We need long-term, renewable solutions

This summer numerous people died of heat stroke- not just children left in cars, which is unconscionable – but full-grown adults, like an NFL player. Elsewhere in the world, things are getting even hotter, meaning more crop failure, drought, disastrous weather, melting ice-caps and rising ocean levels. Things might never get to the point they did in Waterworld – but why would we want to submerge any more of our land-mass?

Perhaps some of this is part of a natural cycle of Earth warming up and cooling down. Yet, at least part of this global warming is caused by human-made pollution, and according to the National Academy of Sciences it could have a serious adverse impact on us in the 21st century.

The U.S. generates more greenhouse gases – the kind that trap heat in our atmosphere – relative to the size of its population, than any other country. There are things we can do now to help reduce global warming – power plants that create less pollution, energy-efficient cars, and research and development of non-polluting energy sources for all our energy needs. Bush’s Administration is wrong to propose cuts in energy efficiency and renewable energy while pushing for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a stop-gap measure which would only provide enough oil for the U.S. for several weeks. That is not much of a gain for what could potentially be irrevocably damaged.

President Bush should ratify the Kyoto Protocol, cut down our greenhouse gas emissions and invest in developing long-term energy solutions – renewable, non-polluting energy sources. Please call, e-mail, or write the White House demanding some sensible energy policies!

Snohomish

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