2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumLeading environmentast and Climate Change pioneer Bill McKibben endorses Bernie Sanders
Last edited Mon Dec 21, 2015, 10:24 AM - Edit history (1)
Bill McKibben, environmentalist and author has endorsed Bernie. From a campaign e-mail by him I received:
"Last night's Democratic debate was a disappointment for anyone who cares about the future of our planet. After an historic climate summit in Paris, it is unconscionable that the moderators of last night's debate as well as the Republican debate didn't ask a single question about climate change.
It's too bad, because Bernies new climate plan is the kind of deep, powerful plan we really need. I hope that youll sign on to support it. It gets us started fast 40% reductions in carbon emissions by 2030 would put the country and the world on a new pathway. Bernies plan would create ten million jobs and make sure that theyre shared with those communities that usually get left out of our economic booms.
But heres whats really important: Bernies climate plan comes with unique credibility. Because hes worked hard for change when it wasnt popular or easy. I know this because hes a fellow Vermonter who Ive watched for decades. And I know it in my bones because, in the early days of the fight against the Keystone Pipeline, he was almost the only person on Capitol Hill who signed on to help with the fight. He was dogged, and sometimes he was grumpy, and he never let up.
Thats the spirit were going to need going forward. As the revelations of the last few weeks have made clear, the biggest and richest of the oil companies, Exxon, knew everything there was to know about climate change decades ago, and yet helped spread the disinformation and deceit that have held back progress for a quarter-century.
To stand up to that kind of power requires backbone and passionate commitment. And it requires a leader who can mobilize a movement.
When we talk about alternative energy, theres solar, and theres wind. And theres Bernie Sanders."
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Addendum:
And before the inevitable snarky "who?" it should be pointed out that McKibben is a leader in the environmental movement:
http://www.billmckibben.com/bio.html
Bill McKibben is an author and environmentalist who in 2014 was awarded the Right Livelihood Prize, sometimes called the alternative Nobel. His 1989 book The End of Nature is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change, and has appeared in 24 languages; hes gone on to write a dozen more books. He is a founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide, grassroots climate change movement, which has organized twenty thousand rallies around the world in every country save North Korea, spearheaded the resistance to the Keystone Pipeline, and launched the fast-growing fossil fuel divestment movement.
The Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was the 2013 winner of the Gandhi Prize and the Thomas Merton Prize, and holds honorary degrees from 18 colleges and universities. Foreign Policy named him to their inaugural list of the worlds 100 most important global thinkers, and the Boston Globe said he was probably Americas most important environmentalist.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)Not sexy, but important
Proserpina
(2,352 posts)That he is, and there's a multiplying effect that you don't get with just any guy...Bernie's a transformer!
daleanime
(17,796 posts)who changes the 'game'.
Proserpina
(2,352 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Jarqui
(10,130 posts)But heres whats really important: Bernies climate plan comes with unique credibility. Because hes worked hard for change when it wasnt popular or easy. I know this because hes a fellow Vermonter who Ive watched for decades. And I know it in my bones because, in the early days of the fight against the Keystone Pipeline, he was almost the only person on Capitol Hill who signed on to help with the fight. He was dogged, and sometimes he was grumpy, and he never let up.
Thats the spirit were going to need going forward. As the revelations of the last few weeks have made clear, the biggest and richest of the oil companies, Exxon, knew everything there was to know about climate change decades ago, and yet helped spread the disinformation and deceit that have held back progress for a quarter-century.
To stand up to that kind of power requires backbone and passionate commitment. And it requires a leader who can mobilize a movement.
When we talk about alternative energy, theres solar, and theres wind. And theres Bernie Sanders."
I don't know if Bernie is going to win this primary but I suspect receiving words like that will mean a lot to him. Really nice endorsement.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)CharlotteVale
(2,717 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)When US intelligence says environmental issues are extremely critical why is there a near complete blackout on this issue?
I mean, these same people that won't mention climate change were perfectly willing to believe the most convoluted contrived bullshit intelligence about Iraq leading up to the war.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,711 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)This endorsement of all of the endorsements of any candidate so far is historic.
If and when Bernie is elected, this endorsement will mean a real change in our direction in terms of the environment.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Indydem
(2,642 posts)Not much action.
Plenty of complaining.
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)from the Hillary camp-- Nurse Jackie, Think about it, janey Vee, NC traveler, and a few other whom I forget right now.
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)stupidicus
(2,570 posts)given BS's pov on CC
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Bernie said it best in previous statements. He considers climate change to being one of the most important national security issues.
And he is right!
Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)Thanks for the thread, Armstead.