Back in the saddle again…

Whew… I’ve never been more reluctant to return home than I was today, but here I am none the less. Sunburnt, bug bitten and more content than I have been in months, I’ve been wandering the north central island from Courtenay to Sayward, Comox to Cumberland and everywhere in between. Based out of a home high on the alpine slopes of Mt. Washington, it was easy to fall even deeper in love with this very unique part of Vancouver Island as the kids and I discovered ( and re-discovered, in my case) just how precious and pristine so much of this province still is.

Full story to come sometime this week, after I catch up on laundry, cover all my black fly bites in calamine, and contemplate how BC ferries can justify charging $3.10 for two slices of toast, when I can buy an entire bloody loaf for that price… and that isn’t the only BC Ferries story I have for you – just wait.

Life is a highway…

and I’m on it again til the 21st…next Wednesday.

Sorry no pics yet, but the captain of this ship has had to organize and ready for the next round, not an easy task with all these kids about. It has been a culture shock coming back to real life, and I yearn to be back on a schedule dictated only by the need for sleep and hunger.

A few parting thoughts for you.

Gregor Robertson is an idiot. Although I don’t live in Vancouver, I worried for the residents when he was elected, because all I saw was the pretty face he campaigned on and not one bit of substance. Just my two cents here, but this is what you get when you elect a pretty boy who likes getting his own way. Clearly, his ego has quite outgrown any ability  he had to serve the city of Vancouver’s residents, and I suspect ” those hacks” will elect his pretty ass out given the chance.

The city of Courtenay has the friendliest residents in the world. Seriously.  And the best Travelodge ever. I love it there so much I wish I could live there. Goes for most of the mid to north island residents.

This HST will be the death of Campbell. I’ve talked to a lot of people while away, and everyone has felt the impact, including myself. The HST came into play during my time on the island, and in addition to a lot of confusion for retailers as to what is HST exempt or not, it simply adds to the bill in a nasty way when you see HST at the bottom.  I talked to a local small corner store owner whose rent went up $132 every month, yet his sales have gone down, oddly enough, on stamps even. He told me that people come in, hold things up and ask if it has HST or not. If it does, they put it back and buy something else.

That’s it for now, see you in a week. Enjoy the sun, the surf and don’t buy anything with hst.

” For a billion dollars, they could have gotten someone with a better attitude! ”

Hey folks, I’m back for a couple of days and then off again to enjoy the sun and fun of summer. I spent 10 days on Savary Island, and a few over in Courtenay, Campbell River and even the legislature in Victoria ( can you imagine, ME, in the leg?..hehe)

 Anyways, I’ll be heading over to the island again in a couple of days to enjoy even more of the mid-island and Campbell River area, but this  video caught my eye over at  A Creative Revolution, and I just had to post it here.  Listen closely, there’s someone off-screen who makes a great comment about how a billion dollars should have gotten a better attitude… Ha!  Enjoy, and beware to all bubble blowers in Toronto.  I

From the Friday afternoon funny file…

Courtesy of a friend.

” With breathless anticipation, the crowd awaits the unveiling of the new Gordon Campbell statue…”

( now that’s a headline…hehe)

CBC senior intelligence sources say: ” … the prime minister was personally aware of the issue of foreign agents trying to win influence over politicans and bureaucrats — even if he didn’t know the details. “

He said it, he got slammed and then he backed away from the issue of foreign governments holding influence over provincial and municipal politicians – but was Fadden incorrect, or jumping the gun?

Campbell thought so, and came out swinging  – see the post below –  although some have said: ” He doth protest too much!”  Today, however, CBC is reporting that senior intelligence sources are telling them that not only was Fadden right on the money, but also that the head Fed-Con himself, Stephen Harper, has known about this all along…. from the CBC :

Sources tell CBC News the highest levels of the Canadian government have known for years that foreign countries have been trying to win influence over Canadian politicians and public servants.

That information comes a day after CSIS director Richard Fadden said he had never warned officials close to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that some provincial cabinet ministers may be under the sway of countries like China — even though he told the CBC earlier this week the agency was discussing the issue with the Privy Council Office.

Sources tell the CBC the PCO was well aware of those concerns, even if it hadn’t been told the details of who was involved.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, the minister responsible for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canada’s spy agency, refused to discuss Fadden’s bombshell allegations.

“I’m afraid I can’t comment on any operational issues involving CSIS,” Toews said Thursday.

