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Issues in the News

1. ENVIRONMENT

The British government proposes a “global warming tax” of up to £50 ($94) a ticket to discourage people from flying.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on the people who are promoting new airline taxes:

“If the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research has its way, the travel revolution that created the new class of ‘EasyJetters’ across Europe will screech to a halt. The Centre has said that such travel must be curtailed if the UK is to have any hope of meeting its Kyoto treaty obligations. On top of this, the European Commission is considering environmental regulations that could add £55 to the cost of an airline ticket.”

2. TECHNOLOGY

Savvy Internet users frustrated with online fraud begin going after the scammers themselves.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on the brave new world of cyber vigilantism:

“Internet vigilantes are already at work: The 419 Flash Mob, for example, works to disable and report to authorities the websites of ‘phishers’ who trick users into entering their information on phony websites made up to look like those of real banks and merchants. Recently, 419 enlisted as many Internet users as possible over a 48-hour period to launch attacks on Web servers used by criminals.”

3. LEGAL

A group of scientists file a brief with the Supreme Court supporting federal regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from cars.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Communications Christine Hall on CEI’s opposing brief:

“The Competitive Enterprise Institute yesterday filed an amicus brief in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, supporting the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency not to regulate carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act.  The amicus brief, filed on behalf of eight scientists with expertise in climate sciences, disputes claims of global warming catastrophe being made by Massachusetts and other states in their challenge to EPA.”

Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI Open Market.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To contact a CEI expert for comment or interviews, please call the CEI communications department at 202-331-2273 or email to [email protected].