| Commentary |
| In Michael Smyth's article in the Province Thursday, April 24, 2008 titled "I'm opposed to New Democrats (sic) opposing everything on green file", Mr. Smyth fails to properly explain why his argument has any merit-he only knocks the New Democrat position(s) which to a conservative- like ROBBINS -may have merit in terms of proper conservative decision making. |
| The NDP questions the thoroughness of BC Liberal legislation on biofuels. They ought to: every man and woman at the softball park is aware of the problems associated with biofuels, specifically that by growing crops for biofuels-a shortage of food may arise, or alternatively that supply may dwindle sufficiently to drive up the price of bread for instance. In one year the lustre of biofuels as a stable solution to energy shortages has worn thin-making biofuels potentially the stuff of "Mad Max" foreshadowing. |
| A first year economics student will tell you that a $5.00 dollar present value loaf of bread will do little to balance fundamental economic concerns with increasing consumer demand for sustainability. |
| His criticism of NDP critic Maurine Karagianis who "introduced parliamentary motions last year calling for bio-diesel to power the ferry fleet and heat the legislature" is unfair. A "motion" from the Opposition to contemplate what arguably could be compelling public relations-at least insofar as the BC legislature is concerned-may help with the Campbell Liberals erstwhile attempts so far with producing the greenest Olympics ever. (Clearly there are jokes a plenty over quarts of Screech and Everclear at government caucus meetings over the turn of the green phraseology). |
| To characterize the BC NDP by suggesting "The truth is you can find a reason to oppose anything" is a meaningless statement and ironically mimics the precise nature of Mr. Smyth's article. Mr. Smyth contends that "Biofuels waste food-Hydro projects scare bears-tidal power kills mollusks" does not properly-to the extent that I can determine-the position of the New Democrats. |
| Ms. Karagianis's biofuel comments from one year ago may not be absolutely valid-however at least the NDP were talking about it one year ago. Biofuels are becoming an object of serious second sober reflection everywhere. Poorer countries intent on seizing new opportunities in limited available circumstances to do so, are now realizing that if they grow biofuels for energy consumption they risk having not enough to eat. Hydro projects affect more than just bears-they have further implications for crop growing which need to be seriously considered. |
| The fact of the matter, apparently lost on Mr. Smyth (or his editor's ignorance) is that British Columbians don't believe Gordon Campbell is converted to green-they believe the Premier is focused on development-a belief system more preponderantly incongruent with most 'green thinking'. This is evident by the application last year of huge BC Liberal donor Milan Ilich whose application to Coquitlam city council last year knocked out any means of producing an LID environmental sustainable development at Burke Mountain in Coquitlam--a watershed culture-after castastrophe after castastrophe of flooding and other has already take place at Westwood Plateau because of similar negligence. |
| Good journalism should produce at least some shred of valid evidence. |
| The recent Run of the River project at Burke Mountain much ballyhooed in the mainstream propaganda sheets-was cancelled the day after a significant protest in the area. How much planning went into this? Is Michael Smyth thus advocating support for Gordon Campbell's BC Liberal seat-o-the-pants environmental strategies? |
| Michael Smyth writes for a newspaper and television chain CanWest Global whose television station he once described as Gordon Campbell TV (where was the Politburo's editors when this went down?). |
| BC newspapers including the Vancouver Sun and Province are arguably a tremendous contributor to pollution in the province, and the principle which most British Columbians support-polluter pay-is in no way adhered to by this company. Why not? |
| Why aren't newspaper producers in the province compelled to print papers that are recycled? I'll tell you why--with readership plummeting-an advertising dollars flying elsewhere-for the newspapers to be environmentally sustainable they would be out of business-overnight. |
| Also, how about all of the print material advertising in these newspapers--the stuff city recyclers-don't want? Why is there one rule for some of us and another rule for Polluter Publishing? |
| It's because people who want to promote themselves, politicians and other wease bags use newspapers to promote themselves and their products-for public relations or for profit purposes. |
| Asking us to buy into their propaganda while they act as perfect hypocrites has moved from silly to just plain sad-which characterizes the pure pandering taking place in this article. |
| Failing grade. |
