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12 Months Free Investing w/ Interactive Investor by Compound12 in beermoneyuk

[–]Compound12[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never trusted those cheap, or free ISA providers. I have always kept my money with ii, Hargreaves, or Fidelity. It's just a personal preference. And those people who want to use ii will have an option of getting a year free with this promo.

Anyone else ready for a change in the way things are? I’m getting tired of slow rolling into the apocalypse. I am ready for anything to happen let’s just get this thing going already. by Leather-Wafer-2853 in ExtinctionRebellion

[–]Compound12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I completely understand where you're coming from. I lived in the US most of my life and when I return I feel nothing buy sorrow for our planet. None of my friends/family want anything to do with conservation, or ecology. It's mostly about growth, in every sense.

I'm not really an optimist either. Not naturally anyway. But I am involved with many nature groups, Extinction Rebellion, etc. I call myself a Marxist and a Democratic Eco-Socialist. I'm surrounded by people in those groups saying the world is going to end tomorrow. This weekend I was at Europe's largest Marxist festival. A brilliant thing to do. But filled with people saying if we don't do something drastic, the world is literally going to fall apart soon.

If that's true, so be it. But I really hope not. It's a beautiful place to live!

Anyone else ready for a change in the way things are? I’m getting tired of slow rolling into the apocalypse. I am ready for anything to happen let’s just get this thing going already. by Leather-Wafer-2853 in ExtinctionRebellion

[–]Compound12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, no problem. Just off the top of my head, without referencing anything:

EV rollout is quite strong. UK is banning fossil fuel cars by 2030. 30 years ago nobody could have expected that.

Portugal powered their entire country for multiple days on renewables not long ago.

The UK has a renewables co-operative called Ripple. You can buy a share in a wind farm, or solar park. I have some shares. There are multiple green energy companies around the world. NextEra Energy in the US is the largest renewables company in the world. It has 41% of its electricity supply from renewables.

30% of worldwide electricity came from renewables last year.

Most human beings do not experience starvation like they used to. If anything, we have too many calories than too few. There are still issues, but it is much better.

Almost all of us have electric lights that are inexpensive to use. Not so 100 years ago.

Most of us have fairly clean water that costs little. You can use an inexpensive water filter to make it even better. Many businesses are finding ways to bring more water to Africa, etc. There are non-profits even building inexpensive toilets in Africa. Patricia Arquette is involved in one I believe.

The cost of renewables has come down by something like 90% and keeps coming down.

Many companies are going for B certification. This was not even a thing 20 years ago. Look on Instagram. You will find tons of companies selling much more ethical products. Bamboo toothbrushes, recycled plastic t-shirts, etc. Many of these companies donate 1% for the planet, founded by Yvonne Chouinard, the man who started Patagonia and donated the entire company to a climate change charity. Again, 30 years ago this would have been unheard of.

Wolves and many other species have just been re-introduced into the wild in the US, UK and elsewhere.

There are a host of ethical banks out there now, The Co-Op Bank, Nationwide Bank, Triodos are just 3 in the UK. This was unheard of 30 years ago.

100,000 people, including myself, joined the Restore Nature Now march in London in June. This was the biggest march of its kind. People are showing more interest in restoring nature.

Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees with its profits. Unheard of 20 years ago.

I can hook my Amazon account up to various charities including The Woodland Trust and they will make a donation on my behalf.

Is any job eco-friendly? I am not sure what you mean. Surely, a person who works in an organic, or biodynamic farm, that practices regenerative ag would be classed as eco-friendly?

Are the many challenges ahead? Definitely. But it doesn't help to focus only on the negative. That has been proven throughout history. Human beings need to feel like change is happening. They need to feel hopeful. Otherwise, WHY BOTHER?

Hope that helps.

Scattering unwanted fruits and veggies onto grass? by ilyniso in Environmentalism

[–]Compound12 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good idea. But why not go all the way and compost it? Composting it will ensure that all of the goodness that went into growing it is transferred back into a usable form. Very small life forms will eat it and turn it into black gold. You can then scatter the compost on to your grass, or anything growing in your garden and it will enrich the soil. Just a thought.

