GP RELEASE Greens: US must rejoin Kyoto, regulate CO2, or face more disasters

[Deirdre Helfferich]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
Thursday, December 1, 2005
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805,
Julia Willebrand, New York Green, 212-877-5088,
GREENS: THE U.S. MUST REJOIN KYOTO
The U.S. must push for more dramatic steps against
global warming, regulate industry, and convert to
clean energy sources, or face more Katrinas, warn
Greens as nations in Montreal for the U.N. Climate
Conference.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders strongly
criticized the Bush Administration's decision to shun
the U.N. Climate Conference in Montreal (November 28 -
December 9) on global warming, calling it reckless and
irresponsible in the face of the growing climate
crisis.
"We're calling on all Americans to reject President
Bush's so-called market-based solutions to global
warming," said Marc Sanson, co-chair of the Green
Party of the United States. "Corporations will not
voluntarily take steps to end dependence on fossil
fuels, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, or
conserve energy, when such steps interfere with
short-term profits."
"We need regulation -- surpassing the minimal Kyoto
measures -- just as we needed the EPA and OSHA to curb
pollution and the lack of workplace safety," added Mr.
Sanson. "A democratic nation has a responsibility to
regulate powerful corporations."
Green Party members throughout the U.S. plan to attend
various rallies and other events urging increased
measures to curb global warming when nations meeting
in Montreal discuss the Kyoto accords, and to protest
the U.S.'s nonparticipation.
Greens are participating in the Climate Crisis
Coalition, which is coordinating the December 3rd
International Day of Action to Stop Global Warming.
Ted Glick, Green Party member and organizer of the
Independent Progressive Politics Network, is
co-founder of the Coalition, which has established the
'People's Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming
Treaty' <http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org>, a nationwide
petition drive.
On December 3, a rally titled 'Kyoto and Beyond
Climate Crisis: USA Join the World!' in Madison Square
Park (12:30 -2:30 p.m., Madison Avenue between 24th
and 25th Streets) will feature Gloria Mattera, 2005
Green candidate for Brooklyn Borough President; Tony
Gronowicz, 2005 Green candidate for Mayor of New York;
and Lynne Serpe, who managed 2004 Green presidential
candidate David Cobb's campaign.
"We're stressing the need for conservation and clean
energy sources, and warning that nuclear energy is not
an acceptable alternative to fossil fuels," said Julia
Willebrand, New York Green and organizer of the
Madison Square Park rally. "Nuclear power is a
security risk and creates tons of radioactive waste.
We need to decrease energy consumption and convert to
solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, fuel cell, and biomass
sources."
Greens point to widespread evidence that global
warming is already underway, such as the recent
increase in killer hurricanes like Katrina, Rita, and
Wilma, shrinkage of the Arctic ice cap, and
disappearance of glaciers and tundra. An overwhelming
majority of scientists assert that the original Kyoto
goal of a reduction of 5% to 1991 greenhouse gas
levels is severely inadequate and urge a 70%
reduction, a goal supported by Green Party members.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax [phone]
Climate Crisis Coalition
http://www.climatecrisiscoalition.org
December 3, 2005 Global March for the Climate
http://www.3dec2005.org/-en-
"Time for Green Action on Global Warming"
By Mark Dunlea, Hudson Mohawk Independent Media
Center, November 28, 2005
http://hm.indymedia.org/newswire/display/11366/index.php
"The New Harvest: Biofuels and Windpower for Rural
Revitalization and National Energy Security"
By Patrick Mazza, Research Director, Climate
Solutions/Harvesting Clean Energy Network, and Eric
Heitz, President, Energy Foundation
The Energy Foundation, November 2005
http://www.ef.org/documents/CompFinalNov18.pdf
Carbon Taxes: A Green Priority
By Charles Komanoff, June 13, 2005
http://www.komanoff.net/fossil/carbon_taxes.php
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