Good God!
The claim that solar panels are "better" for the "environment" seems quirky at best. What of the mining, refining, processing, manufacturing and installation costs of say Gallium-arsenide cells? I doubt the life time of such (not forgetting the cost of safely disposing of/with them) rivals the life tme and aesthetic joy of a tree. Apart from those wierd Upside Down trees in the Kalahari. They're just bloody ugly.
Does the ruling affect either of these two points:
Given that solar boy pays only $60 a year for electrcal power, it would seem that the removal or destruction of the trees would be of direct and ongoing financial benifit to him, whilst simultaneously reducing the potential and material value of tree peoples property. Should solar boy (see next) sell his property having increased the sunlight to his garden for dollar profit, the financial loss to tree people remains. The injury is potentially worse should the new neigbours want the garden back.
If this does set precedent, anyone wishing to increase the amount of sunlight to their garden may only have to lease some solar panels in order to have the state play arboreal assassin. They can then put a pool in.
This is what happens when people drive a Prius. A Hummer will last a life time, more so as it is already a design classic. A Prius not only makes the driver a mincing-hippy-holier-than-thou **** but its life time of lentil and granola ferrying is roughly little over a decade. I would suppose less given the mileage Yanks clock compared to the UK, Europe, and Japan. Already long story cut short, it turns out that the carbon footprint of the Prius is perversely larger than the Hummer.
London related bit now. Mayor "Red Ken" has just bumped the congestion charge to £25/day for cars over certain engine volumes and or emmision outputs. The justification being to encourage folk to use (the already at breaking stress) pubic transport network. Such vehicles include people movers, most classic cars, luxury saloons, SUVs, sports cars, work vans and lorries (think: one day y'in a lower bracket, next due to a heavier load ...) so on and so forth.
NO-ONE drives in central London for shits and giggles. The final bowel mover is that if you live inside the recently expanded zone and drive one of the afforementioned vehicles it wil cost you £25, yep $60, to turn the key. Or in the case of some top of the line jobs press a button.
All to reduce our carbon footprint. Has anyone told China or India?
On the bright side, and this is no joke, not only is the Yank Ambassador to the Court of St. James saying "f**k off pinko" but Porsche are taking the matter to court! Einfach klasse!
