Comment from Kat Williams
January 13th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

I would love to see a wind farm 'planted' on the Cheyenne River reservation/South Dakota, one of the windiest & neediest communities in the United States. What a great economic stimulus package for them – energy, commerce and learning a skilled trade. I can't think of a better way to harness this movement in a forward thinking manner.

Comment from mercury
January 13th, 2009 at 8:11 pm

The re-establishment of our economy is crucial for all plans for development. This can run in tandem with securing our sources of energy and the prevention of global warming:

The prevention of global warming, energy independence,
and freedom from fossil fuels will need ALL of the following:

Portugal has led the way to the future in which we will need NO fossil fuels, coal (whether dirty clean coal or dirty dirty coal), gas, or nuclear power.

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!

The following needs to be more widely known:

The MOST important actions on prevention of global warming are STILL NOT being done:

1. Research into TIDAL POWER stations: America's Eastern and Western seaboards offer almost unlimited tidal power over 6000 miles.
The only such station in the Western Hemisphere is in Nova Scotia and that province already produces 12% of its electric power from renewable sources.
Hardly anything is being done in this direction in the USA.

2. Portugal has pioneered the way toward COMPLETE freedom from fossil fuels, using a combination of dams for hydro-electric power, solar farms, wind farms and harnessing WAVE POWER with "SEA SNAKES" (Pelamis). These ingenious scavengers of wave power, invented in Scotland, measure 150 metres in length and 3.5 metres in diameter. They each produce enough power to supply about 1500 HOMES, generating electricity by movement of their 4 sections about hinges. A cable along the seabed carries the energy to a substation on the shore.

Portugal had a goal to produce 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Two years ahead of schedule it is at 42% !
[CBC news.ca Oct.22,2008. - Also reported in UN Wire of Oct. 24th.]

America needs to catch up, and to catch up fast !

We need to change the mantra from "Drill baby Drill" to "Snake baby Snake".

3. Research into low cost electric cars and high speed rechargeable batteries. Tesla has already an excellent vehicle, but at too high a cost. We need cheap electric cars and these could easily be made, and would TOTALLY eliminate greenhouse gases from cars.
Any bail out or better, a loan, should be only for the manufacture of electric cars – Now is the time! The meeting of the "Big Three" with Senators has revealed that there is a move in this direction which needs to be strongly stimulated.

4. Prepare for recharge stations at service stations and consider an electric pickup through a groove in the main streets of cities. (Like the old trams).

5. Put an immediate ban on all new coal powered power stations, and phase out all of the old ones. Put an immediate ban on all mountain top blast mining for coal and on all industrial river pollution.

6. Put an immediate ban on any new nuclear power stations, and nuclear weapons.
Start to research better ways of disposing of nuclear waste The cost needed for nuclear power construction is staggering and far exceeds the cost of creating wind power and tidal power.
We certainly do not need any more Chernobyls or Three Mile Islands, and nuclear waste will not go away because we want it to. It is well known that the transport of nuclear waste is hazardous, and subject to accidents! The horror of ongoing irradiation of the inhabitants in the Marshall Islands and the innumerable deaths and devastating sickness following nuclear bomb testing, and the far from reassuring recognition that the ground will remain radioactive for 1500 years does not provide any reason for complacency regarding accidents in transport, at waste
dumps in volcanic areas, or at power plants, themselves!

7. Start the construction of large wind farms and solar farms. (The latter are best located in the southern desert states).
Denmark has shown the feasibility of building wind farms over the sea with turbines supported by pylons driven into the seabed. Even now, very little is being done in this direction in the USA.

8. Careful construction of dams for hydro power using technology to prevent a harmful impact on wildlife and drinkable water supply.

9. Accelerating the date requiring increased mileage rules for gas powered vehicles. Again the meeting of the "Big Three" shows a move in the right direction but falls short of the previously determined target of 35 miles per gallon.

10.Planting new forests and cutting back on lumber industry deforestation. Revelation that most of the Southern forests are in private hands suggests the need for some negotiation for protecting these forests.

11.Aid to foreign nations in need to achieve the above goals.

Cap and trade has done nothing to reduce greenhouse gases, and is merely an easy way out for the coal and fossil fuel industries.

We need action now! Global warming is here and now! The threat of inadequate water supplies is here and now!

Do not let as much as a single attempt at drilling to take place. The Republicans know how to obstruct and block. It is time for Democrats to take up the cudgel, and accuse, accuse, accuse!.

Big Oil is holding us back and dragging us down! We have lost our power of innovation!

Can we do this? Yes we can! Si se puede!

All of the above will provide abundant employment and will
be more than adequate to jumpstart the economy.

For 8 years we have been running an upside down economy which has built up a horrendous national and international debt.
Recent attempts to restart the economy by uncontrolled bail outs have resulted in inevitable failure and highly predictable consequences: The hoarding of donations of taxpayer's money. This has been a back to front effort.

To restore the economy, the FIRST OBJECTIVE MUST BE THE CREATION OF JOBS: Jobs produce products and earn money.
To produce products, materials must be bought and transported, thus creating more jobs. Transportation requires fuelling, oiling, maintenance and repairs of trucks, wagons, trains, rails and roads. Wages from all of these workers pays for food from stores and farmers – more workers and more wages to spend on rentals and ultra low interest mortgages on properties with depleted prices. Purchase of properties requires agents and attorneys. Thus the cycle is restarted. An initial impetus stimulus may be needed to start the creation of these jobs and may require an initial addition to the national debt.

The massive blunder of allowing the Bush Administration to have total and secret control of the bank bail out, which should have been under the absolute control of a Board appointed by, and supervised by Congress, resulted in the money being dropped into a black hole.

By contrast, using a bail out or loan to create jobs would produce cash flow. Once the cash flow is started it accelerates and hoarded assets become released to pay for employees, and products. The release of hoarded assets stimulates investment and increases in the value of shares in the stock market.
New businesses are opened. Electric cars are made and sold.

Once the economy is restored, the debt can be gradually paid off.

How think you?

Sincerely,

Ian Campbell Cree, MB(Hons.), MS, FRCS(Eng. & C.), FACS, LRCP.

Comment from Eileen Charles Hyatt
January 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

In four years, using adequate resources, we should learn how to recycle everything. Landfills should become goldmines, waiting to be converted into energy or products.
Wind and sun energy should provide heat and cooling to 25% of the homes and offices in the United States. Mobilize the commitment that people want to make.

Comment from Jeff Highbarger
January 13th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

This congress and the Obama administration must:

- first and foremost pass an economic stimulus package that will not only employ millions of americans but it must have with it an investment in american infrustructure that will include the foundation of a new more efficient and "smart" power transmission system. A system that not only increases energy efficency (our fastest way to reduce US carbon) but allows for the plugging in of american houshold and new renuable energy source we create in the coming years.

