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First, I should clarify that I have not been inspired by a green furry fruit but rather by a wonderful group of people who have (for some reason that I still don't quite understand) named themselves after an animal called a Kiwi... they come from a couple of islands further "Down Under" than Australia... and their accents and phrases are so unique that I sometimes feel like I'm listening to a foreign language rather than my own mother tongue.
I am speaking of the crazy crew from New Zealand, who were telling me recently about a big stink (literally) that has been going on at home:
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Farmers raise stink over New Zealand 'fart tax' "The Guardian" -- a London newspaper
by: David Fickling, Australasia correspondent
Friday September 5, 2003
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"Farmers blocked the streets of New Zealand's capital, Wellington, yesterday in protest at plans to impose the world's first "fart tax" on livestock flatulence.
Nicknamed the "back-door tax", the levy is intended to fund research into reducing the 37m tonnes of methane blown off each year by New Zealand's sheep, cattle and deer. Four hundred farmers with 20 tractors rallied outside parliament. An opposition MP led a cow named Energy up the steps of the building.
Despite the proposed levy being dubbed the "fart tax", more than 90% of livestock methane comes from burping, rather than flatulence.
Wind from New Zealand's 30m sheep, 10m cattle and 2m deer accounts for 60% of greenhouse gas emissions, well ahead of industries such as transport and electricity generation. The New Zealand government has demanded the levy to speed research into ways of cutting livestock emissions before the start of the compliance period for the Kyoto protocol in 2008. "
Something that NEVER EVER would happen in Texas.... |
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