Australia Bans Incadescent Bulbs

[Dr. Shane]

Australia says lights out to incandescent bulbs

Quote:

Australia has announced it will ban incandescent light bulbs in three years in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, becoming the first country to do away with this technology, which has been in use for more than a century.

Quote:

It'll be illegal to sell a product that doesn't meet [an energy efficiency] standard, so that will happen by 2009 [or] 2010," Turnbull told ABC radio in Australia. "So by that stage, you simply won't be able to buy incandescent light bulbs because they won't meet the energy standard."

[Nan]

Australia is trying to make some changes that will help the environment - I am not sure if I am alone in thinking that while this change is reasonable, it is only a small part of what needs to be done.

[bevin]

Hope they are preparing to recycle them - the new ones have toxic materials - mercury - in them

[Dr. Shane]

today light bulbs - - - tomorrow the Bible!

[bevin]

Yeah - today we ban crystal-meth and driving at 300 mph past elementary schools, and tomorrow we enforce Devil Worship

/Bevin

[Bravus]

Incidentally, this is a policy of the current Liberal government, and there's a federal election later this year (in which, please God, these evil swine will be defeated), so we will see what happens to it... it's certainly not anything that's already enshrined in law.

('Liberal' is the right-wing party in Australia)

[Nan]

The illustrious leader of the right wing porcines is waking up to the fact that the electorate is questioning his stance on many things - environment ranking very high on that list.

Also a novelty for him is the appearance on the scene of an Opposition leader who might just engender sufficient confidence from the electorate to become a serious threat to the incumbents in the election at the end of the year.

I will not be surprised to see more of these light weight policies aiming to entice the doubters.

[Dr. Shane]

Am I to understand the Liberal Party wants to ban incandescent lights so Bravus is praying to God they lose the next election?

My point is this. Many liberals cry and whine that we can't legislate morality when we talk about abortion but they do a 180º turn when we start talking about the environment. Why is it that it is OK to legislate morality when we are talking about the environment but when we talk about abortion we suddenly connect it to Sunday laws?

[Bravus]

Um, but the Liberals are the opposite of liberals... so I think my position would be consistent (i.e. not legislating morality), if my position was what you have suggested it is here. (The party of the left in Australia hasn't advanced a specific policy on this issue.)

Actually, I think legislating compact flourescents instead of incandescents is a silly idea for a couple of reasons, including the fact that lights on dimmers and in small places can't really use compact fluoros. I would be in favour of a 'real costs of electricity' approach that includes the environmental costs in the price, and that in itself would strongly incline people to use compact fluoros in all the applications where they can realistically be used.

But the reason I want the Liberals to lose has zero to do with their policy on light bulbs, and everything to do with the fact that in their 12 years in government they've dragged Australia backward 20 years economically, socially, in terms of equity and race relations and relations with our regional neighbours, the fact that we're the only OECD country *cutting* real expenditure on education and a dozen other reasons. They need to be gone.

[Dr. Shane]

Just for the record, I don't have a problem with banning incadescent bulbs... but I wouldn't have a problem with banning abortion either. So I am consistant... I think.

If the Liberals in Australia are actually conservative, what is their opposition party called?

[Nan]

The Australian Opposition is called the Labour Party, and had its origins in the trade union movement. There are some minor parties that can hold the balance of power in a close-run election.

[David Koot]

('Liberal' is the right-wing party in Australia)

Well, then, that explains your characterization of these 'liberals.' I was rather startled, thinking that perhaps Bravus has at last seen the light and experienced political conversion. Ah, well, there is still time.

Cheers.

[Bravus]

Indeed there is - apparently hell is still significantly above 32 F.