Page 20 - The Economist

Letters
20 The Economist December 9th 2017

indifference, by Brexit fills me biodegradation, which can be contentious technologies, and
Democracyin Zimbabwe
with horrorand some despair spread on fields to help retain also raises the economic value
Thankyou forfindinga “sliver (“The siren songofno deal”, waterand nutrients and offorest products to encourage
ofhope” in the prospects for December2nd). It is absolutely support a healthiersoil furtherafforestation.
Zimbabwe (“Fall ofthe clearthat, as the Irish prime ecosystem. Because it stores ROBERT FOSTER
dictator”, November18th). As ministerhas pointed-out, the carbon as a solid, ratherthan a Senior lecturer
Zimbabwean citizens and Brexit clique neveronce con- gas, it overcomes many ofthe School of Civil Engineering
democracy campaigners, we sidered the impact on Ireland difficulties associated with University of Queensland
are also permittingourselves a in theirdecade ofplotting. But injectingcarbon dioxide Brisbane, Australia
moment ofoptimism. Where then they don’t seem to have underground. It also requires a
we differfrom The Economist is considered any ofthe other much lowercapital cost. A Trees on farms can substantial-
in the imperative to hold an consequences, so we should numberofcompanies already ly increase crop yields while
election based on the current not be too surprised. produce biochar, marketingits also providingotherbenefits,
timetable orat the earliest We are therefore left with ability to raise crop yields. such as improved adaptation
opportunity. There is more to an act ofGrand Strategic folly, Biocharthat was buried in the to climate change. This can be
havinga free and fairelection that will take a Barbara Amazon basin (terra preta) clearly seen on small farms in
than holdinga ballot. Tuchmantountangleindue many centuries ago is still Africa, which produce the bulk
Before an election in course, but in theirinsouciant sequesteringcarbon and offood on that continent. It
Zimbabwe can pass as free and arrogance to the effect on boostingcrop yields. would be betterto put food
fair, substantial reforms are Ireland, the Brexiteers have PHIL WAGNER and nutrition security first in
required to align electoral law shown theirtruest colours. Golden, Colorado Africa and to thinkofclimate
properly with the constitution; SIMON DIGGINS, COLONEL (RET’D) effects as secondary benefits.
scrub the voters’ roll ofpoliti- Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire You put forward two options There is enough evidence from
cal bias; make the Electoral forlimitingemissions: tax and successful local community
Commission truly indepen- IfNorthern Ireland were to subsidies. There is a third way: action regreeningthe Sahelian
dent; develop a conducive remain in the EU afterBrexit rationing. Governments are zone to show that rushingto
politics free from violence, with a customs borderin the able in principle to limit the plant trees in the Sahara,
intimidation, patronage, Irish Sea, would this allow wholesale supply offossil- which an oil company in
propaganda and hate speech, Britain to keep its financial- carbon fuels at the macro level. Finland seems to be willing to
backed by a strengthened services passport by locating They should do so, settinga do to offset its carbon emis-
Human Rights Commission; such services to Belfast? ceilingwith a progressive sions, is not a good idea.
andtoinvolveawiderrangeof NEIL LUTTON annual taper. They could then OLAVI LUUKKANEN
election observers. Belfast leave the market through Professor emeritus of tropical
The path to the next elec- innovative pricing, including silviculture
tion in Zimbabwe should be Negative emissions capacity constraints, rising University of Helsinki
defined by the time required to blocktariffs and otherscarcity-
implement and embed the Underno circumstance should pricingmechanisms, to allo- Anot-so-pettycriminal
reforms necessary to make it a government offerrewards for cate supplies at the retail level.
credible. It does not help our the extraction and storage of a VILNIS VESMA He was a successful thieffor 40
democratic renewal to have a by-product, especially carbon Newent, Gloucestershire years, but Willie Sutton isn’t
quickbut failed ballot. dioxide (“Suckingup carbon”, even recognised forhis memo-
TAWANDA CHIMHINI November18th). The incentive rable response when asked
Executive director forfirms to produce more of why he robbed banks: “be-
Election Resource Centre the stuffwould outweigh the cause that’s where the money
RINDAI CHIPFUNDE good intentions. In public is.” He had a farlongerand
Executive director policy we call this the cobra more prosperous careerthan
Zimbabwe Election Support effect. As an analogy to paying- John Dillinger, to whom the
Network per-tonne ofcaptured carbon, quote was wrongly attributed
Harare considera pay-per-rat pro- in “Disjointed” (November
gramme. Let’s say the mayorof 18th). But robbingbanks is no
New Yorkwanted to put a dent longerfavoured by the most
Borderdisputes
in the city’s rat problem (and enterprisingrobber. Times
As a soldier, I served, like believe me, there is one) by change, technology marches
many thousands before and offeringa sum foreach rat Trees can play a bigrole in on, and the old ways ofplun-
afterme, in Northern Ireland. killed. Any enterprisingNew gettingus towards negative deringgo out offashion. There
We had no illusions that there Yorkerwould start a rat farm. emissions. Sustainable are just too many ways for
was a military solution; our The rat problem would get forestry has a double benefit cleverthieves to steal today.
role was to hold the line to significantly worse. because wood is both carbon- TODD LANDAU
create the space (and time) for IZIAH THOMPSON negative and a replacement for Fairhope, Alabama 7
a political solution. The Good Policy analyst carbon-positive building
Friday Agreement was there- Daily Clout materials such as concrete and
fore welcomed with reliefand New York steel. Meetingmuch ofthe Letters are welcome and should be
some sense perhaps, that a demand fornew buildings in addressed to the Editor at
lasting, peaceful solution for I was surprised to see no men- countries with booming The Economist, The Adelphi Building,
1-11John Adam Street,
Ireland might justify all the tion ofbiocharin yourarticle. populations, wood significant- London WC2N 6HT
suffering. This is a finely powdered ly reduces the amount of E-mail: letters@economist.com
To have all ofthat thrown charcoal, made from biomass carbon we need to scrub from More letters are available at:
away, with almost callous and in effect immune to the atmosphere usingmore Economist.com/letters