From You
Save Water!
originally published October 3, 2007
I’ve worked in restaurants in Athens for several years. [Re: “Help With Water,” Letters, Sept. 26] These places suck down the water from cooking to cleaning to every person getting a water they don’t drink. The biggest waste of water in these places is ice. Used ice is dumped out by the hundreds of gallons in our town. Then when the ice bin is full how do you get rid of the bin full of used ice? Most places run hot water over it full-blast until it is gone. Hey, I’m not saying anything against a business. I’m saying order your drink without ice. Every bit helps and this is a big waste!
Editor’s note: For more on what some local restaurants are doing to conserve water in the current severe drought, see this week’s City Pages.
Climate Actions
originally published October 3, 2007
I find it interesting that while leaders from around the world gathered at the United Nations recently to discuss the international solutions that will be required to address global climate change, our president was not present until the formal dinner that evening. Later, President Bush hosted another gathering of world leaders - those known as the “major economies” - to attempt to convince other nations that setting voluntary goals will be an adequate response to global warming. This should not be mistaken as bold leadership by a president who has been all but absent from global warming discussion: what President Bush is recommending would take the world several steps backward.
By calling for voluntary actions, the president is recycling policies from the 1990s that were ultimately rejected because they failed to avert global warming. In the 1990s the U.S. Senate ratified, and the first President Bush signed, the “Rio Accords,” establishing a long-term climate goal and setting voluntary emissions limits from developed countries. This is the very same approach the current President Bush has proposed.
The problem is, most countries failed to meet their voluntary Rio goals, which prompted world leaders to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol requiring mandatory emissions reductions from industrialized countries. Although the United States never ratified Kyoto, more than 170 other nations did and many countries have implemented ambitious measures to meet their emissions commitments. Because our federal government isn’t stepping up, states are beginning to lead: California, New Jersey and others are passing global warming emissions reduction laws. Our mayor, Heidi Davison, is leading as well by signing onto the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement to reduce global warming emissions through local government actions.
To show the rest of the world that we Americans are serious about doing our part to combat global climate change, the Bush Administration must re-engage productively in international climate change talks and support strong, mandatory emissions reductions for industrialized countries, including the United States. Our Congress will help us realize this goal by passing a comprehensive, sustainable energy bill this year and capping our greenhouse gas emissions in the near future. I call on my Congressman, Rep. Paul Broun, to vote in favor of strong clean-energy legislation. It’s time for all elected officials from our state to step up and boldly lead in seeking climate and energy solutions!
Editor’s note: On Thursday, Oct. 4 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Athens-Clarke County is holding an open forum at the ACC Library as part of the “National Conversation on Climate Action.” (To clarify: this is not a Southern Alliance for Clean Energy event.) See Out There! for more information.
Protest Protest
originally published October 3, 2007
A serious apology is in order from a local anti-war group calling themselves the Women in Black. On Friday, Sept. 21, I witnessed a disgraceful mockery of our armed forces and veterans at their “International Day of Peace” protest in downtown Athens.
A young man, who was not a member of the military, was participating in the protest wearing the United States Army uniform of a First Sergeant, using it as a prop. When I approached the man, I noticed that he had further disrespected the uniform with political buttons.
Not only is wearing a United States military uniform without authority a federal crime, it is also highly offensive, distasteful, and has the potential to incite violence. Since the Women in Black claim to be a peaceful and lawful protest, I expected them to immediately object to this outrage; instead, I saw the peace protesters all shaking the young man’s hand. Law enforcement had to be called to address the situation - only then did he remove the uniform.
Men and women have fought and died for the right to wear that uniform. Those chevrons represent years of service to our country, years of bravery and sacrifice and honor. To wear the uniform when you have not earned the right is repulsive. To use it as a political prop is inexcusable. Even the people I know who are against the war find it disrespectful.
Unfortunately, this is consistent with the behavior of alleged “peace” advocates in Athens - such as those who have shouted obscenities as I stand with my “Support our troops - support their mission” sign.
Peacefully and respectfully protesting is one thing; breaking the law and mocking our troops is quite another. Regardless of how one feels about the war, we should all respect the men and women who have earned the right to wear that honorable uniform.
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