writeaboutwarming

April 15, 2013 - Bill McKibben’s brilliant article in the Rolling Stone of April 11 was not just thought provoking, it was right on target.   Entitled “The Fossil Fuel Resistance,” McKibben details why the laughter of oil industry barons rings a bit hollow these days.   There’s so much good information to be found in McKibben’s latest call-to-arms, I’m going to give it the fine-tooth comb treatment it deserves. “My philosophy is to make money.”   Rex Tillerson’s obscenely redundant declaration followed his announced intention, as CEO of ExxonMobil, to more than double the acreage over which his company is exploring for fossil fuel.   (Isn’t there something about that word “fossil” that’s just so inadvertently accurate, that describes Tillerson and his fellow old-white-guys-who- honor-the-almighty-dollar-more-than-their-mothers with an achingly awful degree of precision?)   He elaborated contemptuously that renewable energy would account for just one percen...

April 4, 2013 – It was years ago that I heard James Hansen quoted as saying that if the KXL pipeline were built and utilized, it was “game over” for our planet.   Like so many, I nodded vaguely and murmured the appropriate comments – probably “oh my gosh, this is just awful.”   My acceptance of his assertion was based on my belief in his expertise, and on the pictures of environmental destruction coming out of Alberta.   Let me hasten to add, I still think he’s right.   But I didn’t understand why he was right, not really.   Not until yesterday, thanks to the rupture of the Exxon Mobil Pegasus pipeline in Arkansas.   Here it is, friends.   The Crux of the Matter, the Meat of the Issue:                      It is impossible to move tar sands oil safely. Spend a moment taking that all in.   There’s a lot there, though only nine words are require...

August 15, 2011 - Awhile back, I indicated, upon receipt of an email inviting me to participate, that I would be interested in taking part in an action protesting the KXL (tar sands) pipeline. Unfortunately, I've been unable to find a place to stay in the Washington, D.C. area, so I'll send an email to President Obama, telling him that I support the protestors, heart and soul. That's the best I can do. If you're going to be in our nation's capital during the second half of August, and would like your voice to be heard, take a look at this website: http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up/ . I feel enormous admiration for the demonstrators who are participating in this action, which begins August 20 and lasts though Labor Day. Having grown up during a time of great upheaval and unrest, I know the truth of the words, "The People, united, will never be defeated!" I believe the people of the United States are growing more united with every passing day. Our coun...