Our Carbon Footprints

After stumbling across an article that reported yesterday that Americans were self-imposing carbon footprint reduction, I signed up for a company assessment. I haven't paid too close attention to the actual expectations in this portion of the communitarians teaching us all to be better stewards of the earth. What's absolutely mind-boggling is my lifestyle, with just the couple things we do, only gets 2 stars! (Final calculations below) It's not enough that we have zero in every category except our vehicle (and we only drive it 5000 miles a year!). We have to quit driving too!
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/businesscalculator.aspx?t=b

We only use 3 things on the list, minimum electric, 5000 miles a year travel and we only get 2 stars? I just assumed we'd be below level and not even have to concern ourselves with this part. I really didn't think it would apply to us because we hardly use anything. England has already passed the legislation committing their citizens to reduce their carbon footprint by 80% by 2050!

Nothing about animal emissions in these tests... and isn't that considered part of the NAIS? I do remember seeing a bunch of jokes about cow farts last year. And yes, some European subnations are having national no meat served in the restaurants days.. like every Thursday.. so people can learn to be better global skinny followers without the strength to join any resistance.

Hmm, is this why Kenny Lake community destroyers want to take advantage of the Americorps program and start performing "air quality" testing in our homes? This is going to get so crazy even I can't stop myself from laughing. No wonder I've always sounded like a lunatic when I tell people about the programs I study, and why they always accuse me of making it up as part of my wacko conspiracy theory! Do people understand that in order to have a zero carbon footprint they can't possible live to brag about it in community sabotage meetings? Yeah, the link between zero cabon footprints and zero population growth is getting a lot stronger.

The Carbon Picture, from
http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/_pictures/carbon_footprint

"Today the UK Government has published its comprehensive plan for decarbonising the UK and maximising the economic benefits presented by the transition to a low carbon economy.

"In order to achieve the extremely ambitious and challenging targets set out in the Climate Change Act 2008, the Government has today released four documents which explain how these targets can be reached. Please find a brief description of the documents below, together links so you can download them directly:

"The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: (a White Paper) which outlines how the UK will meet legally-binding ‘carbon budgets’, in particular a reduction in overall carbon emissions of 34% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050. Making the transition to a low carbon economy will take strategic action by government and a comprehensive plan. This is that plan. It shows sector-by-sector what savings can be achieved and how every department across government will take responsibility. a particular figure of significance is that by 2020 40% of our electricity must come from low carbon sources. See:www.decc.gov.uk"
http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/_low_carbon_blog/6569

And now for the other side of the argument:

Researchers at Oregon State University have made some helpful calculations on how much extra carbon little Johnny and/or Suzie are likely to emit over the course of their Gaia-destroying lifetimes. As the OSU press release explains: Some people who are serious about wanting to reduce their “carbon footprint” on the Earth have one choice available to them that may yield a large long-term benefit – have one less child. http://reason.com/blog/2009/07/31/cut-your-carbon-footprint-use

Didn't China start that policy during their "change we can believe in" cultural revolution?

Here's my gertee business results:

Your Business Carbon Footprint:

Building	2">0.00 metric tons of CO2
Flights	2">0.00 metric tons of CO2
Car & Van	2">1.99 metric tons of CO2
Bus & Rail	2">0.00 metric tons of CO2

Total = 1.99 metric tons of CO2

To offset some or all of your carbon footprint, click the sections you would like to offset in the list above, and click the Offset Now button.

Total To Offset = 1.99 metric tons of CO2

Offset Now

Now you have calculated your company's carbon footprint, you are part way towards achieving our one star approval. If you offset you are on the way to receiving our 2 star approval.

If you would like to become a carbon footprint approved company, then please contact our team for details. This will allow your company to use our "Carbon Footprint Approved Company" branding to show your customers and stakeholders that you are being environmentally responsible. Note a small license / administration fee applies.

The blogger at Reason explains why all Lynn and her urban planning buddies have so much support. Sustainable transit related development in Seattle, Portland and across America (around the new light link rail stations) is exclusively designed for childless couples with high incomes:

My question: Since my wife and I are childless by choice, do we get extra carbon credits to sell? Let's see: 9,441 tons X $50 per ton X 2 kids = $944,100. Deal.

So what does all this have to do with anything, really?

Not a single Western European country has a fertility rate sufficient to replace the current population, which demographers say requires 2.1 children per family. Germany, Russia, Spain, Poland and Italy all have rates of about 1.3 children, according to the U.N. The Czech Republic's is less than 1.2, and even Roman Catholic Ireland is at 1.9 children. (The U.S. rate, which has remained stable, is slightly more than 2 children per woman.)

Fifteen countries, "mostly located in Southern and Eastern Europe, have reached levels of fertility unprecedented in human history," according to the U.N.'s World Population Prospects 2004 revision.

As children grow scarce and longevity increases in Europe, the continent is becoming one vast Leisure World. By 2050, the U.N. projects, more than 40% of the people in Italy will be 60 or older. By mid-century, populations in 25 European nations will be lower than they are now; Russia will lose 31 million people, Italy 7.2 million, Poland 6.6 million and Germany 3.9 million. So Europe is abandoning religion, growing older, shrinking and slowly killing itself. These are signs of a society in eclipse — the Roman Empire writ large. Is this any model for America?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-01-08-faith-edit_x.htm