BTW, you are 100% correct, if a people (read nation) cannot feed itself, if it cannot provide for its children, then it will choose methods that will allow for these things.

The next war will not be about oil, or wealth, it will be over water and food.

Comment by O. Bigfoot

Hmmmm. Allegiance to Bush or a healthy planet. Gee, that is a tough one. As much as it sounds unpatriotic, I will always want a planet to live on – silly me. If the planet dies, it won’t matter to which allegiance you affirm – cause it will be a free for all. If a nation cannot feed or hydrate itself, all is lost for that nation and chaos ensues. Have you checked the southeast US lately. Lots of drought there now.

Even if we overstate the risk, isn’t the fact that this is a terminal issue cause you to err on the side of caution?

I have not only traveled the length of this country and around the world, but have lived abroad and in at least a quarter of our states. This has given me an appreciation for other cultures, other people and diversity, and an understanding of our own closed minded, centric, ideology that the majority of the other humans on this planet cannot understand.

Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 2:36 pm

Do you want to see my passport. That a person such as yourself can even call into question my patriotism and love for this country is oscene. You are pathetic and sick.

127. Thanks…We are supposed to be stewards of the planet and its resources – not abusers of it.
Comment by StratRat

Unfortunately, the ideology of some in our country, stem from the notion of “manifest destiny”. Originally, it was used to refer to the idea that the American government was “destined” to establish uninterrupted political authority across the entire North American continent. Now it is used to refer to the idea that the United States should rule the world thought military power, or American Imperialism.

They also believe this gives us the right to rape and pillage our natural resources, without thought to or thought of the consequences. They don’t seem to understand that we are as a species interconnected and interdependent. That the looting of our natural resources without the notion of conservation will leave future generations without any. They refuse to acknowledge that all humans bleed the same color blood. And with them, it is their way or the highway, they have no room at their table for any intelligent discourse or different viewpoints. Ant, to insure their notion of superiority, they call everyone who disagrees with them cowards, traitors, and worse. The refuse to acknowledge that mankind is the only species who has become very adept and proficient at killing each other. They seem to not want to realize that, as Gandhi once said, “an eye for an eye only leaves the world blind”.

We may not have to worry about Sustainable Development; we may just succeed in what seems to be our endless quest to destroy the human race after all. We do however possess the ability to turn this all around, but it will take courage to do the right thing, not just the politically advantageous or profitable.

H.G. Wells said, “If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth. Many of those who run the nations will find this idea unpleasant. They will fear the loss of power. We will hear much about treason and disloyalty. Rich nation-states will have to share their wealth with poor ones. But the choice is clearly the universe or nothing.”

It was in his speech to the 1958 RTNDA Convention (Radio and Television News Directors Association) Edward R. Murrow said:

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men— not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular… We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of a republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.”

Anyway, I do not have any illusions that the theocratic believers, extremists, fundamentalist, and the spiritually challenged will change. I can only hope that they self-destruct as soon as possible so those of us who want to create something positive for future generations can get on with our mission for humanity.

Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 2:36 pm

But your positions and the policies of the administration do the exact opposite. You make the US less safe, less secure, less economically viable and increase the hatred of people throughout the world (making us less safe).

I was watching Planet Earth last night and the scariest thing they talked about (to me) was the issue of methyl hydrate. They said that with just a couple of degrees of warming the methyl hydrate will start to dissolve, warming the planet at a rate of 20 times more than CO2 and when that starts it’ll be a vicious cycle of warming and more warming. They were talking about the mass extinctions that this planet has experienced already.

Then there’s the oxygen issue. Warming will decrease the percentage of oxygen in the air. Right now we’re at 20% oxygen. Right before one of those mass extinctions oxygen was at 30% and then plummeted to 10% – hence the mass extinction.

Comment by Citizen_of_Earth

Thanks…We are supposed to be stewards of the planet and its resources – not abusers of it. If Bagfoot had children – or any sensitivity – he/she would already know this.

Comment by O. Bigfoot

No, the research has already been done – you just don’t see it when you watch Fox news. And I have BEEN to China and India. There are numerous scientists and government folks who understand that we are moving in the wrong direction and that the ability to undo the damage may have already been passed by. Argueing against that point is simply a distraction which we cannot afford. You cannot absolve the US of its obligations because other developing countries might also contribute to the problem.

The bottom line is that we have only one planet to habitate. Once that planet is past the point of no return, we will start to revert back to the dark ages. The life we are used to will slowly be taken from us. The next world war will probably be fought over water or farmable land – not terrorists.

The entire globe is looking for leadership and cooperation. The US must be a visible and helpful partner. If we showed some leadership and courage, China and Inda just might listen to what we have to say.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions USA = 24.04 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions China = 3.05 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions India = 1.34 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions EU = 10.74 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Canada = 23.45 (CO2e t/person)

(Source: Carbon Planet Pty Ltd)

Any questions?

