Earth First!
Recently astronomers announced the discovery of seven
Earth-size
planets orbiting a nearby star. They’re excited about looking
for
evidence that life has evolved there. Perhaps they need not waste their
time.
Consider: there are 100 billion stars in our galaxy. SETI
(Search
for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) has been looking for life out
there
for half a century. The basic idea is that any civilization advanced
enough to have invented radio would now be sending out a steady “I’m
here!” (Think: Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who”) signal. This would be
easily picked up with SETI’s extremely sensitive radio telescopes.
So far?--nothing. Hmmmm.
Here’s a sobering theory: Any civilization with
modern electronics
would require lots of electricity to run, electricity
generated by, say,
burning of fossil fuels. They became so addicted to the
lifestyle that
oil made possible, they couldn’t cut back even when it became
clear
where they were heading. Rising CO2 levels caused runaway heating of
their planet, cooked everyone.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby has a
workable plan to stop global warming
before it stops us. Let’s make Earth
be the first planet to avoid the
fate that brought civilizations on all the
others to an end.
Bruce Ratcliffe
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Devin Carroll - February 23, 2017 - Conservatives address climate change with cash
Conservatives address climate change with cash
February 23, 2017
Republicans seek market solutions to our problems. They now have a conservative plan to slow emissions of carbon dioxide, which causes climate warming.The Climate Leadership Council just released “The Conservative Case for Carbon Dividends.” Each family receives a dividend of thousands of dollars annually. The money comes from taxes on carbon fuels.
But regulations on these fuels would be rolled back, to let the market work its magic.
Current regulations require auto companies to average 54.5 mpg by 2025.
With a carbon tax, one company might focus on larger vehicles, improving mileage but not meeting the old government standard. Another company could focus on electrics and hybrids and beat the standard.
The entire market would be pushed toward fuel savings, with businesses free to chart their own strategies.
Americans will conserve to help their budgets, and to contribute patriotically to the public good. Inventors and entrepreneurs will flourish by producing new technologies. The American economy will grow because green energy creates more jobs than fossil fuels.
All of the CLC leaders are conservative Republicans. Please encourage your congressional representatives to look at this plan.
Devin Carroll, Fresno
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Vicki Hellenas - February 1, 2017 - Frenzied president: Slow down, talk less and listen more.
Frenzied president: Slow down, talk less and listen more.
February 1, 2017
The flurry of action in the government ending the first week of President Trump’s reign is worrisome. So far, much of the White House directive has not seemed well thought out or supportive of the enlightened and humane trend we are used to in addressing social injustice, human rights, climate and other problems, at home or abroad.
At times, it has appeared our new president sits at his desk and brandishes his pen like a corporate CEO. America is not a business enterprise. Just one hotbed issue, such as remaking energy policy along low-carbon lines, or establishing new guidelines to vet incoming immigrants, could feasibly consume months of planning and development.
Now, abruptly it seems, we have life-changing directives being fired off after less than two weeks in office. What is fueling this frenetic activity coming out of the White House? Trump’s senior advisers seem unable to slow him down. Or perhaps, the leadership around the leader hasn’t noticed that the chaos and protests across the country are growing louder?
Trump works for America now. He is no longer a CEO in the corporate mold. He needs to slow down, talk less, and listen more.
Vicki Hellenas, Fresno
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article129942914.html
Monday, January 23, 2017
Ruth Afifi - January 21, 2017 - Combating climate change is good for economy
Combating climate change is good for economy
Jim Patterson, my Republican Assemblyman, opposes any spending on what he calls Gov. Jerry Brown’s “climate change gamble.” In an email to constituents Jan. 10, Patterson says that climate change is just a theory, and efforts to reduce carbon emissions have “huge consequences to freedom, opportunity, prosperity and job creation, the cost-of-living and economic upward mobility.”
Patterson seems unaware that the U.S. economy grew by 10 percent between 2008 and 2015 while carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector fell by 9.5 percent. Obviously, combating climate change has not led to lower growth or a lower standard of living.
Patterson also seems unaware that twice as many Americans have jobs related to clean energy compared to the 1.1 million Americans who are producing fossil fuels and generating electric power with them.
Not all Republicans share Patterson’s disdain for reducing carbon emissions and moving away from fossil fuels. In 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the California Global Warming Solutions Act (Assembly Bill 32) and several Republicans have joined the bipartisan congressional Climate Solutions Caucus. Patterson should reconsider his views on climate change and what we can do about it.