- second I want our administration to show the world that america is serious about global warming and pass some real legislation that should include a gradual increasing gasoline tax over the coming several years. This will provide not only funding for the research into more efficient vehicles and transport system… but will stimulate the american motorist to demand more efficiency in their vehicles.

- We must find a way to tax carbon emissions in the coming administration. It is the only way to lay a level playing field for renewable energies that, until they are scaled up, cost significantly more. This tax along with a big increase of research dollars going to US renewable energy research of all types. We must fund as many good ideas as we can to encourage innovation. Much like we have done with the biotech industry on the medical side.

I have many more ideas.. too many to list in this forum but this would be a great first year in my opinion. Now lets get to work!!

Jeff H.

Comment from Joe
January 13th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

I would love to have solar panels on my home that would provide electricity and heat for my home, as well as fuel my future all-electric vehicle. What we need is for this to be more available and affordable for the masses.

Comment from Charles Weber
January 14th, 2009 at 12:35 am

Pumping water with huge pumps out of rivers during catastrophic floods into clean gravel filled holes to raise water tables under arid regions should be a little advantageous and help considerably to alleviate drought areas. Using a clean stone base for roads instead of roadstone (stone mixed with sand and silt) would also be helpful as would porous concrete where shoulders are not possible. This would be especially directly advantageous to climate where the water table could be brought up within a meter or two of the surface as well as taking the edge off droughts to farms. A fringe benefit would be avoidance of destruction of down river farms and cities. 28% of the world’s land is too dry for agriculture, which is twice as much land that is suitable. So there is plenty of room for improvement.

The drought itself should be noticeably reduced if we manage our soils intelligently by increasing the depth, organic content, mulch cover, and design of our soils. There is no reason why we should allow rain water to surge almost instantly across the ground into the rivers and out to sea. Pumping it into reservoirs and ground water would have significant ameliorating climate affects as well as creating rain fall from the “lake effect” similar to that provided by the Great Lakes. There is no reason why moisture can not be translocated further inland than it is currently, especially with increased tree cover. You say that this would require us to put time into the project? Since when is this a valid objection when everyone complains that our unemployment figures are too high? Furthermore, I can think of no better exercise for those lazy senior citizens with the attendant health increase.

Comment from grajekk
January 14th, 2009 at 12:40 am

Cyclone Power Technologies has developed an engine that MUST replace the internal combustion engine if we are to survive. It can virtually stop global warming and pollution if we can get the government to support the technology. The engine was named the 2008 Invention of the Year by Popular Science, and Detroit stuck their noses up at them. The engine is fully scaleable, so it can be used in all machinery from weed trimmers, to cars, to generators in power plants, to ocean going ships. The company claims that in polluted cities, if cars had the cyclone engine, the air would actually be scrubbed as the engines ran.(they don't run when the car is stationary) Here's the website.. http://www.cyclonepower.com. By the way.. it is lubricated with water so no changing and disposal of waste oil. From talking with the company it seems there is, as much, if not more interest from foreign governments than ours, on this environmental savior, which is a true travesty. We need our government to open their eyes…

Comment from rmarksev
January 14th, 2009 at 12:43 am

If we are serious about energy independence and our environment, then we must pressure Congress to set these policies. If they have the courage to walk their talk and also include EDf in this as well, then these are musts. It is all about the future and not just today. Change will not occur unless we are forced to change our habits. This is logic, not emotion. Logic works, emotion is not enough. Are you prepared for these policies? I hope so.
“THE 8 POLICIES CONGRESS NEEDS TO SET NOW”

What Congress and the President must do:
1. The country needs an immediate $2 per gallon gas tax with the policy to increase the tax 50 cents each year for 6 years.
2. Congress needs to implement trade policy that levels the playing field with all nations we trade with.
3. Congress needs to implement economic stimulus plans based on buying American made products.
4. Congress needs to carefully look at all the issues American business faces setting up manufacturing in this country, streamline them, encourage them and help make it easier.
5. Congress needs to set energy policy that directly includes the American consumer in both the costs of a better environmental and a sustainable energy future.
6. Congress needs to put in place “tough love” for alternative energy by using a carbon tax on oil, coal or natural gas used in electricity generation. Make today’s alternative energy solutions, lower cost than status quo.
7. Congress needs to put in policy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Switch the nation to E25 (gasoline that is 25% ethanol) as the standard gas available. This results immediately on a path to reduce imported oil by 25%. The ethanol must be second generation ethanol, cellulosic ethanol.
8. Electric vehicles are going to happen and the US & in the World; we must not trade importing oil for importing batteries. Congress must put in place a major policy decisions to manufacture batteries in this country.

For more description visit http://EcoVElectric.blogspot.com

Comment from Thomas
January 14th, 2009 at 3:34 am

For well over 7,000 years mankind thrived on the planet Earth without all of the energies we take for granted today and upto the year 1900 world human population reached an estimated 2 billion people. Since the 1900's began upto present day 2009, human population stands at 6.5 billion people.
Thousands of years to reach 2 billion without these energies.
One hundred years for an additional 4.5 billion with these energies.
In a since, these 4.5 billion human being virtually materialized out of thin air with the advent of all these energies made availible to the masses.
The goal may not be to liberate ourselves from just those energies that are not – non polluting and renewable – the goal may be to liberate ourselves from all energies and get back to life on Earth as our ancestors new it. Haven't you every wondered "what if I could go back and do it all over again knowing what I know now?"
Pity about Earth.

Comment from Denise
January 14th, 2009 at 4:42 am

We need alternative energy sources (AES). It is paramount to our survival. We also need to do it very smartly.

The goal with AES should be to create them without an environmental impact. Isn't that the point?

For example, wind farms can not be located in the paths of migratory birds or insects nor can they be located close to bat colonies. There have been disastrous results from wind farms being established without enough research being done concerning the global and local impact of the location.

Hydro electric power can have a huge negative impact. Dams can create downstream disasters of huge proportions by destroying the natural flow and rhythms that exist along rivers and river valleys.

The point is that we need to establish AES without creating problems. We already have the people and brain power to get this done right once and for all. Now that is an energy source that we need to harness and create untold numbers of jobs at the same time.

Nuclear energy should be stopped and banned. Period. These energy plants need to be shut down and entombed world wide. Nuclear waste is deadly and there is no such thing as safe disposal any where. I was there when the Three Mile Island disaster occurred. There is nothing quite like listening to the radio when the emergency broadcast system comes on announcing it is not a test, stay tuned for details and evacuation plans. It's unfathomable that nuclear power plants even came into existence. What were they thinking? Incredibly short sighted and stupid.

The sun is obviously the best choice we have for powering the world. It's not going away, it's free and it's mighty. I'd like to see us put our dollars into safely harnessing the energy from this giant.

Comment from john
January 14th, 2009 at 10:43 am

I would first encourage those responding to consider the present economic crisis, the war on terror and global warming a "real war" and encourage you to read Sun Tzu's "Art of War". Many statements made there actually apply.

