Battle Climate Change With… Change.

And now for an off-topic rant (in support of Blog Action Day 2009)…

www.blogactionday.org

As an American, I have to say I am sorely disappointed with my country’s stance on climate change.  I see this as both the gravest problem and the biggest opportunity of our generation.  And we’re blowing it.  Big time.

We can all join hands and boycott plastic bottles, drive Toyotas, and use energy efficient light bulbs all we want.  But that really doesn’t attack the issue.  That stuff is just a drop in the bucket.

What we need (now!) is change. Real, concrete, binding government legislation that both caps our consumption and rebuilds our country’s infrastructure for energy efficiency.  I’m not seeing that.  I’m seeing waffling, compromise, propaganda, and politics.

I thought I voted for change a year ago when I cast my ballot for Barack Obama.  And I don’t mean to pile on here, but I’m not satisfied with the state of our country’s green revolution (or lack thereof).  I never expected to be out of our 2 wars by now.  I never expected health care reform to be passed by now.  I didn’t expect to be out of this recession by now.  Those are tough issues with loads of hurdles.

What I did expect within Obama’s first year was game-changing revolution on the climate change front.  What did we get?  A bill that promises 17% (not enough) reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.  2020?! 11 years from now?!  Are you f-ing kidding me?!

We were able to land a man on the moon within 1 year of John F. Kennedy announcing it.  Today, when it comes to making any type of progress, we only take baby steps (if we take any steps at all).  This political climate gets more and more frustrating every day.

Here are a few observations from a non-expert (me):

• Isn’t most of our country’s land massive fields of wind?  We should be capturing that energy, spreading it, and selling it.  We’re not.
• The core of our problems in the middle east is related to our dependence on oil.  Is it not?
• 10% of our country is unemployed today.  Wouldn’t a real green revolution put these people back to work?

This problem needs real change on all levels.  But I think my hope is wearing thin.