[Academy RP] Sawt Al-Naas, Voice of the People

[Mevraq]

CARBON ZERO PLAN GAINS NEW SUPPORT IN ASSEMBLY

Hannah Al-Murab

MINAFI ALEASIFA - December 4, 2021

Today, Delegate Talitha Bat-Simon of the United Food Service Workers gave her endorsement to Premier Saleh’s “Carbon Zero Plan”, which would see Mevraq reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

“Climate change is an existential threat to every human being,” Bat-Simon said. “Our wurld is being destroyed to fuel the pockets of capitalism, just as workers’ livelihoods were being destroyed in 1909. But did Moshe Steinberg and his fellow workers simply shake their heads and give up? No! They seized a battleship and started a revolution!”

The Carbon Zero Plan calls for, among other things, the closure of Mevraq’s remaining fossil-fuel power plants by 2025, the replacement of all oil-powered warships, and an eventual ban on civilian cars that use fossil fuels. It also diverts 500 billion qiteas to research into more environmentally friendly energy sources to allow for the replacement of all petroleum-burning engines, eventually eliminating Mevraq’s carbon emissions entirely, as well as investing in carbon emissions sinks.

Talitha Bat-Simon, who was elected to the General Assembly at the age of 17 (the youngest in Mevraqi history), has recently become a strong champion of environmentalism. She is widely seen as the voice of Mevraqi youth, and one of the most powerful figures in the UFSW, which has by far the largest share of members under the age of 18.

Bat-Simon’s speech was lauded by other environmentalists and several of her fellow delegates. Premier Saleh retweeted the video, calling it “a resounding call to action”. However, not everyone is such a fan. Delegate Uriah Marat of the United Miners and Oil Wokers, vocal opponents of the Carbon Zero Plan, told Sawt Al-Naas that Bat-Simon “has reached new levels of youthful arrogance, comparing herself to Moshe Steinberg, when what she advocates would ruin the livelihoods of thousands of Mevraqi workers.” UFSW President Ismar Pesach, who has clashed with Bat-Simon on other issues and may be facing a leadership challenge from her in the near future, had no comment.