The
GREEN Manifesto
Trinidad and Tobago
ph: 868-662-1067
thegreen
Your Proposals
Green Manifesto Suggestion
Public Utilities
Electricity
- All tax and Vat should me removed from Green Items like Solar Panels and Wind generators for personal and commercial use.
- T& TEC should put in place a system over the next 5 years where members of the public can sell extra electricity to them generated from their personal Solar Panels and Windmills.
- Companies should have tax incentives to generate their own electricity.
- Government should fund a program to implement and maintain solar panels and Wind generators in Trinidad.
- All Streetlight should be Solar powered (This technology is already readily available and will cost significantly less in the long run.)
We can look at the feasibility of government sponsored community storage of electricity generated during the day for use in the night.
Power Generation.
I think Trinidad and Tobago's greatest Natural Resource will be its Location in the world.
We are Located is one of the best suited areas for Wind power generation and Wave power generations as we have consistent winds throughout the year. We also have Sun for 12 hours every day of the year. We have the Potential to export Energy.
Most of the north east cost is not suitable for tourism on the beach however we have some of the most powerful waves as the Atlantic Ocean meats the Caribbean Sea. Perhaps a feasibility study can be done as the how effective would Wave energy be for power generation.
Wind Power can be generated on the Central Range. Once we cross 300Feet the wind stabilizes and becomes more consistent. The central range may be a great place to put Wind Turbines and is not residential yet we have the potential to access those areas easily.
Thanks to the COP for the Opportunity to give my suggestions and looking forward to adding in different areas, in particular Culture, Education and Food production.
Regards,
Revan
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Senate Vote On Passage: H.R. 6049: Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008
Sep 23: With praise and support from both Democrats and Republicans, at about 6 PM on Tuesday, the Senate unanimously (93-2, 5 not voting) passed the so-called "tax extenders" package that includes extensions for key renewable energy technologies like wind, solar and biomass. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced the bipartisan agreement that also included an update of the alternative minimum tax rules and continued tax cuts for college tuition, state and local sales taxes, and research and development for U.S. businesses on September 16 [See WIMS 9/18/08].
The bill, H.R. 6049 (Senate Substitute, Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008, [See WIMS 9/22/08] extends the placed-in service date for the credit through December 31, 2009 in the case of wind and refined coal, and through December 31, 2010 in the case of other sources. The measure extends the 30 percent investment tax credit for solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property, as well as the 10 percent investment tax credit for micro-turbines, through 2016. The bill extends the credit for residential solar property through 2016, and removes the credit cap (currently $2,000) for solar electric investments. The bill increases the $500 per half kilowatt of capacity cap for qualified fuel cells to $1,500 per half kilowatt of capacity, and adds small commercial wind as a category of qualified investment. The bill adds residential small wind investment, capped at $4,000, and geothermal heat pumps, capped at $2,000, as qualifying property. With respect to vehicles, the bill establishes a new credit for plug-in electric drive vehicles and the credit for passenger vehicles and light trucks ranges from $2,500 to $7,500.
Ideas for the Green Manifesto
In light of the severe flooding occurrences this rainy season, which opened our eyes and hopefully those of the ‘authorities’ to the drainage problem that has developed accompanying the nation’s economic ‘development,’ I’m sure it is easily agreeable that this drainage inadequacy came as a result of natural vegetation being replaced with surfaces that has no capacity for water infiltration and retention (storage).
This apart from countless other invaluable functions and roles of natural vegetation is a very vital part of the hydrological cycle. When we remove the natural vegetation and replace these large areas with concrete, asphalt, steel and glass, we are asking for exactly what we received.
I am talking about the authorities’ boast- last elections- of having constructed 30000 plus houses (homes) in remarkable time (up to that time) and many more no evidently currently under construction and still to come. This coupled with the phenomenal and alarming rate and scale of industrial and commercial building construction that is taking place all across T&T is creating the perfect conditions for the type of flooding that we’re witnessing. Obviously not much foresight went into the drainage infrastructure aspect of this ‘progressive’ move. Nature has worked out with perfect and precise science the type and quality of drainage that it needed to keep the system in balance. When we come and ‘develop’ as we think we are doing the natural environment, we mess up that delicate balance and consequently feel the repercussions.
However the governments are always too occupied with political strategizing with their housing distribution and placement to put things into proper perspective.
I have come to realize from traveling all around T&T that within the existing towns, old communities or otherwise existing civil infrastructure throughout the country, there are great numbers of abandoned, derelict and otherwise un-used and under and unutilized properties and land spaces, all of which are already within the infrastructure and utilities grid or networks.
I am certain that if a survey was conducted, it would reveal that these properties - many of which have commercial capacity or value - have the potential to provide probably all or a great part of the housing that is needed by the citizenry. Since those are already within the infrastructure and utilities grid utilizing them will result in huge monetary savings that would otherwise be spent on developing new of such infrastructure.
In many cases the owners of those properties are either deceased and records lost etc.
I am therefore suggesting that these properties should be acquired from the private owners (in such cases) by the authorities using certain processes and then be put to good use for housing etc.
Such a process could be for example to offer a percentage of what the property is worth unless the owners can definitely redevelop the property within a stipulated time.
