Water Shortages, Al Gore’s Goals, Waxman vs. Dingell

Global water shortages could occur by 2080. As the effects of climate change make themselves known, don’t be surprised to see that date moved up.  3.2 billion people without access to clean water will cause massive geopolitical problems.

Check out these cool cartograms.

Gore outlined a 5-point plan he sees as necessary to work toward in the early 21st century to transition to a renewable energy economy [h/t Joe Romm]. 1) Large concentrated solar thermal plants in the southwest. 2) National smart grid.  3) Plug-in hybrid car development. 4) Retrofit existing buildings with better insulation and energy-efficient windows and lighting.  5) Put a price on carbon that reflects its actual total costs.

More on Waxman vs. Dingell. Who will win the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair?  The older Dingell who has protected the foot-dragging auto industry from mean-old government regulations, or the younger Waxman who would usher in much needed envrionmental regulations and an overhaul of U.S. auto manufacturing.  My vote would go to Waxman.  Dingell has held this country back for too many decades.  I think I read an inital vote today put Waxman on top.  I’ll have to check.  A second vote with a larger caucus could come tomorrow.

A significant record was set during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season: 2008 is the only year when a major hurricane formed in five different months [2nd h/t to Joe Romm].  Also, 2008 is second on the list of damage during one year: $52 billion.  Remember that a number of storms weakened prior to U.S. landfall this year.  Remember further that those landfalling hurricanes barely missed a number of very large U.S. cities.  If those storms had maintained their strength longer or their tracks were just slightly adjusted, that damage total would have been much higher.  We can’t keep dodging bullets forever.

Netroots Nation 2008: Day Three

Nancy Pelosi was scheduled to participate in a Q&A this morning.  In a surprise announcement, Al Gore joined her!  The conversation was lively.  It also provided an additional example of two folks who are ready and willing to work together for a larger cause.

I sat in on a healthcare discussion, which was led by nyceve,, an activist who has gone way above the ordinary in terms of illustrating the human element of our failed health care system.  She assembled a wide set of voices on the issue, including someone she doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with, Ezra Klein.  A lot of passionate people were in the room, which is good to see.  Ezra provided one of most salient points, I think: we won’t get universal single-payer care (not coverage!!!) unless we defeat politicians standing in the way.  Max Baucus, for instance, chairs the Senate Finance Committee.  One of its purviews is healthcare.  We have to get Max on our side of the issue or find a suitable replacement.

I’m going to a framing discussing this afternoon, possibly followed by a screening.  Donna Edwards is scheduled to address us later tonight.

Random News 6/24/08

Gov. Ritter announced a new statewide energy efficiency and conservation campaign yesterday. Entitled, “The New Energy Economy: Bringing It Home”, the campaign will consists of TV and radio spots that inform folks about simple, low-cost methods of saving money on energy. The methods include:

• “Turn it Down!” Install and use a programmable thermostat or adjust the temperature down when you aren’t at home. Programmable thermostats can save up to $150 a year in utility bills.
• “Unplug it!” Unplug electronics, such as cell phone chargers, when not in use, or install a power strip for controlling devices such as computers, TVs and entertainment systems. Seventy-five percent of electricity used by electronic devices is while the products are turned off.
• “Turn it Off” Turn off the lights when leaving a room and install energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard lights and last 10 times longer.
• “Take a Ride” Gov. Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper ask you to “Take a ride, share a ride, or ride.” Besides getting exercise, you can save money on gas and vehicle maintenance by riding a bike. Relax on the bus or catch up with friends when you carpool.

The first ad can be seen on Gov. Ritter’s Energy Office website.

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The League of Conservation Voters has a new ad about Bob “Big Oil” Schaffer’s connections to the oil and gas industry, including supporting multi-billion dollar corporate welfare.

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Republicans think Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth “is replete with fantastic prophesies of doom for the planet unless America immediately regresses to third-world squalor.” If delayers get their way, the costs of mitigating and adapting to climate change will be much, much greater than if we take decisive action right now. The same is true for all the problems we face. And yet all Republicans want to do about them is give away our money to the largest corporations. That isn’t ethical and it doesn’t solve our very real issues of the day. Just the opposite: it makes them worse.

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10 million homeowners now have mortgages that are worth more than their houses. Republican economic policies do not work.

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People across the country are getting their power shut off by energy companies because they’re falling behind on their bills.  They must all be dead-beats living off the government, right?  Actually, more and more are middle class: four-member households earning between $33,500 and $55,500 are increasingly affected.  See, when you have to choose between gas bills, food, and health care costs while your wages have stagnated, something has to give.  But rest easy because CEO compensation was up 25% again last year.

They Must Be Kidding

Hahahahaha!  I love when info-tainment pieces like this come out.  From Think Progress: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) cited McCain’s environmental record, claiming that it’s stronger that former Vice President Al Gore’s.  He can’t be serious.  “Climate change is the road less traveled but he’s traveled it even more than Al Gore,” Graham said. “Al Gore has talked about it and deserves great recognition but he was around here a long time and never introduced a bill.”

That’s interesting spin, Sen. Graham.  I guess he wasn’t aware that Al Gore held the first congressional hearings on climate change in the 1970′s.  Just to make sure the record is clear: that was before John McCain was first elected.

Graham and McCain want to continue to fairy tale that McCain is some kind of ‘maverick’, as the corporate stenographic press continue to faithfully report, by trying to fleece the American public into believing John McCain is some kind of environmentalist.  The double-speak on these matters is astounding.  Conservatives rail against wacked-out, commie hippies that hug trees and work to undermine the economy when discussing environmental-minded Democrats.  If McCain was interested in environmental issues, I could see the ‘maverick’ label as true.  But he doesn’t even know what his economic policies are.