About the only “success” stories that I can recall are Denmark and Germany. In both cases the real reason is that they derive some industrial benefits by selling their technologies to the rest of the world. The real benefits are the export of technologies not the energy produced.
Stelios Pneumaticos, PhD, Ottawa
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In a previous “green period” in Ontario, Bob Rae’s government created green communities in nearly 20 cities to evaluate the energy efficiency, waste and water practices in homes across the province.
The program was killed by the succeeding government in 1995, but it had set the pace for a national program with incentives that resulted in an average 20 per cent cut in energy usage by more than half a million Canadian households after 1999.
The success of the EcoEnergy Retrofit-Homes program caused it to be added to the Conservative platform last May, and who knows, it might continue past the new cutoff date of March 31, 2012, if evidence of climate change and job losses continue apace.
George Burrett, Cambridge, Ont.
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Copyright conundrum
Re Heading Back To School? Hope You’ve Memorized The Copyright Act (Aug. 17): I agree with John Degen that the Canadian Copyright Act is excessively complex. With the tools to create and distribute creativity now in the hands (and pockets) of most students, the problem is getting worse.
Activities which many reasonably consider lawful are considered infringements under our outdated copyright law. This complexity and lack of clarity will induce students to infringe copyright.
While this is true, the policies promoted by Access Copyright and Mr. Degen have been in the opposite direction. Blanket licensing which makes copyright different inside and outside the classroom, and the lobbying by Access Copyright and allies to make copyright more complex, are all part of the problem. Educational institutions breaking away from Access Copyright appears to be a necessary early step toward longer-term solutions.
Russell McOrmond, Ottawa
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An unhappy job
Clifford Orwin declares that “nobody is happy with Barack Obama, and nobody should be.” I would suggest a different view.
It has been said that the sign of a perfect compromise is when all of the participants leave the room unhappy. Perhaps President Obama is actually leading his country, rather than catering to his base. After all, he is the leader of all Americans.
John Overing, Lorraine, Que.
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Flying pets
Make one flight a day to each destination pet-friendly. That would let passengers with allergies know they should avoid it. If long-haul flights don’t have multiples per day, pick a day a week. While we are at it, have baby-friendly flights too, so big people know when to board with patience.
Andrea Marcus, Toronto
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Use a bike
Re Drivers, Want More Space? Push For Bike Lanes (Aug. 25): I have found it very practical, economical and healthy to pack a bicycle on a rack on my car. Driving in from the suburbs, I can park outside the downtown core where parking is expensive and ride the bike to my downtown destination. I get a reasonable amount of exercise, free parking and am indeed reducing my ecological footprint.
David F. Boehm, Gabriola Island, B.C.
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Gimme a brake
Re Google Gets Behind The Wheel (Aug. 25): Your reporter remarks on “break lights.” Give me a brake. When Google fixes the spell check, I’ll let it drive my car.
Scott Strong, St. John’s
