Loving Mother,
Congratulations on your 70th year – it is a remarkable milestone by any measure. Often at these moments, the soul looks back and sometimes the path that you are on looks different when you turn around. It seems to me, that your life has been a narrative of grace…
I owe you a debt of gratitude; you orchestrated my youth into a symphony that would play throughout my lifetime. There were lessons on nutrition, literature, being good to the planet. My love of art came from you along with everything tied to it like imagination, creativity, and how anything is possible.
You have always been a good mother. A good mother is the one who brings out the best in her child. When I was young, you said that I was special – I know that this is just something that parents tell their children, the important thing is that I believed it. You always made me feel ten feet tall and I love you for that.
They say in a hundred years from now, it will not matter what was in your bank account, nor the sort of house you lived in, nor the kind of car you drove... but the world may be different because you were important in the life of a child. That child is me.
My appreciation of education and knowledge came from you. When I arrived at Clarkson University, I stood in front of a monument to Archimedes, the inscription quote read, "Give me a firm place to stand and I will move the earth". His reference was to the fulcrum and lever, however, I think that it has many more meanings…
I have come to believe, like an unfinished pyramid that awaits a capstone, that this time in history has been waiting for me. I have been working on a blueprint for a better world and wherever there is injustice, I will be the sword of Saint Michael to strike it down.
It pains me to see you giving away your possessions at this time in your life – please do not distribute any more to me. I find treasure in the middle of our hands when they are held together or in the corner of your smile. My gift is knowing that you have seen me grow to be a good man.
I will see you soon and always in my prayers, your loving son,
Pete
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Short Speech at 350 for 350 Rally on FDR Bridge
I am about to convey some sobering information, after I am done talking about 350.org and climate change, you may actually consider buying a boat. You being here is a step in the right direction and perhaps if we all do our part, it wont have to come to that.
Bill McKibben gets the credit for publicizing the safe level of 350 ppm of CO2. But the determination of the safe level of 350 ppm of CO2 came from Dr. James Hanson, who is our Nations' Chief Climatologist. He works in a part of NASA's Goddard Space Center in the division of Earth Sciences.
Since the late 1970s, Hanson has worked on computer simulations of the Earth's climate, for the purpose of understanding the human impact on global climate.
The basic proposition behind the climate change is so firmly rooted in science that no reasonable person can dispute it. All other things being equal, adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere—by, for example, burning millions of tons of oil, coal and natural gas—will make it warm up.
That is because CO2 is relatively transparent to visible light from the sun, which heats the planet during the day. But it is relatively opaque to infrared, which the earth tries to reradiate back into space at night.
This causes a kind of chain reaction - warmer temperatures drive more evaporation from the oceans; and the water vapor itself is a heat-trapping gas. Ice and snow reflect sunlight but when they melt, they leave exposed ground which absorbs more heat.
Hansen said that it is implausible that the shrinking of the ice sheets would take thousands of years. "If we follow business as usual, Hansen can't see how west Antarctica could survive a century. We are talking about a sea-level rise of at least a couple of meters this century."
In a paper released this January, Dr. Hanson wrote, “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 387 ppm to at most 350 ppm.”
The most recent major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects a temperature rise of three degrees Celsius, plus or minus 1.5 degrees—enough to trigger serious impacts on human life from rising sea level, widespread drought, changes in weather patterns, and the like.
But according to Hansen and his nine co-authors, who have submitted their paper to Open Atmospheric Science Journal, the correct figure is closer to six degrees Celsius. “We won’t get there for a while, but that’s where we’re going.” And although the full impact of this temperature increase will not be felt until the end of this century, Hansen says, the point at which major climate disruption is inevitable and it is already upon us.
"If you leave us at 450ppm for long enough it will probably melt all the ice - that's a sea rise of 75 metres. What we have found is that the target we have all been aiming for is a disaster - a guaranteed disaster."
Unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause irreversible damage to the earth.
We should be listening to the nation’s leading authority on this subject, James Hanson - global warming is beyond the tipping point, we need to act fast to fix it.
Bill McKibben gets the credit for publicizing the safe level of 350 ppm of CO2. But the determination of the safe level of 350 ppm of CO2 came from Dr. James Hanson, who is our Nations' Chief Climatologist. He works in a part of NASA's Goddard Space Center in the division of Earth Sciences.
Since the late 1970s, Hanson has worked on computer simulations of the Earth's climate, for the purpose of understanding the human impact on global climate.
The basic proposition behind the climate change is so firmly rooted in science that no reasonable person can dispute it. All other things being equal, adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere—by, for example, burning millions of tons of oil, coal and natural gas—will make it warm up.
That is because CO2 is relatively transparent to visible light from the sun, which heats the planet during the day. But it is relatively opaque to infrared, which the earth tries to reradiate back into space at night.
This causes a kind of chain reaction - warmer temperatures drive more evaporation from the oceans; and the water vapor itself is a heat-trapping gas. Ice and snow reflect sunlight but when they melt, they leave exposed ground which absorbs more heat.
