Out With the Old, In With the New

Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year. May it be one that holds promise for this green planet of ours in personal practice and in local, national, and global practice as well. We live on an amazing planet.

See What Banding Together Can Do?

Great News! According to Treehugger.com several groups unified - some which seem to have contrasting interests with the others - to raise money to get Ecuador to not drill for oil in the Amazon rain forest. Please visit the link for the full story. This is why we must come together as a people. Governments have consistently shown that they don't have the cajones to stop the molestation of the environment - many even encourage it. It is up to us to show these governments that we care, that we want our environment protected and preserved, especially very significant ecological treasures, such as the Amazon.

I am so pleased to hear that these groups of individuals and businesses saw the importance of keeping the Amazon the way it is, without oil derricks. From politicians, movie stars, and soft drink corporations came an alliance that took the Ecuadorian government up on its offer to not drill for oil if it was reimbursed for the lost revenue. Yes, in a perfect world, that national government would see the advantages of not drilling for oil in the rain forest and choose to forfeit that oil, without seeking reimbursement. However, the fact that they are keeping to their word when people stood up and said, "Okay. We'll call your bluff," is honorable. We all can learn a lesson in standing up for the right thing and banding together for a common cause that benefits the entire human race. I sure hope many more of the instances will begin to manifest themselves.

This Is Why Animals Need Our Help

 

The BBC has reported today that a record number of ivory has been seized this year, over 23 tons worth. The article states that represents 2,500 dead elephants. Apparently, several Asian countries have become enamored with products made with ivory and so the poaching of these giant mammals has increased. This is a blow to an animal genus already struggling to avoid extinction.

Someone needs to educate the offending countries. Now they are after an elephants' ivory tusks. They also love shark fins and whale oil. They don't use the whole animal, just one part. Many of these animals (elephants and whales definitely) are protected by international law. Yet the poaching continues. If it weren't for the likes of people such as Paul Watson, many of these animals that are protected would not have any advocates or real, physical protection. There are laws, but the enforcement is left up to individual nations, many of which do not want to fund such things.

Biodiversity is one of Earth's greatest assets. However, human activities continue to lower that biodiversity. Imagine a world without the mighty elephant or the magnificent whale. What would your children look at awe in when they went to the zoo? If there were no lions, or tigers, or bears (oh my!) how do you think future generations would look at us? All of these animals are considered threatened or endangered species. We would be appalled at our grandparents had they exterminated the last of the lions or the elephants. We would also have to deal with the problems (such as too many grazing animals) that would accompany such a loss. These animals we think of because they are big, on TV, and cause such amazement and fascination. Many more plants and animals are being driven to extinction every year and we don't even care to notice.

International law designed to protect Earth's biodiversity needs more teeth in it. A fund needs to be created to give each nation the money it needs to enforce such laws. Nations also must be held accountable if they are not doing their part in helping to curb the loss of plant and animal species. If they are turning a blind eye, or even encouraging such activities, they should lose all funding from the U.N. Most of all, we need to work on educating the whole world on what the loss of species means. It must be a program that has no borders and specializes in helping those from developing and underdeveloped nations understand the importance in protecting and the biological consequences that will arise if poaching a threatened or endangered species continues. We also need more people like Paul Watson, who are willing to stand up against those who hold no regard for nature. Until nations step up to the plate to do their part, these ecological vigilantes are the last stand between death and survival for many animal species. We will be awfully angry with ourselves if we allow the elephant to go extinct, so let's band together to prevent that.

Ice That Is Alive

The BBC has a very intriguing and well done piece on the state of glaciers in the Himalayas. Glaciers have drawn much attention from climatologists and other scientists since, worldwide, they have been rapidly shrinking. Some glaciers, tens of thousands of years old, have even completely melted away due to a rise in global temperatures.

Glaciers are often used as a measuring gauge of how rapidly the world is warming and how rapidly the warming is affecting the global environment and climate. For those who watched Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, you can probably remember him pointing to satellite images of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya, showing decreasing snow coverage, and then boldly stating that in a certain time frame that there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro. This is real and startling evidence of global warming and the effects on the planet are more than just losing pretty masses of ice and snow. With the loss of glaciers comes rising waters (both fresh and seawater), flooded villages and destroyed towns (as the risk is pointed out in the BBC article), and the complete change of an area's ecosystem.

