paulhillsdon.com

Just got my $100 in the mail yesterday. Regardless of your position on this government sponsored dividend that will be given to every single British Columbian, the reality is that we have the money. Now what to do with it?

First, the government has given you an opportunity here to make a choice for a greener future. Sure, you may just add it to your chequing account and buy a new bathing suit for the summer. 

But, if you are truly concerned about climate change, and want to do something about it, here is your chance! You’ve just been given $100. Spend it wisely. Spend it in a way that will bring about a more sustainable future. Here’s a few ideas:

• Compact fluorescent lightbulbs
• A low-flow toilet
• Repairs to, or a new, bicycle
• An electric lawnmower
• Weather stripping your home
• Install low-flow showerheads

And of course,

• Support a green politician

Putting your $100 towards my campaign for a seat on Surrey City Council may very well be one of the most productive means of investing that money in a sustainable future. If elected, my plans and ideas could completely revolutionize the South of Fraser area, and put Metro Vancouver back on the world stage as a leader in green transportation, compact living, and the preservation of natural areas. 

Here’s just a few of my initiatives that could be initiated if I am elected:

• The construction of light rail across Surrey and the Valley
• Modern, comfortable, safe, and accessible bus shelters across Surrey
• A vast cycling network featuring physically separated routes from car and truck traffic
• The preservation of Campbell Heights as a green space for the region
• Vibrant, walkable Town Centres filled with unique businesses, community services, and compact housing options for those seeking more urban and sustainable lifestyles
• The implementation of a Green Building Strategy in a city that welcomes over 1,000 new people every month!

If you think I’ve made a worthy case, you can donate your Climate Action Dividend right here securely over Paypal. 

Or “green shifting” as the Liberals would have you say. As you may recall, I support the notion of a revenue neutral carbon tax. Carbon needs a price for the market to react and engage the notion of pollution in a way it currently does not. However, that does not mean that a carbon tax is a tax grab. If the new revenue from a carbon tax is offset by lower income taxes, then I really don’t see what everyone in BC is all screwballing over. Especially when it will only increase your average gas bill by $46 per year! 

In any case, the Liberals plan seems to look out for all potentially affected groups, at least from my perspective, in a way that Gordon Campbell’s plan doesn’t. And it’s showing. Despite Harper spouting off like an idea and saying a carbon tax would “screw all Canadians“, a new survey just goes to show that just because some guy is the leader of your country does not mean he represents a major portion of the population. 

A Canadian Press survey asked this to 1000 Canadians:

The Liberals are calling their policy A Green Shift. The main elements are putting a tax on carbon or greenhouse-gas emissions, and using the money raised by this tax to reduce income and other taxes, to provide financial support for those less well off and to invest in green technologies. The tax increases will be phased in over four years and will not apply to gasoline. Based on this description, would you say this is a policy you strongly support, support, oppose or strongly oppose.

And heck, it turns out 47% of those polled liked the idea. 39% were opposed. Regardless of how you read into these numbers, it just goes to show that Canadians still think the environment is a major issue in this country, clearly aren’t happy with how the Conservatives have handled the problems we are facing with climate change, and are able to actually grasp the concept of a revenue neutral carbon tax - more than can be said for Stephen Harper. 

Now it’s time for Harper to put his mouth where his beliefs are and face off with Dion in a serious debate about the idea of a carbon tax. Canada certainly deserves nothing less. 

And in other news, the scientist that first told the US Congress about global warming recommended America adopt a carbon tax!

“We have to level with the public that there has to be a price on carbon emissions,” Hansen said. “That is the only way we are going to begin to move toward a carbon free economy.”

Hansen said urgent action was needed to cut carbon dioxide emissions that are warming the globe and are already causing arctic ice to melt. He said world leaders had only one or two years to act before the Earth reaches a “tipping point” with major consequences to the global climate and species survival.

“We have reached an emergency situation,” Hansen said.

He said the government should not keep the proceeds from any carbon tax, but refund the money to taxpayers to help them pay for more fuel efficient technology.

Would someone please tell me what all this ridiculous raucous over the carbon tax is about?!

The escalating carbon tax is a mere 2.4 cents to begin with. That is absolutely nothing compared to the market’s 10 cent increase over a week! People are looking for someone to blame for the high gas prices and the media has jumped onto Campbell and his carbon tax.

