The Environmental Watchdog MasterThread

Lisnaholic · 05-31-2017, 10:06 PM

Has anyone here ever called their senator ? As Trump seems to be about to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, now would be a good time to try it perhaps.

If you make a call and keep it limited to one political issue, it should be recorded in a call log, and senators are sensitive to public opinion as we all know. Your call could send a message, if that's not a tautology. Anyway, this link even gives you a script you can follow if you feel inclined.

https://www.facebook.com/newsandguts...29573030781006

djchameleon · 05-31-2017, 11:36 PM

It is an executive action and the Senate can prevent him from pulling out of the Accord. They can ven't against it which they have been doing well the Dems anyways.

Lisnaholic · 06-01-2017, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

It is an executive action and the Senate can prevent him from pulling out of the Accord. They can ven't against it which they have been doing well the Dems anyways.

^ Thanks for replying, dj, though I don't entirely understand your point.
I wonder what you meant by "ven't".

If it's an executive action that the Senate can prevent then I hope some worried Americans will be calling their senators asap to apply some public pressure in favor of keeping in line with the Paris Agreement.

As a reminder, afaik, the P.A. is not legally binding to the signatories, and most scientists agree that it is the bare minimum to fend off disasterous global warming. To me it's like being on a runaway train, and the P.A. is saying, "Well, perhaps we should consider decelerating." If Trump isn't prepared to even go along with that, then yes, Noam Chomsky is right:-

djchameleon · 06-01-2017, 03:34 PM

Yeah so he announced pulling out and I meant vent but somehow got auto corrected to ven't. Weird. They have voicing their displeasure with his decision but that is all they could do. The mayor of NYC declared that they will still follow the rules of the accord so I guess it is up to local and state governments to decide now but aren't required to federally. He basically did it to back his coal cronies/lobbyists.

Wpnfire · 06-01-2017, 05:54 PM

My congressmen vote against pro-environment policies at will. They're practically anti-earth. I'm not calling them. They are all Republican, and I have fundamental, ideological differences with them about the issue.

No state in the Union has congressmen that voted down more pro-environment legislation than my state, especially in the past year.

Lisnaholic · 06-01-2017, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Yeah so he announced pulling out and I meant vent but somehow got auto corrected to ven't. Weird. They have voicing their displeasure with his decision but that is all they could do. The mayor of NYC declared that they will still follow the rules of the accord so I guess it is up to local and state governments to decide now but aren't required to federally. He basically did it to back his coal cronies/lobbyists.

^ Yes, agree about coal cronies, and as you say it sounds like at a local level some governors and mayors will be going their own way regardless, which is good news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpnfire

My congressmen vote against pro-environment policies at will. They're practically anti-earth. I'm not calling them. They are all Republican, and I have fundamental, ideological differences with them about the issue.
No state in the Union has congressmen that voted down more pro-environment legislation than my state, especially in the past year.

^ That's a shame, Wpnfire. Sorry to nag, but actually what you say is also a good reason to call them! You don't have to speak to them, or enter into an argument, you just register that you are not happy about what they're doing in your name, like this:-

Quote:

Hello, I am a constituent calling from ____________________, and I am calling to urge Sen./Rep.______ to support legislation to ensure the U.S. will continue to work toward the emissions standards we agreed to reach in the Paris Climate Agreement.

[if you feel inclined, ask where the Congressperson stands on the EOs].

It is urgent we protect our planet from the dangerous effects of climate change and respect international agreements. In fact, even Exxon Mobil has stated we should remain in the Paris Agreement.

Thank you for your time.

Lisnaholic · 06-08-2017, 06:59 AM

For once, a cheering piece of news about the environment:-

Renewables provide more than half UK electricity for first time - BBC News

Lisnaholic · 06-14-2017, 05:56 AM

Here's a link to some photos showing the effects of climate change; most have a poignant beauty about them:-

What climate change looks like

Lisnaholic · 06-16-2017, 05:14 PM

^ haha! The beauty is in the pictures - the terror is in the captions and statistics.

This article should carry a tl;dr warning, but if you are curious about climate change, it might be interesting; ironically, given the concern about rising sea-levels, drinking water is set to become "the new oil".
Read this and you will also be able to impress people by talking about "virtual water" and how it's being traded all the time, but is never mentioned by governments or economists.

BBC - Future - Why

Also how the environment is affecting world politics today:-

Quote:

In Syria, meanwhile, the worst drought in close to a millennium has been partly blamed for the country’s generation-defining civil war and radicalisation that led to the formation of so-called Islamic State. That history-making drought drove more people to cities, saw rising food prices, and exacerbated tensions in the country that already existed. They ended up with “climate refugees”, who travel to other countries to seek places that have better water availability, which may in turn stoke the flames of political tension.

djchameleon · 06-16-2017, 06:35 PM

Flint Water Crisis: Michigan Health Chief Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter : NPR

Quote:

More than a dozen former state and city officials have been criminally charged in connection with the Flint water crisis.

Some justice has come out of this but people there are still drinking from bottled water and having to get case loads at a time.

05-31-2017, 10:06 PM	#111 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Has anyone here ever called their senator ? As Trump seems to be about to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, now would be a good time to try it perhaps. If you make a call and keep it limited to one political issue, it should be recorded in a call log, and senators are sensitive to public opinion as we all know. Your call could send a message, if that's not a tautology. Anyway, this link even gives you a script you can follow if you feel inclined. https://www.facebook.com/newsandguts...29573030781006 __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

06-01-2017, 05:54 PM	#115 (permalink)
Wpnfire Dragon Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kansas, United States Posts: 2,744	My congressmen vote against pro-environment policies at will. They're practically anti-earth. I'm not calling them. They are all Republican, and I have fundamental, ideological differences with them about the issue. No state in the Union has congressmen that voted down more pro-environment legislation than my state, especially in the past year. __________________ Last.FM My RYM Ratings *My Glitchwave Beta Profile* Last edited by Wpnfire; 06-01-2017 at 06:00 PM.

06-08-2017, 06:59 AM	#117 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	For once, a cheering piece of news about the environment:- Renewables provide more than half UK electricity for first time - BBC News __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

06-14-2017, 05:56 AM	#118 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Here's a link to some photos showing the effects of climate change; most have a poignant beauty about them:- What climate change looks like __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953