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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
I already knew Kyoto was designed to transfer manufacturing to the Third World, which isn't regulated by the treaty, but I didn't know it was intended to transfer agriculture as well.
21 posted on 06/20/2003 6:48:24 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: nypokerface
"NZ flatulence tax outrages farmers"

Yes, but persons who derive their income from agricultural pursuits are in a very distinct minority among the electorate in New Zealand, and their objections may safely be ignored.

The obvious answer, then, is to downsize or completely eliminate ruminant animals from agricultural production. Raise rabbits instead?

Somehow, a meal with rabbit as the entree is not the same as Beef Wellington.
22 posted on 06/20/2003 6:48:31 AM PDT by alloysteel
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To: All
Thank God Pres. Bush nixed the Kyoto treaty. Gore was all for it.

23 posted on 06/20/2003 6:54:22 AM PDT by kitkat (CONDEMNATION SALE, UN property in NY City, handyman special)
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To: nypokerface
Gee, I wish they would tax some of the flatulence going around in truck stops serving three-alarm chili here and there throughout our nation's fine Interstate system.
24 posted on 06/20/2003 7:26:46 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (Kim Jong Il had ANOTHER bad underwear day . He found "decapitate" in his English-Korean dictionary.)
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To: nypokerface
NZ flatulence tax outrages farmers

I take it that this tax does not cover political BS.

25 posted on 06/20/2003 7:28:59 AM PDT by Paul C. Jesup
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To: nypokerface
What's next? A human fart tax? If so, get ready to pay, up men; studies show you all fart more than women.
26 posted on 06/20/2003 7:30:56 AM PDT by Henrietta
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To: nypokerface
Man, hope that doesn't happen here, with sensors in my bedroom, or I am going to have to declare bancrupcy
27 posted on 06/20/2003 7:53:10 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
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To: nypokerface; marsh2; dixiechick2000; Mama_Bear; doug from upland; WolfsView; Issaquahking; amom; ...
Mr. Eel, any comments? Everyone else, your Mc Donanlds burgers just went up in price.

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.

28 posted on 06/20/2003 8:15:51 AM PDT by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: nypokerface; mhking
Hold muh farts...
29 posted on 06/20/2003 8:19:51 AM PDT by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: Free the USA
I've pinged Mhking as well. This is one of those rare threads that needs both the farm/environment ping and the hold muh beer ping. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried.
30 posted on 06/20/2003 8:21:25 AM PDT by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: nypokerface
Without "global warming", the north island would be heavily glaciated, like the south island. NZ may have more land soon.

The world socialism movement is alive and well, breaking wind. Anything for more government control.

The Pacific's warm equitorial waters are most likely caused by deep sea super heated water of "black smokers", certainly not atmospheric gasses.

H2O is THE greenhouse gas, but that is beyond government control.

FYI, termites are estimated to produce more methane than all above ground animals combined. Tax termite damage.
31 posted on 06/20/2003 8:38:15 AM PDT by SevenDaysInMay
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To: farmfriend
BTTT!!!!!!
32 posted on 06/20/2003 8:38:19 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: nypokerface
Give them beano.
33 posted on 06/20/2003 9:04:02 AM PDT by DLfromthedesert
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To: Chad Fairbanks
You must be LizardQueen's husband.
34 posted on 06/20/2003 9:07:45 AM PDT by DLfromthedesert
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To: farmfriend
No, you don't hold them - that causes severe gastrointestinal discomfort - let them go, where they can be free. Free to fly. Free to fly without being hassled by 'The Man'...
35 posted on 06/20/2003 9:14:22 AM PDT by Chad Fairbanks
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To: nypokerface
Is this how the dinosaurs became extinct? They must have produced quite a bit of methane.
36 posted on 06/20/2003 9:15:50 AM PDT by dc27
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To: farmfriend; Grampa Dave; Dog Gone
I knew it! The hole globular hyperthermia Bull Chit was about A NEW GLOBAL GORE TAX!!! (Man! Does that ever STINK!)

CA calls it's taxing agency the "State Board of EQUALIZATION!" That's all this would have been, had we gone along with Kyoto... EQUALIZATION of the US to the lowest turd whirled common denominator!!!

Gore would have put Ted Kazinsky to shame by murdering the economic engine of Earth!!!

37 posted on 06/20/2003 9:16:29 AM PDT by SierraWasp (We get too soon old and too late smart!!!)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Free to fly. Free to fly without being hassled by 'The Man'...

I'd be arrested for using weapons of mass destruction.

38 posted on 06/20/2003 11:28:07 AM PDT by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: nypokerface
This stinks.
39 posted on 06/20/2003 11:31:35 AM PDT by ApesForEvolution ("The only way evil triumphs is if good men do nothing" E. Burke)
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To: nypokerface
First I thought this was a joke.

When I got as far as the second sentence, I knew it wasn't...and I burst out laughing!
40 posted on 06/20/2003 11:31:57 AM PDT by Smile-n-Win (The EU will break up any day, but the USA is here to stay!)
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