Comment by Citizen_of_Earth — December 13, 2007 @ 1:37 pm

Why are confusing the big idiot with facts, those pesky things make his head hurt.

Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 1:34 pm

You continue to talk about how you support America, but your positions, every last one of them, makes us less safe, less secure, more economically vulnerable, and more despised across the globe. You are like a Quisling 5th columnist who obviously actually hates this country.

And you never answered my question, where exactly have you been. I told you how much I get out, you?

118. The United States is NOT the cause of the world’s problems, the United States is the solution.

Comment by O. Bigfoot

FACTS:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions USA = 24.04 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions China = 3.05 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions India = 1.34 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions EU = 10.74 (CO2e t/person)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Canada = 23.45 (CO2e t/person)

(Source: Carbon Planet Pty Ltd)

Any questions?

Comment by O. Bigfoot

Talk about who doesn’t get out much…Sheesh. Do current and recent events mean anything to you? The US has HUGE domestic and international issues which are impacting our reputation and our ability to garner any assistance – because we seem so bull headed and stubborn. When you act like a creep, nobody wants anything to do with you.

I have truly never seen a person so happy and satisfied to wallow in complete ignorance. You combination of ignorance, lack of basic logic, sefishness, religious zealotry, intolerance, cowardess, and a complete hostility to science are truly breath taking. It’s amazing. Sad and pathetic, but amazing. You truly are one of the worst human beings I have ever had the misery to experience

Comment by Blue Stater — December 13, 2007 @ 10:26 am”

Really?

You must not get out much.

Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

I get out a lot. I live in the most diverse city in this country, perhaps the world (New York City). I have traveled throughout the world to more than 30 different countries on 4 continents (Africa is next). Where have you been, do you even own a passport? I highly doubt it. You are an ignorant, scared, sad small little man who hates science and supports terrorists.

113. Although it is obvious that most progressives are concerned about the environment, is there any thought being given to a handover of our economic sovereignty to the U.N., especially in light of that global bodies poor track record of administering other programs?

Comment by CaptainMantastic

Handover of economic sovereignty?

In 2003, the U.S. government handed out 3,512 contracts to companies to perform domestic security functions, from bomb detection to data mining. In the 22-month period ending in August 2006, the Homeland Security Department had issued more than 115,000 security-related contracts. Our government is nothing but a ATM for Big Business.

Remember that in 2006, Dubai International Capital has acquired the London-based Doncasters Group for $1.2 billion. Doncasters produces engine components and turbine blades for military platforms, and its clients include Boeing, General Electric, Honeywell and Pratt and Whitney. DIC is owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates.

Japan, China and the OPEC nations own over half of our national debt. Here is a list who holds what Treasury Securities.

Roger Ibbotson, Ph.D., a professor of finance at Yale Management School recently said: “If foreign countries stop buying our debt, that will cause long-term bond prices to drop, interest rates to rise and the dollar to fall. Excess demand for energy and natural resources from China and India will likely spur a rise in U.S. inflation rates.”

The debt does not include, money owed by states, corporations or individuals, nor does it include the money owed to Social Security beneficiaries in the future. If I remember correctly, if we include the money borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund, as well as borrowings from other accounts already funded by US taxpayers the current debt is around $9.0 Trillion.

This raises two questions, “What economic sovereignty?” “What economic security”? We are giving our children and grandchildren a blank check that will bounce! Some sovereignty!

Comment by O. Bigfoot

The consensus is split into two camps: Bushies vs. the Planet. For you to continue to assert that there is serious disagreement among the informed is nonsense. The evidence is overwhelming.

You are either watching the wrong TV programs, or listening to the wrong radio shows. Either way, you should take care before offering up these opinions in front of adults: they will laugh you out of the room, and back to the playground.

If you have – or will have children – wouldn’t you want to leave them a livable planet? I would hope so.

I have truly never seen a person so happy and satisfied to wallow in complete ignorance. You combination of ignorance, lack of basic logic, sefishness, religious zealotry, intolerance, cowardess, and a complete hostility to science are truly breath taking. It’s amazing. Sad and pathetic, but amazing. You truly are one of the worst human beings I have ever had the misery to experience

Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 12, 2007 @ 10:11 pm

Good material for Stephen Colbert… Bad for humanity, considering the moron who wrote it is serious!

Al Gore, the former US vice-president turned climate campaigner, has blamed the US for blocking progress at UN climate talks in the Indonesian island of Bali

The US is the main block preventing 190 nations in Bali from negotiations on a global climate pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol from 2012.

http://english.aljazeera.net/English