September 08, 2006
Out of Balance... soon
Earth is heating up, as the largest oil company in the world continues to foster inaction so it can continue to make billions of dollars in profits. Our government stonewalls on taking on global warming and at the same time getting the troops out of Iraq, and plots another invasion and occupation in Iran—denying the whole time that these conquests are about oil. Looking at this global picture of oil, power, and enormous wealth—it all adds up, especially when acknowledging that the top of the US leadership is dominated by people with close ties to the oil industry.
From the first interview for Out of Balance, with Bill McKibben back in March of this year, this project has taken off. Ice core scientist Cameron Wake contributed some fantastic footage shot during a coring expedition in the Arctic. Greenpeace and Union of Concerned Scientists have provided footage. Many of the interviewees are interested in being on discussion panels when Out of Balance screens in their area.
The timing for the project has been phenomenal. In Spring ’06 much of the mainstream media finally caught on that “the debate” is over (they haven’t focused on the fact that it’s been over for 10+ years). That opened a floodgate of information and then came the release of “An Inconvenient Truth”. Now there are many more people who understand that we have a monumental problem on our hands, and we have to do something about it. But, many people still haven’t begun to take the problem on in a big way, and part of the reason for that is they don’t have a face to attach climate change to. Enter “Out of Balance”.
As Bill McKibben states in Out of Balance, when thinking of this problem, people should see the visage of Lee Raymond, former President and CEO of EM. You know, he’s the guy who flew off into the sunset in the corporate jet at the end of last year, $400 million retirement package secured. In his place, Raymond left Rex Tillerson, Texas oilman. It’s really a final shrewd move on Raymond’s part. If Lee was the epitome of unabashed, hardball playin’ corporate evil, Tillerson is an example of the banality of evil. At the ExxonMobil annual shareholders’ meeting, he came across as a kinder, gentler CEO. But don’t expect any policy changes on ANYTHING—renewable energy development, backing off from ANWR, voluntarily paying the punitive damages award they’ve owed the fishermen in Alaska since 1994, benefits for same-sex partners, allowing women to join the exclusive country club that male execs get a membership to, etc. Activist shareholders came out of the meeting beaming because the new CEO didn’t treat them like garbage, a la Raymond for all those years. They did admit to a lack of substance related to policy change on Mr. Tillerson’s part, though. I left there believing that Tillerson could eventually be a Republican presidential candidate.
Interviewing the phenomenal people we’ve connected with for this piece has been a true pleasure. The scientists, writers and activists in Out of Balance are all tremendously dedicated people who have a deep concern for what’s happening to the planet, and what climate change means for present and future generations.
Many climate scientists say that we need to reduce carbon emissions by 70% in the next 10 years, or we will reach a tipping point of no return. We have a huge task ahead of us. In the past few days there have been updated reports on melting permafrost in Siberia—a very dangerous cycle which releases methane, which increases warming. There is still time, though, according to the most respected scientists. But we must start doing everything we can today. Please watch “Out of Balance” for some ideas for things to do that are different than those found in other productions.
Posted by Joe Public at 09:30 PM | Comments (0)
UNH Prof's Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom Attacked by Career Politician
Does Judd Gregg have any concept of what is supposed to distinguish the US from many other countries? That’s a rhetorical question, of course. Mr. Gregg’s statements in the Union Leader’s August 27, 2006 article about UNH Professor Woodward show that Gregg, a second-generation career politician, needs a course in Constitutional law. Gregg’s feigned hysteria over Woodward’s belief about the perpetrators of 9/11 only proves that Gregg has no respect for free speech and academic freedom. How ironic that it is Gregg who comes far closer to the unprotected act of yelling “FIRE” in a crowded movie theater and causing a panic than Woodward.
I’ve personally experienced Mr. Gregg’s shrill responses to questioning the Bush administration. At a Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce meeting in early 2005, I mentioned that no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq. He became very red in the face and snapped, “tell that to the Kurds”, as if the gassing had just happened right before we invaded in 2003. In fact, back in 1988, when the gassing took place, Gregg didn’t stand up for the Kurds at all. He was a freshman Congressman at the time, and he helped kill a bill to bring US sanctions against Saddam for gassing the Kurds. The Reagan administration wanted the bill killed, because they were still cozy with Saddam. Judd followed the neoconservative agenda one way as a freshman Congressman, he followed the next way he was told to during the run-up to the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, and he continues to follow today. No questions asked.
Gregg refers to Woodward’s statements as “inexcusable”. Fostering intolerance is what’s inexcusable. People who ignore history are destined to repeat it. Part of the reason that Nazi Germany achieved the power it did is because too many people did exactly what Gregg wants people in NH to do today— go about your business, believe whatever the administration tells you, don’t ask questions.
Challenging ideas are at the heart of learning. Professors and teachers who encourage the widest parameters for thought and open discussion are the most valuable resources that institutions of learning have. If Mr. Gregg is really so concerned about prudent use of taxpayer money, instead of attacking Professor Woodward, why isn’t Gregg calling for some of the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars we put into occupying other countries to be used for health care coverage for all Americans, easing inflated education bills, and subsidizing renewable energy companies instead of oil companies? You’re paid with taxpayer dollars, Mr. Gregg. Why aren’t you working on these crucial issues?
Based on Gregg’s own words, he as a lawmaker apparently needs a reminder that free speech and academic freedom are not freedoms given to the people by the government (though that seems to be the way he would like it). Those freedoms are inalienable rights of the people, and the Constitution protects those rights from fear-mongering autocratic politicians like Gregg who would clearly prefer to take them away.
Posted by Joe Public at 06:21 PM | Comments (0)