right. that's it.
first of all, this happened back in october:
Sweden "to break oil dependency by 2020"
The Local Sweden 2nd October 2005 11:21 CET
Sweden will be the first country in the world to break its dependency on oil, according to Minister for Sustainable Development Mona Sahlin. By the year 2020, a series of "carrots and sticks" will have created a Sweden which is able to switch to other energy sources.
Swedish Government Plans Oil Independence by 2020
Stephen Hinton, Post Carbon Sweden, 1 October 2005
The Swedish Government plans to break oil dependency by 2020. The Minister for Sustainable Development, Mona Sahlin, announced today Sweden aims to be first to fossil fuel independance, bringing Swedish exports of environmental and energy efficiency technology to the forefront of the competition.
postcarbon news clicky
other things about sweden:
the swedes calculate refuse charges on how much waste is actually produced. as you may expect, they have a v. high recycling rate. and presumably don't do this. (there was a similar thing a while ago about leeds sending waste overseas... in fact it's here)...
apparently it's very cheap to live there.
i like the sound of it. if my student loan ever appears, and you don't see me for a while, then i'd recommend looking there...
Sweden "to break oil dependency by 2020"
The Local Sweden 2nd October 2005 11:21 CET
Sweden will be the first country in the world to break its dependency on oil, according to Minister for Sustainable Development Mona Sahlin. By the year 2020, a series of "carrots and sticks" will have created a Sweden which is able to switch to other energy sources.
Swedish Government Plans Oil Independence by 2020
Stephen Hinton, Post Carbon Sweden, 1 October 2005
The Swedish Government plans to break oil dependency by 2020. The Minister for Sustainable Development, Mona Sahlin, announced today Sweden aims to be first to fossil fuel independance, bringing Swedish exports of environmental and energy efficiency technology to the forefront of the competition.
postcarbon news clicky
other things about sweden:
the swedes calculate refuse charges on how much waste is actually produced. as you may expect, they have a v. high recycling rate. and presumably don't do this. (there was a similar thing a while ago about leeds sending waste overseas... in fact it's here)...
apparently it's very cheap to live there.
i like the sound of it. if my student loan ever appears, and you don't see me for a while, then i'd recommend looking there...
posted by zoe at 12:57 am
4 Comments:
gothenburg is lovely - the buildings are really reminisvent of bits of amsterdam.
and its very clean
There are disadvantages.
Firstly, of course, it's dark and fucking freezing. Which gives Scandinavians the highest per capita energy consumption on earth.
Their ecological footprint is 10th in the world, worse than Brits or energy-guzzling Norwegians and Icelanders.
International trade accounts for two thirds of the GDP, a serious chunk of that being cars and trucks.
I wonder if the transportation of goods to and from the country is factored in to their non-dependency plans? And if they're interested in other countries becoming non-oil-dependent, meaning not buying any more Vovlo cars or Scania trucks?
As with all Scandinavian countries, Swedes remain in touch with their Viking heritage and so can't be properly trusted with alcohol. Accordingly, they have very restrictive licensing laws.
Sweden has the highest alcohol taxes in Europe (pay about a fiver a pint). Off licenses are open 10am-6pm weekdays and resemble post office sorting centres. They have one of each item behind a glass case, you queue up to ask for what you want and the assistant goes and gets it from a stockroom. Nice wines have to be ordered in advance.
EU membership has forced the relaxation of laws; beer over 5.6% was legalised in 1995 (which beats Iceland, who had beer banned until the late 1980s) and offies now open 10am-1pm Saturdays.
They've also got very heavy punitive measures for people who enjoy other intoxicants.
Still, a proper socialist inclusionary welfare system shows what can be done and gives us no excuse. Disabled Swedes get free taxis! How cool is that?
swedish law also requires motorists to drive with their heawdlights on during the daytime, even on the sunniest summer afternoon.
bill bryson's swede jokes:
what's the quickest way in Sweden to get the riot police to your house?
Don't take your library book back on time.
they apparently have "television that's like 2 weeks in nebraska"
he also says "eating in sweden is like a series of heartbreaks" after he spent a small fortune on a sandwich and all the meatballs fell off.
i shall continue the sweden research and update if i change my mind.
ooh those crazy swedes and their social responsibility...
clicky>
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