A Reply From the PM!

Dear Mr.______________:

On behalf of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your recent correspondence, in which you raised an issue that falls within the responsibilities of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment.

Please be assured that your comments have been carefully reviewed.  As a copy of your letter has already been sent to Minister Prentice, I am certain he will wish to give your views every consideration. For more information on the government's initiatives,  you may wish to visit the Prime Minister's web site, at
http://www.pm.gc.ca/

Yours sincerely,
"Scribble ....assistant  for"
L.A. Lavell,
Executive Correspondence Officer

I feel so much better now...  Actually, I was a little startled that the PM's office staff got my and my partner's honorific right - how would they know whether I and my partner were Mr., Ms., Dr., or Mrs. and Mrs.?

And the PM's website does not mention any concerns about reversing climate change.  Sigh .......he must like hearing from me.  I will send him another letter requesting that Canada do better: please do the same.  The relentless drip of water on stone ......

Greening The Tar Sands

An article in today's Globe and Mail on companies developing technology to green tar sands mining:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/battle-for-the-oil-sands/article1406051/

 there remains a profound skepticism on the part of industry to embrace new technology. It's visible in spending patterns – energy companies spend half as much on research and development than the Canadian industrial average. 

An inventor having difficulties raising enough money to build a prototype to test his technology stated:

“I'll be blunt, part of the problem is Alberta,” he says, blaming government-owned research facilities who control the flow of some research dollars. “I think part of the issue is that we may represent competition to the steam status quo. … I don't understand that myself. The industry has so much to gain and so little to lose.”

Does the industry reluctance to innovate have anything to do with the federal government?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/canadas-strategy-promise-now-implement-later/article1406232/

Canadians will still have a lengthy wait before Ottawa rolls out its climate change plan, despite a tentative political accord at the Copenhagen summit.   The delays will make it more difficult, and potentially more costly, for Canada to meet its target to reduce emissions by 20 per cent from 2006 levels by 2020. Companies are continuing to invest – particularly in the emissions-intensive oil sands sector – without knowing what emissions limits they will face. If regulations are put in place in 2010, the country will have to reduce emissions by 17.3 megatonnes a year to meet the target; by delaying until 2012, the annual effort increases to 21.6 megatonnes.

Perhaps the Canadian government should implement greenhouse gas emissions regualtions soon so that tar sands miners have an incentive to invest in better technology.  Please send the PM a letter on the subject ...

Business As Usual

The planet's future does not concern us.  Starvation in Africa does not concern us.  Beetle kill in the Interior of BC does not raise a flicker of distress in anyone but unemployed forestry workers. Future potential drought and consequent hunger in Asia does not worry us - even if those Asians without water have nuclear weapons. The disappearance of small Pacific Islands like the Maldives under the waves is not a bother to us. An ice free Arctic will not be a problem to anyone except those pesky polar bears. We will carry on - down the road to disaster - no matter how Lumumba Di - Aping, the negotiator for the G 77 group of countries,  and the  President of the Maldives natter on.  We will not listen - their words do not concern us.

That is implicit  in the Copenhagen Accord : it is a nonbinding  agreement with no targets.  Any mention of containing temperature rises to 1.5 C has been struck from the agreement.  Even more astonishingly, so has any effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 % by 2050.

To hell with the politicians!  We will have to find a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without them: we must create a velvet climate revolution.   Tonight, I cannot imagine how  - but we will find a way.  We must  - we cannot accept institutionalized intergenerational and social injustice.

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”  Martin Luther King, Jr.

"HOPE is the thing with feathers,That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all" Emily Dickinson

The Ethics of Climate Change

Finally - a mention of ethics in the mainstream media.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/copenhagen-and-the-ethics-of-climate-change/article1404694/

Imagine the world being shuffled like a deck of cards and redealt. Canadians suddenly no longer know who they are, where they live, how much money they have, what their status is – they exist behind what U.S. philosopher John Rawls termed a veil of ignorance.

Thus separated from the biases of their former selves, they can consider the morality of a given issue. Would they condone the carbon emissions of the tar sands if they found themselves living in an impoverished society on the equator, struggling for a sliver of industrialization while temperatures rise and bake their land?

