A country that prides itself on its green image has set the ambitious goal of cutting its greenhouse-gas emissions to zero.
I just found out that the Oxford Dictionary’s 2006 word of the year was ‘Carbon Neutral ’. This joins the long list of iconic lexicons from previous years, such as “podcast” and “blog” and beat out “funner”, “elbow bump” and “dwarf planet” for the 2006 honour.
According to Erin McKean, editor in chief of the New American Oxford Dictionary, “When you see first graders trying to make their classrooms carbon neutral, you know the word has become mainstream.” This begs the question, what exactly is “carbon neutral” and how do you get there?
Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.
There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.
