An excellent article from Lyn Allison.

Motor vehicles emit the largest source of CO in Australia.

Perhaps we may eventually, if necessary, take a leaf out of Arnie's book in California where he is taking the Federal government to court for refusing 17 states the right to enforce vehicle manufacturers to produce cleaner cars.

"Cycling (not mentioned) is also not a solution. I am a cyclist and climbing a hill on the way to the office is hard and sweaty work."

Healthworker. I have just the solution for you. Bicycles are now being imported into Australia which appear similar to others, however, there is a battery one can switch to when climbing hills.

Lyn Allison's article proves why the Democrats are a spent force in Australian politics. My goodness how out of touch are these people.

"just three years short of the date by which Australia will have to reach total cuts of about 20 per cent in CO2 emissions."
Ummm I don't think these have been agreed upon yet. Wait for Garnaut's report and Big Kev's (he is the boss not you) say-so before sprouting this.

"the cost of oil will at least double within a year and continue to climb"
This is an easily tested claim Lyn...see you in a year. Price here as at 14/2/2008 is $1.32, so it needs to get to $2.64 in 12 months! Big prediction.

"the 38c/litre freeze on excise in 2001 has kept petrol prices artificially low. It should be lifted and the money spent on public transport."
And you want people to vote for you?? Good luck in the next election, make sure you say this at the ballot box. PS Do you use public transport or a government fleet car? Maybe our pollies should lead the way and forsake their fleet cars in favour of public transport.

"Trust the Australian Democrats to prove that once again they are a thinking, intelligent and concerned group of politicians. Which is why Australians have canned them at the last few elections.They are pearls before swine."
HenryVIII please move somewhere else. I hear the North Pole is becoming habitable.

"And for those who whinge about the price of petrol, beer is 7 to 10 times more expensive and no-one has stopped drinking beer."
Hehe do you drink 70 litres of beer a week?

"So tax petrol to $4.50 per litre"
Want to join the Democrats?

"Perhaps we may eventually, if necessary, take a leaf out of Arnie's book in California..."
Arnie likes to drive an LPG fuelled Hummer, one of the most fuel inefficient cars on the road. Nice example, where is my Hummer?

Some interesting points here. Here's my tuppence worth...

Any source of fuel that derives from fossil sources is going to run out someday (all distillates from crude oil and LPG. The latter Australia has LOTS of).

Whilst it is true that hydrogen requires a lot of energy to be fractionated from water, it may be the cleanest way to use solar electricity to hydrolise it.

We need to be focussing on the potentially unlimited source of thermonuclear energy blasting us every minute - the SUN !!

If it comes to energy overall... I find it stupefying that CSIRO is spending vast amounts of money on solar research for storing such energy in a petrochemical for later burning! Go figure ?

Good article Alison. Re the poster on hydrogen, it actually takes MORE energy to create the stuff than you can ever get out of it. There are no hydrogen mines!

Re cycling, at the ripe old age of 50, I got back on a bike only to discover I was no longer 15! However, within 2 years I was fit enough to do 100km a week, and after 3 years I conquered a Brisbane Hinterland Mountain called Mt Nebo which is 21km all uphill. Twice. By then I was doing 160km a week on my new carbon fibre racer, and there were no hills in Brisbane I could not master.

Given that it's unlikely we'll be able to buy fuel within as little as 5 years (ever heard of PEAK OIL EXPORT? http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6584&page=0) I think we'll have little choice but to get fit, really fit! If I can do it, anybody can.

Mike.

Coorangreeny wrote.......

"Re the poster on hydrogen, it actually takes MORE energy to create the stuff than you can ever get out of it. There are no hydrogen mines!"

I'm guessing that poster was me. I actually agree with you. I was simply being conservative. Being overtly pessimistic tends to frighten those who have recently pulled their heads from the sand to take a good look around.
Aime.

healthwatcher wrote:

> Besides, all the people who will ever be cyclists are on bikes now.

I disagree. I am just about to buy a bike next week -- largely due to hearing repeated messages about how the distances I travel regularly are easily bike-able. If I can be persuaded to make the change, I don't see why other people can't be...

> We must stop the population growth or go under.

I agree, but can't for the life of me think how we go about it. What's your idea?