British families pay almost £800 per year in 'dishonest' green taxes | Mail Online

Every family in Britain is paying nearly £800 a year in a 'dishonest' green tax grab, a shocking report said last night.

Okanagan orchardists face major crop losses - AOL News Canada

Fruit growers in B.C.'s southern Okanagan valley are counting their losses after unseasonally brutal weather destroyed much of this year's crop.

Officials estimate 100 fruit growers in the Osoyoos area suffered significant losses after heavy frost in April followed by hail, rain and a fierce windstorm in July wiped out much of the fragile crops. Spring frosts killed fruit blossoms in other areas of the region as well.

With its hot summer temperatures and intensive irrigation systems, the Okanagan is one of the most productive agricultural areas in B.C. But for orchardists like Ranbir Kambo, this year's crop of apples, cherries and apricots is a total writeoff.

"Everything is history. There is nothing we can salvage - 98 per cent damage. There is no way anybody could salvage anything out of it," Kambo said as he walked through his 18-acre fruit orchard in Osoyoos on Wednesday.

Apathy and confusion stalls uptake of carbon offsetting

That is the view of Sunvil Holidays managing director and ABTA board member Noel Josephides, who warns the industry will pay a price if it fails to take climate change more seriously.

Josephides said: "The impetus has gone out of offsetting. People are ignoring it. It is too much of a hassle.

"Agents do not want it on last-minute bookings. They do not want to ask the client about it."

Sunvil was the first UK tour operator of any size to offer offsetting as an opt-out option last year - meaning consumers have to choose not to accept it.

"We had 36% take-up in the first year," said Josephides. He reported a 30% fall so far this year, with the lowest take-up among sales through agencies.
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Josephides is also dismayed by the lack of interest in ABTA's Reduce My Footprint initiative, launched at last year's Travel Convention.

"There is hardly any take- up," he said. "Nothing that relates to climate change is easy. It cannot be left to travel consultants. This needs the backing of shop owners and managers. ABTA is trying, but this needs a lot more commitment from members."