Convener: Cathy Stricker Scribe: Diana Woodall
Table I 1 pm
Attendees: Bishop Dansby, Paul Longmaker, David Crider, Ben Wyse, Cathy Strickler, Diana Woodall, Jeff Tang, Josh
The following is a compilation of ideas and comments from the group: The effort needed for institutional change is greater than the effort needed for individual change. Change needs to happen at the local, state, national and international level.
The economics of climate change is already impacting peace, or lack thereof, in other countries. There should be a higher fuel tax, but it would be extremely unpopular politically. This brings up the question whether there is even the will among politicians who want to be re-elected to take the necessary, though unpopular steps. Perhaps the pressure needs to start at the local level–how can we as citizens be leaders?
JMU has a project called 25 by 25 which is an effort to have at least 25% of energy come from renewable sources by 2025.
Climate Action Alliance of the Valley is a local organization whose mission it is to educate the public and stay in contact with legislators, eg Warner and Webb.
Columbia University has a study, available on the web, on how to communicate effectively on Climate Change.
In February, on Democracy Now, it was reported that there has been a 300% increase in the number of lobbyists on global warming, with alternative energy lobbyists being outnumbered 8 to 1. There is still a large % of the public that either doesn’t think global warming is happening, or doesn’t think it’s a result of human activity.
One person spoke about being interviewed in the DNR as a member of a voluntary gas tax group, and afterwards “I was nearly tarred and feathered”. Is there really going to be the political will to make the change necessary?
One woman from Iraq said it’s a two way street: some politicians have told the people that global warming isn’t happening, it’s all imagination, and now people don’t want to hear anything new or different. Politicians need to be educated, the grassroots needs to be educated and mobilized, so work from both directions. It’s not only the problem of lobbyists, but who funds the politicians.
Also, as we saw in the most recent local election, young people don’t think they can make a difference (by voting.)
On a national level, a Climate Change bill has passed the house, and we in Virginia could make a difference by contacting Warner and Webb, who have both been sitting on the fence, to make sure it passes in the Senate.
We need to be careful not to appear to be single issue or narrow-minded (Warner had responded to a question from Strickler with “You environmental folk. . .” ) Apparently Webb is getting calls 2 to 1 against the climate bill–we need to mobilize people the way the Obama campaign was able to mobilize people to get the grassroots. Webb needs to hear that he represents the people of VA, not WV, and this bill would create jobs that will stay in VA.
To get a free copy of the report from Columbia on how best to talk to people about climate change, go to:
http://www.cred.columbia.edu/guide/
Anyone interested in meeting with a small group for one or two meetings to discuss the guide please contact Cathy Strickler at ccsces2000 [at] msn.com or 434-8690.
Climate Action Alliance of the Valley: caav [at] gmail.com
25×25 at JMU: http://www.jmu.edu/iees/25×25.shtml
Two of us are interested in meeting one or two times and discussing the Columbia report
