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Omaha Steve

(99,727 posts)
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 04:05 PM Nov 2015

Breaking: Bernie Sanders Wants to Ban All New Fossil Fuel Development on Federal Lands

Source: Mother Jones

By James West

Bernie Sanders announced on Wednesday afternoon his support for a new climate bill that would ban all new fossil fuel development on US federal lands and terminate current leases that aren't producing. The bill, called the "Keep It In The Ground Act," would also ban offshore drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic and the Atlantic and would stop new leases for offshore drilling in the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.

"I believe all of us have a moral responsibility," Sanders told the rally at the Capitol in Washington, DC, which also featured Bill McKibben, the founder of environmental advocacy group 350.org. "That's just the simple truth."

If the US doesn't act more aggressively to limit carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, Sanders said, "the planet that we're going to be leaving for our kids is something we should be ashamed of."

The Vermont senator joined Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley (D) to make the announcement. According to a brief press release issued by Merkley's office, the legislation is designed to keep "over 90 percent of the potential carbon emissions from oil, gas and coal on our federal lands and federal waters underground forever."

FULL story at link.


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, speaks at a town hall meeting with students at George Mason University on Wednesday. Kevin Wolf/AP Photo

Read more: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/11/bernie-sanders-drilling-climate-federal-lands-ban



Marta and I are proud subscribers and donors to Mother Jones!
79 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Breaking: Bernie Sanders Wants to Ban All New Fossil Fuel Development on Federal Lands (Original Post) Omaha Steve Nov 2015 OP
....and that's one of the MANY reasons....... HeartoftheMidwest Nov 2015 #1
No Way - Who Needs Florida or New Orleans Yallow Nov 2015 #63
Hehehehe.... HeartoftheMidwest Nov 2015 #64
It seems like only yesterday that some forgotten candidate crowed "drill baby, drill!". Gregorian Nov 2015 #2
We love you Bernie! SoapBox Nov 2015 #3
Bernie!! AzDar Nov 2015 #4
K&R..... daleanime Nov 2015 #5
This would be a good thing, especially "terminate current leases that aren't producing". 20 year lea Sunlei Nov 2015 #6
Climate change is... tex-wyo-dem Nov 2015 #7
Good, it's past time for this. newfie11 Nov 2015 #8
I Am Sure Mary Oil Landreau Isn't On Board Yallow Nov 2015 #62
this is a pretty serious position! retrowire Nov 2015 #9
Hillary supporters FAIL to answer: What is her position on this? grahamhgreen Nov 2015 #10
Let's just enjoy this moment without bringing in HRC supporters Ned_Devine Nov 2015 #24
Have to give her a few days to come up with something (watered down but) similar, don't we? nt Live and Learn Nov 2015 #77
I'm realizing her standard answer is "It's a very serious issue, we need to have a frank discussion" grahamhgreen Nov 2015 #79
Co-sponsor Sen. Jeff Merkley at US Capitol 'Keep It in the Ground' Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders appalachiablue Nov 2015 #11
Merkley That's where my vote went :) n/t fredamae Nov 2015 #27
Lucky you! I really appreciate the efforts of Merkley and others. We need many more to appalachiablue Nov 2015 #30
mine too! nt hopemountain Nov 2015 #69
Yes! Go Bernie!! Thanks Omaha Steve! haikugal Nov 2015 #12
K&R. We can do this. The Southwest could produce enormous amounts of electricty just from JDPriestly Nov 2015 #13
Biggest resisters are the power companies mpcamb Nov 2015 #16
We just have to do it. Voting vor Bernie Sanders is a prerequisite for changing our energy policy. JDPriestly Nov 2015 #35
no joke, most of CA, all of AZ, NM, TX and the Southeast wordpix Nov 2015 #59
Other countries are leaving us in the dust passiveporcupine Nov 2015 #14
The more I learn about Bernie the more I love this man! Dont call me Shirley Nov 2015 #15
Good for him. n/t MBS Nov 2015 #17
Great news for the planet. Sienna86 Nov 2015 #18
Too bad it will never pass the senate or the house Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #19
rofl. There are over 300 million of us, and a few of them. All we have to do is insist. n/t jtuck004 Nov 2015 #20
Clearly you have a greater faith in the Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #31
Deterninedly wrong! waldo.c Nov 2015 #21
I hope the best for you and your dreams. Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #32
And we hope the best for your mediocre pragmatism JackInGreen Nov 2015 #45
You can't win in the minority. Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #46
Sanders can't draw more than a third or so of the Democratic party, and that's localized Recursion Nov 2015 #40
For him to be nominated shawn703 Nov 2015 #48
I hope the best for you and your dreams.. LanternWaste Nov 2015 #44
Shrugging shoulders emoticons? Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #47
well some of us have a vision far different from the Cong Age wordpix Nov 2015 #60
aww, c'mon.... try a little to go hopemountain Nov 2015 #70
You're beautiful and I'm envious of your Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #71
don't let the shit heads hopemountain Nov 2015 #72
Thank you Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #73
HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Nov 2015 #22
Kicked and recommended! Thanks, OS! Enthusiast Nov 2015 #23
BIG K&R! Fyi, O'Malley committed to this is June 2015 as well!! riderinthestorm Nov 2015 #25
this is where the rubber meets the road.... mike_c Nov 2015 #26
Is it going to pass? VanillaRhapsody Nov 2015 #28
Let them have their thread. They don't care. Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #33
That's certainly projection. It's you guys that don't care a bit about issues, only personalities. rhett o rick Nov 2015 #36
What you've typed is pure horseshit Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #42
where have we heard Marty McGraw Nov 2015 #53
Go roll your eyes somewhere else Action_Patrol Nov 2015 #55
Can't be sure, 'Erin go bragh' or, 'Alba gu brąth,' but it sounds familiar. nt Live and Learn Nov 2015 #78
At some point the People will over throw the Oligarchy and their puppets. We want change from the rhett o rick Nov 2015 #38
But according to his detractors, he is a fraud and hypocrite and only in it for himself. They see Feeling the Bern Nov 2015 #29
Psyched. This and his marijuana bill... He is picking up steam, putting out real change stimuli. Nt JudyM Nov 2015 #34
Watch Hillary call for the same thing next week n/t coyote Nov 2015 #37
Boy, that will play well in Appalachia and the Gulf Coast... Recursion Nov 2015 #39
Sadly unless SOMEone miraculously figures out how to efficiently turn sun/wind energy ... brett_jv Nov 2015 #41
We're already seeing Marty McGraw Nov 2015 #54
K&R. Yes please! Overseas Nov 2015 #43
That's why we love him! nt valerief Nov 2015 #49
Republicans RAN on "Drill baby drill" in '08..... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2015 #50
Keep on Faux pas Nov 2015 #51
Good idea. We shouldn't wait for Charleston to look like Venice DFW Nov 2015 #52
Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2015 #56
US exports more oil than it imports for first time since 1995 Omaha Steve Nov 2015 #57
oooh, I'm feelin the bern from the solar panels! Go Bernie! wordpix Nov 2015 #58
Awesome. blackspade Nov 2015 #61
How we need this man! tabasco Nov 2015 #65
Bernie YES! lonestarnot Nov 2015 #66
this takes the guts the repukes talk about but don't have olddots Nov 2015 #67
thank you, Senators Merkley & Sanders! hopemountain Nov 2015 #68
K&R Fumesucker Nov 2015 #74
Sanders is spot on with this and I agree with him 100% "I believe all of us have a moral responsibil Sunlei Nov 2015 #75
K&R nt Live and Learn Nov 2015 #76
 

