Declaration of New Patriotism
Global warming is the crisis of our time.
As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s birthday, we renew our commitment to the qualities and values that have guided our nation for more than 200 years.
We the undersigned, pledge to:
- Be mindful consumers, by minimizing our personal global warming “footprint;”
- Be active citizens, by pressing our elected officials to take urgent action now, and by pressing all candidates for office to commit to passing strong legislation to cut America's global warming pollution;
Please help us add to this declaration. Add your comments by clicking "Comments" or "Post a Comment" below.
Thank you.
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«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 1223 Newer› Newest»A patriot recognizes that she or he is first a citizen of the Earth and as such is responsible to the greater collective. Actions which hurt the whole--overconsumption, waste, disregard for ecosystems that know no national boundaries--are unjustifiable.
Being a patriot means putting all of your effort into something that will benefit our country and the world: in this case, the reduction of global warming pollution.
We should educate others, especially minors, about what everyone can do to fight global warming. They're the children of the world, so we want them to inherit a great Earth... and help to make it greater.
I think we should add a bullet point that our country should put a stricter cap and limitation on the amounts on green house gases and pollution tht businesses can generate. And if the companies don't comply then they need to be penalized and fined for not abiding by our company laws to save the envoirnment. Also back and support "green" businesses. Maybe offer tax breaks or special funding for businesses that want and do conduct their business in a way that contributes to saving our world. Also support and push more of our citizens to buy more energy safe, Including hybrid cars, energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. Help people of the community to better energy safe their homes. Maybe take all of our tax payer dollars that are funding illegal immigrants health care and food stamps and roll that into grants for home owners to put in solar pannels,or for more energy effiecient heating and cooling. I think that our counrty is missmanaging our tax payer dollars. Instead of wasting our money on federal funded companies CEO salaries and Illegal immigration funding(including letting them get liscences without legal proof of citizenship that causes wrecks and accidents that our police, city and government officials are wasting there salaries and time that "WE" pay for on.) State funded health care, food stamps and grants for schooling for illegal immigrants is a waste of our hard earned money that could be put toward saving our country, our envoirnment and our world!!! Our country should start backing green officials to run our house and senate. Plus the next election we have people, PLEASE vote for a president that is focused on backing the people of this country and saving our enviornment so that we can exist, instead of ignoring what the counrty is telling them about the decision they make about the outcome of our country!!! We cannot agree with every decision that our next president makes but we can agree on one subject...Our world is falling apart and if we do not do something about it now.. we may not be here in fifty years..our childeren may not have a future..our world may cease to exist as we know it today. So if we want to keep our lives and the state its in now our even better it we have to make a decision and make changes..vote for a president that backs a green country!
First we have to learn to love our home, our local space, for "we will not fight to save what we do not love." (Stephen Jay Gould) Next we need to make positive steps in our own behavior to lesson our impact on the planet. Here are 5
Refuse to buy things we do not need or that we can barrow when rarely needed.
Adapted from David Holmgren "Permaculture"
Reduce the number of things we need to a minimum, and reduce our energy use as well.
Repair things before exercising other options
Reuse things that can be reused, and attempt to buy perishable items in reusable packaging you bring.
Recycle all those items that can be recycle in a way that mimics natural ecosystems.
Finally, rely on healthy natural ecosystems as our inspiration for the way we should live.
There are no national boundaries when it comes to the care of the planet. We all are brothers and sisters on this beautiful ball we call earth. No country has the right to do as they please and do things that harm the earth. It could be compared to trying to get away from the smoke in the non-smoking section in a restaurant with no wall of separation. We only have a right to do what does not harm others.If what a country wants to do will harm others around the world, then they have no right to do it. Being a patriot means taking the responsibility to leave future generations a safe and beautiful place to live.
There are no national boundaries when it comes to the care of the planet. We all are brothers and sisters on this beautiful ball we call earth. No country has the right to do as they please and do things that harm the earth. It could be compared to trying to get away from the smoke in the non-smoking section in a restaurant with no wall of separation. We only have a right to do what does not harm others.If what a country wants to do will harm others around the world, then they have no right to do it. Being a patriot means taking the responsibility to leave future generations a safe and beautiful place to live.
There are no national boundaries when it comes to the care of the planet. We all are brothers and sisters on this beautiful ball we call earth. No country has the right to do as they please and do things that harm the earth. It could be compared to trying to get away from the smoke in the non-smoking section in a restaurant with no wall of separation. We only have a right to do what does not harm others.If what a country wants to do will harm others around the world, then they have no right to do it. Being a patriot means taking the responsibility to leave future generations a safe and beautiful place to live.
I believe patriotism is loving your country in a way that looks toward its FUTURE health (environmental and human), FUTURE stability (econmonic and political), and its future place in the world. As nation of innovators, we have the opportunity to truly lead the world. Today's young adults can be another "greatest generation." This generation can build on the legacy of the 20th century environmental movement by putting 21st century science and technology to work on the challenges before us. A nation committed to the future -- not just its present desires -- is a nation of patriots.
A patriot is someone who honors all life at every level in every habitat with love and compassion. The patriot will support this life with strength and commitment and action that forwards the evolution and wellbeing of that life. A patriot works to make equality real, lasting and honored.
Government leaders and individuals must take SERIOUS STEPS NOW....not wait until the 'writing on the wall' blots out all else.
Rich G. said..
It's the only world we got let's take care of it.
Patriots usually make some sort of sacrifice.
One form of patriotism, since we are a nation of the people, by the people and for the people, is to be a candidate for office to oppose anyone who is voting against and opposing environmentally progressive policies.
For example, the Republican Majority/Minority Leader John Boehner, Ohio 8th Congressional District, has consistently voted against all environmental improvemnets and has led his party to do the same.
The definition of a patriot should be globalized. Earth's population is growing as such that we need to consider the whole earth and all those within if changes are to be made that protect all life forms on earth.
A patriot- a loyal individual who works hard for the good of all and respects the environment and the planet we live on. A patriot works to protect life and relieve others from strife.
True patriots do not get paid for service. True patriots serve OTHERS, not themselves.
I think we should add a point that being a responsible citizen and making our pollitician stand and up and be responsible also doesn't mean that we are not patriotic.
Also allow part of this world for the animals of this planet and not try to destroy these that really need our protection. Really if we don't no one will.
True patriots do not get paid for their service. True patriots serve OTHERS, not themselves.
This planet does not belong to the human race but to all species of life . We need a global community outlook on the future of the environment and respect for all nations.w
Think Green... not Greed.
We need love to Earth and all the lives in it from now to forever. Restrain population and resources usage is the key to love Earth. Please see the following Web site for Earth Policy.
http://www.earth-policy.org/
Please include a bullet that speaks to educating all people of the necessity of becoming caring stewards of our nation/planet so that our environmental heritage can be passed on through the generations. That will, of course, require efficient clean renewable energy, safe water, green building, efficient auto fuel, more public transportation, protected animal habitat and the will of the people to make this happen and then to participate.
The people of this country need to sacrifice some of their energy filled living. Turn the thermostat up higher when it is hot and lower when it is cold. Take only necessary local trips that are planned to accomplish more than one task. If you receive several publications consider eliminating some of them, such as the ones that you do not read or do you no good. If you are a homeowner, insulate your home; buy energy conserving appliances; turn off energy consuming items that are not in use. Mimimize packaging by not taking bags or boxes when you can carry the item without adding another bag or box. Recycle whatever you can. War is wastful so urge our national government to avoid it unless the nation is attacked and the enemy is identified specifically and the location of this enemy is identified specifically. Then if war is the case encourage Congress to pass a draft law so we can all participate in the danger zone. Otherwise it becomes only the praetorium guard doing this and they are trapped having given up most of their rights.
These truths are self evident that we who live upon this Earth swear to defend all its' resources; its' atmosphere, land and water and will use all available resources, to protect our planet, maintain its' biodiversity and a sustainable environment for all Earths inhabitants for this and future generations to come. We will defend our planet and adopt our policys and behaviors in such a way that brings us into planetary balance with envoironmental stability and sustainability. We will manage our lives and our growth in a way that is Green, using all renewable resources, wind, sun, water, waste with new technology that will bring our foot print to zero for each person on the planet. One people in one country cannot do this alone. This Declaration is for all people of all countries to know and take to heart, so that we and scores of species will not perish from this earth.
Patriots support good government, and must correct their government when it's wrong, or makes "mistakes".
Become vegetarian or, even better, vegan.
...to help discern from the facts and fictions of global warming and its negative effects on the earth now and in the future, and to turn America into a leader for every other country who wishes to turn the ill fate of the planet around.
being adult enough to say we need to sacrifice our current pleasure and ease for the well being of those who come after us. There's only one earth - so we can use our intelligence and passion to make a difference in a positive way -- and consider the well being of everyone as we make choices.
We need hydrogen fuel cells NOW. We must demand clean renewable energy now. We need very high NATIONAL standards in LAW to reduce pollution of all autos, trucks, tractors, motor vehicles of every type NOW. We have got to stand up to Big Oil. They will still sell every last drop at a very high profit, but Americans can do better. America must show the way to clean energy and lead the race to get it for the whole world. Anything less is irresponsible and deadly to the planet. We are already years and years too late at stepping up to the plate. And NO NEW COAL fired power plants.