Indeed, glaciers, ice shelves, and the poles are the warning voices to us, the human race, that our planet is warming. They are telling us that not only is the climate changing, but the face of the planet is changing. That affects all of us. The evidence and facts point to us as the cause, there can be no real challenge to that, for those are the scientifically gathered facts over many years and many experiments. This is why we need both stronger emissions regulations and a stepped-up program to move completely to clean, renewable energy production. Until we see it reflected in the ice, we haven't done enough. We may still lose much of the Earth's glaciers and other ice features, but we should not stop in our effort to reverse the damage our energy consumption has done. We must press forward, leaning heavily on our elected officials until they see the wisdom of the science and change that is needed, as well as using the media to help convince the masses who remain unconvinced because of terrible media coverage. We must take control of the story and we must not let it go. We must all do our part and do it well.

Environment Stories

Enviroblog has posted a top ten list for the good news and the bad news we received this year about our actions involving the environment. It is a fairly concise list, including some of the less well-known news stories out there. I'm surprised to see, however, that the U.N. Climate Change Convention and their final resolution did not make it on either list. Whether you view their actions as a triumph, or too little too late, it was definitely a big news story that happened less than a month ago. It was also sad to see that they did not include the extinction of the Javan Rhino and the Western Black Rhino in the bad news category. Losing a species forever, especially the Rhino, is something we really should make a big deal out of. We should not be the dominant cause behind any species' extinction.

Overall, 2011 has come to be quite a memorable year for the struggles we face in protecting and preserving the environment, and in learning to become better stewards for it. Our climate continues to change and we will continue to see more of that until we make the needed changes in energy consumption, emission standards, and energy production that will help to mitigate those effects and preserve what little we have left of a climate that humans have known for thousands of years. The wrapping paper may not be put away in your home yet from yesterday's celebrations, but let us look forward to the new year with hope and determination to make sure the mistakes of this year and of the past are not repeated in regards to the environment. This life and this planet is all we have. Let's do all we can to protect it from ourselves.

Merry Christmas!

To all those out there who may read this, our planet is very special. NASA released this composite photo this morning of our lovely globe using archival images and an up-to-date satellite image of the weather. Remember how precious life is, and let us all remember to work for peace. From far away, this planet looks so peaceful. Let us work together as the human race to solve our problems, instead of inflaming them. And, to all my fellow humans, please see the importance of protecting, preserving, and maintaining our glorious global environment and the climate. We are all users of this great beauty we call home. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Oil and Water

The oil industry is well known in its ability to alter or completely suspend the truth when dealing with the public. It should stand to reason that practice is adopted quite easily by the Republican party when touting new projects the oil industry has deemed important. These half-truths and lies become sound bites that are transmitted into everyone's homes, businesses, and cars trying to convince the masses that such a new endeavor (whether it be tax breaks, pipelines, more drilling) is needed and in the public's best interest.

It's no surprise then that there are fallacies being spread around by Republicans and oil pundits concerning the Keystone XL Transcontinental pipeline. Thankfully though, there are those that are willing to expose these lies for what they are. Treehugger.com has posted a blog that debunks the myths that surround the proposed pipeline that President Obama must now decide upon within the next 60 days. The two top myths fall into two of the oldest categories used by the GOP to convince us of the necessity: getting off overseas oil supply and jobs. The treehugger post does a good job pointing out the flaws in both of those arguments. My hope is that we can translate this debunking into effective communication to convince both the public and the president that this pipeline is truly not in our best interest.

We cannot continue to stand by idly as the oil barons, Republicans, Democrats, and any others lie to us about oil ventures. We must stand up to these folks and communicate to the public the truth. There will always be those who will gravitate toward a project and may see reason in doing so, but when the masses see the awfulness of the truth and are educated they usually stand up against those that don't hold anyone's interest but their own. Not only does the pipeline not free us from overseas oil suppliers, it will not provide as many jobs that are being touted, and most of all, it is not good for the environment. We need to move away from fossil fuel and invest in clean, alternative technologies for our energy production. We must send that clear message to our leadership until we have a leadership that represents our best interests, both short and long-term. 

Obama's Loss

With the House Republicans finally agreeing to the measly two month payroll tax cut extension passed by the Senate last week, the worst part of that bill now comes to fruition. With a guaranteed signature from the president, this bill forces Mr. Obama to decide on the fate of the Keystone XL Transcontinental pipeline within 60 days. Now President Obama must decide which group of voters he risks alienating further.

Hailed as a "tactical victory" for President Obama by at least one GOP pundit, his decision to press ahead with this two month extension is very risky. He knew the provision about the pipeline would be in there. He also knows that Republicans wanted this in there to ensure that he would not be reelected due to a loss of core voters. As I blogged about last week, Mr. Obama will more than likely either alienate labor unions that want the jobs that would be created by the pipeline, or alienating the environmentalists who see this pipeline as another victory for big oil and fossil fuels and a loss of environmental quality.