In an exclusive interview with CBC News earlier this week, Fadden said Canada’s spy agency suspects that some municipal politicians and cabinet ministers in two provinces are being swayed by their connections to foreign governments.

China was one of the countries Fadden mentioned.

The remarkable comments sparked outrage from some provincial politicians and have led some observers to call for Fadden to resign.

But senior intelligence sources say the highest levels of the Canadian government were “absolutely” aware of the issue.

“These problems are very well-known,” one source said. “This information did not blindside the government.”

Fadden ‘not wrong’: source

A source suggested the prime minister was personally aware of the issue of foreign agents trying to win influence over politicians and bureaucrats — even if he didn’t know the details.

“The prime minister is strongly of a view that this is a problem,” a source said.

The source said Harper has an appetite for intelligence beyond that of his predecessors. Intelligence briefers now routinely provide the prime minister with detailed written reports, in addition to their regular verbal briefings.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office denied it was warned by CSIS of any specific agents of influence in provincial cabinets. Fadden himself later issued a retraction on that key point.

But sources tell the CBC the issue was very likely “verbally briefed ” to intelligence staff who work for the prime minister.

Fadden “had to swallow hard,” a source said, “but he’s not wrong.”

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=24682300

Clearly, there would have to be something substantial evidence of such an allegation, or someone like Fadden wouldn’t be out there telling the whole world about it, WHILE the G summits are underway. While some will say this is nothing but speculation and conjecture, I say Brava! to Fadden for having the cojones to tell it like it is.  The only question now is, who are they watching, and for how long?

5.5 earthquake rocks Ottawa/Toronto – Man finds note from God addressed to G8/G20 leaders that states: “Now that I have your attention – Stop screwing it all up. ”

ok, I made that last part up, but you have to admit, timing is everything!

http://www.theprovince.com/business/Earthquake+measuring+felt+greater+Toronto+area/3191668/story.html

Breaking news this early Wednesday AM : CBC reports that CSIS has indications that cabinet ministers in two provinces under the influence of foreign countries , and some BC Liberal ministers may be under suspicion – Premier Gordon Campbell declines comment.

Wow. There are some advantages to waking up prior to 5 am, and this would be one of them- seeing the news ticker on the CBC site toss a headline about political governments in Canada being under the influence of the foreign countries, in particular China.

In fact, CBC has already contacted Premier Gordon Campbell for comment on this story, and he refused. As of yet, CBC seems to be the only local news on this developing story, and the timing cold not be more interesting as the Chinese president arrives in Canada for a visit. Here is an excerpt from the written story :

Some politicians under foreign sway: CSIS

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 | 12:45 AM ET Comments648Recommend387

CBC News

“There are several municipal politicians in British Columbia and in at least two provinces there are ministers of the Crown who we think are under at least the general influence of a foreign government.”

Richard Fadden, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, in an exclusive interview with the CBC. (CBC)Canada’s spy agency suspects that cabinet ministers in two provinces are under the control of foreign governments, CBC News has learned.

Several members of B.C. municipal governments are also under suspicion, Richard Fadden, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told CBC News in an exclusive interview.

“We’re in fact a bit worried in a couple of provinces that we have an indication that there’s some political figures who have developed quite an attachment to foreign countries,” Fadden said.

“The individual becomes in a position to make decisions that affect the country or the province or a municipality. All of a sudden, decisions aren’t taken on the basis of the public good but on the basis of another country’s preoccupations.”

He said the politicians and public servants see it as a long-standing relationship and have no idea they are being used.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/06/22/spying-csis.html#ixzz0rgC13T00

There is also a video link to the interview with CSIS on the right hand side bar of  the CBC page this story occurs on.

I also located this link: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9016949.html that details more:

VICTORIA — National security experts are questioning the timing of a stunning allegation by the head of Canada’s spy agency that several Canadian politicians, including two provincial cabinet ministers, are under the control of foreign governments.

Richard Fadden, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told CBC News Tuesday night that CSIS and the Privy Council Office are discussing the best way to inform those provinces.

Wesley Wark, a national security expert at the University of Toronto, was puzzled by CSIS rush to inform the public before contacting the jurisdictions involved.

“This puts CSIS dangerously out front in what could become a serious and damaging political issue,” Wark told The Canadian Press in an email early Wednesday.

“It’s not the business of CSIS to finger politicians it believes are threats to national security.”

