Editor:
For the commonwealth, hug a billionaire, hug a millionaire, hug a “wanna-be” in this perfect climate storm?
Rely on oligarchs, aristocrats, plutocrats? Even through the global “recession” they caused from unregulated greed in 2008, the one per cent still got richer while the rest of the world still struggles on the “edge.”
Wall Street seems too rich to fail...too powerful to jail. They remain unregulated.
Since 2000, Canadian corporate tax rates “slid” downward from 28 per cent to 15 per cent in 2012. Federal and provincial governments faced larger deficits. Since 2001, B.C. has closed 194-plus public schools and plans more closures. B.C. poverty still grows and we have no plans, timelines, or legislated targets to reduce(end) B.C. poverty.
“Disaster capitalism” cuts earned benefits now called “entitlements.” Canadian health care, social security, social “nets” are under larger threat. Shrink the middle-class? Increase poverty? With “effective” looks and feelings of deepest heartfelt sincerity, Christy Clark markets fossil fuels to “save us.” “Crisis capitalism” at finest work?
Marketing fossil fuels will likely put a socially just habitable planet out of reach for future generations, our children, our grandchildren.
Sir Nicholas Stern warns us to expect 4 C to 5 C within this century because we won’t switch to low-carbon economies as soon as possible. Is he lying?
Should we expect 1.6 C around 2026? Will we surpass 2 C around 2030?
What is the “truth” about passing 2 C? 4 C by 2050? Surpass 6 C and 1,000 CO2 ppm before 2100? Human climate change will get out of human control. Period?
“Hoax” climate and ecological science? Oligarchs standing on guard for thee? Who should care ... for others ... for our future generations?
Now, only a well-informed general public “idle no more” can overcome “special interests.” Move ASAP to a low-carbon economy, or be “no more” caused by our generation.
Herb Nakada
Williams Lake