OUR PRESIDENT’S VIEW OF AMERICA IS INCORRECT

…Trump making an exit….stage right

 

The Paris Agreement withdrawal speech was focused on Trump supporters.

 

It is great that 30 governors, 80 universities and the mayors of major US cities such as New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Portland-Or., Seattle, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and yes, even Pittsburg-Pa, have all said they will follow the Paris Climate Chance Agreement, regardless of President Trump’s withdrawal from the voluntary program.

 

The reality is, as usual, all the negatives that the president stated against the agreement were incorrect.  But that is no surprise by having it coming from this president.  It was so apparent that the president is in such a need to have a “win” in his supporter's column, that by pulling out of the Paris agreement, it was a way to fulfill a campaign promise.  It was also an opportunity to once again tell his base how bad things are in the US. And what he as president, is going to do to fix it all.

 

The withdrawal speech had a total focus on Trumps supporters.  It might as well have been written for one of his gigantic, campaign rallies held in an NFL stadium.  The speech was so grim, sinister and negative, it now appears to have been a colossal mistaken speech for everyone, except those that voted for him last November.

 

Since the Paris Agreement was va volunteer agreement, with no controlling or penalty operation for failing to meet the stated goals, there was no case for supporting a withdrawal.  All it was, was a way that the president could double-down on fulfilling his campaign promise to withdraw from the agreement.  The point is ,that there are still 194 other countries that are in the agreement, and the US is joining the only two countries that are not in the agreement.  Those two nations are Syria, that is in a full Civil War, and Nicaragua, which feels that the agreement doesn’t go far enough.  But the world decided in Paris to confront the climate threat, and even with the US withdrawing, it is not turning back.

 

Before the Paris Agreement, it was understood that the climate challenge could only be met only with a new kind of agreement based on the efforts of all the countries. That agreement was ambitious, universal, transparent, well-balanced, and it was reached with the help of US leadership every step of the way. 

 

Now that leadership will be coming from the multiple organizations within the many US states and cities.  It was stated by one media outlet that virtually every US state, including one state that has the power and capability of being a major country (California) will be leading the drives and goals of the Paris agreement.

 

Trump’s bizarre suggestion that he is willing to renegotiate the deal to make it fairer to the United States is pure B.S.!  That comment doesn’t pass the smell test. The Paris agreement, for those that actually understand it, is entirely fair to the United States. The idea that 194 other countries were listening to Trump’s insulting all those that supported the agreement, are now going to say: “Sure, let’s sit down and negotiate a new deal,”....... that is totally is ridiculous

 

Trump’s decision is an ugly betrayal.  As usual, it is self-centered, callous, hollow, and totally cruel in its nature.

…What the Paris Agreement is focused on lowering

 

The ravages of climate change have been obvious in the superstorms, floods, rising sea levels, droughts, fires, melting glaciers, and deadly heat waves that will only get worse as the carbon index increases.  Vulnerable countries will look at the United States, the richest power on earth, one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and think “how dare you?”

 

If this issue is not a major issue for the world, why are we losing islands due to rising seas?  Why have some coastal villages had to be abandoned due to rising seas?  Why are cities and communities that are located on the coasts now making decisions as to where new buildings are allowed to be built and how high their foundations must be?  This is already occurring in Florida, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, South Carolina and New York.  It is also occurring in other countries, and this all came about due to the meetings that lead up to the Paris Agreement.

 

Private companies are also important for driving the clean-energy revolution.  They must continue pursuing economic opportunities by the need to de-carbonize our energy systems. In addition, consumers are demanding that companies not only provide desirable products or services, but must also be a good corporate citizen.

 

And at last, for citizens, it is time to hold our leaders accountable at all levels of government.

 

Protecting our nation, our children and our American heritage, should not be an optional issue for an elected leader. Nor should preserving America’s standing in the world.

This latest presidential move was not a good day for climate change, and it was a horrible day for the United States. Nothing anyone can say can change that now.

 

But instead we must remember it, as the moment the opposition went too far.  It is a day to spark serious action and resolve.

 

This was a day that needs to be remembered by those of us who care more than our president about the future of our planet.

 

Copyright G.Ater  2017