ENRON's favorite joke about Gray'ed out-of-service state:

What is different between the Titanic and California?

At least the Titanic had its lights on ,
when it went down

Please don't be fooled....this is a cynical bush inc. strategy to help their man (oh you say...he's a renegade republican...like hell I say...he's saying what a repub has to say to be in power in CA) Arnold grow his power and credibility (and as you can see from the posts herein it's already working). IF Arnold were truly a battler for the environment he wouldn't be in the republican camp. Excuse me if I can't stomach the evil clown of California...who was in on the Enron manipulation of California's power to create the appearance of an ineffective Gray Davis and put a republican in the governor's mansion of this blue state and now manipulates the political theater to showcase his supposedly valiant battle for California and the environment. sure we'll take whatever environmental progress we can get...(even if, as with Arnold, it is unlikely that the motivation is sincere environmental commitment and is more likely a kind of political greenwashing that is proving quite successful for the evil clown governor of California).

Does anyone think ALL the pressure is coming from the autombile industry? If I were Exxon, I sure wouldn't be too happy about the prospect of cars running on less gas.

And aren't there energy lobby fingerprints all over administration's decision to water down enhanced energy requirements for air conditioners?

I'm not saying the automobile industry isn't playing a huge role in this, and I'm sure there are some terrible air conditioner manufacturers out there, but I question the media's -- and public's -- unwillingness to look a little further.

CA is known for its entrepreneur spirit...

Considering what our capitalist entrepreneurs have been doing to us lately, goodbye and good riddance.

IKE,

Your article was excellent, but...

Is this a reprint of an article you published somewhere else? Sure, you didn't put so much writing effort into your lengthy comment that will be read by, at most, only a few hundred people.

The _ T E R M I N A T O R _ is as he was in the 1st movie, but worse.

There never was a conversion to support and affirm humanity (as cleverly implied in the Hollywood illusions later, which were part of his political makeover), and he is far craftier and corrupt than most would ever believe.

He's a direct substitute for Grey Davis being ripped from our state along with billions going to ENRON (Shrubby's best buddy), and hardly "acts" like the unapologetic son of a Nazi SS officer.

The bu$hitonator, tormentator, and rovenator are all evil span of fascists who served Hilter and literally have demoloshed this once democratic country.

Namaste … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Mahatma Gandhi … … … … … … … … … …
« We must be the change we wish to see in the world »
« There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed »

Al Gore for president.

I feel everything is getting too bloated (like a corpse).

CA is known for its entrepreneur spirit. A good first step for the Californians could be to follow the lead of Lakota Sioux and declare independence.

Next, they could request the extradition of their Team A from DC.

Ike kay writes well on this issue. I tried to get through the post but felt compelled to write. I do hope he will start a blog and link to it...

Ike is absolutely right about the economic priorities holding reform back. Politics are motivated by economics, both in the way people (about 40% to be exact) vote and in the influence held by corporations over our government.

I don't know why people don't participate or stay informed, which are two of the requirements of participatory government which we no longer have. By not voting, we give vested interests more control. By relying exclusively on the mainstream media, people short our country and their futures.

I recently read that the ruling elite have a desire to encourage apathy and fear. The apathy leads people to think nothing will change so they don't get involved. The fear is from terror and police brutalization--largely fabricated threats right out of Herman Goering's playbook.

Global warming or--more accurately I believe--Global Climate Change is the greatest threat we have ever faced. Moving away from petroleum dependency will require a revision of how we live, what we do, what we buy and how we make money.

Man's survival instinct is suited better for the individual than for our species on the whole. Nationalism has been a powerful motivator, but unfortunately so much of that power has been misused by launching wars for political purposes. I don't know how much fight Americans have for protecting the planet. Seems like the most patriotic are also the most likely to love God, guns, and machines, which tend to be highly incompatible with the goal of protecting the Earth.

Now Arnold is right to fight the Feds on this issue. No company or level of government has the right to deny a State its right to protect itself from the ravages of global warming.

Changes might come late if certain lobbies like the one that got the EPA to obstruct the higher mileage standards continue to control our government. Eventually though, the effect of Global Climate Change will force change; whether this peak comes too late I don't know. Clearly we will all need to make changes to prevent the worst impacts of GCC.

