Comments on: Focus the Nation: The Unanswered Question http://www.diamondcutlife.org/focus-the-nation-the-unanswered-question/ Sustainable Living: More Joy And Less Consumption Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:46:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ted Wolf http://www.diamondcutlife.org/focus-the-nation-the-unanswered-question/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Ted Wolf Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:20:23 +0000 http://www.diamondcutlife.org/focus-the-nation-the-unanswered-question/#comment-41 Came across your blog by chance, and I was also at UP for the Focus the Nation event. You are right, it doesn't seem America is ready for an honest discussion about sacrifice. Consider this. US carbon dioxide emissions are now about 21 tons per person. Our population is expected to grow over 30% by 2040. To achieve total emissions reduction, we are going to have to accomplish emissions reductions per person MUCH deeper than, for example, Europe, where per capital emissions are already only half ours or less, and where population growth over the same time frame is expected to be modest or negligible. Whether we call it sacrifice, or find some other more saccharine name that is somehow more palatable to Americans, the changes will be very large. If we can build meaning around making the changes, that might hold us together! I sensed the possibility that we could do so, in the enthusiasm of the crowd at UP. Came across your blog by chance, and I was also at UP for the Focus the Nation event. You are right, it doesn’t seem America is ready for an honest discussion about sacrifice.

Consider this. US carbon dioxide emissions are now about 21 tons per person. Our population is expected to grow over 30% by 2040. To achieve total emissions reduction, we are going to have to accomplish emissions reductions per person MUCH deeper than, for example, Europe, where per capital emissions are already only half ours or less, and where population growth over the same time frame is expected to be modest or negligible.

Whether we call it sacrifice, or find some other more saccharine name that is somehow more palatable to Americans, the changes will be very large. If we can build meaning around making the changes, that might hold us together! I sensed the possibility that we could do so, in the enthusiasm of the crowd at UP.

]]> By: jessejenkins http://www.diamondcutlife.org/focus-the-nation-the-unanswered-question/comment-page-1/#comment-40 jessejenkins Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:07:51 +0000 http://www.diamondcutlife.org/focus-the-nation-the-unanswered-question/#comment-40 Thanks Alison for the props on the speech. It was fun, and I'm glad I had the chance to help pump up the crowd. I'll be forming my campaign committee shortly! (BTW, I'll be 36 in 2020, so I guess that's the first year I COULD run for President). Check out the Cascade Climate Network's website at <a href="http://CascadeClimate.org" rel="nofollow">www.CascadeClimate.org</a>. For us, Focus the Nation is only the beginning! Thanks Alison for the props on the speech. It was fun, and I’m glad I had the chance to help pump up the crowd.

I’ll be forming my campaign committee shortly! (BTW, I’ll be 36 in 2020, so I guess that’s the first year I COULD run for President).

Check out the Cascade Climate Network’s website at http://www.CascadeClimate.org. For us, Focus the Nation is only the beginning!

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