Zach LarkinsKYOTO XI
It seems David Suzuki is becoming a bit more unhinged each day that passes and he is challenged to defend his stance on global warming. As word spreads that it is not the imminent danger he makes it out to be, he gets more and more upset. He seems to think that because he was a reputed environmental scientist that people should just take his word for everything that spews out of his mouth. He doesn't like opposition or debate and can't handle it like a true scientist would.
Consider what he wrote in the Toronto Sun on Feb. 12 of this year. "We all need jobs and a sustainable economy that does not deplete the natural services we all ultimately depend on for our health and survival." Yes, indeed we do. But the Liberals sat on implanting any solutions to global warming for 13 years because they knew they couldn't do anything about it without devastating the economy. On Feb. 17, just 5 days later, he writes, "We need to create targets and time lines to reduce pollution to levels that do not jeopardize our natural systems. It means our environment, not our economy must be the real bottom line." I would hazard a guess here that Suzuki has all the money he needs and to hell with those of us who need real jobs. He goes on to say, "Just when I start getting down, after a long bus ride when the audience faces start to fade from memory and I start to wonder - did it really make a difference?" Sure did. The bus he's riding is designed to move 30 people at a time. He has between 7 and 8 at any given time. The bus uses diesel fuel, hardly a fuel that doesn't emit greenhouse gasses. Even Willie Nelson uses bio-diesel in his bus.
Suzuki claims that he's been fortunate on the tour to have earned the support of a number of well-known Canadians. "I was recently interviewed on Much Music with hip-hop artist k-os, for whom I have great respect. And singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer even performed at one of our events. Ms. Harmer is an impressive musician and passionate about conservation." I'm Canadian and I never heard of either one of these people, but then again, maybe I'm just an old fart not up on the latest idols. Regardless, I don't know if I'd be so proud to count them as my supporters.
Perhaps not as well known as American pop stars, an article written by Lorrie Goldstein of the Toronto Sun might well apply.
"I applaud the many rock stars and other celebrities who are helping former U.S. vice-president Al Gore stage seven "Live Earth" concerts around the world on July 7, to alert us to the dangers of global warming. As long as every one of these Captain Kyotos signs the following pledge:
I (insert name here) accept that as a multi-millionaire who has profited enormously from our consumer-driven culture, I have become a poster (insert gender here) boy/girl for excessive and conspicuous consumption, and that I am therefore disproportionately responsible for man-made global warming.
I promise to take the following steps immediately, both to set an example to others and to reduce my carbon imprint on the Earth.
(1) Since cars are a major contributor to global warming, I will sell all the vehicles I own, donating the proceeds to a worthy environmental charity and replace them with one car -- a small hybrid with no air conditioning. Of course I will take public transit whenever possible.
(2) Since houses are major emitters of greenhouse gases, I will sell all the mansions and other residences I own around the world and donate the proceeds to environmental causes. For my personal use, I will purchase one home in the country of which I am a citizen of no more than 2,000 square feet, still giving me a level of privacy and luxury unknown to the people of the Third World, who have suffered enormously due to my excessive, personal contribution to man- made global warming throughout my career.
(3) Since flying is devastating to the climate because it injects greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere at high altitudes, I will never again fly for pleasure anywhere in the world, including in my own jet or in one chartered for me. If I must fly for my work, I will restrict myself to regularly-scheduled commercial flights, substituting more environmentally-friendly train or bus travel whenever possible.
(4) I will never again claim to be "carbon neutral" merely because I made a donation to some group that plants trees, since such programs are increasingly suspect in terms of their effectiveness and because this would be a continuation of my refusal to accept personal responsibility for the disproportionate environmental damage my extravagant lifestyle has caused.
(5) I will never again go on a shopping spree in New York, L.A., London, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong or anywhere else, thus freeing myself from unnecessary possessions that require the burning of enormous amounts of fossil fuels both to create and to transport around the globe.
(6) Since locally-produced food and drink generate fewer greenhouse gases than those imported from abroad, I will consume only domestically-produced food, water and alcohol, including champagne.
(7) When taking vacations, I will confine myself to locales that are within driving distance of my home. Never again will I fly to any exotic, five-star resort, whose very existence is a grotesque monument to conspicuous consumption, one which could not have been built without the excessive burning of fossil fuels.
(8) Finally, I will never again permit my music or image to be used to sell any commercial product, to show that we must all simplify our lives in order to reduce our carbon footprint and save the Earth."
