Former President Bill Clinton last week aptly summed up what the debate surrounding global warming is doing to our nation and its credibility. "The Bottom Line on Climate Change" conference that I attended this past weekend echoed that thought as several of the speakers on a variety of topics told of how our country was falling behind the search for real sustainable and clean alternative energy sources. The world is leaving America behind and an Associated Press report that I read on msnbc.com on Saturday night only furthers the argument that we are becoming the nation that everyone laughs at.
The story dealt with how a growing number of self-identified Republicans are returning to the ranks of denialists. Even more shocking, not only is the number growing, but those holding the point of view that climate change isn't real or caused by man is hardening. Now, it is not only a point of view to them, but it is a deep held conviction. And even scarier, they want their representatives to eschew the notion that climate change is real and that human actions are responsible for it. As Bill Clinton said in the previously referenced speech, "You can't win the nomination of one of our major parties if you admit the scientists are right."
It is, indeed, a very scary thought. In the light of massive evidence that climate change is already moving into the next gear, and the facts telling us we are in the midst of Earth's 6th major extinction event, a great deal in this country continue to say that they don't believe it, or in fact, they know it is a lie. They claim the science is flawed, or biased, or run by the uber-liberal corporation haters. They are pulling at straws and one day they will have to reckon with reality. The question is, will they be able to delay necessary changes enough to forever prevent our ability to undo the majority of the damage we have done? Those who believe, and accept, the science of climate change need to make their voices heard and not let the denialists turn back the clock, and perhaps run out the clock, on our ability to help the environment overcome our interference. Write your representative, senator, governor, and the President. Don't let us stay the butt of the joke.
The story dealt with how a growing number of self-identified Republicans are returning to the ranks of denialists. Even more shocking, not only is the number growing, but those holding the point of view that climate change isn't real or caused by man is hardening. Now, it is not only a point of view to them, but it is a deep held conviction. And even scarier, they want their representatives to eschew the notion that climate change is real and that human actions are responsible for it. As Bill Clinton said in the previously referenced speech, "You can't win the nomination of one of our major parties if you admit the scientists are right."
It is, indeed, a very scary thought. In the light of massive evidence that climate change is already moving into the next gear, and the facts telling us we are in the midst of Earth's 6th major extinction event, a great deal in this country continue to say that they don't believe it, or in fact, they know it is a lie. They claim the science is flawed, or biased, or run by the uber-liberal corporation haters. They are pulling at straws and one day they will have to reckon with reality. The question is, will they be able to delay necessary changes enough to forever prevent our ability to undo the majority of the damage we have done? Those who believe, and accept, the science of climate change need to make their voices heard and not let the denialists turn back the clock, and perhaps run out the clock, on our ability to help the environment overcome our interference. Write your representative, senator, governor, and the President. Don't let us stay the butt of the joke.
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