Whether or nor you are a Bernie fan or not isn't important here (personally, I'm mixed, good, not always so good). But what he said in his letter today is spot on. Not everyone will agree with Sanders here, some will make lame arguments, but anyone with half a brain, a basic understanding of how science works, and a modicum of observation skills knows this is true:
"In
America today, large and devastating wildfires that were once relatively
uncommon have become an increasingly common occurrence.
In
California, five of the largest wildfires in the history of the state
have happened in the last five years. And, as you read this, one of the
most destructive wildfires the state has ever seen is taking place in
Los Angeles. That fire is still going, and with high-winds in the
forecast today and tomorrow, this horrific level of destruction is far
from over.
And we have not even entered the so-called "fire season."
8
months without rain. 24 people dead. 12,000 structures damaged or
destroyed. 150,000 people evacuated. $150 billion in damages.
Overall, the wildfires have burned about 62 square miles, an area larger than Paris.
The
frightening reality is: what we're seeing in Los Angeles today, unless
we fundamentally change our energy policies, is likely what we will see
in the future in the United States and throughout the world. There is no
more "fire season." Not in America. Not anywhere.
What
we are watching on the news in California is precisely what we mean when
we talk about the "existential threat" of climate change.
According
to the U.S. Drought Monitor, almost all of Southern California is in
either moderate or severe drought. It is the second-driest period in
almost 150 years. Combine that with hurricane force winds — winds that
blow embers and carry fire; winds so strong it makes it difficult to
fight those fires from the air — and you have a recipe for disaster.
It is
extremely dangerous that Republicans in Washington and California are
politicizing this issue and attacking Democratic officeholders.
This
is Trumpism at its worst. And is nothing more than an effort to distract
attention away from the underlying cause of this crisis.
No, President-elect Trump, climate change is not a "hoax." It is all too real. It is playing out now in Los Angeles.
It was
not government incompetence that caused recent wildfires to blaze
through Republican states like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and
Utah.
It was
not government incompetence when Hurricane Helene caused 219 deaths and
almost $80 billion dollars of damage in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
It was
not government incompetence when devastating tornadoes ripped through
Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
No.
All of this, as well as drought, the warming of our oceans, the melting
of the Arctic ice caps, the heat waves throughout the world, are
directly related to the fact that the last ten years have been the
warmest ten years ever recorded.
Climate
change does not care if you live in a "red state," a "blue state" or a
"purple state." It does not care if you live in a rural area or urban
area. It does not care if you are a working class person struggling to
get by or live in a multi-million dollar home in the Pacific Palisades.
Climate
change is what we are talking about when we are talking about more
floods, more extreme weather, more ocean acidification, more drought,
more famine, more disease, more mass migration, and more human
suffering.
And
for Republicans who like to whine and moan about the deficit and the
debt, climate change is what we are talking about when the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the cost of climate
disasters has cost the United States almost $3 trillion since 1980.
And,
unless we have the courage to take on the greed, lies and
irresponsibility of the fossil fuel industry, the worst is yet to come.
We
have a fundamental choice to make. We can listen to the fossil fuel
industry, the climate deniers and their representatives on Capitol Hill,
and ignore the reality of climate change.
Or, we
can listen to the scientists who have made it abundantly clear that we
must act boldly and aggressively to prevent a climate catastrophe, to
prevent what is happening in Los Angeles today from becoming an everyday
occurrence.
In my
view, we have spent far too long and wasted too much time discussing
whether or not climate change is real. This debate was not driven by
science but by a decades-long campaign of lies, distortion and deceit
funded by the fossil fuel industry.
And to
do that, we need to send a message to people across this country — in
so-called “red states,” “blue states,” and “purple states” — that a
changing climate impacts us all.
Bottom
line: we must bring the global community together to act aggressively
to protect humankind. Nothing less than the habitability of our planet
for future generations is at stake.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders"
Perfect comment Brian, you should be President.
When it’s a red state crisis, democrats are accused of diverting funds to immigrants.
when the crisis is in a blue state, democrats get blamed for causing the catastrophe. They need to rake the leaves and stop appointing LGBTs to run the fire depts.
when Democrats try to point out the inequity, independents claim “it’s both sides, both sides are to blame for the political discourse ”
Whether or nor you are a Bernie fan or not isn't important here (personally, I'm mixed, good, not always so good). But what he said in his letter today is spot on. Not everyone will agree with Sanders here, some will make lame arguments, but anyone with half a brain, a basic understanding of how science works, and a modicum of observation skills knows this is true:
"In
America today, large and devastating wildfires that were once relatively
uncommon have become an increasingly common occurrence.