It may be that his decision, whether for or against the pipeline, will not be the deciding factor for these groups of voters over their desire to reelect the president. It is a big risk though. With the environmentalists he is viewed as very weak on keeping his promises to preserve our natural resources and help reduce America's emissions to globally accepted levels. Of course with the labor unions, Obama has been very weak on job creation. We all know that for the great majority of Americans, the economy is the overriding issue that determines how an individual or group of individuals will vote.

I don't want to see this pipeline come into existence. It's another chain to bind us down to the fossil fuel industry and it runs through America's heartland through aquifers and fertile soils. This pipeline is simply a bad idea because it says to the rest of the world that America is not serious about global warming and won't be anytime soon, no matter who controls the White House. However, I'm also hoping that this decision in 60 days will not become a wedge between labor unions and the environmentalists. We need no more divisions. We need to work together to solve our economic and environmental problems. We shouldn't be driven apart by one pipeline. I hope that both of these groups can come together and ask that President Obama not give approval for the permits needed to build the pipeline, but that he also issue a directive to get labor unions involved in the 2.5 million jobs that are available in retrofitting buildings and residences throughout the nation to solar power. We can let the Republicans win over us and over President Obama, or we can show them what happens when we rise above their petty politics.

Updating the Climate Big Picture

Here is a link to skepticalscience.com and their latest article. It is an excellent post about what is settled and unsettled concerning climate change science. In a nutshell, it basically derails the common argument by climate change deniers that the science is "not settled". This link is my blog for the day. It is such a great post and it lays it out quite clearly. Let is speak for itself and give it a read. You'll be glad you did!

Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,
I know that I'm writing you pretty late in the Christmas season. I would have written you earlier, but a letter to you wouldn't be good blog material in July. Yes, I am sharing my letter to you with all those who come across my blog. I am hoping that upon reading this letter, they will want the same thing as well and that their collective desire will help you make my wish list come true.

I am sure that you are aware of the phenomena known as global warming and climate change. I am sure of this because your residence at the North Pole is one of the areas of the world that this phenomena is greatest felt. All that ice, and your home, is deeply threatened into becoming one giant sea of open water. This will cause chaos all over world, for both humans and other living things. That is one less tragedy we need to deal with. So, my first request for this Christmas is that you help us humans successfully mitigate climate change and stop the planet from getting any warmer by inspiring us to tackle the issues and set achievable standards worldwide.


I know that you have long been doing your part to keep your greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum. If a reindeer-led flying sleigh isn't a green, fuel-efficient vehicle, then I don't know what is. Please help us get off of fuels that pollute the environment and make a full transition to clean, emission-free vehicular transport. Is it alright to ask for Christmas that you inspire someone to make a fully functioning electric vehicle that won't be sidetracked by technical problems or greedy oil businessmen?


I know you're very busy, Santa, so I won't keep going on and on with my Christmas wish list, though in my heart it goes for several pages. I just hope that you can help me and the rest of the human family stop fighting about whether global warming and climate change are real events that are actually caused by our activity. I hope that you can help us see that we are the problem, but we are also the solution. I truly want us to care about the global environment in a way that shows we deserve the gift of life that has been given to us on this great planet. Please send these gifts on their way, and I promise that I will continue to be a good environmentally-conscious boy. Thank you for reading my letter Santa.

Hugs,

Richard

P.S. Please tell Mrs. Claus "Hi!" for me.

Fracking Education

Here is a video from earlier this year that details the dangers of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. While many states are letting gas companies forge ahead with the drilling, the process by which the cleaner fossil fuel is obtained is harming the environment. A lot of people who have been affected by this type of drilling have spoken out about what this has done to the environment and their livelihoods. Just last week, the EPA declared that hydrofracking was the poisoner of a Wyoming town's water supply. This sort of practice, while giving us access to a cleaner fuel supply, is why we need the EPA. This is why we need to be concerned about the environment. The gas companies surely don't care, they just want their product so they can turn a profit. Fight for the prevention of hydrofracking and for the development of a more environmentally friendly way to obtain natural gas. We should be able to do both without killing ourselves.

A Sunday Gift

I found this article on the BBC website concerning climate change. It delves into why climate change deniers act the way they do. It is a very interesting read and well worth your 5 minutes of time. I encourage you to read it. The more we know about those that want to keep the "debate" on climate change going, the more we can do to get past that hurdle. Not everyone will be convinced, that's fine. However, they shouldn't drag the rest of human and biological life down with them.

The Three Stooges

I reported on Wednesday that Republicans in the House had attached a provision to the payroll tax cut extension that would expedite the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. I also reported that Democrats in the Senate had said that they would not pass the bill with that attachment. They believed it amounted to holding the payroll tax cut hostage.

