Check out Bill McKibben’s essay in the latest Foreign Policy magazine. It’s full of straight talk about the reality of climate change, debunking plenty of the skeptics’ arguments along the way. For McKibben (a Grist board member, BTW), the real question is whether there’s sufficient will in the international community to take on the very hard challenge of climate change. Here’s an excerpt:
“Despite the rapid industrialization of countries such as China and India, and the careless neglect of rich ones such as the United States, climate change is neither any one country’s fault, nor any one country’s responsibility. It will require sacrifice from everyone. Just as the Chinese might have to use somewhat more expensive power to protect the global environment, Americans will have to pay some of the difference in price, even if just in technology. Call it a Marshall Plan for the environment. Such a plan makes eminent moral and practical sense and could probably be structured so as to bolster emerging green energy industries in the West. But asking Americans to pay to put up windmills in China will be a hard political sell in a country that already thinks China is prospering at its expense. It could be the biggest test of the country’s political maturity in many years.”
There you have it. Is America mature enough to help save the planet?
source: Foreign Policy
Obama administration officials grateful for early spring
Bill McKibben says time is running out on climate delays
Comments
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Delay And Deny Posted 9:17 am
05 Jan 2009
If Americans were adults, they would keep ignoring the chirping Global Warmers, who only want attention.
"Yes, dear, that's nice...now go back and play with your models." is the apropos parental response.
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earlysnows Posted 9:31 am
05 Jan 2009
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randino Posted 10:04 pm
05 Jan 2009
Randy Cunningham
Cleveland, OH
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Wolverine Posted 3:10 pm
06 Jan 2009
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rglatz Posted 12:18 am
07 Jan 2009
Now, ending with that depressing statement, there is something we can do if we are responsible and proactive. We can become a RESILIENT PEOPLE:
A RESILIENT PEOPLE-
would be a frugal and energy conservation minded not because it's the latest green fad but because it's wise and efficient and a NORMAL part of their lifestyle.
would be strong and courageous in the face of crises....... terrorists or a natural disaster. For the latter, they will respond intelligently (take a Red Cross first aid course for example) rather than just go whining and expecting the government to bail them out. Government, though, can set a good example.
will stay in shape so as not to jack up health care and energy costs.
answer the call for SERVICE rather than just SHOPPING.
* A RESILIENT PEOPLE knows and understands their civic responsibility. They have an understanding what our Constitution is all about and THEY VOTE!
* And Finally, a RESILIENT PEOPLE has a CAN-DO attitude. We use our natural enthusiasm and creativity to solve our technical and social problems.
LET''S BE A RESILIENT PEOPLE AND NOT A WHINING SHEEPLE!
I say all this, even with McKibbins admonishment that it may be already too late. We have to get ready (and get our children and grandchildren) ready for a changed world. Our world will get warmer no matter what we do (among the lesser effects the the Norman Rockwell vision of our winters in the states will have to go for example). The real question is by how much. Our grand mission for the next few hundred years will be try to ameliorate the damage humans have perpetrated on this planet while still enjoying the beauty of our planet and becoming better human beings.
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LaLa Posted 5:52 am
12 Jan 2009
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JMG Posted 7:37 am
12 Jan 2009
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