The hidden problems of carbon offsetting

The other day, at a forum I post in, I became involved in a discussion about carbon offsetting.

Carbon Offsetting involves buying credits from another party engaged in actions that will reduce factors that can cause global warming. For example, if you want to make your car “carbon neutral” you would go to a broker that will calculate how much your vehicle contributes to global warming, charge you a rate for the credit, then sell that credit to another party that will offset the global warming contribution through various means (like reforestation).

Does this sound like a good plan to reverse global warming? I spotted a few holes in the logic and I mentioned them on the forum, after a little research I found many more.

Companies and individuals rushing to go green have been spending millions on “carbon credit” projects that yield few if any environmental benefits.

A Financial Times investigation has uncovered widespread failings in the new markets for greenhouse gases, suggesting some organisations are paying for emissions reductions that do not take place.

Others are meanwhile making big profits from carbon trading for very small expenditure and in some cases for clean-ups that they would have made anyway.

The following is a list of the failings that Financial Times found

Widespread instances of people and organisations buying worthless credits that do not yield any reductions in carbon emissions.

Industrial companies profiting from doing very little – or from gaining carbon credits on the basis of efficiency gains from which they have already benefited substantially.

Brokers providing services of questionable or no value.

A shortage of verification, making it difficult for buyers to assess the true value of carbon credits.

Companies and individuals being charged over the odds for the private purchase of European Union carbon permits that have plummeted in value because they do not result in emissions cuts.

Finally, there is another point to make. Even if the company you purchase your carbon credits from is completely honest about their activity, carbon offsetting does absolutely NOTHING regarding global warming. All it does is assuage someone’s guilt for having bought that gas guzzling vehicle, or for flying across the globe in an airplane, or the like.

Whenever you see a system set up designed around emotive thinking instead of logical thinking, there is a high chance that it is being exploited.

Muhahaha…oh crap!

Have you ever wanted to be an evil overlord? Well, if you decided to take up this career path, here is a list of things you should do.

The Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord

20. Despite its proven stress-relieving effect, I will not indulge in maniacal laughter. When so occupied, it's too easy to miss unexpected developments that a more attentive individual could adjust to accordingly.

With tips like hiring 5 year old advisor to see if they can see flaws in your plans and NOT installing a self destruct device, how can you go wrong?

My favorite bit of advice on the list:

7. When I've captured my adversary and he says, "Look, before you kill me, will you at least tell me what this is all about?" I'll say, "No." and shoot him. No, on second thought I'll shoot him then say "No."

Or as the late and great Eli Wallach said, “When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.”

Thought of the day: July 24, 2007

Who the hell thought taking a long strip of cloth, tying it into a slip knot and placing the loop around your neck is a good idea?

Ok, I admit it. I've had this thought many times before, but I never blogged it before.

An additional thought: What genius decided that wearing such a strip of cloth is appropriate business attire and should therefore be worn for 8 hours or more a day?

The Transcendence of Music

I am a fan of the anime Bleach that is currently running on Cartoon Network. While the show has aired it has had a couple different musical intros and a few different ending themes. I particularly enjoyed the second ending theme and today I decided to kill some time before going to work to look up the lyrics for that song.

I have no real aptitude for languages. I have tried to learn French, Spanish and Arabic in the past but I never really went far with them. I needed to find the English translation for the song, and I did!

Before I go any further, I want to describe how the song made me feel before I learned what the words meant. The song has a rhythm to it that just makes my entire body quake, from tapping my feet to shaking my shoulders. Everything about the song just screamed to me that it was a positive and joyful experience.

It turns out that the lyrics back that up.

Thank you! by Home Made Kazoku

For the people who always support me
A rhapsody with my usual feelings put into it
Send out my feelings of appreciation
Thank you, always, thank you, really
No matter where I am, I am grateful that you're alive

I was walking down the street casually when the city at dusk was dyed red
The flocks of people coming and going increase in the afternoon
For some reason I tried to stop
Bit by bit the crack in my heart became empty
In order to fill it, I changed my cellphone manner
You aren't alone, look everyone
We'll support each other

I'm scared by the unstable future; it comes toward me, and I've been worried
You quietly reach out your hand, without saying anything
Sadness was only half of it, happiness swelled up twice as big
I swore that if I was in the opposite situation
That I'd come running right across

For the people who always support me
A rhapsody with my usual feelings put into it
Send out my feelings of appreciation
Thank you, always, thank you, really
No matter where I am, I am grateful that you're alive

Far away, far away
Even if we're far apart
The memories of the days that we spent together
Will by no means disappear into the flow of time
Friends, family, lovers and all the people that I've met
"Thank you!" because of all of you
Tomorrow too, I'll be able to move forward with strength

No one can live their life alone
We always care about each other
We don't understand, we talk
I want us to laugh so much that it's like our stomachs burst
Even so, why do we sometimes speak ill of each other like this?
Do you think that we hurt each other?
I love you so much that its absurd
I'm embarrassed to say it, but I'm serious

For the people who always support me
A rhapsody with my usual feelings put into it
Send out my feelings of appreciation
Thank you, always, thank you, really
No matter where I am, I am grateful that you're alive

Certainly being face to face with everyone, I'm more shy than I thought
I can't say it, it won't quite leave my lips
But I really want to say it
Something's in the way, everyone's prentending to be tough
Sometimes everyone wants to openly say these things
A wonderful power dwells within words
Its a simple thing, start with yourself; you can definately do it...

Never give up
I will be there
Just forever
Like you were there for me

Never give up
I will be there
Just forever
Like you were there for me

For the people who always support me
A rhapsody with my usual feelings put into it
Send out my feelings of appreciation
Thank you, always, thank you, really
No matter where I am, I am grateful that you're alive

For the people who always support me
A rhapsody with my usual feelings put into it
Send out my feelings of appreciation
Thank you, always, thank you, really
No matter where I am, I am grateful that you're alive

Recently, I heard an interview given by two musicians on my public radio station. Since I was driving, I missed who the musicians were, but while I was waiting at a stop light, one of them said that (and this isn’t a quote): Music cannot be describe by words as it a form of language itself.

Or at least that is what he was trying to say.

And he was right. Here is a song, that I did not understand, that gave me such a positive attitude whenever I heard it. And now that I know the meaning of the lyrics, I feel even better.

Edit: Here is an embedded video

Welcome!

Greetings and salutations to those that have discovered this blog.

My name is Kent, but I go by the handle Kenshu Ani. Kenshu Ani was originally the name I created for a character on a Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) called Star Wars Galaxies. I derived the name Kenshu not from my name but from two fictional characters. Himura Kenshin, from the Japanese manga/anime Rurouni Kenshin. Shu was the name of a console game character from Suikoden II.

Himura Kenshin from the fictional story, is a roaming samurai with a tremendous talent for combat. Shu from Suikoden II, is a brilliant tactician but one that will not object to brutal measures. I wanted to create a character that gave the impression of skilled and ruthless warrior. I likely failed to provide such an impression, mostly due to my poor acting skills.

As this blog grows, I will discuss the various topics that pique my interest. From gaming to philosophy, social commentary to personal reflections and everything in between.

I hope you find your time here to be enjoyable.