1) First, you can not tax the people extensively and plan on winning the "war on global warming, or create jobs or make a better life".
2) You should not go to war unless you are prepared, it will take real work and real money.
3) Going to "war" is the last thing you should do. You should attempt all efforts of diplomacy and even subversion first.

I would suggest the following.
A) Reduce our foreign overseas military expenditures immediately. We spend close to $2B every 48 hours this way.
B) Reduce Foreign Aid immediately.
C) Require the Military to switch to biodiesel immediately. The President has this authority now. Biofuels have been unrightfully accused of increasing food prices. Transportation is the biggest culprit behind food prices. Notice how the food riots have disappeared now that oil prices are down?
D) Require the Agriculture department to set up a program to support the growing of biodiesel related plants.
E) Follow Germany's lead and create real manufacturing jobs in the Alternative Energy area by passing "electrical net metering plus tarif" legislation. Thus home owners and businesses would be able to recoup their investment in Solar, Wind and other AE's more quickly. 7 to 10 years instead of 20 to 30 years. This legislation in Germany has led the way in creating jobs and addressing energy needs.
F) Improve electrical transmission. A smart system has demonstrated in tests of 2500 homes in Dallas to reduce transmission losses by 20% and improve service.
G) Drive a national based public transportation system. We have the rails in place. But simple train stations (three track plus cover allowing passage while loading and unloading) need to be built. It is much easier to do this then to build new highways and bridges and less costly. Look at the European system – it is electric in the cities and even on many city to city routes. By providing the electricity from Alternative Energies such as solar or wind, even remote areas could be pumping power into the transportation grid.

In summary, there are many good ideas, but it requires a strategic plan, implementation and support of the people. If you tax the people heavily, then the "war" will fail.

Comment from rubycakes
January 14th, 2009 at 11:26 am

Turn the Detroit 3 into manufacturers of high speed rail as well as electric cars. We should be able to travel to all the major metropolitan areas in this country by hi speed rail. You can travel the whole continent of Europe by rail and we should be able to do the same.

Comment from Brian Wegener
January 14th, 2009 at 11:51 am

I hope that all of this new infrastructure spending is used as an opportunity to significantly reduce stormwater runoff, the largest source of water pollution in this country. Through use of low impact development techniques like pervious pavement, bioswales, street trees, rain gardens, green roofs, and rain harvesting, we can go a long way to clean up our waterways restore our urban streams to their natural hydrologic function.

Comment from Monica
January 14th, 2009 at 12:09 pm

I agree with comments from concerned citizens that this country should become energy independent. We should follow successful examples of other countries (i.e., Portugal) and perhaps show other countries different methods of energy independence. We should not be ashamed to copy successful programs from other countries.

As I scanned these detailed comments, I missed seeing references to the protection and enhancement of wildlife, whether plant or animal, and their habitats. Wild life habitat maintenance, restoration, and reconstruction–whether in large tracks, in watersheds, or back-yard plots–would assist with energy independence.

Habitats and wildlife also blend with sustainable economic development.

Where viable wildlife populations exist, habitats must be maintained and be free from poaching (for illegal trade) and from invasion of displaced persons.

The Endangered Species Act must be restored and strengthened.

The Clean Air Act must be restored and strengthened, resulting in healthier people as well as air-breathing life forms. Yes, plants have respiratory systems, also.

The long-term goals of energy independence, global economic recovery, and peace among nations are tied to a healthy and diverse planet.

I do not expect this Congress and the new Administration to accomplish my wishes (and those of other concerned citizens) within President-Elect Obama's first four years in office. The task is too overwhelming; everyone must recognize that not everything can be done at once, even though we "expect that it will be done at once."

Good luck to the Obama/Biden team.

Comment from Lawrence Landherr
January 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Don't let Big Coal and Nuclear lobbyists steal the opportunity to wean America off from dirty souces of energy. Our Economic Stimulus money needs to go into the development of a Direct Current power transmission system that can move electricity from Wind Farms and Solar facilities to the places where it is needed. The desert southwest can produce more electricity than the U.S. can consume if PV systems are properly developed. The same applies to wind farms located in the states along the lee slopes of the Rocky Mts. Getting that power from the point of generation to the point of consumption should be the project the Federal Government completes. The Interstate Highway System and the Tennessee Valley Authority are classic examples of past successful projects of similar magnitude.

Comment from John Roberts
January 14th, 2009 at 1:19 pm

I would like not only the US government to fight the global warming but the American people to start to take action like we did in the 60's and 70's we all banded together a stood up and said NO. Where is the voice of America. It seems we have all taken a back seat. We at http://selfcoolingproductys.com are trying to wage a war against global warming. as each of our products are doing a small roll in saving energy. We all need to do more!

Comment from David Carter
January 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pm

What policies would give the greatest reduction in greenhouse gases? Conservation? Rail transit? Gas tax? Biodiesel? What has worked well in other countries? Lets use the influence of all this stimulus money to force through otherwise unpopular structural changes which will make the biggest difference.

Some solutions have risks, such as nuclear power, but look where France is on the per-capita energy map. Three times better than Portugal, but 10 times worse than Iceland. China has designed reactors which can't melt down, so it can be done in a way that is safer for people and the planet. Geothermal, tide and wave are best in suitable sites.

Some solutions have immediate benefits, like burning garbage (no full landfills). All chip fat should be disposed of in diesel engines. Japan has a policy of no new freeway construction; forcing citizens to use their excellent transit systems and curtailing urban sprawl. Heavy tax on gas and guzzlers should be phased in alongside decent bus and rail alternatives.

Comment from Dyana Keen
January 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Pass a federal law to ban horse slaughter in this country, and pass laws that stop the transport of horses from this country to other countries for slaughter.

Comment from stevewonder
January 14th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

"PEOPLE CAUSE POLLUTION–PEOPLE CAN STOP IT!" ('70's KAB slogan)
1) Push states (especially Southern, lower Northeastern and east of the Mississippi River states) to pick up litter/debris from public urban and rural properties on a TIMELY, QUALITY-driven basis.
Over 1,100 Americans are killed annually in litter/debris- related motor vehicle accidents (NHTSA stats).
2) Push states to adopt comprehensive recycling measures and beverage container deposits.
Sadly, only appox. 10 (ten) U.S. states currently do one of these, and/or both.
40 states need to get their acts together to start-up these two ecological protection procedures–especially, the 20+ Sunbelt states.
3) Push for MANDATORY environmental education in all school systems nationwide.
Test students on their environmental protection knowledge before getting the HS diploma/GED.
(again) "PEOPLE CAUSE POLLUTION–PEOPLE CAN STOP IT!"

Comment from Barbara Rogasky
January 14th, 2009 at 2:37 pm

Yes, "people cause pollution," and yes "people can stop it." But call me pessimist if you must, people are not going to stop it. Look at the increase gasoline sales as the price dropped–a very small proof of that there.

