||| from Governor Jay Inslee’s Office |||
Gov. Jay Inslee sent an open letter to President Donald Trump today, it reads in part,
“Mr. President,
I hope you had an enlightening trip to the West Coast, where your refusal to address climate change — and your active steps to enable even more carbon pollution — will accelerate devastating wildfires like those you’re seeing today. I implore you to recognize the science behind this destruction and stop your path of distortion and deception.
“Rapid climate change driven by human activity has created a fusion of natural risk and man-made catalysts to accelerate these unnatural disasters. Study after study confirm the close connection between climate change and intensifying wildfires. Your reckless statements that climate change is a hoax and your gutting of environmental policies benefit no one but fossil fuel companies.
“These willful denials are harming our nation and our people. Today, you said about the climate: “It’ll start getting cooler. You just watch.” That is false. This abandonment of leadership has once again left the states on their own to fight this existential threat to our people.
The knowledge and tools are at your disposal to be a leader if you choose. Every day, climate experts are showing us ways to reduce carbon pollution while helping our health and economy.”
Read the rest of the story on the governor’s Medium page.
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Thank you Gov Inslee for telling Trump the truth. I hope he will listen and learn, but doubt he will
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Dear Governor, While this is the worst year for forest fires I can remember in the 25 years of living on Orcas we have had many massive fires on the West Coast within this time. And if as we’re told, this is the result carbon pollution I wonder if you could tell us just how much these recent fires have contributed to global warming as compared to the fossil fuel power generators on the West Coast? When viewing this smoke from satellite pictures it appears that we may be good as dead. One would guess it may be the equivalent of a generation’s pollution from fossil fuel. Another question I have is why have we neglected keeping our forest clear of dead fall or allowing fire breaks to be constructed? I realize that a clear cut fire break of 50 feet going up or across our mountains detracts from their natural beauty but so does a break water across our harbors or a burned out forest. How about getting the West Coast States along with the federal government to fund and maintain a fleet of quick reacting Boing 747 water tankers that within a couple hours would have multiple air craft dropping water or fire retardant on a blaze anywhere on the coast. Please reply.
If you put Trump’s brain in a bird it would fly backwards.
I think reasonable guidance can be found in the appropriate science-based studies of forests and fires.
Define “appropriate?” I know the definition will include the absence of politics from all aspects, from funding through theory.
Define “possible?” I know how the definition begins: Unity.