Some companies and many wealthy people will lose when the waters rise, and I don't think they'll be content to let the problems magnify. Many of the interests like Big Oil controlling the White House can't hold political power forever. The powers-that-be are utilizing schemes like the covert Chemtrails laying program, that will likely keep temps lower so the true scope of warming remains underestimated. (For more on this research the temperature effect of the post-9/11 flight stoppages.) China is using a screen of coal pollutants, also a major environmental catastrophe, with mountaintop removal to show for it here in the US. This South Americanization of American government (crony capitalism, shock doctrine, civil rights violations) must stop. I don't know if we can afford not to impeach the evil-doers. One thing is clear: we will face whatever consequences--environmental or otherwise--that we are willing to tolerate and no less.

Maybe the "Terminater" is with us.

Power to the People!

This is "news' that isn't.

The head of EPA is not very much different that the head of the FCC who recently ignored the considered input of both houses of Congress and others on the Cmomission regarding changing the rules or ownership of media outlets.

Just like the powers that be in the CIA ignored the request that interrogation tapes not be destroyed,

Just like the Attorney General's office ignored the considered guidance of one of its officials regarding the status of waterboarding as torture.

Just like the military commissions ignored the input of a whole phalanx of high ranking and retired former JAG executives that their whole operation was unconstitutional (later sustained by the the Bushco Supreme Court).

Just like the President chose to suppress and ignore the Iran NIE that confirmed that he was full of it in asserting that Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.

This adminstration is the greatest bunch of governing outlaws and rogues since the Thrd Reich of Nazi Germany.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) on Thursday announced they were opening investigations into the waiver denial and told Johnson to turn over all documents related to the decision. Waxman also told Johnson not to destroy any documents.

What is the basis for believing that these directives will be followed???????

I was furious when I first read the news of the EPA's decision. When the federal government refuses to lead on an important issue, then lower levels of government must take the lead. California has a recognized special position in the history of US regulation of emissions, because of its unique geography and high population (and its unfortunate and inefficient car-based transportation system). And other states obviously regard California as a leader on the subject because they have lined up to adopt California's recent legislation.

The Bush administration has refused to lead on this critical issue. So the States have to protect the health of their own residents (and look out for the health of the nation and the planet) by adopting their own stricter regulations. The new federal energy bill does not go far enough, and it does not substitute for what California and the other states want to do.

I have never voted for Gov. Schwarzenegger, but now, speaking as a Californian and a person concerned for the big picture of global warming, I say, go for it! I'm behind him 100% of the way as he takes this fight to the courts, and I hope he follows through. I'm proud that California's government has decided to position itself as a leader on global warming. The states cannot back down from this fight, for as long as our executive branch is in the pocket of big auto and big oil, the states will have to be the leaders on environmental issues.

Quote; "that this administration ignores the science and ignores the law to reach the politically convenient conclusion."

This is ONE of the bushcon legacies.

The other three are -

Death
Debt
&
Deceit

Once again, change the rules of the game as you go along. Forget precendence -- consistency. This is now a governance game that is not in pursuit of what is right - or even for the general good - but what must serve the growing quest for a concentration of power in the hands of a few. The merits of process mean little when those in power are driven to fulfill their own, self-serving results. Sadly, we no longer serve open or democratic forms of due process (what's that?) -- we are being more and more aligned to serve masters of corporations and thier agents in government.

In this story I am writing and speaking publicly it becomes clear that the lag time of science to accurately report its findings is part of the problem of action and understanding. But even if the public had this data and were aware of the understanding that the planet was dying, the special interests in Washington and the corporate world would have scoffed at the science and continued to put future generations at risk by obfuscating the evidence and denying the truth. This science is now acceptable because the world has agreed that the findings of global warming are finally an inescapable and the truth.

Like Bali the USA has done its utmost to put profit, money and business before the well be of Not only America but the world. It has trained its little greed puppy Canada to do the same. The people that George Bush the anti life president, has appointed to fill the American agencies as watchdog to pollution, greed, avarice, health and any other group of people who should be looking into the abuses of business, science and the military.

