Blog About the Weather

In her continuing efforts to be an environmentally attractive candidate for the globalwarming aware crowd, Hillary Clinton toured a clean-coal facility in upstate New York.

As part of her tour, she pledged to wean the US from foreign oil dependency, and as Senator will be introducing a bill in the near future — doubtless in as showy a fashion as possible.

She touts clean coal technology, among others, to combat globalwarming. The US has a lot of coal, although mining coal is frequently dangerous and has long-term health hazards for miners.

Clinton called for more efficient use of electricity and natural gas, expanded use of wind and solar energy, new biofuels, and expansion of technology such as that being refined at Huntley that removes and captures toxic emissions from coal.

These alternative energy sources will help expand fuel options throughout the world, and Ms. Clinton’s campaign appearances will no doubt further the cause of globalwarming awareness2007. She is a polarizing figure, and adopting energy independence and alternative fuel production in her platform for 2008 president will increase awareness of these globalwarming issues.

At last night’s Academy Awards, Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, won an Oscar as Best Documentary.

While the award was really won by the director, the director threw praise and a speaking opportunity to Mr. Gore. Naturally, he used it to promote globalwarming awareness2007 and beyond.
Mr. Gore also spoke with Leonardo DiCaprio earlier in the evening and made jokes about running for president. Melissa Etheridge performed her Oscar-nominated theme song from the film, as well.

The continued focus on this film will increase the cause of globalwarming awareness2007. Even at an event like the American Birkebeiner — North America’s largest ski marathon race — multiple showings of An Inconvenient Truth were held on Thursday and Friday, and many skiiers sported bumper stickers and pins proclaiming SKIIERS FOR GLOBAL COOLING.

The globalwarming awareness2007 message is catching on more and more each day. Hollywood’s recognition of Al Gore’s documentary will encourage more popular entertainments on the subject of climate change, and spread the message further. Globalwarming awareness2007 uber alles!

Online intelligence providers HitWise reported that in mid-February, interest in globalwarming heated up online, with people seeking awareness2007 up more than 173%.

They credit some of this increase to the UN Report on globalwarming, and a search for more awareness of the many problems that can be caused by globalwarming and climate change.

Al Gore’s continued campaigns on behalf of globalwarming are also a contributing factor.

“When you examine the actual search terms and the end destination of those search missions, you can also discover intent behind those searches,” said Tancer, adding that people are eager to learn more about global warming.

Globalwarming awareness2007 is on the move. Many people are seeking out truths, or seeking out support for their skepticism about the science of globalwarming. Hybrid vehicles, as well as searches for alternative fuel transportation information, are also hot search terms according to major SEO services like Keyword Discovery and WordTracker.

On this very blog we see many people interested in the environmental positions of top political candidates.

People fear floods, famine, tsunamis, and other horrors as a result of melting polar ice caps and atmospheric warming due to globalwarming. Awareness in 2007 may lead to action by many.

More: Online interest in globalwarming heats up

Rumor has it that the University of Minnesota is pondering awarding an honorary degree to globalwarming awareness2007 super-hero Al Gore.

The honorary degrees are piling up for the former vice president, who is sporting lots of gray hairs these days. Globalwarming awareness is clearly aging him — or perhaps it’s his hairdresser, prepping him to look like a distinguished statesman for an upcoming presidential bid, or run at being UN ambassador under a new Democratic administration? It’s a good thing he’s not going to the same shave-shack as Britney Spears…

Online speculation remains hot that Al Gore will eventually sweep in for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

Proponents of Al Gore running think that Hillary and Obama, as well as other Democratic hopefuls, will pick each other to shreds, and Gore will be able to come in as a statesman and take the helm. Hillary will no doubt take some heat from Republican candidates (like Guiliani) and political action groups.

Al Gore’s attempt to raise globalwarming awareness has been notable, and there’s almost no reason to believe he will declare a presidential candidacy any time in 2007. Why should he? Right now, traveling to promote his globalwarming awareness agenda, he is working in an area of his passions, getting high visibility among many people and nations.

The primary season doesn’t even start until early 2008. Al Gore can easily spend 2007 promoting globalwarming awareness. One thing is for sure, though: If Al Gore runs for president in 2008, globalwarming will be a key part of his domestic and foreign policy agenda. No doubt his domestic agenda will include funding for alternative energy research, benefits for hybrid auto users, and other eco-friendly steps to help curb globalwarming at its root — human carbon emission. He would also no doubt work with the UN to help promote solutions to globalwarming and climate change worldwide.

As of this weekend, Barack Obama has officially declared for the US presidency. His environmental stance, and his stance on globalwarming, is well defined, as previously explained on this very blog.

Senator Obama’s Senate web site contains lots of information on his views of the environment, including his April 2006 speech on globalwarming and climate change.

Obama’s 2007 declaration of candidacy, which comes close on the heels of the 2007 UN Globalwarming Report, is sure to be excellent for globalwarming awareness. His environmental record makes it plain that globalwarming advocacy is sure to be a big part of his campaign, and that outspoken environmental advocates will flock to his organization.

Already his campaign site  offers insight to his globalwarming policies:

• encourage hybrid auto development by helping auto companies with retiree health costs
• encourage fuel efficiency
•  increase E85 and ethanol development and use
• encourage technology growth to allow clean-burning use of coal, which currently emits many greenhouse gasses in its use

Senator Obama also believes in maintaining clean water and avoiding radiation release. His environmental goals are in accord with many of the aims of globalwarming awareness2007, and we can hope that his campaign remains a friend of this critical cause for the future of life on earth.

