Heating that harnesses the Earth's energy and may help to slash greenhouse gas emissions

Below are excerpts from an excellent article in the Telegraph by David Waller

"Last summer, Richard Soper became one of the first homeowners in the country [UK] to install a type of eco-friendly heating system that experts believe has the potential to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Soper: Our annual heating bills are now virtually nothing, whereas we were paying over £1,500 annually for running our oil boiler.
It works by deploying the technology used in a refrigerator to absorb warmth from the ground to provide heating and hot water.
Although ground source heat pumps are commonplace across much of northern Europe, Mr Soper is one of fewer than 5,000 homeowners to have installed the technology in the UK......

....Although the technology, which was supplied by Worcester Bosch, can't be described as cheap - Mr Soper's system cost £11,500 - the savings are substantial.
"Our annual heating bills are now virtually nothing, whereas we were paying over £1,500 annually for running our oil boiler. As the heat pump runs on electricity, we have seen an increase in our electricity bill, but overall the saving is massive........................"

EU Restrictions on Brazilian beef-unanswered questions

The EU's Food and Veterinary Office in its missions to Brazil has encountered chronic abuse of production standards as has an IFA delegation. The US, Australia, Japan and South Korea have banned all imports of beef from Brazil yet the EU has only introduced a partial ban. Why is the EU insisting on higher standards of traceability from its farmers than from Brazilian farmers?

The EU Commission appears to have an agenda to restrict production by indigenous farmers and to sell out on agriculture. The Commission is determined to increase access to the Brazilian market for manufacturing industry. As a quid pro quo it will allow access to Community markets for Brazilian beef.

The EU has lambasted the US on its emissions of Greenhouse Gases. Yet the EU Commission is prepared to accept imports of Brazilian Beef from ranches in Amazonia. These ranches have been created through the burning of the rain forests. This practice continues and is increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Why has the EU Commission chosen to ignore damage to the environment caused by ranchers in the Amazon Basin?

Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan had refused to support a full ban on beef imports from Brazil. Then 24 hours before the EU announcement of a partial ban she called for a full ban. Why the about-turn?

Michael Creed the FG Spokesman on Agriculture has stated that "Brazil should face a total ban until it is meeting the production standards that Irish and European producers are obliged to meet and EU consumers are entitled to expect." In this he has been totally consistent unlike the Minister.