We live in an uncertain time in history; a time when the silence of our leaders is louder than the call to confront what has become our greatest challenge facing humanity. While our leaders occupy the silence of avoidance, the sounds of children echo from the future. My daughter's generation, and the generations that follow, demand that we hold our leaders accountable. They demand that we protect them.
Do you hear them?
I do.
They say that human existence transformed to accommodate harmful environmental impacts. They say that if we continue avoiding, polluting, and contaminating at the current pace, Global Warming will have tragic effects on their lives. Their pleas are resounding.
As the United States continues to block international progress toward lowering carbon emissions, our future's children have said "ENOUGH!" While these pleas fall in silent storms to the ears of those who can do something but do nothing to move America away from the environmental degradation of fossil fuel burning, a few leaders within the Democratic Congress and Senate are listening. They hear not only the sounds of our children and our children's children, they hear the sounds of the seas, the winds, and the fire in the Earth warning us over and over again. They refuse to sit silently at this intersection. Instead they lead us away from the precipice in which we are headed toward a sustainable and healthier future.
Among them are Congressman Mike Honda, Senator Brian Schatz, and Shenna Bellows for Maine Senate. Each of these individuals is a Climate Hawk running for election against a candidate from the right. Climate Hawks Vote is "a grassroots-funded organization seeking to elect only those politicians who show leadership on climate change."
Mike Honda has dedicated his career to public service and is lauded for his tireless work on issues directly impacting our children's generation. While many members of Congress, Democrat and Republican alike, are head to head in an ideological battle rendering our political system motionless, Mike Honda has proven himself an active fighter in protecting the environment from exploitation and abuse.
According to Climate Hawks Vote, he has a 100% voting record on climate related bills since 2011 and has consistently prioritized and engaged the public on the climate crisis earning him the eighth highest ranking for intensity of leadership in Congress today. Climate Hawk Votes will be endorsing him in the next couple of days.
In California, where severe drought and rising sea levels are already impacting our environment, economy, and health, Mike Honda has authored the Climate Change Education Act of 2014 to improve the public's understanding of the impact of greenhouse gasses and what every person can do to help prevent the global climate change crisis. Congressman Honda's new bill, the Land Based Marine Debris Reduction Act of 2014 (H.R. 5283), works to limit trash in oceans by promoting the increased use of recycled materials. The goal is to increase the national recycling rate by disposing and recycling properly, and safeguarding the sustainable use of our precious natural resources. This legislation is important because it directly addresses the need to engage with scientists, industry and policy makers.
But, California's 17th district is at risk of losing this progressive voice and leader by a challenger from the right who is only too happy to accept Tea Party endorsements and pander to the Republican allure of big money and special interests. We can't let this happen. Let's protect this Climate Hawk who has tirelessly protected the interests not only of Californians, but of all us, as Climate Change knows no boundaries and doesn't take into account even Republican gerrymandered districts.
Also being challenged for his seat is Hawaii Senator and Climate Hawks Vote endorsee Brian Schatz. As a newly elected Senator, he immediately took a stand, "Climate change is urgent, solveable, human-caused, and real." He is respected for shaking up the Senate by not only talking about what most politicians were denying, but by organizing the first ever #UpForClimate all-night talkathon. He succinctly told Netroots Nations 2013 attendees (I was there) that we need to elect Democrats who will prioritize the climate crisis and bring new energy to Washington by engaging the public and laying groundwork for action on climate. He is one of twenty six Senators who signed the letter written by Barbara Boxer and Sheldon Whitehouse of the Senate Climate Action Task Force in support of the People's Climate March.
Senator Schatz doesn't take money from companies that profit from human suffering and he continues to promote other important humanitarian and progressive causes while leading the Climate fight. Help protect Senator Schatz's voice by voting to keep him in the United States Senate.
Climate Hawk endorsee Shenna Bellows is running to unseat long-time incumbent Susan Collins who goes as far to say a problem exists but never proposes any credible solutions. Instead, she demanded a time-out for EPA regulations, sponsored a controversial measure gutting the Clean Air Act, and cosponsored a pro-Keystone XL bill. Her response to Climate Change is to sit, complacent and mute, while repealing EPA regulations.
While Maine is faced with ocean acidification and warming seas, Susan Collins is behaving like a "climate zombie," promoting a business as usual attitude, and a carbon emissions trajectory. Preserving Maine's long history of conservation and environmental leadership necessitates taking a strong stand against powerful lobbying efforts, big money and short-term energy gains. It means siding with the next generation.
Let's unseat her by voting for Climate Hawk Shenna Bellows to protect the legacy our future children wish to leave. In the words of the indomitable spirit of Representative Barbara Lee, "It is time for Congress to enact real solutions, here at home, while global leaders work for greater global action on climate change at the United Nations."
It is time for Americans to vote for Climate Hawks and unseat "climate zombies" so America can move forward and beyond what can be "a sustainable energy future that protects our planet and grows our economy."
|
UN Climate Summit/March Blogathon September 19-23, 2014
World leaders representing nations, industry and civil society are convening in New York City for the historic September 23 UN Climate Summit. The summit, announced by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon last September, is designed to bring all parties to the table to facilitate the 2015 UNFCCC passage of a global treaty to dramatically reduce global warming. In what is being called a “movement of movements” moment, hundreds of thousands of marchers are expected at the NYC People's Climate March on Sunday, September 21. Other huge marches are occurring around the world, demanding what we all know is within reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world recognizing the need for climate justice; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities. Please join us for a blogathon September 19-23 in a campaign to inspire people to take to the streets and to tell the story of why climate change is the defining issue of our time that can no longer wait to be addressed in earnest.
From [ClimateBrad http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/19/1331034/-PeoplesClimate-tv-March-Livestream-and-People-s-Videos]: I'm excited to announce that I will providing livestreamed, on-the-ground coverage of the People's Climate March this Sunday and at follow-up actions in the days ahead at PeoplesClimate.tv.
To see the September 21 Climate March routes and sign up, click [herehttp://peoplesclimate.org/march/]. To find an event in your region, click [here http://peoplesclimate.org/global/]. To learn more about the UN Climate Summit 2014, click [here http://www.un.org/climatechange/summit/]. The complete guest list of diarists is in [this diary http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/18/1329961/-People-s-Climate-March-Blogathon-Blog-Team-Thanks-Meteor-Blades] by rb137. All blogathon diaries here.
Our Daily Kos community organizers are Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, boatsie, rb137, JekyllnHyde, citisven, peregrine kate, John Crapper, Aji, Kitsap River, Dont Just Sit There DO SOMETHING, and jarbelaez. Photograph/Graphic credit: [Facebook - People's Climate March https://www.facebook.com/peoplesclimatemarch]. |
|