Posted on 04/03/2007 11:03:32 AM PDT by Optimill
BRUSSELS, April 3 (RIA Novosti) - The government of Belgium's French-speaking region of Wallonia, which has a population of about 4 million, has approved a tax on barbequing, local media reported.
Experts said that between 50 and 100 grams of CO2, a so-called greenhouse gas, is emitted during barbequing. Beginning June 2007, residents of Wallonia will have to pay 20 euros for a grilling session.
The local authorities plan to monitor compliance with the new tax legislation from helicopters, whose thermal sensors will detect burning grills.
Scientists believe CO2 emissions are a major cause of global warming.
Sad, isn’t it?
I wonder if people can use their fireplaces there.
Barbecuing on a hot summer’s day saves on air-conditioning, compared to using a hot stove indoors. Maybe barbecuers should get carbon credits — especially if they use charcoal (a renewable energy source).
That’s me on the left!
Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
- CS Lewis
I dunno. Somehow when I hear the word "Belgium" the word "barbecuing" doesn't immediately leap to mind.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
LOL, too funny. To fight global warming they are going to fly helicopters all over to spot people doing barbecues. Too funny. Just how much CO2 do helicopters burn?
We called ourselves "Stir The Pot Press" and thought we were just monkeywrenching the libs.
Who knew?
That is what I thought as well. There are so many BBQ pits being used in my neighborhood on weekends, I get hungry just smelling all the food cooking.
This is why they make George Foreman grills. LOL
For 75 grams of CO2 the tax is $26.64 USD
Carbon Dioxide and Helium Discharge from Mammoth Mountain, California.
CURRENT STATUS: Measurements of the total discharge of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas at the Horseshoe Lake tree kill area range from 50-150 tons per day.
100 Tons = 90,718,474 grams per day.
90,718,474 grams / 75 grams = 1,209,580 grilling sessions.
1,209,580 sessions @ $26.64 = $32,223,211.20 USD per day
$32,223,211.20 USD per day X 365 days per year = $11,761,472,088 per year.
The county would owe a tax bill of almost 12 billion dollars per year.
I wonder how much the county tax bill would be for each person?
what barbecue in Alabama?? Didn’t know they had it.
civil wars through out europe? All ready started in france.
And what will be the cost of spotting violators vs. the cost of looking for them? I mean, how much money does it cost to keep a helicopter up and running for one hour? (The machine itself, the pilot(s), the ground crew, etc.) And let's no forget 90%+ of BBQ are on the weekends, wouldn't that be over time for the pilots, crews, and stuff?
a hidden agenda: to enter your home without a warrant, under the guise of global warming, as the smoke police search for sources...
Some of those Belgian sausages, when put on a hot grill, can be deadly.
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