The benefits which can come out of this are only obvious:
- Preventing all the ill effects of ‘developing’ new and otherwise green areas, ill effects which include flooding (from rapid water run off), loss of species habitat and ultimately bio diversity, contributing to the global problem of deforestation and the associated loss to the green lungs of the earth.
- Huge monetary savings that would go to setting up new infrastructure and utilities etc.
- Stronger and more closely knitted communities since first preference will be given to those persons who live within the communities to purchase the re developed and rehabilitated properties etc.
- Waste management made easier and more efficient since collection trucks will have less distance to travel to existing facilities.
- Public transport system simplified and less fuel used for such (lower cost, less emissions etc). Plus car pooling made easier etc.
These are just a few of the benefits that such a program can achieve.
The Schools Outreach Programme is part of a larger work programme of the Trinidad and Tobago Earth Charter National Committee. This outreach programme targets primary, secondary, and informal education channels, and where possible, creates linkages between institutions and organisations operating within the various segments. Outreach to tertiary educational institutions will be covered in a separate proposal.
Purpose: The purpose of the Schools Outreach Programme of the Earth Charter National Campaign is to encourage the teaching, understanding, adoption and incorporation of the Earth Charter principles by teachers and by students at the primary and secondary school levels.
Objectives: The Programme will achieve its purpose through the following objectives:
1. Implement the Environmental Education Across the Curricula in T&T (EnACT Programme) in primary schools and secondary centres via teacher training workshops using the EnACT teacher's guide.
2. Establish an informal education programme on the Earth Charter to be held during holiday and vacation periods in the form of Eco-camps for children and youth.
3. Conduct programmes that utilise the creative arts to teach the principles of the Earth Charter.
4. Conduct training courses for youth who are volunteering in the Education Outreach Programme in the principles of the Earth Charter and environmental conservation in T&T.
5. Establish a network of student and youth organisations (the majority of which will probably be at the secondary level) that adopt Earth Charter principles into their programmes and projects.
6. Form a network of organisations and institutions involved in environmental education in T&T and conduct training programmes for the purpose of furthering the understanding and incorporation of Earth Charter principles into educational as well as all other activities.
Environmental Education Across the Curricula in Trinidad and Tobago (EnACT) The Earth Charter principles form a framework for a comprehensive and cohesive environmental education programme infused into the current curricula structure in primary schools and secondary centres in T&T through the EnACT programme. These principles are keyed to specific age groups and subjects, and are designed to gradually build a student's sensitivity, awareness, and understanding of the basic principles necessary to become responsible citizens capable of making informed decisions on issues that affect the environment. EnACT is presented through a teacher's guide containing lesson plans (targeted at specific age groups) that together teach the fundamental principles of the Earth Charter, while achieving the objectives of the host subjects in the school curricula. Lessons may be infused within subjects, or organised into modules. Teachers will be trained to use the EnACT programme in the teacher's training colleges and teacher's workshops.
Eco-camps The fundamental philosophy behind an eco-camp is hands-on personal experience of nature to gain a deeper relationship and understanding. This facilitates an ethical commitment to sustainable development, which is the core message of the Earth Charter. A series of day and overnight eco-camps will expose children and youth to the principles of the Earth Charter. The eco-camps will focus on experiential education through field trips to the natural ecosystems of T&T as well supporting classroom-based activities. They will be run for age groups 7-10, 11-13, and 14-17. A small grants project will allow interested organisations to conduct programmes to be included in the eco-camps. Youth Counsellors will be trained to assist with leading the eco-camps.
Creative Arts Programmes Programmes will be run that utilise the creative arts to teach the principles of the Earth Charter. A puppet show will be produced in collaboration with youth drama groups and run for primary schools across T&T. Art, creative writing and calypso competitions focusing on selected principles in the Earth Charter will be held for various age groups. The children and youth will be able to send their interpretation of the Earth Charter principles to wider society through exhibitions, shows and publications of the top creations (in posters, calendars, story-books, colouring books, tapes, greeting cards, etc.).
Youth Training Courses Training courses will be run for youth who are volunteering in the Education Outreach Programme in the principles of the Earth Charter and environmental conservation in T&T. These will be run in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and other tertiary institutions to expose students to further education and careers in environmental conservation and management. These courses will be designed to promote more youth becoming active in environmental education and conservation in T&T.
Network of Student and Youth Organisations A network of student and youth organisations (the majority of which will probably be at the secondary level) that adopt Earth Charter principles into their programmes and projects will be established. Efforts by these organisations can thus become more focused, and mentoring of youth will stimulate and facilitate more intense and effective participation in environmental education and conservation in T&T.
Network of Environmental Education Organisations in T&T Currently several governmental and non-governmental organisations are conducting formal and informal environmental education programmes. Efforts are haphazard and fragmented. The formation of a network of organisations and institutions involved in environmental education will promote a more coordinated and cohesive, and thus more effective and efficient, approach. This will also encourage the establishment of linkages between formal and non-formal, and governmental and non-governmental, education institutions (at both secondary and primary levels). Collaborative programmes and training programmes will be conducted for the purpose of furthering the understanding and incorporation of Earth Charter principles into educational as well as all other activities.
ph: 868-662-1067
thegreen
