Senator Whitehouse commends fossil fuel divestment movement from the Senate floor

And thank you to Senator Whitehouse regarding his discussion on building after Hurricane Sandy. I agree with him wholeheartedly.

http://environment.yale.edu/climate/publications/Behavior-September-2012/

Americans are taking action.

Where is this government? They have no more excuses.

" ■The number of Americans who say they “always” or “often” walk or bike instead of driving is at its highest recorded level (25%) and has risen considerably since March (up 14 points). Americans today are also more likely say they use public transportation or carpool (17%), returning to a level last observed in November 2008 (18%).

■Compact fluorescent light bulbs continue to be adopted by the American consumer, with 57 percent now reporting that most or all of the light bulbs in their home are CFLs – up from 40% in November 2008.

■Three Americans in ten (32%) say that in the past 12 months they have given business to a company as a reward for their steps to reduce global warming. Nearly a quarter also say that in the past 12 months they have punished companies for opposing steps to reduce global warming by not purchasing their products (24%).

■About one in ten (11%) have contacted a government official about global warming by letter, email, or phone, while 15% have volunteered or donated money to an organization working to reduce global warming.

■Americans who contact a government official about global warming have become much more likely to urge them to take action to reduce it (89%, up 17 percentage points since 2010).

■No matter what their personal beliefs about global warming, many Americans say they have friends who have different views than their own. In fact, more are likely to have friends who disagree than agree with them about global warming.

■Yet, relatively few Americans say they feel uncomfortable discussing global warming with those who disagree with them."
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We have work to do still, but this is encouraging.

http://gofossilfree.org/semester-wrap-up/

Divestment campaign reaches 189 campuses. We can all move to divest from fossil fuels in our lives through what we purchase, how we drive, and who we vote for.
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"With significant media coverage in the New York Times, TIME, MSN Finance, Rolling Stone, and more, the campaign is also beginning to make an impact in economic circles.

“The speed at which this campaign has spread is causing ripples in the investment community,” said Andy Behar, the CEO of As You Sow, a campaign partner that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building. “We anticipate more ‘carbon free’ investment options coming onto the market over the coming months for endowments, foundations, and other institutional investors who want to move investment dollars to build a clean energy future.”

According to endowment experts, fossil fuel divestment won’t necessarily result in negative financial impacts for a college.

“We’re looking forward to working with students and others to show college administrators that divestment isn’t just the moral thing to do, it’s both practical and responsible, as well,” said Dan Apfel, Executive Director of the Responsible Endowments Coalition, a campaign partner. “It’s time for colleges to build fossil free portfolios that have strong returns on investment and help move us towards us a sustainable future.”

In fact, colleges have lots of profitable, sustainable investment options at their disposal.

“If instead of propping up Shell or BP, a college invests in, say, more efficient lighting or heating, the median return on investment is 28 percent,” wrote Mark Orlowski, Executive Director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute, in an oped for the Boston Globe. “Best of all, this kind of investment supports the educational mission of a campus instead of undermining it.”

Americans see the reality and we are taking action.There is no way this Congress in whole nor this President can claim that their continued silence on this is justified.