Seems to me that the Western World in particular but all the world in general will not stop doing all the things now being done in order to make the world a cleaner and "greener" place. In some countires and places, survival alone makes that true. In other "luckier"places (e.g. the West in general), greed, survival needs, and habit–one not necessarily stronger than the other–conjoin to make real, fundamental changes to make the earth a better and healthier place to live just about impossible to achieve.

I don't want to believe that, but history alone makes the belief unavoidable.

The whole world is in a mess. We're all responsible for that. Piecemeal or otherwise. Over long historical stretches.

Until and unless limited vision can be hugely replaced y historical awareness–the consequewnces of the past we all now live with–well, I simply cannot believe we can rescue the earth from what I see as its current dead end.

Does this mean "Doom, oh doom!"? Maybe it does. Not sure how to spell out that doom, but people, oh people, the voices here are individual, and an infinitely larger number than individual voices are crucial now to save this planet from the deadness we are approaching at topnotch speed.

Okay, so maybe I'm having a bad morning. But think about it, folks, think about it.

Comment from Margaret Eisenberger
January 14th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

I'd love to see a big part of the economic stimulus program be used for construction of mass transit. St. Louis, for example, needs to expand its MetroLink greatly to serve more of the region, but can't get a tax passed to support it and has recently even cut its service back significantly. Not only does this provide construction-related jobs but would also employ more people making the railcars, driving the cars, cleaning the cars, and allow people to get to more jobs in more areas without having to add more traffic to the roads.

Comment from Dolores B. Lynn
January 14th, 2009 at 3:38 pm

My wish is that whatever law is passed or modify by President Obama CAN NEVER be overruled by the next President or by members of Congress that have no understanding or willingness to understand the importance of saving earth and the wildlife within. Global warming is REAL we created it The Clean Air Act must be restored and strengthened with clearer meaning of what the intent is. It was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs, it was created to protect all. Flora, fauna, and human beings.

Comment from steve sherman
January 14th, 2009 at 4:29 pm

A mining reform act is sorely needed. "Topping" is one of the greatest "sanctioned" environmental disasters to ever be envisioned. The damage to our atmosphere done by burning coal is bad enough, but then to destroy the earth as well is just to much

Comment from Sharon Abreu
January 14th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Dear ED Friends,

My priority is a National Strategy for Sustainability.

You can vote for this Strategy (put together by a group of environmentalists around the U.S.) at:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/develop_implement_a_national_strategy_for_sustainability

The proposal is in 11th place out of more than 7,700 ideas submitted to Change.org’s competition. We're working to push it securely into the Top Ten before the voting ends at 5:00 pm ET tomorrow (Thurs. Jan. 15). If we can, it will receive national attention at a press conference at the National Press Club this Friday.

Please vote now by clicking on the blue Vote Number Box above the title "Develop & Implement a National Strategy for Sustainability" at the top left of the page. After you vote, the box should turn brown and say "Voted". If it doesn’t work the first time, please try again. Please ask others to vote as well.

Voting now will tell the Obama Administration that the U.S. needs a National Strategy for Sustainability, based on the need to make a full transition to complete sustainability as rapidly as possible.

It should include such things as green building practices, transitioning to sustainable renewable energy, protecting and restoring the natural environment, limiting toxic chemicals, investing in all types of green jobs, adopting sustainable business practices, educating for sustainable development, ensuring that all people’s basic human needs can be met, and integrating the work of artists, engineers, educators, and restoration scientists on infrastructure, restoration, and other sustainable community projects, etc.

We've got almost 400 Members on our FaceBook Cause Page "Create a Sustainable America". If you're on FaceBook please join the cause and ask your Friends
to join too. Anything you can do in these last two days to get out the vote is greatly appreciated.

See Rob Wheeler's featured story "Ideas for Change: A National Strategy for Sustainability" on Change.org’s Global Warming Blog at
http://globalwarming.change.org/. Right now it's about halfway down the page. You can vote from here as well.

Many of the papers/recommendations sent to the Obama Transition Teams, Appointees, and Advisors are now posted at: http://citnet.org/leadership/CallforUSstrategy.aspx.

Many thanks!

Sharon Abreu
Environmental Educator
Eastsound, WA

Comment from James Godsil
January 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

Urban Agriculture and Aquaculture: Asset Based Development for:

*Green Jobs

*Green Infrastructure

*Green Energy

Urban agriculture and aquaculture are ancient crafts making comebacks throughout the country as labor intensive, "high science" industries. Key to both, as developed by Will Allen's Growing Power team, are the transformation of urban waste streams into high value soil and fertilizer and the transformation of underused urban assets in our de-industrializing cities, e.g. underemployed citizens, vacant lots, empty industrial buildings, into value creating workers and fixed assets.

With urban agriculture, the city, it's people, its homes, buildings, and lots, is a solution!

Growing Clean Soil Through Composting: "Shovel Ready" Project Combining High Labor and High Science Inputs

Urban agriculture is based upon nutrient-rich, clean soil for raised bed and aquaculture food production in home, school, and community gardens, as well as in aquaculture systems in transformed industrial sites, barns, or greenhouses. This soil becomes compost when carbon based waste products, e.g. wood chips, leaves, cardboard, paper, are combined with nitrogen based ingredients, e.g. veggie wastes, coffee grounds, brewers mash. As these ingredients brake down, a rich material called humus is developed, which, when introduced to worms, yields "worm casting" fertilizer which serves as the highly nutrient medium that accelerates the growth of healthy plants as well as affords natural protection against pests.

Raised Bed Small Plot Intensive Food Production: Victory Gardens at Home, School, Church, and Community Green Our Soil Infrastructure

Raised bed food gardens help us address the issue of soil contamination in our urban centers. Potentially contaminated soil is "contained" by laying cardboard over it and applying enough pure compost that the roots of the plants never reach beyond the fresh compost soil. This methodology also affords the opportunity to turn asphalt and concrete surfaces into fertile fields. Let the city bloom!

Raised bed food production is an infrastructure investment of enormous energy saving potential:

*energy from urban waste streams not squandered in dump sites but stored in fresh, new soil!

*vacant city lots once a symbol of blight become a locus for worthy work, healthy food production, and dramatically reduced transportation costs re the food system

Aquaculture Systems Transform Idle Industrial and Farm Buildings Into Healthy, Green Based Protein Sources

Will Allen's Growing Power Aquaculture Systems raise tilapia or lake perch naturally, with three tiered simulated river beds that constitute close-loop systems exchanging energy from fish waste and sunlight or grow light to nourishing plant growth. The water is cleansed as it flows through the raised bed platforms. Value is created in the sale of both fish and plants. The heated water also reduces energy costs in the colder months.