Hansen said that it is implausible that the shrinking of the ice sheets would take thousands of years. "If we follow business as usual, Hansen can't see how west Antarctica could survive a century. We are talking about a sea-level rise of at least a couple of meters this century."
In a paper released this January, Dr. Hanson wrote, “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 387 ppm to at most 350 ppm.”
The most recent major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects a temperature rise of three degrees Celsius, plus or minus 1.5 degrees—enough to trigger serious impacts on human life from rising sea level, widespread drought, changes in weather patterns, and the like.
But according to Hansen and his nine co-authors, who have submitted their paper to Open Atmospheric Science Journal, the correct figure is closer to six degrees Celsius. “We won’t get there for a while, but that’s where we’re going.” And although the full impact of this temperature increase will not be felt until the end of this century, Hansen says, the point at which major climate disruption is inevitable and it is already upon us.
"If you leave us at 450ppm for long enough it will probably melt all the ice - that's a sea rise of 75 metres. What we have found is that the target we have all been aiming for is a disaster - a guaranteed disaster."
Unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause irreversible damage to the earth.
We should be listening to the nation’s leading authority on this subject, James Hanson - global warming is beyond the tipping point, we need to act fast to fix it.
Extended Speech at 350 for 350 Rally on FDR Bridge
There are three numbers you need to really understand global warming, none of them very complicated. For all of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide (that's the first number).
Parts per million simply means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules in the atmosphere. That much CO2 is useful—without it the earth would be very cold, like Mars, so we need some carbon in the atmosphere.
Beginning in the 18th century (the industrial revolution), we started to burn coal and gas and oil to produce energy and goods. The amount of carbon in the atmosphere began to rise, at first slowly and now more quickly.
We're taking millions of years worth of carbon, stored beneath the earth as fossil fuels, and releasing it into the atmosphere. By now—and this is the second number—the planet has 387 parts per million CO2 – and this number is rising by about 2 parts per million every year.
387 ppm is higher than any time seen in the recorded history of our planet – and we're already beginning to see disastrous impacts on people and places all over the world.
Glaciers everywhere are melting fast—and they are a source of drinking water for hundreds of millions of people. Mosquitoes, which like a warmer world, are spreading into lots of new places, and bringing malaria and other diseases with them.
Drought is becoming much more common, making food harder to grow in many places. Sea levels have begun to rise, and scientists warn that they could go up as much as several meters this century. If that happens, many of the world's coastal cities, island nations, and farmland will be underwater.
These impacts are combining to exacerbate conflicts and security issues in already resource-strapped regions.
In the past year, some of the world's leading climate scientists have told us what the highest safe level of CO2 is: 350 parts per million. That's the last number you need to know, and the most important. It's the safety zone for planet earth.
That will be a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking that carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air. Above all, that means we need to stop burning so much coal—and start using solar and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy –while ensuring the Global South a fair chance to develop.
In the US, we need to shift to a Clean Economy. Thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs, and billions in revenue generated by solutions to the climate crisis -- this is the clean energy economy we can adopt with today's technologies, resources, know-how, and leadership. This is the opportunity of our generation— to lead the transformation to an economy that is robust without causing environmental harm.
By decreasing use of other fossil fuels, and improving agricultural and forestry practices (means stop cutting down the trees) around the world, we could get back to 350 by mid-century (2050). But the longer we remain in the danger zone—above 350—the more likely that we will see disastrous climate impacts.
Every year since 1992, the United Nations hosts a two-week long conference for world leaders to meet and discuss what to do to about the global threat of climate change. In December of 2009, this meeting will be in Copenhagen.
There, delegates, non-governmental organizations, and businesses from every nation will meet to forge a new global climate change agreement.
The United Nations is negotiating a treaty that could put the world on a course to solve the climate crisis, but the current plans for the treaty are much too weak to get us back to safety. Right now, the numbers in the discussion are 450ppm and 550ppm (EU), which scientists are saying are far outside of the safe zone, and ensure disaster for our planet's future.
It's no small task, but we need to let our world leaders know that 350 is the safe target that can ensure an equitable future and save us from climate catastrophe. This effort will require unprecedented international cooperation and significant public awareness.
Tell your friends, family, coworkers, congregation, guy on the street, anyone who will listen but more importantly – tell your congressman and new president ….. about 350.
For more information, go to
http://www.350.org/
Parts per million simply means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules in the atmosphere. That much CO2 is useful—without it the earth would be very cold, like Mars, so we need some carbon in the atmosphere.
Beginning in the 18th century (the industrial revolution), we started to burn coal and gas and oil to produce energy and goods. The amount of carbon in the atmosphere began to rise, at first slowly and now more quickly.
We're taking millions of years worth of carbon, stored beneath the earth as fossil fuels, and releasing it into the atmosphere. By now—and this is the second number—the planet has 387 parts per million CO2 – and this number is rising by about 2 parts per million every year.
387 ppm is higher than any time seen in the recorded history of our planet – and we're already beginning to see disastrous impacts on people and places all over the world.
