Enviros for clean elections?
By Josh Zaharoff
Posted on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 08:30:21 PM EST
Kennedy and others at the Big Tent in Denver
Earlier today I sat in on a panel at the Big Tent on climate change. Featured among the panelists was Robert Kennedy Jr., along with Prof. David Orr and others.
While the conversation focused on global warming and the policy solutions--capping carbon emissions, ending the subsidies for fossil fuels like coal and gas, investing in renewables, and strengthening our electric grid--the panelists were in agreement and a couple, including Kennedy, got into the political reasons why we haven't made progress on virtually any of those fronts.
Kennedy pointed out that the oil and gas industries have invested hundreds
of millions of dollars in the political system. Orr, when asked why 40 years ago we reached bipartisan consensus on major environmental laws but can't seem to do that today, answered "money in politics and the media."
They didn't mention how Xcel Energy is taking advantage of the convention Host Committee loophole to donate
at least $1 million to both the Democratic and Republican conventions -- a very local example of a much broader concern. Big money is a big problem on a lot of fronts.
As a side note, the blonde head in the foreground of the picture on the right belongs to actress Daryl Hannah.
Tags: bigtentdenver, convention, election 08, money in politics, media reform (all tags)
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