How high do gas prices have to go before people realize the connection between all of this? You know, the connection between our actions and the consequences? You don't bring down gas prices by just talking about it or by letting corporations police themselves! You don't lower gas prices by telling Americans that we need to wean ourselves off of FOREIGN oil while we are over in the Middle East sands killing our children for it! You don't lower gas prices by using it as a political marketing tool just to get elected so you can then vote for more defense spending and corporate perks to continue the politics of empire that have brought us to this point!
More below
How high do gas prices have to go before people realize the connection between all of this? You know, the connection between our actions and the consequences? You don't bring down gas prices by just talking about it or by letting corporations police themselves! You don't lower gas prices by telling Americans that we need to wean our selves off of FOREIGN oil while we are over in the Middle East sands killing our children for it! You don't lower gas prices by using it as a political marketing tool just to get elected so you can then vote for more defense spending and corporate perks to continue the politics of empire that have brought us to this point!
I also don't think you have to be a scientist to see where our greed, ignorance, and denial is taking this planet. And let's face it, politicians KNOW what burning these gases is doing to our planet, but if they admitted that, they would then have to also admit that they have a MORAL duty to do something about it... and that would mean having to actually change THEIR ways as well. Do we really have the time to wait for Washington DC to grow a damn conscience? That could take centuries at this point.
The United States only has about 4% of the world's population, yet we burn the most greenhouse gases. Do people actually think those gases just stay OVER US? That they just evaporate as if they never existed? HELLO? What we are doing here is effecting the WORLD, and what the world does effects us. We are all connected. That is really the simplest way to explain it all, and not to be rude, but I truly believe the simplest way is the best way for many Americans who have what I call an "American Idol" mentality.
This is why I am a bit concerned about how An Inconvenient Truth will be accepted once it is released. As I stated in a comment I made today, I read a poll about the movie where 40% of the people who voted picked that they will go see it on opening night, but about the same percentage voted they wouldn't even watch it if it were on TV. Now what does that tell you about people's unwillingness to admit their own culpability in the crisis we face? Or perhaps, some only see it as a political campaign movie? Or wouldn't even watch something that regards the future of their own children, just because they don't like Al Gore? And it seems people are all fine with pointing fingers, but when that finger starts pointing at them then it all changes. So again, I think this movie needs to be promoted as much as possible based on its merits because as the story below relates, this isn't getting any better.
Which is why this story below is also so damning to the Bush regime. Their total unsubstantiated retiscence to signing onto Kyoto by claiming it would cost us more money (while never showing us any proof of that assertion) is flat out unadulterated BULLSHIT. As a matter of fact, just the opposite is being discovered in many industries that are greening and finding many opportunities in this field that even bring them more profitability. So we know why they really don't want to sign onto Kyoto... THEIR OIL PALS. And they are even willing to continue to kill this planet to get what they want. Republicans, the Party of morality? The Party of morality my ass.
Bolding my emphasis
U.S.Greenhouse Gas Emission Reach Record Levels
New figures from the US Environmental Protection Agency has shown that the country's greenhouse gas emissions have reached record levels. The statistics, which will act as a further damning assessment of the Bush Administration's handling of green affairs, show a 1.7% jump in emissions in 2004 from the previous year.
During the period between 1990 and 2004 - 1990 being the `baseline' date from which emissions are judged in the Kyoto Protoco - total emissions in the US have risen by a massive 15.8%.
The US has faced significant pressure to act more decisively on emissions reduction, from government including the UK, and from numerous State Authorities and Senators.
"Despite the overwhelming evidence of the catastrophic consequences of global climate change, President Bush refuses to sign the Kyoto climate treaty and has allowed US emissions to reach record levels," said Friends of the Earth international's climate coordinator, Catherine Pearce. "This is despite calls from within the States urging action on climate change. US businesses, Mayors and Senators recognise the dire threat, and want the US to take its responsibilities seriously, invest in the solutions that already exist, and cut its emissions of greenhouse gases."
And Democrats in Congress and those running for office: It is also time for you to not be afraid to speak out about this issue! And not only speak out, DO something about it.
There are plenty of people out here doing something about it, but where are you? Americans DO care for the air they breathe, the water they drink, other species that cannot speak for themselves, our national parks, and the effects of climate change. As Al Gore related regarding Hurricane Katrina, it was at that point that Americans realized we were seeing the consequences of our actions. How government can be SO disconnected from that fact only shows that they are once again playing politics with peoples' lives. And it has to stop.
I'm actually disappointed in reading this article. I really thought it would be better. Well, we can do better and we must. And it now has to then come from the people, from business, and from those rare few if any in government who do have a conscience stepping up to the plate for our planet from which all good things flow. And yes, that means making tough choices, but where our future is concerned it either is done now when we have the ability to make the necessary changes to adapt and to fight these conditions, or it may be too late. The choice is ours to make. It can't be any simpler than that.
As a bit of a bonus, I found this video on GOOGLE of Al Gore's presentation that was supposedly given at a Move On event this month(?) I don't know if that date is correct, and I don't vouch at all for the wesbite noted on it. However, for anyone who has not of yet seen this, enjoy.
Al Gore's Climate Presentation