All citizens should have the right to free education and health. By keeping ourselves educated and healthy we can make better choices and depend less on others.
Our education should include true knowledge and respect for nature and all its living creatures. Metaphysical studies should be added in order to understand how all is connected.
Our legal system needs to be revamped urgently. Our elected leaders should be more accountable for their actions and/or inactions. Why wait four years to get rid of a President if he/she does not perform according to its citizens need. Why keep Senators, judges, etc. for life if they become ineffective? Why does the justice system have a revolving door for criminals? Why do we build more jails and house so many criminals? Prisoners only loose their freedom by choice but have free amenities - in contracts some citizens have freedom but no roof over their heads, nor 3 square meals a day or a bed to sleep on. What was their crime?
As a society we need to reevaluate our priorities and the value we place on things. How can a teacher make such a low salary with such a responsibility of treaching our future leaders yet entertainers for instance, make enough in one week that they could easily feed a village in a third world country.
Our country is in a mess and our forefathers must be rolling in their graves. Certainly they would have not predicted that we couldn't adjust according to their principal ideas.
If Environmental Defense wishes to use the symbol of the Declaration of Independence in this way, the declaration whould be much more than a blogged environmental "to-do" list. You should request that one of our great writers, theologians or poets (such as Bill McKibben or Sallie McFague) work on a document that will eloquently express the principles which lie beneath our environmental advocacy. For example:
"Declaration of Interdependence"
Whereas human activity has polluted the water, air, and earth extinguishing thousands of species of life; whereas human selfishness and tyranny has led to wars, disease, and poverty that diminishes all life on earth; whereas the world's scientists, global leaders, military experts, and business leaders warn that our planet's health is in jeopardy; whereas...etc. it becomes necessary for the citizens of the world to rise up and declare our interdependence upon each other and on all forms of life on planet Earth.
We the citizens of the Earth hold this truth to be self-evident: that all life is sacred. That, whether you believe life is created by God or by a miraculous evolutionary moment, humans cannot sustain Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness while wreaking Death, Tyranny and irreversible destruction on the planet....
I will not spend any more time on this as I know it will only get lost in the blogosphere, but I urge anyone who does read this post to find ways to inspire others to a different way of thinking rather than impose your own dogma.
Who would ever have been inspired to lay down their life to fight their former king by a laundry lists of shoulds or wants? People were inspired by grand ideas of freedom and liberty not by edicts to drink coffee instead of tea.
As human inhabitants of this planet, we are born with opportunities and responsibilities--however our socio-economic-political structures enable us to act on those opportunities and responsibilities. This arrangement is finite, based on the health of the planet that offers them to us. Our choices define us and comprise our legacy. We know what to do.
Patriotism can be blinded by deceptive Education. Americans have been taught all their lives to consumes Fossel Fuels by Government and Big Business; their motive is profit and power. We need to re-educate those that follow blindly, this teaching. No matter what God you may beleive in, one truth is undeniable: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This has been taken away from us and our children by the few that run this country. They have denied us the technology for alternitive power by making sure the cost was out of reach for the working class.That has ended and if you look in the right place Solar, Wind and Hydro is now cheap enough for everyone. We need to take back control of our country and protect Mother Earth from those that would destroy her and Us for profit.
I believe it is very important for companies to start using recycled materials instead of new materials. If we can get these companies to understand their impact and how much of their products are going into the earth instead of being reused it could make a big change for the world.
I also would love to see each state make it a mandatory for their residents to recycle. I see every day water bottles and tons of pop cans or bottles on the side of the road and it makes me so discussed how little people care when they litter.
A prerequisite for patriotism is having integrity: the courage and conviction to do what is right regardless of whether it is popular or sanctioned by the greater majority. We need to show our patriotism by exemplifying integrity at every opportunity. If we refuse or fail, our civilization and environment will certainly collapse due to our own stupidity.
Elliott Brown
Collins, MS
To me a patriot is a person who will defend his country and expects his government to uphold our Constitution and enforce ALL the laws, not just the ones they find convenient. He also expects the government to be honest, truthful and to not start wars with other countries for no sound reason.
Encourage others to make a difference such as changing their regular light bulbs to compact fluorescents. These bulbs can last as much as up to 10 times longer than a regular 60 watt bulb. Therefore, every bulb switched means they save money and carbon monoxide every year.
A Patriot is generous, kind, and open-minded. A Patriot is tolerant of other peoples, other creed and other religions. A patriot is a guardian to not only our ideals, friends, family and neighbors, but also our land and our planet. A patriot puts those ideals before all other concerns. A patriot does what is right – not what may be popular or to maximize revenues.
We have seem to forgotten this in this country. It is time that we move back to our Nation’s Heart and Soul!
Use less electricity by Mandating businesses in America who do not operate in a 24hr capacity to turn off their business signs after a certain hour. Adopt this concept globally to conserve.
My uncle used to say that we needed an invasion of aliens to unite this world. Now we have such a threat, but it is not an alien invasion, it is global warming. It is too late in the history of this planet to be a patriot devoted only to one country. We must all be patriots of the world, and that means working togeth to fight our common enemy through conservation, new technologies,and above all, personal responsibility.
A patriot is a person who realizes that we all share in the resources of this country. And that it is a civic duty to minimize spoiling our resources if only out of care for our neighbors, and to use them wisely so that we all have a chance at a sustainable American Dream.
Calling Oneself a Capitalist is no excuse for denuding the planet of every resource and screwing our neighbors [read each other and ourselves] for the hopes of wallowing in piles of the Almighty Dollar.
Someone once told me that you can live without your birth mother but you cant survive without your Earth Mother.
This nation was founded on concepts of freedom, liberty and equality. Relying on these guiding principals we established ourself as a powerful nation, but we must be benevolent in our strength. There are no more nations, we are all linked, there is only one home and we all know its name. The earth must be protected, it is an intrinsic part of freedom, liberty and equality. We have made a mistake and poisoned our mother, now we shall use our ingenuity to find a cure and ensure a golden future. The time is now, LIFE must go on.
Two goals could be accomplished at the same time. We can keep garbage out of landfills, and recycle it into energy. Any competent engineer can tell you that oil is created by using compression. The Germans were running their cars on potatoes in 1945!
If I can make a difference by recycling, switching to CFLs, insulating my hot water heater, using a programmable thermostat and replacing a/c filters monthly, then anyone can...these are simple and painless ways to fight global warming...
"We must always act with the knowledge that the earth was not given to us by our parents, it is loaned to us by our children.
Earth Day should expand to everyday. When my daughter asked why we use recycled toilet paper, change light bulbs, etc., I tell her I am doing it for her and the children to come. Please do it for the children.
I would like to state that it is not only patriotic to care about the Americans of today but to make sure that there are Americans of tomorrow and that they have the same opportunities and enjoyment that Americans of today have. We need to protect the environment for Americans of the future. And we need to protect the quality of life for Americans of tomorrow.
Some people think it is their American right to drive a hummer or pollute however they want. They also believe that it is their American right to have as many children as they want. But I add that it is my right as an American to drink clean water from a stream and be able to hear frogs and see birds when I go to a wilderness area. It is my right as an American to be able to eat fish I catch in a lake and not have to worry about mercury poisoning. It is also our children's right to have a low risk for mental disorders such as autism and adult's right to have low risk of cancer. It is our right to be able to own land and not be overcrowded by a burgeoning population. It is my right as an American to safely visit other countries and not have other cultures hate me because of the bad politics of the current administration.
How sad of a world it might be if future Americans don't have the same opportunities to see birds and hear frogs like we were able to. Or if mother's aren't able to breast feed their own babies because of fear that they will give their child mercury poisoning, which is currently starting to happen. And if there are no more places for families to go and escape the cities and relax without people around. And Americans can't visit other cultures to learn about the rest of the World.
We seem to be heading in this direction.
Robert C. Jadin, Ph.D student in Quanitative Biology
The original system of checks & balances should apply to everything that benefits a country. Economy, and consumerism that benefits not only the members of the country, but the environment and the impact on the environment and also the impact our country has on other countries. Self centered patriotism will not accomplish this goal. I also would like to comment on anonymous who said:
...
Moving away from our materialistic culture is tightly coupled with protecting the environment. We as a people need to take step back, look within ourselves and see what our needs really are. Do we need so many articles of clothing? Do we need to wear makeup? I believe this is the key first step for a long and lasting solution to global warming and other environmental issues. If our lives are simplified, so will our problems!
My thoughts exactly!!! Not only do I dislike wasteful consumerism I dislike large, expensive, bulky handbags and designers who disrespect environmentally sound products. All members of this country should be able to respect a sound environmental doctrine and yes there is a way for them to still profit from that.
I think we need to infuse environmental stewardship into our education system. Children are the one's who will need to really deal with our actions.They need to understand the problems and learn to live in a transitioning world. Changing light bulbs isn't going to stop clobal warming alone.Being a patriot involves taking responsibility and standing up for what is right and just even in the face of opposition. It is also protecting what you love. If children are taught the fragility, grace, and sustenance that nature provides, they will learn to live in a way that nourishes nature and the human spirit.