Al Gore, former presidential candidate and poster child of the anti-globalwarming movement, is everywhere right now:

• In Madrid, Gore says that the globalwarming fight needs China, in the wake of China’s statement that globalwarming action was the responsibility of major nations, not China.
• Gore is scheduled to testify before the US Congress next month as their globalwarming awareness hearings carry on.
• Gore has been nominated for a prestigious Spanish award for his globalwarming work, as well as for the Nobel Peace Prize.

To date, Mr. Gore has not declared for the US presidential race in 2008, but given his recent stature, it is not hard to imagine him doing so. Many in the globalwarming awareness community are spending 2007 encouraging Al Gore to run, holding community events and bake-sales to raise funds and awareness.

However, we really have to wonder if Gore’s recent global advocacy work is enough to win him the White House. As well, if he were to run for president, would the many demands of that race and position in fact distract him from globalwarming work? It is true that as president, he would work for Congressional acceptance of the Kyoto Protocols and try to get the United States a leadership role in alternative energy development. Tax breaks for hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel sources would also undoubtedly be part of the agenda.

Either way, Gore remains a figure to watch as 2007 shapes up as a year of globalwarming awareness.

Stop Globalwarming has a ‘virtual march’ of people against globalwarming. This tribute to slacktivism features numerous celebrities and political figures ‘marching’ against the dangers of globalwarming.

Some of the ‘featured marchers’ include presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, probable candidate John McCain, as well as numerous other political figures (such as Arnold Schwarzenegger of California).

Some of these politicians have taken legislative stands to help promote alternative fuels and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Others are clearly hoping the American public does not investigate their true environmental records. For instance, Governor Schwarzenegger touts his environmentalism, but has accepted campaign money from big oil companies, and has opposed taxing said companies to help fund alternative energy research.

Meanwhile, those very big oil companies are also funding a think-tank that is offering phat cash to scientists willing to criticize the newly-released 2007 report on global warming released by the United Nations. Greenpeace, especially, has commented negatively on this development, although it may in fact lead to greater globalwarming awareness. Call it ‘link trolling’ for the scientific community.

The Associated Press, via Yahoo News, reports that private advocacy groups have found evidence of political pressure on government agencies to downplay awareness of globalwarming.

Further details of their findings are expected to be presented on January 30, 2007, to Congress.

As hearings on climate change begin, globalwarming statements by both Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and perennial Republican hopeful John McCain are expected. Each is expected to back increased globalwarming awareness, including mandatory greenhouse gas emission reductions, and each is involved in sponsoring 2007 legislation designed to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Government agencies accused by advocates of tampering with globalwarming reports include the White House Council on Environmental Quality, NASA and the EPA.

These accusations are in stark contrast to recent UN action related to globalwarming, including the 2007 release of new scientific findings on climate change.

Globalwarming advocates are well advised to maintain awareness of these 2007 hearings, and to write their congressional delegations to endorse support of important globalwarming measures.

Democrat Barack Obama, a first-term Senator from Illinois, has formed a presidential exploratory committee. His views on globalwarming and the environment seem promising on first glance.

• As a Senate candidate in 2004, Grist magazine touted his environmental cred.
• For the 109th Congress’ second session, the League of Conservation Voters gave him a rousing 100% rating. For the first session, he rated 95%.
• He voted against offshore oil drilling and against oil drilling in the ANWR.
• He is a member of the Senate Environmental and Public Works committee.
• he is in favor of conserving the Great Lakes.
• He is a Senate co-sponsor of the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which expressly addresses global climate change and globalwarming.

In 2007, globalwarming advocates should continue to raise awareness of Obama’s environmental stance, as he appears to be a strong friend to globalwarming foes. As a globalwarming advocate, he clearly has high potential to help us raise awareness of the growing threat in 2007 and beyond.

Also this weekend, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback announced his candidacy for US President in 2008. As far as his awareness of globalwarming issues in 2007, his Senate site and his voting record are not always in accord:

• Sam claims that energy, agricultural, and the environment are all important issues in Kansas, and while he doesn’t state this directly, each has a relationship to globalwarming.
• Sam speaks of progress made in limiting greenhouse gases, which are clearly a factor in globalwarming.

However, contrary voices exist to Sam’s official and sanitized-for-our-protection Senate site:

• The Anti-Sam Blog points out that one of Sam’s largest campaign funding sources is a notorious polluter/cause of globalwarming
• Sam voted to confirm Gale Norton as Interior Secretary.
• Voted AGAINST including oil and gas refinery smokestacks in anti-mercury regulations in 2005.
• Brownback’s highest score in the last 7 years from the League of Conservation Voters is 29%, due to approving drilling in ANWR and rejecting various environmental programs!
Clearly, Senator Brownback has low awareness of globalwarming issues or, to date in 2007, just doesn’t care about globalwarming’s impact on our nation, our economy, and our planet. Certainly, Kansas is safe from super-hurricanes, and a refugee surge to the state could easily triple its population and change its economy. Voters who care about globalwarming awareness would be best advised to raise his awareness!

As 2008 presidential candidates declare themselves, each will have a different stance on globalwarming; awareness of their 2007 positions is important in the event they need to be guided to more enlightened views by a voting population.

Hillary Clinton declared for president on Saturday. Her environmental record and past association with globalwarming poster-child Al Gore suggests that she has awareness of the threat of globalwarming, and will take favorable stances on the issues:

• Ms. Clinton voted to include oil and gas refinery smokestacks in anti-mercury regulations in 2005
• She voted against now former Interior Secretary Gale Norton, not known as a friend to anti globalwarming forces

However, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) have been reducing her rating year-over-year, with her approval rating falling from 95% in 2005 to only 71% in 2006. She agreed to off-shore oil drilling, although she voted against drilling for oil in the ANWR.

Friends of globalwarming in 2007 must raise Ms. Clinton’s awareness of this critical environmental and social issue. If she is not willing to defend our planet from globalwarming, she is not a good candidate for president.