One day Iraq, our post-9/11 trauma and the divisiveness of the Bush years will all be behind us — and America will need, and want, to get its groove back. We will need to find a way to reknit America at home, reconnect America abroad and restore America to its natural place in the global order — as the beacon of progress, hope and inspiration. I have an idea how. It’s called “green.”
I am not going to dignify this and the complicated rationale Friedman uses by posting it in full - some of it is highly interesting but it falls short, very short.
Maybe now MISTER Freidman is now, at long last, waking up. Maybe. But until he tackles the grueling question on carbon trading and fully affronts Albert Gore, I am not too interested in his suggestions.
For one thing, lightbulbs with mercury in them provided by Big Business are NOT the way to go.
For another, my suggestion that the US residents immediately go in and put in home insulation - cutting oil use by up to as much as 25% - is totally achievable by the end of 2008, assuming there was a WILL TO DO SO, but are we going to see a CONgress that will pass laws to this effect? Nope. Won't even pursue impeachment of KNOWN CRIMINALS and they're dirty hands are in the oil tanks looking for more dollar$ for themselves. Like a bunch of spoiled brats, they'll pay for armaments to blast out real human people (by the millions) to keep Dick Cheney's Halliburton pumping profits and ask the US taxpayer to foot the bill. But ask the US public to insulate their homes? A truly global gesture of good will that all will be able to see? Not on your life.
Do we need a Green President of the United States, you bet we do , the entire world needs us to have a Green President!! But is there a global movement afoot to help elect a Green President? Of course not. We had a perfect candidate - Dennis Kucinich! But everyone sold him out. The guy had the DREAM TEAM, too. A fantasitic economist, a great great legal team, activist environmentalists, Native Americans, feminists .. active and involved people!! People who communicate!! People with vision!! and to bang it in - PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY GIVE A SHIT.
The fact is, yes, they are all "green" now at the top, perhaps they are showing signs at last of wanting healthy survival- they want to coopt a true grass roots movement as quickly as they can and keep control. But the future is bleak these days and perhaps we are seeing the turning of the screw. I hope so. I increasinlgy see signs that they read what I say - the lowly pamphleteer who everyone rips off!! But I made sense, I try very hard to understand the issues and what is to be done for the good of ALL living things. I try to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Our living planet needs better advocates.
But Thomas, don't give me this blame it all on "the Dick Cheney factor" crap - everyone one agreed to Leavitt heading up the EPA .. or he woudn't be there!! What has he done since he got in there .. ever see his name in print except to see the EPA get sued or create another big blunder. How are we gonna clean out the EPA, the Department of Energy, the DoJ and all the other rascals ruining things? When are YOU going to support impeachment? I am waiting and alot of other living things are waiting too - and they're not buying green products!!
Where was Thomas Freidman when we tried to get Dennis Kucinich to the fore! And who is donating to in this "campaign"?
But remember my words, dear reader - it's not all over until the Fat Lady sings - I think between now and November we are going to see some changes in the race for the Presidency. People are truly fed up and no economic stimulus package that does not cut fuel bills now is going to buy any of the candidates left standing much green support.
The Federal Trade Commission is quite right to scrutinize companies' advertising of carbon offset programs (''F.T.C. Asks if Carbon-Offset Money Is Winding Up True Green,'' Business Day, Jan. 9). But despite the high potential for greenwashing, the carbon offset market can also be a great environmental boon -- provided it's made accountable and transparent.
Curbing deforestation is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We're currently losing forests at the rate of a land area the size of Kentucky each year, which accounts for 24 percent of carbon dioxide emissions.
Virginia Simson is a spiritual journalista/activist who runs a visionary planetary tutorial blogspot, www.ladybroadoak.blogspot.com as well as a blog on the uranium industry and depleted uranium at www.lowlevelradiation.blogspot.com. She feels that we must educate the young as to the real issues of the day - economics, clean energy, a drug free lifestyle, friendship and concern for the environment. We must plan for seven generations in the future. She unconditionally supports impeachment and a war crimes tribunal of the current DC administration - including CONgress.
in the green movement away from hunting whales and some political involvement when they figure out that some people in federal offices must be replaced.