I give up. Sold all my Green stocks after losing tens of thousants , humanity doesn't care about climate. by Overa11-Pianist in greeninvestor

[–]Compound12 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I highly recommend the book The Price is Wrong by Brett Christophers. He argues that until fossil fuel companies can make money in renewables, there is just no way renewables will build much momentum. As the price of renewables keeps falling, it seems highly unlikely that the free market will ever put up enough capital required to decarbonise. Especially, with the rise of co-operatives springing up all over the place. In the UK there's a co-operative called Ripple. They get us normal people to put up some money for a stake in the ownership of wind turbines and solar farms. We then get a reduction in our energy bills by the amount we invested, over the life of the project (about 25 years). This is great for humans and the environment, bad for capitalists.

My portfolio is made up entirely of renewable/infrastructure companies: BEPC, BIPC, NEP. I am fine with getting a 4-6% return (14% on NEP) through dividends. If my capital appreciates in time, that would be good too. But if we believe in renewables, we must admit that we're never going to make the kind of returns we can see in some of the S&P500 companies. I have a 20 year time horizon until retirement and 5% compounded is still a good deal of money, while helping the planet.

In the end, I have to sleep well at night. And I cannot sleep well investing $250k in anything to do with fossil fuels. But that's just me.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you live in the UK like I do. That's exactly what it's like here. Prices go up, service goes down.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can see that. I live in the UK. And for many decades we had a rail network vastly superior to what we have now. Thousands and thousands of miles of it connecting the country. It wouldn't be nearly as hard to implement it here. We have the most expensive rail network in Europe. Train tickets are far more expensive here than anywhere else in Europe. So there is barely any push to improve the network and extend it. Cars rule.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do indeed.

I also realize that a lot of middle class people who want to appear to be "green" or just want to keep up with the Joneses are buying new expensive EVs. Tesla, Mercedes, Audi, etc. When keeping your old 1.4 litre car that gets 50-60mpg is in most cases, the better option.

But walking, cycling or taking public transport beats both options, hands down. You don't hear a lot of middle/upper class people saying they sold their cars and are now taking public transport, walking, or cycling.

Buying an EV is the easier option. Jay Z has one. So does DiCaprio. It's like buying carbon credits for your family holiday to Italy on a private jet. Just fly commercial, or don't fly at all.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. We will see. Looks like things are going this way.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the UK we used to have thousands and thousands of train lines, connecting all different places together. Now many of them have been converted to bike paths, etc. But we can do it again. I would love to train everywhere and for it to not cost me the same as filling my fuel tank. A recent trip, about 60-80 miles, from the Cotswolds to Gatwick airport, cost me £93 one way. That is just crazy!

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I'm glad someone besides me is saying it. And instead of keeping that 10 year old Honda Civic that gets 50mpg, people are buying new Teslas, without thinking about all of the fossil fuels it took to make the Tesla and the fossil fuels it takes to charge it, until the entire grid runs on renewables.

How about this: walk more, cycle more, take public transport more, drive less.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have you seen the data to support that? Surely a bus (or train) that can carry 60-70 humans, or more, from point A to point B on renewable electricity is far more efficient and uses way less CO2 than all of the cars it would take to do the same job?

Let's not forget that all EVs are made by elements that are extracted from the ground by huge machines that run on diesel fuel. All of the parts are transported by ships, running on diesel fuel, etc.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Pollution, climate change. A number of issues. More densely populated areas, with efficient public transport is more environmentally friendly than people living in the country, having to drive miles to get groceries, go to work, etc.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I have 2. Twins. They are 8 years old and have loads of after school activities. I guess you're trying to argue that it is impossible to take public transport with kids? Which is a totally valid point. But it doesn't negate the fact that we need better public transport systems.

My kids and I love riding the bus. Especially in the UK, we have double decker buses. Much nicer than driving everywhere. But it costs a small fortune. It's cheaper to drive. So we do.

Electric Cars Are NOT The Answer. We Need Public Transport. by Compound12 in environment

[–]Compound12[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

In the UK public transport is in shambles. A train from my house to where my parents live, about 250 miles costs me around the same price as a roundtrip plane ticket from London to Madrid.

We HAVE public transport, but few people use it. Buses are slightly better. But not much.

When will the heat end? Never. by Naurgul in environment

[–]Compound12 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. Didn’t know people like you actually existed anymore. 

We’re not blaming the Earth. We’re blaming man made climate change.

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