There's great news this morning from "down under." No, it's not free Vegemite sandwiches for every Aussie -- it's even better!
Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd swept to power in Australian elections Saturday, ending an 11-year conservative era and promising major changes to policies on global warming and his country's role in the Iraq war....one of the biggest changes will be in Australia's approach to climate change. Rudd has nominated the issue as his top priority, and promises to immediately sign the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions.
When he does so, the United States will stand alone as the only industrialized country not to have signed the pact.
Read that again: "the United States will stand alone as the only industrialized country not to have signed the pact." As Teacherken writes in his excellent diary this morning ("the last island of ignorance in a fast-rising sea"):
I want to be hopeful, but an administration which does not immediately fire an official environmental adviser whose response to a question on acceptable levels of global warming is "We don't have a view on that" is a threat to this nation - and to the world - and it is the responsibility of all of us to demand whatever action the Constitution authorizes to protect ourselves and the rest of the world.Ignorance or willful blindness is no longer acceptable. If the administration will not act on this subject, then it should be terminated by impeachment.
If Australia, a major oil and coal producer, can recognize global warming and move to take action, why in bloody hell can't the United States? Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait another year for our own great news to add to this morning's most excellent election results from "the land down under."
Matulseo
Ut Prosim
Under Howard Government policies, emissions are set to increase by 27% by 2020 above 1990 levels; under a Rudd Labor Government, emissions will go down.This comprehensive plan builds on Federal Labor's commitment to:
* Immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol;
* Set a 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target by 2020;
* $8000 rebates for solar power, $1000 rebates for solar hot water systems, $500 rebates for grey water piping and rainwater tanks, $500 rebates for landlords to install insulation and $10,000 in low interest Green loans for solar systems and water and energy savings measures.
* Invest $15 million in a Clean Energy Export Strategy;
* Invest $20 million in a Clean Energy Innovation Centre; and
* Invest in a Green Car Innovation Fund to develop and build green cars in Australia.
Now we are the last industrialized nation with a leader who refuses to take any serious action. Hopefully that dubious distinction will be corrected in next year's presidential election.Wow. Let's see that one again: Now we are the last industrialized nation with a leader who refuses to take any serious action. Are they listening in DC?
Another interesting note: Australian Labor now has control of, not only the federal gov. (they'll have to form a coalition with the Greens in the closely-divided senate), but also every single state government as well.