Yesterday in New York saw a record breaking high temperature. 70 degrees. In late November. That is definitely the warmest November day I have ever personally experienced. While it is just one day, and cannot be definitively linked to climate change or global warming, one can't help but see some correlation. This month, on average, has been warmer than normal for New York City, with many days at or above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Although it makes for pleasant days, it makes me eye the skies with suspicion.
We had a crazy, unheard of October Nor'easter at the end of that month. It wreaked havoc on the region and it decimated over 1,000 trees in Central Park. We had Hurricane Irene (it hit the city as a tropical storm) in early September, and we have had the third wettest year on record so far. The weather is definitely unstable and it is the direct result of climate change.
When many of us voted in the American elections of 2008, we wanted a leader who would make strides in curbing emissions and push for an increase in the development of cleaner alternative energy sources. That choice for us was Barack Obama. I was sure that we would see major changes in the way Americans treated the environment and that an actual energy policy would be developed which used the emerging clean energy technologies. He believed in the science, so it was seen as a sure thing. I have to say that I, like many others, have been disappointed at the overall picture President Obama has provided on his environmental policies.
While he has made progress in helping alternative energy companies get off the ground, he has done other things that aren't so good. He has proposed more oil drilling - before that huge oil spill last year - and has teased the idea of huge pipeline carrying tar sands from Canada down to Texas. He has blocked stronger ground ozone regulations, and has not really stepped up to the plate to defend the EPA from the onslaught of attacks it has received from the Republican Party. Treehugger.com has a link to a report that puts President Obama on the same level as former President George W. Bush when it comes to environmental issues.
Mr. President, we expect more from you. You are a knowledgeable individual and we expect your actions to match your words. Stop giving into the fossil fuel lobbyists and other anti-environment cronies and do the best thing for our nation and our environment. Listen to the scientists. There is a majority agreement there about what needs to be done to help mitigate and slow down climate change. Also, listen to the people who voted you into office. We have placed a hope in you to do better than the last administration, not to be the same. You can still be the change we believe in, but you actually need to start following through all the way on your campaign promises. The time for change is now, not after 2012.
We had a crazy, unheard of October Nor'easter at the end of that month. It wreaked havoc on the region and it decimated over 1,000 trees in Central Park. We had Hurricane Irene (it hit the city as a tropical storm) in early September, and we have had the third wettest year on record so far. The weather is definitely unstable and it is the direct result of climate change.
When many of us voted in the American elections of 2008, we wanted a leader who would make strides in curbing emissions and push for an increase in the development of cleaner alternative energy sources. That choice for us was Barack Obama. I was sure that we would see major changes in the way Americans treated the environment and that an actual energy policy would be developed which used the emerging clean energy technologies. He believed in the science, so it was seen as a sure thing. I have to say that I, like many others, have been disappointed at the overall picture President Obama has provided on his environmental policies.
While he has made progress in helping alternative energy companies get off the ground, he has done other things that aren't so good. He has proposed more oil drilling - before that huge oil spill last year - and has teased the idea of huge pipeline carrying tar sands from Canada down to Texas. He has blocked stronger ground ozone regulations, and has not really stepped up to the plate to defend the EPA from the onslaught of attacks it has received from the Republican Party. Treehugger.com has a link to a report that puts President Obama on the same level as former President George W. Bush when it comes to environmental issues.
Mr. President, we expect more from you. You are a knowledgeable individual and we expect your actions to match your words. Stop giving into the fossil fuel lobbyists and other anti-environment cronies and do the best thing for our nation and our environment. Listen to the scientists. There is a majority agreement there about what needs to be done to help mitigate and slow down climate change. Also, listen to the people who voted you into office. We have placed a hope in you to do better than the last administration, not to be the same. You can still be the change we believe in, but you actually need to start following through all the way on your campaign promises. The time for change is now, not after 2012.
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