A $ucker Born Every Minute

[fizzissist]

Driving along I see a RAV4 driving like a maniac, and when it gets in front of me (and I was already movin' right along) I see some TerraPass stickers on the hind end telling the world that their CO2 emmissions are being offset by TerraPass. What's TerraPass? I wondered too.

I punched in www.terrapass.com and found out that I too can counter my CO2 emmissions by sending them some money. How much and what do you get?

Punch in your car and your estimated annual mileage, and they'll suggest a "product" which is an Around Towner, a Cross Towner, an Around Towner, or a Road Tripper. They recommended for me an Around Towner for $49.95/yr based on my car and mileage. (shipping and tax included!!) They said I puked out 9,872lbs of CO2 a year, and they'd invest my money to balance out my filth.

What a deal.

You give them money, and they invest it in some kind of green manner, making everything all peachy. Being somewhat a skeptic, I went lookin', and guess what I found.

Their partners are shown on this page, http://www.terrapass.com/about/partners.html and when you look carefully, you'll realize that all you're doing is giving THEM money to invest, and THEY OWN THE INVESTMENT. You get a sticker.

They get stock in Capricorn Management. You don't, they do. You get a sticker. See this on Cap's website:

The following is a snapshot of our primary asset classes:

Cash and Equivalents
Capricorn’s strategy is to seek stable income with little or no risk to principal. We invest domestically and internationally in a variety of securities and currencies.
http://www.capricornllc.com/investme...ties/index.php

"A variety of securities and currencies"??? I can't think of anything greener, can you??

Take that $49.95 you were thinking about giving to TerraPass, or any other green scams, and invest it yourself. You'll own the stock, and if you really need a sticker, fer chrissakes, just print one out.

[Geof]

....Their partners are shown on this page, http://www.terrapass.com/about/partners.html and when you look carefully, you'll realize that all you're doing is giving THEM money to invest, and THEY OWN THE INVESTMENT. You get a sticker.....

But you're not supposed to look carefully!!!!!!

[fizzissist]

Sorry, just can't help myself.

Looks like they've got a lot of competition, which is a good thing in an open market, especially when you're talking CO2!!

TerraPass is charging about $12/ton, but over at Carbonfund.org you can pollute a ton of CO2 for only $5.50.
http://www.carbonfund.org/site/

One big difference is that at TerraPass at least you get a bumper sticker!! At Carbonfund.org it is a donation, so it's tax deductible. I guess you could stick a copy of your tax return in your car's window to impress everybody.

Better yet...get one of these!!
http://www.coyoteblog.com/photos/unc...ersticker2.jpg

[Mazaholic]

Lets see.
Amazing Tornado......check.
Electric super charger....check.
Terra pass sticker.......check.

Road Trip!!

[dertsap]

i'm in the wrong business

how does the CO2 Greenback Coalition sound for my new contribution to the structure
pm me if you would like to help me make a difference, no donation is too big or too small , as long as you feel good about making a "difference" , but trust me the more you pay the better you will feel

[fizzissist]

We're ALL in the wrong business!!

"...Businesses are advised to check the offsetting companies' credentials. One hedge fund manager, who asked not to be named, said he had been offered credits he did not trust because the intermediaries could show only a spreadsheet to prove their existence. "There are plenty of carbon cowboys out there, looking to make a quick buck," he said......

.......The risk of companies selling the same credits several times over. Under the Kyoto mechanism, carbon credits are tracked through the UN's International Transaction Log, which records every purchase or sale. When companies are buying credits for offset, the credits should be "retired" and not used again. But on the voluntary market, there is no central register, so unscrupulous companies could "double count" or sell the same credits more than once...."

http://www.heatisonline.org/contents...85&Method=Full

[HuFlungDung]

Carbon credits are a hoax, but they could be used like cash, if a proper system were devised for the average person to use them.

Currently, if you carpool, you deserve a carbon credit equal to the fuel saved by the extra person. However, is there any place that is going to recognise this kind of carbon reduction?

