Summary: Twenty five years ago this week, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska. Analysis of the long term consequences abound, from an admiring look back on NPR to a ‘follow the money’ approach at GRIST to a lament that the Arctic is at risk in The Guardian to a critique of short term thinking at the Motley Fool. Ted and DR try to think about the big picture for climate activists: Where do these singular, horrific events fit into the fight against global warming? [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/141840421" params="color=ff5500auto_play=falsehide_related=falseshow_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /] Massachusetts has a gubernatorial race underway, and most of the candidates met at historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston to discuss environmental issues. For climate activists, the main question to answer is the level of support each candidate has for Massachusetts’ best-in-the-nation Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020. You can read a summary of the candidate forum or see the whole thing if you were not able to make the event. (The discussion of carbon tax starts at 35:45.) The other interesting piece of news had to do with an agreement between Exxon Mobil and stockholder activists under which Exxon will provide a public assessment of the risk it carries due to climate change. The ThinkProgress piece is here. Even the coal giant Peabody Coal agreed to make similar reports. For clear statements in favor of divestment vs stockholder activism, look here and here. Next week, look for the IPCC report, but in the meantime, call youe Senator about the oil heat efficiency legislation ( see oilheatsaveenergy.org ) or your State Representative about H3873, which fights gas leaks. Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon. Thanks for listening. …Ted McIntyre Download Enhanced Podcast
