Actress Cate Blanchett and other prominent Australians back plan to tax carbon polluters

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia — Actress Cate Blanchett and former conservative Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser are among prominent Australians who on Monday threw their support behind the center-left government’s unpopular plan to tax major polluters for the carbon gas they emit.

Blanchett and Fraser were among 140 personalities and organizations who signed a petition distributed to federal lawmakers Monday supporting the plan to make polluters pay for every ton of carbon gas they produce in a bid to reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The petition — whose signatories also include a Roman Catholic bishop and a Nobel Laureate scientist — is part of a $1 million national newspaper and television advertising campaign funded by environmental groups and unionists.

The conservative opposition Liberal Party is opposed to making polluters pay. The governing Labor Party wants to tax polluters starting in July 2012, and is locked in negotiations with the minor Greens party and independent lawmakers on how much the tax should be on a ton of carbon.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/actress-cate-blanchett-and-other-prominent-australians-back-plan-to-tax-carbon-polluters/2011/05/29/AGfspREH_story.html

[StarsInHerHair]

1. "how it's made" & other shows point out the tremendous amount of

automatic machinery that's replaced people, I saw last night a show where they were making 'gummy' army guys, from molds made of cornstarch, the machines made a ridiculous number an hour, somewhere around 200,000 an hour. They also showed twinkies, & I kept thinking what the hell does their electrical bill look like.

[Confusious]

2. Well if Cate Blanchett says it's good

Then I'm for it!

People listen to the celebrities, but not the scientists who say things like this need to be done. Really sad.

[roguevalley]

6. if she can get support for the scientist go for it. I don't care who or

how as long as its done.

[zonkers]

3. Kate is awesome. Period.

[MasonJar]

4. Thank you, Cate. I saw an article yesterday that she was getting

flack in Australia for this stand, since the country and its factories, etc. are one of the world's worst polluters. She is brave to stand up for what is right.

[Aristus]

5. Party names can be so confusing.

In Australia, the Liberal Party is the conservative party.
In Canada, the Liberal Party is the centrist party.
There are "Liberal Parties" all over Europe that are centrist or conservative, pro-business, and free-market-driven.

It's the old, 19th Century meaning of 'liberal'; meaning supportive of free-market principles.

Pay attention, people, lest you vote against your own political beliefs..