Coldstream's Confessional

Transparency in government is a sham.
Especially in B.C.
Especially in local governments like the District of Coldstream.

But the District of Coldstream has now gone to confession, and will be absolved of its sins.
Its sins against Mother Earth.

A short news "story"--and that term is used very loosely--in Vernon's Morning Star on February 13th was entitled "Coldstream hits carbon target."

They're hitting something, but it's not climate action.
Apparently thrilled "that we have reached this point," a gushing Mayor Jim Garlick, added "(we) will continue to seek new initiatives for the betterment of our community."

In talking to residents, one thing's abundantly clear.
Residents don't care.
All that's clear is that our Mayor has rung the bullshit meter again.

Because residents can't afford solar panels on their roofs.
They're too tapped out by unreasonable property taxes, burgeoning fees and ridiculously-inflated water charges, with huge increases still to come.

Reducing greenhouse gases.  Carbon footprint.
It's not local government's commitment to resurrecting the quasi-failed Kyoto Accord.
It's simply to assuage guilt...our sins against Mother Earth.
Right here in Coldstream.

To not feel so guilty.

Local governments are simply spending our money to kiss up to senior bureaucrats in Victoria, whose plan this is.  Under the guise of thinking globally, acting locally, the province of B.C. is ensuring it becomes another California...broke and flailing in the wind, desperate for cash.
Right along with its municipalities and cities.

Complying with Victoria's rules is the only way municipalities can access additional funding for projects (also spearheaded by senior bureaucrats) that are over and above residents' abilities to pay...but Victoria's money comes from us too.

It appears that Maurice Strong has finally gotten his way.
An advocate of the collapse of sinful Western economies, he continues to live in China.
Good place for that treasonous traitor.

Back to Coldstream's solar panels.
We'd all love to have them, but affordability is the issue.
So we're supposed to feel good every time we drive (*grin*) past our municipal hall complex because they have them.  And we paid for them.

Of 188 municipalities/towns in B.C., 180 have signed the Climate Action Charter, and Coldstream is one that signed onto the plan devised back in 2008.

Carbon offsetting is a myth, and its cons seldom see the light of day.
Because you simply end up purchasing new manufactured stuff to replace old manufactured stuff.
But Coldstream has bought it, hook line and sinker.

Some of the "initiatives" it undertook--because like everyone else, Coldstream was unable to completely reduce its carbon footprint--were to purchase a hybrid vehicle (yes, that had to be produced in a steel manufacturing facility), green infrastructure "action" plans (whatever the hell that is!), and so on...

So where is there transparency?
How much did Coldstream pay...and to whom...for carbon offsets?
Did Coldstream's bureaucrats show our elected officials the pros and cons of carbon trading/purchasing carbon offsets?

Did bureaucrats suggest to our elected officials that--instead of physically attending myriad meetings--a tangible (and common sense) carbon-reduction benefit would be to participate via video conferencing?  Just how much networking is physically lost if three elected officials don't attend the annual UBCM (Union of B.C. Municipalities) meetings in Victoria?  None at all.

But they still fly--or drive--to meetings.
Lots of meetings.
All that hobnobbing and airplane-flying and hotel-staying and restaurant-eating is a worthy sin for our elected officials.

The news article closes with "Council adopted a tax revitalization program to support sustainability."
Yup, we know taxes are being revitalized.
And who--or what--is being sustained?

Taxes certainly have a new life, a new vigor.
To the detriment of everything else that could have.

"Carbon offsets is the new derivative," says Kia disapprovingly.
 ...and just as distasteful.