Aquaculture and Raised Bed Agricultural Systems Can Help Jump Start The Economy, Cleanse the Environment, Reduce Carbon Imprint of the Food System, and Foster Urban Village Cooperation and Family Business

Will Allen's Growing Power in Milwaukee, in cooperation with the Great Lakes Water Institute, is the kind of long term investment projects that can play a key role in jump starting the economy, with "shovel ready," job and value building projects…

Vision:

Transform 10 old industrial buildings into 10 Growing Power Inspired Aquaculture Sytems in first 2 years of project.

Five year objective: 50 buildings

to be continued…

James J. Godsil
http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/Main/HomePage

Comment from Annette Kay
January 14th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

I am all for doing reasonable things to preserve our environment for HUMANS as well as the other lesser animals we depend on.

However, you completely leave reasonable, rational, logical, thinking people behind when you rattle on about "global warming" and "climate change." We have not had increased temperatures since 1998 and despite this, the fact that we are experiencing what it might be like to live in a world with global cooling, you continue to rattle on about what we can do to save ourselves from what MOST scientists believe is nonsense. The sunspot cycle is now going through a period of diminishing fury and we will be cooling off. Al Gore is well on his way to becoming a billionare because of his part in the carbon swindle and you ignore this aspect of the "global warming" mania.

Because this organization seemingly refuses to face reality regarding "global warming", you lack credibility in everything else you promote.

Comment from Mr. Jan Rooks
January 14th, 2009 at 10:57 pm

This suggestion is a win – win jobs project. Have two of the big three car companies build gas electric hybrid taxies; a sedan and a mini-van. The taxies would then be sold with a repayable subsidy to our big city taxi companies. The taxies should use ultra-capacitors for regenerative braking because they are much more efficient than batteries at taking a charge and discharge. The taxies also need batteries to run the accessories and drive short distances.

Besides the automotive jobs, the taxies also reduce gas consumption and greenhouse gasses in our major cities 18 hours a day instead of just a few commuter hours. They also provide demonstrations to the public on the merits of hybrids.

We also need a flexible tax of approximately $.50 a gallon to fund a lot of these projects and stabilize the cost of gasoline. As the price of crude rises and falls the tax would moderate the impact on the pump price. Also the law specifies that all future big city taxies need to be full hybrid vehicles.

This suggestion is based on seeing all the Toyota Prius and Siena and Plymouth minivan taxies in Vancouver and Seattle and reading about ultra-capacitor hybrid electric busses in a NASA Glen Research Center, OH study in 1998 and other trade magazines. Later converting delivery vehicles, busses and garbage trucks to hybrid electric drive would be a continued triple win for subsidy projects.

I have been writing my Michigan Senators for years on this topic without even a response.

Troy, MI

Comment from Sherie Hubble
January 14th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

1) Reverse all of the 11th hour environmental destruction that Bush is implementing before he leaves office.

2) Initiate strict pollution level laws.

3) Develop a program that supports a policy of creating self-sustaining buildings and homes.

4) Create a Global Warming Committee that educates people about the reality of global warming. If people deny that it exists then nothing can be done to contain it. I for one, am tired of evacuating from my home every year when wildfires run out of control in Southern CA. We had one major santa ana driven wildfire in 1970, then in the past 8 years we have had innumerable fires all thru out S. CA. We're watching the chaparral turn into weeds and grasses and the trees die. If that's not climate change, I don't know what is.

5) Unpopular though it may be, a major effort needs to be underway to encourage Zero Population growth. Most of our problems are directly due to the explosion of humans that are all trying to use the earth's resources and as big as this earth seems to be, it can't keep up with such a greedy species as ours. What happened on Easter Island? What happens when locusts swarm? I, frankly, think that this is the major problem, over global warming, war and everything else. What happens when you put too many rats in a cage together? They become violent and start eating each other.

Comment from nick arguimbau
January 15th, 2009 at 3:20 am

I hear it's been unseasonably warm along the California coast lately. Here also. See the local forecast, below. Everything is relative..

I'm gainfully employed. And the wood furnace is keeping the house snug. and the kitty sits on the keyboard and purrs. Life could be worse.

Nick

Warwick, MA Weather Forecast

3:23 PM EST WED JAN 14 2009

TONIGHT – Cloudy. A chance of snow after midnight. Lows around 7 above. West winds around 5 mph this evening – becoming light and variable. Chance of snow 50 percent.

THURSDAY – Snow – mainly in the morning. Total snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. Highs around 14. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of snow 90 percent.

THURSDAY NIGHT – Mostly clear. Much colder with lows around 10 below. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chill values as low as 15 below.

FRIDAY – Partly sunny. Cold with highs around 10 above. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. Wind chill values as low as 22 below.

FRIDAY NIGHT – Mostly cloudy. Cold with lows around 6 below. West winds around 5 mph. Wind chill values as low as 15 below.

SATURDAY – Partly sunny. Cold with highs 10 to 15.

SATURDAY NIGHT – Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow after midnight. Cold with lows around zero. Chance of snow 30 percent.

SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT – Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Cold. Highs in the mid 20s. Lows around 10 above.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY – Partly sunny. A chance of snow in the morning. Cold with highs in the mid 20s. Chance of snow 30 percent.

MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLD. LOWS AROUND 5 ABOVE. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.

WEDNESDAY – Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 20s.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

Warwick, MA Current Weather Conditions

Orange, Orange Municipal Airport, MA, United States (KORE) 42-34-18N 072-16-39W 164M

Jan 14, 2009 – 06:52 PM EST / 2009.01.14 2352 UTC

Wind: Variable at 3 MPH (3 KT):0

Visibility: 10 mile(s):0

Sky conditions: overcast

Temperature: 9.0 F (-12.8 C)

Dew Point: -9.0 F (-22.8 C)

Relative Humidity: 42%

Pressure (altimeter): 30.11 in. Hg (1019 hPa)

Pressure tendency: 0.05 inches (1.7 hPa) higher than three hours ago

Comment from Dr. Shane
January 15th, 2009 at 10:32 am

14) Abolish Nasa, they are the greatest contributors to global warming by their searing holes into the atmosphere every time they shoot a space ship up through it. Also we need their money for the U.S.A.’s POOR PEOPLE!!!!!~~

Dr. Shane

Comment from michaelp
January 15th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

I would be interested in where Congress stands on providing significant tax incentives/credits for individuals to deploy solar and wind generation as an alternative to coal fired power plants.
Can you give us an update on the state of tax credits for individuals?

Comment from Mike Kernagis
January 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

I was really pleased to see Passive House construction get some play in the NY Times a few weeks back. So were many others, judging by the fact that it was their second-most widely emailed article of the week. I was, however, disappointed that Passive House development here in the US was given such scant attention, limited to one recent project in California. Had one taken the time to contact the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), one would have discovered that: a) we have been building to the standard here in the US since 2003, b) we have successfully built in a wide range of climates, c) requisite components are becoming available here, d) Passive Houses have been built and sold for low-income housing programs here, e) Passive Houses can indeed "work in a shady valley(…) or on an urban street with no south-facing wall" and finally, f) there is a vibrant and rapidly expanding movement of U.S. building professionals who are working to realize the great promise that Passive House construction holds for our economy, our energy needs, our workforce, and our environment.

