"Conservation is a cause that has been espoused by some thoughtful Americans at least since the days of Thoreau, a cause whose time has come because life is running out," the New York Times editorialized on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970.
Media support for environmentalism is not waning since the first Earth Day, in fact uncritical coverage of green rallies and protest is the norm nearly 37 years later.
There are so many green events this year you just might need a separate calendar to keep track. Just make sure it's printed on post-consumer recycled paper.
"What can Al Gore expect now that he is organizing a concert to save the entire planet from a global warming disaster," asked the Los Angeles Times on February 16. Noting that Bob Geldof earned a knighthood for Live Aid, a previous fundraising concert, the paper asked:
"Would King Al be out of line?"
When the media report on the many environmental holidays they leave out questions about what the green agenda will cost the taxpayers and businesses.
On April 14, people across the country held "Step It Up" events to pressure Congress to regulate carbon emissions with a mandatory 80-percent decrease in emissions by 2050.
Step It Up was previewed or covered by ABC "World News Saturday," The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Philadelphia Inquirer and BusinessWeek, to name a few.
None of those event stories included criticism of the devastating cost of such regulation. Business & Media Institute has reported that signing on to Kyoto would have cost the U.S. several hundred billion dollars per year.
But the goals of Step It Up and many other eco-warriors is "far beyond the goals" of Kyoto and would therefore cost considerably more.
Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute put the matter in more practical terms, "if you really wanted to cut emissions by 80 percent most people would have to give up their cars, get rid of air conditioning and only heat one room of their house."
Al Gore's climate concerts, scheduled for July 7, also recieved uncritical mentions from the press. Accounts left out questions regarding how much energy will be consumed, how much CO2 will be spewed by the entertainers and attendees, or how much waste will be left over after the events.
—Julia A. Seymour is an assistant editor for the Business & Media Institute.
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Myron Ebell of the Competitiv
April 18, 2007 - 15:25 ET by dscottMyron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute put the matter in more practical terms, "if you really wanted to cut emissions by 80 percent most people would have to give up their cars, get rid of air conditioning and only heat one room of their house."
None of which would be necessary to meet the goals if Dr. Al Gore and all his buddies got off the electric grid, stopped flying private jets and bought electric cars... Yeap, that's almost how much they use in their unsustainable lifestyles. Think I'm exagerating do you???? Do the math on their energy consumption, just on one of Dr. Al Gore's 4 mansions: 15 million people x 20 times the Average American household = 300 million households. There are only 107 million households as of 2001 according to the EIA. A conservative estimate is Dr. Al Gore and his buddies consume 50% of the residential electricity in the US, but that figure is lowballing the actual.
Note: 15 million is the 5% of the population like Dr. Al Gore who own 70% of the personal wealth of the US. Personal wealth is spending power.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
"What can Al Gore expect
April 18, 2007 - 16:03 ET by jdhawk"What can Al Gore expect now that he is organizing a concert to save the entire planet from a global warming disaster . . ." That's easy - laughter, guffaws, derision, pointed at, amusement, mirth, etc.
Meanwhile, if we, the people, don't rein in this nonsense I fear the worst. For example, in the energy bill for my house I am being asked to contribute toward "energy offsets." I wonder when I will no longer be asked and forced to pay an additional sum.
I booked a flight a couple of days ago and at the end of the booking it was explained to me what the "cost" of my flight was in terms of "global warming" and how I could contribute to "carbon offsets." I will be forced to add it to the cost of any flight.
With the Supreme Court recenlty siding for the GW wackos and against the Nixon created EPA, it won't be long before the above will be a reality.
Hey, stop breathing - yeah, you! Keep that up and it will cost.
Hawaii has a 5 cents per bott
April 19, 2007 - 01:42 ET by upcountrywaterHawaii has a 5 cents per bottle glass bottle tax, where does most of the re-cycled glass bottles (+ 90%) go..? Well it gets recycled! one uses extra fuel to deliver the glass bottles to a redemption center to get re-funded, From there the glass is crushed and transported by roll off dumster and driven to the ... DUMP!!
Why is it that all those feel good programs ,Envolve additional bureaucrats and consume additional time (your life) and energy (oil ).
Detonated Plutomium has a very large carbon footprint.
We should have bumper sticker
April 18, 2007 - 17:18 ET by ucWe should have bumper stickers made up to sell to them - I think they might even buy these "I am a proud, green Gore Hypocrit." and "Don't ask me why am I using more gas but driving a hybrid".
Thoreau is a different sort for sure, yet still able to be called an environmentalist. go figure.
I am tired and it is late---
April 19, 2007 - 00:37 ET by misterbillI am tired and it is late---but I want to do my part. I am not going to go to the bathroom for 3 days. I ask all Americans to contribute this way. There will be much less methane.
It's not just about transport
April 19, 2007 - 01:55 ET by mastersofdeceitIt's not just about transportation for the stars or how much electricity will be used or how much trash will be left behind by the code pink or ELF booths. There's a whole industry working behind the scenes to fulfill the selfish needs of the performers. Think of the trucks and effort just to get the food & beverages there. The extra staff that does nothing but wait on the performers every whim. I've seen a few backstage spreads. From the smallest club that just provided beer & sandwiches to the band, to the LA Forum for a band who shall go un named.
That's right mastersofdecei
April 19, 2007 - 02:33 ET by radiofitz34That's right mastersofdeceit. If this were the real world, psyche wards at hospitals would be overflowing with these loonies. I reckon it's only going to get more weird rather than less. Who put the hippo in hippocrit?