Wider ramifacations of volcano

[Jacaqueen]

First of all I want to say how sorry I am for all the people who are seperated from loved ones but I would like to look at the wider effects of this situation especially if it continues for some time.

Import/exports will be effected which given the precarious state of the economy could be disasterous.

Air freight in general will come to a halt.

I get the feeling that we are not being told the whole story. Even if the volcano stops right now the ash that is already in the atmosphere will remain for some time.

If the wind direction changes will the ash be blown over to Canada and the US then down to the gulf and southern hemisphere?

This is starting to look like some bad disaster movie but I dont think Bruce Willis is going to be able do help much.

but you need both time...farmers would need to prepare more fields and then sow more crops.....and then of course RAIN and sun for them to grow......its not going to be produced so easily,certainly not quickly,in line with demand

I know I am beginning to sound like a real doom and gloom monger but I just think people in general are not looking at the big picture.

There are plenty of people in need of work, who could be employed on farms...yes, we may need to ration slightly...but there are still boats, not like in the war (of course population is much bigger than then, but still)

we would need to adapt. We couldn't carry on as we do at the moment and things would be more seasonal...you might not be able to get bananas all year, etc. but that's fairly minor.

I dunno - but it is rather exciting if you look at it the other way round. It's a challenge and an opportunity to put a few of these ideas into test stage.

yes,agree,quite exciting to look at new ways!

something good may come from this. i like the idea of rationing,tackle my obesity problem!!

rain,well i heard it would likely be acid rain

Why can't refineries be switched off?? Oils production sites do close down sometimes.

Acid rain isn't great, I agree.

Polytunnels! Possibly. (realises is talking out of arse)

I thought this stuff was meant to be great for teh soil, making it all lovely and fertile.

Said, I think it meant it'd take a while to do it - and production might need to be re-started fairly quickly, so it'd have to be a longer term thing.

Hard to plan for in the short term.

• is the volcano still actively spewing stuff into the air, or is the situation now that we are simply waiting for stuff already spewed to drift out of our air space?

Quick petro chemical lesson via DH.

Aviation fuel is produced at the same time as petrol and diesel. Crude oil is refined and turned into kerosine (aviation fuel) and gasoline (petrol). If production slows down petrol and diesel supplies will be effected.

Normally there is no need to store the kerosene as it is produced and used on a continual basis. There are facilities to store a certain amount but DH is not sure how much.

Still spewing, but in pulses rather than a constant stream. BBC site was saying there was no way of knowing when it would stop.

It's Ok, I know all about oil production. But, I guess excess could be piped/shipped over to the continent. All costly, of course.

I predict a rash of 'news stories' from people like Rosie Millard about their 'holiday hell'.

And then a second wave of stories about 'holiday hell' from the people being stuck in the airport in close proximity to her.

Sorry, I sounded a bit rude and dismissive there.

What a shame if a whole load of journos can't get back home. Mind you they will still be able to work via internet unfortunately.

My sister is a teacher who wont be home in time for classes starting on Monday and I imagine there will be a lot more like her.

I heard a surgeon being interviewed who has had to cancel operations.

More repurcussions

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1267020/UK-bone-marror-operations-cancelled-volcano-ash-air-travel- ban.html

very sad

If there was a shortage of diesel, how would tractors operate?

If this government had not shafted the British farming industry so badly then perhaps we could have been better prepared to provide in difficult times.
There are millions of tons of grain left to rot as it was cheaper to import.

If Yellowstone went up then it would be goodnight and see you later.

As long as it is over by october, when I go on holiday then fair enough Seriously though people panic buy at Christmas when the shops are shut for oneday so imagine the fuss when the sheeple discover things might run out.

I think that there will be a major impact on some of the more stable African economies. It's not just fruit, veg and flower growers but also tourism that will be affected.

We will be fine for the summer and it should give British growers a boost.

Posted on the other thread that I hope that this makes people think more about travel by plane. For the import/export why not use local goods or goods brought by rail/ship. Why take the plane for a holiday on a beach.