As we head into the homestretch of the campaign, there’s been a general denial when it comes to global warming. Except for Warren’s bringing up the prospect of James Inhofe overseeing the EPA, we really haven’t heard much about it. Sen. Brown deflected the issue to complain about Warren wanting more taxes.
And yet here we are. Do these things matter to Massachusetts?
- New England fisheries were declared a disaster, and received funds from the government. Lobster is over-producing in Maine, leading to low prices; whereas lobster has crashed in MA.
- Our coastlines are in danger from global warming. We live next to the ocean. This Might Be An Issue.
- Even maple syrup production is in trouble.
- People who live in heat islands, ie. cities, particularly the elderly, are in greater danger during heat waves. Boston is especially vulnerable.
See this excellent primer on climate in New England from the New England Aquarium.
I’ve spoken with Elizabeth Warren briefly about climate. It essentially fits into her worldview of powerful interests getting their way in Washington. This is absolutely true; corporate capture of our politics are indeed the issue behind America’s inaction. But I don’t feel an urgency for the laws of physics in that perspective. The arc of history is long and bends towards justice; the arm of higher temperatures is upon us now — already crippling important parts of our economy.
She is, of course, plainly the better choice on climate. Scott Brown barely recognizes it’s an issue at all, certainly not anywhere near as important as having to pay 70 bucks to fill up the truck, bro.
Perhaps we’ll get a question in the town hall debate for Romney and Obama, which they will do their best to ignore and move onto their preferred talking points. Nonetheless, an active, forward-looking attitude on climate seems to poll well — even among independent voters.
I’m in that dark-orange part: There is nothing more important. We need Democrats, Republicans, and independents who feel that.
Comment from AmberPaw on 350.org’s Climate Vigil:
350.org is having a Vigil at Government Center from 10/23 -10/30 on this issueHere is the facebook event, for those inclined to commit to attend and invite friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/321180674646104/?ref=nf
The purpose of the Vigil, as I understand it, is to DEMAND that the senate candidates address climate issues. This will be an “around the clock” event irrespective of weather. Yes, I am committing to at least one shift, and to bring food to it. Climate concerns, which are part of leaving a liveable planet for my own adult children and their someday issue, are a core part of why I became engaged in politics as an adult, as are civil liberties such as free speech, the right of assembly, and separation of powers.
Discuss
16 Comments . Leave a comment below.Here is the facebook event, for those inclined to commit to attend and invite friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/321180674646104/?ref=nf
The purpose of the Vigil, as I understand it, is to DEMAND that the senate candidates address climate issues. This will be an “around the clock” event irrespective of weather. Yes, I am committing to at least one shift, and to bring food to it. Climate concerns, which are part of leaving a liveable planet for my own adult children and their someday issue, are a core part of why I became engaged in politics as an adult, as are civil liberties such as free speech, the right of assembly, and separation of powers.
I knew you had posted this somewhere and I couldn’t find the event online … my internet kung fu is weak, yours is strong.
However, they often run against incumbets and there is too much anxiety in the base to allow a shift in the status quo. Ed O’reilly is a good example. I understand the fear of losing elections by electing an outside candidate, but at the very least, the base should not work to rip that candidate apart and to shreds to make sure the incumbent wins. When you rip apart and shred the candidate, your are also ripping apart the message, and sending your own message that’s it’s less important to you than protecting incumbency. I’m not using the word you as you personally, Charlie, but you as in the most loyal and vocal people in the base. Another case is that of Jill Stein, who is not a Democrat, but has the right clean energy message. If you don’t want to support her, that is absolutely your choice, but do it in a way that doesn’t marginalize the message with the candidate. I love the idea of local energy production, and non-profit is most likely the only way we get there. The profit motive makes it too expensive.
I am so sorry.
Nothing against Ed in particular. He was running against Kerry back in the day. But Kerry, along with Markey, is truly one of the good guys and leaders when it comes to climate. The rest of our Dem delegation are decent followers.
Telling us how wonderful he was on environmental issues. I realize that you need to get your message out somehow, but it was still fairly funny to promote your greenness in such a wasteful medium.
The fact that anthropogenic global warming (AGW) is NOT the most important issue in this election reflects a colossal failure of our much-ballyhooed political system. As tragic as that is, it is nevertheless true and cannot be changed between now and election day.
