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Blog post #9 infographic

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Civic Action Assessment of Issue

1. The roles as a citizen is to fix the problems that we see and advocate problems for people that don’t have a voice to meet the needs of our community.

2.I have learned that it is individuals responsibility to make change through civic action.

3.I do believe that my civic obligation is to address the problems of climate change because of the extensive research I’ve done through the blog posts. I should take the knowledge I’ve gotten from this assignment and put it towards educating others and further addressing the problems that climate change is bringing to our world.

4. I educated students about the gas tax during the election. Myself, and three other students from government classes put together a slideshow to present to students wanting to know more about the bills and proposition that would appear on their ballets. My peers and I talked about what a yes vote and a no vote would effect the prices of gas and founding for roads. We were bipartisan, but spoke about our opinions, how we were planning to vote, and why we planned to vote that way. The students that came in to learn about proposition 6 asked question and we gave them answers.

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Executive Action Assessment of Issue

White house

1. Trump believes in revving up the economy. He believes we should be using “clean American coal” to end the war on coal that Obama caused.Trump has repealed numbers of the the Obama Administrations energy efforts. Trump believes that Obama’s policies harmed the economy and did nothing to reduce CO2 levels and global temperature.

2. I do not agree with Trumps stance on energy. I believe that we should stop our dependency on other nation for our energy, but this can’t be resolved by using Clean American coal because there’s no such thing as clean coal. This dependency issue should be resolved with truly clean energy like solar power that will support jobs and the economy.

Cabinet

1. The department of energy manages my issue.

2. “The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.”

3. Rick Perry is the head of the department of energy. he has a degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. he was and Air force Pilot and became the governor of Texas in 2000-2015. Texas saw reduction in CO2, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as having one of the largest petrochemical refining industries in the world. Perry is conservative like Trump. Perry also boosts the economy from petroleum. This would impact the departments decisions because Perry may agree to what Trump tells him to do.

4. The site provides links about saving energy in the home. These topics include: building and home design, space heating and cooling, and lighting. These links describe how homeowners can save on energy.

5. I’m not satisfied with how the president has handled the issue of climate change and energy. The president claims that he believes climate change may be happening, but it’s not human caused. It seems like Rick Perry agrees with trump on his ideas of American coal fixing the economy and the war on coal. I do not agree that the answer is coal, I believe its solar power. The president does want to cut funding and continue using coal. Cutting funding will result in more CO2 emitted by fossil fuels.

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Legislative Action

Harris

a.Believes Black women are the most effected by air quality, and climate change in the U.S., so they should be leaders.

b. Introduced the Living Shorelines Act that would create a new grant program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for nature-based shoreline protection projects known as living shorelines.

Feinstein

a. Believes in making California’s economy dependent on clean energy.

b. Proposed the California Desert Protection and Recreations Act to balance and protect the California desert.

Desaulnier

a. Believes Climate Change is a fact and needs to be acted on. Ignoring it is attacking public health and the planet.

b. I did not find any bills that mark supported regarding Climate Change.

2.

a. I found at least ten bills that pertained to climate change.

b. Bill #5571

c. A yes vote would undo Trumps tariffs on solar panel companies.

d. Trumps tariffs makes solar panel companies less competitive, and increase costs for them. This makes it more difficult for the U.S. to switch to clean energy. It will effect American solar companies and their workers; and the federal government.

e. I would vote yes to repeal the tariffs because it slows the U.s. to getting to our clean energy goals.

f. The bill originated in the House, it was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Subcommittee on Trade. It has not been signed by the President yet.

g. I’m not very satisfied with Trumps bills, and repeals on climate change acts. trump is making it difficult for the U.S. to move forward to use our resources to lead the climate change issue.

3.

S. UN warning us that urgent changes are needed to limit climate change.

A. Jonathan Watts

C. It was posted during the time of the California wildfires, so the effects of drought and climate change are being seen all of the news.

A. The intended audience is everyone, but specifically those who believe in climate change and are concerned.

P. The author is a Global environment editor, so he may have some bias, but he’s reporting what the IPCC is telling him. 

S. This article is significant because we don’t have much time (12 years) to limit climate change to what was agreed on in Paris (1.5C). Yes I agree with this article because it states facts and is the largest issue facing the world.

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State Action

1a. Senator Glazer-  “Senator Glazer has been a strong voice on the environment, casting an important vote to continue California’s fight against global warming by setting new targets to reduce emissions. He also voted for new standards to promote clean energy through renewable energy sources.”