I think that somewhere in the preamble of such a declaration we should something along the lines of,
"A Patriot is a responsible steward of our environment who believes that that, as such, one should"......followed by the bullet points that define the necessary and sufficient items from the multitude of suggestions in the comments that have been submitted.
Ones whom recycle everyday.
Children are smart. They know that at best, they face a diminished world. 'At worst' is unthinkable, and they think it every day. We have a deep moral obligation to prevent this worst-case scenerio looming over us, and to embrace the brilliant ideas that will make the best of our changed world. I'm a teacher, and I'm very worried for the future of my young students. I have no children of my own, and I am relieved.
Anonymous
A patriot is one(without thoughts of themselves but of others),at a moments notice,will defend his or her beloved country,its people,and the surroundings.
I think that companies should be held to the same rules of recycling that we follow in our homes. They produce so much more, they need to be much more carefull about what they use and how they dispose of what they no longer need.
A patriot is one who cares about his country and it's impact on the planet. A patriot recognizes that he is not only a citizen of one country but is a world citizen as well. And finally, a patriot understands his attitude towards the natural world and it's animals is reflected in his behavior. To be patriotic means acting like a species that knows it is a part of the whole and that it's behavior affects that whole. Patriots care. And not just about one country, one person or one family. Mary
Responsible consumerism not only should be the basis for our economy, it should be required. Designers do not respect environmentally sound products and act exempt from going green. Waste is Waste, too many clothes, shoes, and handbags along with non recyclable cell phones add to an unsound way of life for any country.
Do you see the world changing?
All around you life evolves.
Our Earth IS Our Life.
We Live For Our Earth.
We Act On Behalf Of Ourselves.
How We Represent Ourselves Is Changing.
Our Earth Is Changing Our Minds.
Billions Of Minds Are Better Than One.
Billions Of Minds Are Creating One.
In God, In Earth, In Ourselves.
Dreaming Love Of Life's Healthy, Happy, Helpingness.
This is one of the most important issues in the world. It shocks me that for so long it wasnt taken seriously. But now, finally, thanks to your hard work, people are beginnning to see the problems. And I mean only JUST beginning. I think education from an early age in schools should be considered, and it should be treated seriously. When people don't take things seriously, they pretend it does not exist. When it doesn't exist, you can't take action. When people dont take action, it gets forgotten. When its forgotten, its not taken seriously. Theres your vicious circle people. DO SOMETHING.
Keep it all up ;)
A patriot is not only someone who loves, supports, and defends his or her country, but is also someone who champions a place, cause, or ideal. Wouldn’t it be nice if history looked back at us as the patriots of the Green Movement – those who fought to save our own country from the ravages of global warming and who set an example that people throughout the world sought to emulate?
The voice of protest, of warning, of appeal is never more needed than when the clamor of fife and drum, echoed by the press and too often by the pulpit, is bidding all men fall in and keep step and obey in silence the tyrannous word of command. Then, more than ever, it is the duty of the good citizen not to be silent
The world has changed a lot since 1776. Our Founding Fathers were some very wise men to have laid a groundwork that has worked so well for over 200 years. It is our duty to take that great work and add updates that work for our modern issues in that same Spirit. The wise men and women! of our time need to step up. That is my ideal Patriotism...
The world has changed a lot since 1776. Our Founding Fathers were some very wise men to have laid a groundwork that has worked so well for over 200 years. It is our duty to take that great work and add updates that work for our modern issues in that same Spirit. The wise men and women! of our time need to step up. That is my ideal Patriotism...
A Patriot cares more about keeping the nations safe than keeps their friends happy.
A Patriot realizes that there are people who hate the United States and will try to destroy it no matter how much some people try to "negotiate" and believe in "good will".
A Patriot will take abuse from people who would rather give up freedom than try to preserve it if it gets to uncomfortable.
A Patriot knows that sometimes protecting freedom will cost lives, and aches at that thought, but aches more at the thought of surrendering to those who would take from us the freedoms won by generations of Americans before us.
Always puts other people, the country and their faith before themselves.
I pledge Allegiance to the Earth and to all it's inhabitants thereon, One world to which we live, in harmony, cooperation, colaboration, tools for our survival, with liberty and justice for all.
Swift River Hawk,
Oromocto
An inspiring declaration begins with vision and proceeds to particulars. This needs more up front, maybe something like:
-to envision far future generations enjoying the same rights to a healthy life for body and mind that we assume today.
-To act urgently, now, to ensure the realization of that vision.
I think we should educate all the schools about global warming. Also we as a nation should be more energy affective and aware of global warming.
The new patriotism is reason. We need a new "Common Sense" for the masses. Rather than making emotional appeals to patriotism, we should be promoting a rational appeal for the future of the human race. Patriotism has many admirable qualities, and we need to be as strong as our Founding Fathers in demanding the reform needed to combat global climate change. But ultimately we need people to let themselves be open to the facts.
All future human beings live "downstream" from us. Patriotism means protecting them by supporting companies and organizations that are working to create the ability to drive electric vehicles recharged by the sun, and by conscious consuming of products that are either a biological or a technical nutrient at the end of their life cycle. Use products that can be recycled, and buy products made from recycled material. Work you fossil fuel consumption for personal transportation down to zero.
- Streamline metropolitan traffic flow and car parks
- Beat traffic congestion that poses an event horizon for green tech. The traffic
congestion will outpace green technology and eat up all the green-tech energy-
saving advantages.
- Build 350 km/h interstate bullet train systems to deal with weekend and holiday
getaway traffic
- Get rid of tollbooths and find ergonomic solutions to wireless broadband toll
collections methods(DMPP) other than Electronic Toll Collections(ETC) featuring
RFID tags
- Look into potential intermodal delays arising out of multi-modal mass transit
and find ergonomic solutions. Optimize HOV(High Occupancy Vehicle) policy to
avoid waste of road efficiency
- Regenerate biotope and build green rooftops or photosynthetic rooftops
- Support ESTOMMA – ergonomic solutions to man-made afflictions
- We are the environment. Do not fight Global Warming, which is Mother
Nature’s another face, but learn to tame it
Patriotism is the carefully enforced albeit altogether mistaken idea that any of us is separate from any others of us humans.
It well serves capitalism, which is enforced de facto by imperialism. It militates against socialism.
A Matriot speaks out againt the primary act by humans that created the current death of Earth: human over-population.
Get rid of the SUVs and reinstate the 55 mile an hour speed limit nation wide - enforced...Tony Austin
Webster's definition of a patriot is "One who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests". Capitalism has taught us to be greedy over-consumers, only thinking of ourselves. We need to put the interests of our country and our planet first. Contact your government representatives and tell them you will support them only if they support global warming initiatives.
I think that we should have people go to schools and educated people about global warming. Not only should we educate students but we should also explain why we should take this problem into our own hands, along with anouncing how they can help so that they t can make a difference.
Think before you buy. Will this product be enviromentally friendly. For example, if you can afford a luxury vehicle instead buy a vehicle that may be less comfortable but friendlier to the enviroment. Do this to all your purchases. Do the right thing.
Global Warming Free Patriotism -
At this point in time it's clear
I am here and I know what I want now
I'm awake now, no going back to sleep now
And somehow I move on
Each day getting older and I want something to show for it somehow
I'm going to use my words to say
Going to use my words as my way to touch those who need me
The ones who are asleep and can't see
It's so clear now
I'll use my words to wake their minds
Maybe then they
Will find out what their here for
What ever makes them truly happy, may they experience it fully
That is what will make me happy
That is why I'm in this place right now
Trying to find a way to touch the human world somehow
To open their minds to see through their inner eye
At the places that they can join in helping ourselves from this world today
So here is what we must do, come together like one plus one is two
To save all that we have, until we are part of history's past
Which will not happen unless we all open our eyes and see
That this is our time now, our world, our responsibility now
I'm shouting out loud to all those who feel me
Spread these words until it's understood and then we'll see how happy we can all truly be
They are
AYIN SHIN LAMED
Global Warming Free
Ban plastic bags and offer tax deductible canvas or hemp bags (colored red, white and blue) for affordable prices to every man, woman and child.
I think that we should eliminate cars that are ruining the environment, and cut back on stuff that we don't need, such as leaf blowers, that hurt the environment just as much as a hummer!
We also need to show the rest of the world that this is reality, too many people think that it's nothing and nothings happening because of it, but its getting warmer and warmer out and the seasons are a f****d up.
Take personal responsibility.
I believe we should be good stewards of this fragile planet. I love my country but I question the wisdom of our leaders. Patriotism is not following orders blindly but obtaining as much knowledge about governmental and corporate decisions that affect all human beings where ever they may live. Also make purchases that do as little harm as possible to our land, sea, and water. Talk with your pocketbook as that is the loudest message we can give to those who make critical decisions about how we live, what we breathe, what we eat, etc.