Fadden declined to name the two cabinet ministers or their provinces, but he said a number of public servants in British Columbia are also under suspicion.

He said those politicians have not hidden their association with the foreign governments. But there have recently been indications that they are shifting their public policies because of the involvement with that particular country.

A veteran B.C. political scientist called the allegations against several B.C politicians “very serious” and said Canadians should be concerned.

“Given the source, there’s a certain amount of legitimacy attached to the suggestion,” said University of Victoria Prof. Norman Ruff.

“It suggests that public policy in this province isn’t necessarily being conducted in the best interests of British Columbians,” said Ruff.

“There are influences on public policy in British Columbia both on the local and provincial level which aren’t solely in the interests of British Columbians.”

~snip~

Meanwhile, officials in British Columbia were caught off guard by the allegations that some among them could have a foreign government’s interests at heart.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell’s office said the premier would not be available for comment.

Municipal officials in Victoria and Vancouver appeared surprised at Fadden’s statement and declined to comment.

Now, while the story did not name names, if one were to contemplate such allegations,  and contemplate which foreign country seems to hold a ton of political clout, China is definitely the first name that springs to mind . The BC Liberals have pursued a long relationship with the Chinese government, one that has always spoken to me of ulterior motive, when it appears China benefits far more than those workers here in BC.

We have long been exporting raw logs to China, even as more and more sawmills here in BC have closed, leaving workers unemployed and penniless.

Hell, the  BC government even has a webpage dedicated to the their Asia Pacific Intiative, part of which is the building of the South Fraser Perimeter Road to facilitate the movement of goods being imported and exported into BC. You can read all of that here: http://www.gov.bc.ca/fortherecord/asia/as_economy.html?src=/economy/as_economy.html

The premier has travelled to China  very frequently in the past few years on trade missions, as has forestry minister, Pat Bell – as this google search will detail : http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&q=pat+bell+to+china&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=35789763958bd7d8

Just saying. Should be fun to watch where this one goes, but perhaps it might be the beginning of the end, of our gradual sell-off of BC assets to foreign stakeholders.

Let me leave you  to think about what this shocking story means for all of us. And if you really want to see how far off into left field Gordon Campbell and his closest ministers  are when it comes to what British Columbians want and need, watch this, their latest attempt at…  hmmm. Ahh ? Oh bother, I don’t even know what they are attempting on this one.  Just watch it and shake your head like I did.

Give it up Campbell. We just don’t care to hear anything you have to say any more.

*****Updated 1:23 pm .

Gordon Campbell has come out swinging at CSIS for the comments made during a CBC interview: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Gordon+Campbell+slams+CSIS+director+over+foreign+infiltration+allegations/3191469/story.html

This can only be good, I say, either way – at least we might get some answers as to how this information was arrived at and who CSIS may or may not be investigating.

******************************************************************************************************************************

No injuries reported as a result of large cupcake explosion in South Surrey

There is nothing worse than discovering the recipe was published wrong – after y0u’ve placed the cupcakes in the oven.

Apparently someone wrote 4 tbsp when it should have been one, which resulted in a large chemical reaction in my oven, followed by globs and globs of batter rising and falling everywhere…

A quick google of the recipe source online, shows there have been reports of cupcake explosions all over North America as a result – I am merely the latest in a long line of disgruntled bakers.

Check back tomorrow for the regular Bits and Bites.

Things that make me smile…

…Getting the most beautiful notes and original cards/  mail art from a thoughtful reader in Calgary, Theo Nelson !!  Theo’s art and poetic words always make me smile, and the fact that he ‘get’s’ the summer solstice is pretty darn cool! Hopefully you don’t mind Theo, but I really wanted to share this latest card with all my readers and friends, because it’s just too special to keep to myself! ( check out Theo’s work on his site, http://www.whimsyandcolour.com/htm_pages/home.html , the links to his work and interests are on the left.  A true Canadian talent in my opinion! )

Thank you Theo, for making my day! Now… where the hell is that sun, anyways?

I invite you all to share this lovely gesture with me  by clicking on the following PDF document to see Theo’s wonderful, original card he sent this morning!     

Summer Solstice art Card

Part II : Jesus turned water to wine, but who turned hot air into $$$$$ ?