Catharine Baker- “ We have a responsibility to preserve and enhance our parks and open space, protect biodiversity, and keep our air and water clean.”

http://www.bakerforassembly.com/issues-1/

1b. Senator Glazer- yes, I agree with the senator’s stance on the environment because he believes that the environment should be taken into consideration on every issue. 

Catharine Baker- I also agree that we have a responsibility to protect our environment, but I would had that we have a responsibility to undo what we’ve done.

1c. I din’t find any bills that they supported on this issue but he led efforts that raised hundreds of millions of dollars to permanently protect open space in California and 25 other states.

Catharine baker- yes she’s votedd for a number of bills supporting the environment, including:  California’s landmark climate change legislation (SB 32, AB 398), legislation to keep the U.S. engaged in the Paris Climate Accord (AJR 20), and to increase use of renewable energy resources by 50% (SB 350).

2a. AB-964

2b. 6/21/2017

2c. 7/12/2017: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (July 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

2d. Yes i support the bill because it ensures that public transportation will be zero emission until 2027. i would encourage my representatives to support this bill because as we use more public transportation the emissions will decrease even more if the transportation is zero emissions.

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The 3 Ps Assessment: Parties, Political Interest Groups, and PACs

1a. Republican: Restrictions on energy is taking thousands of jobs and hurting the American economy. We nee to use our own oil, “clean coal”, natural gas, solar, geothermal, and nuclear energy to relieve our dependence on Middle east oil.

Democrat: America should be running on clean energy by the mid-centry. American states are already seeing an increase in hurricanes, droughts, and flooding. The need for clean energy means there’s a need for new jobs to work for clean energy companies instead of big oil.

Libertarian: Governments shouldn’t be subsidizing any form of energy and they have a terrible track record with the environment, so they aren’t responsible for it. We shouldn’t trust governments with out environment and energy resources.

Green: Climate change is the largest threat facing America and the world today. They want to cut 95% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. They want to encourage and create clean energy jobs. They want a strong international climate treaty. They want an economic policy for a safer climate treaty. They want clean agriculture.

Peace and freedom:They believe that socialism is necessary to end the destructiveness of capitalism on our environment. They want to out-law unsustainable practices such as clear cutting and fracking. They want free public transportation, and to eliminate nuclear power plants. They want to restore the damage in our air and water systems. They also want to end environmental racism.

1b. Republican: I agree that we need to relieve our dependence on oil from the Middle East, but we don’t have the same reserves as them. We don��t have enough oil in the U.S to support how much we use. We need to be relieving dependence on all oil, natural gas, and coal. And focus on solar energy.

Democrat: I agree with almost everything the democratic party said about climate change. But their predictions aren’t realistic. Scientists say we’re not doing nearly enough to keep “global temperature increases to “well below” two degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”(as agreed in the Paris agreement). To do this we need to lower our meat consumption greatly, but it doesn’t state that as ways we can lower our CO2 and methane emissions.

Libertarian:I agree the the government has a bad tech record with the environment, but in dire times the government should take control and restrict certain things to ensure public safety and health for generations to come.

Green: I agree with all of the libertarians points. I don’t know that they’re reachable, but they do include the effects of animal agriculture. they want to encourage less meat consumption, and promote organic and local food production and distribution.

Peace and freedom: I agree with everything that peace and freedom says. Sadly, this is the only way we can really stop climate change, and ensure life on earth for the human race.

1c. I agreed most with the Peace and Freedom’s platform. This doesn’t surprise me too much because although they're views are extreme, we need an extreme and radical change to combat climate change.

2a. Sierra Club

2b. "The purposes of the Sierra Club are to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives."

2c. 1. Protect wild places and endangered species

      2. Keep our air and water clean

      3. Ensure a clean energy future

      4. Curb climate change

      5. Keep the pressure on politicians and corporations to ensure safe and healthy communities

2d. The Sierra Club endorses the legislation 1631 that “holds polluters accountable by investing in projects that will lead to cleaner air, cleaner water, and a healthier future for Washington.”

2e. There are Sierra Clubs located around the nation, but there are local ones in Oakland and Berkely. On October 27, there’s a “ walk through the city of the dead” at the Colma BART station. On October 29 there’s a “speak up for SF’s resolution supporting the bay-delta protection plan” in San Francisco city hall. There’s the “West Contra Costa monthly group meeting” on November 3 in Berkely.

2f. Yes there are volunteer opportunities including planting trees, canvassing, and attending hikes.

3a. California Environmental Justice Alliance 

3b.  "The California Environmental Justice Alliance is a statewide, community-led alliance that works to achieve environmental justice by advancing policy solutions. We unite the powerful local organizing of our members in the communities most impacted by environmental hazards- low-income communities and communities of color- to create comprehensive opportunities for change at a statewide level. We build the power of communities across California to create policies that will alleviate poverty and pollution. Together, we are growing the statewide movement for environmental health and social justice."

