new book for gore

al gore has written a new book due out in november, 2009.  all proceeds from the book will go to benefit the alliance for climate protection.

from cbs news report:

“Gore hopes that the book will “unquestionably inspire and rally those ready to fight for solutions that were deemed impossible only a short time ago.” He plans to lay out the conclusions he has reached after attending a number of “Solutions Summits” focused on the climate attended by policy experts, scientists and engineers.”

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President Obama will help Al Gore, T Boone Pickens, and Sir Richard Branson solve our energy needs and rescue the environment!

I guess at this point you are realizing that I do focus on one subject! That subject is our successful move into the future, solving our future energy needs, securing our environment for the future, and everything in between. This morning I heard a discussion about T Boone Pickens and his plan to rescue our future. I had much going on and could not find the story when I had the time to discus it. Luckily I have written about it extensively but will just focus on T Boone Pickens, Sir Richard Branson, and Al Gore.

The last couple of years the afore mentioned Gentlemen have stepped forward with 10 point plans on how to solve our future energy needs and have volunteered big money to do it. This of course was during Bush’s nightmare, I mean Bush’s rain no Reign. We said nothing would get done unless the Government got behind it and got involved. Of course under Bush it did not and nothing got done.

With the advent of President Obama I now see something getting done here too! As you know, future energy resources and answers play an important role in President Obama’s stimulus package and putting Americans back to work. Let me revisit Al Gore, T Boone Pickens, and Sir Richard Branson’s 10 point plans and much more! I have to laugh! I wrote this a year ago and it applies 100% right this second:

In a nutshell while our Political idiots continue to nothing as they all accuse the other side of failure while once again refusing to come together and do the right thing for the Nation and the world. I am glad to see such influential people step up and try to resolve ours and the worlds energy needs while we still stand a chance at a future. Three influential people have now stepped forward with money and plans that at least give us a little hoper something we all drastically need today. Richard Branson was first almost 2 years ago when amongst other things he we heard this! Commenting on an announcement by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of a 10-year, three billion dollar commitment to renewable energy initiatives, Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns, Mike Childs, said:

“As one of the top business leaders it’s welcome that Richard Branson has recognized the urgent need to tackle climate change. Whilst his investment in bio-fuels is welcome, this can only be a small part of the solution, and must not distract from the need to cut emissions. Biofuels can provide a greener alternative to oil based fuels, but this is only true if they are produced sustainably and don’t interfere with food production and biodiversity protection. Richard’s Branson’s train business will be an important part of the future, encouraging people to take the train instead of flying, but the fast growth in air flights can not be maintained without causing climatic disaster. This is a 10 year $3 Billion commitment and Just one of Branson’s proposals

Finally someone from our Nation that can help has also stepped forward with a doable 10 year plan! Al Gore Al Gore is challenging the United States to produce all of its electricity through wind power, solar power and other environmentally friendly sources within 10 years. Gore said the transition would not only help resolve America’s current energy and economic problems, but would also improve U.S. national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil. VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington. Al Gore received a rock star welcome at an energy conference in Washington, where he issued a challenge to the country.

“So today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean, carbon-free sources within 10 years,” he said. Called an alarmist by some critics, Gore has made global climate change his signature issue, and his efforts won him a Nobel Prize. He admitted that weaning Americans off fossil fuels would require placing a carbon tax on burning oil and coal, which his plan would offset with a reduction in payroll taxes. But Gore said soaring gasoline prices and the current economic turmoil have created a new political environment where Americans are hungry for change. “I do not remember a time in our country when so many things seem to be going so wrong simultaneously,” he said. “Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse, people are hurting. Gasoline prices are increasing dramatically and so are electricity rates. Jobs are being outsourced, home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies, other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure.”

Gore called on all Americans to pull together, citing the kind of national effort that made it possible for Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon just eight years after former President John F. Kennedy issued that challenge. He said both presidential candidates, his fellow Democrat Barack Obama and the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain are way ahead of most politicians in the fight against global climate change. But Gore did criticize President Bush’s proposal to resume offshore oil drilling as a way to address the current energy crisis. “It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for oil 10 years from now in areas that should be protected,” he said. al Gore’s 10 year electricity challenge! Amen Al Gore

In response to this T Boone Pickens responded to Al Gore’s Generational Challenge to Repower America speech, saying he and the former vice president “have two different objectives and our plans should be viewed with that in mind.” Last week, the billionaire discussed the Pickens plan he hopes will reduce foreign oil imports by more than 30% in the next 5 to 10 years. In a release issued through BP Capital, Pickens said Gore “put forward a framework of a plan that is focused on global warming and climate issues. My plan is aimed squarely at breaking the stranglehold that foreign oil has on our country and the $700 billion annual impact it has on our economy. … Vice President Gore’s plan does not address this enormous problem.