The time lag of a thousands years abut some sciences before the global human adventure ends or other science that talks about space exploration mute when this kind of science affecting the oceans or anything else is measured in a decade. When a lag of only ten years to reduce emissions is the time James Hansen of NASA all events other than that and Bali take a backseat. Because of economic consideration the human race will die!. If we are to avoid the positive backs loops, scoffed at because of economic reasons, based upon special interests. If we fail to look at the picture clearly, we face a catastrophe because of money.

The acidity in the oceans is bad news not only for the life within the ocean but for the fact that it makes the ocean less able to absorb the excess carbon dioxide we are producing and thus exacerbates global warming and climate change.

The UN like most organizations is built around the G8 nations and economics. There formulations are designed to do two things try the save humanity and try to save the world economy at the same time. The problem is that Kyoto is problematic in that its policies promote continued pollution aimed at keeping the world economy afloat. If they were really interested at saving this planet the UN would do away with pollution trading altogether and institute a crash rapid change to alternative energy and an end to global toxicity. But politicians say, with businessinterests say, we don't give them the truth; we let them think, as all diplomats do, that we are really interested in change rather than profit, money and power.

I have talked with delegates from the UN member nations and many of them have said to me privately, if they really said what some NGO's are saying at the UN they would be recalled and never have a job again.

Most public comments are very nice to hear they tell people what the powers want them to know with the help of the media they control. But like the Congress they also come down beside the point as most politicians do. Most comments from the present Congress and in the blogs avoid reality and don't deal with the issue head on. Most are still looking for the magic technological bullet or some disingenuous politician that will save all and we can continue on the way we are going with ever more growth and ever more and greater GDP as the bankers advise. Any candidate that does not talk about environmental issues first on the agenda, including Kucinich, betrays America and the world.

But there really isn't any quick fix. I am a filmmaker and have worked on the environmental change issues since 1978 so I have a fair amount of experience to speak. While LED light-bulbs is good and 40 MPG for cars is better it is not the at 80MPG minamum from vehicles that is necessary! It also requires the legislated refits for all existing cars to the minum of 40 MPG or more rather than exporting them to the developing world which is presently being done. This will pick up speed as restrictions rise in the western world on carbon emissions and rejected in the third world. We continue to export the problem from the USA to other countries as if we don't share this world with other people. And while Jesse Jackson talks of the rights of black Americans of the world, his particular crusade, its the people of the entire world at issue.

It was GE that killed the electric car not long ago who in Congress complained about that? Whether health care, big business, environment, energy alternatives, toxicity in the environment or any and all of these issues it comes down to who has the courage to talk about all of them rather than focusing on the head of a pin looking atone important issue. You want to hear about health care for America; how about the advance of environmentally based health problems by a toxic environment and air related pandemics. This is what we can expect from climate change in the next few years as global temperature rises. The candidates are discussing universal health care? Try one for the globe and all the sicknesses the policies of the USA have caused, three percent of the world's population the USA produces seventy three percent of global toxicity. You wonder where cancer comes from?

The people of the USA have been so ill informed as to what a change would really do and mean to this country and the change in leadership, they have forgotten that no one could be worse than George Bush. . . No one; not even the dog catcher, at least the dog catcher has compassion for animals!

The problems with the US future leders, is not Kucinich as president, the problem is that he puts his emphasis on the wrong problem at the wrong time. The problem is getting him to address a credible platform of ideas. He wants to get rid of Chenney the time was 2004. While impeachment is necessary, it is unlikely. There is not enough time and the issues most pressing are again avoided, like the environment and those really important issues before the congress now like kids health care!

The issue of this election will affect the environment, economy and the future of the USA as no others. Yet if more than 50% of eligible voters cast their votes it will be a miracle because of regressive US election laws. It is compulsory for every one to vote in Australia. None of the candidates are really talking about the major points, the environment in association with the economy or health care and reform laws for elections.

The environmental news coming out is not new but it is very grave and keeps being pushed to more urgency as new research comes to light. If any one reading this comment cares to look at the website of NASA, the research papers of James Hansen in particular that were published long before Gore was on the scene and many since, they would understand that we really can not deal with much more than one degree to two and half degrees Fahrenheit of warming at its maximum to ward off the most serious effects of industrial societies pollution and to offset this growing catastrophe.

