The more I think about it, the main thing that bothers me about America-- that takes away from its first-world status-- is our utter inability to undertake meaningful action on climate change. We have one major political party that is in complete wilfull denial on the subject, and the other is too cowed to even bring it up. People may talk about 'clean energy,' but they never say why we need clean energy-- to bring down greenhouse-gas emissions. It's shameful that this subject isn't even being discussed during this election season.
The two main people-- nonscientists-- that I look to on this subject are Bill McKibben and Naomi Klein. I think I posted a link to McKibben's most recent article in Rolling Stone. Klein's cover article in The Nation, "Capitalism vs. the Climate," http://www.thenation.com/article/164497/capitalism-vs-climate is quite insightful, and I understand she's working on a book on the subject.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
climate change
For your perusal, Bill McKibben's recent article in Rolling Stone on the culpability of the fossil-fuel industry for the paralysis of serious action on climate change:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719
Quoting Naomi Klein: " . . . [W]ith the fossil-fuel industry, wrecking the planet is their business model. It's what they do."
The only country I can think of that has anywhere near this kind of organized opposition to action on climate change is Australia. But there, it's in large measure because the Australian government is actually doing something about it! They've actually instituted a carbon tax (and refund), which is making the coal producers extremely miffed.
In this country, on the other hand, we have one of two major political parties who are simply in complete denial of the science on the subject. (But then, they're in complete denial of the science on evolution as well.)
How to change this state of affairs is a conundrum. But McKibben thinks that identifying an enemy-- the fossil-fuel industry-- could be a powerful catalyst. He likens their denial and obfuscation to that of the tobacco industry back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. And he also suggests that a disinvestment campaign, a la the one waged against apartheid South Africa in the 80s and 90s would be an effective weapon:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719
Quoting Naomi Klein: " . . . [W]ith the fossil-fuel industry, wrecking the planet is their business model. It's what they do."
The only country I can think of that has anywhere near this kind of organized opposition to action on climate change is Australia. But there, it's in large measure because the Australian government is actually doing something about it! They've actually instituted a carbon tax (and refund), which is making the coal producers extremely miffed.
In this country, on the other hand, we have one of two major political parties who are simply in complete denial of the science on the subject. (But then, they're in complete denial of the science on evolution as well.)
How to change this state of affairs is a conundrum. But McKibben thinks that identifying an enemy-- the fossil-fuel industry-- could be a powerful catalyst. He likens their denial and obfuscation to that of the tobacco industry back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. And he also suggests that a disinvestment campaign, a la the one waged against apartheid South Africa in the 80s and 90s would be an effective weapon:
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
the enemies of first-world america
These are the enemies of first-world America:
.Evangelical Nutcakes
.The Evil Rich and the Evil Poor
.The Showbiz Dumbers-Down
I'll discuss these at greater length later.
.Evangelical Nutcakes
.The Evil Rich and the Evil Poor
.The Showbiz Dumbers-Down
I'll discuss these at greater length later.
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