Just received this little piece of news:
The government of Belgium's French-speaking region of Wallonia, which has a population of about 4 million, has approved a tax on barbequing, local media reported. Experts said that between 50 and 100 grams of CO2, a so-called greenhouse gas, is emitted during barbequing.
Beginning June 2007, residents of Wallonia will have to pay 20 euros for a grilling session. The local authorities plan to monitor compliance with the new tax legislation from helicopters, whose thermal sensors will detect burning grills.
20 euros is over U.S. $26. They seriously expect people to pay this tax every time they have a barbeque?
And just how much of the supposedly evil pollution is going to be created by the helicopters flying around spying on everyone?
Of course, it's not about protecting the environment. It's about criminalizing people for no reason and extorting as much money as possible -- Either as tax or in the form of fines.