When Gore, Suzuki and all their little friends are ready to take and keep those pledges, maybe they'll gain some credence.
Soruces: David Suzuki The Toronto Sun
Lorrie Goldstein Let 'em Live Like Common People The Toronto Sun
Consider what he wrote in the Toronto Sun on Feb. 12 of this year. "We all need jobs and a sustainable economy that does not deplete the natural services we all ultimately depend on for our health and survival." Yes, indeed we do. But the Liberals sat on implanting any solutions to global warming for 13 years because they knew they couldn't do anything about it without devastating the economy. On Feb. 17, just 5 days later, he writes, "We need to create targets and time lines to reduce pollution to levels that do not jeopardize our natural systems. It means our environment, not our economy must be the real bottom line." I would hazard a guess here that Suzuki has all the money he needs and to hell with those of us who need real jobs. He goes on to say, "Just when I start getting down, after a long bus ride when the audience faces start to fade from memory and I start to wonder - did it really make a difference?" Sure did. The bus he's riding is designed to move 30 people at a time. He has between 7 and 8 at any given time. The bus uses diesel fuel, hardly a fuel that doesn't emit greenhouse gasses. Even Willie Nelson uses bio-diesel in his bus.
Suzuki claims that he's been fortunate on the tour to have earned the support of a number of well-known Canadians. "I was recently interviewed on Much Music with hip-hop artist k-os, for whom I have great respect. And singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer even performed at one of our events. Ms. Harmer is an impressive musician and passionate about conservation." I'm Canadian and I never heard of either one of these people, but then again, maybe I'm just an old fart not up on the latest idols. Regardless, I don't know if I'd be so proud to count them as my supporters.
Perhaps not as well known as American pop stars, an article written by Lorrie Goldstein of the Toronto Sun might well apply.
"I applaud the many rock stars and other celebrities who are helping former U.S. vice-president Al Gore stage seven "Live Earth" concerts around the world on July 7, to alert us to the dangers of global warming. As long as every one of these Captain Kyotos signs the following pledge:
I (insert name here) accept that as a multi-millionaire who has profited enormously from our consumer-driven culture, I have become a poster (insert gender here) boy/girl for excessive and conspicuous consumption, and that I am therefore disproportionately responsible for man-made global warming.
I promise to take the following steps immediately, both to set an example to others and to reduce my carbon imprint on the Earth.
(1) Since cars are a major contributor to global warming, I will sell all the vehicles I own, donating the proceeds to a worthy environmental charity and replace them with one car -- a small hybrid with no air conditioning. Of course I will take public transit whenever possible.
(2) Since houses are major emitters of greenhouse gases, I will sell all the mansions and other residences I own around the world and donate the proceeds to environmental causes. For my personal use, I will purchase one home in the country of which I am a citizen of no more than 2,000 square feet, still giving me a level of privacy and luxury unknown to the people of the Third World, who have suffered enormously due to my excessive, personal contribution to man- made global warming throughout my career.
(3) Since flying is devastating to the climate because it injects greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere at high altitudes, I will never again fly for pleasure anywhere in the world, including in my own jet or in one chartered for me. If I must fly for my work, I will restrict myself to regularly-scheduled commercial flights, substituting more environmentally-friendly train or bus travel whenever possible.
(4) I will never again claim to be "carbon neutral" merely because I made a donation to some group that plants trees, since such programs are increasingly suspect in terms of their effectiveness and because this would be a continuation of my refusal to accept personal responsibility for the disproportionate environmental damage my extravagant lifestyle has caused.
(5) I will never again go on a shopping spree in New York, L.A., London, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong or anywhere else, thus freeing myself from unnecessary possessions that require the burning of enormous amounts of fossil fuels both to create and to transport around the globe.
(6) Since locally-produced food and drink generate fewer greenhouse gases than those imported from abroad, I will consume only domestically-produced food, water and alcohol, including champagne.
(7) When taking vacations, I will confine myself to locales that are within driving distance of my home. Never again will I fly to any exotic, five-star resort, whose very existence is a grotesque monument to conspicuous consumption, one which could not have been built without the excessive burning of fossil fuels.
(8) Finally, I will never again permit my music or image to be used to sell any commercial product, to show that we must all simplify our lives in order to reduce our carbon footprint and save the Earth."
When Gore, Suzuki and all their little friends are ready to take and keep those pledges, maybe they'll gain some credence.
Soruces: David Suzuki The Toronto Sun
Lorrie Goldstein Let 'em Live Like Common People The Toronto Sun