3c.1. Replacing big polluting industries with a green, locally based and sustainable economy 

     2. People’s lives and health are more important than big business profit

     3. Working to have no barriers to opportunity for low-income communities and communities of color.

     4. Working to have no discrimination in state policies and practices.

     5. Working to relay only on clean energy and eliminate toxic industries that pollute our water, land, and health.

3d. The CEJA endorses AB 523  by Assemblymember Reyes to expand access to clean energy in California.This will help break down barriers that don’t allow low income  communities to have affordable access to clean energy.

3e. They’re located on Oakland. I did not find any local meeting I could attend.

3f. Yes you can volunteer to send a pre-written email to governor Brown asking him sign AB 523.

4. Both the Sierra Club and the CEJA seemed pretty organized, but the Sierra club had more opportunities to get involved and just generally more to explore on their site. The sierra Club seems more successful, partially because they have more ways to get involved on their website. The Sierra Club targets people around the nation that are concerned about the environment and want to get involved, while the CEJA is geared toward Californian’s who are concerned about the environment. The CEJA seemed to project more concern for the health of low-income areas, and people of color that are often not represented in environmental justice, and are at the highest health risks because of where they live and the amount of money the have (environmental racism). The CEJA’s supporters include APEN (Asian Pacific Environmental Network), CBE (Communities for a better Environment), CCAEJ ( Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice), and CAUSE ( Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy).

5a. Koch Industries

5b. “We challenge ourselves to improve people’s lives by creating better products using fewer resources. At the same time, we challenge barriers that hinder competition, opportunity, innovation and progress.”

5c. Total receipt: $3,767,334

     Spent: $3,754,267

     cash on hand: $1,602,378

5d. they have given a total of $1,488,000 to candidates. 2% went to democrats, and 98% went to republicans.

5e. Some of their donors include Koch Industries, Invista Sarl, and Molex LLC. Invista makes chemicals, polymers, fabrics and fibers for clothing, carpets, and car parts. Molex LLC is a technology company that makes products such as lighting, and cables. Most of their donations come from their own company.

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Constitutional Issues

1. name of case: Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-46

2. Term: June 29, 2015

3. In 200 the EPA decided to regulate electric utility steam generators because of the mercury pollution that it produced, and was a threat to public health. Then, in 2005 the EPA reversed the regulations saying that it was no longer necessary. And in 2012 they reversed it again saying that it was necessary to regulate electric utility steam generators.

4. Did the Environmental Protection Agency unreasonably refuse to consider costs in determining whether it was appropriate to regulate electric utility steam generating units?

5. “1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act require that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate electric utility steam generating units (EGUs) if it finds that such regulation was "appropriate and necessary" after conducting a utility study.”

6. “The EPA unreasonably interpreted the Clean Air Act's amendment when it deemed cost irrelevant to its regulation of power plants.”

7. The EPA should have considered the cost of the power plants.

8. I’m somewhere in the middle, but I lean toward disagreeing with the Supreme Courts decision. Although the cost of the power plants should be taken into consideration, the safety of the publics health should be the number one priority. The Clean Air Act states that the EPA can regulate if it’s “appropriate and necessary”.To protect the environment, and the people living in it, the EPA should be able to regulate electric utility generators.

SACAPS-‘I Don’t Know That It’s Man-Made,’ Trump Says of Climate Change. It Is.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/climate/trump-climate-change-fact-check.html?nytapp=true&smid=nytcore-ios-share

S-Trump used to believe that climate change wasn't real, but now he says he believes it’s real but not human made.

A- Lisa Friedman

C- October 15, 2018, very current article addressing what Trump said in an interview with CBS’s 60 minutes.

A- This was written for an audience who believe in the facts of climate change, and opposes Trump and his political view on climate change.

P- The author’s perspective is “biased” to the left because she believes in the scientifically proven facts. I agree with the author because I also believe in the facts. Without bringing any politics into my opinion I still agree with the author because she provides the facts in her article.

S- This article is significant because the laws that Trump imposes and repeals will impact  wether or not humans can continue to live on earth.

