Al Gore slams the tories' new environmental plan!

[sadora]

Excerpt taken from newswire.ca

TORONTO, April 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Greenpeace warned of further
international outcry following remarks by former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore
yesterday and today, regarding the Canadian government's so-called plan to
fight climate change. Mr.Gore, who is in Canada promoting his documentary An
Inconvenient Truth, reacted to the plan in much the same way as Canadian
commentators over the past few days, calling it "a complete and total fraud
designed to mislead the Canadian public."
"Only two days after the release of the Harper Government's so-called
climate change plan, Canada's international image has been dragged into the
mud, adding to the tidal wave of domestic criticism from all quarters, " said
Joslyn Higginson, of Greenpeace's Climate and Energy Campaign. "Al Gore is the
single most influential advocate for the environment out there, so his
criticism and his opinion will carry weight internationally. That's disturbing
for Canada, for our image and our foreign policy - and for Canadians, who want
to see us respect our international commitments."
"Mr. Gore is asking all Canadians to put pressure on their government, "
Joslyn Higginson continued. "Canadians need to make Prime Minister Harper hear
that C-30, as amended by the opposition parties, is the best framework for
building a greener, better Canada and for respecting our international
engagements on climate change."
Greenpeace urges Canadians to support Bill C-30 and make their voices
heard at one of these followings:www.greenpeace.ca ou
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/210

[Azure]

Why can't the Americans look after their own country first?

[Salamander]

Originally Posted by Azure

Why can't the Americans look after their own country first?

Global warming is global, my friend.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Salamander

Global warming is global, my friend.

Hey! I have an idea.

Lets stop selling the US our oil, therefore reducing the amount of GHG we emit.

I bet Gore would like that.

Global or not....I don't like Americans coming to Canada telling us about our environmental plan, when they do more damage to the environment than Canada will in my lifetime.

Ironically....there was a thread not that long ago, where CP members said we should worry about Canada first, and not China. Shouldn't the same thing apply to Gore?

[Stranger]

Al Gore won't be happy with any country's enviromental plan.


He should market an Al Gore Doll like on the Simpsons, only this doll tells of the dangers of global warming and what we can do to stop it.

"Drive electric cars..."
"Solar power is the answer..."
"Learn the benifits of wind power..."
"You are hearing me talk....."

I couldn't help myself. Everytime I think of Al Gore I think of the Al Gore doll on the Simpsons

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Azure

Hey! I have an idea.

Lets stop selling the US our oil, therefore reducing the amount of GHG we emit.

I bet Gore would like that.

Global or not....I don't like Americans coming to Canada telling us about our environmental plan, when they do more damage to the environment than Canada will in my lifetime.

Ironically....there was a thread not that long ago, where CP members said we should worry about Canada first, and not China. Shouldn't the same thing apply to Gore?

While I would agree with your sentiment, the U.S. has actually done a lot better job cleaning up a lot of it's air pollution than Canada. Not that they are anywhere near what Kyoto targets would be if they had decided to stay in the agreement, but even on their own they have brought down their air pollution levels more significan'ty that we have.

Canada's reputation of being green just isn't true anymore.

I do agree with you comments though. I don't really see the point of them pointing out other countries flaws when they don't even want to be part of the program.

Now Suzuki being Canadian, perhaps we should listen to him.

It's kind of funny how respected he is in other parts of the world, but here in Canada we tend to dismiss him sometimes because we see and hear him so much.

[Azure]

Perhaps like many people in the US might dismiss Gore?

We should listen to Suzuki....but he certainly isn't the only voice.

I know that the US has cut down more than we have....which is great, but that still doesn't give Gore the right to preach to our government what they should do.

The oil industry in Canada is only so big because of the US.

[Daradon]

^^^ Yeah, I was just commenting we've had our own 'Gore' for years, in fact a much more qualified one, who has done a lot more and walked the walk. Didn't mean he was the only voice, just an example of someone that perhaps we should give a bit more credit to.

[sadora]

The fact that Al Gore is an American has nothing to do with him calling out the tories on this one. Yes American's are responsible for contaminating the planet with more that GHG but, that still isn't a good excuse for Canadians who use the argument that at least we're not producing as much GHG as the Americans. Gore is simply expressing a view point that is shared by Suzuki and many other environmentalists. The tories plan is simply there to appear as if they're doing something about the problem, hopefully look good for the voters, while actually not doing much about the problem. The problem here isn't Gore, as an American slamming the tories on this issue, the problem here is the fraudulant plan.

[Azure]

Who is using that excuse?

Suzuki said the plan is not enough....he did not 'slam' the plan. Nor does he go to the US preaching about their environmental plan.

