General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The irony, oh the irony. [View all]Gore1FL
(22,813 posts)There is much more at the site, but I figure a full couple of paragraphs on both sides will suffice.
Our founders believed that those of us in positions of power are elected not just to serve as custodians of the present, but as caretakers of the future. And they charged us to make decisions with an eye on a longer horizon than the arc of our own political careers. Thats what the American people expect. Thats what they deserve.
And someday, our children, and our childrens children, will look at us in the eye and they'll ask us, did we do all that we could when we had the chance to deal with this problem and leave them a cleaner, safer, more stable world? And I want to be able to say, yes, we did. Dont you want that? (Applause.)
Americans are not a people who look backwards; we're a people who look forward. We're not a people who fear what the future holds; we shape it. What we need in this fight are citizens who will stand up, and speak up, and compel us to do what this moment demands.
Understand this is not just a job for politicians. So I'm going to need all of you to educate your classmates, your colleagues, your parents, your friends. Tell them whats at stake. Speak up at town halls, church groups, PTA meetings. Push back on misinformation. Speak up for the facts. Broaden the circle of those who are willing to stand up for our future. (Applause.)
Convince those in power to reduce our carbon pollution. Push your own communities to adopt smarter practices. Invest. Divest. (Applause.) Remind folks there's no contradiction between a sound environment and strong economic growth. And remind everyone who represents you at every level of government that sheltering future generations against the ravages of climate change is a prerequisite for your vote. Make yourself heard on this issue.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/remarks-president-climate-change
Odd picture they chose of the president. There are much better pictures of him here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/july-2013-photo-day