Well, the Senate Democrats decided to give in to the hostage-takers demands. The Senate passed an amazing (please hear the sarcasm) two month extension of the payroll tax cut and kept the attached provision that demands the president make a decision on the pipeline within 60 days. For as long as we the people will get an extension of a 2% tax cut, President Obama must decide whether or not to approve a pipeline that is covered in controversy. I can't believe that the bill passed the Senate Democrats with such a short extension of the tax break. Is it even worth it to us average citizens?

The last firewall between the pipeline becoming a reality is President Obama. Over and over again, the President has promised to veto the bill if brought to him with a pipeline provision. He is the last stand between what he says and what he does. Will he keep his promise to veto or will he approve it for a measly two month tax cut extension? Treehugger.com reported that the president was thinking of giving in to Republican demands, as of yesterday. Although we won't know until he actually gets the bill in front of him, it is an environmentally horrifying prospect.

President Obama already put off this decision until after the election year. He didn't want to have to upset labor unions or environmentalists who are a critical component of his reelection bid. If he signs this bill, he risks upsetting either group of individuals. However, President Obama needs to realize this is about more than his reelection. It's about keeping his word, and it's about protecting our national resources that are put at risk with the proposed pipeline. He needs to ask himself - if he is seriously considering on caving - whether or not a tax cut for two months is worth his presidency. If he signs this bill, not only is he expediting his own downfall, he will also shred any credibility he may now hold with anyone. Two months is not worth it, Mr. President. If you sign it, you will without a doubt become Curly to the House and Senate's Moe and Larry. Stand up and be strong Mr. President. Show us your balls.

Anywhere But America?

A recent post on treehugger.com alleges that solar power has become cheaper than diesel-generated power in India. It also says that in several African countries solar energy is less expensive than kerosene. That's dang cheap, and that means those who have electricity in these regions are likely to switch to solar power. That is the hope anyway.

My question is, if third world countries can supply cheaper-than-fossil-fuel sources of green energy, why is solar power in the USA still not cheap enough for Americans to make the switch? The policy of our nation has been to keep oil, coal, and gas as the significant and dominant energy forms and provide them at a low cost. Presumably, the tax breaks and credits these companies get help keep the product inexpensive for the American consumer. In the meantime, "greener" forms of energy struggle to get and keep these types of breaks that would help it be just as competitive as the fossil fuels.

This is America, and we should have the option of inexpensive green energy, as consumers. Many Americans will vote with their wallets in favor of cleaner energy sources if only they are priced on the same scale as oil, gas, and coal.  We must continue to harangue our political leaders to even out the playing field if we are going to at least be "on par" with third world countries. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, remember?

Climate Change and Politics

Here is a video that describes in a very succinct way what climate change is all about and the threats we face because of it. Thanks to Global green for originally posting this video on their blog.

So there you have it. Climate change is real and the facts and evidence are stacked up high in telling us that humans are the cause of this change. So what do the denialists do? They attach two riders to the payroll tax cut extension bill that exempt the coal industry from the Clean Air Act and expedites the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline that will carry tar sands from Canada to Texas. They live in an alternate reality.  Fortunately, Senate Democrats have said that bill is dead in the water and even if it passed the Senate, President Obama will veto it. Republicans don't get it. You don't save your hand by cutting off your leg. Politics is a mess and full of self-serving killjoys. It's time to clean up Washington. Send that message through your vote.

The Outcome

I'm a couple days late on this report, but since it doesn't seem to be getting much coverage on the U.S. news networks, more than likely you haven't heard. The U.N. climate talks finally closed, 36 hours beyond its original scheduled close, and a deal was finally reached. I looked on all of the major news networks here in the U.S. for any hint of what happened with the talks. The last story I could find was reported on last Friday saying the talks were in danger of failing.

Sunday morning, however, I came across the BBC report and it contained the news I was looking for. Lo and behold, it was also good news. Not the best, but still much better than I was thinking. The final deal still pushes back any enactment of new standards to 2020. New standards will begin to be developed next year through negotiations of all the nations, which will conclude in 2015. This is a laborious process, I understand, but it would have been supreme news if they really kicked it in high gear and brought the dates closer to this point in time, instead of 8 years down the road.

The deal that was reached seems to be what the EU, AOSIS, and LDC were asking other countries to sign onto. There was much haggling over wording and some of the big emitters did not want to be held to a firm standard. However, others stepped in to help these nations realize the importance of a "legal force" to the upcoming standards treaty. One of my favorite quotes from the BBC report is Grenada Foreign Minister, Karl Hood (he was speaking on behalf of AOSIS - Alliance of Small Island States):

If there is no legal instrument by which we can make countries responsible for their actions, then we are relegating countries to the fancies of beautiful words, while they develop, we die; and why should we accept this?