To be a truly Great Patriot in America, we need to educate students in schools about the consequences of global warming as part in the normal curriculum, we need to be waste conscious, we need to always remember that the pollution that humanity creates could destroy the smallest of species that are neccessary to keep the ecosystem in balance, we need to remember that various organisms or other species, whether it be in the ocean, on land or in the air, they are all dependent on each other to survive and maintain the ecosystem balance, if one species disappears then so does another, and when a particular species disappears such as honey bees that seem to be dying off mysteriously, we risk the extreme innevitablity of crop failure all over the world, and when the oceans rise loss of land creates a shortage of land which makes it harder to afford. The Bottom Line is everything we do or don't do leads to a more difficult way of Life on earth. So we need to remember that we only have 1 Earth we need to take care of it and maintain it like we would a good vehicle and it will take care of us. As the old saying goes "You can't fool Mother Nature". Be considerate of Life around you not be selfish and wasteful, and maybe there is still time to reverse some of the damage mankind has done.
we need to be more fuel effecient and have volunteers go to schools and work places to teach people of what we can do to slow doown global warming.
I think its a little to late to start planning we should be inforcing at this point.There should be a law to only buy recycled products, there should be an auto restriction day where no one is allowed to drive there own personal vechicle unless there from the goverment or have legitment reasons too. I am not tryin to sound or be a dictator, But were talking about our Planet this isnt just a city, state, or country, this is the PLANET. The only one were different species live as far as we know. I think think people need to stop worrying about finances and crap cause reality is already hitting us right in the face. Its time for the goverment to wake up and stop worrying about oil, get rid of its junk. I stand up for all the rights for every other creature that is forced to live on the same planet as we do. We are the destructors of this planet, who commit war in the name of greed. Money is numero uno on why this planet is the way it is and its time for change!
We should add a statement about acting always with responsibility to the next seven generations, being stewards of the land we will pass to them.
In a world of seven billion humans, a true patriot remains conscious of his individual and collective ecological footprint. When thinking of global warming, think also of the impact of family size on this and other environmental issues. PERHAPS NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING WRONG. THERE MAY BE JUST TOO MANY OF US DOING IT!
we need to do something right now before it is too late. i would like to see my grandchildren be able to breath. i am so glad that i have the knowledge to help change it.
The past is gone, The present is but a fleeting moment. It is the future where we will live.
The future requires a clean and healthy environment. For ourselves and future generations.
We can no longer afford to be patriotic to one nation. We have to become global citizens.
The faith of humanity and future generations demand that we become a global community.
I'd love to see all Americans come together as a nation under God and press the issue of requiring all companies, big or small, to name ALL ingredients on their product packages so that we as consumers will be well informed and have a choice as to what we would like to bring into our homes. I would also like to see Americans demand we ban all toxic chemicals from the things we in the general public use. There are too many chemicals being dispersed on a daily basis that are destroying our environment and our God-given right to be healthy.
A Patriot will wake up to the fact that the military industrial complex has taken over our government. The percentage of our money/energy that goes to the military is obscenely out of proportion to the money spent to support the people and the environment. Who profits? Follow the money.
Patriots will realize their power as a group and make the change happen
Looking up towards the sky watching planes and jets traveling across the sky putting out polution. Space ships going out of our atmosphere putting holes in the layers leads me to believe global warming is caused by these more than anything else. A way they could help (knowing the $ is more important) is to have no fly days atleast 4 days a week...yeaks, but i have to get somewhere quick...we all have to scarifice to same our world..
May 15, 2007 2:51PM
We the people of the United States, in order to provide for a more healthy earth,
(I suggest beginning with that or a similar phrase)
Sara
Love requires sacrifice and care. We love our country and our planet. We are willing to sacrifice in order to amend the century of destruction that preceeded the crisis today: Advocate Zero Population growth. Reduce consumerism.
Work for responsible government.
Develop wind and solar energy.
Think beyond self.
Believe one person can make a difference.
Rethink what "The Good Life" means.
Live simply and survive.
Planet Earth is our only home in the unimaginably endless void of the Universe. We are a microscopic bubble of self sustaining life, and we don't know of any other life anywhere but here.
We must take care of our planet so it will in turn care for us. This means we must be responsible inhabitants of our planet. The future of mankind and all natural life on Earth depends on our ability as people to recogize the importance of this and modify our human habits accordingly. The activities of modern human life show no regard for the sensebilities that nature and our planet require. We must act now to change our living practices and reduce our impact on the Earth. We must conserve resources. We must replace the systems we use for transportation and to generate power. There are fantastic alternatives. We must unite against the wasteful and polluting habits of society. We must unite against the misguided corporations, politicians and governments that fight to maintain those bad habits. We must make drastic changes if we are going to maintain the health of our planet and stop our influence on Global Warming.
We should be Oil independent, by using Electric Cars. We as a nation were inches from this idea in 1996 when GM made an Electric Car that went 120 miles before having to be recharged, but it was so good they destroyed them.
It should be in the constitution that we respect, support and care for our environment and never allow anything to hinder our environment, our planet.
Also that we respect all species on our planet..and stop ruining habitats.
Trees are the lungs of the planet and we must guarantee clean air and clean water and nutrients for them. We must be committed to preserving the trees we have while planting and nurturing more trees every year. Cities and counties and even states and nations should create an incentive program so that people will plant trees and so that builders and developers will work harder to design around trees rather than destroying them.
Being a Patriot is giving my only son to fight for World Freedom.
As patriots, society needs to reattach to the idea of sacrifice; It is not giving up something or being involved in something because it is easy and comfortable to do so: The factory farms are responsible for enormous pollution, consumption, and barbaric cruelty in their greedy haste to feed the world's meat-addicted consumers. "You cannot be a conservationist and a meat eater at the same time." Many empathize with the plight of billions of the earth's other inhabitants, but on the large scale, most will not sacrifice their addiction for the greater good. This is something everyone can do!
"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." Mother Theresa
Strictly defined, patriotism is love of one's country.
While I think human notions of boundaries and nation-states need to radically change in the 21st century, and that the US must assume its place as one nation among many, I have always defined patriotism as acting in ways and supporting people, policies and programs that one feels are in the best interests of one's country.
By the above definition, it becomes ludicrous to assail the "patriotism" of any who question the Bush administration, its actions and/or policies at home and abroad.
Samuel Johnson once wrote that patriotism was the last refuge of scoundrels.
Since Dr. Johnson's time I think patriotism has been confused with and coopted by jingoism and hysteria; people no longer know the difference, and that's unfortunate, because most of the self-proclaimed patriots I have encountered -before and after September 11, 2001- have been rather insular, unquestioning folk who decidedly lean toward jingoism.
Perhaps there should be something in a new definition of patriotism about remaining informed; understanding basic civics/civic duty; responsibility to the environment/planet and, particularly, to one's fellow human beings?
There is a role for the government but it seems to me that OUR government is too fat to move. It always a day late and a trillion dollars short. So the revolution will happen with or without the government. A good example is what happened with TXU in Texas. We need more green partnerships between companies and environmental groups like Environmental Defense that circumvent the government. Governmental caps on carbon production for, let’s say, US steel manufacturers will only cause China to produce more steel (and more carbon!) We need more innovative ways to produce and use products with renewable energy…and on a global scale! Its time to: Think Globally and Act Globally! We need Global Patriots!
a true patriot cares for the land below, and air above, the geopolitical markings made by men wielding power. a true patriot will fight to stop wasteful human habits and begin healing the land, lest shortsighted economics write an irrevocable and final testament of ruthless human folly. a patriot's duty and loyalty extends beyond human settlements and into the worlds inhabited by all living things on earth.
A bullet point emphasizing the need to make going green affordable to all Americans. Right now it is prohibitively expensive to buy organic in many communities, and while you can save in the long run by buying more efficient light bulbs, appliences, etc not everyone can afford to make that initial cash outlay. Part of being a patriot is a commitment to improving life for all.
True patriotism is to be courageously vigilant, safeguarding the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. To defend our American experiment against all threats, foreign AND DOMESTIC. We should be willing to go to the mattresses to defend the American way, as visualized by our founding fathers, so that the world will always be able to find its way in what can be a dark enslavement.
I believe that making recycling necesarry in schools would help tremendously. Imagine how much paper could be salvaged, along with all of the aluminum and plastic from students who buy beverages.
In the 21st Century, we must be global patriots. Since Americans are the biggest energy consumers in the world, we must be the first to step forward to reverse the effects of our consumption and start to heal our world. To be a patriot is to show that we not only care about our environment but about all of nature's creations - especially its people.
An American patriot is one who defends the freedoms and ideals on which this country was based and who demands that we act with moral responsibility in international affairs. We don't condone blind adherence to the agenda of any particular administration. Instead, we recognize that citizens in a democracy have a responsibility to be participants in defining what this country is and in holding our government accountable for how it acts on our all our behalves. This means that we often find ourselves at odds with those who believe that patriotism means not questioning. We question, we demand, we get arrested and, over time, we promote equality, fairness and justice for all.
I would like to see the concept of patriotism broadened to the world. Heidi had the right direction.
Perhaps it should be a DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE for all of humanity with each other, the biosphere and the earth
True patriotism cannot exist without a committment to the actual LAND that is one's home. True national defense comes only with a love for a certain plot of land and sky, a love that motivates us to defend it. Why is it that we believe the flag is desecrated when it touches the ground? How can a flag be sacred if the ground it symbolizes is considered unwholesome? Perceived patriotism has dwindled into a puerile touting of "my-country-is-the-best-because-it-is-mine": what we must do as citizens is portray a patriotism that includes both love and criticism, a committment to our country not as it is, but as it ought to be.
