If you doubt climate change, you are proving that you are an ignorant human being. Throughout the developed world, only a handful of individuals deny the scientific facts; they call themselves “Republicans.” Proving that GOP politicians are owned by the one-percent, five hypocrites are attacking the Department of Justice, claiming that they are not being allowed to counter the facts.
Led by Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah, these five supporters of the oil and gas industry are denying 97 percent of the world’s scientists. Why? They receive large campaign contributions from the petroleum industry. The GOP philosophy of ‘profit before people’ continues to endanger the entire planet.
Republicans choose to focus on the root of climate change; increasing temperatures. While that is true, the effect of global warming is extreme weather; droughts, heavier snow storms, greater numbers of tornadoes, stronger hurricanes, and record low temperatures. This is a ‘cause and effect’ result of a world’s environment in flux.
Republicans claim that a controversy exists; really? There is no controversy, but there is denial. Aerial views offer proof that the glaciers are melting at an excessive rate and the seas are rising. The drought in the west reveals lakes and riverbeds without a drop of water. The Midwest continues to suffer from increasing numbers of tornadoes.
While Republicans focus on the dangers of terrorism, specifically ISIS, the fact is that climate change is the greatest danger to the world and its people.
My greatest concern is fracking. It is the most dangerous method of retrieving gas and crude in history. The numbers of fracking wells are increasing with every passing day without concern for the dangers they present to the environment and the people living adjacent to the wells.
California is no longer the state with the greatest seismic activity; that ‘honor’ now belongs to Oklahoma. Oklahoma just happens to have the greatest number of fracking wells in a concentrated area.
However, the greatest danger from fracking is the pollution of underground water. Each operation contains as many as four million gallons of water mixed with sand and 600 chemicals; many of which are carcinogenic. As this mixture is forced deep underground under high pressure, the shale is broken and the crude and gas are released. The problem is that not all of this dangerous mixture can be recovered. Much of it leaches into underground rivers and that precious drinking water is destroyed.
Only the voting public can save our environment. We must vote detractors out of office and pass legislation which will quickly move us away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Scientists have joined together to warn the world that unless immediate action is taken to avert this disaster, it will become irreversible in less than a decade.
The next time you hear a politician lie to you, claiming that the United States is the greatest nation in the world, ask him if he denies climate change. Those who care more about their own future than those of the people of our nation must not receive your vote.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 