Comments for Our Next Economy http://www.ournexteconomy.com by John Passacantando Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:07:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 Comment on Oil Addiction: Forty Years of Oil Politics in Six Minutes by Anne Lindenfeld http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=288&cpage=1#comment-348 Anne Lindenfeld Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:36:19 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=288#comment-348 Thanks for posting this. I was appalled by the President's speech. Make BP pay $20 billion for reparations? If I understand this right, that's about a week of profits for their company, an amount they might even be able to recoup from their insurance. His rallying cry for developing real alternative energy programs was nothing but a lot of hot air -- and not even enough to start a steam engine. How about the feds establishing the first solar powered electric utility in the nation via a public-private partnership? How about placing a year-long ban on all drilling? How about banning drilling altogether? What's really aggravating is that the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history was caused by a drilling rig that doesn't even produce oil that we can use in our cars or homes. It's the stuff they make plastics and other quasi-petrochemicals out of. As Stewart says, makes you miss Richard Nixon. Thanks for posting this. I was appalled by the President’s speech. Make BP pay $20 billion for reparations? If I understand this right, that’s about a week of profits for their company, an amount they might even be able to recoup from their insurance. His rallying cry for developing real alternative energy programs was nothing but a lot of hot air — and not even enough to start a steam engine. How about the feds establishing the first solar powered electric utility in the nation via a public-private partnership? How about placing a year-long ban on all drilling? How about banning drilling altogether?

What’s really aggravating is that the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history was caused by a drilling rig that doesn’t even produce oil that we can use in our cars or homes. It’s the stuff they make plastics and other quasi-petrochemicals out of. As Stewart says, makes you miss Richard Nixon.

]]> Comment on About by Bob Kopach http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?page_id=2&cpage=1#comment-339 Bob Kopach Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:16:40 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?page_id=2#comment-339 Dear Mr. Passancandato Below is a link that reviews The World Transportation Relief Project -- a mission to provide no-gas, no-emissions, solar charged transportation to developing nations and those in crisis through natural disasters. Solar electric vehicles can make a difference from an economic, health, agricultural, educational and environmental standpoint in Third World and developing countries and those in crisis from natural disasters. The vehicles have the ability to be used for everything from transporting the general public, students, patients, the handicapped, farm goods, medicine, water, food and whatever else is needed without a drop of gasoline and no pollution. The solar cells, while used for keeping the vehicle batteries charged, can also be used for necessities - lights, phones, fans, small power tools, radios, etc. The vehicles can go 50-60 miles on a full charge via plugging in and some can carry more than 2,000 lbs. For remote areas without electricity, transportation can be scheduled every few days to allow for the vehicle to be charged from the sun and/or a charging schedule can be developed via electrified locations in the vicinity of a village. Keep in mind that at all times when the vehicle is in the sun -- stationary or running, the solar cells are charging the vehicle. We recently started a program that can help get clean-air transportation to those in need around the world. We are calling it "The Peace Lease." Basically, the idea is to ask companies to add just one more vehicle to its fleet vehicle leasing program as a charitable donation. That vehicle being a solar electric vehicle that can be used by relief organizations around the world. Please see the link below regarding the project. I look forward to discussing this important mission with you in more detail. We are currently working on projects for Liberia and El Salvador. https://sites.google.com/a/solarevco.com/mobility/ Thank you for your consideration. Regards, Bob Kopach 312-852-0132 Dear Mr. Passancandato

Below is a link that reviews The World Transportation Relief Project — a mission to provide no-gas, no-emissions, solar charged transportation to developing nations and those in crisis through natural disasters.

Solar electric vehicles can make a difference from an economic, health, agricultural, educational and environmental standpoint in Third World and developing countries and those in crisis from natural disasters. The vehicles have the ability to be used for everything from transporting the general public, students, patients, the handicapped, farm goods, medicine, water, food and whatever else is needed without a drop of gasoline and no pollution. The solar cells, while used for keeping the vehicle batteries charged, can also be used for necessities - lights, phones, fans, small power tools, radios, etc. The vehicles can go 50-60 miles on a full charge via plugging in and some can carry more than 2,000 lbs. For remote areas without electricity, transportation can be scheduled every few days to allow for the vehicle to be charged from the sun and/or a charging schedule can be developed via electrified locations in the vicinity of a village. Keep in mind that at all times when the vehicle is in the sun — stationary or running, the solar cells are charging the vehicle.

