Haven’t pouted, haven’t cried, been good

Never mind, UN PRESSIE is OK with it, because the pollution gets counted against the country where the coal is burnt. Our carbon tax does not apply to coal exports of course. Our coal is going to increase emissions by far more that what our carbon tax will save. But no one has twigged. So far so, so good. It looks like we will not get the blame for this mess.

Later on perhaps, if the world starts to get a bit more worried about the climate disaster, we could have a word with our coal exporter cousins. We could all put a tax on our coal exports together. The miners would probably have a real fit about it, so our cousins might be a bit too scared to do anything. Those ad campaigns can really frighten the chickens. However, we could certainly make a lot more money out of selling our coal. As we have seen, those coal importers still keep buying even more of the stuff by the shipload, even when the price doubles.

Sure, eventually, a high enough carbon tax on coal exports will make importers start to switch to alternative energy. We could get the credit for that, and make squillions at the same time. Later, it could make UN PRESSIE think we are a bit greedy perhaps.

If that happens we could say we might put some money into UN PRESSSIE's Green Climate Fund. We certainly don't want to do it yet. We need to save up some greenie points for next year. Anyway, what about our rich second cousins over at OPEC? Why should we put any of our lucky resource wealth into the Green Climate Fund it they don't?

There's just one thing about all this that I have an uncomfortable feeling about. My young daughter tells me that Santa is not actually real. Silly girl. If it is not true, then why do so many people believe it?

There seems to be a problem with some of this generation. They are losing all belief. If beliefs make people happy then why worry about whether they are true or not? She says it doesn't matter Dad, we can still pretend, but that's not the point. It is just not right to spoil a good belief with the truth.

Anyway there is nothing wrong with believing in Santa Claus. Actually technically, I don't believe in Santa Claus, I believe in Father Christmas. I am quite sure I am right. It is Father Christmas, not Santa Claus, because that is what my parents told me. If you can't believe your parents, whom can you believe?

Lets all just have a jolly good festive season and enjoy the good times while they last.