Patriotism no longer exists in our country. The present government has redefined the term as greed is good, no community activity, and now patriotism is about war, guns and bullets. This war is against caring about our citizens, our environment and the global community. We see it by the lack of interest in voting, lack of knowledge about our political system and how it effects our policy decisions. We must recognize this and begin rebuilding our country by caring about and educating our citizens, 7 days a week, and all levels.
There are so many things we should do and many are now common knowledge. Here are some other ideas:
- When gasoline prices come down, increase gas taxes to keep the price high, encouraging conservation and purchase of more fuel efficient cars. Use the tax revenue to fund alternative energy development and implementation or to give tax breaks to hybrid or other efficient car buyers.
- Require all new construction to put solar panels on the roof, either for heating hot water or electrical generation or both. Offer significant tax breaks for retrofitting older homes/buildings with same.
- Send everyone a one page summary (with a magnet) of immediate actions everyone can take to reduce global warming/waste and tell people to post it on their refrigerators as a reminder.
I truly dislike the word patriot. It implies that people should not question authority or it's interests when we all have seen how these two things can be so easily corrupted if we are not vigilant and question those two things which our government does. Patriot might as well be another word for slave as you did not question authority or the interests of your master and as we've found out that can lead us down a road of great tragedy. The first thing that comes to mind is Iran Contra where the government knowingly sold weapons to Iran for cocaine. Then at the same time were telling the American people to, "Just Say No To Drugs". This being the height of all hypocrisy has made me realise that our government cannot always be supported in every decision it makes. That is why we must be vigilant whether it comes to the environment or politics or the government's involvement with the 9/11/2001 attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon. As much as I do love my country my government continues to go against the will of it's own people and this must be stopped before it gets out of control and we completely lose the Republic for which it stands. This was never meant to be a Democracy because in a Democracy the rights of the people can be easily taken away by the majority of people even if it goes against our own Constitution that implores "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". We have been forewarned by our forefathers that we were to defend these principals or we shall lose the Republic that they had created and it is exactly what's been going on for decades now is the erosion of our rights and liberty being taken away for security. This is no longer the country men and women have died for, it's been taken over by corporations willing to do anything to enrich themselves and in their wake leaving the American people in complete distress. What more can one say but, how tragic it all really is that we have lost the most treasured of all, our own form of government that protected the rights of it's people first and foremost. Rights that have now been so eagerly voted away. So now what should I pledge my allegiance to? I have chosen the Earth because now they are willing to even destroy it to get all their riches. If we cannot save the Earth from the choking pollution it will have dire consequences for the entire human race. Is it worth so little to them that they are willing to destroy it too just to enrich themselves and their greed for more money and power? If we do not stop them that's what will surely happen, men so self absorbed they lose all moral compass. Now is the time to question and demand answers and respect the will of the people so long as it does not shred our very own Constitution. Working within these parameters as our forefathers had intended.
Sincerely, Charles Warner
Living in a consumer society, I believe that boycotting is the most powerful weapon we have against institutions posing the most threat to our world.
Has anyone heard of the 29th day concept? My physics teacher mentioned a book based on this premise but I do not recall the title or author. The concept is based on the law of exponents and offers the question, (paraphrased) “If an empty pond will be covered in 30 days with lily pads, on what day will the pond be half covered?” If the lily pads reproduce exponentially, the pond will be half covered on the 29th day. The book uses this concept to illustrate the urgency of dealing with climate change, a change that seems to progress exponentially and a phenomena that seems to be at the 29th day stage of overwhelming us. Pretty scary considering the book was written decades ago. Let’s add a 29th day bullet to the declaration for immediate action!
Do what's right for the Earth; if your patriarchal religion doesn't support that then you need to reexamine your spiritual connection. Our mother the Earth will not forgive you putting yourself and your G.W.D. (global warming device)- SUV first.
Global Warming is not just a problem that the United States is facing. This is a problem around the world. We must come together and fight global warming to save the planet, and it's living creatures!
* We will be responsible activists so that our message is clear, serious, and credible. We will do this by identifying and staying focused on a few major themes, and pushing those themes repeatedly. We will back our themes with well-vetted research and facts only so that those hostile to our goals can neither easily confuse the public regarding our message nor hijack our message and relabel our themes as irrational hysteria.
In my mind a new patriot would be an individual who insists, no demands that journalists seek the truth and tell it. Rejection of today's fourth estate i.e. sloth journalism whereby it is permissable to report spin and propaganda as newsworthy. Also, support the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine and a revisitation of FCC requirements.
Patriotism is demanding that those in office responsible for turning back environmental progress be required to explain their actions. Patriotism is exposing those in office who are, surely out of greed, opposing measures which benefit our environment. Patriotism is demanding we take back our country's political system and away from corporate and oil interests. Patriotism is demanding a fail-safe voting system which means a ban on all fully electronic voting machines and exposing polling place intimidation on live television.
Patriotism, in this case, applies not only to American citizens but to the defense of the environment for all that reside on this planet. We need all people, politicians and non-politicians, to start educating themselves and practicing 'green friendly' in all aspects of laws and living. Hopefully it is not too late to make a difference for our generations to come. Care enough to make a commitment today to do what will help us and future generations of the World.
I THINK GLOBAL WARMING HAS BECOME A BIG PROBLEM.IT'S OUR FAULT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MOTHER EARTH BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO CARE FOR IT AND EVEN IF WE DO WE JUST DON'T DO WHAT'S RIGHT.NOW WE SHOULD ALL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SOON IT WILL BE TOO LATE.A PATRIOT IS SOMEONE WHO CARES, LOVES,AND DEFENDS HIS COUNTRY AND THE ABILITY TO DEFY AND QUESTION AUTHORITY WHEN IT IS NECESSARY.
Regarding the first bullet point, well, I think we're already bought into the problem if we define ourselves as "consumers," mindful or otherwise. "Consumers" is how folks are defined by a society that views itself, first and foremost, as a commercial enterprise. With regard to any discussion regarding patriotism, I am not a "consumer," I am a CITIZEN. It is as a citizen that I'll consider my responsibilities and my allegiances, not as a "mindful consumer."
Going over the comments, I see a lot of talk about people being selfish. But people are not basically selfish. Americans are working more hours per week than ever before. We're doing the best we can for our families with what we know.
I also see a lot of comments about more sacrifice for the benefit of future generations. Yes, there is a lot of work ahead of us, but it is in order to provide a life of abundance for everyone, not sacrifice.
Biodynamic farming to build the soil rather than depleting it; Renewable energy technologies giving us an abundance of energy rather than a shortfall; economic solutions (including access to renewable energy and biodynamic farming for all peoples) for global problems instead of the destruction caused by war... Life can be good, be abundant, for everyone, now and for future generations. Working toward that goal, the best you know how, is true patriotism.
We should also remember that the earth belongs not only to us, but to all living creatures. Yet it is humans that are creating the destruction that affects all life on earth and will lead to the extinction of both plant and animal species. We have a responsibility to save the earth for future generations of people and to continue to allow the diversity of life that exists on this planet.
I believe that if we can make it easier to live in a way that is better for our environment more people will do it. Therefore, doing things like lobbying our towns and counties to set up curbside recycling for everything, even hazardous waste, lobbying and supporting better public transportation, lobbying companies to change packaging to be more environmentally friendly and educating the public as to what each of us can do, even in small ways, to live in an environmentally friendly way.
Think about pre-cycling and conservation. Do you really need a bag for a ride in the car? Conserve water and electricity.
I agree that there should be another bullet for educating other people about what they can do to help reduce global warming. I'd also like to see something acknowledging that we can help reduce global warming in all parts of our life- including business, organizations we belong to, churches, etc.
This isn't the first time overblown growth has led to economic collapse. Remember the Roaring 20's and subsequent Depression? How about a different model? We must develop a new system for assessing economic health, based not on "growth" or even "sustainability", but building a longterm foundation so future inhabitants of our planet will thrive. This means widespread cultural change. We can foster a worldwide system where women have equal rights; where families don't have 7 children in the hope 3 will survive; where girls aren't killed or abandoned because they'll never be economically independent; where everyone has access to medical care, protected clean water, food, and housing. Where separation of church and state is the norm, not the exception. If the U.S. would lead the world, we must first educate, feed, employ, house our own people. Educate the parents. The children will follow them.
being a patriot means loving and caring for one's country, all its people.It means responsibility and participation in the political process to ensure that everyone has a voice.It means being able to criticize and offer positive solutions to the problems we encounter,taking risks when needed. It means striving towards sane policies that will protect the physical and natural environment as well as the rights of all citizens.
To be a patriot we must have a country and to keep that country, no, the world, we must address the climate challlenge. Otherwise there will be nothing for which to be a patriot.
Reduce consumption in our lives. Stop living with the idea that something can be thrown away and replaced....start making things to last longer! Use and reuse things until they just can't be used any longer....and then use the parts.
Live by example!
