It's not climate change, it's climate catastrophe that is the most important issue of the campaign.

[Impedimentus]

Let’s stop deceiving ourselves. It’s not climate change, it’s climate catastrophe that the planet is facing. Global temperatures are rising at rates at the extreme end of the climate prediction models, and the rate of rise will mean that our grandchildren will face a climate catastrophe that will dramatically change all life on earth. Food supplies will collapse, governments will fail, diseases will become unmanageable on a global scale, and the human race may be reduced to a mere fraction of what it is today, or it may become extinct.

I’ve worked in the field for over thirty years and I understand that what is coming is a series of global disasters, disasters that will build upon and compound each other. But don’t believe me, I’m a nobody.

Take a few hours and do you own research. Throw away your preconceived notions and political, social and religious prejudices and study the science – it isn’t that difficult. Then, ask yourself, “What can I do now?” You can support and vote for the presidential candidate that knows that the approaching climate catastrophe must be addressed if there is to be any hope for the future of our children and for future generations. You will support the presidential candidate that will do everything possible to mobilize the nation and the world to face the reality of climate catastrophe.

No more posturing, no more petty politicking, no more celebrity worship. If you have a conscience, if you are willing to be objective, if you truly care for the future of the planet than do the right thing and do it now.

[daleanime]

1. kick, kick, kick....

[Peace Patriot]

2. VOTE BERNIE SANDERS so that he and we can stop the trashing of our only planet!

You can support and vote for the presidential candidate that knows that the approaching climate catastrophe must be addressed if there is to be any hope for the future of our children and for future generations. You will support the presidential candidate that will do everything possible to mobilize the nation and the world to face the reality of climate catastrophe. --from the OP (my emphasis)

Bernie Sanders has started a huge movement that is upending all the prophecies of the entire Corrupt Media punditry class! He is drawing tens of thousands of people to multiple rallies all over the country. He is smashing records in recent primary and caucus wins that are jaw dropping in their size--70% of the vote, 80% of the vote, in Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Utah--as he rises and rises in every sort of poll--matchups with Clinton, matchups with Republicans, polls of the next primaries. In one poll, he beats Donald Trump by 20 points! In another, he is now slightly ahead of Clinton in that matchup, coming from 40 to 50 points behind. In favorability polls, he again smashes records. He is by far the most popular politician in the country by orders of magnitude beyond all contenders (while Clinton's and Trump's favorability ratings are abysmal).

He has ignited the enthusiasm of the young, who flock to him in huge numbers as new voters or, if they are too young, as volunteers. He has ignited the enthusiasm of Independent voters--the largest bloc of voters in the country--many of whom are disgusted with our corrupt politics and political parties. He has re-ignited hope all over the country for a populist revolution that will not only end the horrible inequality of income among us, but--as he has pledged--will treat climate change as the MORAL issue that it is. No other candidate has said that. No other candidate is so prepared to "mobilize the country and the world" to roll up our sleeves, get our best ideas assembled and DO something about it NOW!

[yardwork]

12. What has Bernie done about climate change during all his years in the Senate?

What track record does he have to show that he will get legislation passed by Congress?

I read Sanders' positions on climate change, and everything he proposes depends on congressional action.

The president is not a dictator. How will Bernie get his ideas implemented by Congress?

[Ron Green]

15. The first step is he gets elected.

He's the only candidate talking about this, and unlike his opponent he's not going to stop talking after the election.

[Henhouse]

17. Both President Obama and Secretary Clinton are on the right side of this issue.

Sanders and Clinton differ on the details but are both on the forefront of this fight.

Supporters of the candidate should debate the policy not demean the character of their opponents by suggesting they aren't "talking about it".

The fight is with the GOP not other Democrats, Liberals and Independants.

[riderinthestorm]

20. Hillary supports fracking!! Are you nuts? Bernie and Hill are NOT the same nt

[yardwork]

23. No, he's not the only candidate talking about this.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Kicked and recommended

[Impedimentus]

5. Does anyone really care?

[Hortensis]

4. Both Democratic candidates plan to combat catastrophe.

THE REFUSAL TO FIGHT IMPENDING CATASTROPHE IS ON THE RIGHT.

These are our candidates lists of goals, part of longer statements on their websites.

Hillary Clinton will:

* Create good-paying jobs by making the United States the clean energy superpower of the 21st century.

* Set national goals to have 500 million solar panels installed; generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America; cut energy waste in homes, schools, and hospitals by a third; and reduce American oil consumption by a third.

* Lead the world in the fight against climate change by bringing greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below what they were in 2005 within the next decade—and keep going.

"I won’t let anyone take us backward, deny our economy the benefits of harnessing a clean energy future, or force our children to endure the catastrophe that would result from unchecked climate change."

Bernie’s comprehensive plan to combat climate change and make sure our planet is habitable and safe for our kids and grandkids will:

* Cut U.S. carbon pollution by 40 percent by 2030 and by over 80 percent by 2050 by putting a tax on carbon pollution, repealing fossil fuel subsidies and making massive investments in energy efficiency and clean, sustainable energy such as wind and solar power.

* Create a Clean-Energy Workforce of 10 million good-paying jobs by creating a 100% clean energy system. Transitioning toward a completely nuclear-free clean energy system for electricity, heating, and transportation is not only possible and affordable it will create millions of good jobs, clean up our air and water, and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

* Return billions of dollars to consumers impacted by the transformation of our energy system and protect the most vulnerable communities in the country suffering the ravages of climate change. Bernie will tax polluters causing the climate crisis, and return billions of dollars to working families to ensure the fossil fuel companies don’t subject us to unfair rate hikes. Bernie knows that climate change will not affect everyone equally – disenfranchised minority communities and the working poor will be hardest hit. The carbon tax will also protect those most impacted by the transformation of our energy system and protect the most vulnerable communities in the country suffering the ravages of climate change.