In
California, five of the largest wildfires in the history of the state
have happened in the last five years. And, as you read this, one of the
most destructive wildfires the state has ever seen is taking place in
Los Angeles. That fire is still going, and with high-winds in the
forecast today and tomorrow, this horrific level of destruction is far
from over.
And we have not even entered the so-called "fire season."
8
months without rain. 24 people dead. 12,000 structures damaged or
destroyed. 150,000 people evacuated. $150 billion in damages.
Overall, the wildfires have burned about 62 square miles, an area larger than Paris.
The
frightening reality is: what we're seeing in Los Angeles today, unless
we fundamentally change our energy policies, is likely what we will see
in the future in the United States and throughout the world. There is no
more "fire season." Not in America. Not anywhere.
What
we are watching on the news in California is precisely what we mean when
we talk about the "existential threat" of climate change.
According
to the U.S. Drought Monitor, almost all of Southern California is in
either moderate or severe drought. It is the second-driest period in
almost 150 years. Combine that with hurricane force winds — winds that
blow embers and carry fire; winds so strong it makes it difficult to
fight those fires from the air — and you have a recipe for disaster.
It is
extremely dangerous that Republicans in Washington and California are
politicizing this issue and attacking Democratic officeholders.
This
is Trumpism at its worst. And is nothing more than an effort to distract
attention away from the underlying cause of this crisis.
No, President-elect Trump, climate change is not a "hoax." It is all too real. It is playing out now in Los Angeles.
It was
not government incompetence that caused recent wildfires to blaze
through Republican states like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and
Utah.
It was
not government incompetence when Hurricane Helene caused 219 deaths and
almost $80 billion dollars of damage in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
It was
not government incompetence when devastating tornadoes ripped through
Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
No.
All of this, as well as drought, the warming of our oceans, the melting
of the Arctic ice caps, the heat waves throughout the world, are
directly related to the fact that the last ten years have been the
warmest ten years ever recorded.
Climate
change does not care if you live in a "red state," a "blue state" or a
"purple state." It does not care if you live in a rural area or urban
area. It does not care if you are a working class person struggling to
get by or live in a multi-million dollar home in the Pacific Palisades.
Climate
change is what we are talking about when we are talking about more
floods, more extreme weather, more ocean acidification, more drought,
more famine, more disease, more mass migration, and more human
suffering.
And
for Republicans who like to whine and moan about the deficit and the
debt, climate change is what we are talking about when the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the cost of climate
disasters has cost the United States almost $3 trillion since 1980.
And,
unless we have the courage to take on the greed, lies and
irresponsibility of the fossil fuel industry, the worst is yet to come.
We
have a fundamental choice to make. We can listen to the fossil fuel
industry, the climate deniers and their representatives on Capitol Hill,
and ignore the reality of climate change.
Or, we
can listen to the scientists who have made it abundantly clear that we
must act boldly and aggressively to prevent a climate catastrophe, to
prevent what is happening in Los Angeles today from becoming an everyday
occurrence.
In my
view, we have spent far too long and wasted too much time discussing
whether or not climate change is real. This debate was not driven by
science but by a decades-long campaign of lies, distortion and deceit
funded by the fossil fuel industry.
And to
do that, we need to send a message to people across this country — in
so-called “red states,” “blue states,” and “purple states” — that a
changing climate impacts us all.
Bottom
line: we must bring the global community together to act aggressively
to protect humankind. Nothing less than the habitability of our planet
for future generations is at stake.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders"
Perfect comment Brian, you should be President.
When it’s a red state crisis, democrats are accused of diverting funds to immigrants.
when the crisis is in a blue state, democrats get blamed for causing the catastrophe. They need to rake the leaves and stop appointing LGBTs to run the fire depts.
when Democrats try to point out the inequity, independents claim “it’s both sides, both sides are to blame for the political discourse ”
independents conveniently leaving themselves out of the conversation on that given independents are a plurality.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,522
Whether or nor you are a Bernie fan or not isn't important here (personally, I'm mixed, good, not always so good). But what he said in his letter today is spot on. Not everyone will agree with Sanders here, some will make lame arguments, but anyone with half a brain, a basic understanding of how science works, and a modicum of observation skills knows this is true:
"In
America today, large and devastating wildfires that were once relatively
uncommon have become an increasingly common occurrence.
