Itīs easy to sit back and assume that our politicians are forward thinkers and have already put in place legislation to control carbon emissions or environmental regulations to protect fragile ecosystems. In the end, one would hope that those we entrust with our future are the catalysts to action and protect us against adverse influences. You would think.
However, when it comes to protecting our environment, both sides of the cabinet aisle are using global warming as a political talking point. One fact is evident; oil is running out. Perhaps in the long-run, this is a good omen. Unfortunately, coal is still plentiful, but is the worst greenhouse gas and ozone killer. What needs to be accomplished is a paradigm shift in awareness that humans are impacting fragile ecosystems.
Just watching the oil spill tragedy in the Gulf is a obvious indication of what humans are responsible for. At 5,000 gallons dumped into the Gulf each day for the past week, and no solution is in place to stop this. This catastrophe will have major ecological effects for decades.
Fortunately, a few senators are set to introduce a progressive climate and energy bill. This bill had been months in the planning and would cut America's pollution 17% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. By the way, even before the Gulf oil spill, America was the number one polluter in the world.
Anything can happen in politics and the future of this bill is uncertain. But, there is one thing we can and need to, that without intense grassroots pressure; this bill will never make it to the floor.
Here are 3 ways you can help right now:
1. Call your Senators and urge them to tell Senate leadership they want to pass strong climate and energy legislation this summer. You can call the Climate Action Hotline: 1-800-493-3393. Or, you can visit agreenerclimate.com.
2. Send an email to your Senators urging them to support the strong, bipartisan climate and energy legislation.
3. Forward this email to everyone you know who cares about global warming and the future of our planet.