No, of course they wouldn't condone the gHG emissions of the developed world.....

Justice For All

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/17/un-leaked-report-copenhagen-3c

A confidential UN analysis obtained by the Guardian reveals that the emissions cuts offered so far at the Copenhagen climate change summit will lead to global temperatures rising by an average of 3C.  The analysis seriously undermines the statements by governments that they are aiming to limit emissions to a level ensuring no more than a 2C temperature rise over the next century, and indicates that the last 24 hours of negotiations will be extremely challenging.

A rise of 3C would mean up to 170 million more people suffering severe coastal floods and 550 million more at risk of hunger, according to the 2006 Stern economic review of climate change for the UK government - as well as leaving up to 50% of species facing extinction. Even a rise of 2C would lead to sharp decline in tropical crop yields, more flooding and droughts.

Rajendra Pachauri said "the tragedy of the situation is that those countries that have not at all contributed to the problem of climate change will be the ones that are most affected"  (picture from Guardian site.)

What values do we espouse?  Do we really want our leaders to  sign a treaty leaving the poorest vulnerable to stavation?  The picture above wasn't taken by a time traveler - climate change is impacting people and ecosystems as  I type.   Do we wish it to get worse?

A Disgrace

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/while-climate-critics-swinging-harper-unlikely-to-step-into-the-ring/article1401877/

From the awarding of “fossil of the day” trophies, to calls from provincial premiers for more ambitious national emissions-reduction targets, to reports that the government is cutting a special deal for the oil sands, the activity away from the negotiating table has been deeply embarrassing to the Harper government.

Critics in Copenhagen say the dismay over Canada's stand extends well beyond environmentalists, and includes United Nations officials and delegates from other countries who hope to fashion an agreement that will commit developed countries to substantial reductions in emissions from 1990 levels – something Canada refuses to do.

Canada is destroying our grandchildrens' future.  PLEASE write to the PM and tell him Canadians wish to commit to a substantial emimssions reductions from 1990.

Another Missed Opportunity

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/16/uk-green-technologies

Britain's transformation to a low-carbon society will be delayed by a lack of people trained in the right skills unless the government significantly increases its investment in the sector, a group of MPs have warned. They said that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be created if the government doubled its funding of green technologies, making the UK a world leader in a market worth £3tr worldwide.

"The government has missed a big opportunity to kick-start a green industrial revolution with its £3bn fiscal stimulus. Germany, the US, Japan and China have invested billions in their low-carbon industries," said Tim Yeo MP, chair of the House of Commons environmental audit committee (EAC).

In the US, the government has spent about £50bn to create half a million new green jobs, while Germany, Japan and Korea have also announced major plans to grow their domestic environmental sectors. China's economic stimulus plan includes £142bn for environmental measures

And what are Canada's plans for funding green technologies and clean energy?  It seems we are defending the tar sands instead .... another missed opportunity.

Perhaps our PM should read The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman. 

Just Who Is Indulging Themselves?

http://www.straight.com/article-275021/vancouver/canadian-government-shamed-hoax-copenhagen-summit-climate-change

Dimitri Soudas, spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, stated in an e-mail, "More time should be dedicated to playing a constructive role instead of childish pranks."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/how-us-pranksters-hoaxed-the-world-at-canadas-expense/article1400519/

Canada yesterday won yet another "Fossil of the Day" award handed out by a coalition of environmental groups to the countries "doing the most to obstruct progress in the global climate change talks." The award brings Canada's tally so far to six.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/ontario-quebec-assail-emissions-targets/article1398952/

Climate-change scientists and environmental groups have accused Canada of being part of the problem, not the solution, in Copenhagen

Just who is indulging in childish pranks instead of engaging in constructive action?  The real joke at Copenhagen is Canada's actual postion on climate change.

From Copenhagen .....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/un-climate-talks-resume-after-protest/article1399263/

American flags on our backpacks when we travel?

WTF !!!????

