sparkindarkness (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sparkindarkness) wrote2006-11-01 01:58 pm
sparkindarkness) wrote2006-11-01 01:58 pm
The world is in trouble what are we going to do about it?
The world is in dire straits but Blair is going to help, apparently.
Yes, the reports are in (the many many reports) and they have concluded:
a) Global warming is here
b) we are a major cause of it
c) we should have been doing something about it 20 years ago
d) if we don’t act soon we’re all screwed.
We’ve also got the ongoing issue that Britain sucks at recycling. We’re way behind on the rest of Europe and it’s really quite pathetic, especially since the landfills are filling up and people scream blue murder every time there is a proposed incinerator.
So Blair’s (and local council’s) response, for both, is to introduce green taxes to encourage less waste and emissions and generally better habits.
I can see the point on some things. It really annoys me to see people who have absolutely no need for them driving around cities in Land Rovers or other 4X4s. Nothing would please me more than to tax these Chelsea tractors until people get something more appropriate. I see people, just 2 people living in a house, and they fill the wheelie bin to overflowing every single week. Our council provides a recycle bin as well and will give you a free compost bin - so there is really no excuse for not using either. But every week their wheelie bin is out and overflowing, while their recycling bin never moves. I would love to see them charged for not making even the most basic, simple effort.
But at the same time I think this is a poor way to inspire people to do their bit. Already you have the usual suspect “newspapers” screaming about taxes and Gordon Brown’s rapacious grasping and money hungry back pocket. Basically, people are looking at the legitimate environmental crisis and seeing an excuse to raise taxes. That’s not good at all.
My solution? Well, I think we still need to force the issue and I would look at regulation beyond just taxes. I also think where we ARE using deterrent taxes we need to ensure that ANY revenue generated from them go automatically into environmental causes. So if councils tax people extra for excessively full bins, they should make it EXTREMELY clear that ALL of that money earned is going to be spent on recycling plants/providing recycling services etc. If road tax is going to quadruple for the worst emission producing and petrol guzzling vehicles then it has to be CLEAR that the extra funds are going to be spent on wind turbines and investing in more efficient technology etc.
I would also introduce reward schemes - the recycling bin is full and sorted? Right, have a rebate. Bought a low emissions high efficiency car? Right, very low road tax.
And of course they must actually DO it - not just SAY the money is being invested in green issues, but actually INVEST them in green issues. If people can point to the government using this for revenue then the whole issue will explode.
Oh, and the next person who complains about a wind turbine gets slapped and asked if they’d rather have a coal power plant on their doorstep or if they would rather be without electricity.
And I KNOW that it doesn't matter what we do, if America, China et al don't put aside their denial and actually try to fix their own emissions, we're all screwed anyway. But that doesn't excuse us from not trying. Pointing to someone and saying "they're worse" has never excused the bad things we do.
Yes, the reports are in (the many many reports) and they have concluded:
a) Global warming is here
b) we are a major cause of it
c) we should have been doing something about it 20 years ago
d) if we don’t act soon we’re all screwed.
We’ve also got the ongoing issue that Britain sucks at recycling. We’re way behind on the rest of Europe and it’s really quite pathetic, especially since the landfills are filling up and people scream blue murder every time there is a proposed incinerator.
So Blair’s (and local council’s) response, for both, is to introduce green taxes to encourage less waste and emissions and generally better habits.
I can see the point on some things. It really annoys me to see people who have absolutely no need for them driving around cities in Land Rovers or other 4X4s. Nothing would please me more than to tax these Chelsea tractors until people get something more appropriate. I see people, just 2 people living in a house, and they fill the wheelie bin to overflowing every single week. Our council provides a recycle bin as well and will give you a free compost bin - so there is really no excuse for not using either. But every week their wheelie bin is out and overflowing, while their recycling bin never moves. I would love to see them charged for not making even the most basic, simple effort.
But at the same time I think this is a poor way to inspire people to do their bit. Already you have the usual suspect “newspapers” screaming about taxes and Gordon Brown’s rapacious grasping and money hungry back pocket. Basically, people are looking at the legitimate environmental crisis and seeing an excuse to raise taxes. That’s not good at all.
My solution? Well, I think we still need to force the issue and I would look at regulation beyond just taxes. I also think where we ARE using deterrent taxes we need to ensure that ANY revenue generated from them go automatically into environmental causes. So if councils tax people extra for excessively full bins, they should make it EXTREMELY clear that ALL of that money earned is going to be spent on recycling plants/providing recycling services etc. If road tax is going to quadruple for the worst emission producing and petrol guzzling vehicles then it has to be CLEAR that the extra funds are going to be spent on wind turbines and investing in more efficient technology etc.
I would also introduce reward schemes - the recycling bin is full and sorted? Right, have a rebate. Bought a low emissions high efficiency car? Right, very low road tax.
And of course they must actually DO it - not just SAY the money is being invested in green issues, but actually INVEST them in green issues. If people can point to the government using this for revenue then the whole issue will explode.
Oh, and the next person who complains about a wind turbine gets slapped and asked if they’d rather have a coal power plant on their doorstep or if they would rather be without electricity.
And I KNOW that it doesn't matter what we do, if America, China et al don't put aside their denial and actually try to fix their own emissions, we're all screwed anyway. But that doesn't excuse us from not trying. Pointing to someone and saying "they're worse" has never excused the bad things we do.
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A compost bin would be something I'd use if I had one, and our recycle bin is usually about half full with the garbage being about 2/3rds full.
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Compost bins are great - it's amazing how much of our rubbish is organic.
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