Third Draft of the Declaration
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.
Today, we recognize that patriotism is not only about love of country. It is also about a shared commitment to the welfare of our planet.
Future generations will judge us based on our success or failure to be good stewards of the Earth. We owe our children and our children’s children nothing less than our very best effort.
We the undersigned, pledge to:
- Recognize that we live in a time of crisis. We must be active and forceful in bringing about the necessary changes -- based on science, not politics -- to stop global warming, no matter how difficult that may be.
- 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.
- Spread the word, by making sure our friends, neighbors and loved ones recognize that each of us has a role to play in meeting this all-important challenge.
- Be mindful consumers, by minimizing our personal global warming “footprint" and weighing our personal choices against the needs and rights of future generations.
This nation's founders risked everything to realize a new relationship between government and the governed. We must now do whatever is necessary to realize a new relationship with the web of life that includes and sustains us.
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696 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 696 Newer› Newest»It is up to us to save all that we can of our Earth, not only to save ourselves, and give our children a chance at the future, but to teach our children, and future generations how, and most importantly IT CAN BE DONE! The earth is our home, how can we not save it!
There is nothing wrong with prosperity, but when it comes at the point we are hurting ourselves then it becomes greed! Some fundamental ways of thinking must be disposed of, and fresh creative safe ones be put in their place! Our thinking must change, and we must, absolutely must, pass this on to the people we elect to public office. They are thereby our decree!
Yes we must think big to save our environment, but all idea should be appreciated. An idea to save one park which may work in one city, and not in another must not be dismissed. Any help, anywhere benefits everybody; even if you never hear of it.
Gerald T. Moore
Citizens must become informed and willing to be leaders and advocates for the environment.
Pollutants and CO2 emissions might soon be In Our Back Yard. Here's a scary $1.3 billion coal gasification plant proposal being followed by The (Syracuse, NY) Post Standard, Sunday, March 25, 2007, by Tim Knauss,Staff writer."PLANT WON'T KEEP CO2 OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE". " "Environmental groups oppose proposed coal-to-methane refinery in Jamesville".(NY)(tknauss@syracuse.com or 315-470-3023.)
From Wednesday, May 23 edition, Frederic Pierce wrote,"DEWITT BOARD WILL OPPOSE GAS PLANT." "Pressed by an angry crowd of about 80 residents, a majority of the DeWitt Town Board on Tuesday individually pledged to fight a $1.3 billion coal gasification plant proposed for the hamlet of Jamesville."....
"Empire Synfuel LLC has applied to build a complex that would turn 10,000 tons of coal a day into pipeline-quality natural gas."
(fpierce@syracuse.com or 315-470-6062).Application is at www.townofdewitt.com.
Citizens will have to be vigilant both locally and at the State level. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is the lead agency.
Maybe Americans should pay even more for consuming that much energy, coz the USA is the highest country that is polluting the planet. Paying more taxes for an old car, and those high bills of water and electricity. That would make a difference to our planet. Money makes the world happen, maybe asking for more money would change everything about the global warming.
Live Simply so that others may Simply Live
-Edward Abbey
We must strive to build a world where smoggy skies and biodiversity loss are but distant memories.
We pledge to establish, lead and live by a Global Environmental Ethic through which all nations interconnect. This Environmental Ethic spans Land, Air & Water (law!) and is the keystone upon which all other environmentally ethical laws are developed and passed.
With best regards,
Catherine Walker
World Sanctuaries International Trust
It is up to us to save all that we can of our Earth, not only to save ourselves, and give our children a chance at the future, but to teach our children, and future generations how, and most importantly IT CAN BE DONE! The earth is our home, how can we not save it!
There is nothing wrong with prosperity, but when it comes at the point we are hurting ourselves then it becomes greed! Some fundamental ways of thinking must be disposed of, and fresh creative safe ones be put in their place! Our thinking must change, and we must, absolutely must, pass this on to the people we elect to public office. They are thereby our decree!
Yes we must think big to save our environment, but all idea should be appreciated. An idea to save one park which may work in one city, and not in another must not be dismissed. Any help, anywhere benefits everybody; even if you never hear of it.
Gerald T. Moore
First, I want to make it clear that I support ED and your declaration. I do have some questions. I do not expect answers, but I do hope the ED staff will consider them.
I wonder about the effectiveness of using the term “Patriotism.” Hasn’t it been somewhat tarnished by the way it has been used by the current administration? I do understand that the term is a powerful draw for many in this country. Isn’t it a bit strange to use a national term like patriotism, new or not, to call attention to a global problem? It is only fair that I offer an alternative...constructive criticism and all...so how about “The Declaration of EarthDependence?” OK, OK, it IS a bit pun-like, but it does send a message that is different than the term patriotism.
Did you think about “global climate change” in place of “global warming?” Global climate change seems more inclusive than global warming. Global climate change implies consequences moreso than the term global warming.
Do you really think that “global warming” is “the” crisis of our time? Aren’t there a number of other serious situations (I think the term crisis has been so overused that it is not much of a motivator any more)? It sounds like rhetoric to claim that our crisis is the most important one at hand.
Do you really think that continuing the “qualities and values that have guided our nation...” are the ones we want to support? Aren’t those qualities and values responsible for getting us to where we are now? Might we not commit to working towards sustaining a suitable planetary environment for life?
Do the words “...stewards of the earth.” suggest that we think of ourselves as “in charge” rather than “part of”? Are we really motivated by what future generations will think of us?
Might we stop contributing to global warming?
I wonder if we ought to be urgently pressing elected officials rather than encouraging them to act urgently.
Are you sure that the reference to “...this all-important challenge.” is clear? I know what is meant, but I wonder if it is clear to those you wish to reach.
Excuse the cynicism, but it seems that when it is more profitable to be “green” than to be otherwise, it will happen.
Add "and all its creatures" to the following sentence so that it reads:
Future generations will judge us based on our success or failure to be good stewards of the Earth and all its creatures.
It doesn't matter what anybody says you just want to write an environmental paper. Why use the word patriot at all.
It doesn't matter what anybody says unless the people that matter listen.
As long as we keep voting for "leaders" with gasoline in their veins and greed in their hearts nothing will change.
Less disillusionment of the reality of the united states would do a great deal to improve conversion to efficient water, power, and even oil facilities. Too bad the government is too busy killing children to care about us.
It is essential that we increase the efficiency of current energy use while developing renewable sources such as solar, wind and tidal currents.
Unless we stop population growth and reduce our human presence to a sustainable level, everything else is a wash. We must tackle ANYthing that contributes to the degradation of our planet, and we must do it now!We cannot politely ask our elected officials to do these things,we must demand tah they do so.
We can't be overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem to the point that we give up and do nothing because we feel that as an individual our contribution is insignificant. If I do my bit, you do yours and we can get everyone we know to do their little bit....together we become powerful and WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
We talk about war. We talk about bigger countries. We talk about better lives. We talk about money.
But when the end of mankind, probably the end of the world, brought by OURSELVES, fallen on future generations, COMES UPON US, what will we say?
"Why did the people in the 21st and 22nd century, who had enough technology, enough sense, enough happiness... LET THIS DISASTER COME UPON US?"
The Earth is a part of us as much as we are a part of the Earth. Every time we harm it, we harm ourselves. If we do not stop posioning it, we will soon find ourselves dying with it.
We must lead by our own example. Our examples should be good choices. Our good choices should be clean, green, and organic. Our earth deserves this; our health deserves this.
In ten years the southern hemisphere is going to be a desert and the northern hemishpere will be like the poles. and anartica and the north pole will be melting.
80% CO2 emissions by 2050 doesn't cut it. Too little, too late. The science calls for immediate action, not business as usual. Democrats in Washington need to think crisis, not old-school politics: man-on-the-moon thinking, war effort thinking. Additionally, a MASSIVE public education campaign commandeering the PUBLIC airwaves needs to move the process along. Read the 1992 World Scientists Warning to Humanity. We're late.
Don Ogden
co-host, The Enviro Show
WXOJ-LP
Northampton, MA
Until we stop the most wasteful, destructivehuman activity: WAR,we will not have the resources to stop global warming. "Endless war=more deaths, destruction,deep debt and retribution" and
"TurmOIL of
war for troops;
spOILs of war for
profiteers"
are two signs I carry when I picket every Saturday at noon at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Peace is patriotic and positive; billions spent to kill mostly innocent people in their homeland must be stopped so that sustainable energy can be pursued.Thegreed and exploitation of capitalism is the basis of evil.We need an egalitarian economic system to be the caring, sharing citizens who can progress to a better world for all!
If our generation does not act immediately and integral part of our Earth will be ultimately destroyed. Our morals alone should push us to fix what we have sullied.
send the bush, cheney neocon mob/gang to the world court for war crimes, seize the bank accounts upon discovery they are behind 911 to create their "war against terror" to drain the u.s. treasury, make billions in illegal weaponry including d.u. weapons while lying about using them even to our own troops, etc. etc. etc. then reverse all legislation passed which was detrimental to our environment and begin enforcing the laws already protecting it...it's alot of billions waylayed to now use for further alternative fuel needs immediately...
What is happening now is uncontrolled development that destroys the natural world and drains fresh water resources from areas that are already strained from human agriculture uses.
Require higher accountability in human breeding practices to minimize overall impact on natural resources. Place quality over quantity.
Require all city, county, state and federal building codes to first identify and recognize climatic systems per region- not state/county borders -and build to withstand those requirements while banning building for profits' sake.
Require all materials be sustainable and environmentally sound, while banning materials that include toxic chemicals and those harvest practices that destroy the natural world.
Require all construction practices to allow higher standards in environmentally sound practices over requirements that maintain low standards designated by current building codes.
SKEPTICS STILL HAVE US WHERE THEY WANT US
The skeptics still have us on the defensive. Despite scientific consensus, more and more countries, corporations, and conservatives coming around, we are constantly beating off attacks on the validity of the science of global warming. The public is easily confused and misled about the complex and nuanced science of global warming. We remain on the defensive, pinned in this back and forth debate.
Fortunately, there are other, very good reasons to move away from fossil fuels that the average person can relate to and that can help us take over the debate – but we inexplicably ALMOST NEVER USE THESE ACES!
National Security – Very wide appeal. We are dependant on, and vulnerable to, a volatile region that doesn’t like us very much. We should pound this message home – it has very wide appeal and its truth is obvious. If we were like many on the right, we could even label skeptics as anti-American traitors for allowing us to remain in danger to satisfy their own greed;)
The Economy – Fallacy: the economy will suffer, jobs will be lost. This is a major fear I often hear my fellow Americans state and is almost never allayed by environmentalists. l suggest the following: The economy will diversify; our money will flow back into our country, not out to foreign countries; this is a fallacy promoted by Fossil Fuel Fat Cats so they can keep lining their pockets – they do not have America’s interest at heart – they have only their own and this is easily demonstrated.
Pollution & Environmental Degradation – That Fossil fuels pollute and damage the environment in many different ways (which should be listed and highlighted often) is obvious to your average American. Despite what many would have us believe, Americans care about the environment. If they can be shown that alternative energies offer a painless solution, they will be more inclined to accept them.
