Solutions to Save The Environment
This concept for the first time in history directly links human activities to the environment. It is an extension of the failed Carbon Trading Scheme or Emissions Trading Scheme concept with some big differences.
The concept requires the creation of two currencies: the “normal dollar” and the “Environmental dollar”. These two currencies run together effectively. The creation of the ENVIRO Dollar ($E.00) is achieved by quantifying everything we do that has a negative impact on the environment to an $E.00 value.
Example 1. If you want to take an air flight and the impact is 1 tonne of Carbon Dioxide emissions the required amount of $E.00s will need to be purchased before the flight can be taken. At the airport you simply pay your $E.00 plus any additional standard $0.00 cost.
Example 2. The purchase of energy (petrol, gas, electricity etc) will have both an $E.00 component and a standard $0.00 component and the amount for either currency will depend on how non-environmentally damaging the energy is and how much you consume.
$E.00 can be earned directly by performing environmental tasks such as tree planting, environmental restoration tasks etc or indirectly by funding environmental programs. $E.00s can be converted to the corresponding normal currency, dollar for dollar. That is $E1.00 equals $1.00. Both $E.00s and normal $s would be available in shops, banks etc. Meaning if you want to purchase an item that has no $E.00 component regardless $E.00 or ‘normal’ $0.00 currency can be used, however, if an item has an $E.00 component then that component will have to be paid for in $E.00s.
Wages and salary earners will have part of their income paid in $E.00s. and the remainder in normal $0.00.
Credit cards can also be set up for dual currency working.
In consideration of the environmental impact a home building above 20 squares will be affected by high $E.00s. This principle will also be applied across all simular purchasers.
Unlike the Carbon Trading scheme this is not a system of permits; it is an actual trading currency. There must be no free Environmental dollars. Existing initiative schemes can be used to assist with the transition or introductory periods of the $E.00 scheme.
Private ownership of the coal powered electricity generation plants has demonstrated a significant unwillingness to accept responsibility to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. These industries are the highest emitters by far and yet by actively opposing this scheme they have destroyed the effectiveness by now being practically exempt.
The only way to effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions is for the Federal Government to purchase or buy back these essential services, such as power generation systems using fossil fuels. There would be a need to legislate such buy backs to ensure the Australian public was not exploited during this process by ensuring that the buy back is comparative to the original purchase price.
This system could be applied to any economic system in the world. Countries that do not adopt the scheme would be subject to environmental tariffs.
The system will have to be regulated by the Federal Government.
Environmental revenues received by the Government can only be spent on environmental projects.
The Federal and State governments will create and administer $E.00 programs that will be controlled effectively the same as treasury currency. These programs would be passed onto local government or private enterprise business to provide employment opportunities. Councils and private companies will be able to compete in this new market place. Federal and State governments will generate taxes as per current arrangements.
Citizens will apply for jobs as per normal in this new market place, only this time society’s direction and emphasis on employment will be on saving and restoring our planet to good health. This approach will absorb unemployment completely while at the same time maintain business opportunity and economic viability for governments during the rapid transition period of moving away from our current extreme capitalist consumption and expansionist society.
The emphasis and drive for all people must be to accept less in terms of profits, wages and materialistic life styles; learning to live with what we need and not with what we want. Build a society seeking quality of life instead of keep up with Jones’ quantity of life. We must all adopt the ideals of sharing our wealth and caring for each other.
To not move away from our current economic and social values will lead to certain environmental collapse as we are already witnessing followed by inevitable economic and social collapse across the world. To not change our direction with hast and determination will lead to anarchy within cultures and potentially world wars.
The simple hard fact is that our materialistic way of life driven by human greed has brought us to the cross roads of humanity. We can build a beautiful new world based on love caring and sharing, honesty and integrity by removing the great dividing lines of inequality in wealth, and divisions within our spiritual belief systems. Or we go extinct! Surely our children, grandchildren and future generations deserve a chance, a small sacrifice on our part.
Authorised by Alan Lappin, PO Box 1234 Wangaratta VIC 3676
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