Kyoto is, literally, Dion's dog

New Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is a staunch supporter of Kyoto, supposedly naming his dog Kyoto after the (pretty much failed) environmental Protocol. While the Conservatives attest that Canada's emissions actually rose while he was environment minister (under Martin), at least his heart is in the right place. However, he's thought up some crazy ways to save our natural world - including trying to tame Alberta's massive oilsands projects with the hopeful statement:

"We will not kill the industry. We will make the industry sustainable."

Yeah yeah, but Mr. Dion, we still have the problem of oil, the extraction of which is harmful to the environment, and the utilization of its end products (i.e. gasoline) which are also harmful to the environment. We can't make the oil industry sustainable because it is inherently not sustainable, and while big business is flush with petro-cash we can hardly begin to suggest alternative uses of energy.

What about economic incentives for renewable energy initiatives? Why don't we preach conservation? Why can't we make our current gas-powered engines more efficient?

We have to convince the rich, fat cats of the oil companies that the industry is going the way of the telegraph, that new sources of energy will prove even more lucrative to them in the future. And for that to happen, there needs to be a movement at the grassroots level, a shift in environmental awareness. To influence the supply of energy, we need to alter the demand.

"Kyoto, I've got a feeling we're not in Tansas anymore!"