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Entries from January 2013

Framing the Climate Crisis in a Moral Compass

January 31st, 2013 · Comments Off on Framing the Climate Crisis in a Moral Compass

This guest post comes from DWG. President Obama made a strong call for action on climate change in his inaugural address. As in the past, he described the potential for economic growth in the transition to energy sources with a much smaller carbon footprint. He also framed the issue in moral terms. “We will respond to […]

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Tags: climate change · environmental · Global Warming

Jackass Caucus: coming soon to a House of Representatives near you …

January 28th, 2013 · Comments Off on Jackass Caucus: coming soon to a House of Representatives near you …

This guest post comes from Brad (“ClimateBrad“) Johnson of Forecast the Facts. To the 180 Members of the House of Representatives Who Voted Against Sandy Disaster Relief: Dear Founding Member of the Jackass Caucus, I write following the House of Representatives’ passage of HR 152, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, which will fund relief and […]

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Tags: guest post

Pickpockets at large: Fossil fuel interests bankrupting states

January 28th, 2013 · 3 Comments

This guest post comes from DWG and covers something that the vast majority of Americans are unaware is happening.  And, well, how many schools could be renovated, roads repaired, policemen hired, and other public services provided with the tax subsidies that the ever-so impoverished fossil fuel industries are pocketing? NOTE:  Let us be clear, however, […]

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Tags: carbon dioxide · climate change · emissions · Energy · guest post · tax

And the drought moves on …

January 27th, 2013 · Comments Off on And the drought moves on …

This guest post comes from GreenMother … I worry about the ongoing drought every day. I know I am starting seeds, and talking about gardening, but there is always a part of me that is worrying about the long terms effects of the last two years extreme heat, and of course, what the Spring and […]

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Tags: climate change · water

Power of ‘and’ … considering energy’s three-legged stool …

January 25th, 2013 · 2 Comments

Our challenges, opportunities, and solution paths are complex and interrelated. Yet, all too often, we see them individually, not linked and interacting. Fishgrease has an interesting discussion: Give Up Something You Love Or Go To Hell. In essence, Fishgrease is laying down that dealing with climate isn’t simply primarily a question of cleaning up energy […]

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Tags: Energy

#ObamaEnv: Steps for Presidential Action in light of Inaugural Address

January 22nd, 2013 · 1 Comment

President Obama’s inaugural address is being accounted for as one of his most progressive statements (certainly to a national audience) as President of the United States. Engaging in ‘climate spotting’, the paragraphs directly discussing Climate Change make it a true centerpiece of this (relatively) short inaugural address. We, the people, still believe that our obligations […]

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Tags: climate change · Energy · environmental · Global Warming · Obama Administration · political symbols · President Barack Obama

Solar panels to the WH roof: will the oft-promised bone be served up in the Second Obama Administration?

January 19th, 2013 · 2 Comments

The White House roof remains without solar electric panels despite Administration promises that this would have occurred well before now. While putting a few kilowatts (or even a few tens of kilowatts) of solar systems on the White House will have miniscule direct impact on the nation’s energy system, the symbolism remains important. With this […]

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Tags: solar · Solar Energy

Capturing the nightmare of American politics: two exemplary graphs

January 17th, 2013 · Comments Off on Capturing the nightmare of American politics: two exemplary graphs

Harvard University’s Theda Skocpol just put out a serious look at the fight for a cap and trade bill in 2009-10 with an effort to draw lessons for environmental organizations (and others) for future action. As with essentially everything that Skocpol has ever published, there is much to be learned and think about from “Naming […]

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Tags: Obama Administration

“increasingly gloomy about the future of human civilization”

January 15th, 2013 · Comments Off on “increasingly gloomy about the future of human civilization”

“Those of us who spend our days trawling – and contributing to – the scientific literature on climate change are becoming increasingly gloomy about the future of human civilisation,” said Liz Hanna, convener of the human health division at the Australian National University’s climate change Adaption Network. ‘We are well past the time of niceties, […]

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Tags: catastrophic climate change · climate change · Global Warming

Move aside Star Wars, Mark Ruffalo calls for “Declaration of War on Climate Change” at WH site

January 13th, 2013 · 4 Comments

Sparked by the White House’s thoughtful (and wonderfully hilarious and must read) rejection of the petition to build a Death Star (by 2016), actor Mark Ruffalo has posted a White House petition calling for a declaration of war on Climate Change. I just started a petition. Let’s declare War On Climate Change. Figured if the […]

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Tags: climate change · Global Warming · Obama Administration