Glaciers everywhere are melting fast—and they are a source of drinking water for hundreds of millions of people. Mosquitoes, which like a warmer world, are spreading into lots of new places, and bringing malaria and other diseases with them.
Drought is becoming much more common, making food harder to grow in many places. Sea levels have begun to rise, and scientists warn that they could go up as much as several meters this century. If that happens, many of the world's coastal cities, island nations, and farmland will be underwater.
These impacts are combining to exacerbate conflicts and security issues in already resource-strapped regions.
In the past year, some of the world's leading climate scientists have told us what the highest safe level of CO2 is: 350 parts per million. That's the last number you need to know, and the most important. It's the safety zone for planet earth.
That will be a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking that carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air. Above all, that means we need to stop burning so much coal—and start using solar and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy –while ensuring the Global South a fair chance to develop.
In the US, we need to shift to a Clean Economy. Thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs, and billions in revenue generated by solutions to the climate crisis -- this is the clean energy economy we can adopt with today's technologies, resources, know-how, and leadership. This is the opportunity of our generation— to lead the transformation to an economy that is robust without causing environmental harm.
By decreasing use of other fossil fuels, and improving agricultural and forestry practices (means stop cutting down the trees) around the world, we could get back to 350 by mid-century (2050). But the longer we remain in the danger zone—above 350—the more likely that we will see disastrous climate impacts.
Every year since 1992, the United Nations hosts a two-week long conference for world leaders to meet and discuss what to do to about the global threat of climate change. In December of 2009, this meeting will be in Copenhagen.
There, delegates, non-governmental organizations, and businesses from every nation will meet to forge a new global climate change agreement.
The United Nations is negotiating a treaty that could put the world on a course to solve the climate crisis, but the current plans for the treaty are much too weak to get us back to safety. Right now, the numbers in the discussion are 450ppm and 550ppm (EU), which scientists are saying are far outside of the safe zone, and ensure disaster for our planet's future.
It's no small task, but we need to let our world leaders know that 350 is the safe target that can ensure an equitable future and save us from climate catastrophe. This effort will require unprecedented international cooperation and significant public awareness.
Tell your friends, family, coworkers, congregation, guy on the street, anyone who will listen but more importantly – tell your congressman and new president ….. about 350.
For more information, go to
http://www.350.org/
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
I can not endorse the Dutchess County budget as it stands today
The County Exec's proposed Dutchess County Budget is a sham - it is unfunded by $20M, that is, it assumes $20M in revenue that does not really exist. In his letter that accompanies the budget, the County Exec, goes through a myriad of conditions leading up to why we have a daunting budget picture, unfortunately, the way that he tries to solve it, is unacceptable.
He did not fund $2M for the housing of over-crowded jail inmates out of county, he does not include contractual (legally bound) raises of $3.4M, and he is trying to mandate that the towns pick up the tab for the Board of Elections and Sheriff Patrols even though most town budgets for 2009 have already been set.
Worse yet, the County Exec seems to have spitefully reduced departments who have disagreed with him in the past and kept whole the departments filled with his 'yes' men. For example, the Legislative Staff, the Comptroller's Staff, and the Sheriff's Staff are all reduced in this budget.
Also - here is a short list of agencies that are slated to be axed to some degree: Human Rights Commission, Grace Smith House, Literacy Connections, Child Intervention Program, Homeless Management, Crime Victims Center, Teen Parenting Program, Mental Health Association, Foster Child Program, and SPCA.
Most of these agencies have a matching fund multiplier from the state and federal level so they are hurt on a scale of 2x - 3x their budget cuts. In these economic times, we can not take away from these programs that do so much for our community. Trust me when I say that funding these programs is an investment to avoid costs down the road.
I can not endorse this budget as it stands today - it would simply be unconscionable for me to do so. I do promise to work hard over the next two weeks to find other places to reduce county spending and balance the budget.
He did not fund $2M for the housing of over-crowded jail inmates out of county, he does not include contractual (legally bound) raises of $3.4M, and he is trying to mandate that the towns pick up the tab for the Board of Elections and Sheriff Patrols even though most town budgets for 2009 have already been set.
Worse yet, the County Exec seems to have spitefully reduced departments who have disagreed with him in the past and kept whole the departments filled with his 'yes' men. For example, the Legislative Staff, the Comptroller's Staff, and the Sheriff's Staff are all reduced in this budget.
Also - here is a short list of agencies that are slated to be axed to some degree: Human Rights Commission, Grace Smith House, Literacy Connections, Child Intervention Program, Homeless Management, Crime Victims Center, Teen Parenting Program, Mental Health Association, Foster Child Program, and SPCA.
Most of these agencies have a matching fund multiplier from the state and federal level so they are hurt on a scale of 2x - 3x their budget cuts. In these economic times, we can not take away from these programs that do so much for our community. Trust me when I say that funding these programs is an investment to avoid costs down the road.
I can not endorse this budget as it stands today - it would simply be unconscionable for me to do so. I do promise to work hard over the next two weeks to find other places to reduce county spending and balance the budget.
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