Sunday, July 09, 2006

I just saw An Inconvenient Truth, a film that every person alive is morally obligated to watch and respond to. The U.S. creates the most greenhouse gases, but (surprise!) we have the least efficient vehicles in the developed world. The changes we need to make a major impact aren't that overwhelming. Look at these stats:

* If we raise fuel efficiency standards in American cars by one mile per gallon, in one year, we would save twice the amount of oil that could be obtained from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
* Raising it by 2.7 mpg would save enough to eliminate all the oil imports from Iraq and Kuwait combined
* Raising it by 7.6 mpg would save enough to eliminate 100% of our gulf oil imports into this country
Source: Environmental Attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

We can all do small things in our homes and our daily lives to make changes, but we have to convince the slow-moving a-holes in Congress and the White House to want to change too.

We are taught to feel stupid and embarrassed and naive for wanting to make a difference, but taking action on this issue is an actual life/death situation, and by changing into progressive thinkers, we will meet ALL of our goals. This isn't about being a Democrat or liberal; it's about being an ethical person. You'd think these Jesus-freak Republicans would care about that sort of thing.

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