I would like to acknowledge Cathy Wilson and her column Green With Envy
which was published Monday, April 21. Cathy is right on in her understanding of America's addiction to cheap coal.
Americans are dragging their heels about a new vision, one of an economy that ensures dignified jobs that are good for workers and respectful to our environment. It's believed by most of the world's respected scientists, including NASA's chief climatologist James Hansen, that to avoid the worst effects of global warming, we must reduce our carbon emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050.
This will take more than an easy fix like sticking emissions from coal plants underground and praying they don't leak out any time soon. To meet the challenge posed by global warming, the entire U.S. economy must switch from a carbon economy to a green economy. Meigs County has four power plants; as you read this, a fifth coal-powered plant is being proposed to be built in 2009. We need to start thinking and acting against new coal plants and start building a new vision centered on existing alternatives we are so fortunate to have.
Laura Post is a 2005 graduate of Ohio University.
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