tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497138.post2683643353776086367..comments2024-01-22T03:02:52.051-08:00Comments on California Greening: LATimes: 'Brown May Find It's Not Easy Being Green'Weshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15684763427526399228noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497138.post-54766744489613542822010-12-05T11:53:23.375-08:002010-12-05T11:53:23.375-08:00As to renewable energy, it needs to be put in cont...As to renewable energy, it needs to be put in context of reducing GHGs and increasing conservation as the #1 priorities. The pollution budget needs to be reshaped. Air pollution and increased demand for electricity will continue to be social costs for California's popualtion increases. Technological advances that are needed to address the quantity of electricity remain on the drawing board. <br /><br />The element raised in the article is the science aspect we face. The issue for Greens is to deal with the myriad of existing entities with cross-purposes and missions and begin to present a vision of the path towards renewables and reduction of GHGs. We have NOT focused on this to date.Martin Zehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053061645306474569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18497138.post-26391095933793376582010-12-05T11:11:32.345-08:002010-12-05T11:11:32.345-08:00Water decisions need to be taken out of the State ...Water decisions need to be taken out of the State Legislature if we are going to develop real ecological democracy for the future. As it stands rural users (family farmers, agricultural workers, agribusinesses) are all joined at the hip in response to growing urban users. There is no common sense incorporated in public debates in regards to the impact of decisions. Diversions remain the easiest remedy for growing demand. <br /><br />This will change. Just as we have seen budget cuts for priorities, such as education, replace broad budgets that lack cohesion, so we will see urban users establish a hegemony in water allocations. (Such is the intention of Water as a Human Right). At some point, agicultural policy will need to be put on the table and farmers and rural communities will need to be included in the process in an open and transparent manner. Likewise, at some point, population increases, that impact urban metropolitan water use and increase the growth of new urban regions in CA, need to be addressed.<br /><br />Regional planning. Work from the ground up.Martin Zehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053061645306474569noreply@blogger.com