A Outspoken Interview and Strongly Worded Article by Naomi Klein on the Case for Climate Debt
As faith in government action dwindles, however, climate activists are treating Copenhagen as an opportunity of a different kind. On track to be the largest environmental gathering in history, the summit represents a chance to seize the political terrain back from business-friendly half-measures, such as carbon offsets and emissions trading, and introduce some effective, common-sense proposals — ideas that have less to do with creating complex new markets for pollution and more to do with keeping coal and oil in the ground.
Among the smartest and most promising — not to mention controversial — proposals is “climate debt,” the idea that rich countries should pay reparations to poor countries for the climate crisis.
A Conversation With Dr. James Hansen – The Earth Island Institute
The approach that Copenhagen is using to specify goals for emission reductions and then to allow offsets to accomplish much of that reduction is really a fake. For the general public, it actually makes sense to move more rapidly beyond fossil fuels. If world leaders won’t act, civil resistance may have to be an option.
Capitalism: A Love Story
Michael Moore’s new film “Capitalism: A Love Story” will open October 2 in the U.S. This film will explore the root causes of the global economic meltdown and take a comical look at the corporate and political shenanigans that culminated in what Moore has described as “the biggest robbery in the history of this country” — the massive transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to private financial institutions.
The Real Cost of Our High CO2 Emissions Lifestyle
Germanwatch has produced a short film about Carbon Debt–whereby developing countries pay, through climate change impacts, for the Carbon-intensive lifestyles of developed countries. It’s one of the greatest challenges of our time, and one of the reasons that a truly global deal in Copenhagen is so important.
“If global justice means anything”, rich West must make deeper emissions cuts
“Carbon offsetting makes sense if you are seeking a global cut of 5% between now and for ever. It is the cheapest and quickest way of achieving an insignificant reduction. But as soon as you seek substantial cuts, it becomes an unfair, impossible nonsense, the equivalent of pulling yourself off the ground by your whiskers. Yes, let us help poorer nations to reduce deforestation and clean up pollution. But let us not pretend that it lets us off the hook.”
Jim Hansen Blames Waxman-Markey Climate Bill for US Failure to Get Necessary Emissions Targets at G-8 Summit
With a workable climate bill in his pocket, President Obama might have been able to begin building that global consensus in Italy, but it didn’t take long for the counterfeit climate bill known as Waxman-Markey to push back against President Obama’s agenda to achieve meaninful greenhouse gas targets
With so many ACES in the Waxman-Markey climate bill, have we been dealt a bad hand?
We need a strong, not just any, climate bill. We need to take what happened yesterday in the House and turn it into something that history will record as not so much the culmination of our many years of hard work but a breakthrough that opened the way for a flood of people power, a broad and deep clean energy revolution in the months and years ahead.
James Hansen’s 23 June 2009 remarks at Coal River Mountain, with the Declaration of the demonstrators
The story of James Hansen’s arrest on 23 June 2009, with his remarks at Coal River Mountain, with the Declaration of the demonstrators
Our Planet, on Climate Life Support
Efforts are underway by a coalition of environmental, climate and other groups to mount an effort to build support for several strengthening amendments to this bill on the House floor. Groups involved are 1Sky, Environment America, Sierra Club, MoveOn, Green for All, ACORN, Oxfam, USAction, Health Care Without Harm, Democracia Ahora and Rock the Vote. This effort is certainly called for and should be supported.
The View From Across the Potomac River
Even as it stands now, the Waxman-Markey bill will fall far short of action needed by the US Government to assure a strong and effective conclusion to the UN Copenhagen Climate Conference in December.
