World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth
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The Bottom Line
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere now stand at 385 parts per million (ppm), 67% above the average of the past 800,000 years, and 29% above the maximum of the same period.
- The rate of increase of CO2 is 2.2 ppm/year and getting faster.
- When atmospheric CO2 was above 450 ppm in the earth's history, the planet was completely ice-free, and sea level was 75 meters higher than today.
- The safe upper limit of atmospheric CO2 that we should aim to stay below is probably between 300-350 ppm. We have already overshot it and the longer we stay above that the more likely we will have set in motion long-term climate changes that will proceed beyond human control through powerful geophysical positive feedback mechanisms.
- Sudden warmings of a few degrees in the past have triggered mass extinctions. Current species extinction rate is estimated at 100 to 1000 times the average extinction rates in the evolutionary time scale of planet Earth. A mass extinction is underway and we have to reverse course quickly enough to prevent the worst.
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A Tale of Two Scandals - Climate Conspiracy and Peak Oil
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 04:55 — eli_beckermanYou might have heard about ClimateGate -- a series of hacked emails from climate scientists that has given climate change deniers fuel to continue undermining a clear scientific consensus in the court of public opinion. Here they are in their entirety. Good luck trying to disprove global warming based on these emails!
Despite adding nothing substantive to the questions surrounding climate change, this illegal act of naked distortion has put the environmental movement on the defensive, which in turn has handed the debate over to the public relations efforts of dirty energy profiteers. One website focused on clearing up the PR games around climate change is the DeSmogBlog. And two of the blog's authors have a new book out called Climate Cover-up which exposes the public relations fraud behind the fake debate around climate change.
What's incredible is how ClimateGate has dominated the climate discourse leading up to Copenhagen. Indeed, our friends at the DeSmogBlog point out that "this PR campaign could not be accomplished without the compliance of media as well as the assent and participation of leaders in government and business."
Meanwhile, have you heard anything about senior whistleblowers from the International Energy Agency claiming that the agency has rigged its projections of future oil supply due to pressure from the U.S. and fear of panic buying? The Guardian (UK) article from last month reveals an energy scandal with incredible implications for the environment and the global economy. But have you heard a peep about it? Which side is the PR muscle behind?
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SGF Mission Statement
The Secure Green Future (SGF) project educates, activates and empowers Massachusetts residents to effectively address the converging threats of climate change, resource depletion, and economic meltdown. We work to guide communities toward an essential economic transformation that will make possible a sustainable and just post-carbon future. SGF seeks to break the shackles of what is “politically feasible” and inspire change that addresses the magnitude and urgency of the dangers we are facing. We are committed to the principle of democratic empowerment as the most appropriate means for securing the just and sustainable future that we all deserve, and that is within our reach.
Landslide victories for the Secure Green Future ballot initiative!
Thanks to an incredible grassroots effort, the Secure Green Future ballot question has won in EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT it appeared, and by a total landslide margin! At least 153,252 voters said YES to a Secure Green Future on November 4th, netting the ballot question an astounding 81.44% of the vote!!!
Thanks to all of you who helped get these questions on the ballot and helped to spread the word to voters. Your efforts have paid off big time, and we now have clear evidence that the people of Massachusetts are READY for decisive action to fight climate change and energy uncertainty by transitioning to a secure, green economy NOW.