Being a patriot means taking responsibility for our actions, our inactions and the consequences that they render, and not standing idly by while others refuse to take responsibility for their actions, inactions and the consequences.
I believe that we need to stand as a nation and pass national standard intead of individual stae standards. we also need to hold those in office accountable for making changes for the better and not hiding behind the red tape. I also believe it is our individual responsibility educate others even on the smallest changes one can make to help the pllanet be a cleaner place for tomorrow.
As true patriotic lovers of our country, we need to take responsibility, without hyperbole, for its protection. One of the most important things we can do in that regard is to protect the planet our nation rests on. If we don't do everything we can to slow -- stop if possible -- global warming, we will be responsible for rendering the physical resting place of our nation uninhabitable.
I think that in the Declaration it should say what Global Warming is, how we can treat it and what will happen in the future if we keep this up.
Education, voluntary compliance, increasingly devastating hurricanes, fires, floods, and tornados, the spread northwards of forest and crop pests, and human diseases such as Malaria -- nothing seems to drive the message into the skulls of those in power who support the fossil fuel and automotive industries, multinational corporations and the military economy.
For too long has the "economy" been the bottom line of decision-makers. The health of the Earth and the protection of all life forms must replace money and greed as our collective bottom line. The Earth and the diversity of life, and the natural cycles and processes, including air and water purification and soil production, are our only life support system. We are losing up to 55,000 entire species every year. The IPCC has estimated that we could lose up to 50% of all species within a few decades. Where will that leave us? We can't eat and drink money.
It is immoral to extinguish forever the species with whom we share this planet.
It is also astronomically stupid because our own lives utterly depend on a healthy, viable environment.
Let's change the bottom line!
I think being a patriot means putting the long-term interests of the nation first, instead of short-term profits or special interests. And it means deeply caring about the nation, now and in the future. Taking steps now to improve our environment will be benefical to everyone.
PATRIOTS TAKE PRIDE IN ACTIVELY SEEKING TRUTHFUL MEANS TO BRING JUSTICE AND REASON IN CARRYING OUT THE LAWS THAT MAKE US FREE AND KEEP OUR EARTH VIABLE IN THE UNIVERSE.
A patriot is NOT someone who supports a bad idea and unworkable, non-solution like GASIFIED COAL. PLEASE, EDF, GET WITH IT AND QUIT SUPPORTING THIS NON-SOLUTION. YOUR SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
We should not only be educating our children about global warming and the other challenges that will face them in this century, but we should be having fewer children. Human population growth is exacerbating our negative impact on the natural environment. We must both practice and teach reproductive restraint, for the good of our country and the good of our planet.
I just learned from my niece who works at a major manufacturer of light bulbs, that the new compact flourescent bulbs everyone is pushing us to use contain MERCURY AND MUST BE DISPOSED OF ACCORDINGLY (everyone look on the back of the package and then go to the website or call the number they provide and see what happens)! Millions of those bulbs lay in garbage dumps and landfills leaching mercury into the soil and the water table all over the nation. I will stop using that type of bulb until they either stop using mercury or find a safe and easy way for them to be recycled.
My niece also told me that these bulbs are made in China (can we trust China with anything?) and that Walmart, which drives the economy in this country, tried to convince the workers at her plant to sign an agreement to let China make ALL of the compact fluorescent bulbs, but the employees refused to agree to it, because it would have sent their jobs to China. THE AUDACITY OF WALMART IS MIND BOGGLING!
We must have better information provided about the measures we are taking in order to do our part to ease the effects of global warming from our light bulbs to our home heating plants and the cars we drive. Information on what is THE VERY BEST IN EACH CATEGORY should be easier to find, because not all of us are scientists!
To be good stewards of our environment is just as important as being good citizens.
As a true patriot we should educate the world about Global Warming and how to reduce our carbon footprint. We must also cut our dependence on oil and find alternative fuel. We must also be responsible to the environment and to the wildlife that it supports. We must remember that this earth was entrusted to us and we must entrust it to the generations that follow. We must learn from history before history keeps repeating itself....for the worst.
A patriot is a person who enjoys the benefits of a country and would defend, protect and give to that country all he/she can! They believe in the country and what it stands for.
Dear Anonymous,
Good Heavens, don't stop using CF bulbs! Just don't throw them in the trash. If your community does not yet have a proper recycling infrastructure, then hang onto your old CF bulbs until it does -- and militate for a recycling program.
Your concern, however, is valid. Do NOT throw CF bulbs in the trash, folks. The materials in these bulbs is nearly all recyclable, including the mercury.
Bob C.
Speaking to fellow students, I have personally seen the ambiguity of the word "patriotism" grow in recent years. The idea that a fellow tennis player had was that patriotism "means supporting the government even if you disagree with them." Taken in its most basic form, I would agree that we should obey laws or peacefully protest, but I think this student's statement has much larger implications. To unquestioningly allow the government to act out its will could be the ultimate consequentialist ideology, but the current administration has proven that their policies are based on their corporate sponsors. To truly have an ideology that supports the most people and the morality of the nation under any framework of belief, we must express our dissent and our true loyalty to the future of our nation and mankind! Left untreated, global warming will be civilization's downfall. The true patriots in the nation and the world will fight for tighter restrictions on pollution and economically sound solutions to the largest problem humanity has confronted in recent history.
A patriot is loyal to the sovereign people who are the real nation, rather than the temporary government in power, the party under which they ran, or the corporate sponsors who bankrolled that party. This is why those who fight for the long-term good of the people are always branded as unpatriotic by those who are using the nation for their own short-term gain. There is no greater long-term good for the people than the struggle against global warming and no crime greater than endangering the health of future generations for personal profit.
A true patriot cares enough to confront her/his own nation's shortcomings and works hard to make it a better nation, a better neighbor to other nations, and a better citizen of the planet.
Make us proud, America! You can do it!
I believe that we the people of the United States have the right to serve and porotect our precious home from unwanted polluters.
NEVER Litter/Dump trash. Litter breeds diseases and kills wildlife and humans.
Littered public properties are signs that local/state governmental neglect/corruption of the environment is in effect. Mandate public officials and prosecutors carry out litter abatement laws in effect in all 50 states. Send emails to all officials, which are public records and job performance review indicators, to have them get with the program and obey/enforce state environmental laws!
FROM A PUBLIC SERVANT DEDICATED TO PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT FIRST!
Since the environment's most crucial components: land, trees, air and water; are truly irreplacable, and at the same time critically important to life on this planet, they need to be safe guarded and held sacred at all times, forever; No exceptions.
At what point did someone say it was ok to dump CO into the atmosphere, or that there is a such thing as an "allowable" amount of mercury discharge into the oceans? None of it is allowable, or sustainable. Our world is truly going to be a vile place to be in a couple hundred years and it will be our own fault if we don't get seriously drastic right now.
We need to be putting every ounce of our ingenuity into finding ways to transition our lives, our companies, our transportation, our clothing, our food, our building materials, and our growth away from the pollutive conveniences they've become, and towards the sustainable, renewable, clean and efficient necessities they certainly can be.
There is no amount of money, government, cars or any other spin off of human activity that is more important than the health of the Earth. It's the only planet we have, or did I miss a meeting?!
I think there should be some text in the new declaration that says:
as citizens of this country and members of this beautiful planet, we realize that we are not the rulers of either, nor are we the most important ones here. We are co-residents with all of life and all of Earth's lands and waters and atmosphere. Because we are intimately connected with each being and part of Earth, we care for them as we would a member of our own family.
Patriots take action to defend their country. In the world we live in today, a country is defined by its borders, the land, water and air in which it has dominion. If our country is being devastated by pollution, impacted by the melting glaciers within our borders, or attacked by an increasing number of damaging hurricanes and tornados, what patriotic American wouldn't rise to the challenge of defending our nations - the land and the people - from these injuries?
What pride is there in representing a country who is one of the most harmful to the earth environmentally. We need to press politicians to take action. It's the job description of the common American.
Fight not only for what is right for ourselves...but the entire world.
I'd like to add that everyday actions make a difference, no matter how small they are.
To have a Declaration of New Patriotism, we need to go back to the original Declation of Independence to be guided. The following excerps were meant for the King of England but if one reads it now, it could also apply to to the Bush Administration.
"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. (Bush pulled out of the Kyoto Agreement)
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. (States like California are forced to enact their own carbon emmision laws because EPA won't)
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. (Guantanamo and Abu Ghareb)
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within." (Iraq War for oil)
A Patriot is one who, like the founding fathers of this great nation, is not afraid to confron the Bush Administration to tell them that what they are doing (off-shore drilling)or not doing (enacting stricter laws against polluters) is harming the greater good of the people. We the people should work together to ensure that our country go back to the Kyoto Agreement and be the leader in slowing down global warming.
Ophelia Pasibe-Glasser
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I suggest that what people need is accurate, honest information. Who's polluting? Who's not? Which transportation system reduces global warming the most? What are our options? What will they cost? How can we pay for them? People will make good decisions if they have good information. EDF can help with that.
Recognize that the world's resources are limited, so we must limit our consumption. Along with consuming less individually, we must limit our population to prevent wars and destruction of the environment over access to those resources.
