Categories: uncategorized
Date: 10 January 2007 16:51:13
Good news has emerged from the US today.
The Chief Economist of Daimler Chrysler, the German/US car manufacturer, has declared that European attitudes to global warming are "quasi-hysterical" and policies made from them are in the realms of "Chicken Little". However everyone knows that Chicken Little was right in his assertion; as evidence I refer you to Germany 1941-1945, Vietnam 1966-1975, Iraq 1991-2007 and Somalia 2007.
What makes the statement all the better is that they were made at a breakfast meeting at the Detroit Motor Show. Sharing the platform with him were the Chief Economists of Ford & General Motors. This is hardly going to be a pro-environment meeting is it?
Science is divided on the dangers of climate change but has more support for than against. Fossil fuels are heavy polluters and are running out, so we need to make changes in their use sooner rather than later whatever happens.
Just look at the news from Eastern Europe as Russia uses energy supply as a political sledgehammer in disputes with other countries. If they keep getting away with this how soon before others try it. Venezuala is also in the news as it considers nationalising its oil fields and Bolivia has already done so, though not successfully.
The good thing is that business is starting to take a lead in the US. George W and his oil company friends may drag their feet but large business, especially GE and Walmart, are already taking a lead in pushing alternative energy and environmentally friendly practises. Toyota has cut its energy consumption by 30% since 2001 and Renault are endeavouring to change their maufacturing techniques to do the same.
Yes, they are doing so in order to make money out of things but isn't that a good enough reason to begin changing our habits? If companies can see a monetary advantage then they'll have the will to begin changing, no matter what the politicians do or say.
If Tony Bliar has to be forced to offset his carbon emissions on his holiday flights because of criticism from the public then that's a good thing. You can't talk the talk and expect others to do as you say if you don't practise what you preach.
His Environment Minister, Ian McCartney, who is a contender in the battle for Deputy Leader of the Labour party criticised Ryanair last weekend. He discribed them as being, in Edward Heath's words, the "unacceptable face of Capitalism". Yet this man flew 22,000 miles last year. Has he offset any of this?