The silence on climate change is deafening. It's time for us to get loud

[KamaAina]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/17/silence-climate-change-peoples-march

All of Dr Seuss’s children’s books – or, at least, the best ones – are sly, radical humanitarian and environmental parables. That’s why, for example, The Lorax was banned in some Pacific Northwest districts where logging was the chief economy.

Or there’s Horton Hears a Who: if you weren’t a child (or reading to a child) recently, it’s about an elephant with acute hearing who hears a cry from a dust speck. He comes to realize the dust speck is a planet in need of protection, and does his best for it.

Of course, all the other creatures mock – and then threaten – Horton for raising an alarm over something they can’t see. (Dissent is an easy way to get yourself ostracized or worse, as any feminist receiving online death threats can remind you.) And though Seuss was reportedly inspired by the situation in post-war Japan when he wrote the book, but its parable is flexible enough for our time.

You could call the scientists and the climate activists of our present moment our Hortons. They heard the cry a long time ago, and they’ve been trying to get the rest of the world to listen. They’ve had to endure attacks, mockery, and lip service ... but mostly just obliviousness to what they’re saying and what it demands of us.

[Cayenne]

1. American de-industrialization continues apace

This will not resonate with voters as they perceive our standard of living slipping.

[liberal_at_heart]

2. and on education too. Climate change, education! IS are evil, ooh shiny new object. Must go to war.