In
California, five of the largest wildfires in the history of the state
have happened in the last five years. And, as you read this, one of the
most destructive wildfires the state has ever seen is taking place in
Los Angeles. That fire is still going, and with high-winds in the
forecast today and tomorrow, this horrific level of destruction is far
from over.
And we have not even entered the so-called "fire season."
8
months without rain. 24 people dead. 12,000 structures damaged or
destroyed. 150,000 people evacuated. $150 billion in damages.
Overall, the wildfires have burned about 62 square miles, an area larger than Paris.
The
frightening reality is: what we're seeing in Los Angeles today, unless
we fundamentally change our energy policies, is likely what we will see
in the future in the United States and throughout the world. There is no
more "fire season." Not in America. Not anywhere.
What
we are watching on the news in California is precisely what we mean when
we talk about the "existential threat" of climate change.
According
to the U.S. Drought Monitor, almost all of Southern California is in
either moderate or severe drought. It is the second-driest period in
almost 150 years. Combine that with hurricane force winds — winds that
blow embers and carry fire; winds so strong it makes it difficult to
fight those fires from the air — and you have a recipe for disaster.
It is
extremely dangerous that Republicans in Washington and California are
politicizing this issue and attacking Democratic officeholders.
This
is Trumpism at its worst. And is nothing more than an effort to distract
attention away from the underlying cause of this crisis.
No, President-elect Trump, climate change is not a "hoax." It is all too real. It is playing out now in Los Angeles.
It was
not government incompetence that caused recent wildfires to blaze
through Republican states like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and
Utah.
It was
not government incompetence when Hurricane Helene caused 219 deaths and
almost $80 billion dollars of damage in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
It was
not government incompetence when devastating tornadoes ripped through
Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
No.
All of this, as well as drought, the warming of our oceans, the melting
of the Arctic ice caps, the heat waves throughout the world, are
directly related to the fact that the last ten years have been the
warmest ten years ever recorded.
Climate
change does not care if you live in a "red state," a "blue state" or a
"purple state." It does not care if you live in a rural area or urban
area. It does not care if you are a working class person struggling to
get by or live in a multi-million dollar home in the Pacific Palisades.
Climate
change is what we are talking about when we are talking about more
floods, more extreme weather, more ocean acidification, more drought,
more famine, more disease, more mass migration, and more human
suffering.
And
for Republicans who like to whine and moan about the deficit and the
debt, climate change is what we are talking about when the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the cost of climate
disasters has cost the United States almost $3 trillion since 1980.
And,
unless we have the courage to take on the greed, lies and
irresponsibility of the fossil fuel industry, the worst is yet to come.
We
have a fundamental choice to make. We can listen to the fossil fuel
industry, the climate deniers and their representatives on Capitol Hill,
and ignore the reality of climate change.
Or, we
can listen to the scientists who have made it abundantly clear that we
must act boldly and aggressively to prevent a climate catastrophe, to
prevent what is happening in Los Angeles today from becoming an everyday
occurrence.
In my
view, we have spent far too long and wasted too much time discussing
whether or not climate change is real. This debate was not driven by
science but by a decades-long campaign of lies, distortion and deceit
funded by the fossil fuel industry.
And to
do that, we need to send a message to people across this country — in
so-called “red states,” “blue states,” and “purple states” — that a
changing climate impacts us all.
Bottom
line: we must bring the global community together to act aggressively
to protect humankind. Nothing less than the habitability of our planet
for future generations is at stake.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders"
Perfect comment Brian, you should be President.
When it’s a red state crisis, democrats are accused of diverting funds to immigrants.
when the crisis is in a blue state, democrats get blamed for causing the catastrophe. They need to rake the leaves and stop appointing LGBTs to run the fire depts.
when Democrats try to point out the inequity, independents claim “it’s both sides, both sides are to blame for the political discourse ”
President Lux? Nah, sounds like a Psychedelic Furs song or something.
Your statement is right on the money as well, maybe better!
Whether or nor you are a Bernie fan or not isn't important here (personally, I'm mixed, good, not always so good). But what he said in his letter today is spot on. Not everyone will agree with Sanders here, some will make lame arguments, but anyone with half a brain, a basic understanding of how science works, and a modicum of observation skills knows this is true:
"In
America today, large and devastating wildfires that were once relatively
uncommon have become an increasingly common occurrence.