That is an exact statement. It is a true and heartfelt statement and it made all the nations in that big conference room confront the elephant in their midst. I also was very glad to see other nations - including China - reprimanding the Western countries for not doing more on their part to reduce emissions, the U.S. at the forefront. It almost turned into, "Why should we have to lower our emissions if they don't?", but cooler, more reasonable heads prevailed.

This climate conference was difficult to follow. It was almost like watching the U.S. Congress. Our leaders need to realize that this approaching crisis of climate change is about life. You can't score political points on this if you don't want to do anything about it, because when the climate disasters start hitting the region you represent, those citizens will leave you high and dry to fend for yourself. World and government leaders need to stop this "run-out-the-clock" BS. The negotiations for new standards must begin now and must be comprehensive. No stalling until 2015. We just don't have that kind of time left. The deal was good, but if we want it to stay good, we must see world leaders "put" their "courage to the sticking place."

A Conversation

I recently had a digital conversation with an old friend on what needs to be done about climate change. He is decidedly against regulations. A while ago, he described his views as mostly Libertarian, which is against regulations and much more for a free capitalist market without stringent rules. While you may see the differences in points of view, I hope you will also see the similarities. I don't know if my friend is sold on climate change. He never clarified that. However, I think it is safe to say he cares about the environment and doesn't want to see it changed in any dramatic way. This conversation showed me that we must learn to focus on what we agree upon and not shout so much what we disagree upon. Enjoy!

My friend: Environmentalists are going about making the appropriate changes the wrong way Richard. If you truly care about "climate change" then energy creation, storage, and distribution need to be at the very top of your list as apposed to regulation (control) that ultimately accomplishes nothing (and is sometimes counterproductive). Sadly most "environmentalists" don't have a clue.

Me: It actually needs to be a balanced effort. You cannot just expect companies to do this on their own. They wouldn't have even come this far if it wasn't for regulations that were put into place 40 years ago. Environmentalists do have a clue. The facts show us that we are increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. We cannot solely rely on alternative energies finally being the major energy source 10 years down the road. We must regulate emissions output until we get to that point. It must be a two-pronged effort.

My friend: 

Emissions are already regulated almost to the point of not only diminishing returns but counterproductive results. New technology and science is the ONLY thing that will solve our problems, we simply cannot make the needed gains through saying "no no no no no" over and over again. I'm not saying that regulations haven't helped in the past but rather that we've reached the point where new technology is needed to go further.
I have a hard time believing that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing in the U.S.. The math doesn't add up. Increased efficiency in automobiles, reduced demand and consumption of fuel and increasing use of alternative energies all points to the U.S. not only curbing it's emissions but reducing the annual production. If you want to really cut back on a serious source of "pollution" then start with coal power plants. China makes a new one every week (and they aren't close to clean). We have almost 1500 coal power plants in operation today, many of which are extremely old and produce serious amounts of emissions compared with newer plants.
Only way to replace them is with Nuclear but so called environmentalists are against Nuclear. Once again, the "no no no no" mentality prevails and instead of moving from a severely flawed system to one with much smaller flaws we make no progress. When it comes down to it the "green" movement has very few answers, if any, and yet wants to dictate what the masses do without a clear view of a better future.
When it comes down to it I think we all want the same things, I spend more time outdoors than the vast majority of so called environmentalists and I'd be willing to bet live a much "greener" lifestyle but I don't go around trying to force others to live the way I do. When environmentalists bring answers to the table and a clear, scientifically backed and accurate view of how we make true measurable progress the masses WILL listen, until then the green movement is it's own worse enemy.

 