[Henhouse]

16. Great post...I just love reality based, fact filled posts.....n/t

[riderinthestorm]

21. You conveniently left out Hillary's support for fracking - here and abroad nt

[raouldukelives]

6. K&R We are what we do, everyday.

Only as individuals do we have the power to make the changes want to see.

Slavery wasn't battled by electing politicians running on ending it. It didn't change from the top down until it was forced to by the people on the bottom. People of conscience who refused to help compound the suffering of others, no matter the profits they would miss out on.

Today our battle is very much the same. Like slavery, if left unchecked, it can grow to immense proportions. Unlike slavery, we as a species will not be given an opportunity to make amends for our evil deeds.

We are ending not only what could be, but whatever was before us. Virtually all in the short span of one measly human lifespan. Heavy stuff.

[BernieforPres2016]

7. What do you think is the best book on the subject? nt

[Impedimentus]

9. One excellent book is "This Changes Everything" by Naomi Klein

This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein

http://thischangeseverything.org/book/


If you want to delve into the science of climate change this is an excellent book and highly readable:

Dire Predictions, 2nd Edition: Understanding Climate Change

http://www.amazon.com/Dire-Predictions-2nd-Edition-Understanding/dp/1465433643


Thank you for asking.

[BernieforPres2016]

13. Thanks for the recommendation nt

[riderinthestorm]

8. Thank you!!!!!!

BIG K&R!!!!!



If they go another debate without talking about it, I'll be pissed! Our planet is in its 11th hour...

[yardwork]

10. Agreed.

[BirdieSanders]

11. thank you.

[Henhouse]

14. Which Candidate has the best ideas and policies for fight climate change?

Once again, Senator Sanders has big ideas but with the current Congress and Supreme Court, most of his policy will not survive if he were elected.

President Obama's and Secretary Clinton's strategy is more pragmatic but has a better chance of being codified into law.

http://grist.org/climate-energy/bernie-sanders-climate-plan-would-be-awesome-if-he-had-a-friendly-congress-but-he-wont/

Bernie Sanders’ climate plan would be awesome if he had a friendly Congress, but he won’t

In a move epitomizing his campaign’s often-questionable political strategy, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont released his climate change plan during the U.N. climate negotiations in Paris. What would normally have drawn immediate attention from climate politics reporters was ignored by the many who were in France covering the most important climate conference in history. To make matters worse, this was shortly before Christmas and New Year’s.

Now that the Christmas trees have been dragged to the curb, the mistletoe is being turned to mulch, and the champagne left in the fridge has gone flat, your correspondent has found the time to examine the plan from one of the Senate’s top climate hawks. It turns out to contain both exciting and frustrating elements: Sanders clearly understands and cares about climate change in all its particulars, and he has many shrewd ideas for addressing it. But he is still approaching the issue like a legislator rather than a president, and he doesn’t give any insight into how he would try to maximize climate progress through the powers of the presidency in the face of a hostile Congress.

[Impedimentus]

18. Unfortunately, the planet ...

is not going to wait for the normal political process to evolve and reach compromised solutions. It will be too late. Radical action is needed NOW. The nation responded to 9/11 immediately and that disaster is nothing, zilch compared to what is coming. There is NO time for more of "the same old thing".

We are like little children removing seawater from our sand castles at the beach with plastic spoons, worrying about too much water in our little houses of sand while a tsunami is rapidly approaching just beyond the horizon on the ocean. This is the scientific reality, and yes, it requires an alarmist response.

PEOPLE MUST DEMAND THAT THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT ADDRESS THE COMING CLIMATE CATASTROPHE NOW !

[riderinthestorm]

22. Hillary supports fracking. In 10 years when Oklahoma's aquifer is poisoned

"pragmatic" will be seen for the weasel word it is.

The planet can't wait for incrementalism. It needs urgent action immediately.

[amborin]

19. KNR

[riderinthestorm]

24. PM Kick! nt

[Impedimentus]

25. Any presidential candidate that does not insist that climate change is not one of their top ...

priorities should be disqualified from your support.

The future of the planet, of our children and of future generations is under immediate, unprecedented threat. To simply say that they support addressing climate change IS NOT ENOUGH !!! We are facing a climate catastrophe greater than any catastrophe that we have ever faced on the planet, except perhaps the nuclear threat during the cold war.

There is no room for any compromise on this issue. If elected president the candidate must use the bully pulpit and every power available to the presidency to bring about a revolutionary change in the attitudes of the people. Weekly television messages, veto threats to any legislation unless the Congress agrees to include climate issues, direct, strong attacks on the corporate media that explains clearly how it has failed to help protect the planet from the imminent climate catastrophe, these are just a few of the ways the president can rally the people and weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry, the oligarchs, and the corporate controlled MSM.

We the voters must insist that compromise, go slow and st-the-course policies are not enough do stop the approaching climate catastrophe from ending civilization as we know it. Science and reason must prevail over greed and dogma.

Study the issues, learn about how bad the situation really is, and support and vote according. Demonstrate that you give a damn about future generations, and about the planet as you have been so blessed to experience it.

[ladjf]

26. Excellent post. Keep hitting those keys! nt