Friday, February 14, 2014

State of the Climate: now, before & into the future

There's only one state that really matters on earth today,
... it’s called the State of the Climate. 

Now

Nationally temperatures are colder and hotter regionally, and precipitation greater historically speaking or nonexistent as in the case of droughts in the US. Wildland fires persist with unmatched veracity. Hurricanes in February across the pond in Great Britain this past week.  Snow & Ice blanketing huge swaths of states, and tornadic activity as never witnessed. This is some of the regional, national and international State of the Climate we experience daily.

One year ago this weekend the two of us traveled to Washington DC for a climate rally primarily called to protest the development of the Keystone XL Pipeline crossing the plain states on its way to Cushing, Oklahoma.  All walks of life were present, unified, and adamant for rejection of corporate and governmental leaders not leading with any sense of responsibility,  to this date at this time, when it comes to the State of the Climate.



Although the climate leaders might be likened to a faint callings of a John the Baptist shouting in the desert, ‘ repent from your fossil fuel ways or death be on your back ‘ their voices are small and an exisiting Climate change caucus small too, relative to the 7 billion plus people affected by a changing climate. That year has sped along with businesses as usual, in the dead fossil fuel industry, putting CO² and CH⁴ and more, into the upper atmosphere to give a toxic blend of greenhouse gases (GHG) enveloping our precious elements, that allow us Life on land, trying to find drinking water, and breathable air.

Asking local, state and national legislators to be accountable for their votes, in predominantly gerrymandered districts, is a futile exercise, because their minds are connected to wallets & purses, having no connectivity for current, or, future environmental conditions on Earth. Energy policy is dictated by a few corporatists around the globe, and has caused all to suffer, but the suffering that has been experienced, is none compared to what is in store for the us as climate changes the Earth, and all earthlings inhabiting this delicate celestial body orbiting the Sun.

Our prospective climatic episodes demand, for world of collective citizens, with megaphone voices, to create a sane State of the Climate now.

Before

2009 State of the Union February 24 - President Obama:
"I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But -- but here's the thing. Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future, ..."   "We have gone from a bystander to a leader in the fight against climate change."

2010 State of the Union January 28 - President Obama: 
"…. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change …"

2011 State of the Union - President Obama: Jan. 25, 2011
No mention of climate change in this State of the Union


2012 - State of the Union January 24 - President Obama:
"We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there's no reason why Congress shouldn't at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation."

2013 State of the Union February 12 - President Obama:
"But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. "

"Now, the good news is we can make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth.  I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, …."

"I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy."

2014 - State of the Union January 28 - President Obama:
"One of the reasons why is natural gas – if extracted safely, it’s the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes Climate change. "

"... I’ll cut red tape to help states get those factories built, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas. "

"The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did."

& into the future

President Obama is a lawyer,  he is not a scientist.  Lawyers dissect issues one box at a time,  rarely grasp the big picture in its entirety,  just ask any National Supreme Court Justice.  Mr Obama's all of the above plan is filled with ill advised strategies and obvious negligent outcomes with bridging fuels and technologies. 

The now, the before, continue to demonstrate and have shown historically, the ruling controlling class does not respect the total planetary environment. Had they, we would not be in this humanly designed climate chaos fact we now ALL reside. 

Bring out of your inner depth, today, your deepest voice, your loudest call, your boldest words and your forward thinking non-violent acts, to rid the planet Earth of scourge of dark money and dead energy to save Earthlings. Earthlings, that is human life, animal life, plant life, and the unseen elements that allow each species to live.

Michael Scarmack
@earth_architect

© February 14, 2014