I have to say at this point, that I think some sort of fuel rationing is in order, not necessarily due to shortage, but to get some kind of a handle on usage, and to provide an incentive for some to cut their usage, in order to profiteer by selling their ration to someone else. This puts carbon credits in the hands of the public, rather than some far off big corporation/big government scammers (aka, the filthy rich) lining their pockets, which we all know full well is exactly what is going to be the outcome of carbon credits.

Shoot me down if you like, I never really put a lot of thought into the aforementioned statements. But, that's kind of the hazy notion I've been carrying about of late.

[sdopp]

I can whip up some real nice looking green peace stickers (Cheap @ .10 Per ton.

[Wade]

Oh, now I see.

Send me $49.95, and save your polluting soul, before world peace breaks out and the third temple to mother nature is rebuilt, with universal carbon credits under the watchful eye of the all knowing U.N. world government, and a dread locked treehugger beats his drum three times at the pearly carbon sequestering gates. Stand tall and be recognized by Saint Muir, and cast off you evil gas combustion engine. For all those who walk shall be cast unto heaven on the back of a hybrid prius.

Forgiveness at such a reasonable rate.

[fizzissist]

You can see that any company dealing "carbon credits" within the US is doing so as a pirate. There is no legal regulation, no accountability, and all based on a kiss and a promise. It's even better than 3-card Monty, or a well crafted pyramid scheme.

At least with Amway, you know what you're getting.

The prerequisites a carbon credit business are:

1) Your country must have signed the Kyoto Protocol (the United States has still not signed it as of March 2007). These credits are made possible by the Kyoto's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). That's why sometimes this new line of trading is also referred to simply as "CDM" business.

2) You have to register your "carbon saving" project with the United Nations before you can sell your credits to other international purchasers.

"Selling the "right to pollute" can buy time for companies in developed countries that have not yet reduced their carbon emissions. The price of carbon credits will rise as companies and individuals buy carbon credits and raise the market value. The raising price will give an incentives for western companies to buy less credits and become more efficient. The money generated from this system will help developing countries improve their efficiency where they meet the standards to be eligible to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

Carbon credits are becoming a lucrative growth market, and giving incentives to businesses and politicians to join the carbon market. Western companies from countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol who have not reduced their carbon emissions will continue to buy these credits from countries that have an excess."

[Shotout]

Carbon credits are a hoax, but they could be used like cash, if a proper system were devised for the average person to use them.

Currently, if you carpool, you deserve a carbon credit equal to the fuel saved by the extra person. However, is there any place that is going to recognise this kind of carbon reduction?

I have to say at this point, that I think some sort of fuel rationing is in order, not necessarily due to shortage, but to get some kind of a handle on usage, and to provide an incentive for some to cut their usage, in order to profiteer by selling their ration to someone else. This puts carbon credits in the hands of the public, rather than some far off big corporation/big government scammers (aka, the filthy rich) lining their pockets, which we all know full well is exactly what is going to be the outcome of carbon credits.

Shoot me down if you like, I never really put a lot of thought into the aforementioned statements. But, that's kind of the hazy notion I've been carrying about of late.

I thought we had fuel rationing already, unwarranted prices at the pump. I don't see a realistic way of moving carbon credits into the public. Verification, qauntification and pushing the everyday paperwork would require a new governtmental agency, or branch to an existing agency that would require tax money to fund and the additional CO2 expenditures to build the infrastructure, power the lights and office machines not to mention the extra paper generation (more CO2 from logging/recycling hauling transporting of the final product and then issuance of documents).

Doing away with carbon credits and holding all industries accountable to a reasonable standard would be more realistic, and we already have agencies for that in N America. Trade sanctions and refusal to trade with countries like China that refuse to adopt reasonable standards would go far, doing away with supposed carbon offsets that allow them to pollute without concern.

I personally believe GW is a bit of a paper tiger, but knowing that tens of thousands of children are suffering the effects of pollution from factories in China so that Wal Mart can sell substandard merchandise sickens me. That is pollution control that the everyday comman man can get behind.

My .02
Scott

[debogus]

9,872lbs of Co2 ?
How much gas do you burn ?

The numbers they spew always seem as some sort of "law of thermal dynamic" violation .

Hey ,don't E'gore own 30% of one of the carbon credit scams ?

Dave