[captionpix imgsrc=”https://pvnn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/paulclimatechange.png” captiontext=”Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk”]
The election cycle seems to be in full swing as the summertime comes to a close. The candidates have each outlined their platforms, and attacked one another egregiously. The issue of climate change, however, remains in the back burner. The public has “a lot of things on their mind right now.”[ref]Interview Excerpt, “The Hard Line with Larry Bell.”[/ref] Unfortunately, the state of the economy, the soaring national debt, and the war on terror, take precedence over an issue that was once the central platform of Al Gore in the Election of 2000. Al Gore lost the election of 2000 and with it, hopes of curbing Global Warming at earlier stages were dashed. Moreover the power structure in place from that point onwards then has taken Climate Change out of the forefront. The Vendetta is determining how to bring the issue of climate change to the center stage of debate in the upcoming presidential election.
The price of oil is down now, nevertheless, the issue of climate change has not resurfaced to its former footing. Meanwhile, the average global temperature across land and ocean surfaces last month reached 16.61 C (61.86F) 0.81C higher than the 20th century average for the month, scientists have said.[ref]National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Monthly Report, July 2015.[/ref]The Polar Ice caps are melting, deadly heat waves and drought are ravaging nations and killing thousands of people. Wildfires are raging through Washington State, which many consider as some of the wettest terrain in the planet. Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere is at its highest rate in 650,000 years.[ref]”Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?” Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet, accessed August 26, 2015, http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence[/ref]
Through continuous media dismissals, and continuous doubting from outlets such as Fox News, the seeds of doubt were planted and pressed until it fell out of center stage. In the process of a huge economic crisis added even more reason to dismiss the issue. The very people who had caused the recession were now coaxing the public to worry first about jobs, the economy, while oil prices were skyrocketing to their highest points in history. Here again another division in American Society is taking its shape. Industrial Corporations, Big Oil, Mining Companies, Distribution Companies and the like all warn the dangers of socialism. This is, of course, not withstanding the inter-governmental cronyism, lobbying, and 7 billion dollars a year in oil subsidies which has being ongoing.[ref] Jordan Weissmann, “America’s Most Obvious Tax Reform Idea: Kill the Oil and Gas Subsidies,” The Atlantic, March 19, 2013, accessed August 26, 2015, http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/03/americas-most-obvious-tax-reform-idea-kill-the-oil-and-gas-subsidies/274121[/ref] The disruption of the balance of nature allowed religious extremists to harp about Apocalyptic times, and is an undertone of many conservative voices. After all, the Middle East is unstable, which is where the bible predicted to be the start of the rapture. But each of these issues stems from their own action, or lack of actions as is the case of climate change. Ultimately, truth be told, the silencing of climate change talk came hand in hand with the pillaging of our economy. It seems that oil companies knew that change was inevitable. Technology has slowly edged its way toward producing cleaner burning, fuels and processing plants that can produce close to Zero Emissions.
Yet as of this date, being “Green” is often touted as the enemy of business. This despite “Green” becoming a powerful marketing tool and something that consumers have been flocking towards. Behind closed doors, the owners openly scoff at these lingos, and plant seeds of doubt. Just as clean factories, clean rivers, and smoke free air was frowned upon during the industrial revolution.
With powerful interests working internally to silence criticisms, it is difficult to stage a voice. What can be done to make these issues a central concern once again? The solution lies in media campaigns, and making each candidate accountable for a comprehensive plan on climate change. Media campaigns are in place now, but they are mostly on one side of the rift in our country between left and right. These campaigns should not have any political leanings but merely be an outlet to express the realities of climate change and what can be done of them, inclusively and collectively as a nation. The candidates themselves should be made accountable to present their solution to climate change and how the plan will be implemented and the expected results they will provide. This will be a difficult process as many candidates are in fact bankrolled by polluting business. Nevertheless, this can help to at least create a forum of discussion and a clarification of position.
While many positive elements within states show signs of change, the fact remains that pollutants continue to do damage to the planet, with a real possibility of irreversibility. The issue is a problem for the entire the nation as the biggest polluter in the world, and for the planet at large.[ref]Al. Gore, An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It. New York: Rodale Press, 2006, 126.[/ref]
Take Action
The 350.org is an organization that was founded to unify activist around the world. It is active in 189 countries and has succeeded in numerous campaigns and projects. Take a look and see how you can help put climate change on the election platform.
The Sierra Club is an organization that is over 100 years old. Founded by John Muir in 1892 it has been a bedrock of promoting an appreciation of the outdoors and protection of the environment. Check out the website to see how you can get involved.
