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Clinton on the Daily Show

-- Amanda Meade -- 09/25/2008

To follw up with the Snowman's post, here is a link to the Daily Show interview with Bill Clinton. He lays out what might have happened to our economy with clean energy investment over the last 7 1/2 years instead of the current reality of economic downturn.

The Clinton Global Initiative is leading the way on energy and climate change issues and rightly point out that, "leading venture capitalists see clean energy as the greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century." Clinton's explanation of what's happened to our economy on The Daily Show start at 4:01 in Part 1 of the interview. Enjoy:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=185193

You can learn more about the Clinton Global Initiative at:

http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

 

 

Clinton said it

-- Andrew Snow -- 09/22/2008

Well, former President Bill Clinton just said it on the Late Show with Letterman - individuals can't solve global warming alone, we also have to have leadership from our government. Honestly, I'm not 'happy', as much as it's good to hear (I'm getting used to hearing nice things from companies that burn a lot of coal, too) because this is a situation that needs real action, and needs it now. Speaking the truth, even when you ARE power, doesn't get it done. We need help to make this happen. There are a lot of things going on right now - energy legislation in Congress, legal motions and advisory committees on the state level - please, help us make a better future happen by getting involved. You can do so by clicking a link on this site, or by sending an email to asnow@iowaglobalwarming.org.

David Letterman Gets It!

-- Pete -- 09/16/2008

“David Letterman get’s it”. That’s what a friend wrote referring to an article that came out recently where Letterman was railing against the lack of leadership in the fight against global warming. As part of his rant Letterman shouted, “we’re dead meat” which is both funny and scary at the same time.

 

On the one hand I am glad that this issue is reaching into popular culture that Letterman is a part of, in spite of what he wants you to believe. On the other hand it is scary because if somebody of Letterman’s stature is scared and ranting then things are getting serious.

 

I am choosing to focus on the positive. There are worse things than having a problem to work on. We could have this problem and not know it or how to deal with it. We do know how to deal with it; we are really struggling with how to face it. Letterman and many others who have the ear of Americans will need to speak up until we are all forced to face it. When enough of us see the problem we will all see the opportunity.

 

When I think of my kids and the world they will live in I never thought David Letterman would factor into my thought process but whatever it takes to get this message out is fine with me.  

Climate Change Advisory Council meets again

-- Andrew Snow -- 09/04/2008

Today's meeting of the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council marks the next-to-last time they will meet before they present their final recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. I've seen a number of the written comments our supporters submitted - they're very good, and in some cases strikingly knowledgeable and very specific about the various proposals. I attended the meeting this morning, and provided my own comments to the Council, asking that they choose bold recommendations for action. Here's the text from my comments:

First, I want to thank the members of this Council, as well as all of the subcommittee members, for doing what is a very difficult though hopefully not thankless job – creating and evaluating dozens of proposals on very detailed topics.

 

I’m not going to take a lot of time right now to discuss the specifics of the proposals, though I know some of the people we’ve asked to provide written comment have done so. I’m actually here to ask you to be bold, but realistic, and use your common sense when evaluating your final recommendations later this year. For example, though I haven’t seen full quantifications for implementing passenger rail to Chicago and across the state, common sense will tell you that it would reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and greenhouse gases significantly, as well as provide immense additional benefits to the state. In contrast, common sense also tells me that a website and public education campaign about a different kind of tires is unlikely to provide the same benefits, regardless of what the quantifications may indicate.

 

What this Council represents to me is a tremendous opportunity, and I ask that you be prepared to act boldly. Half measures won’t solve our climate problem any more than they will reinvigorate our state economy or help replace our aging workforce. We’re not going to dig, drill or burn our way to positive solutions, and voluntary measures are not going to get us there either. As I’m sure you’re all painfully aware now, there are an almost dizzying array of new technologies available to us – and we must find ways to harness that innovation to secure the future of our families and our state.

 

This is an opportunity – but it is one with a small window for us to capitalize on. Other states have developed a clear vision of the future and are moving in the right direction. We must act in a bold, firm manner to establish and maintain Iowa’s position as the undisputed leaders in these fields of the future. It is only with a bold vision that we can hope to accomplish this task, and so I ask you – please, be bold and give the Governor and Legislature the strongest possible recommendations. Our state’s future, and our way of life, depends upon your common sense and strong leadership.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

 

Back to Basics

-- Micah -- 09/04/2008

Climate policy is heavily laden with jargon and acronyms that seem at times indecipherable to the public.  Climate scientists along with their counterparts in the realm of public policy use language that can often mystify, confuse, or fly right over the heads of audiences that aren’t “in the know.”   As an Ohio League of Conservation Voters staffer and as a Master’s candidate at Miami University’s Institute of Environmental Sciences, I often take for granted the words, phrases, and acronyms that are part of my daily conversations. 

