Saturday, March 10, 2007

How many Light bulbs?


If anyone out there reads this blog they will know that my opinion of the Middle England press is not of any high regard.


This morning's news gives an excellent example of how the news values differ.


The story is quite prominmt in a number of the papers.The Eu,after the end of a two day summit has agreed to slash its carbon emmissions by around 20% by the year 2020.


Great news for those who are concerned about the planet.


The Independent headlines


Blair hails 'bold' EU deal to slash carbon emissions and boost renewable power.


The Guardian


Europe sets benchmark for tackling climate change


Then hidden within the announcement and to be fair shown as a feeder story in the Indy is


Europe sees the light over energy-saving bulbs


THE end is in sight for the traditional lightbulb after EU leaders yesterday called for a mass switch-off and a push to equip homes and offices with energy efficient alternatives within two years.
The initiative, part of an ambitious plan to cut carbon emissions, follows the move by Australia to switch to energy-saving lightbulbs and a similar initiative in California.
Jumping firmly on the low-energy lighting bandwagon, EU leaders asked the European Commission plans to rush through proposals to phase out incandescent bulbs - which contain a filament - in private homes across the EU by 2009.


However this story becomes the main outcome,the Telegraph reports


Brussels pulls plug on old light bulbs


Only in the third paragraph does it tell us


The decision came as Tony Blair and other European Union leaders agreed measures to slash carbon emissions and to ensure that by 2020 a fifth of Europe's energy is from renewable sources.


The Mail though beats all with its front page headline


EU switches off our old lightbulbs


It is paragraph 5 before it deems to tell that this actually might be a good thing instead of another assault by eurocrats


"This will cut greenhouse gases because CO2 is produced in generating the electricity which powers the bulb"


And you have to get well down into the story before we are finally told


"Under other elements of the green package agreed yesterday, Europe has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, and by the same date ensure at least 20 percent of energy consumption comes from renewable sources, such as wind and solar power. "



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