We The People, must above all, be stewards of this planet & ALL it's inhabitants. We must learn to live in partnership with Earth, to utilize her bounty & resources with honor & respect. We must educate those who are unaware & firmly enforce regulations upon those who do not practice good stewardship.
The consequences if we do not, will be irreversable.
While it's easy to be overwhelmed by the scope of the problem I think it's important to focus on the little things you can do to make a difference and know that it matters!
End Detroit's manufacture of the individul and family car. Pass laws against usage except for those run by non-fossil-fuels.
Stress changing face of nation by building fast moving public transportatnion above and below ground run by water, wind and the sun. Cooked cooking oil works too.
Solar panel all buildings, private and public - old and new. Let our taxes pay for it. It will save the health and lkives of all of us, especially our children and grandchildren.
So cars as we know them=scra[[ed tp be ised for ;arge greem run commuter facilitities. NO COAL! It is dirty, carcinogenic and polluting. stop cutting off the tops of mountains No OIL. Leave the fossil fuels in the bowels of our earth and under the oceans.
Concentrate of better ways to dispose of our wast. NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS. The dolphins take them for squid and choke to death. What is our garbage doiing inthe ocean in the first place. What right do we have to endnger those sea-beings anyway?
we no longer violate our forests to grow food or build our buildings, including homes. We build GREEN. WE use user-friendly products to house ourselves, cloth oourselves and feed ourselves. WE REFOREST, not deforest. WE GROW MORE TREES EVERYWHERE ON EARTH, especially in arid areas where starvation exists and housing is practically non-existant. BUILD GREEN. PLANT TREES. HARNESS THE WIND AND THE WATER AND THE SUN, in moderation to meet the nees of the human species. No longer decimate all esle to our rapacious needs and desiresl
I know this will require major changes and change is slow.
BUT THERE IS NO MORE TIME!!!
wE NEED A REVOLUTION IN CARING FOR THE PLANET AND OURSELVES, in tht order.
IMMEDIATELY SWITCH TO GREEN, in t r ansportation, in homes, in waste, in food production and on and on.
USE THE PEOPLE'S TAXES to pay aor all this and STOP THE WARRING. Go to the table to make sure PEACE prevails. NO MORE KILLING AND WASTING HUMAN LIFE FOR CONQUEST AND GREED.
AMERICA must get sonscious and start sharing their wealth and know-how andmake and keep friends around the globe. IT'S ABOUT TIME..or we will lose it all.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness includes having such basics as clean air to breathe, both outdoors and in inside buildings, as well clean water and organic food. Being forced to breathe polluted air is making people in our country sick and worsening the health care crisis.
Let’s get Sting to write the Preamble!
”We can all sink or we'll all float…cause we’re all in the same big boat! One world is enough…for all of us!” -The Police
Everybody sing!, “It may seem a million miles away … but it gets a little closer every day….it may seem a million miles away…but it gets little closer…..”
While I loved reading many of the previous posts, many are very specific suggestions/actions one can take to help improve the climate and resources crises. Our forefathers created documents that were basic and general principles, actually a framework that has managed to continue to work despite extraordinary changes in our society and the world. I think that's what we should be striving for. If we mention specific items we think now are green, we may find them not relevant or proven just as harmful as the problem they were thought to improve. Examples: the mercury problem in florescent light bulbs; the current craze over corn to create alternative fuels when it's already known that corn is far less efficient than sugar cane, among others. I wholeheartedly support language that acknowledges our responsibility to every single individual in our country and also to the world at large - both the people and the environment. I recently said the following in a petition to ask our legislators to not back down from insisting that we end our participation the war in Iraq:
[The "backing down" has occurred again and again in the past several years, as the administration uses the deceptive strategy of "You are a traitor and disrepective of the troops if you demand an end to the war." I think the legislators have been caught in this trap of appearances because they've allowed Bush & company to define what being patriotic should mean. SUPPORT our troops by bringing them home and by DRAMATICALLY improving the health care services required by so many amputees and the other seriously wounded. SUPPORT our National Guard by bringing them home to perform the much needed functions that are no longer adequately staffed. Be a TRUE PATRIOT by spending our valuable monies on all the domestic needs that have been robbed and neglected, instead of pouring it down this bottomless pit dug by Bush and his oil bandits.]
In other words, being patriotic is to utilize our resources to best serve the people and our surroundings. Also by best serving the world by being a leader and setting the best example of peace, tolerance and responsible use of the enviroment WITHIN, we will help promote the same from WITHOUT.
Investigate the consequences of actions. Invest in responsibility.
See the big picture, not just short-term
profits.
I'd like to see emphasis on broad, quality and comprehensive education about what we do every day, the products we purchase, and in turn, the type of attitudes and corporate cultures we support. We should also focus extensively on educating the young generations of the developing countries and pressuring their governments to follow suit.
Just like other required subjects, all kids must learn starting in grade 1 about how the planet works and why we should never stop working to keep it as clean as possible by taking responsibilities for the decision we make every day. Let's also not forget about creating insentives and excitement about new renewable energy technologies. We need to produce more engineers and scientists, not divorce lawyers!!!
Being a Patriot means being responsible for this earth and the generations to follow. Patriotism means acting with ethics and a sense of community on a global scale.
We are the only species smart enough to use nearly any resource. We can destroy anything and create anything. We must protect our only home from ourselves. It's called stewardship. Sustainability is the name of the game aand is the only way for us and all other species to survive long-term coexistance with one another. This issue is the most moral of all issues. Life is precious... all life on Earth is precious.
Different communication channels should be used to promote environmental education, so that is available to everyone and people become aware of the need to preserve and protect nature; and understand the idea of "finite resources". In addition, safer and healtier alternatives/ technologies to current problems must be disseminated and implemented so that people learn that there are always better options and solutions and opportunities for everyone to gain benefit, either for business and profits or for concious consumers. Thank you!
A patriot in this case sees where is country is going a stray and attempts to correct the situation--here the U.S. is leading the world in creating CO2. A patriot
shoud be willing to alter his/her lifestyle for the greater good.
Who are patriots? They are those who ensure through their actions that future generations will have a livable country.
I believe we the people should begin to act responsibly to the earth and each other by setting an example of tolerance and respect, moderation in all things, no longer defining right and wrong by viewpoints but by moral ethics and good toward the environment and all people.
Actions influence more than words. By being environmentally conscious, one influences more people than by lecturing. One cannot expect others to change their environmental stance if we do not change ours first. That's true for the city- and the country- we live in.
Humans are the only hope to stop the destruction of this planet we live on. As stewards of "Gods" creation it is our responsibility to save all the life that will perish otherwise. We must concern ourselves with not just saving our own hides but the creatures and plantlife which makes all life possible. Deforestation will only increase as we continually rebuild due to climate change catastrophies. We need to rebuild with something other than wood, like mud. Or maybe we should not rebuild in the same place until we solve the problems which will likely reoccure in those areas? We have taken so much from Mother Earth and maybe now is the time to give something up and give it back in order to save her.
In support of truth and utilization of current science mention sould be made of the Sun & Earth connection in global warming as well as the human activities that have and are contributing to the Earth Changes.
Essentially, an important part of the overall solution to our energy needs is the prodution of, CH4, natural gas via methane digesters which will use the feces of some 300 million Americans to produce said gas. Germany had or has a wondeful project of methane production with state of the art egg shaped digesters & their accompanying holding tanks for the biproduct of CH4 gas from sewage going back as far back as 1995.
This oversite in our energy poliy of not using a resource which all homosapiens produce is detrimental to our international oil policies; & it is a cleaner burning fuel so beneficial to the atmosphere.
It is not enough to pass laws but to physically act/build or start corporations which are tuly green.
Sincerely,
Donald McPherson
People pollute and cause global warming. Start teaching birth control. What ever happened to 0 population growth?
We need more federal funding to subsidize the development of renewable energy sources so that we can be independent of not dependent upon fossil fuels.
Encourage people towards an organic lifestyle, especially organic vegetarianism, as the slaughter industry is responsible for near one-third of all energy use in this country.
Encourage people to centralize again (opposite of sprawl) and get to know their community, become involved in it. Create a society which knows how to take care of itself, grow and prepare their own toxin-free food, educate each other's children, live closer to the earth. Teach permaculture!
Education its the most important, teach to children to respect the life of anothers living beens, and to take care of our whole planet as our home.
I believe we need to suggest that we strive to keep politics out of the entire issue. Mold the New Patriotism as world citizens, not this party or that party.
Even though the politicians are the ultimate ones that pass the laws that will force changes, it cannot be a political issue that shapes what happens. The New Patriotism has to be non-political, bipartisan, without the loudmouth's on the far left and far right that cloud the entire issue.
