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NZ flatulence tax outrages farmers
BBC ^
| 06/20/03
Posted on 06/20/2003 6:18:11 AM PDT by nypokerface
New Zealand's farmers have criticised a proposed tax on the flatulence emitted by their sheep and cattle.
The move is part of the Wellington government's action to meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.
Scientists estimate that methane emitted by farm animals is responsible for more than half of the country's greenhouse gases.
Flatulence from cows, sheep and other ruminants is a serious environmental problem, accounting for about 15% of worldwide emissions of methane - one of the most potent of greenhouse gases.
Last year New Zealand signed up to the Kyoto Protocol, and agreed to reduce production of such gases.
The proposed flatulence tax is expected to raise NZ$8.4 million a year ($4.9 million) from next year.
The money is be used to fund research on agricultural emissions.
A public good?
However New Zealand farmers argue that taxpayers should pay for the research, because reducing the emissions benefits everyone.
"This decision is yet another example of the government's desire to act in the wider public interest but expecting rural New Zealand to pay for its largesse," Federated Farmers President Tom Lambie said.
Sheep, cattle, goats and deer produce large quantities of gas through belching and flatulence, as their multiple stomachs digest grass.
Ruminants are responsible for about 25% of the methane produced in Britain.
In countries with a large agricultural sector, the proportion is much higher. In New Zealand, farm animals produce 90% of methane emissions.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: environment; globalwarming; kyoto; newzealand
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To: nypokerface
Grass to gas out the ..., oh well.
To: nypokerface
Hard to keep a poker face while reading this.
3
posted on
06/20/2003 6:21:03 AM PDT
by
Bahbah
To: nypokerface
Is this a joke?
But, then again, we are talking about a treaty which emanated from the leftist wackos at the U.N.
4
posted on
06/20/2003 6:21:25 AM PDT
by
kdmhcdcfld
(Any rebroadcast of this tagline without the express written consent of FreeRepublic is prohibited.)
To: gov_bean_ counter
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.
To: nypokerface
If we lived there and they taxed people for this my husband would bankrupt us...
Whoops, "too much information"....
LQ
To: nypokerface
If we lived there and they taxed people for this my husband would bankrupt us...
Whoops, "too much information"....
LQ
To: nypokerface
A fart tax. It' true, liberals will tax ANYthing.
To: LizardQueen
"If we lived there and they taxed people for this my husband would bankrupt us...
Whoops, "too much information".... "
LOL! We promise not to tell your hubby, though. :)
9
posted on
06/20/2003 6:25:25 AM PDT
by
proud American in Canada
("We are a peaceful people. Yet we are not a fragile people.")
To: Semper Paratus
Already done. Remember, Clinton raised the SS tax on old farts.
To: nypokerface
Flatulence from cows, sheep and other ruminants is a serious environmental problem... There really needs to be some sort of sanity check for all political movements. I imagine the point where you start thinking farts are endangering the planet is a sort of signpost saying, "Thank you for visiting sanity. Please come again."
To: nypokerface
I'm beginning to feel I live on the Bizarro planet.
12
posted on
06/20/2003 6:28:57 AM PDT
by
xp38
To: gov_bean_ counter
And the tax helps solve the problem.... how? By further fueling longer-winded speeches in Parliament? I somehow doubt that it'll buy corks for the sheep & cows.
13
posted on
06/20/2003 6:30:05 AM PDT
by
alancarp
(SItting Senators ought not cash in while under the public trust)
To: alancarp
I somehow doubt that it'll buy corks for the sheep & cows. All right. The Sammy Sosa solution.
To: farmfriend
fyi
To: proud American in Canada
Whoops, too many posts, too. Sorry ;)
LQ
To: nypokerface
Can we tax the hot air coming from the CA Legislature?
17
posted on
06/20/2003 6:39:24 AM PDT
by
boris
To: nypokerface; Prof Engineer
LOL! You gotta be kidding!
18
posted on
06/20/2003 6:40:40 AM PDT
by
msdrby
(I do believe the cheese slid off his cracker! - The Green Mile)
To: nypokerface
I wonder who will pay the tax for all the wild animals, etc.
I guess we owe a debt of gratitude to the dinosaurs for farting it up so we have an atmosphere.
19
posted on
06/20/2003 6:45:02 AM PDT
by
ctlpdad
(One of the things that makes me great is my modesty.)
To: nypokerface
Who gets the job of installing the gas meters?
20
posted on
06/20/2003 6:45:34 AM PDT
by
decimon
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