We recently started a program that can help get clean-air transportation to those in need around the world. We are calling it “The Peace Lease.” Basically, the idea is to ask companies to add just one more vehicle to its fleet vehicle leasing program as a charitable donation. That vehicle being a solar electric vehicle that can be used by relief organizations around the world.

Please see the link below regarding the project. I look forward to discussing this important mission with you in more detail. We are currently working on projects for Liberia and El Salvador.

https://sites.google.com/a/solarevco.com/mobility/

Thank you for your consideration.

Regards,

Bob Kopach
312-852-0132

]]> Comment on Not Right, Not Left, Not Tea Party, Not Liberal by Roy Obadiah http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=280&cpage=1#comment-319 Roy Obadiah Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:29:16 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=280#comment-319 Totally agree with the premise, but Ross gives no suggestions about how to get out of this dilemma. What say you oh wise one? Totally agree with the premise, but Ross gives no suggestions about how to get out of this dilemma. What say you oh wise one?

]]> Comment on Climate Bill Dead or Alive? by Gary Houser http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=270&cpage=1#comment-234 Gary Houser Wed, 05 May 2010 18:55:12 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=270#comment-234 John, I commend your piece, but at what point will the grassroots climate movement (as represented by the likes of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Center for Biological Diversity) fully recognize and begin to speak out against the serious damage being done to our cause by the well-funded efforts of EDF and NRDC to support the dangerously inadequate legislation being advanced in Congress? As I describe more fully in my commentary published on Common Dreams on April 20 ( http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010 ) "Mainstream Greens Cave in on Climate", these two groups (with a combined budget of $160 million) are allowing their corporate USCAP partners to drive the climate bill agenda and implementing a mass PR campaign which proclaims to the American public that Waxman-Markey and Kerry-Graham-Lieberman have the "stamp of approval" of the environmental community. We (the grassroots) are already fighting a "David vs. Goliath" battle against the fossil fuel industry. How can we hope to succeed when corporate-affiliated groups like these are using their large treasuries to disseminate this distorted message and drown out those truly working to protect our future from disaster? When will Greenpeace actively speak out against what NRDC and EDF are doing? This legislation based on false solutions will squander the precious little time we have to avoid Jim Hansen's tipping points. Sincerely, Gary Houser (Climate SOS: www.climatesos.org ) John,
I commend your piece, but at what point will the grassroots climate movement (as represented by the likes of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Center for Biological Diversity) fully recognize and begin to speak out against the serious damage being done to our cause by the well-funded efforts of EDF and NRDC to support the dangerously inadequate legislation being advanced in Congress? As I describe more fully in my commentary published on Common Dreams on April 20 ( http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010 ) “Mainstream Greens Cave in on Climate”, these two groups (with a combined budget of $160 million) are allowing their corporate USCAP partners to drive the climate bill agenda and implementing a mass PR campaign which proclaims to the American public that Waxman-Markey and Kerry-Graham-Lieberman have the “stamp of approval” of the environmental community. We (the grassroots) are already fighting a “David vs. Goliath” battle against the fossil fuel industry. How can we hope to succeed when corporate-affiliated groups like these are using their large treasuries to disseminate this distorted message and drown out those truly working to protect our future from disaster? When will Greenpeace actively speak out against what NRDC and EDF are doing? This legislation based on false solutions will squander the precious little time we have to avoid Jim Hansen’s tipping points.
Sincerely, Gary Houser (Climate SOS: http://www.climatesos.org )

]]> Comment on Economics Lesson From A Snake by Kevin Grandia http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=237&cpage=1#comment-81 Kevin Grandia Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:04:31 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=237#comment-81 I heard an interesting point made on the radio last night about how those who aren't being laid off are being forced into a situation where they are now doing the work of three or four people, while at the same time getting their benefits cut. Workers have no choice but to accept such things or run the risk of being fired themselves. Pretty messed up situation. I heard an interesting point made on the radio last night about how those who aren’t being laid off are being forced into a situation where they are now doing the work of three or four people, while at the same time getting their benefits cut.

Workers have no choice but to accept such things or run the risk of being fired themselves. Pretty messed up situation.