Me:  In your list you provide many things we can both agree on. China has already surpassed the U.S. in emissions and I think we see eye to eye on the fact that they have yet to make those emissions "cleaner". I also agree with you about technology. Technology is making radical advances every year.
One such new technology that has been in the works is in nuclear energy. It is not well known, but several scientists, including the leading Russian scientist on cold fusion, have developed a way to use nuclear waste (spent uranium rods) as a form of energy. It is called Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Nuclear Energy. The reaction occurs in such a way that a meltdown is virtually done away with. We have enough nuclear waste that we could power the entire world for 50,000 years if no new nuclear waste were produced after today. We should be investing whole heartedly into that type of technological energy production and continue to research its potential.
You seem to divorce environmentalism from science. While there are those who don’t take a realistic approach to caring for the environment, those that I write about every day, and who are working behind the scenes are generally scientists who know the data and those groups who make sure that science is the over-riding principle for their calls to action. I believe these environmentalists have already brought clear answers and solutions to the table. One problem is that no one seems to be listening because there are heavy financial backers from the fossil fuel industry whose sole interest is to keep the profits coming and they do not want to see any policy change.
We need politicians to listen to the science, not the corporatist. The evidence gathered in 2010 showed that U.S. emissions did rise, despite the recession (or weak recovery whichever you prefer). Standards are high, but they could be higher. There are still plenty of cars that barely make 20 mpg, when 50 years ago Shell Oil proved you could get over 100 mpg in a regular engine. That is a lot more fuel efficient and would curb emissions drastically. Yet, I do not know of any mass produced vehicle that gets that kind of mileage.
I laugh at the whole idea of clean coal because coal in itself is a very dirty item. Technology can “scrub” out a wide array of pollutants and harmful greenhouse gases, but until science perfects carbon sequestration and power plants are willing to invest in them, coal continues to be dirty. Therefore, scientists have not only proposed higher emissions standards based on current technology, but they are urging the government to move completely away from coal and other fossil fuel energies. It takes time, and we know that many of the green technologies are not quite up to powering an entire nation. However, that gap will not be there for long and soon it will be quite easy to make the jump. Solar, wind, and geothermal energies are ready to make the leap into mass energy production.
We need politicians who look into the common good, not the better interests of fossil fuels. Neither a Republican majority nor a Democratic majority have shown that sort of leadership. I am no economist, so I don’t know everything that is involved in keeping a stable economy during a shift in the type of energy we consume. However, I’m also not blind, and I know that the fossil fuel lobby is throwing a heck of a lot of money at preventing these greener technologies from getting the same investment and advantages that they have had throughout the years. The playing field needs to be equalized and the referees need to stop being bought off.
I realize that we may still see certain aspects a bit differently, but the fact remains, we both know science and technology remain the ticket out of the mess we’ve created for the Earth. That is what needs to be focused on. Those urging our politicians to increase standards and make the shift to greener energies are not doing so because they want to throw a wrench in everything. They know the technologies exist and they know it is an absolute must for the planet to stop warming, and, thus, stabilize the climate. They wouldn’t petition this if they didn’t think it possible and sustainable. This mess is bigger than any one individual can handle, but together we can focus on the “do-ables” and create the change we need and desire.

What Now?

Yesterday was the last scheduled day for the U.N. Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa. No agreement was reached. That has lead to an extension of negotiations into today. However, the BBC reports that no deal has yet been reached, and it may remain unreachable. If you remember, a few days ago Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga likened a failure at the talks to "moral apartheid".

If no new treaty or agreement can be reached by the end of today, it is likely that the climate conference will close. That means no country will be signing a binding resolution to cut back emissions, or in very weakest attempt, extend the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire next year. If the Kyoto Protocol is allowed to expire with no new agreement in place, that means all countries are legally allowed to emit any level of greenhouse gases they so desire. Also at stake, funding for the poorer nations who are affected the most by climate change. That funding, which was supposed to be agreed upon at this conference, was to help the very poor nations deal with the disasters that are plaguing their countries due to an unstable climate.

The closest deal in place has been one that the EU is pushing. It calls for a new mandate by 2015, and a treaty that is enacted no later than 2020. That sounds eerily similar to the United States proposal that no new treaty be enforced until 2020. It remained unclear from the BBC article, however, if the U.S. had any direct influence on the EU-backed agreement.  In fact, the EU and its partners, AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) and LDC (Least Developed Countries), have been struggling to get at least one of the big emitters - Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and the United States - to sign on to the agreement. So if the U.S. had any influence on the timing outlined in the agreement, they certainly are not liking the final product that is being squabbled about. But when have they ever signed onto any international climate agreement?

Many international representatives and advocacy groups are calling on the nations who are for the EU proposal to sign it and put it into place. They say it is time to send the U.S. the very clear message that it has been left behind and is no longer needed to acheive an international deal. While the U.S. is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters and something needs to be done to curb that, I agree with the aforementioned representatives. At the very least, we can have a binding resolution that many developed and underdeveloped countries will adhere to. That is something. It is not the best, but at this point, we can't settle for nothing.

We must do something about mitigating climate change. If the big emitters can't bring themselves to act in the best interest of the planet and the entire human race, then they should be justifiably left behind. The only caveat I would add, is that these big emitters be left out of all other international negotiations of any kind. Whether it be economical, peace, climate, or otherwise. Until they show a willingness to be a part of the human race and greater good, they should not be allowed to call the shots on any matter. That is the only fair and just thing to do. That may be the only discipline that would help them get the message. It's time that nations like the U.S. got the message and got on board with the facts.