Before anyone starts screaming at me for what I am about to write, let me say that I am all about saving and preserving the world we live on for as long as we possibly can. If you read anything of what I write, you will know that I advocate for a number of environmental issues. I’m not a scientist,a climatologist, or even a meteorologist. I am, however, a devoted mother of 4 who was raised in what used to be the pristine,”true north - strong and free “.  So, by all rights that makes me an environmentalist and activist of  sorts,  through birth and motherhood.

 I used to argue with my father about forestry practices and how those in the industry needed to start looking towards other means of sustaining their livelihoods before every damn tree was cut down – and that was long before the term sustainability came into common language. I questioned the wisdom of the large plumes of emissions erupting from the pulp mill stacks, and the burner at the saw mill.  Let’s just say that since he and the rest of my family are forestry workers, we didn’t exactly see eye to eye on these issues. He saw men out of work, I saw forests without trees. I still do, and I suspect as hard as it is for him to admit it, now he does as well.

One would think it should be common sense at this point in our development as a supposedly enlightened society, to do as little damage and leave as little impact as we can while we go about the business of actually doing business, and living life. Turn off the lights. Walk when you can, take the bus, use reuseable bags, and conserve our precious water supplies. You know what I mean, I don’t need to spell it out.

All of  this is why I really have a hard time with this whole business of carbon credits, carbon offsets and the regulations that the provincial government has imposed on all of the public sector who were supposedly going to be carbon neutral by 2010. To me, it really appears to be a government mandated climate scam on another level, and I’m going to tell you why I think so.

Well, it’s 2010 now, and is the public sector in BC carbon neutral? I think not.  What’s that? You don’t have a clue what carbon neutral even is? Carbon credits and offsets are a foreign language to you ? Don’t feel so bad, because you are not alone.

The fact is that far too many  British Columbians haven’t a clue what all of this means, and I suspect that is just fine with Gordon Campbell and the Liberals, because as long as you don’t understand the theory behind it and where all the money goes, no one will ask any questions. Make it as confusing as hell and pretty soon the average Joe or Jill has a headache and goes to bed, still clueless as to how it all works.

To be honest, I’ve been in the same boat and for the most part, ignored the entire carbon credit/offset/neutral business altogether – until one company name started popping up all over the place last year : Offsetters Clean Technology.

But first, before I get into how James Tansey has turned hot air into $$$$, let’s go back… wayyy back, to 2007 or thereabouts, when” it” all started :  ”it”, meaning  Gordon Campbell’s Green Dream, of course.

The world was deep in the alarmist reactionary mode to the horrific threat of global warming and as a result,politicians and environmentalists everywhere were heeding the call to action.  The provincial government, under the guidance of Gordon Campbell, was no different. Long story short, the premiers Green Dream of glory resulted in a carbon tax and the allotment of $24 million over 4 years to the creation of a new crown corporation known as the Pacific Carbon Trust. 

What does this Pacific Carbon Trust do? The website says this:

  Credible offsets. A cleaner environment. A vibrant low-carbon economy.

We need to act on many fronts to address climate change. Pacific Carbon Trust offers an important part of the solution. We are a Crown corporation of the Government of BC, created to deliver quality made-in-BC greenhouse gas offsets to help clients reduce their carbon footprint and drive the growth of BC’s low-carbon economy.

Together with our partners and clients, we are creating a cleaner environment and a modern B.C. economy.

What We Do

We offer quality carbon offsets, measured as one metric tonne of carbon dioxide or equivalent (CO2e) that is reduced or removed from the atmosphere as a result of emission-reducing (offset) activities.

For example, if a business reduces emissions by 10,000 tonnes of CO2e through a qualifying energy efficiency initiative, it can sell those emissions savings or offsets to us. We will in turn offer a portfolio of offsets to clients to counter their emissions.

What is a carbon offset?

 

A carbon offset represents a reduction or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions generated by activities, such as improved energy efficiency, that can be used to balance the emissions from another source, such as a plane trip.

To ensure the offsets we offer provide a true additional benefit, the carbon savings must be verified by an objective third party, and our purchases must support offset projects that otherwise would not have been viable. These and other requirements are outlined in the Ministry of Environment’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act and Emission Offsets Regulation.

Whoooa Nellie… sounds like an entirely different language, no? Well, the good people at the Pacific Carbon Trust have been so helpful as to provide an entire section of FAQ to help us out. You can take a look at it yourself at this link: http://www.pacificcarbontrust.com/FAQs/tabid/61/Default.aspx , and I urge you to do so, because it will assist you in understanding why I question all of this, and perhaps why you should think a little more about it as well.  Especially since under the Climate Change and offsets section, it specifically refers to global warming ( they define global warming as climate change)  as the reason behind all of this.

