In recognition of his executive order on building certification standards, the Consumers Alliance’s Andrew Langer wrote to Maine’s Governor Paul LePage lauding him for “keeping markets open and transparent.” Governor LePage’s executive order allows the state to source wood products from various certification schemes, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). SFI is not only recognized for its robust forestry standards, but also for its endeavors to help small landowners get their products certified and accepted in the global market. Contrasted with the Forest Stewardship Council’s efforts to close off market access, SFI’s work to use the certification process to open markets is clearly an innovative move to help Maine’s small landowners prosper.
But as Langer’s letter highlights, although the executive order is a major victory for free markets, there is still a great deal to be done. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating tool continues to discriminate against credible certification schemes such as SFI, opting instead to push FSC standards. Although complaints have already been filed with the Federal Trade Commission, these attempts to stymie competition and create a monopoly merit further attention. One hopes that Governor LePage – and the other 49 governors in the country – heeds Langer’s advice and encourages “USGBC to drop their monopolistic stance towards other certification schemes and embrace your principles of competition and transparency.”
Indonesia’s President Warns Economic Saboteurs
Having witnessed repeated attempts by foreign green NGOs to sabotage Indonesia’s economy, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched a stoic defense of his country’s right to promote economic growth and alleviate poverty. Indonesia has been repeatedly targeted by radical groups like Greenpeace who are intent on halting the country’s forestry and plantation agriculture industries purely to fulfill an insidious ideological agenda. As Greenpeace looks to exploit issues for fundraising, Indonesia’s government is focused on utilizing the country’s natural resources for trade and job creation. Simply put, the developing world cannot afford to comply with Greenpeace’s radical plans to undermine business confidence and economic security.
As a sovereign state, Indonesia has already endeavored to implement a robust conservation program that both respect its right to grow its economy and preserve its natural resources. Thus if Greenpeace’s agenda was solely environmental, it would not have taken such radical lengths to interfere in the internal affairs of Indonesia. Instead the Indonesian government has been left with no choice but to evict Greenpeace from their offices and deport them. However, it should never have to come to this. Instead of developing nations being forced to take this action, Western governments should take the initiative instead. Western nations should be doing more to stop using taxpayers’ funds to support groups like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund who then use these resources to undermine economic growth in the developing world.
Facebook Capitulates on Coal—Is Twitter Next?
For the Consumers Alliance, Facebook has become a crucial social media tool for us to engage with our fellow consumers advocates. On Facebook we currently have 21,236 fans who can watch our videos, sign our petitions, read important articles, and stay engaged in the debate over consumer rights and radical green agenda. However, our admiration for Facebook’s innovation makes their recent capitulation to Greenpeace over their use of coal energy all the more disappointing. Since Facebook announced plans two years ago to open up a facility in Oregon using coal power, Greenpeace has sought to shame the company into pledging to use more renewable energy. Unfortunately rather than fighting back and defending its reputation, Facebook appears to have gone down the same path as adidas, Disney and Mattel, and capitulated to Greenpeace.
In a statement Facebook claimed that in partnership with Greenpeace they were “committed to supporting the development of clean and renewable sources of energy, and our goal is to power all of our operations with clean and renewable energy.” If Facebook believes that a partnership with Greenpeace will do anything to help their reputation they should think again. With Facebook waving the white flag, look for Greenpeace to target other companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Twitter. Will they also choose to cede part of their business’ autonomy to a group that does not care about the rule of law? Or will they stand up against the green bullies?
Recent News from the Green Movement
In December the International Monetary Fund released figures predicting that Indonesia’s economy would grow at a robust pace of 6.3 percent in 2012—down marginally from expected results of 6.5 percent in 2011. One of the main areas of growth is likely to be in the pulp and paper business, with government officials looking to take advantage of America and Scandinavia’s declining market share. In fact, under the current trajectory, Indonesia could move swiftly from being the world’s eighth paper producer to its fourth. But this economic growth depends on open trade and continued access to global markets—something Greenpeace and their green lackeys want to stop. With these statistics, it’s clear that Indonesians are headed towards a prosperous future, unless Greenpeace get their way.
Whereas other countries throughout the West have suffered economically due to the fall-out from the banking crisis, Canada’s growth prospects are still relatively upbeat. But with headwinds on the horizon, it’s obviously no time for the Canadian government to become complacent. This is why it makes sense for Canada to pull out of the Kyoto Treaty. Kyoto is not only an entirely discredited treaty because it sets unrealistic goals, but it severely restricts domestic economic activity and the prospects for growth and prosperity. Canada’s rationale can be partly attributed to the country’s booming oil sands industry and the fact that they have “the world’s third largest oil reserves,” which equates to “more than 170 billion barrels.” With Canada’s withdrawal, one would hope that more countries would accept the obvious and acknowledge the fact that Kyoto is the very antithesis to the pro-growth economic policies they require.
Despite the country’s economic malaise, Nebraska’s unemployment rate has held up pretty strongly at 4.2 percent—a full 4.6 percent lower than the national average. One of the main drivers of growth in Nebraska has been agriculture, which has grown at 14.08% annually. It is therefore not much of a surprise that the state’s Governor Dave Heineman has greeted the Humane Society’s decision to open an office with a great deal of skepticism. Reports indicate concern that the Humane Society may “try to push for stricter livestock regulations or a statewide animal-welfare ballot initiative.” With agricultural playing such a crucial role in the well-being of Nebraskans, Governor Heineman is right to protect farmers and keep a watchful eye on this very left-leaning political agenda. We need to also be mindful of WWF’s concerted efforts to control the land available for livestock production.
During the holiday season, the Rainforest Action Network appeared to be getting into the festive spirit, by exploiting the season of goodwill by asking people to hand over their hard earned cash so they can continue their ideological crusades into 2012 and beyond. Unfortunately these campaigns are not about bringing goodwill, but about attacking and smearing specific industries and destroying jobs. It’s absurd that RAN would take advantage of the holiday season when they continue in their endeavors to destroy the very jobs that blue-collar Americans rely on as a source of income. For example, just look at their campaigns against the coal industry which employs some 136,000 Americans and generates half of the country’s electricity. When millions of families are still struggling in this terrible economy, the last thing their fellow Americans should consider doing is giving money to an organization that plans on compounding their misery by campaigning for higher energy costs and fewer jobs.
It’s not just an AAA credit rating that appears to be in the cusp of vanishing in France, but the country’s prized truffle industry is struggling as well. Commentators are claiming that global warming is to blame for the 2010-11 season’s output was a meagre 25 tonnes,” primarily because water is vital for the “Tuber melanosporum, the scientific name for the black truffle cherished by gourmets.” But other reasons could also be behind the mysterious disappearance of the truffles, such as other natural growing funghi or “natural reforestation or bush.” Natural occurrences? What next. But this is unlikely to go down well with the green campaigners. Will the preservation of the truffle become the next cause célèbre of the green movement?