by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The answer to question is a resounding NO!, as far as I can see it.
Carbon credits and the associated carbon trading will become – in fact are by now – indulgences allowing the rich developed countries to continue destroying Mother Earth.
The rich nations are buying the rights to pollute from poor countries who, as yet, do not have industry that emits a great deal of carbon. Such trading is, as I have said, no more than what the indulgences of the Roman Church of the Middle Ages, against which the priest Martin Luther protested.
While the indulgences that were being dispensed by the Church in those days were, basically, absolutions against future sins as yet not committed the modern day equivalent, the carbon credits, are the same as regards to carbon emissions.
Carbon credits, which, as said, are basically a modern version of the medieval indulgences against which Martin Luther stood, with which the rich nations absolve themselves of their environmental sins to continue with “business as usual” on the back of the poorer nations and to the detriment of the Planet, that is to say, Mother Nature, and in the end, us all. This cannot be allowed to happen and continue to happen.
Biochar, though extremely useful, it would appear, would, if it be permitted to be used to obtain carbon credits, is that the carbon credits allocated for biochar will turn it into an “economy” that will be growing crops to make the charcoal instead of growing crops for food, much like the bio-fuels problem.
We already have an economy of carbon credits starting up with trading houses dedicated to and specializing in the trading of carbon credits like a commodity.
It is amazing that modern man finds a way of making money out of those things in the same way as trading with futures. Greed always wins out again, it would appear, and this is that must be ended, and it must be done now.
Carbon credits are being seen basically as indulgences by the developed countries allowing them to continue with their environmental sins unabated on the backs of the poor nations and in many aspects those carbon credits are becoming, nay, have become, indulgences to continue as is and even to get worse.
We, the people of this Planet, must put a stop to this and it can be done.
Carbon credits and their very notion must be sent by us, the people, to the dustbin of history and that now; not next year, or the next decade.
While offsetting emissions against the planting of trees and such may just be a thing that one can see as something good and beneficial to trade in carbon futures, basically, which is what carbon credits are, that is to say in indulgences to buy oneself free from any future sins to be committed against the environment, must be stopped.
It all sounds good, I know, but in reality there are so many things that sound good to start with but as soon as they fall into the hands of the scrupulous business wheeler-dealers they become rather evil instruments.
So, let's strangle the baby of carbon credits before it become a viable “person”.
© 2010
