Watermelonism

Airlines made windfall profits after EU freeze on carbon taxes

"Airlines made up to half a billion euros in windfall profits last year by passing on a carbon surcharge to travellers despite an EU decision to freeze its controversial carbon tax, environmentalists said on Tuesday. Green group Transport and Environment said airlines chalked up extra revenues estimated at 486 million euros ($650 million) even though EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard in November decided to 'stop the clock' on an EU carbon tax angering the global aviation industry." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAirlines made windfall profits after EU freeze on carbon taxes

Chinese revolt over government plan to ban BBQ in order to fight epic smog problem

"China web-users were furious Thursday over plans to tackle pollution with a ban on barbecues, wryly asking if Beijing would stamp out fried food and normal bodily functions in its war on smog. The controversial measure is being explored as Beijing aims to confront the heavy pollution which has choked large swathes of the country in recent weeks. State media said Wednesday that the country’s environmental watchdog had issued draft guidelines advising major cities to adopt legislation banning 'barbecue-related activities'. Barbequed food is a favourite dish in China, particularly lamb skewers, a speciality of the north-western region of Xinjiang." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChinese revolt over government plan to ban BBQ in order to fight epic smog problem

UN Attacks Small Gold Miners With New Mercury Treaty – Higher Prices Seen

"The United Nations is once again making it harder for poor people to earn a living. In this case it is the small gold miners that use mercury to help them sift for gold. While the UN provides the requisite disclaimers having to do with finding 'alternatives' to mercury for small miners, we wonder how much they'll cost. Additionally, we note this latest attack on people's ability to make a living excludes Big Pharma: Mercury will continue to find its way into vaccines because there are currently 'no mercury-free alternatives.' Amazing, isn't it, the concern that the UN shows for multi-billion dollar corporations?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUN Attacks Small Gold Miners With New Mercury Treaty – Higher Prices Seen

Feds fund $100,000 video game featuring female climate change ‘superhero’

"A new video game featuring a black alien female superhero delivered to Earth to fight global warming is about to hit the market thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Obama administration. The National Endowment for the Arts is funding the Spelman College of Atlanta, Ga.'s multi-episode game called 'HERadventure.' In the grant announcement made last year, the NEA said the story 'focuses on a young female superhero sent to Earth to save her own planet from devastation because of climate changes caused by social issues impacting women and girls.' The game is set to debut on March 8 on International Women's Day." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds fund $100,000 video game featuring female climate change ‘superhero’

Pinhead Bureaucrats Threaten Family with Prison for Rescuing a Baby Deer

"When Connersville police officer Jeff Counceller first encountered the baby deer, she was curled up in the corner of a front porch. It was clear the fawn was injured. So the Councellers took in the deer, which they named Dani, cleaned and dressed its wounds and nursed it back to health. Trouble is, what the Councellers did is against the law. Now, more than two years after rescuing the deer, more than six months after conservation officers began an investigation, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources wants them prosecuted. …DNR officials began an investigation that entailed half a dozen visits to their home and numerous calls to local authorities." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPinhead Bureaucrats Threaten Family with Prison for Rescuing a Baby Deer

Rare trees turned into firewood as Syrian civilians struggle for warmth

"Beset by a freezing winter and stifling fuel and electricity shortages, Syrian civilians desperate to stay warm in a northern forest have no choice but to cut down trees for firewood. Once a tourist destination for Syrians and other Arabs across the Middle East, the formerly pristine national park to the north and west of the city of Idlib is being systematically stripped bare. Bald, muddy swathes of fresh-cut land now stretch in many directions, with men using chainsaws to bring trees down and dozens of pick-up trucks coming and going for loads of lumber." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRare trees turned into firewood as Syrian civilians struggle for warmth

Electricity prices for German households have increased 61% since 2000 – renewables blamed

"Real German electricity prices for households have increased 61% since 2000. One quarter of household costs now stems directly from renewable energy. Also, the increase is *not* because of increasing production costs (which have actually slightly declined since 1978). The increase is due to dramatically increasing taxes, most noticeably from the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). In 2013 the EEG will increase 50% to 6.28 euro-cent (5.28 cents plus 19% VAT). In June 2011, Chancellor Angela Merkel famously promised to keep EEG prices stable, but this promise has now clearly been broken. The German household will pay 24% of its electricity bill to renewables." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingElectricity prices for German households have increased 61% since 2000 – renewables blamed

Tree Theft on the Rise in Germany as Heating Costs Increase

"The problem has been compounded this winter by rising energy costs. The Germany's Renters Association estimates the heating costs will go up 22 percent this winter alone. A side effect is an increasing number of people turning to wood-burning stoves for warmth. Germans bought 400,000 such stoves in 2011, the German magazine FOCUS reported this week. It marks the continuation of a trend: The number of Germans buying heating devices that burn wood and coal has grown steadily since 2005, according to consumer research company GfK Group. That increase in demand has now also boosted prices for wood, leading many to fuel their fires with theft." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTree Theft on the Rise in Germany as Heating Costs Increase

Government Crony Madness In Action (Wind Farm Edition)

"Wind farms in the Pacific Northwest -- built with government subsidies-- are now getting paid to shut down as the federal agency charged with managing the region's electricity grid says there's an oversupply of renewable power at certain times of the year. Note the part of the explanation in the clip below where it is stated that the problem is too much energy being generated because of melting snow. Econ 101 teaches that there is no such thing as oversupply, i.e. 'too much' supply. Over supply can only occur when there are price controls in existence, above market prices. So what is really going on here?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Crony Madness In Action (Wind Farm Edition)