Democratic Senators Plan All Night Talk-A-Thon On Climate Change

[ProSense]

Democratic Senators Plan All Night Talk-A-Thon On Climate Change

Democratic senators intend to occupy the Senate floor from Monday night at 10 P.M. ET through Tuesday morning at 9 A.M., taking turns speaking to urge action on climate change.

The event, organized by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), features 28 Senate Democrats, including the top four leaders and members of the Senate Climate Action Task Force.

"Climate change is real, it is caused by humans, and it is solvable," Schatz said. "Congress must act."

Legislative action on climate change has been seen as a lost cause since Republicans won the House majority in the 2010 elections. In 2009, the Democratic-led House passed a sweeping climate bill but the Democratic-led Senate took no action. As a result, President Barack Obama has sought to address the issue via executive actions where he can. The scientific community overwhelmingly believes climate change is being exacerbated by human activities like burning fossil fuels.

The talk-a-thon won't disrupt any Senate business as the chamber would probably not be in session during that time. They intend to broadcast their efforts on social media with the hashtag #Up4Climate.

Below are the full list of senators expected to participate:

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md.

Senator Bernard Sanders, I-Vt.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Senator Mark Udall, D-Colo.

Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

Senator Al Franken, D-Minn.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

Senator Angus King, I-Maine

Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass.

Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/senate-democrats-climate-change

[NightWatcher]

1. so they are going to speak some remarks into the record when no one's watching?

Lets work on passing some legislation and not just talking in the wee small hours where no one will hear them.

[cali]

3. What part of the republicans have obstructed all dem initiatives on

Climate Change, is so hard to grasp?

[NightWatcher]

5. talking about it late at night accomplishes what?

Talk during daylight hours about the ridiculous obstruction that has gone on. Talk about the 51 votes to repeal ACA. Don't hide at night on CSPAN 2.

[cali]

10. it gets them media attention

[MindMover]

2. last day to voice your opinion ...

http://act.350.org/letter/kxl-feis/

[Agony]

18. also here with 55,000 others on the State Department direct comment link

update: plus another 2 MILLION rejecting the pipeline! --->http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014748566
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOS-2014-0003-0001

The State Department invites members of the public to comment on any factor they deem relevant to the national interest determination that will be made for this permit application. Along with other factors such as those listed above, these comments will be considered in the final national interest determination.

There has been a lot of talk it is time for the plan... Senators?

http://thesolutionsproject.org

Professor Jacobson and his team have created 50 state plans for 50 states to transition to 100% renewable energy. Each plan identifies a custom mix of wind, water and solar (WWS) to power our energy for all purposes (electricity, transportation, heating/cooling and industry). The plans will stabilize energy prices, create jobs, minimize air pollution, and begin to eliminate global warming. They will also create enormous investment opportunities for clean energy, transportation and energy efficiency. For more information about the plans or to see additional research from Professor Jacobson, visit his Stanford University website.

[ProSense]

4. Senator Whitehouse: Keystone Isn't Any Normal Pipeline

Keystone Isn't Any Normal Pipeline

by senatorwhitehouse

The State Department has invited the public to weigh in on the Keystone XL pipeline. The question is whether or not the pipeline is in our national interest.

The answer is no, it is not.

Keystone isn't any normal pipeline. It would pump tar sands oil, one of the dirtiest fuels on Earth. Adding more tar sands oil to our energy mix would accelerate climate change, put our health at risk for generations, and tarnish our international reputation. And we've got until the end of the day on March 7 to tell Secretary John Kerry that it’s wrong for America.

Tar sands are a sticky mixture of oil, sediment, and other compounds that requires lots of energy to extract and refine. According to the State Department’s analysis of the Keystone project, Canadian tar sands oil produces 17 percent more carbon pollution on its journey from the ground to a tailpipe or smoke stack than the average crude we use.

This extra pollution really adds up. The State Department’s calculations show that burning the Keystone tar sands crude instead of average crude could result in up to 1.4 billion metric tons of additional carbon spewed into our atmosphere over the next fifty years.

What does that mean? We can estimate how much carbon-driven climate change will cost society in years to come by adding up its effects on things like agriculture, human health, and property damage from floods. They call this the social cost of carbon. And when you run the numbers on Keystone, you see that tar sands oil could cause up to $128 billion in extra damage from climate change over the pipeline’s lifetime. And it’s taxpayers, companies, and investors who will shoulder that cost.

There’s also the serious toll refining and burning tar sands oil takes on our health. Senator Barbara Boxer and I just met with doctors, researchers, and people who live near tar sands mining operations and refineries to discuss the health problems they see there. They described troubling rates of health risks like asthma, lung disease, cancer, and heart disease.

Beyond Keystone’s costs to our economy and health is the real cost of failing to lead the charge on climate change. Last year, President Obama’s Climate Action Plan set the goal of “galvanizing international action to significantly reduce emissions.” That means doing the hard work of convincing the international community to cut carbon pollution. Allowing Keystone to pollute our air and harm our businesses and communities for generations would only discourage the sort of action the President called for.

So no, this isn't just any old pipeline, and it’s definitely not in our national interest. I hope you will send your own message telling Secretary Kerry and the President to recognize this and reject Keystone. If they do, they will send the world a message: that America is serious about climate change.

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/07/1282854/-Keystone-Isn-t-Any-Normal-Pipeline

[OKNancy]

7. is this sarcasm?

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. I don't know, but my poor head hurts really very badly now...

[arcane1]

8. Congratulations!

You've put more insane bullshit into one post than anyone else all week!

And we all know there are no Christians in Russia

[OKNancy]

9. it can't be real - LOL

[cali]

11. are you insane? and yes, you little rightwing critter, that was rhetiorical.

fuck off, you moronic wingnut.

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. President Obama's mother was a Russian spy?

What Russian father? His stepfather was Indonesian.

[uppityperson]

14. Yeah, THAT Muslin Russian Indonesian father. Or, they just WANT you to believe he's

Kenyan when he REALLY is Russian. You know, Russia where there are no Christians, just Russians.

[arcane1]

15. Those damn Russian Arab Muslim Atheists!

[uppityperson]

16. Oh sure, they CALL themselves Russian Orthodox but NOTHING about being Christian, just orthodox

Russian. See? I'm SERIES!!!!!!!11111

[arcane1]

17. "Russian" is an anagram of "Ass Ruin"

Do you know what else ruins asses? Mexican food!

PROOF that Obama is a Russian Orthodox Muslim with a Mexican father!!!

[underpants]

19. Tim and Al. !!!