John Ivison: Barack Obama's green protectionism scheme - Full Comment

For all Barack Obama’s talk about rejecting new trade barriers, there is an increasing awareness around the world that the United States is planning to introduce climate change legislation that amounts to little more than green protectionism.

Environmentalism In Hot Rodding

I hate politics. It’s never as simple as black and white (or blue and red, as the case may be). Line yourself up on one issue, and you’re on the wrong side with another. Case in point: environmentalism. Call yourself an environmentalist, and, voila, like it or not, you’re lined up with Al Gore, and his mansion with the $30K-a-year electric bill. Or Richard Branson, with his fuel-hogging fleet of jumbo jets.

Yet I consider myself an environmentalist too—and I want nothing to do with these bozos. The crux of the problem is that these dudes think our problems can be solved by throwing away everything old, and using a bunch more resources to build a bunch of new junk. Case in point: gas/electric hybrids. In Al Gore’s world, our old cars go to the scrap heap, get melted down, and come back as fuel efficient hybrids. After paying off the cost of a hybrid, then waiting years for the fuel savings to catch up, you’re finally there, and feeling warm and cozy about yourself.

But wait a minute...

We're saved!: Green environment for media at G8 climate talks

SYRACUSE, Italy (AFP) — With work stations made of sturdy recycled cardboard and not a printer in sight, the press corps at Group of Eight climate change talks in Italy were decidedly living green.

Organisers say the 100 chairs and 40 tables in the press centre were built from 800 kilos (1,800 pounds) of cardboard, or the paper equivalent of 4,000 Italian daily newspapers.

The savings in carbon dioxide emissions is estimated at 1.2 tonnes, they said.

It’s life or death, say [hucksters]

Climate change is disrupting natural systems and livelihoods around the world, indigenous people reported this week at a global meeting on in Alaska.

"We indigenous people are the prow of the ship of humanity in the oncoming waves of climate change," said Vanessa Marsh of Niue.