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Media Assessment of Issue

1. Liberal persuasive article from the Huffington post

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jerry-brown-trump-climate-change-liar_us_5b9ae116e4b0c875d14a15ac?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

Title: “Jerry Brown calls Trump a ‘liar, criminal, fool’ on climate change”

S- Trump is trying to undo environmental regulations but individual states are fighting back

A- Huffington post by Mary Papenfuss

C- 9/13/2018, current article addressing Trumps environmental opinions as criminal

A- This was created for an audience that is in support of Jerry Brown and environmental regulations, and in opposition of Trump

P- This article is biased against Trumps environmental regulations. It does state that Jerry Brown “underscored that thousands of cities and states are committed to reducing global warming even with out the presidents support.” Jerry Brown claims that trumps actions to dismantle environmental protection “boarders on not only insanity but criminality.” I agree because dismantling environmental policies if going to hurt Americans along with the rest of the world.

S- The article provides examples of bills and laws protecting the environment.

2. Conservitive prospective- Restate

https://www.redstate.com/joshkimbrell/2017/06/04/mike-pence-not-wrong-left-climate-change-obsessed/

Title: “Mike Pence is Not Wrong: The Left is Climate Change Obsessed”

S- The left-winged people believe that climate change is human caused, which is wrong.

A- Redstate, by John Kimbrell

C- Jun 4, 2017, Year old article stating the left-wing has been wrong about climate change since the 1960′s.

A- This article is written for people in support of Mike Pence and do not believe climate change is caused by humans. It’s very outwardly against the left.

P- This article is very biased, however it does state “ All Americans should care for the environment and take steps to be good stewards of the world around us.” Claim- The left uses climate change to raise taxes, control the government, and take away freedom. I don’t agree with this statement because there is scientific evidence that climate change is caused by humans, and the government needs to create stricter environmental policies on the subject. But it can’t all be on the government, Americans need to learn to change for the government to be able to change.

S- The article doesn’t use much factual evidence to support their claim “ The notion that human progress is the progenitor of climate change is far from conclusive.” When there is factual evidence that climate change is being caused by humans.

3.Objective- NYT

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/climate/trump-methane-rollback.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytclimate

Title: “Trump Administration Formally Rolls Back Rule Aimed at Limiting Methane Pollution”

S- Trump administration repealed a policy that the Obama administration made to cut back on methane emissions

A- NYT by Lisa Friedman

C- September 18, 2018, current article addressing the efforts of the Trump administration to cut back on environmental regulations.

A- This article is for anyone who believes the Obama administrations environmental policies were better than Trumps.

P- Slightly biased to the left, but mostly objective. It shines the light on Obama’s  environmental regulations because they’re backed up by facts. Claim- Obama’s environmental policies were going to reduce the amount of methane being released into our atmosphere which would slow global warming, and Trump is repealing and re-writing these policies which will progress climate change. I agree with this claim because it’s backed up by facts.

S- the article provides a description and statistics of how harmful methane is to the environment. It also provides quotes from Erik Milito ( the editor and director of exploration and production with the American Petroleum Institute).

#3 What are the similarities and differences between these three accounts of your issue?

The liberal and conservative perspectives didn’t give as many counter points or pieces of evidence as the objective perspective. The Redstate article did not give any evidence to support their claim that climate change is not human-caused. The liberal and objective perspectives were more geared towards a left-wing point of view on climate change.

#4 Which source did you identify with most and why?

I agreed most with the objective NYT article because it provided the most examples and facts. The article provided specific examples on regulations that Obama made that Trump is trying to repeal and what that’s going to result in.

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Conceptualizing The Issue And Assessing Types Of Action

1. What civic action did you choose and why?

I chose Co2 emissions and greenhouse gasses because the United States is the second largest producer of them with a comparatively low population to the largest producer; China.

2.Why is it an issue?

Co2 emissions and greenhouse gasses are an issue because although the effects of climate change do not really effect the U.S. (yet), it effects 3rd world countries, and will eventually effect the entire world.

3. What action do you think needs to be taken to address this issue?

I believe the United States government needs to share the truth and educate their citizens about the largest greenhouse gas emitter; livestock.

4.Five groups:

1) Cowspiracy: This was the only group that I found that was dedicates to addressing the effects that livestock has on climate. Groups that were following and supporting them; What The Health, Mercy For Animals, and Forks Over Knives.

2) Climate Reality: This group is funded by Al gore, it was mostly posts about greenhouse gasses caused by the burning fossil fuels for our cars and electricity. There was mention of being vegan but it did not explain why.

3) Climate Progress: This group posted about action taken on climate change. Again, there was nothing to be said about the animal agriculture industry, because there’s not much action being taken.

4) Greenpeace: This is the largest environmental organization in the world. They reported on beach cleanups, coral beaching, and greenhouse gasses caused by fossil fuels and coal. I did not find anything about animal agriculture on the LARGEST environmental organization in the world.

5) Climate Desk: This group took a political stance against trump, reported on plastic straws, wildfires, and hurricanes. Not to my surprise, I did not find anything involving animal agriculture.