Because I'm a Sucker for Drowning Polar Bears

Okay. Now that everyone has seen the documentary An Inconvenient Truth (right?), we can talk.

The science is not only persuasive, it is irrefutable. Some highlights from the film:

• It's, like, a lot hotter now.
• I mean hotter than it's been in 400 years.
• That's kind of a problem.
• For the million species that will be extinct in the next 50 years.
• For the polar bears already drowning because they don't have ice to rest on.
• For the hundreds of thousands of people who will die from the increased storms, drought, and flooding.
• This isn't a political issue.
• We are so focused on the "war on terror."
• When the World Trade Center memorial in Manhattan will be under water in the very near future if we do not curb our carbon dioxide emissions.
• Oh yeah, those who say there is a "debate" about global warming are lying.
• Seriously, there is scientific consensus.
• But there are still a trillion dollars worth of profits in our oil reserves.
• We can't sell U.S. cars in China because we have such low emissions standards.
• Hurricane Katrina - heated up and boiled over because of the warmer waters in the gulf; we can expect to see many more devastating storms.

But, as Gore tells us, we can't go from denial to despair without doing anything. We can and must act. In America, we are responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, so it is incumbent on us to ACT. Not just talk, not just write, but put our money where our mouth is.

Here is what we can do to reverse the alarming trend that will have (is having) dire climatic consequences for all of us. (Read more about what you can do here.)

• Watch the movie and spread the world. We need to have this information in our collective consciousness, to create a true "tipping point" for change.
• Write about it on your blog and implore your readers to do the same.
• Join the virtual Stop Global Warming March.
• Make personal changes to reduce your Co2 (I calculated our household's emissions and it is over 25,000 pounds per year, larger than average (yikes!) - mostly due to travel and electricity.)
• Check out (and print out) these 10 simple things you can do to start making a difference.
• I know this is unpopular but if you want children and haven't yet had them, consider adoption. Population control is key to reducing our environmental impact.

Perhaps the most important thing we can do is put political pressure on our leaders. If global warming isn't on the forefront of their constituents' minds and interests, politicians are not likely to act to set more stringent emissions controls for U.S. auto and other industries.

Find your representative(s) here, and write a letter (or feel free to copy, paste and edit the below, it's a bit long and rambling) and e-mail it. Send it to your representatives in Congress, your Governor, your state representatives.

If not for yourself and your children, then how about for those poor polar bears, swimming and swimming and swimming . . .

July 11, 2006

Dear Senator [Representative, Governor . . .] X,

A bi-partisan consensus is emerging that climate change is a real threat to the future of the planet. However, even as the scientific data on global warming become more certain, our nation’s policy is being defined by delay, corporate interests and indecision.

Meanwhile, temperatures are rising dramatically, accompanied by sea-level rises, drought, species extinctions (polar bears are now drowning because they do not have ice shelves on which to rest!) and life-threatening storms.

Instead of drilling more oil wells and producing more coal—the lynch-pins of the Bush energy policy—we should be promoting conservation, renewable energy and highly efficient cars. Since burning fossil fuels is a huge source of global-warming gases, we must increase the fuel economy standards for all vehicles, especially gas-guzzling SUVs. 

As the world’s largest producer nation of global-warming gases, we have a responsibility to clean up our own mess and set a better example for the world before it’s too late. Yet the President insists on further studies and a voluntary approach which will not work. Congress [or your state, etc.] must take strong steps to support specific, enforceable, and achievable measures to control global warming.

Moreover, Congress [or your state, etc.] should act now to reduce U.S. oil dependence as quickly as possible to address the many critical security, economic, and environmental challenges posed by U.S. oil dependence.

Although I am concerned and personally affected by the price of gas, the other prices of oil dependence weigh on me just as heavily. How can we truly calculate the costs of the Iraq occupation (ostensibly to topple a regime empowered and corrupted by its oil wealth) and the costs of deploying U.S. military forces in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere to protect the oil sea lanes? And the dire health and human (and animal) life costs of global warming caused by burning fossil fuels are too high a price.

Please support corporate average fuel efficiency of 40 mpg for new autos (Europe and Japan are already meeting this standard today!) and help to fight for other measures including supporting affordable sustainable, renewable energy to address and reverse global warming. I, for one, was alarmed to learn that U.S. auto makers are currently unable to sell our cars in China because of our low emissions standards.

We have the technology to do this. We just need the political will to overcome the corporate interests that have been doing everything in their power to confuse and thwart this important issue, as there are still billions of dollars in profits to be made by maintaining the status quo.

I implore you to work to change this dangerous status quo. Thank you very much.

        Sincerely,

       
        Jayne Wolf

 

Comments

[Mother]

Yeah. I agree with you. I just can't believe people don't know we're in deep shit. I've known it - however, I can't say I've done too much about it. But, we need to get our ass in gear. It's bad.

[Jayne]

I guess I knew, sort of, but seeing all those visuals, of Manhattan and San Francisco and Bombay under water in just a few decades, of course the polar bears . . . it was a wake up call and something we all contribute to so are all responsible to reverse.

[Neena]

Thanks for the post. This movie will most likely never come to our sad little town, so we'll have to drive 50 miles south to see it. It seems kind-of.....inconvenient? Not to mention wrong. Ah well.

I just finished a book called "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight" by Thomas Hartmann, it's along these same lines, and I think a must-read for all.

Keep up the good works! Someone has to.... :-)

[Simply Amethyst]

I don't think the film will come within 100 miles of us... or more...

I just have to add that I don't think adoption is as unpopular as it is financially impossible for many families.
Great post... thank you...

[Dick The Boomer]

Good post, Jayne, as usual. I linked it on my blog, but I haven't seen the documentary yet. Soon.

[Jayne]

Neena: Sounds like a good book! And yeah, driving so far to see it probably would defeat the purpose. Hope all is well in Cedar.

Amethyst: Hey, nice to see you in your new incarnation. Yes, adoption is expensive unless you go the public route (become a foster parent first etc.) then you actully get adoption assistance $$ but it is a long hard haul.

Dick: You, too, from your new blog (I changed the link but haven't been by in a while.) I hope you see the movie!

[Laurie]

Go Jayne!!!

I saw the movie and bought the book - it's frightening.

Pres Bush refuses to see the movie - that alone speaks volumes about this administration and it's reckless disregard for our planet. The only "studies" refuting global warming have come from a group sponsored by... Exxon/Mobil. Do you think that there might be a slight conflict of interest there?

Another great book on the subject is called "Crimes Against Nature" by Robert Kennedy - read it, but be warned - it will make your blood boil.

[Todd Elliott]

I wish they would start mass producing efficient cars. Part of the problem is that American's don't want to drive little cars. It's sad. I would have bought a hybrid, but there weren't any dealers close to me that even carried them.