I would like to draft and amplify a “request” to President Obama, who has seen the best scientific, military, and economic information on the threat of human-caused climate change, to bear witness to what he has seen by giving a prime-time address, on climate change, before he leaves office. Yes, he has a mixed record on climate; yes, climate justice will require a massive grass-roots, international civil disobedience campaign. But might a top-down “hand” help?
Why Climate Change As a Single Focus?
There are arguably many issues that Obama should address in his remaining days. And short term, the most vulnerable people probably include immigrants, Muslims, poor women, communities of color vis a vis the police, and many others, and we must prepare our resistance to help defend the most vulnerable. But as McKibben emphasizes, the physics of climate change is not forgiving. Obama could use current events, such as the temperature anomaly in the arctic and the escalating crisis over the Dakota Access Pipeline, as part of his argument. My hope is that he might help shift the Overton Window on climate science discussions (which got virtually ignored for the whole campaign by the media) and slightly strengthen us for the climate science fights that are likely to destroy NASA’s earth science program, all EPA efforts around clean power, restrictions on fossil fuel extraction, and so many actions clearly upcoming from the Trump cabal. I do not believe it is overly dramatic to compare this moment in scientific history — the democratic election of scientifically illiterate con-man surrounded by ignorant and/or conniving, corporate shills — to the Galileo Affair.
What Might We Ask?
I would like us to request, through whatever channels our community brainstorms, that President Obama give a prime-time address on the science and risks of climate change. He can frame the address in his preferred non-confrontational way as “here’s the science; here’s an invitation to climate-fence-sitters or casual deniers (those he likes to call his Republican friends); here’s what I have seen.” Thirty minutes, a few charts, graphs, and pictures, but mostly use his power of persuasion, to bear witness, to speak truth to the incoming power, from his personal (and perhaps even religious, if that is what motivates him) reflection on what he has seen over the last 8 years, and what it is likely to mean, especially to those most vulnerable.
What Sources Might Obama Channel?
Some great communicators on the topic of climate change are available as models (or I bet assistants, if he would ask): our own Meteor Blades, DarkSyde, and FishOutofWater; Van Jones; Joe Romm; Bill McKibben; Michael Mann; Bill Nye; Neil Degrasse Tyson; these impressive women; the Pope; and of course, NASA. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address and Carter’s “Moral Equivalent of War” address contain lessons that could improve his presentation.
My Request to Our Community:
I am socializing this idea — probably not unique but I hadn’t heard it elsewhere yet, and yes I am sure it is an almost hopeless “request” — asking for feedback. Would it be useful for some of us to to advocate for an Obama address, where he speaks truth to the power that is about to attack climate science itself, by bearing witness to what he has seen in his 8 years as President? Thanks.