Multiple Solutions - Skeptics love to pick on one or the other alternative energy solutions and say that it is not adequate to fulfill our energy needs. This is of course a deliberate misrepresentation. We need to show that we will move forward with a broad, developing mix of alternative solutions. The gov should energetically fund research. Cheny torpedoed alt fuel research during the 70s energy crisis.
We can have our Cake and Eat it too - Al Gore has recently gleefully been labeled a huge hypocrite because of the energy consumption of his large house. Despite Gore’s rebuttal, he still appears to many as a hypocrite because they think if he truly believed what he says; he would live in a smaller, less energy consuming house. We are missing a huge opportunity here. Many believe that liberals and environmentalists want to take away their right to consume and achieve the lifestyle they desire. This fear is played upon constantly by anti-environmentalists. Al could use this opportunity to demonstrate that environmentalism and prosperity are not mutually exclusive; that he believes in the American Dream as much as anyone. His lifestyle in fact proves it.
The Debate as it stands Today:
Muddle Global Warming Science
Attack the messenger
Our Counter Attack
National Security
The Economy
Pollution & Environmental Degradation
Multiple Solutions
Having our Cake and Eating too
Global Warming organizations must coordinate better and push forward together.
We all have the moral obligation to help preserve the future for the next generation(s).
We need to accept the Zero waste concept as recycling saves energy and reduces greenhouse gases.
We Americans just waste too much!
I would add to the declaration something about our responsibility to all the other beings with whom we share this earth, a pledge to "widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature" as Albert Einstein so eloquently put it...in our personal and life choices...to "suffer the mouse to play" and to "live simply so others may simply live." Life is hard for wild creatures and other beings even in the best of times. The crisis we have and are creating threatens to create unimaginable additional suffering for them. Let us pledge to know and take care of our local place and its denizens, and then to spread our care outward in whatever way we can.
My generation will have nothing to look at, but a pitfull and sorrow filled world. My children will look down upon what the past years have created for them. And the sad thing is this future world could have been prevented by our government, now, today.
I have suggested some small edits to the language of the proclimation, as follows:
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.
Today, we recognize that patriotism is not only about love of country. It is also about a shared commitment to the welfare of our planet.
Future generations will judge us based on our success or failure to be good stewards of the Earth. We owe our children and our children’s children nothing less than our very best effort.
We the undersigned, pledge to:
• Recognize that we live in a time of crisis. We must be active and forceful in bringing about the necessary changes -- based on science, not politics -- to stop global warming, no matter how difficult (these changes) may be. (replacing that)
• 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.
• Spread the word, by making sure our friends, neighbors and loved ones recognize that each of us has a role to play in meeting this all-important challenge.
• Be mindful consumers, by minimizing our personal global warming “footprint" and weighing our personal choices against the needs and rights of future generations.
This nation's founders risked everything to realize a new relationship between government and the governed. We must now do whatever is necessary to realize a new relationship (that protects our planet and all those who live on it.) - replacing (with the web of life that includes and sustains us)
To love this country, is to love this planet. The harm done to our ecosystem affects the lives we live as Americans. In order to preserve our America we need to take action to prevent the deterioration of our children's planet.
Third Draft of the Declaration ...
It was a good start with a good mind that set aside the National Parks. Thomas Jefferson saw how the "cut and go" movement was destroying our land.
OUR land, we are stewarts of our land and thus we must act accordingly. These actions thus include put in motion by doing. With all due respect as one would hold precious and fragile with care. KATHERINE GAYLE ARMSTRONG PETTY , LOUISIANA
We have been capitalising on nature from the start, but there is a way to capitalise on nature, without destroying it.
We can be environmental capitalists, making money, by protecting the resourses we use, in sustainable ways, for the future of all life on earth.
We either get on this bandwagon, or we get left behind.
If you only have time read through a few of these then make sure to read Jehosepha on 5/25/2007. Well put, very insightful.
I can’t believe that our government, corporate America and the governments of the world cannot see that they are expediting their own demise. Not just long term maybe some day down the road but short term. We are degrading the democracy that made this country great and sired our past and current successes. America used to be the superman of the world leading by example and inspiring greatness in us all. Now our reputation globally is a joke. If we continue to allow the destruction of our democracy along with our environment there will be no more consumers to support the corporations, so no more cash to support the politicians. Then what??? We start speaking German. ;-) Little joke for the English if any are on.
Our founders built our democracy on a foundation that would support the environment and encourage stewardship of the earth, at the same time allowing us to prosper. A real free market, support for innovative, ecologically friendly product development that would be available for the consumer to choose to buy. Not for industry to dictate what we have to choose from. (Wall-or-K or maybe you prefer to be different and shop at sears) They also warned us of the destructive power corruption would have on our democracy and put in balances to safe guard against that. I guess they counted on human decency and integrity of men/women to protect what is so valuable to us all. Our commonwealth. This must be protected at all costs and it is very encouraging for me to see all of the posted comments. It’s time for me to go to bead so I can wake up and get to my corporate, defense contract job. Bummer dude!
Fight the good fight, every moment, every day! Triumph
Environmental skeptics often claim that it would be expensive, dangerous and even arrogant of us to contemplate trying to manage our environment, especially our climate, until we have much more data. Well, the reality is that we humans ARE running a huge experiment with our climate, by releasing tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, leading to levels not seen in hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of years. If trends continue, the levels could quite soon reach levels higher than those seen in hundreds of millions of years. Did we run any studies, collect any data, before we started running this experiment? Why is it okay to continue, and expand, this global test, especially when signs of danger are everywhere, while it is not okay to, at the very least, alter the experiment for caution’s sake?
How many deaths should be allowed before calling off a study on a new drug? How sure do we have to be that an asteroid is on a collision course with the earth before we prepare to do something about it? Do we wait until it is too close to do anything about? How confident need we be of a diagnosis before we treat a sick or dying patient? Many diagnoses cannot accurately be made until autopsy, and no treatment is without risks.
Docblond@aol.com
In the absence of Leadership from Washington, DC, All Americans Must
take control of this horrific global problem, and set a new path for Our future, But Most Important Is The Children of Tomorrow's Future!
It isn't just our children, and their children we have to worry about. It isn't all about us humans. We are the ones who spoiled the earth to begin with, our greed and selfishness is what got us to this point. We are already killing species of creatures which CANNOT BE REPLACED. We need to learn basic respect, it's really very simple. We are technically advanced enough to solve these problems, the fact is, we're refusing to evolve.
Complacency coupled with a lack of understanding and imagination is leading our species to extinction. Unfortunately we are taking along the rest of the biosphere as we go.Our readiness to pollute land, sea and air is so far beyond foolish Iam amazed. With our so called "superior" intelligence we have managed to environmentally paint ourselves and the rest of the planet into a corner. Meanwhile people such as Bush et al are trying to persuade us that everything is fine. Al Gore is right and we need to remember this every waking moment and act accordingly. I truly fear what will happen in 20 or 30 years. I also fear that I will be around to observe what happens, and suffer the consequences of our stupidity. This has frightened me more than anything else in my life. We need to act quickly and make dramatic changes in our thinking, laws and lifestyle if we want to change the outcome of our environmental suicide.
To invent our way to clean energy so we can pay off
the monstrous debt we're leaving for our children.Not
just the money debt but the co2 debt.Big Oil must not be allowed to bury technological solutions.
The only people left to convince that global warming is the most important threat of the century to this earth are those who think Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney are their gods. It's time for Congress to treat them as irrelevant.
I was thinking that the declaration could be subtitled "a declaration of interdependence" but then I realized that a more honest subtitle would be "a declaration of dependence" because the earth can survive us, the question is will humanity survive itself?
The irrational arrogance within the view that the earth belongs to humanity and can be used as humanity pleases has brought us to where we are now. The belief that we can destroy the earth is just as irrational and arrogant because we would make it uninhabitable for humanity and self-destruct before we ever got that far.
Maybe we need to pledge to recognize that we do not control how the earth works or how it reacts to what we do to it but we are totally responsible for what we do to it. We can work with the earth for our mutual benefit or against it at our own peril, there simply is no middle ground and we need to stop wasting precious time looking for it.
Global warming is a very dangerous one and it is mainly caused through industries,automobiles. Only if everybody is aware of it we can eradicate global warming and through strict environment laws we can eradicate global warming and a global monitoring commitee must be formed to look after the global warming under the control of UN. and to monitor the country's to look how their following the enviromental laws and this commtiee must also ask every industries,car manufacturers to manufature eco-friendly car's and the industries to cut carbon dioxide emmision's. Massive urbanisation must be limited and deforestation must be stopped.Instead of using petrol and Diesel we must use Alternative fuels such as bio-diesel,bio-petroluem and ethnoyl petrol.
Every schools and colleges must conduct and awareness program regarding this global warming. So that we can eradicate global warming now and also in the future
A quote from Richard Bach might be an appropriate and simple way to strike a chord that will unify the Citizens of the World behind this effort. "Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth if finished: If yu are alive, it isn't.
It is essential that we craft some sense that the ills of global warning must always be a mission. It is not solely the responsibility of government, business, and those who would leave it for science to "fix", although each of those entities must take some leadership. But the durable legacy of whatever we start must capture the sense that the problem will not be "fixed" by a declaration, law, or the number of things we can discuss and debate.
Every man, woman and child must grasp that this mission is life-long and each of us, wherever we life, whatever out politics, whatever our station in life our work to address this matter will never be over. It is fine to have a destination to journey towards, but the journey cannot be achieved in one lifetime. Nothing we do, however much needed and no matter how virtuous can be done along.
Absolutely little can be accomplished without enthusiasm, and enthusiasm will not be sustained without the understanding that we must each conduct ourselves as a member of the earth. We must not overlook the important of distilling this idea, packagaing and selling it worldwide if enthusiasm if to be built and sustained.
tonacat
http://my.care 2./tonacat
Many thousands in the history of this country have made the ultimate sacrifices -- of their lives and families -- to preserve the freedom and opportunity that we have all come to take for granted. Now we are called upon to sacrifice far less than they ever did, for far more -- the continued existence of life on this planet. If we fail to make these small sacrifices, which, in light of history, hardly deserve the word "sacrifice," then we are the generation that failed the human race.
Why are we taking away from the children of the future? To make ourselves richer? We must act now before it is too late.
While naure on one hand is what we inherited and not our creation; to preserve and to make ourselves environment worthy is what the future generation demands.
For every five people that are doing something about global warming, there are another five hundred that aren’t doing anything. They aren’t doing anything because they don’t want to, instead, there are too few things that are known in which can be done. When you’re thinking about doing your part, you see large dollar signs floating over each course of action. Unfortunately, not many people have large amounts of money to buy electric or hybrid vehicles, leaving the options narrowed down to planting trees, riding a bus, reduced dependency of fossil fuels, and a few other things that aren’t very reasonable if you don’t have much money. There are a few things that can be done in order to make a large difference in how we get rid of air pollution. Life as we know it depends on humanity doing something to fix what we have broken. Global warming is a devastating reality that can nearly be eliminated with more and better awareness, air scrubbing, also known as carbon sequestration for airplane, placing self cleaning air filters on the top of sky scrapers and/or towers; and finding a way to put air filters inside the exhaust of vehicles.