At about two and half degrees farenheit of warming total some of which is presently in the pipeline, we will be dealing with about 550 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere, a rate actually above the tipping point of one and half degrees warming. This is the absolute figure to avoid the major positive feedback loops that are starting and scheduled to kick in by 2020 or earlier if nothing is done quickly. Positive feedback are starting now with Methane now being released on the tundra into the atmosphere in Russia a four times addition to greenhouse gasses and causing the poles and glaciers to melt more rapidly, or has no one noticed?

The below scenario excerpted from the climate articles here on Common Dreams tell us clearly rapid changes to the world caused by runaway climate change and their feedback loops are in reach within 10 to 30 years if nothing is done rapidly. The positive feedback loops will melt the remainder of the glaciers and perhaps dump Greenland into the sea as well. Also, the melting of additional ice-shelf's at the poles. That means perhaps a 3 to 30 foot ocean rise by the end of this century or much sooner as now being mentioned at Bali.

The process is beginning now and in 20 years or less without rapid change in economic direction the human race will reach a point of no return. The so called news and other media continue to bend the information toward the global economic agenda thus minimizing its importance. India for example is less concerned about climate change than they are about economic production thanks to the G8, although their neighbor Bangladesh is slipping into the sea . Still in India, there are several moves in the direction of smaller is better concepts of reality.

There will be sufficient human displacement of people on this planet to bring American citizens into a nightmare scenario that makes the present Mexican border problem a walk in the park. What about the transfer of health risks as a result of this problem? Not to mention water and food related issues, exacerbated by the bio-fuels concept another disater to make the auto industry solvent and the economy, always the economy.

Yet is seems the political discussion rests on the complete list of talking points in isolation, such as Clinton's health package and its cost, rather than what is really at stake which is human survival. These folks on the stage wanting to be president rarely talk to the complete interrelated package of all these issues and more. The media reduces the public debate to its most simplistic level and all here are arguing about one issue or another rather than the entire package which a true leader must address. The media keeps the public dumbed down for obvious reasons they represent the money people. As a result we become unable to talk about moving radically to deal with climate change. This is the first and major issue which affects all other issues and is completely related to economic change.

The world does not have (much later) before a more aggressive approach to all the issues beginning with climate change now! Remember New Orleans? Within next 10 to 20 years is where it all hangs. If nothing is done very soon it will mark the beginning of the end for the human race. Those appear to be the facts and no technology will stop runaway climate change once it begins, indeed if we look at the melting poles the worst case is much more apparent than formerly believed . . .it has already begun!!

Perhaps it might be too late now, according to James Lovelock, in his view it has begun. James Hansen at NASA makes a very compelling case for the time frame for action within the time in office of the next president of the USA and so does the UN. I think anyone who really wishes to be informed should go to the websites of these people mentioned here or the IPCC. It is technical information but worth taking the time to inform yourself. The answer is to start working quickly for change and vote for those candidates who speak of change and another direction and who represent ideas rather than special interests. For example the best work would be to defeat the pro-business Clintons and elect Kucinich or Obama or possibly a joint ticket while we know they have an outside chance they are the best possibility for change.

But we all know business interests will prevail with Clinton capturing the vote and a pro-business vote is a vote against the environment. No one running on the democratic side could be worse than Bush. But anyone who can think understands that the business interests control the environmental agenda and most candidates. The republicans will continue the work of burying the planet as will pro-business democratic candidates most of whom have been bought, whether by health interests or anything else concerning big money.

The facts concerning climate science is what is important. What the environmental facts really suggest is economic depression in the West in the near term if we really want to deal with climate change. THIS IS THE FACT! That is if we are really serious about saving the planet (no one wants to hear that if they are connected to big money) it means voting for economic and environmental legislation limiting pollution and green house gasses. . .in any event that is change!

But the environment,water,energy production these are the real issues of this election campaign of the world in peril or as my documentary states it „World On Edge" but no one would dare mention them in association with change in economic direction for fear of defeat. A redirection and a retooling of the global economy and of America is in order and that is not a popular issue on Wall street or people invested in Wall street. . .most everyone in one way or another.

We have to change rapidly and move to a none-stop production of environmental invention and energy alternatives for the western world and developing nations rapidly. It also means rapid technology transfer for the developing world without delay, this may save us some time. A cut of 80% of the carbon emissions within the next 10 years is in order and it must be done beginning now and well on the way before 2012 the next date for Kyoto. Kyoto is a western world fabrication to tell us we can keep polluting while where figuring a way to deal with this crisis economically.