The creation of the carbon tax and the act and ensuing regulations governing climate protocols in British Columbia meant one thing: an entirely new industry was born in British Columbia, one that centered all around the buying and selling, creation and disbursement of carbon offsets, which in turn leads to the carbon credit.

This is where James Tansey and Offsetters Clean Technology comes in. The first time I really recall hearing this company name was when it was announced that the 2010 Olympics were going to be the greenest games on the planet.  VANOC made an announcement that a deal had been reached with Offsetters to become the official carbon offsetter of the Olympic Games- to the tune of approximately $5 million. Quite the deal if you ask me.

Shortly thereafter, finance minister Colin Hansen announced that the Pacific Carbon Trust had made a deal to purchase over 300,000 emission offsets from – you guessed it – Offsetters clean technology.

And the rest is history…

Some of you might be sleeping by now, some of you might be freaking out and wondering how it is that I could question such an amazing innovation like carbon offsets. After all, what could be wrong about offsetting harmful emissions, right?

The truth is,after reading the websites of  both Pacific Carbon Trust( remember, this is a crown corporation and your tax dollars at work here)  and Offsetters- a private and profitable business, I only have more doubt as to the effectiveness of all of it.

First of all, with regards to the crown corporation, Pacific Carbon Trust,  who is in charge of monitoring all of this? Who checks if the offset projects truly are what they claim to be ? Who is verifying the numbers ? 

As it happens, there is a FAQ  section on the government site that attempts to address these questions, but look at the answer it gives  for this question:

8. Who are validation and verification bodies?

Validation bodies review project plans and issue assurance statements on the basis of their findings. The validation of a project plan includes an assessment of the project’s additionality, selection of sources, sinks, reservoirs, and the protocol selected by the proponent.

Verification bodies assess project reports and issue assurance statements on the basis of their findings. The verification of project reports include an assessment of the project’s greenhouse gas reduction, data collection, monitoring, and calculations.

Initially a team which includes a person authorized to act as an auditor of a company and at least one qualified professional (as defined in the regulation) will be able to act as a validation or verification body. As of July 1, 2010 validation and verification bodies will need to be accredited, in accordance with ISO 14065, by a member of the International Accreditation Forum to use ISO 14064-3.

Soooo… I still have no clue WHO the people are that validate and verify the projects, offsets and numbers, and according to this, prior to July 1st of this year, these independent ” bodies” did not even have to be accredited !  What?  It boggles the mind that there are ‘bodies’ out there that may or may not be qualified to even perform this function- because they have not been accredited- to make any kind of assessment. But of course, we still don’t even know who these people are,where they came from and what their qualifications are.

It gets even better. Try and give this a try:

How do I quantify my proposed offset project?

Proponents are encouraged to select a recognized protocol (for example, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has numerous expert and publicly reviewed methodologies) and adapt, as necessary, to the B.C. context.

Over time, an optional list of approved protocols will be developed and made available to project proponents.

In addition, the Director of the Climate Change Branch of the Ministry of Environment has the authority to designate mandatory protocols. These protocols may relate to any of the following:

  • Selection of sources, sinks, or reservoirs.
  • Baseline scenarios.
  • Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Reductions.
  • Monitoring Greenhouse Gas sources, sinks, and reservoirs
  • Encouraged? Proponents are ‘encouraged’  to  select a recognized protocol? Shouldn’t a crown corporation be demanding it as a requirement? how about setting a standard so we know tax dollars aren’t being wasted here.

    I could go on, but you get the point. The science is still  relatively new, and as it turns out, highly questionable at best, in my opinion. After doing a bit more research, it appears that I am far from being the only one questioning the value of the entire carbon offset industry.

    Critics worldwide have long deemed carbon offsets as a way for the guilty to pay for their sins, rather than changing their behavior. ” Hey, I’m still going to fly 20 times a year, but I’ll by some offsets and it’s ok!! )  In BC, it seems we still have no cut and dry standard of verifying and measuring the offsets absolutely. It is often said that companies will get ” independent verification” as to appear credible and avoid the appearance of fraud, but as it clearly spelled on the BC government site,  those mysterious verification and validation bodies have been operating with accreditation for the last two years!!  Who the hell knows what has been going on over there and where this taxpayer-funded money has been going.

