Filed under: posted by deluxe...
ok so here i am reading my daily dose of the BBC news and i come across the following article… australia shelves key emissions trading scheme… now this bothers me… not because we have shelved a policy that could have worsened our environmental impact and continued to fill the pockets of the industry players that are causing australia to remain one of the highest per-capita emitters of greenhouse gas… but because this shift is causing us to slip closer towards a ‘do nothing’ outcome as opposed to a more robust approach to carbon reduction and pricing as proposed in this recent report by the gratten institute (a new think tank based out of melbourne, australia) or the previous garnaut report… it also scares me that we have climate-skeptic tony abbott running around (that guy is crazy!) when he actually belongs back in the 1600’s chairing the salem witch trials… in a era where this actually not much difference between our current government and the alternative, i remain very scared… greens anyone?
tony abbott at work debating that the earth is actually flat...
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thosespacesinbetween 
Yo Deluxe,
How true!!
The decision by the KRudd government yesterday to shelve the ETS until at least 2013, is the latest in a long line of short-sighted governments playing politics. The fact that climate change has transformed from the greatest moral, economic and social issue of our time, to something that can be placed on the backburner is disgusting.
There are a number of reasons that this would be the inevitable end of the ETS:
1. The success of climate denialists (deluded as they are) to instill doubt in the public’smind.
2. The general apathy of the Australian public and the refusal to trade unsustainable lifestyles for the sake of future generations.
3. The use of climate change by the government and a wedge issue.
4. The fact that the ETS was a ridiculous scheme that subsidised polluters to continue spewing GHG, not reducing emissions until 2035 – who would honestly vote for this crap?
One should never look for a complicated, technical solution to such crises because the goal is often lost in the process. That is what an ETS is, complicated way to make banks and industry alot of money and ignore the issue. The easiest way to deal with the issue of fossil fuels and GHGs is – STOP DIGGING THE SHIT UP AND BURNING IT!!!
But what is the great big elephant in the room when it comes to climate change? The refusal to declare tha economic growth is the cause of climate change. We can have all the legislation we want to “reduce” emissions, however, if we, as a society, are unable to question the fundamental assumptions of our economy and society – ie an ever expanding treadmill of production and consumption – we can forget about adressing this existential issue in any meaningful way. Incremental reform is not the answer. What is “politically feasible” is not good enough. It takes empowered people…
Check out empowerment in all its glory:
Comment by coopz April 28, 2010 @ 8:31 amhttp://www.risingtide.org.au