Yallow

(1,926 posts)
63. No Way - Who Needs Florida or New Orleans
Fri Nov 6, 2015, 01:35 AM
Nov 2015

What's 40 feet of sea level rise.

We can handle it!

Drill Baby Drill

Sarah Palin says no problem!!!!!!

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
2. It seems like only yesterday that some forgotten candidate crowed "drill baby, drill!".
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 04:31 PM
Nov 2015

I never thought we'd reach sanity level five in my lifetime.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
6. This would be a good thing, especially "terminate current leases that aren't producing". 20 year lea
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 04:39 PM
Nov 2015

20 year leases suck, lease cost is so very cheap, corps lease up everything and hold it for decades. Use OUR public lands for private leverage investments.

tex-wyo-dem

(3,190 posts)
7. Climate change is...
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 04:46 PM
Nov 2015

By far the most important issue of our time, period.

The stand Bernie is taking is truly significant!

newfie11

(8,159 posts)
8. Good, it's past time for this.
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 04:54 PM
Nov 2015

I love Bernie and this is something I would expect from him.
The other politicians ( ) not a chance they would go against their corporate money lenders!

 

Yallow

(1,926 posts)
62. I Am Sure Mary Oil Landreau Isn't On Board
Fri Nov 6, 2015, 01:32 AM
Nov 2015

Or any others....

Instead of being afraid of Socialism, we should embrace evolution.

