The oceans are getting warmer, there are many more droughts and ‘super’ storms happening around the world. Water and food shortages are becoming realities in many parts of the world. Brazil is considering cancelling their Carnival celebrations due to the worst drought conditions that country has ever seen. What is happening? Could 95% of environmental scientists be right? Could the Pentagon be right, when they indicated that climate change is the current biggest threat to humanity?

The Pentagon released a report in October of 2014 indicating that climate change poses an immediate threat to national security, with increased risks from terrorism, infectious disease, global poverty and food shortages. It also predicted rising demand for military disaster responses as extreme weather creates more global humanitarian crises.

Chuck Hagel, US Defense Secretary, addressed key issues from their report, here are some of his quotes:

“The loss of glaciers will strain water supplies in several areas of our hemisphere.”

“Destruction and devastation from hurricanes can sow the seeds for instability. Droughts and crop failures can leave millions of people without any lifeline, and trigger waves of mass migration.”

“We should worry about climate change like we worry about ISIS.”

You can read more about the report here: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=123393

The climate change deniers feel there is not enough proof in order for governments to act on this initiative. Here are some of the things people are saying:

“This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice” – Donald Trump (tweet) @realDonaldTrump January 2, 2014.

“Every cow in the world, you know, when they do what they do, you’ve got more carbon dioxide.” – Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH)

“The ice caps are melting, which we see over and over again. Yeah, they’re melting on Mars, too!” – Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

“The government can’t change the weather.” – Senator, Marco Rubio (R-FL)

“All voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax.” – Congresswoman, Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

If this is how our politicians are treating climate change – what hope do we have? Here are what some authorities on climate change are saying and doing:

GREENPEACE

Greenpeace has listed some very interesting and positive statistics and facts surrounding renewable energies, here is that list:

Europe decommissioned more coal, fuel oil and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009.
Solar energy is now working at night on a commercial-scale. A plant in Spain has seven hours of heat storage.
In the space of just 5 years, Portugal’s electric grid leapt from 15% to 45% renewables.
Price Waterhouse Cooper says Europe and North Africa could now run on 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Subsidies to fossil fuels worldwide outweigh renewable energy support by a ratio of 12:1.
West Virginia could replace all its electrical capacity with just 2% of its geothermal power potential.
Solar photovoltaic could account for 5% of global power demand by 2020, and up to 9% by 2030.
Iceland’s power supply went from 75% imported coal to more than 80% local geothermal and hydro in 30 years.
China built (roughly) one windmill an hour in 2009.
Our energy needs can be met by 95% renewable energy by 2050

*The above can be found on the following: www.greenpeace.org

350.org

350.org is a group of individuals that have come together to demand environmental action. What is the significance of the number 350?

“If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from [current levels] to at most 350 ppm.” – Dr. James Hansen

Our current levels are at 400 ppm.

Here is a paragraph from 350.org:

Independent studies show that in the United States a sustained investment of public and private dollars in clean energy would generate 1.7 million new jobs in industries like construction for making homes and office buildings more efficient with new windows, lighting and cooling systems – and in manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.

Some of 350.org’s projects and campaigns include; Global Divestment Day, Start a Climate Petition and Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.

For more information, receive updates, donate, or get involved – please visit www.350.org – Get the facts!

The David Suzuki Foundation

David Suzuki has been a defender of the planet, our environment and world reknowned scientist. Here are a few points from their Energy Overview blog post regarding renewable energy and the potential Canada has in becoming a world leader in renewable and sustainable energies:

Wind and solar are the fastest growing sources of energy in the world. These low-polluting energy industries are creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs in countries as diverse as Germany and China. In fact, the renewable-energy sector generates more jobs per megawatt of power installed, per unit of energy produced, and per dollar of investment than the fossil fuel-based sector.

Canada, the second largest country in the world by area, is richly endowed with renewable energy, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and marine (e.g. tidal, wave energy) sources. With the right policies, Canada can use renewable energy to satisfy its energy needs and become a world leader in sustainable technologies.

Some of the current projects of the David Suzuki Foundation include; Race to the Top and Trottier Energy Futures Project.

For more information about the David Suzuki Foundation – please visit, www.davidsuzuki.org

Canada will have a federal election in October of 2015. Canada must elect a government and Prime Minister who speaks to a new generation of individuals who are concerned about our land, lakes, rivers, parks, forests and the environment in general. We need to elect a leader who wants to show that world that Canada can be a leader in renewable and sustainable energies, growing the economy with green jobs and building a better and cleaner Canada. We must vote for new priorities and government policies that create a better Canada and a better world.

The fossil fuel sector/industry realizes that a revolution for a better and sustainable future is gaining momentum and will do anything to ensure their profits remain intact. Governments shouldn’t answer to big conglomerates that only want to maximize their profits. Government officials should not be bought in order to pass legislation that would only be in the best interests of the fossil fuel conglomerates.

It is time for a new world order – but not a world order that is driven by profits and instilling fear into their citizens. It’s time for the grass roots movement to grow into a revolution – and it will, with organizations like Greenpeace, the David Suzuki Foundation and 350.org.

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