Richard Branson’s $25 million ‘Virgin Earth Challenge’
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February 18, 2007All the ‘big issues’ come down to short term thinking & politics…..
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Earth Challenge is offering $25 million for anyone who can figure out how to take vast amounts of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. Scientists are looking for a method that will remove at least one billion tonnes of carbon per year from the atmosphere.
The ‘Challenge’ – announced last week in the company of Al Gore – will be judged by a panel that includes, besides Branson and Gore, NASA scientist James Hansen, Gaia theorist James Lovelock, Aussie scientist Tim Flannery, and U.K. eco-hero Sir Crispin Tickell.
At the press conference Richard Branson said “The Earth cannot wait 60 years……humankind must realise the scale of the crisis it faced…..I want a future for my children and my children’s children. The clock is ticking, he says….if the planet was to survive, it was vital to find a way of getting rid of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide…..offering the $25m (£12.5m) Earth Challenge Prize was the best way of finding a solution…If I write this cheque … it will be the best cheque I’ve ever written.”
Others offered praise. “Richard Branson is ahead of the pack in getting to grips with CO2,” said University of Edinburgh geology professor Stuart Haszeldine. “I hope all other businesses, large and small, follow his lead….His decisive action places shame on the dithering of the UK Treasury, who will not let British power companies build CO2 capture plants, in case they are too expensive.”
The Growing, Growing Gone blog has a YouTube link to an interesting interview with Al Gore and Richard Branson… it reports that CNN is saying, sadly, as with all big issues, the situation really breaks down to money and politics, and, with the US number 4 in the offenders stakes, when is America going to take some responsiblity for its actions?
This of course is Al Gore’s stated intention with ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ to mobilise the American people to pressure their politicians. It’s hard to get inside their heads – pollies everywhere it seems – isn’t it? They have kids too…. how do they balance decisionmaking that affects the world our kids will inherit with political expediency?
9 Comments
It is a great thing that Richard is doing… even if no real “inventions” come from this it still brings the issue in front of everyones eyes.
Thanks for the link as well!
1greenthumb
It IS a great thing Richard is doing – it’s a pity our political leaders can’t get past politics and get on with doing what people want them to do – LEAD! You’re very welcome to the link.
I would really like to contact richard branson. I have an excellent idea on how to harnes tidal energy. tidal energy is 100% eco friendly and VERY! powerful. I have very litle money and im not interested in getting rich I just want to put this idea in someones hands that has the resources and heart to do something with it
how do I contact him?
Earthcycle research farm has developed, and tested the technology that could stop global warming. I believe, if we act now; my suggestions could be met in time to forestall the next ice age. Therefor, I would like to claim the 25million dollar prize offered by Ted Branson. So, I’ve been wondering how we submit our proposal which is renewable at earthcycle.wordpress.com …criticism is welcome
How about this for a suggestion Mr Branson:
1. Close your Virgin Airlines business, dissmantle and recycle the aircraft.
2. Stop all plans to offer £100000 commercial space flights that have no benefit apart from offering a thrill to the rich.
Or is that too much like anti-capitalism.
You fool.
mr. richard branson If you are for real about giving the 25 million away. I could sure use it to get my invention off the ground.I have a engine that uses no fuel. i call it THE HYPER DRIVE. I have applied for a provisional patent. I could e-mail,. mail or fax it to you .so that your team could evaluate it.my home adress is 1224 highland ave.Joliet ill 60435 I look foward talking to you soon. thank you much.
Nature has shown us the way. Deep burial of organic matter in bulk , will sequester carbon. This would call for global harvesting of organic matter and collection of societally generated waste matter (of high carbon content)and subsequent deep burial. Harvested areas would be regenerated with the same species. Due to rapid growth rates of high density young trees and shrubs etc. there would be rapid removal of CO2 from the air. At some point in time the forest could be harvested again for deep burial. Thinning could be performed to gather biomass which may have otherwise died and decomposed throughout the regeneration of the forest.
This process could potentially produce oil and coal, a bitter temptation for long future generations.
Whens the deadline?????????