A change of the present direction of economic production and fast move in a different direction economically is required by anyone that can think and put simply in context of this crisis. The world is waiting for this move by the Americans and watch the dollar rise rapidly against other currencies once this plan would be announced if ever. This is why this upcoming American election is so critical and the results of it will determine whether the human race survives. . . . It is that important!

The economic change in direction could possibly reemploy a lot of people who have lost their work in the polluting industries. This is the challenge to America to remake itself after eight years of the Bush/Cheney regime. It is equivalent to a fight for survival that required the retooling of America at the outbreak of WW 2. It requires change in the so-called war on terror, a Bush fabrication advanced by the media which is a money centered mind conditioning creation and finally, it means leaving Iraq, and using those resources to fight the real enemy to survival, the western consumer, hydro carbon based, societies of the western world.

Who knows that might mean less of an investment in China and more of an investment the western world for a healthier environment? And the Chinese might follow that example as well.

Which candidate will say this to America? Which candidate will really tell the truth? If they did they wouldn't have a chance in this election because Americans don't want to hear that! Any one having the courage to really tell the truth would find themselves on the next train to Siberia; they would be shouted down by the crowds of people on the stump and many on this blog people would shout the leaders down, saying what the hell do you know anyway? "This is too scary for me!"

But the economy is the issues and that is determined by big business who wants the war in Iraq because it continues the hydro carbon based industry which all these young people were maimed and died for. To keep santa going full belt. The illegal Bush-war that Kucinich wants to impeach Bush/Cheney for creating but takes us into another direction and one not well thought out. He is focused on the lies of Bush and big business rather than the future of the world.

The production of alternative energy will soak up the idle job market, indeed it is doing so now! With a shift to the priority of economic production and development directed at saving this world and its equilibrium, means in simple terms a crash economic change which is vitally necessary, without that we are done. If any one thinks that we can continue with an oil economy and business as usual with a consumer based society, they are living in the world of denial which so much of the western world occupies. The below is a light message compared with what the truth really is: from UN sources of information!

"The world needs to spend 1.6 percent of global economic output annually through 2030 to stabilize the carbon stock and meet the 3.6-degree Fahrenheit temperature target. Rich countries, the biggest carbon emitters, should lead the way and cut emissions at least 30 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Developing nations should cut emissions 20 percent by 2050, the UNDP says."

The above is letting you down lightly is really not what the actual projections are. The world crisis will crash in on its regional global populations is what the information below is saying. There really is no place in this discussion for a 5.4 to 7.2 Fahrenheit degree rise in temperature. . . .this scenario painted with the these numbers below is a different planet closer to Mars not Earth. The news media play with numbers like the lottery. We can tolerate one degree and perhaps two and half degrees warming at the outside, . . .in the next 50 to 90 years. . .that's it!!!!! An additional 3 degrees to four degrees Fahrenheit is three more degrees greater than this climate and its creatures can sustain or endure without collapse!! This quoted from the recent UN assertions here in Common Dreams and from the real information by scientists not political organization quote:

"a temperature rise of between 5.4 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (3 and 4 degrees Celsius) would displace 340 million people through flooding, droughts would diminish farm output, and retreating glaciers would cut off drinking water from as many as 1.8 billion people, the report says." this is an understatement and conservative.

The above report is economically associated and conservative as well as misleading!!! Forget this idea of 5.4 to 7.2 Fahrenheit of warming that is the Martian landscape because it allows for the runaway positive feedbacks to take hold. Whomever believes this world can sustain this degree of warming is either working for the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank or is gathering this information from the laboratory at XXON/Mobile or its publicists!!??????

Meanwhile the group here is discussing who will give us better health care on a dying planet and impeachment of Bush a good way to avoid dealing with the truth. We can be suspect of anyone who says they have the truth. The need for understanding this current cast of characters wanting to be president is important. None of this group has the faintest idea of what we are really dealing with in terms of global warming numbers concerning the environment, and if they did they would not tell the public. They are advised by their experts, the lawyers who can only think of big business. They know it's bad and their advisers are telling them they can't deal with this issue to get elected by the masses.