And why would you even compare Gore to Suzuki? Gore is a politician, Suzuki far from it.

[metallicat]

I'm all for shutting down our oil production, just long enough for the freaking house prices in this city to drop substantially.

[sadora]

Originally Posted by Azure

Who is using that excuse?

Suzuki said the plan is not enough....he did not 'slam' the plan. Nor does he go to the US preaching about their environmental plan.

And why would you even compare Gore to Suzuki? Gore is a politician, Suzuki far from it.

I'm not comparing Gore to Suzuki. All I said was that they share a similar view point.

Global warming is a GLOBAL problem and it is the responsability for those in a position to raise awareness to do so, be they scientists, environmentalists or politicians.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by sadora

I'm not comparing Gore to Suzuki. All I said was that they share a similar view point.

Global warming is a GLOBAL problem and it is the responsability for those in a position to raise awareness to do so, be they scientists, environmentalists or politicians.

I'd rather politicians stay out of it. They have a habit of screwing things up.

And that still doesn't give Gore the right to come preaching to Canada about our global warming problem, when he can't even fix the problem in his own country.

By all accounts, most people on CP are worried about Canada, and our emissions, and what we contribute to global warming. We KNOW that China contributes more, as does the US, but like I said, there was a thread not that long ago, where many CP members said we should focus on our own backyard first, even if it only serves a symbolic message.

[guzzy]

who gives a rats behind about Al Gore. This is nothing more than a political campaign for him. Tree huggers piss me off. Greenpeace can fall off the face of the earth for all I care. I agree Canada needs to do more but we also have to protect the economy or we will have bigger worries than the quality of air. The conservative step is a step in the right direction and they have already acheived more in a year than the liberals did in 13

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I'm all for shutting down our oil production, just long enough for the freaking house prices in this city to drop substantially.

that's why you are not a politician. If we shut in our oil the price of oil skyrockets around the globe. The only thing we get is bankruptcy. Great plan though.

[jharp]

Ahh Guzzy, how very true.
One thing that real liberals (not the party, the people) always tend to over-look is the economy. It does suck that Alberta makes so much pollution, but if we didn't they would still have to produce more oil somewhere else. Now I know that the extraction of the oilsands is more detrimental then normal production, but we benifit so much in Alberta that I think it is a fair price to pay.
If it wouldn't be so detrimental to Canada, I would like to see Gore get elected, just to watch that country fall into even smaller pieces; that is if he even followed thru on any of his ideas.
Like you said, the Conservatives have done more in two years then the Liberals did in thirteen , many with Dion as the Environment Minister. Can we please run and elect that guy... He can't even manage that portfolio, how on earth is he going to manage a country?

[Flames in 07]

It would be moderately more helpful, and would give a shred of credibility if he could plain why the tories plan is 'fraud'. Huge acusation with zero back up.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its easy for Suziki and Gore to preach to the government since they're not running a country, they're litke any lobby group, they only care about thier own issues, unlike the governent that has to balance about a billion different issues to make the country work.

Just like its easy for Dion to stand up and say that he's a green candidate and that he cares about the environment, he has to fight for votes, and he certainly dosen't have to worry about the effects that his promises have on the country until he gets elected, then he'll do what he did when he was in the government, which is nothing.

Yes the green issues our important, but they can't be a national suicide pact unless all of the nations involved are willing to make the same sacrifices.

Personally, I've met Suziki, and I think he's an ass and a hypocrite, but as long as the Green issues keep making money for him and his foundation, Bully for him.

[sadora]

Its a weak plan. It does promise results, but far behind those of the rest of the world. Under the Tory plan, Canada would still be 30% short of its Kyoto commitments by the year 2020.

The Tory strategy focuses on reducing GHG emissions and improving air quality. But their plan fails to explain precisely what these regulations will be. The plan uses the concept developed by houston based think tanks, which were financed by Exxon a few years back, called "intensity reduction"

Unfortunately, intensity-based targets will do no such thing. Greenhouse gas "intensity" refers to the amount of greenhouse gases produced per unit of economic activity (GDP, for example). Since the atmosphere does not respond to intensity, but rather to actual greenhouse emissions, such targets will do little, if anything to fix the problem.

[Flame On]

I wonder how many of you would pipe up if some right winger from the states came up here and said "hey don't turn green it'll kill your economy". You'd think he was a genius.
I love how you all think lobbyists; and in this case I don't think Gore really qualifies as one, are so bad in comparison to a bunch of politicians. Not too different, but I'm inclined to believe those with a majority of scientists behind them than a politician that, you know, wants to get re-elected.
And for those saying we're selling oil to his country, I bet he'd love that stopped so that's quite a foolish argument.