There is an air quality index that was created in order to understand the amount of pollution that is in the air. If you go to this site, http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=static.aqi you will find the amounts that are harmless and the levels that could be deadly. There are a total of five values also symbolized by colors, 0-50, being good or green, 51-100, being moderate or yellow, 101-150, being unhealthy for sensitive groups or orange, 151-200, being unhealthy or red, 201-300, being very unhealthy or purple, and 301-500, being hazardous or maroon. Strangely, you would find that the index rarely gets above green. This makes little sense considering the fact that the environment is still changing and the facts that global warming is still building constantly. If the index were to get above 100 or further, more often, what would happen? Is this something we are really willing to explore?
Everyone has heard about global warming, though we rarely see as much as we should. Each person who watches television has seen “Truth” commercials for smoking. Why exactly is it that we have not seen anything similar to the much more pressing issue? When you’re driving your vehicle down the freeway you see signs. What if those signs had facts of what your vehicle was emitting? It may be a bit annoying, but it could get the point across. How about ads in theaters before the movie starts, stating where you could go to do something about pollution? If we were to see the truth of what we are doing to the earth’s atmosphere as often as the campaign against smoking, maybe something would get stuck in people’s heads that something needs to be done. Getting these stuck in any particular persons head will strike up some kind of new ideas and/or could get people to do things better for the environment.
When you turn on the television, have the radio tuned to your favorite station, read the newspaper, or have a conversation, you rarely hear about ways for cleaning the pollution from the air. Self cleaning air filters have already been invented; this is something that could be utilized to a much better use than just cleaning a buildings air supply. If you go to this web site you could see a great example of a self cleaning air filter, http://www.donaldson.com/en/gasturbine/selfcleaning/index.html. If there was a way to place self cleaning air filters on planes, you would have the best solution to nearly eliminating air pollution. Of course this is something that couldn’t be done with simply one plane, so this is an idea that would need the understanding of the government and/or some other, well funded organization.
Carbon sequestration is something that could also be used by smaller companies that would like to make a difference. Air pollution is better seen when far away, and when you see the pollution, it is much denser higher in the sky. When you drive into any large city, you will almost always notice tall buildings and towers. These structures can be a good use for cleaning the air by placing large, self cleaning air filters on top of them. If each of these companies that own the tall buildings and/or towers would agree to buy the air filters and use them for carbon sequestration, a dent could definitely be seen in the pollution that stains the horizon brown.
Finally getting to the root of what caused a great percentage of the brown stains on mother earth’s face, pollution caused by burning large amounts of fossil fuels. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ost/air_quality/ On each vehicle there is an exhaust that muffles the sound of the engine for that vehicle. If you were to make it possible to open the exhaust so you could replace and/or clean air filters inside of it, then you just may have come up the final piece of what very well could make our lives easier. It seems that explaining the reasoning for placing air filters inside the exhaust of vehicles would be a waste of time. Placing these filters inside exhausts will very well be the final piece of this puzzle to cleaning the earth.
Though these are some things that may sound like too much to do, it isn’t something that is improbable or impossible. You might be wondering where the money for this proposal would possibly come from. This is clean air in which our lives depend on, so why should money really matter? What is the chance that this world can survive us? This shouldn’t even be a question; this should automatically come to you as preposterous. Would you willingly drink, inject into your veins, or pour battery acid on your self and expect to live without any complications? It is well past time for humans to do something about the mess that has been made. There have been discussions about carbon sequestration before, and the only problem with doing this is being unsure of where to store the billions of tons of pollution. If there isn’t an earth to store all of this, then there won’t be that problem, will there?
Pure science dictates, it is survival of the fittest. In natural selection it is those species whom adapt to change that thrive and survive. Through our actions, we have rewritten the screenplay of life on this planet. We have set the stage for a drama that will play out in venues around the globe. We have the oppurtunity to make choices and direct this production of life continuum, unlike many species who must simply be directed. It is a responsibility we cannot take lightly. It is a responsibilty that we are capable of handling. It is a chance to protect other living creatures, as well as ourselves. Let's select to save and the planet we call home.
The world was here before us. The animals and hierarchy of the species was here before us. WE as humans have disrespected the Earth, the land, and the species with whom we live. The earth is NOT our to take and destroy. Yet.. we have. Now is the time to turn around see all the destruction we have done.. and repair any damage that can be repaired.
Let's save our Earth, our land, all the species...
Now is the time.
One raindrop raises the sea
im 15 and i believe strongly about changing our ways for a better future. I think the declaration is really effective and it will be a great experience for the world to join togethter to tackle this problem we have caused and may have a positive effect on other areas apart from global warming.
good luck to everyone
Congress just voted billions more
of our tax dollars for a failed
war policy. Until the priorities
of those we voted into office
start representing us on issues
like global warming instead of
more war there is no hope for
any change in the future. The American people are getting tired of lack of representation in our
governmental process and until that changes can we even hope that we can address serious issues like
global warming that adversely affects all of us??
Children need to learn about this issue and we need help from the media . Where I live people don't even know the proper way to recycle .
We need media coverage ,this is an emergency, the word ''important'' is too small when it comes to describing this issue.
God's greatest gift to mankind is this beautiful planet on which we live-let us not destroy it.
Like I've said before, the most important group you need to focus on is the working class average Joe, and the southern boys n girls. These manifesto's are too geared towards the liberal and academia class. You're preaching to the choir and wasting precious time and rescources. Swallow your high-minded pride and start talking about stuff like conservation of wilderness to hunters, the American Farmer, high gas prices, etc. Things that appeal to normal folks. Tie in family values, and the Bible. Invite these people in, and make them part of the process. Use country stars, sports fiures, and beer commercials. Make it cool, not reasonable. Be a buddy, not some finger-waving professor. This stuff is not hard. Just take your academic ego out of it and truly get with the people. Not on your terms, but on theirs. If you can do this one thing, you can do anything.
The 'new global patriotism' means having respect for the total planetary web of life
The declaration recognizes but seems to go light on our personal responsibility to stop global warming. Rather than "be mindful" the pledge should be to take concrete action to reduce our footprint.
Living in part of the country that has been colonized and is being destroyed by coal mining I would like to see such global warming statements reflect the significant negative consequences of energy extraction in the communities where this takes place. If coal companies paid their true costs on the mining end coal would be a much more expensive fuel.
True patriotism requires personal sacrifice! Just as John Kennedy stated, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." we must expand that to include our planet and look to ourselves for part of the answer!
God gave us a single planet. If we destroy this one through global warming there is no going back. If we don't stop global warming soon it won't just be us who suffer the consequences but our children, grandchildren, and every living thing on this poor planet.
The issue of "how to live well" is a real space-time based question. It is therefore philosophical, individual-rights based, and constitutional. And It therefore excludes god-playing, impractical-pragmatic hypotheses, crimes, totaliatarian governors' arrogances and the destruction of individual' responsibilities and rights. We all must stand for a system that minimizes harm to the eco-system except in the most dire emergencies and which serves the long-term and libertarian life good of each human on planet Earth for perpetuity, not for a shorter span of time. This means renewable energy sources, an end to public-interest based tyranny and reprts as we check idea back against reality prodied by independent minded scientists, not apologists for tyranny, pollution of the environment nor political postmodernism.
Live sustainably, live locally and think about growing as much as possible of your own food, or patronize your local farmers' market. Your food comes with a 'carbon tax' that you have to add in, to cover your personal 'carbon footprint', just for being alive on the planet. Live sustainably, and locally. Grow your own food.
Start with Banning the sale and import of gas burnig cars. Only allow the sale of 100% Electric cars. Also change the Name of the debate from "Global Climate change" to " Should we bake ourselves or Not"
From all the things that we've earned and achieved, through difficult hardships we've survived, let's not have it go to waste when a danger is in front of us and we're not doing anything about it.
With all the talk about auto emissions, where is the talk about the #1 cause of global warming? Animal agriculture has been proven by the United Nations study, to be far more detrimental to global warming than auto emissions.
Eating less animal products will not only help to save the Earth, it will help to save our health. Eating less animal products will put a dent in the income of the biggest polluters. Eating less animal products will lessen the cruelty perpetrated on sentient animals and perhaps save our humanity. Eating less animal products can change our behavior and make us less volatile and agressive and help us to be more peaceful.
Laws to protect our Earth need to be made, and strengthened. Politicians need to be elected who will pay attention to the will of the people and not their wallets. Massive education needs to be get out there to those who don't care.
We vote not only at the polling places but with OUR wallets, OUR purchases, OUR voices, OUR deeds.
1. Mandatory efficient lightbulbs and lighting. Phase out the inefficient lightbulbs.
2. Tax the oil companies for the pollution and toxins they release. Use this money to invest in research for clean fuels for the future. (I think Senator Dodd has proposed this.)
3. Novel idea: Instead of having jailed inmates sit on their duff and watch cable (which even I can't afford), have them engage in good-weather cleanup activities. A day at the river to clean up the banks, cleaning up parks and other green spaces, etc. This would benefit them by getting a little outdoor air and exercise, and they can look back and see the great job they've done and take pride in it.
4. Clean up our barbaric and unsanitary slaughterhouses and meat packing plants. Factory farm animals and slaughterhouse animals are treated harshly and cruelly. These farming methods cause a great amount of pollution in the air, land and water. It's a horrible no-win situation and must be changed. Consider how many deaths and illnesses there are from food contamination.
The government; (made up of the executive, legislative and judicial branches) is suppose to be by and for the people. The people are suppose to be in charge of the governing. In order for the people to be informed on the matter of global warming we must consult scientists.
It seems to me the most dangerous threats to humankind are global warming, the destruction of the atmosphere to the point where the air is so contaminated health is threatened, the possibility of nuclear weapons being set off and an accidental contamination of the environment.
I just learned that because some (atomic?) bombs were set off there is ("fallout"?) given off by these bombs which is still ever present in our atmosphere like something called strontium 90, (not sure spelling).
I believe the issue of what already has been detonated and its affects on the atmosphere should be fully researched and documented.(Perhaps this has been done).
I believe scientists should be consulted to ask "do they really think it's "OK" for any country to set off a nuclear bomb, given the consequnces to human life from explosion and the fall out". Under what grounds can the scientists say that the earth will be able to sustain one more nuclear bomb without greatly degrading the health of all people?
If the answer is that any more nuclear bombs being set off could be detrimental to the human race then we must all make a world law that no country be permitted to have nuclear weapons anad we would have to have to have a "world organization" which is allowed to go in to any country at any time and inspect.
The survival of the human race must be our top priority. I'm afraid we have forgotten that nuclear weapons are not really an effective weapon to protect us if their detonation will kill us.
I believe this issue is as much if not more of a threat to our existence. It may not matter how much you do to protect against global warming if a nuclear bomb is allowed to go off.
I think we need to get the information from the scientists as to what is already in our atmosphere and let the public know.
Thank you.
Declaration of Energy Independence and Global Interdependence
The reality of the world has changed dramatically since our Founding Fathers had the audacity to declare us politically independent. We find ourselves at once the most powerful nation in the world and yet simultaneously subject to worldly forces seemingly beyond our control.
In this new reality, our nation faces multiple profound threats: We find ourselves mired in a global war on terror; We find ourselves facing a looming global climate crisis; We find ourselves fearing the outsourcing of our jobs and our very economic preeminence in a globally competitive world.
