Renewables Could Save Trillions

Renewable energy costs a lot to implement. It requires a lot of initial capital input and this raises the price for solar and wind energy. However, if we take the plunge now, we could save some money in the future. A lot. In fact, WWF International estimates that the planet would save $5.5 trillion for having 100% of our energy renewable. This is a hard goal to meet. But, even if we achieved 25% renewable or 50% renewable, we would see great savings in the future, both environmentally and economically.

OTTAWA — The planet can save more than $5.5 trillion per year by 2050 by charting a path toward consuming 100 per cent renewable energy, says a new report to be released on Thursday.

The Energy Report, released by WWF International, a global conservation organization, said the plan not only provides sustainable development, but also prevents dangerous levels of global-warming causing pollution in the atmosphere.

Read more at the Province.

Related articles

• Renewables can meet world energy needs by 2050: WWF (reuters.com)
• Renewable energy feasible, group says (theglobeandmail.com)

U.S Political subsidy.

In the U.S they also have a subsidy for political parties, and in the house they voted for the repal of their political party subsidy. In the U.S this will be more devastating, because there candidates can already get funding from big corporations, and eliminating the subsidy would make politicians not accountable to the voters, but rather there money would be coming from corporations which they will have to stay accountable to in order to get their money. Now there subsidy is different than ours here, but the reason the Republicans are giving to the people are the same. The senate majority leader said that the deficit is so big taxpayers shouldn't have to give welfare to the politicians almost the same thing that Harper said. The truth is that the subsidy is important and without it private corporations will have more power than they already do. The subsidy has to stay in both the U.S and Canada. The U.S must also dramatically reform how candidates can get money.

"These efforts are not about saving taxpayer money, they are about giving corporate donors even more access than they enjoy today. We hope these measures don't advance any further."

Read more here

Get the Right Plane

The F-35 is not the right plane for Canada. The Harper government has suggested that these fighters are going to be used to defend the Arctic against the Russians. The truth is that any purchase Canada is going to make to defend against the Russians would have to be huge. Too big for the likes of us. If the Russians do invade (and that is a big if), 65 planes will not stop the massive Russian Air Force. The US would probably step in.

Now, it has been discovered that there is no way with present equipment that the military can refuel the F-35s while flying. We would need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on upgrades. Also, even though the prime usage for this fighter was supposed to be the Arctic, the runways up north are too short for the plane.

When we spend $16 billion on 65 planes, we should make sure that we get the right one for our needs. If this is not the right plane, and it isn't then we should not get it. Let's save our money for an airplane that will really meet our needs.

OTTAWA -- The Canadian military does not have the ability to conduct aerial refuelling of the F-35 fighter jet it wants to purchase and is now looking at ways to get around that problem.

Options range from paying for modifications to the stealth jets to purchasing a new fleet of tanker aircraft that can gas up the high-tech fighters in mid-air. That option could cost several hundred million dollars, depending on how many new tankers are needed.

Read more at the Ottawa Citizen. 

Related articles

• DND denies F-35 flaw claims (cbc.ca)
• When defending the F-35, the government bombs again (fullcomment.nationalpost.com)

It Will Happen

Stephen Harper is saying that unless a Conservative majority is elected at the next chance, a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition will take over right away. This is ridiculous and no one believes him, but nevertheless, he should watch what he says, as it could put the Tory hold on power in jeopardy.

When you repeat the same ridiculous message again and again, it is possible that what you were warning against will actually happen. Did it ever occur to Harper that if he says, “They will deny it every day of the campaign. The day after, they will do it," maybe, it would actually happen. If I were in the opposition and had lost an election due to Harper's coalition fear-mongering, I would be quite encouraged to actually form a coalition.

If the Tories continue on their spin spree, the next election could be all or nothing for them. A majority or loss of power. Obviously, they are ready to take this gamble. Watch out Harper, because your fairy tale may come true.

Stephen Harper is warning us that, unless we elect a majority Conservative government at the next opportunity, a coalition of the other parties in the House of Commons will take over, virtually overnight. “They will deny it every day of the campaign,” the Prime Minister predicts. “The day after, they will do it.”

Read more at the Globe and Mail. 

Budget 2011!

The 2011 budget is suppose to have a corporate tax cut in it. The Liberals good for them are going to vote down this budget, the NDP are against the corprate tax, but are open to support the budget as long as some provisions are added. Like elimanating a sales tax on heating and incxraesing the garenteed supplement for seniors. Stephen Harper might fold and just give the NDP what they want to stop an ele ction. Any ways the Bloc aren't cheaper to buy off they want 5 Billion dollars for Quebec that would be political suicide for his supporters in any other part of the country even including Quebec considering Quebec still doesn't like Harper. Harper has to choose between a rock and a rough place. Either call an election that everyone in the coutry would hate or get support from what the Stephen Harper calls the "socialist" Party to help his Goverment out. I want an election now! Even if the Conservatives get another minority goverment I will still be happy as Harper can't put another budget with a corprate tax cut that no party supports, and then again there is always the hope that a coalition will come. I would chose a coalition goverment of the Liberal-NDP-Bloc over Harper's lousy goverment any day, Although I would much rather prefer a Liberal majority Goverment.

Related articles

• Canadians prefer a Tory minority over a coalition: poll (nationalpost.com)