The climate talks may leave the world empty handed. We may get no new treaty. I hope they will come together and get something in place by the end of today, but if it doesn't, all those concerned about the environment, global warming, and the human race need to band together and move to make each nation develop and enact climate-saving plans in the next two years. An ambitious goal, but one we cannot stand to miss.

How Are We Doing?

Grist.org has an excellent write-up of the just released report of how each nation is faring in the fight to become more friendly to the global climate. It is worth noting that while no nation made the top 3 (reminding all nations that enough has not yet been done to qualify for such a position), the best countries overall were Sweden, the UK, and Germany. The U.S. didn't even make the top 50. That shouldn't be surprising as grist.org is also reporting that the U.S. is proposing to the Durban U.N. Climate Talks that no new treaty should take effect until 2020.

I don't know what to think anymore. Republicans are committed to denying the science of climate change. Democrats who promise change and speak like they accept the science, don't act any differently. The current administration has gone around trying to tout greener, cleaner energy sources, but they send a rep to the climate talks to say we should do nothing as a world to mitigate human-induced global warming until 2020.  I'm over it. Both Republicans and Democrats have been bought out by Big Oil, Big Coal, and the other fossil fuel giants. We are willing to bring our existence into upheaval because we don't want to change course. Money is too important. It's time we got leaders with balls and with the brains to know drastically reducing greenhouse emissions is in our best interest. The long-term should win out over the short-term on this issue. It's not rocket science. Who will help us stand up to those who would destroy us for their own gain?

I can go on ranting but that won't help. Please, read all three articles. They are all very well written and are quite informative. The facts are clear. The evidence is as high as Mt. Everest. It's time we do something.

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World

I just found out on treehugger.com that low-man-on-the-totem-pole Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, Jr. has begun to sound like a climate change denier. The former Utah governor and ambassador to China has been referred to as the only true moderate Republican amongst all the candidates. While he is definitely fiscally conservative, he has tried to get the Republican party to become more socially moderate. He has been quite vocal on letting climate science speak for itself, noting that he is not a scientist but that he respects and believes the science.

The treehugger post details the recent answer that Huntsman gave to a reporter when asked about climate change. I will let you read the article and judge for yourself. The post's author, Brian Merchant, also wrote the thoughts that serve this bit of news best. It is a huge disappointment, and if Mr. Huntsman has truly changed his position, it really does show how awful the Republican Party is. Instead of a party that caters to a majority moderate, it is a party that caters to the minority radical extremists. It's time to send the Republican Party packing. You can't take them seriously anymore. They don't deal in reality, only in delusions for themselves. I would rather a pandering Democrat be in control than a Republican. At least the Democrat would bring a sense of moderation to the table and will make attempts at enacting solutions to global warming.

All Aboard!

The U.N. climate talks have been meeting in Durban, South Africa for more than a week now. With only a few days left, those scientists, economists, and world leaders need to come together and develop a real, lasting solution to our growing climate problem. A grist.org post details what one person said if the Durban climate conference failed to yield real action and solutions. President Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga of Caritas Internationalis called such a scenario "moral apartheid".

Those words are said with real and intended force as these talks are being held in a nation that - until less than twenty years ago - is infamous for the apartheid it forced upon the native population of its citizenry. Apartheid was a stain on the people running South Africa. If nothing comes from this conference, it will be a stain on the leaders of the world. Their failure to come to a solution and encourage nations to act now will be seen as the greatest act of stupidity in later years.

The evidence points to our needed action right now. We cannot wait until the eleventh hour and fifty-nine minutes, as the United States Congress has displayed in recent months, to figure out and decree a plan. The plan must be formed and implemented now. This is a global problem, so it needs to be solved and worked on at a global level. However, as the grist.org post shows, certain nations, like the U.S., continue to hold progress back. While refusing to take the Alliance of Small Island States proposal that a mandate to get a new agreement in a year's time because of a stink the U.S. made, the U.N. climate negotiations are seriously impeded in creating an actionable solution with a timeline. The U.S. is finding itself on the wrong side of history. The leaders of this nation continue to be influenced by elaborate corporate and misguided self-interest. The U.S. will get left behind if it keeps acting this way.

This is not a time for the United States to act as a lone superpower that gets to call all the shots. Those days are long over. Instead, the U.S. needs to realize the future impact this will have on its self-interest. Indeed, it is in the self-interest of the United States, as well as all other nations, to not balk at solutions and be a real participant in the carrying out of those solutions. The U.S. needs leadership that will convey this at a world conference. Let's make sure the current administration remembers the campaign promises from 3-4 years ago. Remind them through persistent phone calls and letter writing. Also, remind them that your vote is not guaranteed in the next election cycle should they refuse to take the correct stand on global warming solutions. For all politicians, that is the key in getting their attention.

