Comments trouserdude has made

Dirty Coal

To repeat the concern that had a short mention in this article, coal is not clean (especially while mountaintop removal is around).  We have got the technology to commit to renewables while cleaning up the old coal plants.  It does not make sense to me why we would so heavily invest in one new coal-fired power plants, we've got hundreds of old ones to clean-up until we build our renewable energy infrastructure.

Any claim to "clean coal" has got to take extraction as well as burning into account.  I don't believe there even is such a thing though.  Seems to be more a Public Relations phrase than a reality.On Climate campaigners warm to "advanced coal" and sequestration, despite Bush backing posted 3 years, 11 months ago 11 Responses

Good Governance?

I agree with the overall message of this article, that we need increasing amounts of sustainable development.  The Global South does indeed to to develop itself with the assistance of industrialized countries in a fashion that will allow it basic standards of life without adversely affecting that standard of life 60 years from now.  That includes protecting areas that have been so far undeveloped.

Where I differ from the author, though, is the focused blame on governments of the Global South.  Countries in Africa and countries in South America are largely curropt because of the history of Western Imperialism.  The West sells these countries guns and has supported horrible dictatorships to further its own ends.  These countries are responsible for their own actions, but the West is responsible for helping them to remedy the negative reactions to historical and present colonialism.  

This message connects here as conservation groups have had difficulty in their conservation work because of this history of colonialism.  Many times (not at all always as some groups are actively examining how historical colonialism is affecting their conservation work) these groups have pushed their own leadership far beyond supporting the work of local environmental activists.  Many conservation efforts have got to learn to follow and listen to activists in the Global South if sustainable progress is going to be made.

Where the environmentalism found oftentimes in the US (not at all with every person) finds itself trying to preserve some piece of land rather than bringing up social and political issues as much of environmentalism in the Global South does.  Environmentalism should connect social and political issues, such as poverty elimination through sustainable development, if it is to be effective at all.

I hope, as the author wrote, that Conservation Organizations outwardly support the work of sustainable development, but also work within the reality that imperialism has created and is creating by seeking to support the good work and leaders in the Global South.On Why aren't conservationists fighting poverty? posted 4 years, 3 months ago 23 Responses

Disappointed

I am disappointed to see this re-definition gaining support.  This is a reactionary transformation of the environmental justice program that is outside reality.  Racism still exists in our society as a very powerful and negative force.  Creating policy that pretends the world is a ideal and everyone is on a level playing field does nothing to erradicate the very real problems of racism.  Policy must go in a different and more responsible direction, of dealing with racism as a negative reality and then attempt to erradicate it by dealing with it.

If the statistics show that people of color are at a greater risk than white folk, then policy must be implemented that deals with that.  Although I am not very familiar with the history of the EPA's environmental justice program, by what I've recently learned, it seemed to treat racism as a reality that needs to be dismantled.

This is a frightening movement that finds itself with roots that are outside reality.  Prentending that racism does not exist only serves to keep its historical power structure in place.On EPA says race, income shouldn't be environmental-justice factors posted 4 years, 4 months ago 2 Responses

Apollo Alliance and Progressive Articulation

By reviewing the Alliance's points and plan, I'm finding their articulation of energy issues to be an inspiring one.  Their incorporation of economic issues and appeal to actual decision makers makes this an especially strong coalition.

The coalition hasn't put forth any actual legislation (although there is similar legislation calling for an Apollo-style renewable energy future), but is aiming towards incredibly beneficial ideas of both increasing renewable energy use and our overall energy efficiency.  It is calling for both of those proposals with the strong focus of economic and environmental benefits.

I would be interested to know, though, what the weak proposals that you have found are.  The Democratic Party is going to have to be a vehicle for realizing a progressive vision, but it needs to take a much stronger stance that it already has in favor of clean and renewable energies.  

When looking at energy and environmental issues, Democrats consistently take a stronger positions than Republicans.  There are Republicans who vote good votes on environmental and other issues, but by and large the Democrats are a much friendlier folk towards economic and environmental issues such as energy than Republicans by and large.  While I think there is a lot of work to do with Democrats (Democrats in the Senate voted overwhelmingly for the Energy Bill while opposition in the House was strongly Democrat), the Party can be a great vehicle towards progress.

There will certainly be Democrats campaigning on their Energy Bill vote, but there are many who are supportive of a beneficial future based on renewables.  That wing of the party, along with progressive organizations, can actively articulate an energy future.  I don't think ann energy future can be realized without a Party in power that is friendly towards renewable and clean energy sources.  On Turns out the Apollo folks don't like it either posted 4 years, 4 months ago 5 Responses

Good Message

The Apollo Alliance is a great organization which put the message in a very positive, but serious context.  The energy bill is loaded with tax breaks for all kinds of polluting corporations that run this country on energy from the past.  The message of this reaction, that i like so much, is that there is great work being done on the state and local level.

I believe action on the local level is oftentimes a precursor to action on the national level, and I hope to see clean energy power our economy and provide jobs within it.  

The Apollo Alliance looks to be doing a good job of articulating a progressive vision for this country.On Turns out the Apollo folks don't like it either posted 4 years, 4 months ago 5 Responses