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# And the off-set goes to….
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/18607/
- Published: 2007-02-26T13:02:28.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:35:54.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**by Tan Copsey**

After last nights unsurprising, but very welcome news, that Al Gore has [finally won something](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/26/ap/entertainment/mainD8NH9MM80.shtml?ref=opendemocracy.net). I was pleased to read on Grist that in the face of allegations of mild tax-fraud the academy has greenwashed its way to [climate neutrality](http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/2/25/2739/10050?ref=opendemocracy.net). This follows on closely behind other pretty people who are getting themselves [Global Warming Ready](2007/02/20/So-hot-right-now-1.html).   
  
My first instinct is to celebrate this as yet another sign of that times they are a-changing, for what better way to lead pan-societal cultural change than to get popular sticks and lizard creatures driven out of their normal habitat to endorse action. However there remain massive questions about whether offsets are a [useful solution](http://www.carbontradewatch.org/pubs/carbon%5Fneutral%5Fmyth.pdf?ref=opendemocracy.net). And like Dubya’s new fondness for [bio-ethanol](http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/117248131291080.xml&coll=2&ref=opendemocracy.net), this may be taking us in completely the wrong direction. Still at least James Longley [has yet to demand a recount](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492466/?ref=opendemocracy.net).

  
In other Enviro-news – Dick Cheney’s climate change talking points are [a little stale](http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2898539&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312&ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
My least favourite New Zealand columnist is similarly keen to [recycle old arguments](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c%5Fid=1&objectid=10425633&ref=opendemocracy.net) – though this in the face of the new news that New Zealand is going [climate neutral](http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/02/14/2003348958?ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
Finally the aforementioned problems associated with bio-fuels are encapsulated in this somewhat frightening piece on [greenstate](http://www.greenstateblog.com/wordpress/index.php?ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
*‘My fellow citizens, I am using this opportunity to formally declare my intention to…..’*