Comments on: Climate Watch, January, 2008 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/ Here are snippets from the three most-recent postings. Click an article title below to read more. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:40:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lloyd Gordon http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-55848 Lloyd Gordon Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:36:50 +0000 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/#comment-55848 I am entirely aware of and agree with the concerns expressed in the two comments. I have one shining hope. His name is Al Gore. He is a close family friend of one of the primary Democratic candidates, and I presume a Nobel Prise winner and former vice-president can get the ear of the other prime contender. As noted, a political leader is badly needed. It was also noted the public is not ready, so it does not make good campaign material. But if you think campaign rhetoric and reality are closely related we need to find a quiet corner for a little chat. As to John McCain -- I have no idea. He's a true conservative,not as closely tied to big oil as the incumbant;, and the Chairman of GM (and more recently the Chairman of Shell Oil agreed) that the gas fed engine as we know it will be in deep do-do within five to seven years. Perhaps that will weigh with John, should he be the ultimate victor. Which I seriously doubt. I am entirely aware of and agree with the concerns expressed in the two comments. I have one shining hope. His name is Al Gore. He is a close family friend of one of the primary Democratic candidates, and I presume a Nobel Prise winner and former vice-president can get the ear of the other prime contender. As noted, a political leader is badly needed. It was also noted the public is not ready, so it does not make good campaign material. But if you think campaign rhetoric and reality are closely related we need to find a quiet corner for a little chat. As to John McCain — I have no idea. He’s a true conservative,not as closely tied to big oil as the incumbant;, and the Chairman of GM (and more recently the Chairman of Shell Oil agreed) that the gas fed engine as we know it will be in deep do-do within five to seven years. Perhaps that will weigh with John, should he be the ultimate victor. Which I seriously doubt.

]]> By: J.D. Adams http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-55797 J.D. Adams Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:49:33 +0000 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/#comment-55797 In this case, the will of the people is driving political policy, instead of the other way around. If we waited for the Bush Administration to get their act together, we'd be doomed. From an Environment Oregon newsletter: "Our next president could be the one who finally takes on global warming, and who leads America into a new energy future. In my opinion, energy and global warming are two of the most urgent problems our new president will face when he or she takes office exactly 360 days from now. But I am astonished that, instead of the presidential candidates facing tough questions about their plans to solve these two problems on the campaign trail, something else is happening, something very frustrating to me. Of the nearly 2,938 questions asked of the presidential candidates by the top five TV political reporters to date, only four mentioned global warming. Four! That's only one more than the number of questions asked about UFOs. Yes, you read correctly, Unidentified Flying Objects! " Where is the concern that the climate situation demands? In this case, the will of the people is driving political policy, instead of the other way around. If we waited for the Bush Administration to get their act together, we’d be doomed.
From an Environment Oregon newsletter:

“Our next president could be the one who finally takes on global warming, and who leads America into a new energy future. In my opinion, energy and global warming are two of the most urgent problems our new president will face when he or she takes office exactly 360 days from now.

But I am astonished that, instead of the presidential candidates facing tough questions about their plans to solve these two problems on the campaign trail, something else is happening, something very frustrating to me.

Of the nearly 2,938 questions asked of the presidential candidates by the top five TV political reporters to date, only four mentioned global warming. Four! That’s only one more than the number of questions asked about UFOs. Yes, you read correctly, Unidentified Flying Objects! ”

Where is the concern that the climate situation demands?

]]> By: Paul Krissel http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-55795 Paul Krissel Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:42:56 +0000 http://blog.onwardoregon.org/climate-watch-january-2008/#comment-55795 Thank you. This is truly frightening stuff. Is that why it is so hard to get traction with the general public, or the mainstream media? If we really think about the consequences of our comfortable lifestyles, we are forced to awaken to the harsh truth that we have already permanently altered the climate. Changing individual habits is certainly important, but public policy is the only way to make the huge changes in human activity that are necessary to make meaningful change. It is gratifying to see that you cover solutions that are within our technological grasp. It just takes political will. We must raise the level of heat on politicians. I haev only heard one question asked in all of the presidential debates about climate change. We must pressure politicians, and also the mainstream media to report the truth. Thank you. This is truly frightening stuff. Is that why it is so hard to get traction with the general public, or the mainstream media? If we really think about the consequences of our comfortable lifestyles, we are forced to awaken to the harsh truth that we have already permanently altered the climate. Changing individual habits is certainly important, but public policy is the only way to make the huge changes in human activity that are necessary to make meaningful change. It is gratifying to see that you cover solutions that are within our technological grasp. It just takes political will. We must raise the level of heat on politicians. I haev only heard one question asked in all of the presidential debates about climate change. We must pressure politicians, and also the mainstream media to report the truth.

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