Too many Americans lack the analytic skills to understand or appreciate the urgency of the climate crisis. Too many media outlets broadcast flagrantly false statements in the name of “balance”. Too many government officials lack the courage to speak the truth to Americans. We can’t change that between and election day — we can’t even change that in just one presidential or senatorial term.
We who live in the Boston metropolitan area live in one of the most affluent regions of one the most affluent states in the most affluent nation in human history — yet most of our state and national elected officials cannot find the courage to speak the truth about the pressing need for higher taxes. We spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on professional sports (and I include NCAA college athletics in that category), yet we are destroying the credit rating of our nation because our deficits are too large and we say we “can’t afford” to collect more money and balance the budget.
Against this backdrop of national cowardice on mundane and short-term (at least in terms of their impact) economic issues, is it any wonder that our national culture stays in abject and complete denial about climate change?
Even in the best of worlds, with ALL civilized nations working feverishly to address this problem, we are still climbing out of a very deep hole. At current rates of population growth, it will be very nearly impossible to cap CO2 emissions at a level that even halts, never mind reduces, anthropogenic climate forcings, without far more draconian reductions in energy consumption per person or birth rates per person. Yet significant numbers of our population still raise religious arguments against making contraception available to Americans.
I am increasingly convinced that we have already lost the fight to manage AGW in any sort of graceful non-violent way. Another tragic truth is that the first mass casualties of AGW will be billions of already poor, starving, and destitute people who live in areas such as the Great Himalayan Watershed. These first victims are overwhelmingly non-white and non-western — and too many Americans (and American leaders) therefore simply write them off.
I suggest that it will take years — even generations — to manage the consequences of the sins we have already committed against the environment. I further suggest that choices we make about military might (do we accept or reject the premise that we have a right to project our priorities on the rest of the world using military force), individual freedom, the role of religion, and a host of similar questions are just as important as climate change — because NOTHING we do about AGW will have any impact AT ALL in the next 2, 4, or 8 years, and going the wrong way on those other issues will make the longer-term fight against AGW much harder (or impossible). If the Middle East is consumed by even a limited nuclear exchange, then in my view all bets are off about ANY current scenarios for managing climate change.
I write too much. In my view, we need governance that reflects the commitment to reality, science, rationalism, and intellectualism that Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren epitomize — in stark contrast to the fantasy, delusions, sentimentality, and sheer intellectual sloth that Mitt Romney and Scott Brown advocate (under the guise of “traditional values”).
In my view, the choice between those two worldviews trumps the climate change issue for this election.
It’s the maple syrup news that motivates me on climate change.
A shortage of real maple syrup? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
(I am not being funny or sarcastic. I will DIE without it. DIE. Ask the Mr.)
I think the maple syrup production impact will be on Vermont and New Hampshire. As the zones move northward, I think maple syrup production will increase in Canada.
Mostly because of OMGZ!!111one SOCIALISM. Specifically they have a board that buys all the syrup produced in the country and resells it as a national product. This way they are able to product small producers from fluctuation in market prices and greatly reduce distribution costs.
This system received a fair amount of attention recently when thieves stole $30 million worth of syrup from government warehouses. Here’s an article that gives some decent background on the Canadian system of maple production and how it allows them to dominate the market:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/09/why-does-canada-have-a-strategic-maple-syrup-reserve/261869/
the syrup was recovered.
I wonder if US production will move toward northern Maine before it becomes wholly Canadian.
I don’t know that this is exactly true, but my understanding is that Maine and New Hampshire make enough syrup for Maine and New Hampshire, Vermont makes enough for the other 48 states, and Quebec makes enough for the rest of the world, +/-.
is also a big producer
They did finally find the missing syrup, but the fact that it went missing in the first place doesn’t inspire confidence in Canadian maple syrup…
The stakes are too high–we have a great planet an a great climate that has been very hospitable for civilization, but everyday we increase the risk of creating a period of catastrophic climate instability. The lack of interest displayed by most pundits an media types in this issue is appalling.
As for politicians, if they devoted more attention to climate disruption and global heating, they would find that a lot of undecided voters do care about the issue.
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