Bill McKibben shares a message with the 350 community about what we've done so far, and the plan for the months ahead. Our next big fight: taking on the billions in subsidies that the fossil fuel industry makes.
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Bill McKibben's latest grassroots project is the launch of www.350.org, a Web portal and blog designed to focus world attention on cutting the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million.
From the Web site:
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"Our next big fight: taking on the billions in subsidies that the fossil fuel industry makes."
What does this mean? Is it even English? How does the fossil fuel industry make these subsidies? Are they hydrocarbon based subsidies? - and to whom do they give or sell these subsidies that they have made? I'm confused!
I'm guessing that this mangled text refers in some way to the concept that not having your pocket picked (taxes) is in some way considered a subsidy. Ah well, it takes all sorts to make a world.
SimonJ, then at the very least you should be lobbying for all other businesses to get the same tax cuts.
Either way you look at it, the fossil fuel industry is getting a sweeter deal than you or me.
Considering that any oil shipped to the US from Canada is shipped at a loss to our tax revenue - typically the US gets a discount of up to 30% on their oil purchases from Canada - I really appreciate the efforts to block keystone.
This way there will be added incentive to build a pipeline to the Canadian West Coast - Prince Rupert likely - so we can sell the oil at full market value.
We Canadians got burned too often in deals with the US - remember the softwood lumber deals? - so any chance to not sell to the US who rather prefer to source their materials from unreliable sources - is actually welcome.
All I can say - I am happy you guys are so adamant against keystone, and wish the US all the success to fuck themselves.
"How does the fossil fuel industry make these subsidies?"
You don't make subsidies. You get given subsidies.
I'm afraid that your complaint: "What does this mean? Is it even English?" is because you fail hard at English comprehension.
"and to whom do they give or sell these subsidies that they have made?"
They give the subsidies to the executives and shareholders.
That's right: not only do the rich get to pay a smaller percentage of tax on income, they also get money back from all taxpayers (therefore a greater proportion from the middle and lower classes who can't afford tax dodges).
You're a turkey DEMANDING that Thanksgiving be extended to 300 days a year.
SimonJ should be asking why oil companies need 4 billion dollars in taxpayer subsidies every year. The idea that taxpayers should be giving large tax breaks to the most profitable corporations in human history is beyond ludicrous.
I'd like to counter what the previous rude Canadian just said. Unfortunately our country isn't devoid of unpleasant characters, especially in Alberta. I'm a Canadian and I'd like to see tar sands extraction stopped. Keep up the good fight.