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/12/14/greenhouse-gas-emissions.html

The Conservative government has considered abandoning some of the greenhouse gas reduction goals set out in its 2007 green plan and allowing weaker targets for the oil and gas sector.  The government draft documents make the argument that the U.S. bill gives smaller targets to trade-sensitive sectors, such as manufacturing. It suggests the Canadian oil and gas sector, including the oilsands, deserves the same treatment.

Amazing.  Bloody amazing.  How on earth would Canada meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets if it weakened the standards for the oil and gas industry?  Were they thinking of abandoning all reason and science?

I understand that Prime Minister Harper's political base is in Alberta - that he doesn't wish to offend the Alberta oil and gas industry - that he owes Alberta his political life - but - but - WTF?  Does he really wish to be singlehandedly responsible for more than a billion people in Asia having no water?  For the Maldives disappearing under water?    For drought induced starvation in the Horn of Africa?  Isn't he a Christian?  Does he not consider it a moral imperative to relieve other peoples' suffering ?  I suggest Mr. Harper read a book by Michael Northcott called  A Moral Climate: The Ethics of Global Warming.

At least it was a draft suggestion.  For the moment....

Feds Criticized By Provinces

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/ontario-quebec-assail-emissions-targets/article1398952/

The environment ministers of Ontario and Quebec used a press conference to declare Canada's emission-reduction targets inadequate and wholly unambitious compared with the two provinces' own targets. “It's absolutely imperative that Canada take a tougher position regarding greenhouse-gas emissions,” Ontario's John Gerretsen said.  Quebec, which is rich in clean hydro power, recently set an emissions target at 20 per cent below 1990's level by 2020 and slapped a carbon tax on fossil fuels. Ontario, which wants to promote itself as a clean-technology centre as traditional manufacturing gets walloped by the recession and the high dollar, has a target of 15 per cent below 1990's level.

Internal and external critics seem to have no efffect on the Canadian federal government....but - surely, instructions from the voters matter to them.  Please send them a letter instructing them to committ to a "real deal" at Copenhagen.  (Please feel free to use my earlier letter posted on this blog if you wish.)

I Don't Really Need To Add Anything

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/nov/30/canada-tar-sands-copenhagen-climate-deal

This country's government is now behaving with all the sophistication of a chimpanzee's tea party. So amazingly destructive has Canada become, and so insistent have my Canadian friends been that I weigh into this fight, that I've broken my self-imposed ban on flying and come to Toronto. 

So here I am, watching the astonishing spectacle of a beautiful, cultured nation turning itself into a corrupt petro-state. Canada is slipping down the development ladder, retreating from a complex, diverse economy towards dependence on a single primary resource, which happens to be the dirtiest commodity known to man. The price of this transition is the brutalisation of the country, and a government campaign against multilateralism as savage as any waged by George Bush.

Until now I believed that the nation that has done most to sabotage a new climate change agreement was the United States. I was wrong. The real villain is Canada. Unless we can stop it, the harm done by Canada in December 2009 will outweigh a century of good works.

In June this year the media obtained Canadian briefing documents which showed the government was scheming to divide the Europeans. During the meeting in Bangkok in October, almost the entire developing world bloc walked out when the Canadian delegate was speaking, as they were so revolted by his bullying. Last week the Commonwealth heads of government battled for hours (and eventually won) against Canada's obstructions. A concerted campaign has now begun to expel Canada from the Commonwealth.

The purpose of Canada's assault on the international talks is to protect this industry. This is not a poor nation. It does not depend for its economic survival on exploiting this resource. But the tar barons of Alberta have been able to hold the whole country to ransom. They have captured Canada's politics and are turning this lovely country into a cruel and thuggish place.

Description of Canada Less Than Flattering

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/30/countries-to-watch

Canada
Influence rating ★★★
In stark contrast to its cuddly international image, Canada is the dirty old man of the climate world – missing its Kyoto emissions reduction target by a country mile (by 2007, it was 34% above its target) and showing no signs of reigning in its profligacy.  Friends and foes Roundly criticised by developing countries for being way off the pace, now there are calls to suspend it from the Commonwealth.   What they're offering  A pathetic 3% cut on their 1990 emissions levels by 2020 – an offer mired in thick black tar.   What they most want No curbs on its ability to mine those lucrative tar sands in Alberta for oil (a far more carbon-intensive process than regular extraction). Least likely to say "Look, when you set a target, you've got to stick to it, OK?"

