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Refusing to fly has lost me my job as a climate researcher. It’s a price worth paying
The Guardian ^ | 13th October 2023 | Giankuca Grimalda

Posted on 10/12/2023 11:42:09 PM PDT by Cronos

Two weeks ago, my employer presented me with a stark ultimatum: return to my offices in Kiel, Germany, within five days, or lose my job. I am a climate researcher and since March 2023, I have been completing vital fieldwork into the social impact of climate change almost 24,000km away by overland routes, on the island of Bougainville off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

...I have been practising conscientious objection to flying for more than 10 years. My employer has supported me on a “slow trip” in the past. I do not boycott flying altogether, but I will only catch a plane when no other alternative exists.

This weekend, I will set sail on a cargo ship to return to Germany, travelling to East New Britain in Papua New Guinea. From there, I will cover the remaining distance to Europe by cargo ship, ferry, train and coach.

Many people have asked why it is so important for me to travel as low-carbon as possible. I have three reasons. First, I want to be consistent with my moral commitment to avoid flying ...trip by plane from Papua New Guinea to Germany produces, in 32 hours, 5.3 tonnes of CO2 per passenger. Slow travel produces approximately 12 times less (420kg). In the current state of climate emergency, wasting 4.9 tonnes of CO2 – about how much the average person in the world emits in one year – to expedite my return to Europe is not morally acceptable to me.

..Second, I promised all the 1,800 participants in my research in Bougainville that I would return low-carbon. I want to keep my promise.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Germany
KEYWORDS: carbonpropaganda; chat; climatehoax; fakescience; looneytoon; notnews
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As a climate researcher, it is good he is practicing what he studies
1 posted on 10/12/2023 11:42:09 PM PDT by Cronos
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To: Cronos

Tonnes seem like a lot. Starting from the weight of a rock which weighs about a pound, make a pile of 2000 rocks. That is a tonne. Then walk away from that pile of rocks and in just a few minutes you won’t even be able to see it if you look back. A tonne is a trivial amount in the grand scheme. People like this guy vastly overestimate their own importance. I think if he really practiced what he preaches he would end his life in a carbon neutral fashion.


2 posted on 10/12/2023 11:54:04 PM PDT by webheart
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To: Cronos
If only there was a simple number that indicated something's true total carbon emissions from beginning to end, without political manipulation.

Oh, wait... there is! The price.

Flying through thin air at 500 mph for 10 hours has lower carbon emissions, and a lower price, than taking a boat and having staff feed and accommodate a mental case for 30 days. The modern airliner is the most carbon efficient mode of people transport ever invented.

3 posted on 10/13/2023 12:00:07 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: Cronos

It’s good that he lost his job as a “climate researcher”. That’s a fake science. It that causes the world nothing but harm.

Now maybe this guy can get a useful job, something that actually helps people. Maybe he could be a plumber or a number caller in a bingo hall.

Yes, that would do.


4 posted on 10/13/2023 12:01:53 AM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Cronos
News from a real climate scientist.

Old Climate Comedians video 6:01

5 posted on 10/13/2023 12:05:19 AM PDT by TigersEye (Our Republic is under seige by globalist Marxists. Hold fast!)
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To: webheart

And most of that weight is Oxygen, gained by the oxidation of CH molecules, replacing a Hydrogen atom (the hydro in hydrocarbon) with 2 Oxygen atoms. Oxygen atoms are about 15X as heavy as Hydrogen. Defining CO2 as a pollutant is about control.


6 posted on 10/13/2023 12:22:01 AM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: Leaning Right
It’s good that he lost his job as a “climate researcher”.

Maybe now he can use his brainpower for more productive work.

7 posted on 10/13/2023 12:24:28 AM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: Cronos

He could die, then he would emit no CO2 whatsoever.


8 posted on 10/13/2023 12:34:01 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: Leaning Right
It’s good that he lost his job as a “climate researcher”.

Better yet the job itself disappears.

9 posted on 10/13/2023 12:52:53 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: PGR88

And still be good for plant life by providing them nitrogen.


10 posted on 10/13/2023 1:25:45 AM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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Idealistic disposition — meaningless


11 posted on 10/13/2023 1:46:46 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Cronos

This person is an idiot.

I have no desire to read the entire article.


12 posted on 10/13/2023 1:49:06 AM PDT by sauropod (I will stand for truth even if I stand alone.)
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To: Cronos

Thw word Doofus was coined to describe people like this.

If he is really a climate researcher he isn’t very good at it or he would know and admit there is a dirth of evidence and facts
to support the insane policies ginned up to fight a climate-change crisis that doesn’t exist.


13 posted on 10/13/2023 2:00:16 AM PDT by Iron Munro (Sun Tzu: An evil man will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes)
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To: PGR88

How much CO2 if his body is cremated?


14 posted on 10/13/2023 2:08:24 AM PDT by Does so ( 🇺🇦...................."Who is Ray Epps?" should be overstamped on every piece of currency.)
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To: Cronos

“Refusing to fly has lost me my job as a climate researcher. It’s a price worth paying,”

Working as a mercenary in that war probably wouldn’t pay a whole lot anyway, but what do you have to lose? /s


15 posted on 10/13/2023 2:09:24 AM PDT by equaviator (If 60 is the new 40 then 35 must be the new 15.)
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To: Cronos

Mental illness, definitely unable to see reality from climate hysteria.


16 posted on 10/13/2023 2:17:13 AM PDT by Reno89519 (It's war. No one murders and takes Americans hostage. Time to act. Declare war on Hamas.)
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To: Cronos

Virtue signaling on steroids.


17 posted on 10/13/2023 2:19:17 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam ("Normal" is never coming back.)
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To: Cronos

Huh, I didn’t know you could book rides on a cargo ship. Doesn’t sound like a bad way to travel if you’re not expecting a cruise ship experience.


18 posted on 10/13/2023 2:23:56 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Cronos

Unfortunately for him, his employer is not an eco research place, but an economic research place. Another article linked within indicates it’s the Kiehl Institute for Worldwide Economy.

Like most eco idiots he fails to consider the economic impact of his unicorn farm under the rainbow.

Maybe this will teach him that to get certain jobs done (getting from point a to b in a reasonable time), you need more than animal or manpower.

What defines a “reasonable” time? Well, that depends on your society. If you live in the stone age it’s walking speed. If you live in modern days, it may involve air travel.

Here’s an economic lesson for you - you can’t push society back to walking speed without simultaneously pushing it back to the stone age.

We’ll see if he realizes it.


19 posted on 10/13/2023 2:29:06 AM PDT by fruser1
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To: Cronos

He has a do-nothing job in the South Pacific and his boss says come home to Germany. The cold months are coming. He’s upset. It’s your fault. Whaaaa!!


20 posted on 10/13/2023 2:35:57 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (Freedom isn't free, liberty isn't liberal and you'll never find anything Right on the Left)
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