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The council, however, rejected a resolution to approve the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement by a 3-2 vote with Alder Miller voting in the negative along with Suslick and Kugle and Peter and I voting voting Aye. In retrospect, I feel badly that I did not try to make a stronger case for this resolution because it was somewhat erroneously portrayed. The resolution did not require a complete understanding of the Kyoto Protocol or any other international agreement. To the contrary, the resolution urged some state and national action but mainly focused on local action:
1. urged "the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012";
2. urged "Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation";
3. committed the city to "strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities" and enumerated 12 specific steps that can be taken locally [the Kyoto Protocol called for a 7% reduction in the US by 2012].
I'd like to think that we just did not lay the ground work properly for this resolution.
I'm watching the large "Monona Water Utility" truck being driven around this morning by the guy reading meters. This is an activity that could be done just as well (or better!) in a small car or even an NEV.
ReplyDeleteHEY!
ReplyDeleteCan we pass a resolution to impeach BUSH?
I mean...we need to start working on something that we can control.
Impeach bush is a good start.
right?
You want a peach bush? I think they grow on trees.
ReplyDeleteUsing sarcasm in a written message is always risky because the reader doesn't get all the nonverbal clues and can't tell whether it's sarcasm or not.
ReplyDeleteKyoto Protocol?
ReplyDeleteWhat control do we have over stuff like this.
I mean it just blows my mind that the council is talking about this one.
How about you go first throw away your AC, fridge and freezer? THe rest of town will follows...
Thus, why not have the council vote on impeaching bush? HEY, we can do something about this one. I am certain congress will listen and take note.
OR-work on something that is half-way within your control
pull garlic mustard, monona drive, baseball fields, skate board park.
??
SO-if you are really interested in the kyoto treaty-you start...
Peach trees do better in the south.
Our future state motto: 'Wisconsin...the new Arkansas'. So maybe we'll grow peaches.
ReplyDeleteThe Kyoto Protocol just set goals for global warming emissions reductions. We could have substituted 'reduce global warming emissions by 7% by 2012' and it would mean the same. Sure, big changes need to be made at the level of large corportaions and federal government, but we can ALSO make changes locally and personally.
Check out my posts on June 2 and 3 for some ideas.
http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/search/label/Environment
And yes, I have been making changes to reduce my 'carbon footprint', for example by changing my diet, composting and looking for those energy leakers (turning off my PC at night, only turning on my printer when in use).
We are not helpless to influence these things as individuals and as a community. They are not trivial and they DO deserve our attention. I think we have time for both garlic mustard and global warming. If one community does it, it is meaningless, but if 1,000 communities pass resolution it is not. Saying that we cannot make a difference because our community is small is like saying there is not point in voting, because, hey, one vote doesn't matter right?
ReplyDeleteLet's turn off the streetlights at night to save energy. These things are on all night and waste a huge amount of electricity at taxpayer expense.
ReplyDeleteHey!
ReplyDeleteI agree-watching a Monona City COuncil meeting-right now.
And YOU Monona DOUG are drinking from a ....sadly a water bottle.
Hey anonymous, 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds'.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I get how this a 'GOTCHA', to say that I am drinking out of a water bottle.
I do re-use the water bottle (with local tap water) numerous times before I recycle it.
Is that worse than drinking a soda or beer out of a bottle or can?
What do you do for the environment, hey anon?