America needs to become a leader in the "green fight"

by Suzia Van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

"We believe we will in fact create millions of jobs, millions of green jobs, if this is done. We will become energy efficient, we will save money and energy costs, we will invest in new technologies, and we will be the leader," said Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA). She was joined by additional Senators at a press conference on releasing principles for global warming legislation. By coming together on very specific principles, Boxer says she believes "that this moment marks the beginning of our legislative effort" to pass global warming legislation.

"Raising the standard for fuel efficiency, the stimulus package, reducing our dependency on foreign oil, reducing the emission of CO2, improving our transportation system, are all good down-payments" said Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.), but the payment we really need is "a legislation whose principles are really laid out before all of us today. That is where the rubber hits the road. All the other is good, and all the other is important, but without this legislation, we are not going to get this job done."

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) wants us to join in the fight together and says that this battle is like a burning house "the fact of the matter is that if we don't put out the fire as it is, the whole house will be consumed," and continued with the statement that we don't have the luxury of time.

People understand that there is a deep recession and a financial crisis in our country but Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) said that, "We also understand that if we don't get a handle on global warming, cut back on green house gas emissions, move towards energy independence, which people have talked about for decades, if we don't do that, the economic situation, not to mention the environmental situation, becomes worst."

"Our earth is sending out her warnings, and we must listen" said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and "a green economy beckons us to a brighter future."

TreeHugger's founder Graham Hill excited for change

Founder of the organization, TreeHugger's, Graham Hill speaks at the Green Inaugural Ball about the change he anticipates that the new administration will bring.


by Christina Lovato and Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

D.C. shadow Senator predicts a positive Green future

D.C. shadow Senator Paul Strauss speaks at the Green Inaugural Ball about the positive change that Obama will bring for the Green movement.


by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Green Inaugural Ball Summer Rayne Oakes Interview

Known as the "Eco-Model" as well as a lobbyist/activist for the Green movement, Summer Rayne Oakes speaks about Obama's leadership at the Green Inaugural Ball.


by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Red and green: Czech president compares environmentalism to communism

The merits of global warming where questioned by President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic at the National Press Club where Klaus likened the environmentalist movement to the communism of his youth. According to Klaus both ideologies promote causes that transcend the individual; environmentalism promotes the planet while communism promotes the proletariat. Klaus asserted that climatologists are only motivated to do research in one direction due to large-scale acceptance of environmentalism and government subsidies that encourage the development of green technology.

Klaus said that both communism and environmentalism are motivating forces that cause people to ignore opposition and live in a world of reduced freedoms. Klaus stated that “global warming alarmism” is a greater threat to the world than socialism and that environmentalists, through government subsidies that favor certain industries, take away from a free market’s ability to provide for the welfare of its citizens.

Klaus said that he does not seek to study factors such as changes in temperature, sea levels, and the status of polar ice caps. Instead, Klaus’s view is strictly economic, noting the comparative advantage of green industry. Klaus said that reducing industrial emissions would require a reduction of industry all together and that trying to control the market through “trading schemes” that increase green production is similar to the market controls of the communist era.

Klaus encouraged conserving energy and noted that rational behavior is a part of human nature. Klaus explained that environmentalism, rather, is “a scheme organized from above” that attempts to limit personal freedom through government intervention.