing. Putting batteries in cars, building wind turbines, and getting on the bu, isn't going to help the planet as long as China is building a new coal fired power station every week. The people of the advanced world need to reduce the consumables they purchase, but try telling someone who earns a £1m a year they can't treat themselves. After all, if we stop buying things we create unemployment and further poverty. The only viable answer is downsizing the world's population. You poo poo the idea because the measures required to do so are complex, and some may say unethical, however, the planet is not capable of sustaining our growing population, and if we continue to ignore it things will continue to get worse. Of course, some people kid themselves we are capable of dealing with every problem we encounter, but it's becoming obvious we aren't !

[T00ts]

Less people, less need for merchandise and food etc. Easy as that, but will mankind attempt to do anything about it, not for a while I would think !

That's where you lose me. There is another poster who advocates mass murder. It is only from one source so I'm out.

[Wiggles]

Thank you. I hate to say it but the constant search for increased profit margins seems to have fed the consumer lust. Take a stroll into any store - without thinking about the dreaded web - we are bombarded by too many choices and too much stuff. Add to that the constant brainwashing that stuff will make us happy and we have a problem. We need prosperity. We need jobs. I see no easy answer without an awful lot of hardship worldwide. It seems to me that the world is stuffed whichever way it tries to go.



Perhaps in truth the end is nigh!

Less people, less need for merchandise and food etc. Easy as that, but will mankind attempt to do anything about it, not for a while I would think !

[papasmurf]

We've seen your bricklaying, with its "Sunday joints".   ::

I bet SW didn't know anything about bricks and mortar.

 :roll:

I suggest you take a look at any 300 year old brick built building that used lime mortar, there is no neat bricklaying.

[Barry]

It looks like those bricks are around 300 years old, which may mean Wiggles lives in a listed building.

(Lime mortar is like superglue, adjustments after laying are not possible.)

We've seen your bricklaying, with its "Sunday joints".   ::

I bet SW didn't know anything about bricks and mortar.

 :roll:

[T00ts]

Good post Toots, and very true. In my case it would be difficult for us to have only one car, because of our life style. The third car is just a hobby, and she lives in the garage. In general though, you are right. My wife has enough clothes to dress most of India, and enough trainers for a small European country. I have enough watches for the average town, but they don't take up much space. As we go forward we need to look more at quality, and less at quantity. We also need to look at the food we eat. To be honest, if there wasn't so many of us, none of this would be an issue. Unfortunately the vast majority of governments throughout the world turn a blind eye to the population, because it's easier to do so. Probably not in my life time, but at some point the worlds leaders will have to take their heads out of the sand.

Thank you. I hate to say it but the constant search for increased profit margins seems to have fed the consumer lust. Take a stroll into any store - without thinking about the dreaded web - we are bombarded by too many choices and too much stuff. Add to that the constant brainwashing that stuff will make us happy and we have a problem. We need prosperity. We need jobs. I see no easy answer without an awful lot of hardship worldwide. It seems to me that the world is stuffed whichever way it tries to go.



Perhaps in truth the end is nigh!

[Wiggles]

Let's face it one of the major problems in the world is wanting rather than needing anything. Do we have more clothes than we actually need? Do we eat more than we really need? Do we produce food and goods more than we need? The same with cars.



Families no longer share cars, they have to have one each and have arranged their lives accordingly. Some have more than one each. eg The family I know where Mum, Dad, eldest Son all have cars - no doubt the other child will have one at some point too. Then they have a Campervan parked up which I believe they tax for just 6 months of the year. Rather than a front garden they have a multi car car-park. This in turn is tarmac rather than grass lawn, and forget any borders to tend. There might be a couple of pots with designer shrubs. Multiply this out and the wildlife and everyone else suffers. We need to stop being greedy and we all need to address the problems created by our life choices.

Good post Toots, and very true. In my case it would be difficult for us to have only one car, because of our life style. The third car is just a hobby, and she lives in the garage. In general though, you are right. My wife has enough clothes to dress most of India, and enough trainers for a small European country. I have enough watches for the average town, but they don't take up much space. As we go forward we need to look more at quality, and less at quantity. We also need to look at the food we eat. To be honest, if there wasn't so many of us, none of this would be an issue. Unfortunately the vast majority of governments throughout the world turn a blind eye to the population, because it's easier to do so. Probably not in my life time, but at some point the worlds leaders will have to take their heads out of the sand.

[Wiggles]

Who built that wall Wiggles , Mr Magoo ?

LOL. I took that photo when I went to view the car, it's not my property. It's the only photo I have without a reg number. The property I viewed the car at was very old, hence the wall.

[T00ts]

Let's face it one of the major problems in the world is wanting rather than needing anything. Do we have more clothes than we actually need? Do we eat more than we really need? Do we produce food and goods more than we need? The same with cars.



Families no longer share cars, they have to have one each and have arranged their lives accordingly. Some have more than one each. eg The family I know where Mum, Dad, eldest Son all have cars - no doubt the other child will have one at some point too. Then they have a Campervan parked up which I believe they tax for just 6 months of the year. Rather than a front garden they have a multi car car-park. This in turn is tarmac rather than grass lawn, and forget any borders to tend. There might be a couple of pots with designer shrubs. Multiply this out and the wildlife and everyone else suffers. We need to stop being greedy and we all need to address the problems created by our life choices.