While each of these threats has its own unique genesis, they may share at least one solution strategy in common. To see that potential solution, we must both recognize our global interdependence and the enduring virtue of independence.
We must see the economic reality of globalization, of the "flattening" of the world, and the promise and threat it holds for us. We must respond to the ratcheting of expectations on productivity and the centrality of a superbly educated workforce to keep our lead over the population powerhouses of China and India.
We must also acknowledge the global interdependence that brought us the tragedy of 9/11. The ability of loosely organized cells of radicals to inflict such pain on the most powerful nation on earth speaks volumes to how connected we are to the conditions of the rest of the world.
Finally, we must recognize the fundamental global interconnection of the biosphere on which we depend for life. We must accept responsibility for the role we play in anthropogenic global warming and the costly and disruptive consequences likely if we continue emitting greenhouse gases.
Once we recognize our interdependence, we must acknowledge one final dependence that draws them all together: Our over-dependence on oil. Foreign oil powers our economy, but it also enmeshes us in the volatile politics of the Middle East, creating enemies there of our presence, position, and power. Further, oil money enriches those who may fund terrorism against us. Of course, the burning of oil and its products is a primary contributor to greenhouse gas pollution, a major underlying cause of global warming and our impending climate crisis.
For both national security and environmental defense, then, we must find a way to wean ourselves of our oil addiction. To that end, I believe we must make a Declaration of Energy Independence.
As Thomas Friedman has suggested, we must promulgate a national program to eliminate, among other sources, foreign oil from our energy portfolio, slashing our greenhouse gas emissions, and draining the pockets of those who would fund our enemies, or at the very least, grow rich while their countrymen live in poverty.
Such a program would of necessity be long-term, promoting massive research into nonpolluting energy sources, research that would spark desperately needed educational incentives and job creation in science and engineering to maintain our global competitive advantage in the same way that Sputnik and the space race sparked a similar investment and consequent return two generations ago.
Let us not be content with a "green" public sentiment or with consumer adoption of compact fluorescent bulbs and hybrid cars or even with a national CO2 tax or strong emissions cap-and-trade system that moves our market to nonpolluting energy sources. Let us do those things and have the audacity that our Founding Fathers had: The audacity to declare ourselves independent, to take our fate into our own hands, to recognize our global interdependence, but to create for ourselves a future that is more more secure--politically, economically, and environmentally--than the one we see before us today. Let us establish for ourselves and for our children a clean and prosperous energy independent future. That is a vision of New Patriotism I can believe in and a Declaration I can sign.
"Patriotism" is a word whose time has come. It is based on patriarchy -- the land of the fathers. Whose fathers? What about the mothers? Do we still feel we own the land? Globalization is rapidly destroying local identity. And the environmental catastrophe is announcing the intense interconnectedness that obliterates the importance of nations. We work together or fall together. The biggest threat now is global corporatism, whose needs are non-human and non-natural. There is a slight hope that its own need for self-preservation will incorporate environmental protection, but its current short-term perspective prevents that now. Some global awakening and human empowerment is needed that transcends local identity and "patriotism."
The lines:
"Today, we recognize that patriotism is not only about love of country. It is also about a shared commitment to the welfare of our planet."
May be interpreted by some as saying that there is a difference or even a possible conflict between patriotism and environmentalism ... how about:
"Today, we recognize that patriotism - love of country - requires a commitment to the welfare of our planet. A degraded environment diminishes a country, and pollution and climate change know no boundaries."
There needs to be a paradynamic shift in the consciousness in the USA towards seeing the planet as a living, breathing entity that has been abused. Only then can each person accept responsibility for its destruction and take individual steps to heal it.
Pay now or pay later ; personally I accept the responsability now and urge those who represent me to do the same .
We should not be selfish by thinking that when the worst of the consequences show, i won't be around by then to witness it. Such attitued should be eradicated from people so that active action can start against global warming.
Educating the American people about the need to live as sustainably as possible is really important also. Many folks just don't know a lot about the many ways everybody can make a difference. The advertising industry spends so much money and resources on influencing people by basically appealing to their selfishness. If these resources were instead used to inform and educate the American people about the often ignored fact the we all share but one planet a lot could be achieved!
Everyday people pray for their children and their children's children and for those that will come after themselves. Now it is time to take action and prepare the way so that those may and can come after and see the world in a better way than it is today.
Apathy is the crisis of our time. Ignorance is the crisis of our time. Placing the interests of the wealthy few above those of the worker, the farmer, the elderly, the young will usher us to our demise. We need a global revolution.
Mary Helen said....
Small steps each day by all of us will lead to bigger
environmental savings tomorrow.
In the 1970s, we began "The Age of Ecology" and the new activist environmentalism out of hope and a worldview philosophy. Today we have to renew that activism out of desperation. If Gore had won, we might have had time to affect the global warming crisis. Now it is all rushed catch-up and response to disasters. I pray for the children and cry for all the lost life, human and animal, to come.
To me, New Patriotism means coming together as a planet, not just a country. It means protecting ALL species, not just our own. It means taking the time to educate and to be educated. It means that change should be embraced, not feared, because as we all know, change is necessary.... and aren't we lucky to have an opportunity to change the future by starting now.
Hi, My name is Chris. I think policies and procedures should be established so people can take responsibilities in responsible ways based on "grandiose" intentions, in the sense that I read a comment stating that grandiose ideas and intentions are appropriate in this day and age. I started sharing my ideas with Environmental Defense a few months ago. I am diagnosed Bipolar and reside in grandiose concepts with my consciousness. I would like a personal response from Environmental Defense to my prior questions concerning the ideas I have shared with them and would like to invite Environmental Defense to establish a Global Health Organizational Blog on the web site I have been building. The web site I am building will be available to participate with in June and I could use some help administration it.
I have created a beautiful environment in which all perspectives can be promoted concerning Global Health in a neutral environment. I am looking forward to receiving a personal response and an acknowledgment for the ideas that have been sharing through me as a "mentally ill" person with "multiple personality disorder" that has transcended the sufferings associated with "mental health issues" with the explanation that the ideas I express are a combined effort from the many "voices" I converse with and would like the process I am a part of to be respected in relation to the originators of the ideas I have shared to be honored and acknowledged in an appropriate manner. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Chris
letssavetheworldtogether.org
For all of earth’s inhabitants, from the smallest of plant life to the tallest trees, from creepy crawlies, to the winged, to the four- and two-legged, this is OUR Home. It is the ONLY home we have. It is the ONLY home we know. Where are we all to go? We can’t move somewhere else. Everyone speaks of future generations. We are eroding the ecosystems which sustain us, the top predators on the food chain. What future genenerations will there be? Yes, indeed, do what is required, not what is convenient. And to take the liberty of paraphrasing JFK: And so, my fellow Earthians, ask not what your Earth can do for you; ask what you can do for your Earth.
Since the United States of America is so good at waging war, I think we should just continue to do what we do best, but we should change the object of our agression to Global Warming! Why wage war on humanity when we all have a common enemy that is so much more a threat to us than any peoples of the world?
Let's declare war on Global warming, even create a draft where our young men and women will be pressed into service to install solar panels, build clean energy plants, and manufacture clean-running vehicles for distribution to citizens at no cost, perhaps through a lottery. This would even be good for American business! Let's get rid of the nuclear warhead stockpile and create a stockpile of solar panels, and how about deploying our army to urban areas, where the perimiter will be secured and the warriors will install solar panels on all of the roofs, connecting them up immediately to the grid for clean, no emission power right now.
None of this would cost more than our current military budget, for which there would be no need, as America could return to being the heros of the World, as we were during World War II. The need for agressive military defense tactics would disappear, for who on Earth would try to destroy someone who is saving THEM from destruction?
~luv, tim
The next few decades will be a defining moment for the human race - especially for those in the U.S., who have come to expect a standard of living four times as affluent as the average human. This year they're predicting a very active hurricane season. God is giving us the proverbial slap in the face - to wake us up! Deep down, we all know another American city will be swamped within the next few years - but still we tool around in our SUVs, and turn on the AC and the TV soon as we get home. What's it gonna take to wake us up!? You can feel sorry for yourself, blame the large corporations, or blame the corporate lapdog we have in the White House right now. Truth is, WE are the ones to blame - without our complacency, our votes, our purchasing of their destructive products, these people and corporations would have NO POWER!
By our stupid, selfish choices, we have given them their power. The answer lies in only giving power to those who deserve it - those who believe in protecting and nurturing the Earth, and her people. Buy a hybrid car next time you need one; support progressive organizations; Join
Co-op America, and get their National Green Pages (filled with SUSTAINABLE products and services - a green alternative to the Yellow Pages); Check out Gaiam's catalogs,
especially Real Goods catalog, filled with what you need to use solar, wind, hydro, etc., in your own home; Work for change (online and on the street), live it, BE THAT CHANGE!
The American people are not stupid.
We know that big oil companies are
using us for record profits.
We have the technology to create choices other than oil and gasoline.We just need to send a clear message to big oil.Either join us and help us or go bankrupt.
We must unite and stand up for ourselves and the planet against the big oil imdustries and save us from certain doom before it's too late!
The only people I know of that care for their generation and not their grandchildren's, are called republicans (and I am not a democrat) Let's override them and not be like them.
we need to keep things the way they should be as much as possible and the animals we catch and release should be as healthy as they would be in the wild
The folksinger Don McLean wrote long ago:"If man is allowed to destroy all we need, he will soon have to pay with his life, for his greed" I am in complete agreement.
In British Columbia the current government sold more than 600 small-hydro water and wind licenses in 2006 to multinationals for export of our high-priced premium "Green Power" to the USA.
Meanwhile we continue to import 12% of our power, at night when it is 1/5th the cost, from dirty coal and nuclear powerplants.
Loss to BC Hydro and to Canada over the next century is estimated by Simon Fraser University at one trillion dollars. Soon BC Hydro will be privatized and our hydro power rates will SHOOT UP 400% under NAFTA, which does NOT YET have jurisdiction.
How do we calculate CO2 credits on this absurd situation?...
Save us from our friendly neighbors...
To be patriotic is to be critical of your govrnment!
Not to speak out is to agree.
Don't get your news on TV, it's all manipulated!
Be informed and use common sense.
Ignorance is the most favourable condition for abuse and corruption. An educated society is the basic building block for a strong society.
As far as practical concerns, this sounds good. However, I think a little more emphasis on honoring the land as the foundation of our country and so forth might be good to work into it. There's got to be an emotional connection to the concept of patriotism; otherwise, why bother with the 4th of July tie-in? I recently came across a quote by Wendell Berry that I quite like: “There is no sense and no sanity in objecting to the desecration of the flag while tolerating and justifying and encouraging as a daily business the desecration of the country for which it stands.” (from "Waste" in _What Are People For?_) I don't know if it would make sense to incorporate a quotation into the document or not, but it seems like something more along these lines might add a nice touch to it.
Being a young person I can't help but wonder if I'll be able to live the average life that people like my parents and grandparents were/will be able to live. There are people like me who plan for the future. But to plan for the future, you can't just think about YOUR own future; you need to consider the future of the planet that you're living on. Without it, you have nothing to look forward to, and if you want someone to blame, then you could blame yourself (as harsh as it sounds). Being a member of this planet, i feel that I have a responsibility that needs to be shared by EVERYONE. We need to do our part now, for the BENEFIT of us all.