I’m not trying to support them - the Liberals have done a lot of things wrong in their time. But the NDP are by no means are a reasonable alternative, and they are simply playing into people’s fears - no different than the federal Tories policies! That’s politicking at its highest!

At least Campbell is doing something. The point is that the carbon tax will fund the provision of alternatives. Yes, alternatives should be happening much sooner, and yes, we’ve had a general gas tax for how many years? And yes, there will be regional discrepancies. But to call off a progressive climate change and taxation policy like the carbon tax because gas prices are getting higher is absolutely ridiculous and illogical - especially when the tax itself will only cost 2.4 cents a litre!

Which, according to calculations will only come out to $46 annually in carbon tax for a year’s worth of fill ups for a family of four’s van. That’s less than one fill up a year. 

So really people, put the friggin’ tax into perspective. 

Not to mention, low income British Columbians will receive an annual Climate Action Credit of $100/adult and $30/child. Which works out well for them, since presumably they’d be taking the bus anyways - which is much cheaper than driving will ever be. That could get them one month’s transit pass - certainly a better choice than one tank fill up!

If there is one certainty about the current rise in gas prices, it is that it will not continue forever.

Sooner or later, global demand for oil will come more into balance with its supply, and prices will fall. [The Province]

And, I’m sorry, but the reality is, gas prices are not going to go down. They may fluctuate, but prices will continue, over the long term to go up. 

Think about the demand that’s coming from India and Asia. Think about how much resources our “North American” lifestyles use up. Considering neither of these groups is likely to demand anything less anytime soon, demand will not cease. 

The concept of peak oil is that as soon as we have passed the midpoint in global oil resources, prices will skyrocket. That is because, from that point on, we will never have enough supply to meet the demand. 

So, you think $1.50 is bad? Are you fearing the $2 mark predicted to arrive by 2012? 

Well, consider this. Peak oil is estimated to hit between 2010 to 2013. Then the shit will hit the fan because you ain’t seen nothing yet. Prices will zoom to numbers never before imagined possible.

So please, stop trying to find someone or something to blame. Please stop trying to find some way of sustaining this unsustainable way of life. 

Think positively for once and coming up with creative solutions to this big problem: electric vehicles, or moving closer to work, or bringing the bike out of the garage, or buying locally grown food.

And of course, support the politicians who will help facilitate this transition towards a sustainable way of life. 

More info as it comes. Here’s the press release.

Update: It will be available on Fido as well. Prices will start at $199 CAN on three year contracts. The important info now is how they will be sold (through Rogers stores, Apple stores, online?) and the ultimate monthly plan costs (in the States, the cheapest voice+data plan will be $70 US).

Dylan Pattyn, who is currently writing an article for Time Magazine on the issue, has official confirmation from sources within Bell Canada and is interviewing a marketing representative from TELUS who confirms the story and states that TELUS has already started blocking all websites that aren’t in the subscription package for mobile Internet access. They could not confirm whether it would happen in 2012 because both stated it may actually happen sooner (as early as 2010). Interviews with these sources, more confirmation from other sources and more in-depth information on the issue is set to be published in Time Magazine soon. 

[via I Power]

I was under the impression that net neutrality had been taken care of after legislation in the States rejected the major American ISPs plans to shift their business model similar to that of TV. In doing so, ISPs would basically have total control over what sites or services you access on “their” Internet. 

However, here comes news that that win for net neutrality was nothing more than a tiny success in a much larger worldwide battle. It sounds a little out there, but it’s not hard to believe that the major ISPs across the world are planning to collectively restrict the Internet, as we know it, by 2012. What’s absolutely disgusting though is hearing that it’s not Verizon, AT&T, or Comcast leading this transition - it’s Telus and Bell! Of course, Canada already has some of the world’s worst traffic shaping done by Rogers, Bell, and Shaw, so it’s not all that surprising that they want more control over the traffic that’s running through the tubes. And with the Conservatives in power, I seriously doubt that the government will step in and do anything. 

I do believe though that the Internet has been so successful precisely because it is a Wild west - content access or control is regulated by collective consciousness of all users worldwide. We the people will not take lightly to any efforts to restrict the web.