In a speech on Thursday at a Washington energy conference, Gore called for the U.S. to produce all of its electricity from renewable energy and carbon-free sources within 10 years. Last week, Pickens unveiled a plan that involves using wind to supplant natural gas, which could then be used towards transportation. “It’s time for us to take responsibility for the problem we’ve created and act now,” Pickens said. “The Federal Government should provide the leadership to clear the way for action and private enterprise should build the infrastructure to get it done. Only in that way can we recapture our energy destiny. With T Boone’s 10 year energy objective Pickens Says He And Gore Have Different Objectives

Remember the $25 million dollar virgin earth challenge? Gore, Branson $25 million virgin Earth Challenge an Awesome Idea That poses 3 important Questions.
As most know by now, Sir Richard Branson and Al Gore have set up a new global science and technology prize – The Virgin Earth Challenge – which will award $25 million to the individual or group who are able to demonstrate a commercially viable design which will remove at least 1 billion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year for at least ten years without harmful effects. The removal must have long term effects and contribute materially to the stability of the Earth’s climate. It is the largest science and technology prize ever offered. Virgin earth plan

* We all know how one sided my way or nothing Partisan bickering resulting in absolutely nothing getting done is destroying us and the world. It is a breath of fresh air to see 3 distinguished fellows step forward with money and positive ideas. That they differ is a plus as we see from Politics there is no one idea but a melding of many will get us out of this. I am afraid we still have to hope our Governments will realize this and cooperate with “we the people” If we are to be saved it will come from us! With President Obama I now see cooperation to alleviate our dependence on oil and clean up our environment while putting Americans back to work!

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Crossposted at Jim’s blog.

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new ad from al gore and the ‘we’ campaign

you can go to the website to contribute to the we campaign.  it’s as good a cause as any-

“We’re stuck with dirty, expensive energy because the oil and coal lobbies are spending hundreds of millions to block real change.

To help shift the debate, we’re airing this ad on national cable TV. And with your support, we can also put it on 60 Minutes and 20/20. Will you donate today and be a voice for real solutions? “

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from my email

“Dear MoveOn member,

Thank you for supporting Al Gore’s call to produce 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean renewable energy sources within 10 years. The buzz is building fast, with thousands of people signing on every hour.

Now we have an incredible chance to build on that excitement. This week, the Obama campaign is holding nationwide “Platform Meetings” to seek input from the grassroots on the Democratic Party’s issue positions.

If enough of us support Gore’s challenge at these events, we can make his plan a part of the Democratic Party’s platform—giving it a major boost.”

um– i guess i wonder why it needs such a boost with the obama crowd. gore said he sat down with obama and spoke with him about these challenges. anyone with half of a brain knows it’s heading in the right direction- creating new jobs while shoring up our aging and decrepit infrastructure and creating a sustainable energy source while not polluting up the planet. win-win-win. why do we have to sell it so hard to obama?

perhaps we should go to the ‘platform’ meetings and ask that question.

i guess i wonder why more people aren’t listening to the al gore’s and the dennis kucinich’s out there. i mean the biblical folks can grasp the concept of the ‘voice crying out in the wilderness’ all by his onesy. we have a real possibility to fight for our planet. we have a slim chance- but a chance nonetheless- to stave off irreparable damage to the only home that is sustainable for human life- and we have to badger the so-called progressive, democratic nominee into it?

if any out there still believe- i think that there might be some swampland that hasn’t been filled in to make room for developments- that i can sell you.

