OMNI CLIMATE MEMO MONDAYS, #137, JULY 24, 2023
RESISTANCE (5)
Steve
Dunn. 2007 Early Warning: “Minimizing
Global Warming.” (Dick).
Bernard Connaughton. XR v. Citibank.
Dick. Population Connection.
JAKE JOHNSON. Greenpeace
v. EU Planet-Warming Pollution.
GELF. New Book, Putting
Out the Planetary Fire.
Early Warnings of Climate Change
Steve
Dunn. “Driving Home: 4 Steps Toward
Minimizing Global Warming and Achieving Energy Independence." The
Humanist Sept.-Oct. 2007.
Recently I heard a participant of a
climate panel complain about the rising temperature: “Why weren’t we
warned?” Well, scientist James Hansen warned Congress in 1988; the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) began its
studies eventually calling upon thousands of scientists in 1990 resulting in
six “assessments” by 2021; and by mid-1990s many writers were making those
revelations public. For example, Steve Dunn in 2007
described the impending catastrophe and offered solutions (The Humanist, Sept.-Oct. 2007).
“This century,” he wrote, “may be the hardest thing humans have ever had
to handle, unless we plan and act accordingly.” The worst will be reduced if humans “stop
burning oil and coal.” His proposal has
four components that must “move together like wheels on a car, [or] we won’t
get anywhere”: “1. Transformation of the Energy
Infrastructure. 2. Government “Leveraging.’ 3. National Service. 4. International Agreements.” As we well know, his recommendations were
disregarded by global “leaders,” US capitalism continued its destruction, and
the temperature a few days ago was the highest on record followed the next day
with the highest on record! --Dick
Banks v.
Planet
Bernard
Connaughton. “XR: Stayin’ Alive.” Catholic Worker (June-July, 2023). Describes a 3-day protest by XR outside
Citibank in Manhattan. “Why
Citibank? Because despite all its claims
of being a leading proponent of sustainable energy, Citibank has poured huge
sums into new oil exploration, more than any other bank.”
Population Connection
“…the
national grassroots population organization that educates young people and
advocates progressive action to stabilize world population at a level that can
be sustained by Earth’s resources.”
Population Connection (June 2022).
President’s Note
When it comes to scaling the twin peaks of overpopulation and overconsumption,
we’re barely into the foothills. . . .[But] We know that education and
empowerment coupled with deep respect for the natural world are central to our
population stabilization mission.” John
Seager.
[No institution has served the struggle better against
climate change/rising temperature than the IPCC, the United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change and its six assessments. But in one aspect it failed. D]
Marian Starkey (editor of Population
Connection). “New IPCC Report [6th]
Glosses Over Role of Population Stabilization in Climate Change
Mitigation.” “…despite the frequent
acknowledgment of the role population size plays in . . . greenhouse gases
(GHG), family planning was only mentioned once. . . . Contraception and birth
control weren’t mentioned at all” (6).
[Some coming events]: 2 books discussed in PC’s book club: Saving
Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by
Katharine Hayhoe, and 8 Billion and Counting:
How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World by Jennifer Sciubba.
[Much more: articles on “Africa’s Baby Boom,” SC
overturning Roe v. Wade, UN’s
Population Fund (UNFPA), PC ‘s student video contest, etc.]
JAKE JOHNSON.
Greenpeace Slams EU Countries for
Subsidizing Airline Industry's Planet-Warming Pollution. Common
Dreams. JulY 20, 2023.
Cheap airline tickets, made possible by favorable
government tax treatment, "come at a high cost to the planet and its
inhabitants," the environmental group warned.
A study released Thursday by Greenpeace found that the policy decisions of European governments
have made flying a significantly cheaper option than traveling by train, even
though the former is far worse for the climate than the latter. MORE https://www.commondreams.org/news/greenpeace-airline-industry
“Putting Out the Planetary Fire.”
http://gelfny.org/putting-out-the-planetary-fire/
Green Education
and Legal Fund - www.gelfny.org - January 1, 2023.
Dear Climate Activists
and friends:
As we welcome a new
year, time is rapidly running out for the world to avoid climate collapse. I
have compiled a new climate book - Putting
Out the Planetary Fire: An Introduction to Climate Change and Advocacy –
which you can read for free on the Green Education and Legal Fund’s website. The link is to the index and chapter outline;
each chapter is also posted separately on the site. There is also a pull-down
menu on the top of the website for the book and its chapters.
Extreme weather and
global warming continue to accelerate. The Secretary-General of the United
Nations (UN) has repeatedly warned that the world is not acting fast enough to
deal with climate crisis. With presumably seven years or less left for drastic
climate action, there is no time left for incremental changes. . . . [ for the
entire statement click on title]
If you would like to support the publication of the book,
you can send a tax-deductible donation to GELF, 156 Big Toad Road, Poestenkill
NY 12140. (Any donation of $25 or more will receive a copy of the book once it
is published.)
Yours for peace
and justice, Mark