MCollins’s Recent Comments

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  Sides to the story

  The NYT blog Dot Earth is doing a great job covering this, and I know they're aware of the contribution grist is making to the discussion--check out the twin posts recently:

  http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/paying-the-h ...
  http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/paying-peopl ...

  The posts are fueled by an exchange between Andrew Revkin, the NYT author behind Dot Earth, and Peter Barnes, of the socially responsible investment fund "Working Assets," and center around his proposal for a cap and dividend system.

  Editor, www.getsolar.com

  On Peter Barnes looks at carbon-capping methods posted 1 year, 10 months ago 3 Responses

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  Hopeful for 2008

  Whether or not tax credits can get pushed through this administration, this is a great opportunity for the next president to make a real impact on domestic renewable energy. It is only becoming more clear as time goes by how important it is to invest in renewables, and after another year, with ever more examples to look to in Europe and even in Asia, perhaps the US will finally demonstrate the leadership in this area for which we've been waiting. On Tax incentives for clean energy not yet renewed -- but probably will be posted 1 year, 10 months ago 3 Responses

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  Call to action from the blogosphere...

  The last presidential race was perhaps the first one in history that could have been influenced by bloggers--certainly the community has been strong for some time, but it's only recently that it's really picked up momentum. It's good to see that the green portion of the blogosphere is not losing sight of its potential to influence politics; it's satisfyingly democratic. Let's just hope the media listens.

  Editor, www.getsolar.com

  On A new site asks political talk show hosts to address climate change posted 1 year, 10 months ago 3 Responses

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  Is anyone here an ex-cheerleader?

  Or a current one, for that matter? I feel like we need pro-Pelosi cheers to start circulating. Progress on the energy bill has been a real triumph for a party that's been in-fighting and demoralized for too long. The political right has long been more powerful because they present, correctly, a unified front. It's wonderful that the left is beginning to  do the same, galvanized by such an urgent issue. My hope is that the move towards renewable energy will continue to pick up political steam and, as it's been doing in fits and starts, finally become nonpartisan. Woo-hoo progress!

  Editor, www.getsolar.com

  On Greens need to learn how to celebrate their friends and their movement posted 1 year, 11 months ago 31 Responses

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  More to the story

  jbosborn, I'm 100% behind your sentiments, but haven't we seen time and time again that the haves really couldn't care less about the have-nots? The way we treat our poor even in America should be a crime, but it's not. We don't seem to be able to motivate our politicians when there are clear instances of injustice involving dictators, child soldiers, mass amounts of arms trading, etc--so how will we motivate them to deal with this invisible enemy comprising not only the wealthy corporations of the world, but our own lifestyles and choices? If the UN report can raise awareness, great. If we as the most privileged of privileged peoples can agree to finally give up a little something in order to make life a lot better for everyone else, also great.

  But I'm afraid that our approach to climate change will ultimately be determined by economics rather than by morality. I think a best-case scenario is one in which we recognize that it is in the best interests of the continued stability of our governments, our societies, our currencies, and our environment to achieve greater wealth distribution along with shared ownership of the issues of climate change. In effect, everyone needs to have their basic needs met: in a sort of global Hierarchy of Needs, we can't turn our attention to idealism or the abstract--which climate change is for most everyone, despite its physical reality--until we can feed, house, clothe, protect and educate ourselves and our children. Is it safe to call this the economics of true humanitarianism?On World's poor to be shafted most by climate change, U.N. report says posted 1 year, 11 months ago 2 Responses