Since the 9/11 attacks, conservatives have been fond of branding liberals for being un-American. Well, it’s official. The real traitors are those who continue to deny that global warming is real.
Their resistance is not just preventing us from slowing down the melting of our planet, but is also endangering our national security. A few proof points:
- In April, a Pentagon funded report published back in April of 2007 found that global warming is a “serious threat to America’s national security”.
- In June of this year, Dr. Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, testified to congress that global warming had the “potential to seriously affect US national security interests.”
- John McCain, in a new ad states, “I believe global warming is real - it’s not just a greenhouse gas issue, it’s a national security issue.”
So if you love America, pull your heads out of sand and join us! If not, you are betraying the country, and the world. Harsh? Yes. But also true.
Before you wait in line for 3 hours at your neighborhood AT&T or Apple Store, more bad news on global warming. The LA Times reported recently that the chemical nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) used widely in the manufacture of LCD screens and chips (like the ones in that iPhone you’ve been eyeing) has 17,000 times the global warming effect as carbon dioxide, and potentially lasts in the atmosphere for 550 years! Oh, and it’s not regulated.
Ironically, NF3 started becoming popular as a replacement for perfluorocarbons, which were phased out because of… global warming!And while the article goes on to explain that the worldwide production of NF3 by 2010 will only be roughly equivalent to 5 or so coal plants, (so it’s not that bad?) what this NF3 problem indicates to me is that the best way to reduce the impact we have on the planet is to not buy so much shit.
Personally, I believe in buying better stuff, and using it longer. What about you?
I was looking into interesting alternatives to driving for your commute, and re-discovered casual car pools. Here in California, casual car poolers get to use the HOV lane, and don’t pay bridge tolls. What’s a casual car pool? Well, according to RideNow.org:
“Casual car pools” or “ad hoc car pools” are informal car pools that form when drivers and passengers meet — without specific prior arrangement — at designated locations.
It’s totally fascinating because it’s organic, and the site even lists a set of etiquette (don’t talk to the driver), and a list of drivers to avoid.From what I can tell, casual car pools have only sprung up in the S.F. Bay Area, and it’s really hard to get one going because it requires critical mass, but it’s a really interesting concept, and speaks to the fact that even though we are in a car society, there are many creative ways we can use to break the tyranny of $5 gas.Want to learn about some in your area? Do a Google search for ‘alternatives to driving’, and there are a ton of great resources. And let us know if you have any other interesting ideas.
I know JB just posted about George Bush, and not that it’s even any fun anymore to point out his infinite stupidity, but here’s yet another one. Last week, at the G8 summit in Tokyo, Bush ended a meeting with other world leaders with this amazing quote, presumably referring to the fact that he will be leaving office soon: “”Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.”
According to this article:
He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock. One official who witnessed the extraordinary scene said afterwards: “Everyone was very surprised that he was making a joke about America’s record on pollution.”
What a disaster. I’m amazed that George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush have not died in shame and remorse yet.
Today Al Gore gave a powerful speech calling for, as the 