This planet was not made for us to live on; we were made to live on this planet.
When we think that ethanol production from corn will solve all our fuel problems, we must first recognize the significant fuel REQUIREMENTS involved in making the process work: the energy/fuel needed to grow & fertilize the corn, to transport the corn to processing plants (which themselves must be built, and require energy for their operation), and the energy/fuel needed to move the product liquid ethanol to distribution points comes to mind. Will we actually come out ahead? Much more study is needed; I personally prefer a return to nuclear power. Look closely at what the French have accomplished!
Why do we bemoan the need for new ideas to deal with global warming, when we as not making sufficient use of the old ideas? E.g.:
Couldn't we avoid some exhaust emissions if we promoted more use of draft animals? A mule can till the neighborhood gardens as well as a roto-tiller. A team of horses pulls felled timber out of the woods with much less damage than a diesel-powered skidder.
What about growing more vegetables and fruits at home? Tomatoes, kale, rhubarb,and zucchini do quite well in a flower garden. Blueberries and fruit trees are attractive lawn plantings. Pole beans will grow on any old pole, fence, or trellis.
During WWII, many of the farm vehicles in Europe were powered with homemade wood-gas generators. Dead branches, twigs, and scrap wood provide a cheap and effective fuel, and do not increase global warming.
The very new Agrichar concept is based on some very ancient South American archeological findings; it may offer a carbon-negative way to improve agriculture, actually decreasing the atmospheric CO2.
Conservation. We all know that it works, and we that should be doing it.
I'm sure this is only a partial list; there are probably lots of real-life measures we could do, if we just look a bit harder.
i think if we made cars to not use gasoline or even not so much we would all have a place to live in the future. MOney is temporary when the day comes that global warming takes over the earth what happen then? Does the money go with us? Or can the money go to something that canm help us all have a beautiful safe earth to live in so we can live period!
many people ask me,"why are you so focused on such a controversial issue as global warming? Why don't you focus on concrete problems at hand, such as education in the country, the war, immigration, or poverty?" My response to these sorts of questions is this: first, let us secure for our future that we actually have a place to live. If we don't take action against this threat, we will be facing our imminent destruction. After we've made sure that we can actually live, we can take it from there.
One needs a life-sustaining environment first - for all life to exist in good health. Being pro-environment IS putting humans first. For if the food chain topples, those at the top...topple too.
The only way this will work is if we all work together. The government should make this priority, because we only have one planet Earth. The government of the world are and have been thinking of only one thing and that's profit. There is no profit helping the planet, it's only costly. So ignore it and sooner or later it will go away. This way of thinking is the smallest and shallowest.
I knew this day will come where the planet is warning us and will now have consequences for our laziness. Does something horrible have to happen for everyone to join together and work together?
Global warming isn't something that will just go away on it's own I mean it didn't come on it's own we created this planet distroying nightmare and now we need to take credit for our own actions and fix it.Every link in the eco-system chain affects us all.We are slowly distroying ourselves and our kids I don't know how anyone else feels about this but I refuse to just stand by and watch I am going to fight for what I love and I advise all of you to do the same.
We do not inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children.
We will never be kind to our planet until we heal ourselves of all that ails us; anger, greed and fear. Healing our world requires each one of us to deeply reflect upon our thoughts, motivations and intentions.
our grandparent,parent,aunts and uncle created global warming,not to mention us.We united people have started global warming and we must end it.
Children. Patriotism is protecting the children, providing them with a safe and clean planet. If we fail in this, then nothing else we do matters.
One planet, one chance, one time to truly shine and show our true colors of being alive, passionate and respectful of ourselves and the generations to come. And to the best of our ability, serve, prosper and have fun doing good things for the planet. The solutions are within our grasp... let's stop arguing and start putting these sustainable ideas to work.
Each of us needs to do as much as possible every day in our ordinary lives, to live gently on the earth. You, each and every one, can make a difference.
Beyond that, gov't and big bisness has to look beyound the dollar sign and do what's right, not easy, not cheap, but what is right.
Population. In the 70's we heard all the time of population control and nothing now. This is one of our biggest problems. How many people can the earth sustain? Why are there still families with 4,6,or more kids. Adopt if you want a big family, there are so many children in need of a home.
Live with your heart, govern with your heart, do bisness with your heart.
We should all pitch in the help the rest of the world. Other countrys need help. The U.S. is a powerfrul nation, but other nations are not as fortunate. They are just devoloping, and rely on drilling up their natural gas and oil reserves. We must help countrys like Trinidad, Thialand, and many other places to start using renewable energy. Solar and wind are great choices. We need to preserve oil and gas. This can cut a lot of pollution.
Not only do we need "big ideas", but we need a commitment from our politians. This I feel will be the hardest part to obtain. It seems to me, our politians say a lot when the day is long. When it comes to taking action or making a commitment that is another story. This may well be our one and only real chance to reverse the damage we've already done and clean and preserve or environment for the future. Everyone MUST get onboard with this and commit!
"Matriotism," as in "Mother Earth," is preferable to "patriotism," as in "founding father."
A paradigm shift is needed in the Americal cultural value system. Currently based on material consumption, a radical shift must take place where less is more, where those who live lightly on the planet are held in high esteem and act as role models to the rest of us, so that ultimately each of us will make the personal choices necessary to further sustainable living locally, nationally and internationally.
We as a community, as people, as human beings are here only on borrowed time, and we need to take care of it. If we only knew the meaning of love(passion) we wouldn't have a problem. However people become something, and that something become their actions. I hope when we indivually see who we are or what we've becomed you are proud.
What happened to my generation? You know the "flower power" ones with whom I marched in the streets for peace, equality and diversity? While they are stashing away for their retirement, I ask what about the next seven generations, as the Indigenous Peoples have done for tens of thousands of years? We have a mess here and need to clean it up...the politicians won't.
Everyone has a responsibility to help end global warming. As individuals, little things, such as walking instead of driving, or changing to compact flourescent light bulbs, might not seem significant, but if every person makes one small change, then the impact will be that much greater.
We need benchmarks... or we won't know how well or how poorly we're doing. The government reports GDP numbers, unemployment figures and inflation indexes to track the economy. The weather service tracks temperature, wind speeds and humidity every day. Why not post readings, charts and graphs about CO2 and regional temperature on the evening news? Make it a regular event, say, every quarter. Without specific benchmarks or goals, the politicians will probably buy votes... and do very little to fight global warming. It can be done.
liz R.T.:
Hi! we have serius problems since the industrialisation began. In fact we can make many things in this world that wants develop, machines, technology; but we must do all of that with intelligence, the unique thing different from which we should take advantage.
The truth is that in many contries like in mine, people realize about the danger of the things they do every day (pullute), just the moment they are very closet to it or the moment they feel it. And that's the hardest time to start workinf on it.
I believe in god and I know that if all of us work as one person, we would make everything change to have the world we want....:)
The desire and passion to do something to save out Earth should be spurred at the youngest age possible...schools should take a bigger stance in presenting the deleterious effects of global warming. The future of the Earth rests in the generation ahead...the leaders of this generation should spread awarness among the youth so they will be able to lead a future fearless of global warming.
I think the declaration is a little too narrow. We must change our mindset to realize the changes that are needed. I would suggest the following edits:
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, and embrace the dedicated stewardship of all those who preceded us on this planet.
Today, we recognize that patriotism is a misleading value. Love of one's country should also be complemented by a shared commitment to the welfare of our planet.
Future generations of humans will judge us based on our success or failure to be good stewards of the Earth. We owe this planet's and our children and children’s children nothing less than our very best effort.
We the undersigned, pledge to:
* Recognize that we live in a time of crisis. We must be active and forceful in bringing about the necessary changes -- based on science and common sense, not politics -- to stop global warming, no matter how difficult that may be.
* Be active citizens of the world, by pressing 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, and to engage with the global community to do same.
* Spread the word, by making sure our friends, neighbors and loved ones recognize that each of us has a role to play in meeting this all-important challenge.
* Be mindful consumers, by minimizing our personal global warming “footprint" and weighing our personal choices against the needs and rights of future generations.
This nation's founders risked everything to realize a new relationship between government and the governed. We must now do whatever is necessary to realize a new relationship with the web of life that includes and sustains us and this planet.
There is no time to wait for politics . If you want to take action you can make a huge impact by doing the following things.
1. Drive less! Car pool with coworkers or ask your employer about telecommuting.
2. Replace your light bulbs with new energy efficient CFL bulbs.
3. Stop using your gas-powered lawn mower!! You can buy a reel mower that is quiet, easy to push, and burns no gas! I've been using one for the past three summers and I love it.
4. Improve the energy efficiency of your house by sealing up air leaks. You can eliminate 33 percent of the air infiltration in your home by caulking the crack between the base of your exterior walls and the foundation below them. Eliminating this air gap can really make a huge difference!
The bottom line is that you can't expect politicians to solve this problem. This is a consumer problem. It was caused by consumers and it can only be solved by consumers. Every time you choose to buy a cheaper product that is not environmentally friendly, you are choosing to perpetuate this problem. Keep in mind that if you choose the "cheaper" product, it will come to you at a much higher cost.
Be wise, be fair, be green.
Regards,
Jack Urrutia
I am from the UK and have worked on the Scottish islands as a wildlife warden. The seabirds are laying very few eggs and those chicks are being hatched are smaller and weaker than they should having less chance of survival once they leave land. This is due to the lack of sand eels, which they predominately feed on, having little to feed on themselves because of the warming seas allowing little micro-plankton to survive. Surely we have an obligation to our grandchildren and the generations to come to protect this beautiful planet and it's species. If this mad rush for money and power is supposed to be progress we should all hand oour heads in shame
It is vital that the World as a whole work as much as possible as one in curbing and reversing Global Warming. This means the USA, offers to work with China, and India, to immediatedly curb the emissions of coal fired plants. This can be done by mass producing scrubers that will be manufactured in China, India,and the USA. Without a curb on dirty coal emissions Global Warming will continue. Furthermore the World will have to fight this battle with the same determination that the Allies fought WW-II. This is going to be a long fight, involving all generations participating.
In the short term auto emissions can be curbed by starting a manditory car polling progarm during rush hours in all major urban areas in the USA. All immediate metheds of curbing Global Warming must start now unitl cleaner vehicles come online. We cannot afford to wait until we can have a perfectly clean vehicle as standard. Also work should beging on an Interstate Train system that follows the center of the lanes on all interstate highways and beltways where possilbe. During rush hours folks will be required to either take the train as individuals or car poll. The current methods of getting folks to work using autos only with one HOV lane is a non starter and non working. Finally a special world council iniitiated by the USA must meet to discuss and implement any and all ways of reducing emissions now. Due to the fact that the World and sadly especially the USA waisting 20 presious years in dealing with this issue means we will have to do 30 year of environmental cleanup in the next 10 years.
We thoughtfully limit the number of babies born to other species. Isn't it time that we do the same for humans. There must be a more ethical way than employing bombs.
