Democratic Party of Collin County
Environmental Issues Newsletter
July 11, 2007

Democratic Presidential Candidates On Climate Change.

Hello Folks

As you know, this newsletter is dedicated to raising the level of awareness of environmental issues, making sure environmental issues are a part of public discourse, and making sure that we elect candidates that will address these issues. With the 2008 Presidential campaign ramping up and the primaries coming early next year, it is none too soon to begin evaluating candidates and raising issues.

THE ISSUES:

Two of the greatest challenges that face our country, and indeed the world, in the 21st century are associated with the use of fossil fuels.

  1. The deleterious consequences of continued reliance on fossil fuels - environmental pollution effecting public health and safety, security concerns due to dependence on unstable regions and the fact that much of the money winds up in the hands of terrorist organizations, and finally the potential for widespread disasters relating to climate change.

  2. The prospect of oil shortages and high prices due to increasing demand from emerging economies at a time when many experts believe we are nearing the half-way point in the earths oil supply and the peak in the associated bell-shaped production rate curve.

As the the of standard of living in emerging economies such as those of India and China continue to rise, the demand for the worlds dwindling resources such as oil and gas will continue to increase. Prices will continue to increase. And, the future will belong to those who can find sustainable energy solutions.

After eight years of denial and retrenchment, by the Bush administration the next president will have much to do to make up for lost opportunity.

NASA scientist, Dr.James Hansen, considered the U.S.' leading climate scientist, is concerned about the consequences of climate change due to global warming and has been vocal about the Bush Administration's efforts to restrict his public comments on global warming. He says,

We have ten years - not ten years to decide upon action, but ten years to alter, fundamentally, the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions.

THE CANDIDATES:

Last week, MovOn.org held a Virtual Town Hall meeting with Democratic presidential candidates devoted to the climate crisis and related issues. The candidates answered questions submitted by MovOn members. The answers were posted along with other resources on a website were members could evaluate candidate positions and then vote on the one most likely to do the best job confronting the climate crisis.

The voting is over, but the website is still there. You can go to the link below to hear the candidates answer the questions. You can download a League of Conservation Voters Candidate Scorecard evaluating their positions on key issues. And there is also a link to a page on Grist.org were you can learn more about the candidate's positions.
MoveOn Townhall Meeting

According to MovOn, this was the Largest MoveOn Event Since 2004; Over 100,000 People Joined at 1,300 House Parties and Online to Watch Virtual Town Hall. Click on the links below to see the press release containing the rankings and to download the MovOn add for the top three picks.
MoveOn Member Rankings - Ad for top 3 picks

Want to get further motivated? The link below has candidate positions for the Republican presidential hopefulls as well as the Democrats. Click HeatIsOn - candidate postions from both parties to see the difference.

Best regards
Bob Fusinato


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