FactsPosted by David 23 Nov, 2008 19:08:10OK, Sunday School again and here's some learning from a cold, windy, and snowing Brussels.
China’s position on the Kyoto Protocol is that it is the developed countries that have to take the lead on decreasing GHG emissions.
It is not obligatory for developing countries to agree to decreased emissions according to the Protocol.
USA has not ratified the Protocol because, inter alia, the Protocol does not put sufficient pressure and responsibility on China and India.
The 2004 per capita CO2 emissions in China was 4 tons, Sweden was 6 tons and USA was a staggering 20 tons.
But, damn, there are a lot of Chinese ...
Local producePosted by David 22 Nov, 2008 13:45:12As the custom is on Friday evenings, I went to the local market to do some shopping. I stopped by the plant merchant – a decent chap called Benoit the Belly. I’m not sure why he’s called that, but I suspect that his whopping 170 kilos has something to do with it. I’ve never really had the courage to enquire further about his nick-name.
Under a thermal lamp in a corner of Benoit the Belly’s tent stood a couple of plants. On closer examination, it turned out to be avocado plants. The fruits on the plant were a big give-away and the sign that said “Avocado plants – 50% off”. Benoit the Belly explained to me that avocado is really a tree that can grow up to 20 metres and although considered by many to be a drupe that it is, botanically, classified as a berry. How about that – the avocado is a berry that grows on a tree. You live and learn.
So here I was, going about my everyday life, in a merchant’s tent on a Friday evening when a fantastic opportunity materialised. I’m on a mission to decrease my CO2 footprint. Right? And it struck me that there are two sides to the coin – the production of CO2 and the consumption of CO2. Right? And trees breathe in CO2 and breathe out O2. Right? So, if I was to plant a few trees in my backyard, my CO2 footprint will decrease. Right? It’s all in the delta. Right?
Right!
So I bought all six avocado trees from Benoit the Belly and have planted them in the backyard this morning. I’m sure my wife will be utterly happy to see the arrangement when she returns from Sweden.
And another benefit is when I harvest the berries, it will be sooooooo local produce.
ThoughtsPosted by David 21 Nov, 2008 17:34:10The police visited me earlier today inquiring about the blog. They were all nice and pleasant, but informed me about some anti-spamming law that is in force in Belgium. They explained that the e-mail submission I did yesterday was a typical case where the law was enforced to its fullest extent.
They caught me because I had used my own e-mail address as the reply-to address and not, as the the list provider system suggested, an anonymous / random sender. And that I was kind enough to confess to the act.
I am now looking towards a 1,500 EUR fine. They also took my computer.
Fortunately, I have a spare one. But my wife will be furious.