]]> Comment on Climate Solutions Orthodoxy Challenged by Laurie Williams http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=222&cpage=1#comment-70 Laurie Williams Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:52:38 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=222#comment-70 As long-time public-sector environmental enforcement attorneys, my husband and I encourage you to consider the alternative of carbon fees with rebates (see our vide: The Huge Mistake - Climate Change Solutions 2009 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzwPov3kqm0). Not only is cap-and-trade with carbon offsets a completely unworkable false solution. Cap-and-Dividend will only get us half-way away from what's wrong with cap-and-trade. The clear, effective, affordable and transparent approach is to deal directly with the major obstacle to a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, fossil fuels are still too cheap. Only carbon fees that are rebated monthly to all consumers has the powerful potential to fix this. It would directly insure that investment shifts to clean energy because it guarantees that clean energy will become cost competitive within a known time frame. Rebate insure that consumers can still afford the energy they need. While cap-and-dividend would be better than cap-and-trade with offsets, the debate over the next two months should alert the American public to all the choices. Please consider our discussion paper at http://www.carbonfees.org/home/Cap-and-TradeVsCarbonFees.pdf. Thank you! Laurie and Allan As long-time public-sector environmental enforcement attorneys, my husband and I encourage you to consider the alternative of carbon fees with rebates (see our vide: The Huge Mistake - Climate Change Solutions 2009 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzwPov3kqm0). Not only is cap-and-trade with carbon offsets a completely unworkable false solution. Cap-and-Dividend will only get us half-way away from what’s wrong with cap-and-trade. The clear, effective, affordable and transparent approach is to deal directly with the major obstacle to a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, fossil fuels are still too cheap. Only carbon fees that are rebated monthly to all consumers has the powerful potential to fix this. It would directly insure that investment shifts to clean energy because it guarantees that clean energy will become cost competitive within a known time frame. Rebate insure that consumers can still afford the energy they need. While cap-and-dividend would be better than cap-and-trade with offsets, the debate over the next two months should alert the American public to all the choices. Please consider our discussion paper at http://www.carbonfees.org/home/Cap-and-TradeVsCarbonFees.pdf. Thank you! Laurie and Allan

]]> Comment on Climate Train Wreck by Joe Smyth http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=213&cpage=1#comment-65 Joe Smyth Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:56:21 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=213#comment-65 It does seem like we are at, or very near that tipping point. Or maybe we just passed it. Sounds familiar.. It does seem like we are at, or very near that tipping point. Or maybe we just passed it. Sounds familiar..

]]> Comment on Fossil Fuel Companies Block Climate Treaty by Tweets that mention Fossil Fuel Companies Block Climate Treaty -- Topsy.com http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199&cpage=1#comment-61 Tweets that mention Fossil Fuel Companies Block Climate Treaty -- Topsy.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:49:26 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199#comment-61 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John Passacantando and Aric Caplan, GlobalActionDay. GlobalActionDay said: Fossil Fuel Companies Block Climate Treaty: ... Stress Tests The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The New York Times Timothy Gei http://url4.eu/mpeA [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John Passacantando and Aric Caplan, GlobalActionDay. GlobalActionDay said: Fossil Fuel Companies Block Climate Treaty: … Stress Tests The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The New York Times Timothy Gei http://url4.eu/mpeA [...]

]]> Comment on Fossil Fuel Companies Block Climate Treaty by No comprehensive #climate deal in #Copenhagen = a gut punch to Earth stewardship: http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199 RT @JPassacantando « Super links http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199&cpage=1#comment-60 No comprehensive #climate deal in #Copenhagen = a gut punch to Earth stewardship: http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199 RT @JPassacantando « Super links Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:24:32 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199#comment-60 [...] comprehensive #climate deal in #Copenhagen = a gut punch to Earth stewardship: http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199 RT @JPassacantando november 19th, 2009 | [...] [...] comprehensive #climate deal in #Copenhagen = a gut punch to Earth stewardship: http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=199 RT @JPassacantando november 19th, 2009 | [...]

]]> Comment on Decarbonize the Economy: Politicians Say No, Mother Nature Says Yes by Dan O http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=197&cpage=1#comment-59 Dan O Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:43:40 +0000 http://www.ournexteconomy.com/?p=197#comment-59 Dude - bitchin' Camaro.... Dude - bitchin’ Camaro….

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