Bob Walsh, a high profile local business man and a firm activist of nuclear power is writing an opinion piece, solar sell out, explaining his frustration towards the council as they are demanding residents to pay a so-called ‘greenhouse levy’ of $200 per house, and $500 per business. The writer argues that the residents of Greenville (including himself), should not have to pay a charge for not having solar hot-water systems by 2010.Bob Walsh, is outraged and affected by this change as he is a resident of Greenville and isn’t too keen on residents of Greenville paying a fee for not having these solar systems installed in their premises. This charge is breaching and abusing the communities’ rights and freedom to make their own choices. The writer includes an example solution where the money could be spent in a beneficial way where residents are left pleased rather than the council’s bizarre ideas affecting innocent communities.
This is by spending the money on schools, local libraries and other facilities in need of this. The writer uses inclusive language to persuade the reader of his independence being breached by the unethical mayor and his acquaintances. ‘The radical environmentalists don’t care about anyone but themselves. ’ The writer attacks the environmentalist on their selfishness and careless behaviour towards the residents of Greenville.
Sure they are concerned about the environment, but they should also focus on the rights of the Greenville residents, Furthermore, Greenville is only responsible for a tiny fraction of household commissions, so how can one suburb’s actions affect the world’s overall carbon output? This evidence is backed up by an expert on this topic, Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO), as they clarify that hot water systems are only responsible for about 30% of household commissions, proving that one small suburb would have little to no impact on the environment in the future.From expert studies it is shown that nuclear power is the only way of meeting our energy needs while also reducing greenhouse gases. In addition to this piece, the cartoon also shows the impact by the mayors actions, in the direction of the residents of Greenville. The cartoon illustrates an image of a man, with an overpowering size, taking money of innocent residents of a small town/suburb, and then stuffing the money into his pocket. We are then shown the giant man to be cutting the town’s power lines, which are their source of power.The giant mans, overpowering size represents the mayor of Greenville as he is wearing a necklace with an ‘M’ on it.
The overfull pocket of money explains that the government aren’t using the ‘greenhouse levy’ money for the greenhouse emissions solution, but instead pocketing the money for themselves. The opinion piece ‘Solar sellout’ by Bob Walsh expresses the governments unfair proposal of a ‘greenhouse levy’ towards the residents of Greenville, including Bob.Bob has expressed in an attacking tone that the rights of the Greenville community have been breached and the mayors solution to greenhouse gases should be varied. Bob uses many different persuasive techniques throughout his piece to influence the reader on the behaviour of the government including; inclusive language, as he is involved in the crisis, attack on the government, expert advice and statistics to give a greater response to the issue, and more. Bob’s opinion piece evokes the reader to view the issue from his perspective, persuading the reader emotionally.
