"A new law has been passed by the German government, quietly and almost unnoticed. Soon in the future, the government will tell it's citizens how much energy they can consume," reports Pierre Gosselin. He adds, "It's all in the name of 'saving the planet from climate catastrophe.' They are moving quickly now, and Germany is now lost. Although climate skepticism is rising, it's too late." (1)
Under this law, which Gosselin calls the Energy Tyranny Act, power and energy companies will be required to collect consumption data on each and every citizen and provide the means to meet energy efficiency targets. He labels this as Germany's first step in declaring eco-martial law. Michael Limburg of the European Institute for Climate and Energy has looked at this in detail and writes, "With this law, the free market is going to be abolished, carefully converted with efforts to remove existing market obstacles and deficiencies." (1)
Besides this, German households are in for a another shock in 2011: The renewable energies levy, which every household in Germany has to pay as part of their electricity bills will increase by over 70% to 3.5 cents per kilowatt hour. For an average household, this will mean additional costs of around 10 Euros a month, according to the Federal Environment Ministry. (2)
Gosselin looks to America as the last hope: "I pray that the few remaining freedom-loving lawmakers in America are taking notice of the eco-martial law movement now sweeping across Europe. The green shirts are already getting out of their cars in front of your homes (think EPA). Are you going to let them kick your doors down too? They are only waiting for the green light from Ms. Lisa Jackson." (1)
I wish Gosselin was correct, but I'm sorry to report that American is not taking notice of the eco-martial law movement now sweeping across Europe, as we are having our own. As examples, let's look first at California, which prides itself as leading the way to a 'greener future,' and then Delaware.
California
In Copenhagen in December 2009, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made the astonishing claim that the Golden State is evidence "we need not choose between a clean environment and economic growth because we've proved that over and over again in California." (3) Dream words from a governor whose state is an economic mess. The Golden State has lost its luster. California ranks 49
th out of 50 in business tax climate according to the Tax Foundation. (4) Because of budget maladies, Standard & Poors has put the state on notice for a lowering of its credit rating, which is already the worst in the nation. California has the fourth highest foreclosure rate in the country. Of the cities with unemployment rates exceeding 15%, nearly half are in California. (5) In 2008 alone, 47,000 more businesses died than were started in California, reports the
Orange County Register. (3)
California remains in first place with the highest price per kilowatt-hour of its neighbors in the West, and 30% higher than the national average. (6)
To top all this off, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), just approved a statewide cap-and-trade scheme to limit emissions of CO2 from six hundred major industrial plants, starting in 2012. Schwarzenegger and his green supporters have boasted that regulations of this type will steer California into a prosperous era of green jobs, renewable energy, and technological leadership. Instead, since 2007--in anticipation of the new mandates--California has led the nation in job losses. There are now 2.3 million Californians out of work. (7)
Yet when discussing the new plan, Schwarzenegger declared, "I recommend very strongly that we move forward….You will always have people saying this will lose jobs. No single issue threatens the health and prosperity of our nation (more) than climate change." (8)
However, scientists agree that because California contributes less than 2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, the new plan will do nothing to stop global warming, (for those who believe global warming is caused by human activity). All the economic pain for zero environmental gain.
Delaware
Effective with model year 2014, all new vehicles sold in Delaware shall comply with (you guessed it) California emission standards. Delaware Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Colin O"Mara states, "the new program will bring considerable benefits to human health and the environment." Yet, as John Nichols points out, "since current model year cars already emit 95% fewer emissions than their 1970 predecessors, actual health and environmental improvements are likely to be minimal." (4) Industry experts say the regulations will add about $3,000 to the up-front cost of the average car or truck.
Here's what Nichols adds, which sounds like a duplicate copy of what Gosselin said about the recent German Energy Act (first paragraph of this article): "And to think all of this transpired without a whimper from Delaware's elected officials, or mention in the papers. O'Mara claims the necessary notification and hearings took place. However, few Delawareans know nightmarish California air quality standards have been imposed on them, and fewer still understand the edict's costs." (4)
As I said earlier, America is not taking notice of eco-martial law movements, we got our own and they are flourishing.
And while the US is doing all of this to 'save the environment,' China, India, and many other developing countries continue to create more and more emissions. For China alone, projections put this country's emissions in 2030 in the range of 500 % above 1990 levels. Globally, this translates to about 40% of all new energy-related CO2 emissions between now and 2030. If China's emissions continue to grow at the rate of 10% per year, by the year 2040, it could be emitting as much CO2 as THE ENTIRE WORLD IS TODAY. (9)
So, what are we saving with all this sacrifice?
References
- P. Gosselin, "Germany Passes Energy Tyranny Act-Will Force Energy Rationing," notrickszone.com, January 3, 2011
- Benny Peiser, "Spain's Green Deal Faces Bankruptcy as Subsidies Founder," The Climate Policy Network, October 19, 2010
- "Freeze global warming regulations," Orange County Register, December 18, 2009
- John Nichols, "California dreaming--or nightmaring?" Canada Free Press, January 7, 2011
- "California: The National Petri Dish," liberty.pacificresearch.org, July 2, 2009
- Thomas Tanton, "Lights On-An Energy Policy Survey For California," Second Edition, Pacific Research Institute, November 2008
- S. Fred Singer, "CARB's Carbon Capers," American Thinker, December 27, 2010
- Kelly Zito, "Schwarzenegger defends state climate bill," San Francisco Chronicle, September 25, 2009, Page A16
- China Environment Series, Issue 11, 2010/2011, Jennifer L. Turner, Editor, Woodrow Wilson International School for Scholars, Page 8
