How many life threatening storms and floods and droughts can we survive?
Many of us are frightened by the drastic changes we have seen in our climate.
Climate Change and Fiscal cliff: Two enormous problems. Both are everyone’s problems and we all need to sacrifice and work together to solve them. Now that the price of gas has decreased $ .46 in the past 9 weeks, I am calling on Congress and President Obama to raise the gas tax. Also, we need a commitment from everyone to reduce our fossil fuel consumption by eliminating one automobile trip a week through carpooling, using public transport, combining trips, or walking/biking. Lack of demand would lower the price of gas even more!!
The costs of hurricanes, floods and drought are staggering. And the costs to the victims, and all of us through reconstruction and insurance is becoming enormous. The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut put the cost of Hurricane Sandy at 82 Billion!
I propose a temporary 50 cent tax on gasoline. Not only would this cause individuals to drive less, it could create jobs to work on our crumbling infrastructure, research for more efficient vehicles, transit, and incentives for cleaner air.
The New York Times makes a plea for investment into our infrastructure:
A gas tax increase of $.50 would put a stimulus into our economy, and make a big difference for the health of our earth. It would be an enormous leadership move FORWARD, demonstrating to the rest of the world we take stimulus and climate seriously. It is time to work towards a national goal, to use less fossil fuels and make the world a healthier place for all. This could be the magic wand for the fiscal cliff.
Links about climate:
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/182458211.html Sack Cartoon
http://www.climatewatch.noaa.gov/article/2012/summer-2012-brought-record-breaking-melt-to-greenland
http://blog.ucsusa.org/president-obama-keep-your-promise-to-our-children-commit-to-making-the-half-the-oil-plan-a-reality/?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tw&utm_campaign=tw
http://current.com/green/89670079_raise-the-gas-tax-argues-thomas-friedman-of-the-new-york-times.htm
http://www.climatewatch.noaa.gov/image/2012/november-2012-u-s-climate-update-word-of-the-month-is-dry
http://www.ucsusa.org Union of Concerned Scientists
Health4earth 