Maldives
Influence rating ★
Talk about punching above your weight.  Thanks in no small part to the colourful and PR-savvy president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives have become a key voice for soon-to-be climate victims around the world. The island nation is the Vince Cable of the talks – no real power but solidly on the moral high ground (if not the literal high ground).   Friends and foes A member of the G77 group of developing nations, and pals with anyone wanting some good PR.  W hat they're offering To go totally carbon neutral by 2020. A frog with solar panels would look less green.   What do they most want Large cuts by all the developed nations.  Most likely to say "I bet you've never had a cabinet meeting under water."

Some days I wish I had been born in the Maldives.  I might be worried about the prospect of my country vanishing under water - but I wouldn't be ashamed of its position on the crisis of the 21st century. 

Apparently Peer Pressure Is Effective

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/11/27/commonwealth-meeting.html

The United Nations secretary general added his voice Friday to the chorus of activists trying to prod Canada into taking greater action on climate change.  Ban Ki-Moon said Canada, as the next country to host the G8 and G20 meetings, must pick up the pace in setting a mid-range goal to curb emissions.  "Many countries, developed and developing countries, have come out with ambitious targets," Ban said.   "And Canada, as one of the leading G8 countries, and G20, Canada is going to soon chair G8. Therefore, it is only natural that Canada should come out with ambitious targets as soon as possible."

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/11/28/commonwealth-climate.html

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hold a meeting at the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on Saturday. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)I look forward to seeing a comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen where we'll actually get on with actually reducing emissions as opposed to setting abstract targets," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Well!!!!!  Apparently having scientists call for Canada's expulsion from the Commonwealth,  the UN Secretary General lecture him, and rhe Queen of England and Canada stress the need for action on climate change was all it took to get Prime Minister on board.  Peer pressure works ...now let us add to it by writing the Right Honorable Stepen Harper and telling himm however admirable his words have been, we want to see ACTION.
UPDATE:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/canada-agrees-to-contribute-to-10-billion-climate-change-fund/article1381653/

Canada has agreed to write a cheque for a $10-billion (U.S.) fund that would help poor nations cope with the consequences of climate change but Prime Minister Stephen Harper isn’t budging on calls for his government to offer deeper and faster cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

If Mr Harper isn't budging on greenhouse gas emissions, just what is the point of helping poorere countries cope with climate change? Or are we only investing in an ark? 

Send him a letter and tell him you want Canada to do better!

Someone Else Thinks Canada Is A Laggard

Canada was a global leader in environmental issues - the main broker, for example, of an international ban on ozone-depleting chemicals - up until the 1990s. In recent years, however, the country has fallen from the front ranks to become one of the world's most conspicuous laggards in greenhouse gas reduction and a virtual nonentity in the clean-tech boom.  This isn't just bad news for the planet; it's bad business for Canada.

In what pinko environmental rag did I find this obviously biased quote?  Glad you asked - the quote is from an article called Now, More Than Ever.  It was published in the December 2009 issue of that commie magazine  Report on Business.  Page 62, to be exact.
The article also states:

a whole new industrial economy....has emerged primarily in those places where climate change has been acknowledged not just as a fundamental fact of life and the defining crisis of the 21st century but also as an opportunity. ...the nations and compamies leading this second wave will continue with installations and innovations ....because building this new generation of infrastructure is a smart business move, based upon sound economics.

And Canada is pinning its 21st century hopes to the tar sands........this is gonna work out well - I can tell.

Feel Free To Copy The Letter I Sent To the PM

November 26, 2009
Right Hon. Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Prime Minister:

Human caused global warming is an enormous crisis for humanity. It is also a highly significant issue of global environmental justice: 80 % of greenhouse gas emissions are released by just seventeen countries – one of which is Canada. People are dying of starvation in the Horn of Africa and drowning in Bangladesh due to the changes caused by global warming. Canada has done nothing but obstruct attempts to rectify this situation. Therefore, and quite rightly, we are the subject of international criticism due to our failure to act in any meaningful way.