The antiwar war movement has been so focussed on personal outrage that it has not catalogued the WAR CRIMES and the CRIMES AGAINT HUMANITY that have been committed. With the failure to tell people about the effects of du and the effects of toxic chemicals in the air, a mighty coalition was LOST.
But that could change - lord knows there are enough good environmental organizations with attorneys at the top who KNOW the real damage being done AND the political organization that keeps allowing Big Business to pollute, pollute, pollute.
The carbon emiissions trading program - to be profitted by AL GORE - is dangerous and what's more useless for people to have any real say in their communities.
I wrote this in hopes of attracting a full discussing between all the elements - environmentalists, human rights activists, civil rights advocates and other persons so we can start building a true rainbow coalition. IT's not a very complete or well written article, but it was meant to be TIMELY, as the ruling elite's mouthpiece is suddenly making his move. It's very very dangerous to have him be the "green movements" sudden mouthpiece.
The disinfo in his article is hard to discern, but ANYONE who thinks walmart is green is serioulsy deluded!!
IT's not about green products, it's not about cooperative business - it's really about stewardship if we are to save this planet and not all become glow worms - and that goes for Friedman and all the rest of them. We must all think seven generations ahead and act accordingly.
by
ladybroadoak (37 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 392 comments)
on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 1:40:07 PM
In case you haven't noticed, the New York Times is not the newspaper it used to be. It, too, has been bought by the big businesses who also control the rest of the media. We get only the "news" they see fit to print or say. Don't you want to hear all about Britney Spears and the Hilton heir?It's nauseating! They have all deliberately dumbed down the people.
You would think that Thomas Firedman had invented the wheel the way he talks. Wow! He has thought up "green". We are all safe now. The environment will be saved. Barf!!
As far as the election is concerned, there is no choice to be made. No "change" will happen no matter who is elected. Millions of dollars have been spent for us to listen to more and more hot air. Dennis is gone and the hope of a not for profit health care plan with him as well as an end to the war and the impeachment of the Bush crime family. NAFTA and the WTO will continue and Congress will continue to be the ineffectual group of do nothings that thay are now. What is the matter with this picture? This is supposed to be the United States of America. I'm afraid that is a long lost dream now.
Of course I have always thought that that was a mistake. Lincoln should have let the south secede. There should be at least four separate countries here. The two coasts, the south and the middle of the country should all be separate countries. We are very different people and should be allowed to live the way we want to. Europe has such a condition. There are many different countries in the space there. It seems to work better than what we have here.
by
Caronome (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 202 comments)
on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 1:17:10 PM
That's why I want to call attention to this issue now - as it is bound to get more attention by White Guys who will steal the headlines about it.
The Bilderbergers want their arrogant hands on ALL green products - and Friedman has been nicely selected as their "point man" .. like he really cares about his kids suddenly. He's learned the "line" and is "spinning" wildly.
THERE IS NO GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
And I take to task the antiwar movement over and over and over again about this.
I looked at the signatories for the march in DC in March .. and no change in the composition of groups.
Now today I read that the Ron Paul people are going to march in October in DC.
Oh, great! Let's just let the Repug neocons and the dominionists stay firmly in control in America shall we??
The latinos have their organizations, the black march for the JENA six .. but no one, no one goes after the root causes of the problem.
It's NOT the federal reserve, it's not us activists who are turned into "activist agitator bums", it's the transnational profiteers and ONLY a huge coalition is going to stop the damage.
Yes, regionalism might help - and I think in time it will be IMPOSED by outsider nations after the US launches a nuclear attack or spreads a pandemic and other nations get FED UP.
What will happen remains to be seen. IT will only change when the PAIN of the old way gets to be sufficient.
But to have the NYT's lead the way is a huge fat joke. I only use them as source material to point out what information Thomas Friedman could have easily accessed himself!! I am more than "hip" to the NYT I've been reading it for forty years ..
The do not support the rule of law or we would see much more on the cover about corporate polluters who need to be taken to court, etc.
Until some mucky muck there loses some animal friend in the zoo, they will do nothing but stay deafeningly silent. MOre important to keep that ad money rolling in. Freidman presents not threat to that happening. OBVIOUSLY.
snark.
by
ladybroadoak (37 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 392 comments)
on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 1:45:20 PM
