By now, you've hopefully read the
hilarious response to the petition asking the White House to develop a Death Star program by 2016. Signed by more than 34,000 people, the petition was denied, with the White House citing an $850 quadrillion price tag and existing investments in other, more productive space projects. Besides, asks Paul Shawcross, the author of the response and Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget:
Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?
Of course, as
Dante Atkins rightly pointed out earlier today, this is hilarious. But.
Since the petition site, We The People, was started, it appears that not a single petition on climate change has made it past the 25,000-signature threshold required for a response. In fact, most of the times I've checked, there haven't even been ANY petitions visible in the climate change category.
Since I refuse to believe this is because there aren't at least 25,000 people in this country who care about climate action, I am issuing a challenge.
A couple days ago, EarthWE.com filed a petition urging the president to make this term a Green Term, initiating strong action on climate change and rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline. We at Don't Just Sit There - Do Something! have decided to lend our support to their effort.
Let's get this petition over the threshold, and prove once and for all that at least as many people want to keep this planet habitable for future generations as, you know, want to build a giant planet-destroying spaceship. (If you're like me, you probably agree that we're already pretty good at destroying planets, thank you very much.)
With the upcoming climate rally in DC over Presidents' Day and the rumors flying about Obama's new engagement in the climate fight, the timing couldn't be better.
Please, sign and share. And may the force be with us.
Thanks,
Joylette
Photo credit: Barack Obama - marcn