[Grosseschnauzer]

Quote: 
Promotion of Solar Panels

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: All Businesses


Proposed by: Starcra II

Description: BEING a fact that the burning of Fossil Fuels in order to make electricity is fast destroying the environment.

AWARE that there are other means of making electricity other than Solar Panels and Fossil Fuels.

NOTING that Solar Panels provide each home with the most reliable source of electricity.

REALISING the expense that the promotion of Solar Panels incurs,

On the passing of this resolution, the UN and all it's members will -
1) Begin projects to promote Solar Panels in all homes and places of work.

2) Will set aside an amount of government funds going to the environment into the project of manufacturing and distributing Solar Panels.

3) Over the period of ten years and a month after this proposal passes Solar Panels should be installed in all homes and places of work and leisure.

4) After the period of ten years and seven months all burning of fossil fuels shall be halted and electricity shall be generated by Solar Panels, together with and environmentally friendly methods each respective nation should wish to introduce.

5) The UN shall hold meetings as often as necessary to discuss the funds needed in order to carry out the project.

ASSUMING and REALSING that not all nations may be able to make the transition in the time period given above -
1) The UN shall meet to discuss possible ways of aiding the nations in question.

2) A time extension shall be given, the amount will be decided individually for each nation depending on the amount of wealth of the nation.

MAKING note that -

1) Each nation has the right to decide the price of the Solar Panels distributed in their nation. As well as whether to provide subsidies for those with lower income.

2) That each nation that burns fossil fuels does damage to other nations as well as their own.

3) That burning fossil fuels is putting a limit on how free our children and other future generations will be in the world when it comes to enjoying luxuries that are disappearing as we speak such as, fresh air, clean oceans and community gardens.

4) The burning of fossil fuels is one of the factors that depletes the Ozone Layer, which in turn melts the polar ice caps.

FINALLY NOTING that the mass introduction of Solar Panels everywhere will give us the long term benefits we will never enjoy if we do not implement this resolution.


Voting Ends: Sat Sep 17 2005 [/quote]

We would antipate casting the region's vote on late Friday.

[Groot Gouda]

I see little reason to vote against, looks quite good. Or good enough anyway.

Edit: Okay, found one reason:
Quote: 4) The burning of fossil fuels is one of the factors that depletes the Ozone Layer, which in turn melts the polar ice caps. [/quote]

That's simply nonsense.

[Yuunli]

I vote against.

Quote:  NOTING that Solar Panels provide each home with the most reliable source of electricity.[/quote]
What makes solar panels more reliable than any other source of electricity? Of course we might run out of coal, and nuclear energy is dangerous (Chernobyl). But in many regions of the world, the sun doesn't shine very often. Wind energy might be better there.

Quote: 3) Over the period of ten years and a month after this proposal passes Solar Panels should be installed in all homes and places of work and leisure.[/quote]
Why does every single home in the world need a solar panel? Where I live (IRL), the sun shines 1400 hours a year. We have an average of 6.6 sunshine hours per day in July, and only 1 hour of sunshine per day in January. No wonder you rarely see any solar panels here.

That's not because I'm so far north (49?15'), but because it rains very often. It doesn't rain a lot either (820 mm per year, all year round), it's just a cloudy climate. ;-)

Providing every single house in the world with solar panels is a waste of resources.

Quote: 4) After the period of ten years and seven months all burning of fossil fuels shall be halted and electricity shall be generated by Solar Panels, together with and environmentally friendly methods each respective nation should wish to introduce.[/quote]
Solar panels exclusively? Maybe that gives enough energy to the Sahara, but not here. Besides, all cars would have to run with electricity or solar panels by then.

Quote: 5) The UN shall hold meetings as often as necessary to discuss the funds needed in order to carry out the project.[/quote]
Too much bureaucracy IMHO.

Quote: 1) Each nation has the right to decide the price of the Solar Panels distributed in their nation.[/quote]
So the national government make the prices for the solar panels, not the markets? I'm not a supporter of state monopolies.

Quote: FINALLY NOTING that the mass introduction of Solar Panels everywhere will give us the long term benefits we will never enjoy if we do not implement this resolution.[/quote]
:lol:

Sorry, but I think this "finally noting" sentence doesn't add anything.

[Groot Gouda]

YuunliSep 13 2005, 06:13 PM Quote: 3) Over the period of ten years and a month after this proposal passes Solar Panels should be installed in all homes and places of work and leisure.[/quote]
Why does every single home in the world need a solar panel? Where I live (IRL), the sun shines 1400 hours a year. We have an average of 6.6 sunshine hours per day in July, and only 1 hour of sunshine per day in January. No wonder you rarely see any solar panels here. [/quote]
With every home having a solar panel you get quite an area. And even with clouds, some electricity is generated. The resolution does seem to let you use as much other sources as you want though.

Quote: Quote: 4) After the period of ten years and seven months all burning of fossil fuels shall be halted and electricity shall be generated by Solar Panels, together with and environmentally friendly methods each respective nation should wish to introduce.[/quote]
Solar panels exclusively? [/quote]

No.

[Mikitivity]

I think this is a step in the right direction, and though my government is tempted to vote to abstain, we are sadly planning to vote against this resolution on the grounds that solar power is one of many energy forms / sources that should be built into an energy portfolio. Some nations can make use of wind power, others geothermal, and others solar.

Quote: FINALLY NOTING that the mass introduction of Solar Panels everywhere will give us the long term benefits we will never enjoy if we do not implement this resolution.[/quote]

This final statement should have read "FINALLY NOTING that increased solar energy production can be a useful form of renewable energy."