We should make the world a world that we'd feel good about handing over to the generations to come. We need to think globally~everything affects everything, everywhere. We need to simplify our lives. Progress is good to an extent, but the concequenses of alot of progress are leaving a higher price to pay,and not just paying with money. Too many scars are being left on our planet that we call home. We need the define our true needs and seperate them from our wants, because our wants are too many, when many have too little. We need to appreciate that we were given a wonderful gift~ this world, and we need to take responsibility for what we've done to it. Make a commitment to leave this world a more beautiful place before we leave it.
We must do all that is necessary to forster wisdom and compassion for our world and all who inhabit it.
I like the pressing our government, but what about adding pressing our businesses worldwide. Often business acts before they are legislated to, and citizens can boycott products whose companies are not green forcing them to comply.
We are out of time, and environmental defense could help identify companies whose products we should support, and whose we should not.
Bring back the electric car!
Remind everyone that environmental damage knows no boundaries, so we must have a global committee, like the UN for the earth.
Survival is about adaptation. If the human race is to survive, it must adapt to the changes upon us. We as individuals must change our way of thinking, our attitudes. Governments have never changed anything, people do. We have spent centuries doing our very best to remove ourselves from the influences of the earth, we can no longer do this. To survive WE must adapt to our own influences. The species that adapt to the elevated heating of the earth will be the species to survive. Do WE have what it takes as a species to survive?
Our great country was founded by inspired dreamers, who truly believed in their dreams. We need to reclaim that spirit of inspiration in order to establish our country as a leader in the fight to save our planet.
From our founding fathers forward, our country was often seen as the scientific and technologic leader in the world. We have lost that edge and are rapidly falling by the wayside. A call to accept the challenge needs to be placed to our scientific community to pull us up out of the doldrums of our complacence.Many of our founding fathers were great scientists in their own right. Think of Ben Franklin or Thomas Jefferson, just to name two. Wouldn't they be ashamed of where we are today?
We need to stop paying for humvees in Iraq (and destroying the environment in Iraq) and use our resources to cooperate productively with others to try to save the environment.
God made this earth so that all life is connected. We all live in this earth. Global warming will kill all plants and animals in our ecosystem. I cannot let this happen. Please help do whatever it takes to save our earth. I want our future generations to be able to eat and see fish, and live in a healthy planet. Many people have lived before us and it should be possible that people after us have all the wonderful possibilities as us. I am too young to vote, but I will try my best to help fight global warming. -Em
As humans we shalt not participate in the perpetration of the destruction of this planet or the lives that have been placed in our charge no matter if that life bares any variety of skins, furs, feathers, or scales.
As humans we shalt not victimize or exploit the planet and its resources or the animals that live therein.
Above all as a nation, as individuals we shat not be bystanders.
The message from the Earth is very simple:
CHANGE NOW OR DIE!
That's it.
No bargains.
No buying time.
No compromise.
No negotiation.
If you want the human species to survive the next 100 years you better act NOW.
The sad part is, we may have already made our choice.
I would prefer to see references to or quotes from statesmen who defended the environment, like John Muir or Teddy Roosevelt. The founding fathers were in it for the power and money, just as the Bush administration is today; they used words like 'liberty' and 'equality' to spin the truth and manipulate the populace, just as political spinmeisters do today. Let's choose as exemplars people who actually meant what they said and cared at least as much for public benefit as for their own, private gain.
It's time to reconnect back to the neighborhood.Go Local wnenever you can.
As for me, I cannot disregard the recognition of Spirit within this whole issue. It is the path of many that leads to the One within all. It is that One within all--honor it by any name, listen deeply to It's wisdom, act from that which you hear your heart speaking, and know in faith that you/we do make a difference individually and collectively. No, we do not have it all together, and YES, together we can have it all! Let us turn away from thoughts of division, towards acts of Global Compassion. Let us remember that our highest ideals and greatest visions are indeed the cornerstones, and that which moves our collective energies powerfully forward, as we honor each individual's next step in the process. Let us begin with forgiveness and gratitude for the path that brings forward our current awareness. How awe-inspiring it feels to witnes the shift that is taking place in these times; what a gift it is to be the heart of leadership that is called forth to make this shift. I deeply know that which we so dearly desire to bring about for the good of all, and through the 7th generation to come is already beautifully created--we need turn towards it in full recognition. In total committment, honesty, courage, and above all--loving kindness: make a pledge to ourselves and eachother that deeply affirms Life! Let all participate at the level of their heart's awareness, and indibidual calling; let all life be honored as we move forward in this process, let us know there is no great actions or small actions-just the interconnectivity of Life bringing a peace to the puzzle, creating a beautiful picture (vision) held as Whole, Healed, and Healthy.
In Joy-Filled Gratitude for All
Julie
1) The forhthcoming IPCC report on climate change will be focused on the North-South dialogue. Beware that patriotism won't cross the borders into environmental chauvinism and jingoism.
2) Don't use it as political weapons.
Make it a bottom-up grassroots global campaign. Do not donwgrade it to a pressure group's sputtering slogan.
3) Frugality for Americans: Build interstate high-speed railways to deal with weekend/holiday getaway traffic
4)Beat traffic congestion that is going to eat up all the advantages of green technology and energy-saving endeavors
Beat traaffic congestion!!
Climate change, according to UN's IPCC,will adversely affect the poorest nations. The wealthy industrial nations end up dumping their hydrocarbon waste on these poorest. The wealthy nations will surely survive this climatic disaster, but the porest nations won't. The population timebomb
is ticking away. The less population, the less Co2 emission.
Here is th dilemma: The population growth will most likely come from the poorest countries. Currently, world population stands at 6.5 billion, and will soar to 9 billion by 2042.
Today, my fellow American’s and people of the world; America will set the stage for a new type of democracy. A democracy that informs, shows solutions, and that applies those solution to the world on Global Warming. For many years now, it has been know that Global Warming has been occurring. We the American people will set the stage for the world to see. We the American people have a vision to once again, show the world the greatest of America. America has a creative, innovative, and thoughtfulness for the entire world to see. We the American people do hereby pledge to combat Global Warming; for Global Warming is a threat to every creature, and everyone in every land.
We the American people have leadership to lead the world to reduce and turn the hands of Global Warming back. It is once again time for America to take the center stage, and do what is right for the entire world to see. We are not a nation of greed, but to promote democracy in every land. We will do this by building upon our fore-fathers love of this land. For we are the American people of this great land; we the American people accept our calling. America’s calling is to combat “Global Warming”.
Schwark Electrical
www.schwarkelectricalinc.com
Hold the powerful accountable.
it is very simple. The mind set of the people of the world must change. There are NOT infinite resources, the earth can not cleanse it's self of the pollutants put out every day by all of us. We must find alternate fuels, conserve LAND, and stop thinking of only the bottom line. WAKE up! Where do you think we will go when we have destroyed our planet, or only home??
Add a compulsory 'green fee' to electric and gas bills based on household usage. This should be used for investment in renewable engergy such as wind turbines, solar energy etc.. Subsidise electric cars so more people can afford them. AND PLEASE do something to stop people littering. Get the coastguards to put announcements out at the beach, hotels to put notes out to guests and implement fines if people are caught littering on the beach. Use the fines to help the environment! The litter gets washed into the sea and kills our wildlife!
Change our economic base. Who said we have to have gasoline? Demand a diesel engine in your next automobile.Biodiesel grows, it's not drilled from the ground. We need to change from Petro-based economy to a Bio-based economy. Anyone with room to grow algae and has access to polluted, nutrient-laden water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide could have a cash crop that would last forever,and would clean up the enviroment as a by-product. Power and wealth to the people.
Religious fanaticism, political indecisiveness, and public apathy must now be put aside. There is no more time for the insane postulations of the deliberatly ignorant, no more room for the greed-motivated exploitation of the masses through grossly twisted idiological superstition. We must -- must -- now undertake every possible opportunity to demonstate to those who are yet unborn that this generation knew and fully understood what it meant to be caretakers and stewards of this precious, mysterious, and wonderous world we inhabit.
What is unfolding, here, now, and before our eyes, is not the petulant, vengeance-seeking result of some dissatisfied deity. It is the result of our own rationalizations; our own "not wanting to look" at the choices we have knowingly taken.
Only we can change those choices. Only we can leave a world worth having to generations to come -- and to countless other innocent species which share it with us.
We have that power. And what the mind can perceive, it can most assuredly achieve.
All wonderful comments... Sounds like speeches. However, let's get down to basics. Consume less, drive less, use less energy, and recycle everything possible. The less we use and demand, the more we as individuals can conserve. We got this way because we are spoiled. The only way we can truly make a difference is to commit to getting back to those basics. Each one of us can make a difference. We can't always blame the government. We, as consumers, are the bad guys.
We have to make global warming prevention 'in' with the younger generation. We have to make it cool to prevent the destruction of our Earth.
The term "forbidden fruit" is a popular metaphor that describes any object of desire whose appeal is a direct result of the knowledge that cannot or should not be obtained or something that someone may want but cannot have.
Humans have lived in paradise, our beautiful planet is a paradise, we humans have taken the knowledge and use and abuse our resources and are now destroying it with absolute no regards. Are we going to bare the consequences? or are we going to do something good for a change, with the knowledge and create life like all other especies do, by taken something but also putting something back! We are the only species in the planet that takes only, putting nothing back and making no efforts to live in harmony with our planet!
We should definitely make it law that all new buildings, and also old ones, must do something enviro-friendly with their roofs. This is what they do in Germany. And it will show that we value the land we've taken up with concrete. Put some trees and grass on roofs. This will clean the air and cool cities. Put up solar panels. This will make buildings more self-sufficient and reduce pollution. This is what we need to do to bring our cities into the new century. Also, just mandate that cars have to be hybrids, already! We are looking to our governments to help us. We need action on a national scale. One light bulb changed to a CFL makes a difference. But every light bulb changed... This is the kind of action we need. And we need our government to take that kind of action.
We need to do something about global warming as it is badly damaging our environment. I have tried to help as best as I can in supporting this. The climate of our world is changing. This is fact as I have researched on many websites: if we let our world warm up too much, the climate change will be something that none of us expect: an ICE AGE. Because of the warming of our planet, the ice caps and numerous glaciers have begun to melt. Now, this might sound like a small threat, but our planet's present climate depends on these glaciers and ice caps not to melt. The reason of this being is that if to much fresh water enters our oceans, an ocean current that brings warm water to the northern hemisphere and cold water to the south will shut down and thus stop bringing warm water to the north. If this happens the change in our earths climate will be drastic: the erth will go into a major climate change and it will happen suddenly. The northern hemisphere will cool off drastically because of no warm waters for a heat source. At the same time, the southern hemisphere will do the exact opposite: it will heat up becase of no cooling waters from the northern hemisphere. this change would only take about three years to happen and once it started there would be no turning back. millions of people in the north would die or be displaced because of the cold and there would be extreme droughts in the south. So do everyone a favor and cut greenhouse gas emissions: this is the only time when we have the power to stop or at least hold back mother nature's destructive force. Go to http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0130-11.htm for more info
Anyone with eyes can see the way to live is by watching life, observing nature and cooperating with the process of existence; by living life for itself, deriving pleasure from the gift of pure being. Life is it's own answer, accept it and enjoy it day by day. Living as well as possible, expect no more, destroy nothing, humble nothing, look for fault in nothing, leave unsullied and untouched all that is beautiful. Hold all that lives in all reverence; for life is given by the sovereign of the universe, given to be savored, to be luxuriated in, to be respected.
