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Op-Ed

A page where people can oppose the publishers
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Why Kyoto is not enough

hansen_james_drReuters, the Associated Press, and MSNBC have recently reported on the Climate Change Research Conference in Sacramento at which NASA scientist James Hansen (on right) issued a warning that should alarm all of us.  

Quoting him:
"I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change  ... no longer than a decade at most. If we don't take immediate action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (coal and oil electricity generation and cars whose emissions are not ultra-low temperatures will rise 3.6 to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit and we will be producing a different planet."

The conferees agreed that Arctic meltdown, already underway, would cause sea levels to rise enough to put most of Manhattan under water, exacerbate extreme weather events, and make 50% of all the world's species extinct. Why aren't we  listening?

Think for a moment of the impact on our Cape and the Islands' coastlines. The famously "pristine" Sound will be greatly enlarged at the expense of a drowned Edgartown and a Cape becoming much smaller.  

Conservation lands, bought with the effort and generosity of many,will be submerged. Birds and animals will lose habitat. Fish will be the only winners, unless they have an aversion to tepid water.

Now I ask you, how can opponents of the wind farm and the drivers of low milage/high emission vehicles justify their contributions to a disaster that nearly all climatologists (except  those with Exxon-Mobil grants) agree is coming faster than previously projected?

Those politicians who by various means, underhanded or aboveboard, have tried to kill or delay our local contribution to the anti-CO2 movement that is now underway, should announce that they now  are in full support of all renewable s, even those that are in their backyards. We voters should withhold our votes from any candidate or incumbent who is willing to doom the planet's future.

The  obstructionists are really fossils embracing the past and ignoring  the times ahead.

Richard C. Bartlett
Cotuit
__________________
EDITOR's NOTE: Read the New York Times archives of facts and articles about Global Warming here  including a Video of  Dr. James Hansen, NASA's top climate scientist, saying the Bush administration tried to stop him from talking about emissions linked to global warming. Also see "Color me green" by Hansen here.

2 comments
Blog posts and comments are entirely the thoughts and ideas of the people who write them and in no way represent the views of CapeCodToday.com, eCape, Inc., or its employees or owners.

10/30/06 @ 8:14 am
PeterWhite [Member] writes:
There are many actions that we can take to reduce greenhouse emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil, including developing wind farms and ocean energy, putting solar panels on all schools and public buildings, doubling mileage standards for vehicles, and providing 50% tax credits to homeowners and businesses who invest in renewable energy systems and conservation.

What we are missing is political leadership, because the oil companies and energy monopolies have corrupted both the Democratic and Republican Parties. Our only chance to change the course of history is a voter revolution!! Please vote for independents and third parties for a REAL change!!
10/30/06 @ 12:54 pm
Mcfly [Member] writes:
It was about time the Cape Cod Today crew came up with another scare story related to global warming.
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About This Blog

oped3An op-ed is a piece of writing, expressing an opinion. The name originated from the tradition of newspapers placing each columns on the page opposite to the editorial page. Thus the term "op-ed" is simply a combination of "opposite" and "editorial." The difference with this one, however, is that you can reply immediately by commenting below.
Walter Brooks, Editor & Publisher
James Kinsella, Managing Editor
Maggie Kulbokas, Editor
Peter Robbins, Investigative Reporter
Julie Brooks, President, eCape.com

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