On Being Green
November 1st 2007 04:46
Greetings Earthlings,
Well, it's probably one of the most important issues in the election campaign and on the one hand we've had John Howard talk about the Kyoto Protocol as a "symbolic" document and on the other we have Kevin Rudd talking about thinking about our future. It's important beyond words what is going on in the battle to save our environment, but no one's saying what needs to be said.
The environmental question is so crucial for the long-term survival of the species that the economy needs to be put in second place. That's right, profits come second, the environment comes first. Neither Howard nor Rudd seem to be capable or prepared to actually make a statement like that because it would send big business into a conniption fit, but it's true.
If we don't want our kids to be paying for our environmental suicide, we must act now and big business should be prepared to take the hits. We need to be converting to renewable, clean energy sources, such as solar, wind power and even deep sea ocean currents, NOT investing in nuclear power, which is potentially unsafe and produces hazardous waste, conserving our water and protecting even more of our precious rainforests.
The Howard argument is generally built on saving jobs and kowtowing to big business. This means nothing in the long run, because if we don't act now it's going to cost a lot more to fix up the problems we are creating as we live and breathe now. Right effing NOW. John Howard is so caught up in his 'we have to save jobs and maintain the economy' schtik that he fails to see the problems. Saving lives should be more of a motivating factor than saving jobs at this point.
Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol is not merely a symbolic gesture, it's a serious commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it doesn't matter one jot what other countries fail or manage to do it is important that WE DO IT. If we lead by example others may well follow our lead. To say it is merely symbolic is a lie, it's outrageous that the US, India and China are not involved, but that doesn't excuse us.
Howard is a classic sycophant when it comes to America. Just as an aside, not one stern word against the regime in Burma came out of the Howard government until George W. Bush mentioned the 17 year old crisis at APEC. This suddenly gave Alexander Downer the courage to do the same. So it is with Kyoto, we need to be seen to be at the end of America's leash to be seen to be credible. It's a joke.
Why is it so necessary that the Americans have to do something first to allow us to say something or act in a sensible manner? We only really have one shot at fixing the planet, temperatures are rising, waste-producing businesses don't seem to be slowing down and putting the economy first is just one step closer to the edge. Accept that big business should take the hits for it's own mess and maybe, just maybe, we'll win a few victories.
Cheers
Michael.
Well, it's probably one of the most important issues in the election campaign and on the one hand we've had John Howard talk about the Kyoto Protocol as a "symbolic" document and on the other we have Kevin Rudd talking about thinking about our future. It's important beyond words what is going on in the battle to save our environment, but no one's saying what needs to be said.
The environmental question is so crucial for the long-term survival of the species that the economy needs to be put in second place. That's right, profits come second, the environment comes first. Neither Howard nor Rudd seem to be capable or prepared to actually make a statement like that because it would send big business into a conniption fit, but it's true.
If we don't want our kids to be paying for our environmental suicide, we must act now and big business should be prepared to take the hits. We need to be converting to renewable, clean energy sources, such as solar, wind power and even deep sea ocean currents, NOT investing in nuclear power, which is potentially unsafe and produces hazardous waste, conserving our water and protecting even more of our precious rainforests.
The Howard argument is generally built on saving jobs and kowtowing to big business. This means nothing in the long run, because if we don't act now it's going to cost a lot more to fix up the problems we are creating as we live and breathe now. Right effing NOW. John Howard is so caught up in his 'we have to save jobs and maintain the economy' schtik that he fails to see the problems. Saving lives should be more of a motivating factor than saving jobs at this point.
Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol is not merely a symbolic gesture, it's a serious commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it doesn't matter one jot what other countries fail or manage to do it is important that WE DO IT. If we lead by example others may well follow our lead. To say it is merely symbolic is a lie, it's outrageous that the US, India and China are not involved, but that doesn't excuse us.
Howard is a classic sycophant when it comes to America. Just as an aside, not one stern word against the regime in Burma came out of the Howard government until George W. Bush mentioned the 17 year old crisis at APEC. This suddenly gave Alexander Downer the courage to do the same. So it is with Kyoto, we need to be seen to be at the end of America's leash to be seen to be credible. It's a joke.
Why is it so necessary that the Americans have to do something first to allow us to say something or act in a sensible manner? We only really have one shot at fixing the planet, temperatures are rising, waste-producing businesses don't seem to be slowing down and putting the economy first is just one step closer to the edge. Accept that big business should take the hits for it's own mess and maybe, just maybe, we'll win a few victories.
Cheers
Michael.
| 109 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
