I may be a bit biased since I think of global warming from an environmental scientists point of view, but I cannot understand why Governor Bill Richardson is not higher in the polls. He is the only one with the vision AND experience needed to lead this country out of our self destructive path. The issue of our time has been reduced to an afterthought. It seems rational that the environment should be the most salient issue of the campaign, but it is mentioned more as a fad than anything else. Environmental and energy policy has a correlation with many of the "important issues" the candidates are talking about. Why must so much of our future be based on media hype and stardom?   Read More »

There is a recent article that points to more evidence of the current administrations censoring vital information on climate change. Previously, NASA's scientific findings were altered to paint a more rosy picture, this time it is the CDC getting edited. The information getting the scrub down this time is on how climate change could affect human health. This should have gotten more attention from the press as it pertains to our, and our childrens, well being rather than just the well being of the planet. Unfortunately, the current population is too naive to grasp the ramifications of widespread disease outbreaks, which could come about as a result of climate change. We have become complacent as our generation has not seen the likes of black death, cholera, or pandemic flu such as the one that ravaged humans in the time of WW1. The article can be found at the following link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21449759/   Read More »

There is a recent article about what our current administration is doing to try to stop the laudable acts of California and Northeastern states. As some of you may know California has passed legislation requiring the regulation of greenhouse gases, something our federal government has strongly opposed for love of big business $$. Many northeastern states followed suit and have adopted these rules. Unfortunately, the states need a waiver from the EPA for these rules to go into effect. The EPA has been considering this waiver and is expected to rule soon. It turns out that the federal government has been lobbying AGAINST the approval of the waiver. I cannot come up with a logical reason as to why they would try to stop something the people want and what is truly in the best interest of our country and national security. The article can be found at: http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/labnotes/archive/2007/09/24/can-climate-politics-get-any-dirtier.aspx   Read More »

Here is a website that compares the 4 main democratic candidates (Obama, Clinton, Edwards, and Richardson) on their energy stance. Notice how much more aggressive Bill Richardsons views are on how we address energy policy areas. I think it is this type of leadership and bold steps that is absolutely necessary as we head into the inevitable energy crisis. We need Bill Richardsons forward thinking to help transition away from oil.

This would be a great easy reference to print out and use as talking points when discussing Bill Richardson with people.

The site is: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/3/05910/48951

There is a study recently released that goes against what many of the CO2 induced global warming critics have been spewing. That is that sun flares and increased solar activity is the cause of global warming and NOT CO2 emissions from human sources. Even with the recently release IPCC report on climate change there was something like 2000 scientists backing the theory that humans are the cause of global warming and unfortunately the news stations, pathetically trying to be fair and balanced, had A scientist on saying it was solar activity and not CO2 emissions that are the cause of global warming. I cannot for the life of me see reason in a lone scientist against 2000 being fair and balanced. Regardless this article Link
is important in addressing the skeptics and will hopefully enlighten them in that they are dead wrong.   Read More »

Recently senators reached a deal to address CO2 emissions via a cap and trade situation. One of the key republicans to admit CO2 emissions needs to be addressed was John Warner. View article: Link
This is a step in the right direction to have senators (regardless of party) come together and address an issue that has for so long been ignored.   Read More »

I would like to hear some comments on the senators agreement on new fuel economy standards. A link to the news article is: Link

Does anyone think this will do much at all to ease our dependence on foreign oil or contribution to global warming?
I believe it will do little or nothing, most likely the latter. By the time these rules would be implemented demand would be a great deal higher and our emissions and dependence will still be at the highest levels ever. Not to mention that 35 mpg is not really that impressive. Also, with the rise in gas prices consumers may already be demanding vehicles with higher gas mileage before this comes about.

Bill Richardson, as president, can have a lot more influence on mileage than what our congress can squabble about. He can help reduce our dependence and work towards an alternative fuel source by giving researchers proper funding and executive order.

Bill Richardson is the only candidate that can undo the environmental damage our current administration has caused. He, along with a democratically controlled congress, can strengthen what has been weakened. The Endangered Species Act can become powerful again, the Clean Air Act can be amended to include emerging chemical contaminants and increase violation penalties as Clear Skies does not do much, and of course we desperately need to address CO2 and methane emissions in a responsible and effective manner. Bill Richardson would have the backing of many countries in taking the lead on addressing global warming. The US, with all of our money and resources, is in the best position to to make a dramatic effect on greenhouse gas emissions. I believe, as president, Bill Richardson will address the issue and become one of the great leaders of the 21st century because of it. People always say that they do things for their children, that their children are most important. It is time to have that reflected in their voting choices because without environmental change our childrens future is quite bleak. I can only hope and pray that the citizens of this country can realize their choices have caused so much damage with the 2004 voting debacle and our current administration, that they will educate themselves on what matters, and vote for our future, for their childrens future, and vote for Bill Richardson.

There was a report released a month or so ago that links climate change with increased national security threats. It was a blue-ribbon panel of admirals and generals. They say that the increased droughts, storm events, sea level rise, water scarcity, etc. will increase terrorism and civil unrest and the US will have to deal with it with more wars, more troops deployed to quell violence, and increased defense. As a person with a science background I have thought linking the two was obvious. Unfortunately that has not always been the case. I believe Bill Richardson understands this concept. With his foreign policy background and commitment to the environment he can do great things in both arenas as they are certainly linked. That is why I support Bill Richardson. He is absolutely the right person for the job.

As a person that has taken quite a few environmental courses I still find myself quite pessimistic about the environmental future. I generally like to think of myself as a realist though. Trying to looking at things as they are. I hope you find this assessment is a realistic view. We are headed towards a crisis of some sort. How severe it is depends on how much we accomplish before it hits. Over the past few years there have been good strides towards changing the way we treat the environment. One example is recently passed fisheries legislation. It certainly will not end all overfishing, but a good step to help rebuild fish populations. There are so many avenues in alternative energy, each with its own set of problems as nothing is perfect, that are being investigated. I recently heard about the Jatropha Nut which is being researched as a source of diesel fuel. It is highly oily and produces a good deal of energy when refined. This nut also does not need to be grown on our valuable agriculture land. It grows in sandy soils. This is just one small example, but one of many and when taken as a whole can give a picture of a more graceful transition away from fossil fuels. Which is by large the root of all evil, environmentally at least. I believe Bill Richardson, as president, would take research like this and provide the leadership desperately needed to implement on a scale needed to make a difference.   Read More »

I think we all agree that our economy is headed in the wrong direction when it comes to the environment. It seems obvious that there will need to be major corrections in our economic goals and how we define a good economy. The question becomes will we take steps to ensure that we are prepared when our natural resources run low or run out, or will we sit back and be apathetic about it until there is a major crash. I unfortunately think it will be more of the latter. This society has a great inertia about changing, about getting involved. Often times its whats in it for me. Whats in it for us in to be a decent human being, being good parents and grandparents. People talk about wanting a better life for their children, but in destroying the environment to attain the perception of a better life is counterproductive to the goal in the first place. What we need is a great momentum to overcome the status quo. Millions of voices crying out, hollering at every politician, wresting power back from companies, and making this once again a government for the people, not for the corporation. I for one do speak up, sign environmental petitions, write congressmen, and have even done dreaded lobbying for better fishing regulations. Dreaded only in the sense that its one of the reasons the corporations have so much power in the first place. We need so many more people to become active if we are to make a difference. And if we cannot mount a large enough response to effect change, then my only regret is that my grandparents are not here anymore so I can soak in first hand accounts of what life was like in the 1930's and prepare myself for something like that, or for much, much worse.