Ruth Afifi, Fresno
January 21, 2017
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article127751284.html
January 21, 2017
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article127751284.html
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Don Gaede & Alexander Sherriffs - January 10, 2017 - Bird captures impact of climate change on public health
Bird captures impact of climate change on public health
January 10, 2017Hats off to Dr. Ken Bird, Fresno County’s Public Health Officer, for highlighting the importance of climate change in last month’s online newsletter To Your Health. This outstanding series has previously shed light on important public health issues like the nationwide opioid epidemic, hepatitis C, and the insufficient numbers of health care providers in our Valley.
In his December article, Dr. Bird writes, “We in Fresno County and the Valley cannot afford to ignore climate change and its health consequences . . . We are very much more at risk (from climate change) due to the bowl-like topography of our environment, the tenuous nature of our water supply, and our economic dependence upon agriculture.”
Dr. Bird’s call to action echoes that of several other health organizations: the American Public Health Association declared 2017 to be “The Year of Climate Change and Health,” and the American College of Physicians recently issued a call for physicians to “help combat climate change by advocating for effective climate change adaptation and mitigation policies.” Our Fresno-Madera Medical Society and the California Medical Association endorsed similar policies this past year.
Thank you, Dr. Bird, for keeping us informed about these timely topics.
Don Gaede, M.D., and Alexander Sherriffs, M.D., Fresno
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Bruce Ratcliff - January 6, 2017 - Shake-up call: We aren’t helpless against climate change
Shake-up call: We aren’t helpless against climate change
January 6, 2017One hopes our recent earthquake will serve as a shake-up call to those who believe we humans are in charge of the planet. Everything from the pyramids to the interstate highway system shows we’re the top dog around here, right? But no. Mother Nature is in the driver’s seat.
Though we can prepare for nature’s disasters like earthquakes, we can’t stop them – just like climate change, right? But no. Recent extreme weather events – record rainfalls, hurricanes, droughts; global temperatures rising, cannot be blamed on Mother Nature. We’re in the driver’s seat (literally) for this one.
Fortunately, we humans can slow, even stop climate change. A sensible plan to do just that has been proposed by Citizens’ Climate Lobby: a slowly increasing fee on fossil fuels, all returned to the public, that uses a free-market solution to get citizens to cut their fossil fuels consumption voluntarily.
One morning back in 1957, I was caught exactly half way between my friend’s house and mine during the worst earthquake since the 1906 San Francisco temblor. I froze, helpless, paralyzed by fear. We needn’t feel helpless – or hopeless – about climate change. We caused it; we can cure it.
Bruce Ratcliffe, Fresno
Twyla Smith December 18, 2016 Congress’ bipartisan work on water sets good example for climate change
Congress’ bipartisan work on water sets good example for climate change
December 18, 2016 11:50 AM
I’d like to express my thanks and congratulations to
Congressmen Jim Costa, David Valadao and Kevin McCarthy for their
support of the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act.
In times like these, when it often feels our nation is tearing itself apart along red and blue lines, it is inspiring and hopeful to see both parties come together to work so diligently towards a thoughtful, balanced solution to one of the most multi-faceted and pressing issues facing our state.
I hope we can find such bipartisan leadership on another vexing issue – climate change. Perhaps it would be helpful to note that whether you believe global weather disruption is happening or is merely a big hoax, a revenue-neutral carbon fee, like the one just enacted by Canada, can actually drive job creation and spur economic growth by harnessing the power of the market while inhibiting government intrusion. That’s something we can all support.
Let us turn our attention away from the finger-pointing and bickering that follow such a polarizing election and focus on understanding that each of us, red and blue alike, truly want what’s best for our families, our nation and our world. But to accomplish that, we must work together.
Twyla Smith, Madera
In times like these, when it often feels our nation is tearing itself apart along red and blue lines, it is inspiring and hopeful to see both parties come together to work so diligently towards a thoughtful, balanced solution to one of the most multi-faceted and pressing issues facing our state.
I hope we can find such bipartisan leadership on another vexing issue – climate change. Perhaps it would be helpful to note that whether you believe global weather disruption is happening or is merely a big hoax, a revenue-neutral carbon fee, like the one just enacted by Canada, can actually drive job creation and spur economic growth by harnessing the power of the market while inhibiting government intrusion. That’s something we can all support.
Let us turn our attention away from the finger-pointing and bickering that follow such a polarizing election and focus on understanding that each of us, red and blue alike, truly want what’s best for our families, our nation and our world. But to accomplish that, we must work together.
Twyla Smith, Madera
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