Christmas Lights Vs Carbon Tax
December 15th 2008 12:19
The Grand Champions, Bob and Maureen Bottomley of Ashmore, have entered the competition every year since 1991. With 16,000 lights in their display, they created a twinkling wonderland that delights young and old alike. But can we, as a society, afford it?
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said we need to act responsibly on carbon reduction to help deal with the challenges to our economy as well doing the right thing by our kids and by our grandkids.
“The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is about acting now on the economy in an effective, measured, responsible way to adjust to a lower carbon economy and also making sure we’re acting for our kids and grandkids as well,” he said.
“What we’ve sought to do is to act responsibly for our long term environmental future and economic future by taking action on climate change even though it’s tough and it will involve cost and pain for Australia.”
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said we do need to act and the longer we wait, the more it will cost for us to adjust.
“Australians did make it very clear [in the ‘07 election] that they did want action on climate change and that’s what the Government is doing,” she said.
“It is essentially the first time we’re going to put a limit on carbon pollution. We’re going to issue permits and that means we’ll put the costs of climate change into prices that we charge polluters.”
“What we have said, though, is that we’ve set out a range of commitments about how we’ll help Australian households, families, pensioners and carers adjust to a world where there is a carbon price.”
Bob and Maureen Bottomly may delight the kiddies, but are they ‘doing the right thing by them?’ Excessive energy consumption costs us all. It has cost the Australian taxpayers 1.4 billion, it costs the environment dearly, and it may bequeath our children and grandchildren a harsher existence in a hostile climate.
Traditionally, Christmas spirit entails peace and love and joy, and activities include socializing, caroling, feasting, and prayer. Not rampant consumerism and excessive energy consumption. If every one in developing nations consumed as much energy as those in developed nations, the planet would be doomed. Isn’t it time we grew up?
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