Richard Matheson
We must now become aware ecological with practical sense.
We must plant you hoist in all sides and every time it is possible to us to do it, and to explain the people to him who the urgency of this is global and nonlocal.
That is to say, the planet are lost many thousands of hectares of forests that no longer capture carbon. A global initiative of reforestation, will help to generate conscience planetary.
When are we going to open our eyes to the TRUTH, to the REALITY of what's really going on? Global Warming shouldn't be treated like the "pink elephant" in the room, where we are all well aware of its prescence and choose to ignore it. There is no convenient time for global warming; it is here and now and is urgent. We are losing lives - our most precious animal ones - to global warming and still, we sit on our laurels. Once a species is gone, its GONE...
Don't say, "I'm only one. What I say and do won't make any difference."
Don't forget all the "only ones" added together make a great difference for success or for failure in halting further global warming or even reversing it.
As we work to fix the mess we have created in the industrialized countries, the other, equally important objective we must achieve is sustainable development in the poorer areas of the world. In the same way that some developing areas have skipped the infrastructure heavy stage of land line telecommunications and gone straight to wireless (or as in Latin America, folks who would have waited months or years for the expansion of existing systems just bought cell phones), we need to develop and promote highly efficient technology and renewable energy sources for developing countries. If people who are just beginning to get regular electricity, water, and modern technology get efficient devices and renewable energy, they will skip the wasteful stage that we are now trying to escape.
I live in Florida, the Sunshine State. We need to act like it is the sunshine state and use solar energy.
Think of tomorrow-
Make a difference
Plant seeds
Grow trees
Make a forest
For Mother Nature
And her animals......
Google Carl Sagan's Blue Dot,
and see how small we are....
Bette M.
On January 20, 1961, newly elected president John F. Kennedy stated in his inaugural speech:
"Can we forge against these enemies [tyranny, poverty, disease, and war] a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?"
As one blogger who believes JFK was the greatest president of the 20th Century; I feel that we need to reflect on those words spoken over 46 years ago.
The enemies of mankind, JFK spoke about, are still with us. And if he were president today I believe he would talk about the climate crisis in terms of the historic opportunity it presents to unite mankind. He would say that we are dependent on each other for our own survival as a species. And once we realize our interconnectedness, we have taken a major step towards solving this crisis.
To all corners of the world (he would say), join me as we enter the new age of sustainable living and world harmony.
He may no longer be with us but his spirit is eternal.
A Manifesto of the Future...
We must now prepare to do the extreme for what we have caused is extreme. We who have spent time in idyl luxury must now sacrifice our level of comfort and convenience if we are to save the world from that which we have created. If not now then when? If now we then who? It is upon us this day, this hour, this moment to act and react, to do what must be done. We must reduce our driving. We must reduce our pollutants. We must reduce our living without conscious awareness of the very things that we do. We must become a society of consciously reflective and enlightened beings who think before they act. When we shop, we should look for minimal wrappings. When we travel, we should consider all the energy put into the fact that we can travel. How much waste was created today for you to wake up and get dressed? Do you know your carbon footprint? We must ask the hard questions and must provide the hard answers which means it is time we put aside the "Me Generation's" ideologies of self-gratification and move into a consciousness that cultivates compassion! Anthropocentricity must cease! The world is not our habitat alone! It is shared by billions of other life forms! We, as a species, must know our limits. We must stop our limitless expansionism. We must stop our mindless consumerism! We must end our belief that all is for now and naught for the morrow! Every life form is an integral part of this living world of ours. Every tree is a cell in our planetary lungs. How much of your lungs would you desire to have removed? That is how many trees we should have removed. The point is: We must stop thinking we are the top of the food chain. We must no longer see it as a food chain and start to see it as a food cycle of which there is no top predator or consumer. The top consumer of the food chain is fed upon by the tiniest of organisms which in turn are consumed by other tiny organisms. We feed upon all things we can possess, yet we are fed upon by disease, bacteria, and viruses. We have mastered nothing. We must cease this hubris. Let us stop our mindless drive toward the future and concentrate upon the present. Fix the present or there is no future.
1. Cease oil dependency.
2. Cease the market-driven consumerism.
3. Cease petty wars.
4. Cease religiosity.
5. Cease "us and them" mentalities.
6. Cease anthropocentric ideologies.
7. Cease toxic waste production.
8. Cease being comfortable at the expense of others.
9. Cease seeing no further than your pocketbook.
10. Cease living for self-gratification.
11. Cease living without asking the hard questions.
12. Cease living without the life of conscious-reflection.
13. Cease intolerance.
14. Cease bigotry.
15. Cease hypocrisy.
16. Cease greed.
17. Cease envy.
18. Cease insatiable desire.
19. Cease causing others to suffer.
20. Spend the money you have upon things that will make this world a better place.
21. Spend time with the sick.
22. Spend time by volunteering.
23. Spend time on developing solutions to problems in all of our lives — starting with your own and work outwards.
24. Spend money to develop renewable resources that create a zero-impact upon this planet's ecology.
25. Spend time daily reflecting upon your actions and how they will impact others for the next seven generations.
26. Spend time to teach others of compassion.
27. Don't be afraid of the hard questions.
28. Recognize that the comfortable lives we have lived comes with a terrible price. Accept the responsibility and begin paying the price by making small sacrifices in your comfort:
Adjust your heating or cooling a few degrees beyond what you would like.
Shave a minute or two off your shower.
Wash a full load of laundry, not merely a garment.
Cook in one pan not three.
Walk to locations.
Use natural fiber bags that can be reused for shopping.
Turn off a light.
When your light bulbs burn out, replace them with energy efficient fluorescent bulbs.
Eat less.
Turn off the television and spend time with the people you love.
Adopt children, and procreate less.
I am an 11 year old who knows, and is very worried, about Global Warming. We cannot stop this problem when so much violence and hate is going on. We need to be united. I personally don't think we are right now. Let's all get together and stop predigests and start actually caring! I know we cannot suddenly have world peace, but we need to start to get united and stop this Global Warming!
I think we should have solar power for the day and wind power for the night
I think everybody should move away from the coast.
When global warming comes close Of course.
I want one good reason why it would be bad to implement environmental cleanup and find sustainable ways of living. The argument is always economy vs. environment, but people don't realize they can have both at once.
We now have reasonably cost effective means of building sustainable communities. Prices for renewable energy are coming down, and sustainable building materials such as zero-VOC (Volitile Organic Compounds) paint, strawboard panels, wheat cabinets, and natural linoleum floors are as cheap as current products. Recycling and home environmental solutions are easier than ever to practice, and alternative fuels have been developed and are ready for use (and in the case of electric vehicles, have been ready for a very long time but haven't had government support).
There is no good reason not to make the switch to a more sustainable way of living. Beyond global warming, there are health reasons and even aesthetic reasons to implement environmental solutions. So what are we waiting for?
As long as we live we still have hope and its never too late to change something. Even if you can't help in a big way, try to do smaller things and influence people and it'll sure make an impact... Also never give up on trying to help mother Earth, there is always some loop hole to convince big businesses to stop harming our home, we just need to think deeply... Remember it's never too late until it has been done....
How can we - in good conscience - mortgage the future of our children because we failed to acknowledge this crisis? Let's start teaching our children respect for all of the creatures on this planet, and the natural resources that sustain us all. When a child learns to respect animal life, and the forests,prairies, rivers and oceans that they call home - a child learns respect for ALL LIFE, his/her own as well as the lives of others.
I'm a Native American Indian and I've been saddened by the state of our world since I was a child.
I was fortunate to experience fields of lush valley's, horse back ridding barebacked, communing with nature and the world around me. Learning what all the sacred things about Mother Earth, and how everything has a purpose for a healthy life.
I've tried my very best to not only care for our Mother Earth, I've also taught my children, and encouraged my friend's and family members to truly appreciate the Blessings of our world and how to try and preserve what we can.
Carma is absolute. You reap what you sow. If you sow destruction, polution, disrespect and unkindness to our world, you will reap damage, unclean air, no respect, and no kindness from our world.
Even if you don't except what is being said, you should know.....
The destruction of our world and all it's resorces affects every living person and thing. We can not survive without all that the earth contributes. Life is what we make it, and life is living. You can't live without all that Mother Earth has to offer.
Air, food, water, medicine and beautiful visual aid like the sun, stars, moon, animals and scenery for mental and physical health. We as Native American Indians See The World Around Us As Sacred, maybe it's a good idea for all to think this way. It's never too late to change and help with the healing of Mother Earth!!
we cannot afford to be selfish any longer. Some people say it costs too much money to buy produce and products that are better for our planet but what we cannot do is turn a blind eye to the reality that faces our world and in turn, us. We must find ways and fight for our world because our lives and those around us depend on it.
Use less.
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.
Today, we recognize that patriotism is not only about love of country. It is also about a love for, and a shared commitment to, the welfare of our planet.
Future generations will judge us based on our success or failure as good stewards of the Earth. We owe our children and our children’s children nothing less than our very best effort to maintain the health of the world where we live.
We the undersigned, pledge to:
• Recognize we live in a time of crisis. We must be active and forceful in bringing about the necessary changes -- based on science -- to stop global warming, no matter how difficult those changes may initially seem.
• Be active citizens, by pressing our elected officials to urgent action, and by persuading all candidates for office to commit to passing strong legislation to cut America's global warming pollution.
• Spread the word, by convincing our friends, neighbors and loved ones that each of us has a role in confronting this all-important challenge.
• Be mindful consumers, by minimizing our personal global warming “footprint" and weighing our personal choices against the needs and rights of future generations.
This nation's founders risked everything to realize a new relationship between government and the governed. We must now do whatever necessary to realize a new relationship between humanity and the web of life that includes and sustains us.
To Address the corporate manufactured cancer epidemic we require the tobacco corporations to label the toxins their produce produces. To address the corporate manufactured epidemic of illness we now require them to label the sugar, fat salt contaminants in their produce. The time has come to require the toxic producing and energy squandering corporations to label their products. Automobiles, homes and electronics must be labeled in a standard format indicating the toxins and greenhouse gases they produce to address the callous agenda of corporations that are profiting from the destabilization of our planets climate.
Gordon Chamberlain
Toronto ON
g_chamberlain33@hotmail.com
Electric cars. NOW.
Look Up! Chemtrails are all over the place...what are they, why are they happening, and who is responsible?
Chemtrails are different from Contrails which quickly dissipate.
Unmarked jets are criss crossing our skies dumping toxins, affecting our weather and our health...WHY???
This must be addressed, it affects us all on a global level as they have been photographed all over the world. Take the time to look to the skies, to write congress and media. Research chemtrails on the internet.
One of the best solutions to global warming is eating a vegetarian or vegan diet. Consuming a vegan diet will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than driving a Prius.
