Wheelers Corner 03 28th January 2020 Is Sweden socialist or just plain smart.

Greta Thunberg has given the world a good kick in the arse...a much needed one I would suggest..
After checking out life in Sweden that some will tell is a failed Socialist country...is simply wrong in most respects. The following [in Italics] is the introduction to an very illuminating look at the kind of socity that makes Sweden the country it is: If you have an interest in bringing some balanced approach to climate change, this is a must read. Greta has got it correct, what is the use of knowing the facts and the science if you don't act on that information.

Before you get started on the serious side of the subject have a listen to this short song which clearly shows the difference between Trump like idiots and bright young humans like Greta:

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.weibel/videos/10157187240353564/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDAyNTEyMDAxNToyOTgwMzMzNDMxOTc3NDY1/  

Introduction to 'Sweden', the non socialist, but community minded country...

"Bringing global warming to a halt requires that worldwide net emissions of carbon dioxide be brought to essentially zero; the sooner this occurs, the less warming our descendants for the next 1000 years and more will need to adapt to. The widespread fear that the actions needed to bring this about conflict with economic growth is a major impediment to efforts to protect the climate. But much of this fear is pointless, and the magnitude of the task – while great – is no greater than the challenges that human ingenuity has surmounted in the past. To light the way forward, we need to examine success stories where nations have greatly reduced their carbon dioxide emissions while simultaneously maintaining vigorous growth in their standard of living; a prime example is Sweden. Through a combination of sensible government infrastructure policies and free-market incentives,

Sweden has managed to successfully decarbonize, cutting its per capita emissions by a factor of 3 since the 1970s, while doubling its per capita income and providing a wide range of social benefits. This has all been accomplished within a vigorous capitalistic framework that in many ways better embodies free-market principles than the US economy. Consequently, the Swedish experience shows that solving global warming does not require us to “tear down capitalism.” The world just needs to be a bit more like Sweden.

KEYWORDS: Global warming, climate change, decarbonization, Sweden, carbon budgets, Naomi Klein, capitalism, energy policy
Go to the reference below: then read the full item...its an amazing story, of innovation and common sense.


https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00963402.2016.1145908

I'd like to thank M & H Judd for sharing the above item... I call it Action Learning...

We here in the Manawatu need to look closely at the behaviour of our elected representatives and once we know the facts we should speak out in public about the issues involved. For example Horizons has a male Councillor who it would seem knowingly was breaking the rules laid down by the council in regard to eviromental rules on his farm and business. This very same councillor knowingly stood at the last election knowing full well that he was under investigation regarding his illegal behaviour. He should not have stood...and if he is found guilty we must force him to resign and we should not pay him a salary which he will then use to cover his penalties etc.

We also have various councillors sitting on regional and city councils who talk the talk about climate change but who actually have done nothing in real terms to bring about meaningful change. Some have existed on councils for so long...that we can't even imagine a council without them...

Ive no doubt that you know of people who fit the image of long term Councillor, The Palmerston North City Council still will not take the simple first step [that thousands of cities around the world have done] and called for a "climate emergency declaration",  an acceptance of this simple fact appears to be beyond their comprehension. If you desire that the community representatives ACTUALLY do something, then join up with your local climate change activists or environmental groups...

The local XR group here in Palmerston North can be contacted via their face book page and they can and will put you in touch with an activity group that may meet your needs:

Lastly:

The latest bit of news about the family of a local MP shows how careless some people have become:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119011628/national-mps-husband-son-face-trial-for-alleged-animal-cruelty-against-cows

Tony Michael Kuriger and Louis Stephen Kuriger are on trial in the Palmerston North District Court before Judge Lance Rowe, with no jury, each facing 11 charges of ill-treating animals.

Tony Kuriger is the son and Louis the husband of Barbara Kuriger, the National Taranaki-King Country MP who was once the party's spokeswoman for rural communities. She does not face any charges.