We also have objections to concrete timetables in UN recommendations / resolutions:

Quote: 3) Over the period of ten years and a month after this proposal passes Solar Panels should be installed in all homes and places of work and leisure.[/quote]

The problem here is that the Thuvian and Solace mountain ranges are known for their misty fog, which while adds to the mystery of Mikitivity (and also provides a unique tactical advantage to our people), this means that solar power is less efficient than low head hydroelectricity. The Risdan does have dams, but they are low head dams with fish ladders.

[Mikitivity]

Groot GoudaSep 13 2005, 09:21 AM
With every home having a solar panel you get quite an area. And even with clouds, some electricity is generated. The resolution does seem to let you use as much other sources as you want though.

[/quote]
That would of course be a reason for my government to possibly change its no vote to an abstention. And we'd be prepared to do so, if the author of the resolution were to address the intent of clauses 3 and 4.

If a member of the IDU were to go to the UN forum and ask the resolution author to explain this a bit more, I'm sure the Council of Mayors can be persuaded into changing their vote.


OOC: This would be a good chance for an IDU member to go to the UN and bring up a few of the points raised in our debate, as it would highlight the fact that we host our own debates on these issues.

[Antrium]

Antrium votes against.

We disagree with:
Quote: 3) Over the period of ten years and a month after this proposal passes Solar Panels should be installed in all homes and places of work and leisure.[/quote]

We also feel this is a waste. Even considering that clouds generate some electricity, would that amount be enough? It seems that in some areas, wind energy or other environmentally friendly energy sources could be more efficient. Why limit the resolution to solar power alone? I realize you can use other sources, but it is forcing every home to use solar power, when that isn't always the best choice for a particular area.

Quote: 
ASSUMING and REALSING that not all nations may be able to make the transition in the time period given above -
1) The UN shall meet to discuss possible ways of aiding the nations in question.

2) A time extension shall be given, the amount will be decided individually for each nation depending on the amount of wealth of the nation.[/quote]

Why bother giving a time if you can get an extension? It would be better just to give more time and then force everyone to make the transition, and assist countries who need help before that time limit is up.


Quote: QUOTE 
NOTING that Solar Panels provide each home with the most reliable source of electricity.


What makes solar panels more reliable than any other source of electricity? Of course we might run out of coal, and nuclear energy is dangerous (Chernobyl). But in many regions of the world, the sun doesn't shine very often. Wind energy might be better there.[/quote]

Exactly.

[Lawtonia]

Lawtonia votes in favour of this resolution. Any step taken to lessen the need for burning fossil fuels is a good one, regardless of how badly written the resolution is. While the outlay to convert to solar energy may put a strain on some budgets, in the long term it is more efficient and cost effective. While I agree that other alternative methods of energy production also lessen pollution - lets not forget....The sun is always shining and its free (even if there are clouds where you live).

[Grosseschnauzer]

LawtoniaSep 14 2005, 05:18 AM regardless of how badly written the resolution is. [/quote]
If I weren't the acting delegate right now, I would vote against the resolution for this reason alone.

There have been quite a few successful repeals offered on the basis that the original resolution was "badly written." I think it is also fair to point out that the IDU's offer to assist in proposal writing was in part based on the region-wide desire to improve the quality and reasoning of proposal brought to the UN floor for a vote.

If given a choice between seeing a badly written but well intentioned resolution pass only to seek repeal later or defeating that proposal now, and work with the sponsor to craft a well written proposal that can be adopted in good conscious, I much prefer the latter course of action.

[Baranxtu]

Baranxtu votes against this resolution, mostly due to wording.

It focuses almost solely on solar energy, barely mentioning other "environmentally friendly methods", and failing to elaborate what this other methods would be (for example, one could argue that nuclear energy is actually also friendly to the environment as long as the waste is dealt with properly).

Additionally, whereas it may cover some or even the majority of energy needs, as it has been pointed out, in some countries or areas this simply cannot be achieved.


And, as Groot Gouda has already said,
Quote: 4) The burning of fossil fuels is one of the factors that depletes the Ozone Layer, which in turn melts the polar ice caps. [/quote]
is simply nonsense. And we can't let that nonsense pass.

[Keeslandia]

Well written or not, the Empire is very green and has voted to support the resolution.

[Lawtonia]

Lawtonia agrees with Keeslandia. We need to get something down now - it can be fixed up later. The reason the real UN doesn't work is because of all of this paper pushing. Lawtonia knows that burning fossil fuels does not deplete the ozone layer but is does contribute to the melting of polar caps. It is better to be safe than sorry. Just as it was with the chemical weapons ban - it didn't cover every detail of "chemical weapons" but it was a start - it made the world safer. Arguing about it is a moot point anyhow. Lawtonia has cast its vote in the UN for this resolution. While I agree with a good debate Lawtonia will ultimately vote for what it believes is in the best interest for its citizens.

...besides Lawtonia doesn't burn fossil fuels for electricity and petroleum based internal combustion engines in cars are banned.

[Grosseschnauzer]

The delegate's regional votes will be cast this evening (EDT) so that the vote is of record before the floor vite ends sometime tomorrow in GMT.

[Grosseschnauzer]

Quote: For    [ 3 ]    [33.33%]
Against  [ 5 ]  [55.56%]
Abstain  [ 1 ]  [11.11%][/quote]

Based on these results, I have cast the region's votes against the proposal.

IIRC, the next one on the floor is one of our region's proposals.

[Antrium]

Antrium is happy to say that a repeal of this resolution has reached quorum.