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<pre>Hi everyone, I felt the need to comment.....

One of the major marketing tools we have to promote our olive oil
products is the "Health Benefit".

How could we be willing to under mine that, by allowing developed
nations, including Australia, to continue to increase fossil fuel
emissions by means of a credit against carbon sinks (forests) that are
in most cases already in existence. A credit on a piece of paper makes
no difference to air quality!!!

It doesn't add up! Are we still in the health business?

Whilst tree planting can bring a number of environmental benefits, it is
not the solution to climate change. A ton of carbon stored in a forest
is not equivalent to a ton of carbon stored in fossil fuel deposits.
Whilst fossil carbon is very secure, locked safely underground,
biological carbon stored in trees is much more fragile. Human and
natural activities, such as bushfire, droughts, pests, diseases, logging
etc can soon result in sinks re-emitting sequestered carbon.

The focus on carbon sinks is the easy way out, it undermines the
development and introduction of alternative and renewable energy. Power
companies etc will always take the cheap easy road, they are the ones
with the resources to push forward with research and development but
won't if we give them an out.....

Obviously a plan that encourages tree planting can only be good, so lets
continue to plant forests, groves, etc for financial return (crops) and
air quality, but not let that be undermined for short term financial
gain.

By this stage I've probably been labeled a "greenie". People who know
me would know this to be the case only sometimes. I certainly use my
fair share of fossil fuels, whilst I couldn't watch while some
magnificent old gum trees were being bulldozed to make way for my olive
grove of 3000 trees (under construction).

My family grove is my way of helping to put something back, whilst still
being a business at the same time.

As a world wide group, wouldn't we get more of a benefit by standing up
and saying "The Olive Industry is opposed to selling carbon credits
against our groves as the noble Olive should not be associated with
unhealthy practices".
(I wish I could have summarised this statement more succinctly, maybe
someone else could try)

Looking forward to comments.

Howard Long
Quorrobolong Grove
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