tagged w/ Environmental Democracy
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An excellent commentary by Dr.Vandana Shiva who has been at the forefront of fighting for environmental democracy for many years. In this article she lays out the false solutions for climate change being used and discusses real ones. The problem however, is bringing down the old guard (mainly the WTO and The World Bank) that keeps perpetuating the false solutions for their own economic benefit at the expense of the poor. How can the world's poor gain an equal footing?An excellent commentary by Dr.Vandana Shiva who has been at the forefront of fighting... more
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And no, it isn't a new breakfast cereal.;-). To me it is a breakthrough that could bring solar energy to the level it should have been at twenty years ago. This is the part of the climate crisis that is exciting and gives me hope...the innovations, the ingenuity, and the vision that shows us that we can do this. We can make a better future and make amends for the past.And no, it isn't a new breakfast cereal.;-). To me it is a breakthrough that... more
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This report sounds like something the German Parliament would issue during WW2 to tell the people that the Holocaust in not happening, and if it is the Nazis are not responsible for it. Personally, I have no political biases regarding my views on climate change. I don't support Al Gore's view because I am a "Democrat." I support his view on climate change and that of the PEER REVIEWED scientists across this globe who are actually posting the data and connecting the dots, because I have armed myself with the knowledge I need to see with my own eyes... the very thing this report aims to stop because of course, to those in Congress an enlightened and informed citizenry is indeed the biggest threat to them. And unlike them my wallet does not hold sway over my beliefs. Like Senators by the name of Inhofe and others who do nothing but issue reports at opportune moments to coincide with their own personal petty political grudges.The rate of ice melt in the Arctic and Greenland alone is three times faster than ever predicted. It is unprecedented. Again, unprecedented. It has been proven by PEER REVIEWED scientists (not weathermen or Senators with no scientific background) that CO2 forcings on this planet along with other gases and sources together with anthropogenic climate change are changing our relationship with this planet. Now, we can "debate" all day until we are blue in the face but it doesn't change the reality of what this planet is becoming regardless of what you may personally believe is responsible for it. It is as if this report is then telling the American people not to care about this planet or their responsibility as stewards to her or to try to understand what is now occurring. I suppose they also believe that air and water pollution are not caused by humans either? Poisoning our water and air thus leading to diseases is not human induced? How about poverty? How about war? We aren't responsible for that either? Water scarcity, deforestation... Who is cutting down all the trees thus exacerbating the effects of this crisis? God? To me, this report is nothing more than a timed trashing of a man they fear the most. The one man who came out with a movie that explained what is happening to our planet in a way those whom they wished to keep in the dark for their own selfish reasons understand, and they are more afraid of it hurting their financial bottomlines than anything else. And in my view, telling people that there is "nothing to worry about" regardless of your belief when we can see otherwise just to protect your wallet and political standing is not only morally bankrupt, it is criminal.This report sounds like something the German Parliament would issue during WW2 to tell... more
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What agreement? To continue just talking as the Earth melts? While I am not sad about this outcome as my expectations weren't that high in the first place, I am not happy with it either. I am at best wary. I wanted targets to be agreed to first because I think that is the only way we will be able to go forward in then working on the solutions to meet those targets. I think it will be too easy for the U.S. and other countries to weasal out of this at a later date regardless of party. I am gratified however, that a framework regarding passing technology to developing countries to help them meet their energy needs sustainably was added. Developing countries and poor countries that are feeling the brunt of the effects of this crisis must be given assistance by those countries spewing the most GHGS into the atmosphere. It is as simple as that. If the U.S., Japan, China, or whichever country does not agree with that, then they must then agree to binding targets to cut their own usage down. I truly do hope this will help in keeping that tipping point further from us, but again at this stage without targets this is just more talk and playing it by ear, and where this planet is concerned we cannot afford to play it by ear any longer. And where was the talk about the global water crisis? What agreement? To continue just talking as the Earth melts? While I am not sad about... more
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Is water a human right, or merely just another commodity to be traded on the global markets? To companies like Suez it is a commodity to be used for its own profit at the expense of the poor... to millions around the globe from Stockton, California to Bolivia however, it is what it rightfully should be: a human right, and a right worth fighting for. This documentary is a truthful depiction of the corporatization of that human right and a look at those citizens who are fighting back. I highly recommend it. Just today I read that Suez is looking for a chunk of water in Southwestern China to privatize to add to its other conquests. These companies are loving the water shortages as they seek to gain profit from them. We the people however, must stand up for our right to water because it is as essential to us as Democracy... which we also thirst for. Is water a human right, or merely just another commodity to be traded on the global... more
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And of course, now that the Northwest Passage is navigable, governments will be fighting over the resources and doing all in their power to pollute this pristine part of our world in order to lute resources that are already causing the melting to begin with. So yes, this is a moral issue.And of course, now that the Northwest Passage is navigable, governments will be... more
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24 September 2007
A new Marshall Plan is needed to simultaneously tackle global warming and poverty, the environmental activist and former United States Vice-President Al Gore told an audience at United Nations Headquarters in New York today. We now face a global crisis that makes it abundantly clear that increased carbon dioxide emissions anywhere are a threat to the integrity of this planets climate everywhere, Mr. Gore told a luncheon event called Global Voices on Climate Change. The event, hosted by Denmark, Indonesia, Kenya and Poland, was held on the sidelines of the largest-ever gathering of world leaders on climate change.
Increased emissions are responsible for rising temperatures and rising sea levels, which combine to elevate both food and water insecurity worldwide, Mr. Gore said.The old divide between North and South, between developed and developing, is now obsolete, he told the events participants, who included 40 heads of State or government, nine deputy prime ministers and vice presidents and 70 cabinet ministers from all over the world.We must link poverty reduction with the sharp reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, he noted, calling for a plan of attack like that of the Marshall Plan, the post-World War II European reconstruction initiative of the US to tie the struggles against climate change and poverty.
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This is the reason why his work now is being rewarded, because he can now state what he could not state as a "candidate" in this system that rewards nothing but kowtowing to the corporate masters. Though, Mr. Gore, I hope when you made that statement you realized that it is the World Bank through their strings attached loan schemes that have bankrupted many countries with the promise of aid, especially regarding their bribery of countries in order to have their water systems privatized.
Privitization is not taking people out of poverty either, it is exacerbating it on the whole. We need to see micro loans and other types of opportunities made available to the poor along with the tools necessary, ESPECIALLY education and information to teach them how to meet this challenge without relying on organizatioins like the World Bank, the IMF, and other new world order type organizations seeking to keep the poor down in order to make themselves richer. We have to recognize that water is a human right and hold corporations and governments accountable for using it as a weapon and exploiting its scarcity for their own gain like I believe John Howard of Australia has done.
We also have to bring small communities around the world into the alternate energy market (as in biofuels that are not going to deplete food and water resources) to keep it local and to keep it out of the hands of conglomerates such as Archer Daniels Midland that are taking advantage of this water and food insecurity for their own benefit. Corn ethanol is not the answer. Bringing parity to the market, rewarding those companies that understand their moral and ethical responsibilities now, and introducing more to that process will spark innovations, jobs, and hope.
Keeping it in the hands of the same groups will do nothing but continue the viscious cycle we are in now. I know you understand that, and that is why through your Climate Project I hope to see the seeds of hope planted globally. You are doing a great thing here, and I for one thank you for these words. I sincerely hope those you spoke them too understand this as well and begin to act on them now. We cannot save ourselves without ourselves.24 September 2007
A new Marshall Plan is needed to simultaneously tackle global... more
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