This became quite clear to me this past Labor Day as I talked with an old friend about what I am doing in my new job.  “I’m working to help establish a strong cap and trade system for CO2 emissions,” I said.  “What does that mean, cap and trade?” he replied.  Thus I embarked on a long winded story of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the implementation and success of the SO2 cap and trade program, and the importance of using market-driven systems to curtail pollution.  My friend, a steel worker at AK in Middletown, seemed satisfied with what I had to say, but also admitted that he’d quit listening to me “about ½ way through” my speech.  “I understood you, but you used a lot of words I don’t use... I don’t think I could explain cap and trade to someone else,” he said. 

Upon hearing this I thought to myself, “Oh, man, I failed.”  And I had. 

Those of us fighting for strong climate change legislation need to ask ourselves, “How can I make the seriousness of climate change and the potential for a strong national system to fight against global warming more easily understood?”  As those fighting the good fight, our language, tone, and individual personalities play a significant part in answering this question, but, fundamentally, we need to share good information and sound science from reputable sources AND do it without ten dollar words. 

If you recognize the enormous challenge of tackling a global phenomenon like climate change, and if at times you (like me) seem to be talking more Martian than English, I suggest going back to basics.  In that spirit, I offer a few links to websites with embedded videos that I think do a fair job of describing: Global Warming and Cap and Trade.  Further, this site has a comprehensive climate glossary. It is a great resource for bringing those "out of the know" into it.

Is anybody listening?

-- Pete -- 09/02/2008

From my experience, so many people hesitate to get involved in the political process because they believe their voice will get lost in the ocean of concerned citizens. Well, the opposite is actually true. Because so few actually vote and even fewer know who represents them in government or take the time to find out, actually contacting those who represent you gives you a lot of power. When we do speak up our representatives actually listen. They figure that if you took the time to write or call then there are many others that feel the way you do. You are actually representing a group of sorts. The more effort it takes the more people you represent.  

 

So, is it worth it to take the time get involved in the political process? Only if you want to see action on the issues you care about.

 

So fire up that pen and paper and make a difference.  

Why Not?

-- Pete -- 08/20/2008

I had the privilege of witnessing Al Gore call for this country to get all of its energy from renewable resources in ten-years time. I know that these things can be complicated and yes expensive but still it’s the right thing to do and I ask why not? 

 To explain the scope of what is being asked in moving to a clean economy people use past efforts like the Manhattan Project that brought us the Atomic Bomb, the Apollo Program that put an American on the moon or the D-Day invasion which was a good day for the Allies and a bad day for Nazi Germany.

All of these events were almost impossible but arguably necessary efforts.  Of these three, my favorite for purposes of explaining the global warming crises, is the Apollo program. It fits because it took an idealism and belief in ourselves collectively to achieve something that no one could prove was possible until it happened. The Manhattan and D-day invasion were secret projects with a relative few in the know. The first and very important step in the Apollo Project was President Kennedy challenging the nation to attempt something way out there, literally. Where do we find taht leadership today? How do we find it in ourselves to respond to true leadership? I think there exists a feeling of well, that was the 1960's and things are differnt today. Maybe they are, but why?

So if you want to fight global warming you have to believe that even if we don’t know exactly how we are going to get from here to there and what challenges we will face, we can solve this. That kind of optimism is contagious in any generation.         

Hope for the Future

-- Pete -- 08/18/2008

My wife and I were at a back-to-school fair with our two boys this past weekend when we came across two kids (I guess as seniors at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, they are considered young women, but they're kids to me) who were at the fair promoting their novel idea. They care about the environment and on their own initiative they started LiveGreenLearnGreen. This non-profit started and operated by Richa Kalsi and Aleah Bowie, offers baby-sitting and tutor services for regular folks like my wife and I with all of the proceeds go to providing low-income individuals with ways to save money by making their residence more energy efficient. WOW! Everybody wins: parents, kids, people who will have lower energy bills and all of because we will have a cleaner world and a reason for hope for the future. These remarkable young women can be reached at livegreenlearngreen@gmail.org or 240-271-7106 and 301.906.1310.      

Hi, I’m the organizer for Heat is On-Maryland

-- Pete -- 08/13/2008

Hi, My name is Pete and I care about the world I am leaving my children. I care about all children - well, some of my kids' friends are hard to deal with but you get the idea. It is really the thought of my own children someday saying "Dad, what were you guys thinking back then, why didn't you do anything?" that gives me nightmares. I feel like if I don't do anything I can't expect anyone else to care.

 

I am old enough to know that the world doesn't change easily and there is a feeling, at least in the U.S., that the era of big ideas like putting a man on the moon is over, but I just can't believe that we are not capable of being challenged and that there is not a hunger for that challenge. If you are reading this you must also care and thank you for that. Keep up the good work and if you want to change the world, change one person and then take it from there. That is all we can do and I believe eventually that will be enough. Thank you from my wife and Mitchell (age 11) and Max (age 9). More from the campaign to follow, stay tuned. Onward and upward......................

Fight global warming in Maryland with Facebook

-- Pete -- 08/13/2008

If you live in Maryland or you’re just interested in letting the leadership in Congress hear about this crisis, please check out the group Heat is On- Maryland on Facebook.  This group will keep you informed on opportunities to raise your voice as part of what is unfolding as one of the great social movements in our country’s history.

 

We are expecting either a greener or much greener administration next year so the time to speak up is now!

 

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