It’s Getting Hot In Here

[The following was co-written by Naomi Klein, author of #1 international bestseller The Shock Doctrine, Terry Tempest Williams, world renowned wildlife author, Bill Mckibben, founder of 350.org and author of The End Of Nature, and Dr. James Hansen, author of Storms of my Grandchildren, and who is regarded as the world's leading climatologist. All recognize the trial of Tim DeChristopher to be a turning point in the climate movement. Please visit our resource page for more information]

Dear Friends,

The epic fight to ward off global warming and transform the energy system that is at the core of our planet’s economy takes many forms: huge global days of action, giant international conferences like the one that just failed in Copenhagen, small gestures in the homes of countless people.

But there are a few signal moments, and one comes next month, when the federal government puts Tim DeChristopher on trial in Salt Lake City. Tim—“Bidder 70”– pulled off one of the most creative protests against our runaway energy policy in years: he bid for the oil and gas leases on several parcels of federal land even though he had no money to pay for them, thus upending the auction. The government calls that “violating the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act” and thinks he should spend ten years in jail for the crime; we call it a noble act, a profound gesture made on behalf of all of us and of the future. Continue reading ‘Call to action by Naomi Klein, Terry Tempest Williams, Bill McKibben, Dr. James Hansen and Peaceful Uprising’

Bill McKibben, Jessy Tolkan, George Monbiot, Daryl Hannah, and many other amazing leaders speak from a dream podium in Copenhagen.

Click HERE for the official GOOD COP15 website!

By Tim DeChristopher. Cross-posted from PeacefulUprising.org

In the essential film The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard says, “Our primary identity has become that of consumer.” This is certainly a disturbing notion for those of us who are trying to steer our society toward sustainability.  Perhaps even more disturbing, though, is the way that environmentalists endorse and ultimately perpetuate this mutation of our humanity.

The vast majority of times green groups ask people to act, it centers on changing our consumption habits.  At first glance this makes sense.  If consumption is the problem, shouldn’t we try to change the way people consume?  The catch is that every time we focus on how individuals can change their consumption, we are sending the message that their real power to make a difference lies in how they shop.  This simply reinforces the cultural myth that the most important part of who we are as people is our role as a consumer.

That myth is a lie.  We are much more than consumers.  We are citizens of what was once the greatest…

Continue reading ‘More Than Consumers’

US President Barack Obama inspires millions with a message of eventual peace

Cross-posted from @ash_anderson’s blog

Many feel that a Nobel Peace Prize was a bit hasty

“Mr. Obama has been persistent in his message, from the beginning of his career in the Senate, through his historic election, and now in the early days of his presidency,” Said an international peace activist spokesperson. “His eloquent talking points and lofty promises have roused the hopes of all peace-loving people of the Earth.  Today we honor that ambition, and say, “Sounds GREAT! Now get to it!”

The US president has come under fire recently from some of his own supporters for what they perceive to be inconsistencies between Mr. Obama’s message and actual policy decisions he has made.  The increasingly disillusioned base points to Obama’s effort to escalate the war in Afghanistan, maintain Bush-era military spending, reauthorize the PATRIOT act and perpetuate secret CIA prisons as examples of why they believe a Nobel Peace Prize may be premature.  His lack of commitment to attending the Copenhagen climate negotiations look a bit out of place now as well.

“I woke up today to the news that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize,” said Jamie Salt, a self-described “American progressive” that campaigned for Obama last fall.  “My immediate reaction was, ‘Obama won the Nobel Prize?  That’s like someone getting a first place trophy for a marathon by talking about how fast they can run.’  In my opinion, Obama still has 20 miles to go.”

“Then I heard that he was getting the Go Get ‘Em Tiger! Award,” Jamie continued. “and that makes more sense.  Indeed, Mr. President.  We believe you can win.  You’ve got the overwhelming majority cheering you on.  Now quit shaking hands and hit the pavement.”

A Senator from Alaska is moving to sabotage US efforts to create meaningful climate legislation before Copenhagen.

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has proposed an amendment to EPA’s fiscal 2010 spending bill that would strip EPA of the ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants and polluting industries.  Such an amendment could seriously undermine the US’ leverage in negotiating a sufficient climate treaty in Copenhagen.

On Monday, 32 environmental groups sent a letter urging the Senate to reject Murkowski’s draft amendment. Among the letters’ contentions:

“The Murkowski amendment seeks to exempt from the Clean Air Act the biggest global
warming polluters. The amendment would let Big Oil, dirty coal, and other big polluters off the
hook for their carbon dioxide emissions, undermining the Clean Air Act’s protections for public
health and the environment. These sources are responsible for the lion’s share of U.S. carbon
dioxide emissions.

The Murkowski amendment delays the transition to clean energy. Exempting the biggest
sources of carbon dioxide from the Clean Air Act will delay our nation’s transition to efficiency,
solar, wind, and other sources of clean energy – sources that won’t run out, will only grow
cheaper over time, don’t harm our environment or public health, and will create millions of
clean energy jobs.” Continue reading ‘Sen. Murkowski Proposes Disastrous EPA Amendment on Behalf of Dity Energy’

I was sitting at home in my pajamas, glossily checking Facebook, when I saw a status update that caught my attention.  It alluded to homework which forced a student to prove that global warming is a hoax.  Eyebrow raised, I investigated.  Turns out, a public school teacher in my state, Utah, gave this assignment to students last week:

“Write a 2-page paper exposing the myths of global warming, and giving scientific information show that global warming is not the major catastrophe the media would have us believe.  Must include a full bibliography and include a copy of your highlighted sources.”

Of course, I had to sleep on this before I trusted myself to react.

The next morning, I decided I needed a couple of questions answered before I could decide what to do about this.  Here’s what I asked and what I found out:

Q: Was the teacher giving some sort of clever lesson aimed at waking the students up to the overwhelming evidence in favor of global warming?  A:  No.  In fact, the teacher specifically told the students that they could NOT turn in a paper to the contrary or they would receive no credit.

Q:  How could the teacher get AWAY with this?  A:  The teacher isn’t getting away with it.  Disciplinary action is being taken by the school.

Here is an image of the assignment, complete with doodles:

Continue reading ‘High School Teacher’s Assignment: “Expose the Myth of Global Warming”’