What We're Up Against

I was directed to a news article in the New York Times the other day that really brings to light what we are up against in the fight to bring clean, renewable energy and a good standard of environmental regulations to this country. The Times article delves into the questionable ethics of Oklahoma Representative Dan Boren. A five term Congressman, and an oil and natural gas baron, Boren has used his elected seat as a lobbyist's bully pulpit to push through environmentally unfriendly practices in order to secure a nicer paycheck for himself and his family members.

It is laughable that Boren is affiliated with the Democratic party, however, it does remind us that there are those on both sides of the aisle who are working for their own interests instead of the interests of everyone. Not every environmental cheapskate is a Republican. Boren is an example of what is wrong in Washington, D.C. Here is someone who has not only become richer by the boom in natural gas exploration, but who has undone years of progress in order to get to what he wanted. He worked with Republicans in 2005 to exempt oil and gas companies from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts of 1970. He has lobbied hard to prevent the loss of billion dollar tax breaks for oil and gas companies. He has lied about the harmful effects of hydraulic fracturing in search of natural gas.

It is true that he is promoting an energy source that is much cleaner than oil and coal. However, natural gas drilling has become an environmentally dangerous mining operation. Until the gas companies can figure out a safer way to extract the natural gas, without using harmful chemicals and letting some natural gas escape into the surrounding ecosystems, they need to be discouraged. You can't say you're helping the environment with your product when the very act of obtaining your product is environmentally destructive. It's like saying your helping clean the bathtub by pouring sewage into it.

Fortunately, Mr. Boren will not be seeking re-election next year. He will be, however, considering a run for Oklahoma's governorship. At the very least, he will continue lobbying for a practice that is not doing our environment any favors. We must keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't win the governor's seat in Oklahoma. We must make sure that environmental advocacy groups have the ability to equally combat the lobbying power of the fossil fuel companies.

More presently, we must make sure that his representative's seat is not filled by someone who will do the exact same things. We need someone who will help restore the regulations over the worst offenders and will care more about the environment than they do about the amount of money lining their pocket. We must also urge our legislators to come down hard on the sort of questionable ethics Mr. Boren has been pursuing so that it doesn't happen again. We are up against very tough opponents. Money and power can switch anyone to their side. Those who are a part of them will do anything to retain that position. We must be vigilant against those who would use money and power to destroy instead of renew and regenerate.

Wind and Water

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air.                     Galadriel The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Those first phrases uttered at the beginning of the epic Lord of the Rings movie (one of my favorites. Sorry I'm a geek.) came to my mind the last couple of days as I read the news. One story that is well known dealt with the fierce Santa Ana winds that wreaked havoc on California and Utah. I grew up in Utah and I am familiar with the Santa Ana winds that blow through every autumn. I don't ever remember it being this bad. This is another one of those natural disasters that could make it to the "billion dollar cost" list.

The other report I read dealt with the changing climate conditions in the Arctic region. The story outlines the fact that climate change is definitely happening in and around the North Pole. The Arctic is seeing massive instability in the documented "normal" for that region. It has now moved into a grey area where a different normal has emerged. Climate change is occurring there on a much more rapid scale than scientists have expected, which means our ability to curb the disastrous effects of unmitigated global warming is being cut to an even shorter amount of time. The point of no return is indeed starting to become visible in the very far horizon.

The wind storms deal with air. The warming Arctic ice deals with water. Before modern chemistry, these were two of the four main elements. They are still vitally important to human survival. Though the wind storms will not directly be attributed to climate change or global warming, they will be lumped together with all those natural disasters that, on the whole, point to an ever more unstable climate. The scientists have been warning us for years of the dangers that would be presented to us if the polar ice caps were to melt. We have changed the wind, and we have changed the water.

This is all unnerving. The bad news does seem to continue in an uninterrupted chain with no end in sight. The only good news we can hope for is our continued stride in combating global warming with innovative ideas, and the promise of political action in terms of regulation. We must persevere in the effort to mitigate our impact on the global environment (including climate). We must continue to call for realistic and actionable ideas that will result in a smaller carbon footprint and a cleaner, greener planet. We must continue to pressure lawmakers and world leaders to initiate and enforce regulations that will work for the best interest to the human race and the planet. We must create our own good news, because no one is willing to do it for us.

Sci-Fi Becoming Science

Here is a video that shows us that there are people who are coming up with these radical ideas that were once considered science fiction and showing that they are scientifically and realistically achievable. I wish all the luck to the individuals in this video. I hope more people catch on and start developing the ideas that will lead to a cleaner tomorrow where human impact on the environment and climate has dropped in drastic ways. Thanks to treehugger.com for posting the story.