Tag Archives: environment

Hypocrisy It Isn’t

Posted on by John Klein

Notable climate crisis musician and activist Laura Stewart in the Leader Post explaining why climate activists aren’t hypocrites for pressuring governments to take action they cannot personally:
leaderpost com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-oct-17-2019-climate-change-protesters-arent-the-major-emitters

Climate protesters aren’t hypocrites

Regina’s climate protesters are not hypocrites. They demand government action on problems their personal actions can’t touch.

Critics say, “Pick up litter.” Some protesters do that. Some attempt zero-waste living. But of Saskatchewan’s 76 megatonnes of emissions, the “Waste and Others” sector makes up only three per cent.

Yes, many protesters bike, walk, or bus to the marches. But “Passenger Transportation” produces just six per cent of emissions. And it’s a nine-hour bike ride to the legislature from my home town.

What personal actions could drive down the 34 per cent of emissions from “Oil and Gas” production? During one march, a critic suggested turning off the gas to my house, but that’s consumption — counted in the “Buildings” sector at only four per cent.

How about reducing the 19 per cent of emissions from “Electricity”? Eliminating all residential electricity would cut only about three per cent of overall emissions. And critics complain about protesters’ cell phones.

“Agriculture” produces 22 per cent of emissions — and $13 billion in exports. Many protesters avoid eating meat — another partial solution. But about nine per cent of Saskatchewan’s overall emissions come from crop production, because it releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times worse than carbon dioxide.

We need government actions to make high emissions costly, make lowering emissions pay, and make zero emissions an affordable choice. Otherwise, we subsidize our present prosperity at the expense of our children’s future.

The most important personal action you can take to help solve the climate emergency? Talk about it.

Laura Stewart, Regina

This is a subject that I’ve discussed years ago too.

Minister of SaskPower, Duncan, Should Resign

Posted on by John Klein

I don’t think I’ve ever called for a Minister to resign before, while on the radio, but Duncan should definitely quit screwing up Saskatchewan, SaskPower, and our environment.

Global Climate Strike in Regina

Posted on by John Klein

 

The #ClimateStrike was in Regina again this morning, and hundreds of people marched from the RSM to the Legislature to show their displeasure with the government for doing nothing to address the climate crisis.

The Government is doing less than nothing, they’re now actively harming the people providing solutions to the pollution crisis. Yesterday SaskPower shut down wind and solar applications, meaning no one can add renewable energy to the grid, and surpass SaskPower’s negligible plans to green our electricity supply.

Greta Thunberg’s lonely climate strike over a year ago has inspired a global movement, and the SaskParty had better get out of the way. The next generation isn’t going to take kindly to their destruction and obstruction, and neither will anyone else who wants a future in this province.

Dr. Brit Hall addressed the hundred of strikers about the excuse makers we all know.

SaskPower Cancels Solar Power in Saskatchewan

Posted on by John Klein

SaskPower has yet to build a mere Megawatt of solarpower, but has now canceled the ability of solar installers to accept new work in the province. They went way farther than the cancellation of the rebate I warned readers about back in June. The Net Metering program has allowed hundreds of people to add more renewable solar power to our grid than the inept, anti-solar Crown Corporation ever has.

Not to brag, but I produce more solar power than SaskPower. I also out-produce the City of Regina after they’ve been studying the idea of producing solar power for over 2 years. I make more electricity from the sun than the climate-denying Government of Saskatchewan does on its  buildings in the capital city of Regina. Regina, by the way, ranks in the top 10 cities in the world for solar power potential. And I make more than Ralph Goodale and Catherine McKenna’s green-friendly Liberal Government of Canada does on its buildings in Regina too. In short, they all suck, and I don’t suck as much.

People who shouldn’t be making the big decisions, are. The people need to stop electing boneheads who couldn’t pass a Grade 10 science class to save their lives. It would help if we’d make it illegal for elected parties to take money from oil companies too.

Speak up and let your neighbour, or friend, or co-worker know that you’re aware they don’t want to hear your political opinion, but you’re scared if things devolve any further you’ll have beef force fed to you by roving gangs of insane cattle ranchers dressed all in Green and White soon.

“I cannot wrap my head around this.” – Young

When a political decision makes no sense, like shutting down solar in Saskatchewan, you can assume it’s either due to incompetence, or due to corruption. And we’ve already confirmed that political parties take money from oil companies in Saskatchewan, and  oppose sensible actions to combat the climate crisis.

SaskPower Cutting Solar Funding Instead of Cheques

Posted on by John Klein

Despite a ticking clock to cut emissions drastically, SaskPower is opting to continue to burn low grade coal instead of support faster adoption of solar power. They’re cutting a successful Net Metering rebate system 2 years early.

There’s a promise by the wildly anti-environment SaskParty, even during Brad Wall’s years, to cut power generation back to only 50% fossil fueled, by 2030. It makes zero sense for SaskPower to remove an incentive for its customers to help it reach that objective earlier.
UPDATE: It’s even worse than the incentive going away, all new applications for solar and wind isn’t being accepted now!

Evil Men Destroying Our World Have Names

Posted on by John Klein

“What is happening here is a crime” – Brazillian fascist President accusing environmentalists of what he’s done.

“I am not looking for who is responsible.”

Remember to think well of the dead, even if they wished you and yours death with every dollar they spent.

CBC, Change the Debate

Posted on by John Klein

CBC has a history of providing a substandard democracy experience for its owners, the Canadian public. Over a decade ago I organized a Regina protest in front of CBC Saskatchewan to object to the broadcasting corporation’s exclusion of Elizabeth May from the leaders debate. Years later she managed to win a seat anyway, and now the Greens are polling nationally about even with the NDP. Excluding her was obviously a partisan choice by the public broadcaster.

IMG_1226

CBC security hassling a protestor to ‘not block the entrance’, during the opening prayer.

Yesterday, people across Canada gathered, including in Regina, to protest CBC’s lack of interest in hosting a Leaders Debate on the climate emergency that Parliament has declared. Several parties have a plan for a Green New Deal, and the public would benefit from hearing a structured debate from the leaders of those parties explain how they envision the Canadian economy will change to meet the pressing need the world is feeling to meet this crisis.

 

You might also want to read these from the past of media corruption.

It’s clear the CBC is willing to put more effort into sensationalizing a murder investigation, than into the most life threatening political issue of our time.