Mike Kernagis
Passive House Institute US

Comment from Mary Delahunt
January 15th, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Please pass the safer alternatives for cleaning products bill. We also need to have green nursing homes and assisted living facilities for the increasing number of people who are sensitive to toxic chemicals and fragrances. Some people are so severely affected by these products such as pesticides, fabric softeners, and Windex that they are forced to sleep in their cars or on their porches. I personally had to sleep in a tent for 2 months. The need is great for some right now and there will be a greater need in the future as we age.

Comment from chris sharp
January 16th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

I`ve heard about a company that has developed a biodegradeable resin that could be used to help eliminate the plastic we are filling our landfills and oceans with. It is made from wheat,nobody grows grain like americans,we need to find out about this wheat science and put this science to work as soon as possible.if anyone can find out who this company is ,we need to spread the news.!!!

Comment from Clyde Lofton
January 17th, 2009 at 9:44 pm

I want to see many more wind turbines across this grand land in the next four years. Preferably wind turbines manufactured and sold by both PacWind and WindTerra.
Also, I'd like to see the needed improvements in battery technology for electric cars of our future, and natural gas and electric hybrid vehicles that T. Boone Pickens would envision many of us using!

Comment from Stephanie Sigerfoos
January 18th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

I believe that most of our problems that are causing this recession can also be tied into what is causing global warming. Our dependence on oil is a threat to both our planet, our pocket books, and our security as a nation. We need to be dependent upon the renewable resources that we have on this planet. Wind and solar power are the two most important that come to mind. These resources are not going to "run out" and they do not poison the planet in the way that other sources of energy do.

Using materials that are food sources (such as corn) are not the answer either. There are people starving everywhere around the globe, even in our own nation. The introduction of this has already started to make food prices spike globally. That is not even mentioning what would happen if the corn belt of this country had a few bad years. This "clean coal" idea is ridiculous to me. There is no such thing as "clean coal". Please don't mislead the nation into thinking it is green energy. It's not.

I would really like to see a big push for solar and wind energy in this country. It is already in use in many places and it is working! The government needs to give homeowners and businesses incentives like tax credits to help push these into the mainstream. It could create jobs, help us all keep a little more money in our pocketbooks, help to clean up the planet, and help to end this nations dependence on energy sources from unfriendly nations. This is the nation that has lead the way in so many other fields. It is an embarrasement that we should not be the leader in new technologies for energy. Please help make this world a better place for my children and their children!

Comment from Dr. J. Singmaster
January 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pm

It is gray waste messes to turn into charcoal jobs and economy that has to be gotten to Obama's attention. We are losing the battle to keep our water supplies free of the germs, toxics and drugs escaping from ever-expanding massive messes of organic wastes and sewage. I have posted several times on Green Room warnings of these messes pointing out that they can be a resource in the battle against GW. Present handling of them lets most of the trapped biochemical carbon to be biodegraded to needlessly be reemitting GHGs mainly carbon dioxide. No one at ED seems to understand this basic biochemical fact of nature. If someone did, ED would be calling for using the pyrolysis process on those messes,which I have detailed in e-mails to many of the ED staff.
Pyrolysis, the process to make charcoal, will destroy just about all the germs, toxics and drugs in the messes, while some of the energy to fire the process can be recovered
in electricity via turbochargers and heat exchangers. Somehow nobody among thousands of "environmentalists" seems to understand the fundamental process of biodegrading of organic wastes as being a needlessly source of GHG emissions that can be controlled by calling for a charcoal jobs program. Dr. J. Singmaster

Comment from Crispin Pierce
January 19th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

My hope is that we recognize the extremely dangerous health and economic risks that global overpopulation poses. I urge our country to remove the global "gag rule" preventing US-supported clinics from discussing abortion, to support family-planning efforts worldwide, and to support the empowerment of women to become educated, hold jobs, own land, and run for public office.

Comment from mercury
January 24th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

There are many wonderful ideas expressed in the above comments, and the controlled use of flood waters would be a boon to dry States and to states subject to flooding. I am not sure that pumps would always be necessary. As long as the land was level floods would cause water to flow through pipes or canals to the dry areas.
Mike Kernagis comments interestingly on Passive Houses without explaining exactly what they are.
Of greater interest would be the construction of tornado and hurricane proof homes. One such home survived Hurricaine Ike, while all the homes around were flattened.
It has always puzzled me why more attention has not been addressed to this problem when so many homes have been destroyed annually from this cause for at least a hundred years.
Annette Kay appears to be a lone survivor of the belief that global warming is not really happening and that "a majority of scientists believe that global warming is nonsense", when exactly the opposite is the case – the majority is on the other side. It is interesting how successful the brainwashing by Big Oil can be! I suppose that the melting of the polar ice caps, glaciers and mountain snows is occasioned by fairies flying over and producing too much heat by the flapping of their wings.
Grajekk talks interestingly of Cyclone Power without a full description of what this is, but it sounds a little like the hydrolysis of water forming instant hydrogen?
I must look that Company up. The electric cars seem to be gathering steam (metaphorically speaking), and plugin.org describes a show in which no less than 75 different electrically powered vehicles were displayed. I commend Green Room for this valuable site.

Comment from sandysanders
January 26th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Our ecological problems are holistic to our entire dysfunctional civilization at this time. Therefore solutions are, like ecology, holistic to entire system reform. Under this circumstance the following 12 point plan of reforms is suggested:

1) Green New Deal. (Subsidized rooftop solar fueling the grid regionally & hooked to hydrogen tanks locally; wind, geothermal, wave and cogeneration; and no nukes, no coal, no toxics! Subsidize bike usage, de-subsidize personal automobile use.)

2) Lobbying Reform: Eliminate corporate personhood.

3) Monetary Reform: Re-regulate markets and nationalize the monetary system with accurate tracking of real resources to fund all banking activity. Dismantle the phantom currency monetary system.

4) Vote Reform: Invent a fool proof voting, election and citizen participant democracy reconfigured from our current system. Return all voting, except constitutional reform, to be based upon simple majority vote.

5) Earth Charter: Sign the Earth Charter and implement completely with 10 years.

6) Work Place Reform: Reduce the full time work day to 20 hours a week; stop taxing labor, start taxing carbon, natural resouce usage and toxicity; instittue mandatory fractional employee ownership of all businesses (this can be in lieu of, or in additional to, under conditional provisions, but would be institution of proportional sharing profits with ownership and management.

7) Health Care Reform: Install Single Payer Health Care.

Pension Reform: Refurbish Social Security as a universal penson system so the private sector can't use it for gaming the Wall Street Casino. And stop borrowing from it!!!!

9) Tax Reform: Refurbish the IRS with contemporary computers and enough resources to recover the 200 billion a year in lost revenues obsconded by the wealthy. Stop taxing labor and start taxing carbon, natural resource use and toxicity.