In
California, five of the largest wildfires in the history of the state
have happened in the last five years. And, as you read this, one of the
most destructive wildfires the state has ever seen is taking place in
Los Angeles. That fire is still going, and with high-winds in the
forecast today and tomorrow, this horrific level of destruction is far
from over.
And we have not even entered the so-called "fire season."
8
months without rain. 24 people dead. 12,000 structures damaged or
destroyed. 150,000 people evacuated. $150 billion in damages.
Overall, the wildfires have burned about 62 square miles, an area larger than Paris.
The
frightening reality is: what we're seeing in Los Angeles today, unless
we fundamentally change our energy policies, is likely what we will see
in the future in the United States and throughout the world. There is no
more "fire season." Not in America. Not anywhere.
What
we are watching on the news in California is precisely what we mean when
we talk about the "existential threat" of climate change.
According
to the U.S. Drought Monitor, almost all of Southern California is in
either moderate or severe drought. It is the second-driest period in
almost 150 years. Combine that with hurricane force winds — winds that
blow embers and carry fire; winds so strong it makes it difficult to
fight those fires from the air — and you have a recipe for disaster.
It is
extremely dangerous that Republicans in Washington and California are
politicizing this issue and attacking Democratic officeholders.
This
is Trumpism at its worst. And is nothing more than an effort to distract
attention away from the underlying cause of this crisis.
No, President-elect Trump, climate change is not a "hoax." It is all too real. It is playing out now in Los Angeles.
It was
not government incompetence that caused recent wildfires to blaze
through Republican states like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and
Utah.
It was
not government incompetence when Hurricane Helene caused 219 deaths and
almost $80 billion dollars of damage in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
It was
not government incompetence when devastating tornadoes ripped through
Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
No.
All of this, as well as drought, the warming of our oceans, the melting
of the Arctic ice caps, the heat waves throughout the world, are
directly related to the fact that the last ten years have been the
warmest ten years ever recorded.
Climate
change does not care if you live in a "red state," a "blue state" or a
"purple state." It does not care if you live in a rural area or urban
area. It does not care if you are a working class person struggling to
get by or live in a multi-million dollar home in the Pacific Palisades.
Climate
change is what we are talking about when we are talking about more
floods, more extreme weather, more ocean acidification, more drought,
more famine, more disease, more mass migration, and more human
suffering.
And
for Republicans who like to whine and moan about the deficit and the
debt, climate change is what we are talking about when the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the cost of climate
disasters has cost the United States almost $3 trillion since 1980.
And,
unless we have the courage to take on the greed, lies and
irresponsibility of the fossil fuel industry, the worst is yet to come.
We
have a fundamental choice to make. We can listen to the fossil fuel
industry, the climate deniers and their representatives on Capitol Hill,
and ignore the reality of climate change.
Or, we
can listen to the scientists who have made it abundantly clear that we
must act boldly and aggressively to prevent a climate catastrophe, to
prevent what is happening in Los Angeles today from becoming an everyday
occurrence.
In my
view, we have spent far too long and wasted too much time discussing
whether or not climate change is real. This debate was not driven by
science but by a decades-long campaign of lies, distortion and deceit
funded by the fossil fuel industry.
And to
do that, we need to send a message to people across this country — in
so-called “red states,” “blue states,” and “purple states” — that a
changing climate impacts us all.
Bottom
line: we must bring the global community together to act aggressively
to protect humankind. Nothing less than the habitability of our planet
for future generations is at stake.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders"
Perfect comment Brian, you should be President.
When it’s a red state crisis, democrats are accused of diverting funds to immigrants.
when the crisis is in a blue state, democrats get blamed for causing the catastrophe. They need to rake the leaves and stop appointing LGBTs to run the fire depts.
when Democrats try to point out the inequity, independents claim “it’s both sides, both sides are to blame for the political discourse ”
independents conveniently leaving themselves out of the conversation on that given independents are a plurality.....
Yep!
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,522
Comments
When it’s a red state crisis, democrats are accused of diverting funds to immigrants.
when the crisis is in a blue state, democrats get blamed for causing the catastrophe. They need to rake the leaves and stop appointing LGBTs to run the fire depts.
when Democrats try to point out the inequity, independents claim “it’s both sides, both sides are to blame for the political discourse ”
independents conveniently leaving themselves out of the conversation on that given independents are a plurality.....
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Yep!
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"