I Think that the big american and Japanese car makers should start making deisel engines, and also allow us easier access to bio-deisel. I would love to drive a diesel Honda odessy on Bio-deisal someday, or a saturn. THis is a much more economic chioce and better for the enviorment than a Hybrid. if you don't belive me, e-mail me, I will tell you what I know.
the earth, the sky, the stars, and the moon: they're all the same; The people, the plants, and the animals: just one part of this game.
we are connected to everything around, our energy and matter will eternally resound.
we need to realize, unify and compromise.
so please think not only for yourself: you affect everything else.
we are connected to everything around: interdependent we all return to the ground.
RESPECT YOUR MOTHER, FOR SHE GAVE YOU LIFE: Turn your back on her and live in eternal strife.
The microcosm is the macrocosm and vice versa. What is happening to the Earth today is our feedback, in no indistinct terms, telling us we have neglected to be stewards of Nature. The sacred ways of Native Americans reminds us of our connection to and responsibility for all living things for future generations. Every action counts. Thankfully, change continues to occur from the bottom up, now it is time to move from the top down in global, political & corporate decisionmaking.
we must impliment new technologies to save our skins.
Chief Seattle said: "Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of Earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
I believe that climate changes are being caused by humans and that we are approaching "tipping points" which could have catastrophic effects on the lives of many human beings.
At the same time, I understand some scientists are questioning the threats many of us accept as "true" and I urge Environmental Defense to be careful about the validity of the "facts" it is using to lead us. I urge you to review the alternative theories and let us know your conclusions about their validity. [Example: the book "Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1500 Years" by S. Fred Singer and Dennis T. Avery raises questions about the widely shared assumptions about global warming.]
Yes, it is, absolutely, truly, up to you, to each and every one of us - not us, you.
Regarding the comment by "anonymous" 5/28/07 5:16 PM
Ten years ago there was some reasonable debate about whether human-induced climate change should be a real concern. Now, however, there really is not question. As a graduate student in Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech, I can assure you that the scientists who are "skeptical" of climate change these days are truly second-rate folks, mostly using their outdated PhD's and positions at no-name universities to trick the public. The sad part is that they're still getting a lot of press, even though no one in the field takes them seriously. The bottom line is that the climate change forcing that human carbon emissions will impose in the next 50 years is not like anything that has happened in thousands of years. It is, as many have said, an uncontrolled experiment, with very high stakes. It may even be more like the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, which happened approx. 55 million years ago and caused a global mass extinction. But the bottom line is that it will be serious, and that it is not like anything else that has happened in recent human history. Unless we can change things in the next decade - BE AFRAID.
If we do not control our exploding population almost all our efforts will be in vain. It is a tough and unpopular position, but each family must choose to have only one or two children.
We should pledge to consider the fate of other animals as though it is our own, because it is. We must consider and work toward their well-being and survival with every decision we make and every action we take.
We must access each new source of energy for its impact on CO2 emissions. In particular, 0.75 units of energy are required to produce corn-derived ethanol for each unit of energy derived from it. Our present system uses coal for the distillation for corn-derived ethanol. Coal emits about twice as much CO2 as other sources. In addition, if corn-derived ethanol replaces a measurable amount of our fuel, land will be cleared to produce the corn used for ethanol, leading to more CO2 in the atmosphere. Thus corn-derived ethanol is not a solution for global warming.
Either clean methods of deriving ethanol from corn should be introduced, or corn-derived ethanol should be prevented, before the farm lobby makes it an unstopable issue.
A shift toward sustainable design will allow us to continue to be a prosperous society while including the rest of humanity and the natural environment in that prosperity. The key to this shift towards sustainability, however, is not in technology but in our view of the world. There must be a shift in how we view our human-human and human-environmental relationships. Environmental ethics that establish principles, responsibilities and legal obligations must be established and adopted if we are truly going to solve the deeper problems that we have caused. We must stop treating surface problems; recycling and treating pollution that is already in the water is only putting a band-aide on a wound that needs reconstructive surgery.
It was a crime that the election was fixed by the Bush family when Al Gore should have been sworn into office as president of the United States.It was an even bigger crime that Bush got re-elected. Now we, as a country, must fix what George W. Bush's ego has destroyed. We should be declaring war against global warming, not a country that has been in constant turmoil since the beginning of time.The USA is the largest contributor of greenhouse emissions in the world , and I am ashamed to call myself an American in this day and age.
Every day we are destroying our planet be it by polution of the air, pesticides and other polutants that seep into our ground water. Part of the problem is our local governments who allow inadequate sewer systems; developers who only care abut the bottom line; residents who look the other way when violations occur. The blame is shared by all of us. Local, State and Federal legislators EPA included do nothing.
If we do not contribute positively in this life, we may have to return in another era and suffer from the hazards we did not help to avoid or from the problems we did not fix.
It is no longer fruitful to multiply!
Remember the saying "consumer beware" now consider "consumer beA-W-A-R-E." Debating, arguing, blah-blah-blah! Whether corporate or consumer, the entire human race is to blame (generations past, present and unfortunately, future). Life was suppose to get easier--has it??? This mess started a long time ago perpetuated by "greed" seeking "power" and "dominance." Create civil unrest, inate distractions, supply trinkets for the natives, add a lot of propaganda and fear--lie, cheat and steal at all costs! Well there was a price to be paid and now the entire global human race must change, make serious choices and amend/delete detrimental habits. Life is no longer about oneself and selfishness. If humans were truly fair, honest and respectful god-fearing-nature-loving peoples, possibly governments and laws would not be necessary. Change must begin within each individuals habitat. Healing can start with awareness and education, add good old common sense coupled with simply doing the right thing for "the common good." Nature will take care of itself--will the human race be a healthy part of the future???
I think the issue of OVERPOPULATION is the major issue facing our planet. WE MUST HAVE ZERO POPULATION GROWTH.
Decreasing global warming, cleaning our water and air, controlling corporations and govenments, creating lifestyles that allow all persons to have clean air, water and a safe home, as well as a safe home and and plenty of food will only be possible if we create zero population growth.
There is not one major organization, or person that is promoting zero population growth. We will not have the resources safe or otherwise for a continued population growth.
WHY IS POPULATION GROWTH BEING IGNORED? religion, money, denial of womens reproductive rights...
I don't think that most people equate "our planet" with "our life support system". We scientifically-informed and concerned citizens do. I believe, and do so in my global warming presentations, that we need to detail some of the catastrophes which lie ahead if we don't change our habits. Examples such as continuing drought will imperil our food supply (especially as so much available water is going into that phoney "renewable" fuel source, ethanol from corn) and diminished water supply, as in the Bay Area and inland valley of Calif. Another example more frequent flooding and landslides. How many earth moving vehicles are there to clear food transport lines to local cities up and down the coast of Calif.
In short I feel we have to hit home with people the actual effects that gl.wrmg will have on them, and of course, provide solutions they can start putting into effect.
Thank you, Rachel Pratt
We have an obligation to make things right. Every one of us can commit to making this world a better place. We must have enough courage to take a stand. I have a choice and I believe we have the faith and love to give new hope to our world.
If we can help save the environment by changing little things that are hardly any work at all, why don't we?
I have trouble with incorporating the term "patriotism." Patriotism is what got us where we are now -seeing ourselves as separate from other peoples on the planet. The common useage and understanding of word "patriotism" is that it is about honoring who we are as a distinct, separate country from other countries. That being said, if you're going to keep partiotism as your theme (which I imagine you are because this is the "final" draft), then please try to connect patriotism to the monumental effort that is needed to succeed in addressing this crisis. Since you seem to be trying to appeal to people who think of themselves as patriotic, then say something about how, through our national efforts in this global crisis, the US can once again demonstrate to the world our pride and leadership greatness, or some such claim to future fame. Thank for asking for input, and for hearing mine.
this might sound like a shallow idea, but in the interest of little things adding up, ask businesses in your neighborhood to close their doors during the warm months, to keep air conditioning from spilling outside (wasting electricity and raising their bills). contact your energy provider to see about switching to wind power. buy local foods, support farmers' markets. and althoug this likely sounds hopelessly optimistic, i'm looking forward to being able to use the power of voting next year if not sooner, to elect candidates who care about not only this country but all of the world, and have concrete plans to improve the earth.
It's too late to keep global warming from becoming our past and present, but we can still keep it from becoming our future.
The damage that we have done to our environment is so horrible. We pay the price for this on a daily basis. Our children and grandchildren are born with breathing problems and we wonder why? There are more and more people being diagnosed with auto-immune diseases in the town I live in.....and we still wonder why? I am only one voice but added to the many voices that have added their messages on this site...maybe someone will take notice and do something!
Tracey Case2002yahhoo00h...follow your goood heart... find what you love, and love what you find. Did you eva take time to look at a shell? or do u live in consant hell? Live up to your word dont steal any-things what comes around goes around fly on your wings... listen to the angels and hear them singing and always know why the bells ringing...above all LIVE FREE 0R DIE...
Grant me the wisdom to not ask,'How can the green movement succeed if I am one of a minority, and the majority continues to be nonchalant about the environment.' Grant me the courage to take that small step forward and do my bit for the environment -- to be wise in my use of resources and to recycle what I can. If everyone took that small step forward, that wouldnt be such a small step, after all.
Our elected officials have not recognized the fact that even though commitment to courses of action to reduce our continually growing contribution of global warming gases may be painful, inconvenient, and economically detrimental, many of the people in this country are willing to make the necessary sacrifices. We need leadership to make those hard decisions and develop implementation plans and we need them now!
I'm not sure about this bit:
'We must be active and forceful in bringing about the necessary changes -- based on science, not politics -- to stop global warming, no matter how difficult that may be.'
Using the '--'s makes the 'not on politics' seem like a hasty aside in order to please people. I think it would read better like this:
'We must be active and forceful in bringing about the necessary changes, based on science and not on politics, to stop global warming. No matter how difficult that may be.'
Other than that, it seems great! :) One question: is this petition just for Americans to sign? Since it is basically about their country, and no one else's.
We as citizen's of the United States, a country based on consumerism, need to stop purchasing items that we don't NEED. And be considerate of where our money goes when we do have to purchase things. If politicians and big business only understand the language of money...we must speak to them in a language they understand. We must stop consuming all of this Earth's resources. WE must change OUR lifestyles. We must stop being concerned about our lawns and how green and perfect they are by using pesticides and fertilizers on them. We must stop buying the next big television that comes out. We must start realizing that basically everything we see when we walk into a store to shop...will one day be in a landfill. We must change. I must change...this is my challenge...this is all of our challenge.
World Peace and Harmony begin with one person....YOU....and ME! We have the ability to respond, to be responsible for living in harmony with our planet. Working together...individuals, businesses, scientists and political leaders have the resources and ability to create a prosperous balanced world that gives back in balance what it takes, that looks out seven generations, that collectively energizes creative solutions to the challenges before us. We can no longer point our fingers at others. The penguins, the polar bears, the coral reefs, the storms, the droughts....the messengers of our planet are sending out a clear call. We must all take action and join together in unity of purpose.
Public awareness: It's not about the weather, silly, it's about the climate. It's not about enjoying a milder winter or complaining about a hotter summer now. It is recognizing the repercussions of the disaster we are bringing upon ourselves. Past societies which collapsed due to shortsighted depletion of natural resources and human spurred ecological inbalance, did not have the scientific/technological knowledge at our disposal today. We must learn from history; translate scientific insight into survival law. Read *Collapse* by Jared Diamond.
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