I am going to include, below, two messages. One is from Gore and one is from our Madame Speaker. They are gearing up for Gore's testimony before congress.
This is NOT about Gore running for President. It is about getting congress to act on this issue. I hope everyone will read and react to the message.
If you have signed the petition, please send it out to everyone you know and get them to sign. It would be great to get over 300K people to sign it. For every signiture, Gore is going to deliver a post card to the appropriate congresscritter.
Please recomend the diary and try not to use it to argue about the election in 2008. Let's just workd together to get congress to act.
I will not be around long. I drive to NJ at 5:30 am on mondays. So I have to go to bed. But please keep the thread going so that as many people as possible can see it.... that is if you believe this is an important issue.
And also...is anyone planning on taping Gore's testimony? I won't be able to watch it live.
Dear Teresa,
On March 21st, I will testify before Congress on the immediate action that needs to be taken to end the climate crisis. At the hearing, I will
deliver the 294,374 messages you signed, demonstrating that hundreds of thousands of
people share my sense of urgency.
If an additional 55,626 people sign our message, it will be as though 350,000 of us are there at the hearing expressing our determination to convince Congress to act. Having served in the House and Senate, I can tell you that members of these committees would find this to be a meaningful and impressive show of support.
There are only 5 days left before the hearings begin, so please do not pass up this opportunity to join in showing the broad public support we need in order to solve the climate crisis. I know you have friends or family who care deeply about this issue but have yet to sign our message to Congress.
Ask them to help fill that committee room with 350,000 messages by visiting:
http://www.algore.com/...
The reason Congress has so far failed to act is not because there are no solutions to the problem. Nor is it because the majority doesn't
believe that the climate crisis is real. They have failed to act, because they have not yet faced a sufficient expression of political will on the part of the American people demanding they confront our climate crisis head on. You and I know that political will is a renewable resource, and enough already exists to start solving this crisis. We just have to communicate that forcefully to the political leaders of our country.
In the last two weeks alone 101,673 people visited AlGore.com and signed our message to Congress. This is an incredible demonstration of the energy behind this issue.
In my testimony, of course, I will speak about the scientific evidence for global warming - just reiterated six weeks ago by the world's scientists in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But
frankly, the debate on the science has long been over - except for a diminishing number of skeptics and deniers.
At this point, it is far more important to deliver your message about the urgency with which this crisis must be faced. Political leaders need to know that you intend to reward those who do the right thing and that you will work to replace those who do not.
That's why it's vital we fill up the hearing room with 350,000 messages.
Please ask your friends to sign our message to Congress today by visiting:
http://www.algore.com/...
Together we are building a movement that has the potential to translate your strong feelings into effective change for our country. And we all know
that when the United States changes - and offers leadership - the entire world will follow.
Thank you,
Al Gore
And from Nancy:
Subject: Taking Action on Global Warming
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:47:01 -0500
Dear Teresa,
Scientists predict if global warming is left unchecked and the Earth continues to warm that an increase in temperature from today's levels could mean increased flooding, drought, rising sea levels and even lost ecosystems.
Reversing the effects of global warming may be the greatest challenge of our time, setting at risk our economy, environment, national security and our children's future. We cannot wait any longer to act.
For the last six years, the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress have stifled debate and dismissed workable alternative energy solutions in order to protect Big Oil and their special-interest friends. On the campaign trail last year, we promised we would take our country in a New Direction.
Thanks to your support for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
(DCCC) last year, Democrats are now in the Majority and are taking the first steps to reduce greenhouse gases and reverse the damage of global
warming.
The truth is, however, that we can't do it alone here on Capitol Hill. We need the support of the American people and community-based activism to
harness their creativity and develop the kind of ground-breaking technologies and alternative energy policies that will reduce emissions that are responsible for global warming.
Join our conversation: House Democrats are taking action on global warming in Washington and we want to hear from you.
As one of my first acts as Speaker, I took action addressing this critical issue and introduced a plan to create a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. This special committee will develop recommendations on policies, strategies, technologies, and other innovations to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining our economic competitiveness.
Next week, Vice President Al Gore will testify before Congress, bringing his career of activism on this issue to the fight in the Congress. A global leader on combating climate change, he has helped to educate people around the world and has moved so many to real action. By coming to Congress, his testimony will help us shape the kind of reforms we need and garner even more attention to this growing crisis.
Together, we have the opportunity to affect change so great that it can make a difference for future generations. We need your support today if we are going to reverse the disastrous effects of global warming.
Join our conversation: House Democrats are taking action in Washington and we want to hear from you.
Building on the leadership of Vice President Gore and countless others, it is my hope that mericans will join our fight to reduce emissions and greenhouse gases. Every choice we make can help - it can be as simple as walking instead of driving or installing energy efficient light bulbs.
Democrats' have a long tradition of standing up for the environment, and working to protect our air, water, wildlife, and natural treasures for
future generations of Americans. You can count on our commitment to this fight. We hope we can count on you.
Sincerely,
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives