farmdoc's blog post number 461

I’ve never owned a German car. For Holocaust reasons. Which seem anachronistic today because Germany’s one of Israel’s best friends. And, seen from distant Tasmania, it’s a progressive and decent nation. And of all the nations on this planet, it’s arguably one of the most – if not the most – environmentally responsible. Because it’s legislated for a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 (making Australia’s 5-15% reduction by 2020 look pitiful), and an 80% reduction by 2050. In this German article, the second headline – ‘Efficiency from the bottom up’ – summarises the government’s call ‘on ordinary citizens to contribute to the fight against global warming’. And obviously they’re heeding the call: Maison d'Envie, a Berlin brothel, is offering patrons a 5 Euro Umweltrabatt (‘eco-discount’) if they can prove they arrived by bike or public transportation. Its owner, Thomas Goetz, claims the eco-discount’s attracting more customers to his brothel while reducing parking and congestion in the neighbourhood. He said ‘It's good for business, it's good for the environment – and it's good for the girls’. ‘Efficiency from the bottom up’ indeed. As a cyclist, I know why the eco-discount’s available on 15-minute and 45-minute bookings but not on 60-minute bookings [1]. And as an environmentalist, I’m considering a bike holiday in Berlin. (Just joking, WriterBee.)