To a certain extent I share your scepticism - it is of course virtually
impossible for the average member of the public to calculate the offset
required for their flight (it depends for a start on the type of plane being
used and the %age of seats occupied!). But - and I have no particular
allegiance to Jetstar - their program (
http://www.jetstar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=764&Itemid=976&lang=auen&language=EN)
is accredited by the Aus Greenhouse Office which I hope (maybe foolishly)
gives it some credibility. But then - as I said - I found no way to pay them
anyway!
On 02/01/2008, Carl Clifford <> wrote:
>
> Airlines are not public service organisations for the benefit of all,
> they are in the business of making the greatest amount of profit they
> can for their shareholders. I would regard a "Carbon offset" scheme
> run by an airline with a shovelful of salt. I think the temptation
> for corporations to use such schemes to assist with profits would be
> too great to resist. Many Carbon offset schemes around the world are
> already unravelling and the administration costs of many schemes have
> been found to be up to 80% of cash inputs. There seems to be little
> independent auditing of these schemes.
>
> If you want to see the most benefit from the money you calculate as
> being sufficient to pay for a Carbon offset, put it away in an old
> sock or under your mattress, and use it to buy trees for a tree
> planting scheme and even better use your own labour to help plant the
> the trees. I am sure Carol Proberts would welcome your money and time
> for tree planting in the Capertee Valley. And you would also be
> helping the Regent Honeyeater recovery.
>
> Carl Clifford
>
>
> On 02/01/2008, at 10:37 AM, Dave Torr wrote:
>
> In any case, many airlines now allow you to purchase "carbon offsets" to
> counter the effect of your flight, so those who are concerned can
> make the
> effort. Whether this is totally effective is of course debatable -
> and when
> I tried to do it for a recent Jetstar flight the booking system told
> me how
> much the extra was but then insisted on billing me for only the basic
> flight
> cost without the extra!
>
> On 02/01/2008, Tony Russell <> wrote:
> >
> > I must say I agree with Alistair and Michael and Jill on this. Anyone
> > whose life becomes dictated by how much carbon usage they incur
> > must be
> > either not very interested in the excitement and fun that birding
> > travel
> > can provide, or so caught up in the carbon debate that they are unable
> > to see any other point of view. I'm not suggesting that the carbon
> > issue is of no importance, but crikey, we need some balance and
> > need to
> > get a life in the meantime.
> > Life is too short.
> >
> > Tony.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> > On Behalf Of michael norris
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 9:17 AM
> > To: Alastair Smith; 'BIRDING-AUS'
> > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Biggest Twitch - and Carbon
> >
> >
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