10) Defense Department Reorganization: Reduce Defense Dept. budget by 90%, create a Dept of Peace, and withdraw from all wars and bases in foriegn countries who democratically vote by simple majority to have our troops removed.

11) Transportation Reform: Create a new national high speed train system with multiple parallel tracks separate from shipping traffic. Work together with regional transportation agencies to make all local public transportation free.

12) Media and Internet Reform: Institute our airwaves and internet to become non-profit public infrastructure. The internet would be cabled to be freely provided to all citizens and 50% of bandwith access will be sold to commercial business. The internet would cabled to be freely provided to all citizens and 50% of bandwith access will be sold, at profit to us, to commercial business. Likewise all public airwaves will be public property with non-profit citizen use will occupy 50% while the other 50% will be sold, at profit to us, to commercial businesses.

Comment from lgdicus
January 27th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

I know that there are a lot of priorities that may seem more important than thess ideas but I think they deserve a good hard look. We talk about economic stimulus packages, bail-outs and the type of requirements that should be built-in in order for businesses to get help from the government. We talk about tax incentives for established businesses, the need for new jobs and how long these things will take – mostly dependant upon re-tooling factories.

I want us to add another facet to these considerations. Let's support businesses that are willing to make a commitment to products that are built to last. Items that can be repaired at a lower cost than replacing a perfectly good item that now ends up in our landfills. Items that can be upgraded in a service shop rather than throwing out the old to take advantage of new and improved editions. Give these businesses incentives to create repair services and train staff to do those repairs. Adding another "R" to the 3 R's – repair – will make a big dent in some of the problems we face today. I truly believe this.

Let's also support businesses that make a commitment to the "built in America" sticker that used to be a major selling point, one that stood for quality. Let's support businesses that focus on using local materials and markets, and using green transport companies.

And let's stomp down hard on the areas of the country that have no recycling programs in place. And stomp down hard on areas of the country who limit their "we recycle!" to newspaper and aluminum cans. Oh, yeah… and those recycling trucks that spew plastic bags, bottles and cans along their routes? Give 'em tickets for littering!

Comment from flwrgirl66
January 29th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

I am a native Californian and since my youth I have watched as the land has slowly been devoured by over development and massive malls so people don't have to travel far to shop.

It is horrible that as a nation we are allowing corporations to take over with mas consumerism stores like Wal-Mart. It is critical to the future of our country and the world that we stop the current trend of paving over forests and wet lands for consumers and corporate greed.

To me the top priorities to stop environmental corruption are:
1) Mas Transit- Make it greener, more convenient and offer incentives to tax payers willing to park and ride. Offer tax breaks to states that make mas transit a priority
2) Levy greater taxes against companies who aren't striving for greenability. Penalize companies and corporations who over use electricity, water and have large amounts of waste. I get so frustrated when CA residents are expected to experience power outages or brown outs because we are conserving energy when Wal-Mart is lit up greater that 1,000,000 christmas trees!
3) Protect and rehabilitate forests and wet lands to promote healthy environments for wild habitat and the production of oxygen.
4) Force car makers, oil companies and gasoline manufactures to pay some of their profits to the school districts to fund music, art, and gardening.

I get so furious that more has not been done sooner. That green house gases, global warming and natural resource issues have not been at the fore front all along.

It makes so much sense to me to start back at the basics.

As for the economy, maybe it is time to start bartering with one another again back before corporate greed and industrialization ruined capitalism.

Comment from elisabeth
January 31st, 2009 at 6:12 am

I was wondering if the Obama administration has said anything about asking the military to become more green. This is one place where the President absolutely has the authority to demand changes in practice, and actually, under the right orders, the military can be quite efficient at implementing change.

I was thinking for instance of the inordinate amount of jet fuel the Airforce uses, and how much that contributes to greenhouse gases.

If Obama wants to show me he is serious about going green, he should start with the military.

Comment from Adonis
February 10th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

Imposing new Universal values respected commonly by all countries and all people despite of what race, nationality or religion could proove not only wise but also a binding rule under which the kingdom of men could unite as one if unexpectedly needed.

If achieved the bonding of our species as 1 under a set of moral values commonly respected and apreciated by all could be the key of the success in our evolution.

Lets make NATURE the 1st Universal value respected and protected by all people.We should if we want to survive,
and we should because we owe it and its also worth it.

UNIVERSAL VALUE can be any moral value which is naturally apreciated and respected by all people worlwide.

If we include Nature into our Economic system wisley, moraly and cleverly we could surcrifice certain things, now for something that could exist both our expectations and imagination.I think that the combined advanced intelligence we now have and a set of conious moral values
can help reset the necessay Universal values that could slowly create the world we all want to and deserve!

Today every time we pick up the paper to read the news and see hundred pages of bad news and maybe one to two pages with articles of a sweet story of a child being saved or a cute cuff being born, or even a cure found, and which are also the only good news but also create a mirage in our consciousness for the real picture, which is, how many millions of innocent people and children fall as war victims or die out of hunger and diseases, how many people live without food, water and medicine, sometimes from diseases we created our selves. How much time do we have left to save our planet? How cruel and immoral we are to Nature and the other species. Not to mention the economic crisis, the corruption scandals etc, etc, etc. In Fact if I go on maybe 100 pages would not be enough. Maybe its better if we don’t buy the paper anymore, save the Trees.

Comment from Adonis
February 11th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

I salute certain significant figures that help people become aware of the divinity of our planet and the explanation of the ingenious and intelligent system of our Planet and Nature. I also salute U.S President Barrack Obama for setting the environmental issue as one of his main priorities in the extremely difficult line of tasks that lay on his desk. I see him as a man with incredible courage and true spirit and fair, a man who understands moral values as well as the essence of life and is very intelligent. I believe in him and feel that is not a coincidence that his moral values and courageous spirit at such critical times are touching the souls of billions of people around the world. We should all pray for him and other leaders that acknowledge the need of ethical and values and wish them courage and wisdom for their road ahead! Sighing Kyoto would be a good start!!!
The Era of the Aquarius is the Era of Hope, Spirituality, Wisdom and Devine awareness

Aquarius; a new Era with Springs of Devine hope that evolution and development can derive to us as moral and conscious Intelligence and who we may be entitled to develop to a higher spiritual level!

The proclaimed beginning of our new era is a big hope that Conscious evolution is going to be proved as the beginning of the era of the Aquarius. This is the time of reentering into the concept of spirituality and the beginning of a hope for a higher Sense of things! The Evolution that derives into our Consciousness just by processing other attributes like Moral Consciousness, Moral intelligence, valor love and respect. The same attributes that ancient civilizations we recall as legends, concede as vital to reward their higher consciousness for allowing them to enjoy and preserve the harmony and order of their Natural world by keeping the power as knowledge and not abuse but also in alliance with wisdom and love.