A patriot is someone unafraid to speak their mind, even if their opinion is unpopular. A Patriot does not care if he is criticized or made fun of or shunned. A Patriot stands up for those who cannot stand upo for themselves.
mam sir i dont want it to be the law to stay dependant on forgein energy and have this conformist hack the environment attitude does your park look like a park to you with its mow everything in site and spray chemicals where we all play attitude no the wetlands and park and forest and beach has been a place for people to dump there krap along the shorelines of lakeerie the unusable canals that cant hold flood waters and the 5 hours of mowing for our park with trees and wild flowers and bushes few and far inbetween i cant pick up all the krap i find in the environment im not your baby sitter or your watch dog your a trusted public servant for your side of the road and when you apply war chemicals next to the waters edge were we git our drinking water and the people in my township whom try to tell me there threating and harrassing letters that i will git jail time and 400 dollars in fines if i dont make my yard look like a living grave yard golf course and a baseball field were will the animals stay i can not do what i want on my private property were is my right to be left alone my right to not house the military on my property my freedom of creativity and when i celebrate the 4th of july with bells whistles fireworks campfires and parades the neibors call the police the fire department and say john adams who? i want my first amendment and just compensation for the takeing of the land if this nonsense carrys on i cant have a living hedge an oasis away from the rat race my own biological buffer filtration strip in my own yard the erosion of my rights go right past my property line so bad to save what little there is i fenced in almost the whole yard i can buy the wildflower packets but cant have them and god plants medison for sick people outside the porch and they want me to throw back those gifts into gods face shame on those bad people who try to convince me that bad is good and shame on there poor urban planning practices making handicapped people speed thru traffic and bunny hop in a wheel chair and elders and children cant git from point a to b safely because of no shoulders for pedestrians our parks look like a park to you no there a place to throw garbage and those bad people who use the same garbage to pick up recycleables when we so lovingly sorted the things we want put back into circulation no wonder why these people want me to keep guzzling gass look at there big rumble trucks shure they will take care of the problem right back to the same flat top mow head that hurrassed you before talking about there well excalate this matter if you want you can only push someone so much especially in my yard people did not die in battle fields so these yahoos can keep hurassing me there were reasons why stuff gits started i dont want to die from these bad people leave me alone and tell your wife that krap your wife obviously likes that your learning nothing from the people on there roofs waving help our landscape collapsed arround us and your learning nothing from the power outage and nothing from deaths of workers in coal mines damn fools your not me and your not taking the path i am i have to fight you and you say my voice is important when noone seems to be listening ive never thought about running for anything till i saw what ignorant putzes you are so now im gitting off my dead bung and getting involved and if you shoot me because of your old policys which are wrong im doing the right thing im getting back on the horse that bucked me off and im rideing my bicycle despite your consience that seems to be on vacation i forgive you your messed up
This is going to be rather long winded. Just a warning.
The philosophy of Liberty is based on the principle of Self-Ownership. Self-Ownership: You Own Your Life.
To deny this is to imply that another person has a higher claim on your life than you do. No other person, or group of persons, owns your life. Nor do you own the lives of others.
You exist in time: past, present, and future. This is manifest in life, liberty, and the product of your life and liberty. To lose your life is to lose your future, to lose your liberty is to lose your present and to lose the product of your Life and Liberty is to lose that portion of your Past that produced it.
A product of your life and your liberty is your property. Property is the fruit of your labor, the product of your time, energy, and talents. Property is that part of nature which you turn to valuable use.
Property is the property of others that is given to you by voluntary exchange and mutual consent. Two people who exchange property voluntarily are both better off or they wouldn't do it. Only they may rightfully make that decision for themselves.
At times some people use force or fraud to take from others without voluntary consent. The intitiation of force or fraud: to take life is murder, to take liberty is slavery, and to take property is theft. It is the same whether these actions are done by one person acting alone, by the many acting against the few, or even by officials with fine hats.
You have the right to protect your own life, liberty, and justly acquired property from the forceful aggression of others. And you may ask others to help defend you, but you do not have the right to intiate force against the life, liberty, and property of others. Thus, you have no right to designate some person to intiate force against others on your behalf.
You have the right to seek leaders for yourself, but you have no right to impose rulers onto others. No matter how officials are selected they are only human beings and they have no rights or claims that are higher than those of any other human beings.
Regardless of the imaginative labels for their behavior or the numbers of people encouraging them, officials have no right to murder, to enslave, or to steal. You cannot give them any rights that you do not have yourself.
Since you own your life you are responsible for your life. You do not rent your life from others who demand your obedience. Nor are you a slave to others who demand your sacrifice. You choose your own goals based on your own values. Success and failure are both the necessary incentives to learn and to grow.
Your action on behalf of others or their action on behalf of you is virtuous only when it is derived from voluntary, mutual consent. For virtue can exist only where there is free choice.
This is the basis of a truly free society. It is not only the most practical and humanitarian foundation for human action, it is also the most ethical. Problems in the world that arise from the initiation of force by government have a solution. The solution is for the people of the earth to STOP asking government officials to initiate force on their behalf.
Evil does not arise only from evil people, but also from good people who tolerate the initiation of force as a means to their own ends. In this manner, good people have empowered evil people throughout history.
Having confidence in a free society is to focus on the process of discovery in the marketplace of values, rather than to focus on some imposed vision or goal. Using governmental force to impose a vision on others is intellectual sloth and typically results in unintended, perverse consequences.
Achieving a free society requires courage to think, to talk, and to act. Especially when it is easier to do nothing...
Every citizen has the responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint.
the "new " patriotism should be about more than just concern for envirnomental issues. The "new" patriot must be a person who has real integrity, a person who walks the walk not just talks green. There is a spirit of get overism that has become truly ugly, in other words do whatever you have to legal or illegal to make money, and as long as you don't get caught who cares. This extends to all levels of society and the environmant is suffering because of it, and children are suffering because of it and elderly are suffering because of it. Someone said that a society will not be judged by its wealth but by how it treats its most vulnerable, its poor, its sick, its children, its animals, it elderly. Lets create a society that can stand up to this judgement. Walk the walk, be honest in your life and demend nothing less from our elected officals....
Patriotism must transcend national borders and sectarian differences, and embrace the protection of the single ecosphere that is our planetary home. We must now prove our claim to be the most intelligent species of Earth, by consciously choosing to limit our numbers and adopt lifestyles that are sustainable and symbiotic with the other living things that share this world. Should we continue the heedless and arrogant destruction that is the inevitable result of our present civilization, we will prove to be another failed species, and there will be no one left to mourn our loss. -- Amber K
That American citizens will have the right, privilege and freedom to know truthfully what our government's decisions are and not to involve in false illusions.
We should add a bulletin point about changing our homes from a chemically reliant place to one of Certified Organic products. Both in our cleaning supplies and in our personal care products. Also along with this we need to focus on replanting trees and vegetation that has been removed over the ages. By doing so we will increase the earths natural filter and set the stage for the long term return to a cleaner safer atmosphere which will in turn help with the global warming issues.
Along with the top items I would suggest that we force car dealership to develop more earth friendly vehicles that use alternative, renewable fuel sources.
This gives manking the opportunity to step forward and take care of our mohter earth - not just for us but for all creatures. If we do not do it then WHO will. Cut gasoline use, strive for alternative energy sources. Make the US a leader of global protection of the environment.
I think we need to boost our renewable energy use. It's a win win situation because we: quench our thirst for foreign oil that can fund terrorism, boost our economy, cut down on pollution, reduce waste, save money, and save the Earth.
http://www.natureiq.com/pweasindividuals.html
America is the largest polluter in the world. If america can lead the charge to turn things around, other countries will follow.
A patriot never uses his/her homeland, it's waters or skies as a dumping ground for waste, poisons pollutants...i AGREE WITH ALL POSTS...BUT NO ONE HAS MENTIONED THE CHEMTRAILS IN THE SKIES, AND NO ONE HAS SUGGESTED BOYCOTTING THE BILLIONS WE SPEND ON FIREWORKS, WHICH CAUSE NOISE, POLLUTION AND UPSETS THE ANIMALS AND CAUSES STRAYS AND KILLS BIRDS. ARE YOU WILLING AS A PATRIOT TO SAY NO TO FIREWORKS CELEBRATIONS? BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ISNT REALLY SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
We must believe, and act with the understanding, that we are not the last generation to inhabit the Earth and that we are not the only species for which it exists. Our leaders are not necessarily those we elect to political office or those who head economic and business interests. Let them follow us, if they must. Our nation, born of a revolution which declared all of us as equals, must lead a new revolution that values the diversity of life throughout the Earth. We are all participants and must boldly move forward. Inaction is not something we can afford.
We should encourage reuse. Recycling is not enough, reuse! Or a better term is Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org)
Let's all try to have a little organic garden, with some native flowers, herbs for a healthier diet, and a few vegetables. Let's use our non-meat food scraps to make some organic compost and let's do away with all chemical use on lawns/gardens and no more excessive watering grass. It is so fun and makes life so fun and aesthetically pleasing. Our children will be less prone to asthma and other diseases and we will all enjoy more colorfol and diverse neighborhoods.
As human beings we all should care about the well-being of our planet Earth. But some of us are not educated enough about what a threat climate change is and don't take it seriously. Taking more steps to inform the general public would be helpful, in my opinion. People need to know that taking just one step to stop Global Warming can make a difference.
Being a Patriot means having the right to disagree and speak out against the government when you think things are not right. Actually it is a duty. Disagreeing with the government does not mean you are not patriotic. Speaking out against the establishment is very brave. Remember this ONE person can make a difference!
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