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must see tv

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summertime

as i drove home after dropping hubby off with a buddy for a night of frivolity (aka having a beer or two downtown), i started smelling summer. it’s funny how very much memory is made up of smells- but i am very in tune with odors so i guess that’s why many of my memories are triggered by smells. freshly mowed yards; fragrant flowers; the heat rising up off the asphalt into the night air- and the sounds of crickets. in the morning, it’s birds- but in the evening- crickets. and for a moment, in spite of myself, i enjoyed the moment.

reality has an ugly way of creeping into life’s lovely moments- and it brings me around to what i am trying to teach myself- the four noble truths. which, of course, led me around to the dalai lama’s visit here in the states:

“Things are not black and white. Things are relative. Things are interdependent. When we look at a situation we have to consider all the factors. … “You cannot look in one direction. In order to see reality, (you) have to see in three or four or seven dimensions” and that this applies in the economical field, political field and international relations.”

which of course led me to al gore’s speech and on and on….

which was only part of this post. we are all interconnected. and i think many are feeling this but not realizing it. i believe it is why bush still has a 28% approval rating and congress a 9%. most of the people of america listen to what al gore has to say- and they watch the ice melt and the oceans die- and they see the prices at the pump– and they know it’s wrong; terribly wrong. but they don’t know what to do.

i recently read the terrific book ‘creating true peace‘ by thich nhat hanh (thanks to bz at intrepid flame for turning me on to that) and it is a simple book with a simple message- peace starts within. we have to be the change we seek. engaged buddhism is simply that- engaging with fellow human beings regardless of politics, race, religion, etc. on a basic human level. yeah. there’s always a catch he told me in the book- that i cannot isolate myself but must engage with the community at large- because we are all interdependent on each other as part of the human species. yep. no divisions as human beings. that’s tough for me. he explains it’s tough for westerners because of our culture of division and exclusion. so, i am living in the moment. life is in a state of flux and life is suffering. but we can overcome that and work together in peace to make the planet a better place for everyone. not just the haves.

not exactly the divisive message that the hard right christians and jews are preaching as they seek to divide and conquer the middle east. and there’s no hidden agenda like getting to heaven because life doesn’t really end. and that makes sense to me because i know matter doesn’t die. and that’s comforting to me as face my parents’ mortality and the end of my country as i knew it. life constantly changes- nothing is permanent and much of our suffering comes from our attachment to things- whether they be ideas, people, material stuff, power, etc. the attachment to my mom is a tough one. but she, herself, has told my sister and i that we must let her go when she goes as she will be at peace.

so, the smells and sounds and textures of summer brought many thoughts to my mind.

i know i haven’t given up on politics per se. i don’t believe that we can afford to at this time in history. i just can’t approach it in the same way anymore. i don’t believe in the system. i don’t believe in this current world government nor america’s. i don’t believe in any of the candidates for president and i cannot justify voting for someone i don’t believe has the right view for the direction our country needs to head in. as barack obama heads for the center- he is already too far away from it. he needed to stand up for democracy and for changing the way we do things in america. would he have won? i can’t say but i can say that i won’t vote for him. i can’t. he is just as much a part of the system as hillary clinton and just as disinterested in changing the status quo. al gore forcefully spoke about change. it has to happen. it will happen whether we like it or not. i just wish america would have led the way.

letting go and opening up are concepts that do not come easily for me but i need to find inner peace. i need to find a better way. and i think this buddha guy has something here.

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march winds howl in

it’s a tad windy here today- not sure it’s great kite weather as it’s also rainy. and warm. there isn’t any doubt in my mind that there’s global climate change on a- well, global scale. i heard an interesting rumor that al gore was going to run for president as an independent candidate with michael bloomberg as his vp. i am not going to get my hopes up but i felt a bit of relief as i read those words. why? i don’t know. gore would have a tough time getting things cleaned up to- but at least he is familiar with the landscape and has public backing for policy change on environmental issues. we’ll see. i would definitely vote gore. bloomberg- gee i hope not. although, it could bridge some gaps and he isn’t a horrible rightwinger. we’ll see. i guess i wonder if it would shut the clintonistas and the obamalamas up for a while. i have never seen or heard such stupidity in my life. i don’t know what else to call it and is second to pelosi and reid in reasons i am changing my party affiliation to independent. instead of fighting the real enemy- this party is eating its own. stupid and shortsighted- and the reason that the right wing always makes a comeback. i can’t in good conscience be a part of that- and i send them back their beggings for money with a note- ‘no impeachment = no money.’ perhaps someday an actual person will read it.

in the meantime, i am researching fair trade coffees and teas and where folks can buy them because i had no idea (but why it should surprise me is beyond me) that coffee and tea plantations were outside sweatshops. not that most americans give a damn- but i do. if i am going to buy something, i don’t want my enjoyment to cause suffering to another living being. if i have the choice between sweatshop and fair trade, i will pay the few extra cents. and that’s my two cents for now.

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