Time our species evolved from planet wasting war mongers.

appalachiablue

(41,174 posts)
11. Co-sponsor Sen. Jeff Merkley at US Capitol 'Keep It in the Ground' Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 05:05 PM
Nov 2015

behind and tribal rights attorney Tara Zhaabowekwe Houska to his right this afternoon.

appalachiablue

(41,174 posts)
30. Lucky you! I really appreciate the efforts of Merkley and others. We need many more to
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 07:47 PM
Nov 2015

keep this nation going heaven knows. But things are starting to happen, like this legislation...

wordpix

(18,652 posts)
59. no joke, most of CA, all of AZ, NM, TX and the Southeast
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 04:31 PM
Nov 2015

could be energy self-sufficient with solar

passiveporcupine

(8,175 posts)
14. Other countries are leaving us in the dust
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 05:35 PM
Nov 2015
Morocco poised to become a solar superpower with launch of desert mega-project

World’s largest concentrated solar power plant, powered by the Saharan sun, set to help renewables provide almost half the country’s energy by 2020


http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/26/morocco-poised-to-become-a-solar-superpower-with-launch-of-desert-mega-project

Action_Patrol

(845 posts)
31. Clearly you have a greater faith in the
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 08:43 PM
Nov 2015

Republican Majority than I do.

Continue rolling on the floor laughing.

 

waldo.c

(43 posts)
21. Deterninedly wrong!
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 06:30 PM
Nov 2015

Bernie has said over and over again, when he's elected he will utilize the mobilized electorate he's currently constructing, to lobby their elected representative to enact the reforms that he has a mandate to pursue. If they don't co-operate, they're buried in complaints or they're out. Simple.

Quote- " And now let me tell you something that no other candidate for president will tell you.

And that is no matter who is elected to be president, that person will not be able to address the enormous problems facing the working families of our country.

They will not be able to succeed because the power of corporate America, the power of Wall Street, the power of campaign donors is so great that no president alone can stand up to them.

That is the truth. People may be uncomfortable about hearing it, but that is the reality. And that is why what this campaign is about is saying loudly and clearly: It is not just about elected Bernie Sanders for president, it is about creating a grassroots political movement in this country."

JackInGreen

(2,975 posts)
45. And we hope the best for your mediocre pragmatism
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 11:52 AM
Nov 2015

If we're not the entities of change who are? We can't win if we don't fight.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
40. Sanders can't draw more than a third or so of the Democratic party, and that's localized
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 01:44 AM
Nov 2015

But that third of the Democratic party, which is itself a third of the country, concentrated as it is in very liberal states and districts, is somehow going to be a potent-enough force to scare Senators and Representatives in coal and oil states?

shawn703

(2,702 posts)
48. For him to be nominated
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 12:22 PM
Nov 2015

He will need more than half of the Democratic Party, not a third. For him to win the general, he would need half the country, not just half the Democratic Party. I think it's safe to assume that as President, he would enjoy the support of more than just one third of the Democratic Party.

Action_Patrol

(845 posts)
47. Shrugging shoulders emoticons?
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 12:17 PM
Nov 2015

I'm not the one here reading into something that is never going to happen. I work in the Senate, I've seen this countless times. It isn't new and it isn't going to pass. It's impossible to get starry eyed and dreamy about a reality that will never exist.

Action_Patrol

(845 posts)
73. Thank you
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 10:22 PM
Nov 2015

Regardless if kisses, hugs or high-fives make you smile, get someone close to you to give you one from me.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
25. BIG K&R! Fyi, O'Malley committed to this is June 2015 as well!!
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 06:52 PM
Nov 2015
https://martinomalley.com/climate/

I believe, within 35 years, our country can and should be 100% powered by clean energy, supported by millions of new jobs. To reach this goal we must accelerate that transition starting now.

As President, on Day One, I would use my executive power to declare the transition to a clean energy future the number one priority of our Federal Government.

I would create a new Clean Energy Jobs Corps to partner with communities to retrofit buildings to be more energy efficient, improve local resiliency, create new green spaces, and restore and expand our forests so they can absorb more greenhouse gases.

I would retrofit federal buildings to the highest efficiency standards and require new federal buildings to be net-zero. I would require the federal fleet to be subject to low- or zero-emissions purchasing agreements, and require all federally-funded infrastructure projects to meet climate resiliency standards.

Snip

As President, I would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to take aggressive action to limit greenhouse gases: expanding rules to other large sources of emissions beyond power plants, adopting a zero-tolerance policy for methane leaks from current oil and gas production, and setting higher energy efficiency standards for new buildings while requiring energy costs to be transparent to building tenants and purchasers.

