MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR SOUTH DORSET - LABOUR FAILS TO GREEN THE ECONOMY

Earlier this week the exec director of Greenpeace noted that the current credit crisis is "an historic opportunity to invest billions in a low-carbon, high-technology future". Dorset is crying out for such investment.

He goes on to add "but the Chancellor blew it !". Both Darling & his opposing number on the Tory front bench have been quick to use the recession to wriggle out of supposed commitments to investment to promote sustainability in such a way as to genuinely beg the question - did they really believe in those measures in the first place ?

Kick starting the Green economy will always seem expensive in the short term - & back-sliding will continue to take place until there is widespread governmental acceptance of a value system which belongs alongside ( and many would say should replace) that of capital: a sustainability value system.

A green restructuring of the economy as proposed by the Lib Dem GREEN TAX SWITCH and our many other green policies, links taxation to despoiling of the environment rather than financial profit & seeks to move us away from the global mentality ,that, expecting something for nothing , chases the fast buck and which creating spiralling debt bubbles for both investors, manufacturers and consumers, is what got us into this mess in the first place.

It also outlines plans to develop the economy, through encouraging development of public transport & the support of small & local enterprise to regenerate rural communities. In South Dorset, with its combination of spectacular environment and low earnings, developing the Green economy is a must.

Easy credit got us into this mess - how can it be trusted to get us out ? In spending to get out of the bust what the government should be investing in is creating new jobs in renewable energy & energy efficiency, & improving the public transport infrastructure (especially the railways).

Instead of nationalising the banks, which seem only too keen to keep their ill-gotten gains to bolster their dwindling resources instead of benefiting the tax-payer, perhaps Darling & Brown would have been better to think of renationalising rail & bus companies. Building extra roads is going to solve neither the economic nor the environmental crisis Gordon !

John Sauven is right - this is a tremendous opportunity. It's one that Obama has recognised. If he can see it - why can't our government ?