Image of the Day: F*** OFF Coal Pushers

Direct action seems to be the only way to tackle soaring carbon emissions —Climate Scientist

Climate activists protest at this month’s Guardian Climate Change Summit in London over plans for a coal-fired power station in Kingsnorth, Kent. Photograph: Alex Sturrock/AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.

“The first action that people should take is to use the democratic process. What is frustrating people, me included, is that democratic action affects elections but what we get then from political leaders is greenwash.

“The democratic process is supposed to be one person one vote, but it turns out that money is talking louder than the votes. So, I’m not surprised that people are getting frustrated. I think that peaceful demonstration is not out of order, because we’re running out of time.” James Hansen, NASA climatologist, said.

Corporate lobbying is undermining democratic attempts to reduce CO2 pollution. “The democratic process doesn’t quite seem to be working,” he said.

The World Will Never Be the Same Again!

Climatologist James Hansen echos the call for action

“I have been described as the grandfather of climate change. In fact, I am just a grandfather and I do not want my grandchildren to say that grandpa understood what was happening but didn’t make it clear,” Hansen said last week.

Hansen says Barack Obama’s four-year administration, which begins with his inauguration as US president on Tuesday,  offers the world a last chance to avoid global disaster. Melting glaciers and ice caps, flooded coastal cities, species extinctions and expanding deserts  await mankind, he says.

“We cannot now afford to put off change any longer. We have to get on a new path within this new administration. We have only four years left for Obama to set an example to the rest of the world. America must take the lead.”

Hansen correctly senses that the world is collapsing; however, his timetable  is too optimistic. Perhaps the optimism arises from a lack of appreciation of  fragility of ecosystems and the mechanisms of collapse, the progress of which are exponentially  intensifying.

Related Links:

• President ‘has four years to save Earth’
• ‘We Have Only Four Years Left to Act on Climate Change – America Has to Lead’
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities

Orchids from ‘Hell’ for Obama Inauguration

news submitted by Te2Ataria

Green President, green jobs, green energy; orange, pink and red orchids from 14,400 km (9,000 mi) away

A few orchids too far: The compassionate, environmentally conscious President-elect Obama will have orchids flown in from half away across the world for his inauguration

Barely days after President-elect Obama met with the former Vice-president Gore [the man who would have been a president,] to discuss the environmental imperatives of green jobs, energy and economy, it has been revealed that he will have orchids flown in from New Zealand for his inauguration on January 20, 2009.

Importing orchids from New Zealand: Flying in the face of environmental commonsense!

Thousands of stems of Disa orchids in a mixture of oranges, pinks and reds will be flown in to Washington DC within 24 hours of being cut in Taranaki, New Zealand.

The total weight of the consignment remains undisclosed, so we haven’t been able  to calculate the carbon footprint for the “orchid orgy.”

However,  each kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of goods flown from Taranaki (Wellington), New Zealand, to Washington DC, a total distance of about 14,400km  (9,000 miles), produces about 100kg (220 lbs.) of greenhouse gases (CO2e).  [The total amount of emission (kg) is equal to the gross weight of the orchids consignment (kg) multiplied by 100.]

The orchid grower, Mrs Coils, said if she lived in the US she would have voted for Obama. Bet you would, Mrs Coils!

President-elect Obama’s inauguration carbon footprint, Disa orchids, exotic chow, cocktails, security and all,  estimated at $100million, may exceed 58,400 metric tons of CO2.

On the eve of a major ecological collapse, and at a time when so many Americans live on the precipice of abject poverty, would a caring President-elect indulge in such unbridled extravagance?

Orchids from New Zealand? Yes, sure, why not? Go ahead! No one is looking, Mr President-elect.

Related Links:

• Hundreds of millions worldwide face disaster

• Obama Inauguration Carbon Footprint
• Obsessed with Obama’s McWhitehouse?
• Obama’s Credibility
• The Presidential Trojan Horse

• To & From New Zealand: Double Act of Eco-Terrorism
• Stop Flying in the Face of the Poor!