BLOG
Take Heart and Keep Up the Fight
-- Pete -- 10/03/2008
In the fight against global warming it is easy to get discouraged and to think that no one is doing anything to fight this scary scenario. Some would probably believe that dealing with global warming day in and day out as an organizer would be depressing. The truth is that as an organizer I get to meet and work with people from all walks of life who not only care about this issue but are doing something about it. Knowing that is encouraging.
At the University of Maryland alone there are three separate programs that are dedicated to studying and fighting climate change. These are smart and serious people and they are doing great work. There are also many individuals and citizen groups who dedicate most of their free time to fighting global warming.
Now, we need to get our elected officials on board. They are a little distracted right now but we need to keep up the good fight and support those who are fighting the good fight.
“There is no conclusive proof that cigarettes cause cancer”
-- Amanda Meade -- 10/03/2008
There is no conclusive evidence that climate change is happening"
Seems that after 50 years of fighting to prove tobacco wasn't harmful the whole industry of deniers picked up and moved camp to employ the same tactics on global warming:
" Reviewing the continued campaign by climate change skeptics, David McKnight, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales (Australia), notes that there several reasons why companies such as Exxon have had some success playing the global warming denial card. "First, the implications of the science are frightening. Shifting to renewable energy will be costly* and disruptive. Second, doubt is an easy product to sell. Climate denial tells us what we all secretly want to hear. Third, science is portrayed as political orthodoxy rather than objective knowledge, a curiously postmodern argument," he writes. While the tobacco industry is often referred to as the template for the fossil fuel industry's campaign, McKnight argues that there is an important distinction. "There are no 'smoke-free areas' on the planet. Climate denial may turn out to be the world's most deadly PR campaign" SourceWatch
With public relations created tactics continually placed alongside scientific proof, provided as ‘balance' , it's no wonder the environmental community has to fight two years to keep miserly tax credit for renewable energy while oil and coal get billions. No wonder people overwhelmingly don't trust big oil and coal companies. That's partly the reason why here in the U.S. there is such a struggle to be taken seriously while fighting for clean energy and against oil and coal's disastorous contributions to climate change. The fact that we have many problems right now is a proverbial understatement. However, ranting gets us nowhere. It's time to work harder than ever and keep fighting for change and help people understand clean energy is the solution. Its here, its cheap and it'll never runout. Why chose any other way?
*Costs have come down dramatically in the past few years thanks in part to the renewable energy tax credits.
Environmental vandalism, clean coal and climate change
-- Amanda Meade -- 09/30/2008
The Greenpeace climate change activist’s story sparked an interesting debate over tactics and sucked Al Gore into a vortex of criticism over a comment on civil disobedience last week. From a global warming and clean energy perspective, Gore is right that there is no way to operate a "clean coal" plant, and maybe the only way to get governments to wake up is civil disobedience. The resistance to addressing climate change and facing a new energy reality is strong in some corners of public opinion.
So what will it take to raise awareness and create a consensus for action to stop the status quo of building coal fired plants? How will we get clean energy into the dominant mind set for solutions?
It’s a difficult question when the coal industry and their National Mining Association lobbyists muddle the debate by convincing congress to give them tens of billions of subsidized government dollars to keep digging and polluting, and then complain that clean energy isn't competitive in the free market. They also spend a hefty amount on advertising to hypnotize Americans into believing their green washing commercials promoting “clean coal”, although no such technology exists.
There are no easy answers or shortcuts to starting the long process of transformation to clean energy. The good news is there is an opportunity along the way to revitalize the economy by creating jobs and taking action on climate change while we restructure the energy grid with geothermal, wind and solar capabilities. We need to shift our whole countries way of thinking from the fossil fuel past and focus on the clean energy future.
We especially need leaders to stand up and fight for transforming our economy out of the polluting 20th century of the coal lobby type of thinking and invest in new clean energy for the 21st. We can't wait. And if elected representatives only listen to the big energy companies who have no incentive to change, then activists must do something to get their attention. That's Al Gore's point, and that's why the UK courts let environmental vandalism go unpunished - because they were right.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Clean_Coal_Technology
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Balanced_Energy_Choices
Good for MO
-- Amanda Meade -- 09/26/2008
After a hard fought battle over signature verification in Missouri, the Clean Energy Initiative, Proposition C, is on the ballot. Congrats to all who hit the streets and help make it happen. This is a good step in the right direction as the initiative will shift 15% of electricity to renewables by 2021. The equivilant of taking 2 million cars off the road. The plan has broad support as evidenced in this editorial:
The plan has potential to save Missourians over $300 million in energy costs and create thousands of good paying local jobs. For more detailed information check out www.WorksforMissouri.org
We'll keep you posted on the outcome.
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
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
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.
7 comments