<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Climate action requires leadership beyond political ‘reasonableness’]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Jon Rynn http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:48:28 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/1 OK then, I'll ask again...

...if time is short, and we have to get things right, now, why not just have the government spend a trillion (at least) a year, and just build it?  Blanket all buildings with solar panels,build high-speed rail, light rail, whatever rail, shut down all the coal plants, relocalize agriculture and manufacturing, etc?  I mean, maybe carbon pricing will work, but again, if at has to be done now, if it's an emergency -- then convert the entire economy to reconstruction.  I mean, the Egyptians could build pyramids, wind and solar farms are easier.

]]> OK then, I'll ask again...

...if time is short, and we have to get things right, now, why not just have the government spend a trillion (at least) a year, and just build it?  Blanket all buildings with solar panels,build high-speed rail, light rail, whatever rail, shut down all the coal plants, relocalize agriculture and manufacturing, etc?  I mean, maybe carbon pricing will work, but again, if at has to be done now, if it's an emergency -- then convert the entire economy to reconstruction.  I mean, the Egyptians could build pyramids, wind and solar farms are easier.

]]> Comment #2 by stopgreenpath http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:31:17 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/2 here's the idea, please implement

ok, so we get the theme.  some of us have been railing against the UNSUSTAINABILITY of killing off wilderness directly as a "solution" to killing off wilderness indirectly, and so we want point of use renewables owned by we, the people to be the centerpiece of the new renewable energy paradigm.

it's radical, it's free market, it's sustainable, it's affordable.  all we need is policy to level the playing field.  and that's your gig.

clearly, you know some folks who are connected enough to make this happen virtually overnight, so do me a favor.  turn off your computer, head over to congress, and work it out.

we're ready, willing and able, but this is not a democracy, in case you hadn't noticed, and we simply DO NOT GET HEARD when Big Energy (including Big Renewables) owns our government.

let us know how it goes!  thanks.

the greenest energy is that which you needn't ever produce.

]]> here's the idea, please implement

ok, so we get the theme.  some of us have been railing against the UNSUSTAINABILITY of killing off wilderness directly as a "solution" to killing off wilderness indirectly, and so we want point of use renewables owned by we, the people to be the centerpiece of the new renewable energy paradigm.

it's radical, it's free market, it's sustainable, it's affordable.  all we need is policy to level the playing field.  and that's your gig.

clearly, you know some folks who are connected enough to make this happen virtually overnight, so do me a favor.  turn off your computer, head over to congress, and work it out.

we're ready, willing and able, but this is not a democracy, in case you hadn't noticed, and we simply DO NOT GET HEARD when Big Energy (including Big Renewables) owns our government.

let us know how it goes!  thanks.

the greenest energy is that which you needn't ever produce.

]]> Comment #3 by Des Emery http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:24:35 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/3 Hog Heaven

Global Warming is a real catastrophe getting ready to happen.  And it is a world-wide phenomenon, not a local "event."  It is a naturally accelerating process.  

There are enough "intellects" involved in charting it, but not enough "governments" involved in combating it. Government train of thought is always focussed on either retaining power (getting re-elected a la Robert Mugabe) or taking power in the first place.  

The Mugabe's of the world never pay attention to real life, and the democracies are more concerned with the public's aversion to paying taxes than with what those taxes could pay for.  

Des Emery

]]> Hog Heaven

Global Warming is a real catastrophe getting ready to happen.  And it is a world-wide phenomenon, not a local "event."  It is a naturally accelerating process.  

There are enough "intellects" involved in charting it, but not enough "governments" involved in combating it. Government train of thought is always focussed on either retaining power (getting re-elected a la Robert Mugabe) or taking power in the first place.  

The Mugabe's of the world never pay attention to real life, and the democracies are more concerned with the public's aversion to paying taxes than with what those taxes could pay for.  

Des Emery

]]> Comment #4 by Wolverine http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/ Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:04:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/4 Phony Pragmatism

This column supports what I've been arguing against Dave Roberts: it doesn't matter whether people WANT to stop causing ecological destruction.  If they don't stop it, the web of life that we depend on will unravel, as it's already starting to do right before our eyes.  As an old sailing saying that I repeated once here goes, in nature there are no rewards or punishments, only consequences.  Nature couldn't care less about human social or economic issues, and those issues will be of absolutely no consequence regarding what happens to the Earth and life upon it.

]]> Phony Pragmatism

This column supports what I've been arguing against Dave Roberts: it doesn't matter whether people WANT to stop causing ecological destruction.  If they don't stop it, the web of life that we depend on will unravel, as it's already starting to do right before our eyes.  As an old sailing saying that I repeated once here goes, in nature there are no rewards or punishments, only consequences.  Nature couldn't care less about human social or economic issues, and those issues will be of absolutely no consequence regarding what happens to the Earth and life upon it.

]]> Comment #5 by newnoah http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/ Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:14:23 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/hog-heaven-part-2/5 What is reasonable?

Dear Bill,

Something important is happening tomorrow.

In a speech in Washington, DC, Nobel Laureate and Former Vice President Al Gore will issue a major challenge, essentially pressing the "reset" button on how we think about energy and climate, and how we can create prosperity in America.

His speech will generate a great deal of attention. Since you are a We campaign member, we wanted to make sure you heard about it in advance. We'll email you when we've posted the video highlights, action steps and other resources -- so stay tuned for breaking news!

Sincerely,

Cathy Zoi
CEO
http://www.wecansolveit.org

Let's guess what degree of major challenge Al will be making tomorrow. What's reasonable? Careful, you're risking your credibility if you think he'll actually challenge us to do something appropriate to an actual 'crisis'. We..???



]]> What is reasonable?

Dear Bill,

Something important is happening tomorrow.

In a speech in Washington, DC, Nobel Laureate and Former Vice President Al Gore will issue a major challenge, essentially pressing the "reset" button on how we think about energy and climate, and how we can create prosperity in America.

His speech will generate a great deal of attention. Since you are a We campaign member, we wanted to make sure you heard about it in advance. We'll email you when we've posted the video highlights, action steps and other resources -- so stay tuned for breaking news!

Sincerely,

Cathy Zoi
CEO
http://www.wecansolveit.org

Let's guess what degree of major challenge Al will be making tomorrow. What's reasonable? Careful, you're risking your credibility if you think he'll actually challenge us to do something appropriate to an actual 'crisis'. We..???



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