Comments on: End of the Road?

By: Admin

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:46:48 +0000

Great comments David – I would add that a secondhand Prius is no more than the equivalent petrol car these days. I got mine for $7,000 three years ago and would sell it for $4,000 now. A lot of people I know spend a lot more on a secondhand car still. I agree with the need to reduce our overall energy consumption, particularly in (over)developed countries – unfortunately the dominant growth paradigm is still too pervasive for the majority of citizens to take a sufficiency paradigm seriously.

By: David Tawhai-Bodsworth

David Tawhai-Bodsworth — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:05:58 +0000

Hybrid vehicles are great but unfortunately out of the reach (currently) of most middle income and below households. The main focus of most people is either paying off the mortgage (or making their rent payments) and thus keeping their jops while still feeding and clothing and supplying the whanau with the basics. I guess a start for people is to reduce to one car, use it sparingly, and where its available, use public transport.

What does get to me sometimes is that there is this movement to move to alternative power generation (which I support) but in the minds of some the underlying objective is to maintain our current (western mainly) high consumption based lifestyles. It requires a cultural change or shift in our mindset (says he with a 42 LED Tv!!).

I support the introduction of consumption based taxes regimes on households and businesses – gst is not the answer get rid of it. The taxes should target over consumption eg. large Mc Mansions houses, ownership of multiple goods e.g. more than one car, tv etc. Similar regimes have been introduced overseas so they are not new to the planet. Carbon tax on heavy polluters should be greatly increased to penalise and to divert funds to alternative power generation development and implementation. The current EST is a joke and a scam for multinational pulluters to maintain pollution while increasing emissions. Better to reduce our carbon footprint than to lose much of the planet we love.

By: Admin

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:18:36 +0000

Agreed.

By: Don Miller

Don Miller — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:16:56 +0000

Rather than having educational tours to developed countries I would suggest that some staff and councillors should travel (at their own expense!) to see how low carbon consuming cultures cope. Despite sometimes being under oppressive regimes these people still live, laugh and bring up their families while making minimal impact on the earth. No cars, few tractors but lots of draft animals.

Using the scientific knowledge we now have, their lives can be improved while still keeping within their low carbon budget. Meanwhile we could learn that it will not be the end of our world if we reduce our carbon footprint – although it could well be the end of all we cherish if we don’t.