Why we need environmental champion John Kerry president

The Hopi Indians of Southwestern US have a word, Koyaanisqatsi
(koy · ahn · i · skaht · see), which means "a state of life that calls for another way of living," or "life out of balance". They believe we are living out of harmony with nature, in a state of Koyaanisqatsi now. I find it hard to disagree.

Human beings are currently causing the greatest mass extinction of species since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. If present trends continue one half of all species of life on earth will be extinct in 100 years.

Link tank on species loss

And every day you can read stories like this:

Sandeel stocks collapse, causing starving up the chain

And like this:

Snotty black water blob off Florida coast



In the past century, average global temperatures at the earth's surface climbed by about 1.08 degrees Fahrenheit, to their highest levels in a millennium. During the past 25 years the rate of temperature increase has been 3.6 degrees (if extrapolated over a century). The earth's landmasses are not cooling off as much as they used to. Less snow falls in the Northern Hemisphere, less sea ice appears in the Arctic sea in spring and summer, glaciers are retreating and shrinking (you might want to visit Glacier National park soon to see its' namesake), and many plant and animal species are moving to higher (cooler) latitudes.

The global warming nay sayers (mostly industry-funded biostitutes) are refuting rudimentary science. Here is something to think about in that regard: Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, with Venus being number two. However...

The temperature on Mercury reaches between 600 and 800 degrees Fahrenheit:

I'm gonna buy me a Mercury...

The temperature on Venus reaches between 800 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit (which is hot enough to melt lead). The atmosphere of Venus is mostly CO2 intermixed with Nitrogen.

I'm your Venus, I'm your fire...

So, Venus is further away from the sun than Mercury but it is hotter because of its CO2-rich atmosphere. Also, Mercury cools to -300F at night, while Venus' temperature remains nearly constant. Scientists refer to Venus' atmosphere as "run-away global warming."

Field biologists say they are documenting "the great decline", or the "sixth great extinction". Scientists are now setting up a gene bank of the world's endangered animals, with thousands of species expected to become extinct within a generation due to climate change and habitat destruction. Perhaps they should call their effort the "Noah project".

John Kerry believes American ingenuity can create a new energy web that is sustainable and not beholden to the Middle-East. I believe this to be an optimistic and forward-looking energy strategy. In fact, I'd be willing to accept modernized nuclear power plants to make it a reality. That is because they don't generate CO2 and can produce Hydrogen and electricity at the same time. They may also be located anywhere wind, solar, or tide power is insufficient. I believe the waste is too big of a problem to use them long-term (say more than 100 years), but that's a compromise I'd be willing to make to take any step forward towards energy independence and CO2 reduction.

George Bush believes we ought to edit mention of global warming out of EPA reports, increase CO2 emissions via coal subsidies, and fight for the remaining oil reserves. I find that an irresponsible position rooted in the past. Oil supply can no longer keep up with demand and demand is growing (particularly in China). The law of supply and demand points to steady price increases no matter who pumps the oil. We have to wean ourselves off it and the sooner we start the better.

Unlike Bush, I believe problems won't go away if you ignore or exacerbate them. Every day he stays in office brings us one step closer to runaway global warming, and once that happens you'll have to sell your lead investments short.