And I would reject projects like Keystone XL, drilling off our coasts and in the Arctic and Alaska. Furthermore, I would keep domestically produced oil and gas in the U.S., instead of selling it abroad — unless there is a clear strategic security rationale.

mike_c

(36,281 posts)
26. this is where the rubber meets the road....
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 06:56 PM
Nov 2015

I've often said that Americans will sell their grandmothers if need be in order to get at the last drops of fossil fuels. The only way we can avoid that fate, and all it entails, is by intentionally leaving energy dense fuels in the ground. That will never happen without specific prohibitions against extraction.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
36. That's certainly projection. It's you guys that don't care a bit about issues, only personalities.
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 01:36 AM
Nov 2015

16 million American children living in poverty because of the status quo that has been brought to us by the corporate controlled Congress and you will choose the status quo over change.

Action_Patrol

(845 posts)
42. What you've typed is pure horseshit
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 05:49 AM
Nov 2015

It isn't projection in the slightest and I'm a fan of Senator Sanders.
I've said NOTHING about any candidate or personality. You are the one projecting towards me.
I know our party is in the minority and bills like this will never see a floor vote. Hell, it probably won't make it out of committee.
Is it better to have them introduced and never be considered or not introduced at all?
It's all in how full or empty your glass is today.

Action_Patrol

(845 posts)
55. Go roll your eyes somewhere else
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 03:21 PM
Nov 2015

You know literally nothing about me nor anything I've done.
I haven't attacked anyone yet I get served a plate of your ire?
You're the worst kind of person to have a discussion with.

How about some more emoticons, that's more your speed.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
38. At some point the People will over throw the Oligarchy and their puppets. We want change from the
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 01:40 AM
Nov 2015

status quo that has given us 50 million Americans living in poverty. HRC is more concerned that Goldman-Sachs continues go get bigger and bigger profits.

Two sides to this class war and HRC and Sen Sanders are on opposite sides.

 

Feeling the Bern

(3,839 posts)
29. But according to his detractors, he is a fraud and hypocrite and only in it for himself. They see
Wed Nov 4, 2015, 07:20 PM
Nov 2015

through his game.

brett_jv

(1,245 posts)
41. Sadly unless SOMEone miraculously figures out how to efficiently turn sun/wind energy ...
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 02:53 AM
Nov 2015

... into massive amounts of a highly energy-dense and portable liquid fuel that can be used in most of the same ways as petroleum (in particular, like gasoline) ... it appears that human beings are going to absolutely wreck this friggin' planet, and leave a global 'Mad Max'-style disaster for our kids and grand-kids that will occur over the next 75 years, tops.

Barring that sort of miracle, I fear the die is cast, and it's already too late ... we needed to start in the 80's, at the latest.

IOW, we're in the 'we need a magical savior' phase of this problem at this point.

Although in theory ... Nuclear Fusion might work, too ...

Marty McGraw

(1,024 posts)
54. We're already seeing
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 03:06 PM
Nov 2015

that we really don't need Transportable Liquid Fuel. I'm glad we have a big game player like Tesla involved in the future of energy distribution.

DFW

(54,437 posts)
52. Good idea. We shouldn't wait for Charleston to look like Venice
Thu Nov 5, 2015, 01:10 PM
Nov 2015

Republicans would just invest in gondola manufacturers.

Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)

hopemountain

(3,919 posts)
68. thank you, Senators Merkley & Sanders!
Sun Nov 8, 2015, 09:09 PM
Nov 2015

our forests/ federal lands in Oregon are under tremendous pressure to be torn up for fossil fuels to the highest private corporation bidders so that america's natural resources can be shipped to china!!

long time independent - but now broke family loggers think there are jobs and money in this for them - but they are hugely mistaken & misled by the the corporate interests. our natural resources will be stripped and the land left in a tumult - along with all of the living things on the forest floor will be decimated.

it is disgusting how private interest from other countries with the blessing of greedy americans hold proverbial carrots to those who are now struggling in poor rural communities with the promise of jobs and money when there will be only a handful of jobs and no money. all of the work is already contracted to out of state businesses.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
75. Sanders is spot on with this and I agree with him 100% "I believe all of us have a moral responsibil
Mon Nov 9, 2015, 06:59 AM
Nov 2015
"I believe all of us have a moral responsibility,"

Enough tearing up/ruining OUR PUBLIC LANDS and killing off/ removing/unbalancing nature- the wild life who were there before America was even a country.
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