Now the Commonwealth is under pressure to suspend our membership due to our recalcitrance. Prominent campaigners, politicians and scientists have called for Canada to be suspended from the Commonwealth over its climate change policies.

Surely you do not wish Canada be suspended from the Commonwealth due to our lack of action on climate change – or to be mentioned in the same breath for greenhouse gas emissions as Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and South Africa are mentioned for electoral or human rights violations. Please commit Canada to legally binding, science based greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Torture In Afghanistan

It is rather embarassing for the Harper government that the whistle blower about torture allegations in Afghanistan during  2006 -2007  is employed by Ottawa as a senior intelligence officer at Canada's embassy in Washington.  Being trusted by one's government with access to delicate and sensitive matters bolsters one's credibility, no?  Mr. Colvin's testimony is also corroborated by  Peter Mackay (Canada's  current defence minister.) Mr MacKay  acknowledged that a new prisoner transfer agreement was implemented in 2007  due at least in part  to Mr Colvin's warnings.    ( The new agreement with the Afghans may have also had something to do with reporting by the Globe and Mail in 2007 that the Conservatives were aware of the possiblity of torture in 2006. )  So let's see - the Conservatives are attacking the credibility of a senior intelligence officer whose reports of torture effected a better prisoner transfer agreement between the Canadians and the Afghans? Perhaps the Conservatives efforts would be better put to a consideration of the effects of the war in Afghanistan..  After all, this the effort that is supposedly winning the hearts and minds of Afghans. Mmmmnnnn  .... yes, torturing people at random always converts them to one's cause.. .......  and enhances democracy.    Morevoer,  the Afghans have run three British armies and one Soviet army out of their country - I'm not betting on Canada doing better than those previous invasions.  Perhaps Canada  should leave Afghanistan and spend the money we're pissing away on an unwinnable war on something else.  Like taking decisive  action on climate change.

The Characteristic That Defines Humanity

I think the characteristic that distinguishes humanity from the rest of creation is our ability to lie to ourselves.  Call it the "Easter Island Syndrome" if you like.
The UN has stated recently that the number of hungry people in the world is at one billion.  They blame this in part on climate change. The United Nations Food Programme states “in many countries, climate change is EXACERBATING (emphasis mine) already adverse conditions” and therefore creating starvation in human populations. The UN also states that “ unpredictable weather patterns are causing more weather-related hunger.” http://www.wfp.org/
In an article on drought and food shortages in Kenya, the Globe and Mail stated “It’s part of a much broader crisis across East Africa and the Horn of Africa . . . . climate change is believed to be at the heart of it. Droughts and floods are happening at nearly the same time.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/kenyan-farmers-watch-their-livelihoods-and-food-supply-disappear/article1284880/
Australia is suffering from the worst dust storms in 70 years: the CBC’s news website quoted an Australian environmental scientist as follows: “ Ten very dry years over inland southern Australia and very strong westerlies have conspired to produce these storms.”
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/09/22/australia-sydney-dust-storm-outback.html
Even the government of Australia, formerly an outlier on climate change, is taking global warming seriously now - as witnessed by thier web site.
http://www.climatechange.gov.au/science/publications/science2001-05.html
And my point is ?  If we are not extraordinarily good at lying to ourselves, why do climate change deniers still post on every article I read on the Internet?
Samples: “where is the proof that global warming is man made?” “ETI said it before and Ill say it again … global warming is a crock of bulls####” “How did the AGW myth get perpetrated so thoroughly upon us?’ Incredible! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!   Please keep educating  climate change deniers - arm yourself with information and statistics.  Remind them of the hole in the ozone layer - no one disputes that was human caused and made a bigh impact on the environemtn. And PLEASE enail or write your MLAs, your MP, your Senators, and your Congresspersons and tell them effective legislation  on global warming is important to you.