The masses? Unless you have not heard, these are the people above who are worrying where their next bag of groceries comes from and the money to pay the rent! They really don't give a damn about the environmental issues. . And have no time for thinking about 10 to 20 years from today that has no realty attached to it for most Americans or the rest of the four and half billion people on this Earth in the same situation. . . .

Or, for the rest of the population working for and controlled by big business and big money. . .that is what this election is really about and if one thinks about the complexity of all these interrelated issues we know that we can not beat the odds business will win. That means the future for humanity is limited even for the one percent that has everything.

Sure elect Edwards, Obama, or Kucinich or any combination of most of the Democrats that are not funded by big business for this election. This is the reality of this time we still live, on this, still beautiful planet.

As always, it is the Bush nightmare that suspends and forestalls human action forward. if there was a single problem for this world in the past eight years it has been this throwback from the Jurassic period that occupies the Black House in washington and the Capital Black Dome steeped in the blood of untold millions in this world both present and future. How much I like the call to optimism, to human adventure and responsible action. It rings like the bell of the angels and like so many I am happy for your optimism out there. More people at Bali should get your vibes and act responsibly. Having said that I have written here on the problem and tried often to get the powers to be accept we have a really serious problem. I work at the UN and UNESCO in Europe.

I must say, I loathe the establishment because my concerned friends it comes down to vested interests, greed and the economy as so many know here. I am afraid that we have lost this little game of truth or consequences. But if the truth really be known, the power elite and the one percent who have everything and own everyone really don't care if some three billion people on this globe perish.

This is the reality of the circumstances of this situation of climate change and its results, my friends,the carbon producing industry want to burn every resulting carbon atom they can release, the atomic energy plants will continue mining uranium and the horrendous amounts a carbon produced to provide the fuel and the last tree in the Amazon will be cut as well as every other rain forest.

Most democrats are what moderate republicans used to be. There is no such thing as reason at the court of Alice in Wonderland. it is time for a new congress and a new party. A three party system would not hurt and the Green Party has a platform of survival with Climate change at the top of the list that affects every issue on the table today and focuses on Wall Street which I have no doubt most of the people writing here are invested.

A person's faith or belief system has nothing at all to do with well thought out content. The content of this article looks carefully at the problem of US economic world hegemony. What is said is correct as I see it. However, to change this direction would require a one day strike of all systems on the globe.

Someone, tell me what police forces would alow shut down, or the military, or any other service that sees to it that the society and its people continue to do what they are told. As I look at the problem the natural forces that are gathering exclusive of any human control, other than there creation of attempted control of nature and that will not stop. All this will decide how the world rights itself or if it rights itself after most life is extinguished. But it will take many thousands of years in any case. The probability of life renewing itself is dependent upon how severe the human interference of the natural systems of this planet are and later become and how severe the positive feedbacks loops will be!

The possibility of a Martian environment is happening. We want to explore Mars . . .it is not necessary for we have the begining of the process here. But the systems devised to explore Mars are being developed. The time for survival in that kind of environment have not been sufficiently developed for extended life. But think of it there are people who care to exist in that way and willingly put themselves in that environment as a way of life. Technology still reigns supreme.

Take heart there will be some means of living for a while for some regardless of how difficult it becomes. It has been said by many there are too many people on this planet in any case. What matter to those persons if four fifths of the population perishes.

„We can learn too from our elders. They remember a time when "disposable" wasn't part of our lexicon, when we lived with far less but family and community were the keys to happy, fulfilled lives.
Ever since the end of World War II when the transition from a war economy to a peace economy was made by making consumption a North American way of life, we have been caught up in the notion that life is all about having more stuff, though every indicator shows that greater material wealth does not mean greater happiness and fulfillment. Most people in the world grew up in this time of unprecedented growth and change, so to them, this is normal and must be sustained at all costs. And since more and more of us live in cities, our understanding of our biological dependence on clean air, clean water, clean energy and other living things becomes subsumed by the notion that the economy is the source of everything that we need. I was told by the Alberta environment minister years ago that without a strong growing economy, we can't afford to protect the environment. So even the environment minister saw the economy as a higher priority than the very things that keep us alive and healthy."

IKE