The cost of combatting climate change
I think it is a fair assumption to say that most people now
beleive that climate change is a problem, and that man is
contributing, at least in part, to the changes in our atmosphere.
What people still bitterly disagree about is the course of action
we should take in heading off further changes to the atmosphere and
whether or not this will have devastating economic impacts. Popular
sentiment would have us beleive that because economic growth and
CO2 emissions are inextricably tied, this [...]
Ecosystem Services
I was dismayed to read that despite all we know about the
importance of rainforests to life on the planet that they are
continuing to be destroyed. The rainforests are perhaps the symbol
we think of when it comes to deforestation but the depletion of
forests around the world is astonishing. More than half of the
forest cover that once existed has been destroyed for farming,
cities and pretty much every other type of human activity. We
obviously need to utilize some of the materials that [...]
Presidential Politics and the Economy
In these uncertain economic times only one thing is for sure;
the economy is a serious issue that is likely to be the deciding
factor in elections on both sides of the border. Stephen Harper has
billed himself as the "steady as she goes" candidate in the
Canadian election that will ride out economic crisis while making
Stephane Dion and his "Green Shift" look like a risky choice. The
story has been much the same in the U.S. Presidential Election.
McCain is a seasoned political veteran while [...]
A Night of Debate
Summary:My 100th post focuses on the Canadian Leaders' debate and the American Vice Presidential debate with my take on the candidates in each election and the best performance.
Last night viewers had a tough choice - watch Canada's party
leaders face off in the english language debate or tune in for
Biden and Palin's Vice Presidential debate. I was able to flip
between the two but caught the majority of the Canadian leader's
debate. Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party impressed me the
most out of all the federal party leaders and Biden clearly won the
Vice Presidential debate although he could have probably done more
to discredit Sarah Palin. Instead Biden [...]
It's the economy stupid! or is it???
We all know Bill Clinton's famous words that were a large part
in getting him elected to the White House - "It's the economy
stupid!." These words have been used over and over by the popular
press and given the state of the global economy it is hard to
disagree. But is it really all about the economy? What if the
economy, as currently constructed, leads to the destruction of
people's life savings and the natural systems that sustain life on
earth? What if the economic system that has been [...]
