Earth Day Ethics

Climate Protection and Pandemic Preparedness need Smart Citizens.

America is First. Sadly, we lead the world in COVID-19 deaths. This is despite the warnings of pandemic scientists many weeks before it arrived here. In fact, general warnings were made years ago. In fairness, previous administrations could have done more but when the Trump Administration eliminated the pandemic and bioterrorism teams in 2018, they demonstrated a terrible lack of scientific vision.

Tragically, we have done nothing to address the much bigger threat, the climate dragon. 

We have a history of letting things get out of control. In the 1960s swimming in the Mississippi River near my home was discouraged because of pollution. As an Air Force Cadet, we visited Southern California where, during the day, the sun was nothing more than a bright spot in a smoggy night-time. 

Acid rain was killing forests and lakes. Poorly regulated pesticides poisoned animals. Our national bird, the Bald Eagle, neared extinction. Even a river caught fire. 

What happened? The American Citizen said enough is enough and Earth Day was born. In response, politicians passed the Clean Water and Clean Air acts and created the Environmental Protection Agency. This would not have happened if the nation’s voters had not demanded it.

Fifty years later there are new and more dangerous environmental dragons to slay. The deadliest is the climate dragon. Below is a paragraph from a letter sent to all US Senators in 2009. It was written and signed by 18 top notch science organization leaders serving 10 million scientists. *  

“If we are to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change, emissions of greenhouse gases must be dramatically reduced. In addition, adaptation will be necessary to address those impacts that are already unavoidable. Adaptation efforts include improved infrastructure design, more sustainable management of water and other natural resources, modified agricultural practices, and improved emergency responses to storms, floods, fires and heat waves.” 

Today’s politicians are no smarter or braver than our parent’s politicians.  But our parents were different.  They demanded action, and Republican and Democratic politicians responded. We, the voter, are the key to creating moral courage in our politicians. 

In 1970, the men and women in the white lab coats, our scientists, were turned loose by our politicians to slay the dragons. 

Motivated Citizens can demand action again. VOTE!

*American Institute of Biological Sciences:

Member: CitizensClimateLobby.org (Citizens for Action)

Column 118

Greyson Morrow


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