Attributes that helped our new civilizations to created positive attitudes and set certain important values that helped us improve for as long those values stood moral and high and our commitment to them remained noble and true! Most of those values today are sunk into the depths of our souls, because our connection with them has long been forgotten. This Era is a very positive Era for Humanity and all life, most probably the Era of our most vital test as a species.

Could we in that transit period find that the reason and purpose of our species existence is far more important and valuable that we ever imagined or thought?

Probably the idea that a Positive part of the Universe may somehow count on us and the fact that we consciously acknowledge its existence.

Could this be a time chosen for us, to determine our own Destiny, or also the Destiny of all life as we now know it, or the destiny of all life on this planet?

Why not even something higher than that? A time we chosen for us from a higher power to test if we are a successful and worthy part of the Universe or if we will vanish completely or turn into dark matter?

Can we take it that Nature has given us a chance because somewhere deep inside we are still moral.

Can we use our moral judgment adopt our actions and become a positive part of Nature and life cycle by introducing new Economic systems that are not exploiting our Natural world in such an unfair manner but also invest in it and give back to it more than we take to show our respect and make up for our negative impact?

Can the challenge to save our planet be a challenge from nature to see if we are still part of it or not, or would it be wise to stop taking for granted the privileges that Mother Nature gifted us and ask ourselves if we are given them to serve a specific reason or even a specific purpose?

Can we recreate order threw values and become a positive part of our planetary system and Nature?

Could moral thinking and moral order be considered as one of the most important human traits and attributes needed to help life and push our direction to a higher sense of things?

Can we by helping life and nature, succeed maintain the harmony needed for our planet to be willing to reward us for proving to act like an improved species?

If we hypothesize that our planet and life is an important part of a higher and more Devine Hiriearcical system which is sourced and directed threw a higher intelligence and order, could the existence of this system be within our whole solar system?

Can Order and Universal intelligence hierarchically exist between all planets of our solar system and how Devine can this be? Or could our solar system be part of our Galaxy and so maybe our Galaxy is the part of the Universe? Could this be that if we prove noble moral and wise we one day in thousands of years from now as a successful part of our Devine system, start feeling that we have been allowed to dream and hope that we can serve successfully in the order of our Galaxy while our success could be rewarded fairly in a balanced Galactic system where we are a big semi Devine conscious part of it?

Why do we consider alien life so alien could it be that there are other civilizations even far more advanced and more friendly that ours living or existing in other galaxies?

Could threw moral intelligence and Conscious Evolution prove worthy of our planet and eventually open the gates to the Unknown or the Pillars of Paradise? Another planet which it is in its pure Natural stage and where we can wisely carry life there as an Improved species with much more wisdom and charm if we ever need to leave our majestic Earth?

If we know that the water, water temperature, plants, animals, air, light and soil all work together. to create our ecosystems and also that our ecosystems are vital for the existence of all life why aren’t all people informed and educated of their significance so we can make a rightful conscious choice on how we perceive them or act upon them. Why should the few decide the fade of our whole species as well as the whole planet by insisting to impose our negative impact on Nature threw are now saturated, hostile and in many occasions today corrupted Economic system.
Maybe this Economic crises was not just a coincident, maybe is our chance to prove to our planet and the Universe we are a successful life form and not just a destructive one.
Also to remind ourselves that we have inside us other attributes than Greed and quest for power for the selves, that we have valor, we respect life, that we love, and that we can live free no matter how many we are, ten billion or twenty as long as we reach a state of consciousness that can be common and reached by all people.
Our imagination and curiosity will always exist as long as we exist unless if we ever reach a Devine state where everything is explained. Nobody can doubt today human nature has a tendency to create and progress but at least we can start by making our materialistic world less materialistic by creating only wise materialism.
Reality today is that elephants are murdered for the Ivory, Sharks are killed for the Fin soup and other products, Dolphins are sick from pollution, and Gorillas are literally brutally murdered. I saw the brutality we use to slaughter the seals and I felt nothing could shock and move me more. Unfortunately I saw worse and believe me you don’t want to witness the actions we perform to kill Whales for their oil and other nutrients.

Some people do not even wonder any more every time they pick up the paper to read the news and see hundred pages of bad news and maybe one to two pages with articles of a sweet story of a child being saved or a cute cuff being born, or even a cure found, and which are also the only good news but also create a mirage in our consciousness for the real picture, which is, how many millions of innocent people and children fall as war victims or die out of hunger and diseases, how many people live without food, water and medicine, sometimes from diseases we created our selves. How much time do we have left to save our planet? How cruel and immoral we are to Nature and the other species. Not to mention the economic crisis, the corruption scandals etc, etc, etc. In Fact if I go on maybe 100 pages would not be enough. Maybe it’s better if we don’t buy the paper anymore, save the Trees.
Yet again we don’t care, we carry on with our lives and as long we have fish or cow on our table and all other “comforts “we are fine. We are fine with the idea that certain things are not right. Like wars, corruption scandals, certain species of Whale and Elephant population is extinct up to 90 % and that more than half of the species of animal kingdom run a great risk to reach full extinction in the near future, also that half of our forests that produced the 25 % of the oxygen we breath and refresh the composition of our atmosphere has vanished because we consciously or unconsciously pollute them, burn them, or exploit them to roof and furnish our new homes, and the waste of our foods and other “necessities” are so vast that millions of tons of polluted garbage are released into the rivers, oceans and lands destroying the priceless in importance as well as money ecosystems of our own Planet. All environmental Scientists and other Scientist are very wary and clear on the lines that by doing so we also directly negatively affect our Nature system.
Today we attack our whole planet’s Natural operating system with every means possible and have the nerve to say and to expect that we can discover a new planet until we completely destroy our own.
Did ever occur to us that it’s that destructive side of us that is blocking our way into the unknown, and that maybe Life, God, or Universal intelligence would not allow us to find another planet unless we ethically and morally consciously mature and prove we are worthy of the life and the planet we have ? If we continue proving to be a destructive life form towards our Natural system especially now that we think we are in a developed stage of evolution then it means we would be would be destructive to any natural system in the quest for power, greed and materialism. The only thing we miss in our conscious life today is that we are a part of that system. That of course doesn’t mean that we should walk on the safety of our streets and think we are a part of that system but we definitely ought to think of all that for a while and then we can find out who we really are or who we really want to be.
To put things right I say that right now we proved to be the only part of the whole life system of nature that is constantly immorally and consciously destroying and exploiting life without giving anything back but pollution and we are now doing it in a significant level that we can in the very near future ignite the system to collapse. We are basically not only useless but the enemy of our mother nature and our own Planet.
We may seem like the disease on our planetary system but are also the ones chosen to decide and define all mankind’s fade and History! With the right spirit and attributes we can make the right choices be our own doctors, help heal ourselves unite with common moral ideals and prove useful life, Nature and our planet again .and while achieving that, find that we are also achieving a higher purpose without feeling proud, but something even greater than that!