Voters must force the government into a climate change
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As long as the CFMEU and Greens are able to dictate the state government's ridiculous policy on nuclear power there seems to be little hope of convincing business big and small that the Carpenter government is serious about addressing climate change.
QUESTION: What colour do you get from mixing The Reds and The Greens?
At least the CFMEU makes no secret of their agenda. They see their only role as protecting members jobs. They are apparently not generally interested in climate change, the community at large or the welfare of the next generation. Perhaps CFMEU members do not have children?
Just exactly what the Greens agenda is remains a mystery to the vast majority of voters. They apparently want "clean, green" power but would deny the use of this states immense natural resources to generate the electricity.
Their scare tactics are still apparently based on the historical facts of Hiroshima and Chernobyl. Perhaps the Greens should remember that the petrol driven "horseless carriage" was also once banned from roads because it was potentially dangerous. The "stinking fumes" was listed as the main reason for the ban. The "stink" never hurt anybody but the fumes still do.
Ever noticed how the Greens yell and splutter and cough their protests during the release of "vast quantities" of carbon dioxide into the air as a result of controlled burns. Then they go dead quite at the sign of the first uncontrolled bushfire, which destroys lives, homes and livelihoods?
Neither do the Greens point out that just one serious bushfire such as the Dwellingup/Coolup fire this week released more carbon dioxide than all the 2006 controlled burns put together. Neither will they accept that eco regeneration from a controlled burn is over 95% in three years but less than 20% for a wild fire.
Premier Carpenter clearly sees that the CFMEU and the Greens hold the balance of power at the ballot box. He is obviously concerned that if he makes the decisions that his scientific advisors and common sense indicate he may lose the next election. However there is still a great deal that can be achieved at grass roots level.
The government must immediately review its policy on day light saving which is probably adding at least an extra 1.5 million hours of "dirty power" domestic air conditioning use per week. There appears to be little or no reduction in commercial air conditioning power usage because employees "go home earlier".
Legislation on the construction of energy efficient homes and commercial buildings needs to strengthened and enforced. Massive promotional campaigns by powerful manufacturers continue to convince new home builders to build in brick and tile. The use of some other building materials such as steel and fibro cement can result in huge energy savings.
House architects continue to get it very wrong in designing homes for the Western Australian climate. They frequently do little more than "adapt" completely inappropriate European styles. Coal burning fireplaces often become wood burning fireplaces. The banning of all wood burning stoves and heaters should come into effect much sooner than later.
There also must to be a far greater push to encourage converting new and existing motor vehicles to LPG. Government car fleets have massive spending power in both the terms of vehicle supply and fuel usage. This power needs to be used, if necessary in conjunction with other state governments, to encourage vehicle manufactures and service stations to become more proactive in a move away from petrol engines.
If the government won't act then the people must do so. Voters at every election from now on should seriously consider the environmental awareness of all candidates. At this point of time the Labor government needs to seriously review its climate change policies.
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