    There are more controversies with the entire carbon offset industry, and although I generally refrain from using Wikipedia as a source, it sums up all those controversies in one location. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_offset

    The most interesting source of information that takes a hard look at some of the key people in charge of the Pacific Carbon Trust and those that comprise the BC Green Energy  AdvisoryTask Force was located on the Save our Rivers website. I would consider it to be a damning report that shows the potential conflicts and highly questionable business relationships of those deemed with advising and overseeing the direction our government takes at this crucial juncture in our provinces history. Oddly enough, a familiar name appears even here, by the appearance of Chris Trumpy….. :)   ( that guy really gets around)

    Should those parties with an outside and vested interest that may be profit or politically motivated, be charged with advising on allegedly ‘clean’ energy issues? Read this link, and decide for yourself. http://saveourrivers.ca/action/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/TaskForce-Group2-Backgrounder-Dec16-09.pdf 

    Clearly, the premiers Green Dream and lofty goals of a carbon neutral public sector are  still just that – a dream.  Even more questionable, is the requirement for school districts to have to adhere to his protocols by purchasing – you guessed it-  carbon offsets to meet the guidelines. Don’t meet the target and the district has to pay a penalty on top of it. 

    Now again, I’m just a concerned mother and citizen of this province, but considering the school system has been underfunded and shortchanged for so long that a goof majority of students learn in cold, damp drafty old portables that cost a small fortune to even try and heat, wouldn’t it make more sense to exempt the schools from this requirement ?  Take a look at this excerpt from an article that ran in the TRicity News - and keep in mind this was written last year :

    Few British Columbians are against tackling climate change.
    But making students lab rats in an experiment to make the province a leader in the exchange of carbon credits is not the way to do it.

    Starting next year, school districts will be expected to calculate and pay for carbon emissions when there’s no money in the pot to pay for teachers.

    It’s an added financial burden for districts already caught in a cash crunch.

    The Surrey School District is already facing a $9.5-million shortfall due to a reduction in revenues and increased costs.

    The carbon emission plan imposed by the province will add nearly $2 million in expenses annually to Surrey’s bottom line – the equivalent of the annual salaries for 28 full-time teachers.

    First, districts have to buy and use an expensive, time-consuming calculator – from the province, which developed it – to figure out how many tonnes of carbon emissions they create in heating and lighting schools, then they’ll pay carbon offsets to industry through a carbon exchange called the Pacific Carbon Trust. This Crown corporation will then use the funds to reward industries that cut back on their carbon emissions.

    But should schools be subsidizing industry? And is this the right time to do it?

    True, schools that cut energy and electricity consumption will save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

    But exactly how can they afford to do that without dedicated funds? There was the annual facilities grant but that was cut and what reserves are left are being used for basic maintenance.

    You would think B.C. Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid would be sympathetic. But, no, she’s sticking to her guns on the 2010 deadline and says no extra money is available for the program.

    I can’t say it any better than that.

    I agree, few people in this province will deny the need for industry and commercial business to cut harmful emissions. But after a closer examination of the people and the projects initiated by our premier, it’s clear things are not what they appear to be. There are no strict guidelines and far too many loose ends to ensure that this tax money it being well spent, and in the end, how much has any of it impacted how the majority of industry in BC does business?

    It might make good copy, and even better PR for the companies touting their ‘carbon neutrality’, but I’m guessing the only thing Gordon Campbell’s Green Dream has done, is lined the pockets of more than a few industrious businessmen in BC – and no one  has been the wiser. Sure, buying some carbon offsets might contribute to some great new clean energy or some amazing new industrial mechanism that isn’t firing out some black toxic smoke, but remember this. 

    Those same carbon offsets are doing nothing to stop the current and ongoing, real-life every day emissions that are happening right now as we speak. On that one point alone, I question all of it. This program is doing nothing to  stop, or even really change the way big, powerful polluters are doing business at this very second.

    But hey, at least some CEO can say: ” We manage to minimize our tremendous environmental damage by purchasing carbon offsets….”  Maybe, just maybe he or she really believes it’s doing some good, but I doubt it. More likely they  view offsets as a free pass to commit environmental treachery, sanctioned by the government.

    I say, time to call for full and comprehensive, PUBLIC review of all the entire program to see if it has come close to living up to the dream- Campbell’s Green Dream.

    My kids, and yours, depend on it.