In Florida, Florida Power and Light (FPL) has gotten the state to agree that FPL can charge a minimum monthly bill. My daughter and son-in-law live in Massachusetts, in a larger house than mine, and with fewer solar panels than I have. Massachusetts does not allow the electric company (Eversource) to charge a minimum monthly bill, and my daughter and son-in-law often enough get electric bills of $0, and sometimes a small check from Eversource.
This arrangement regarding electric companies that rely on fossil fuels puts me in mind of the horse industry, when cars were becoming more common. I don't know what the horse industry did, possibly to delay or divert becoming irrelevant, but the fact is that more and more people drove cars, fewer and fewer people relied on horses, and today, essentially no one rides a horse for daily transportation.
Either because of climate change, or because fossil fuels are not renewable, that's what's going to happen regarding burning coal, oil, and gas. As you rightly say, the percentage is in seeing this coming, and making adjustments sooner, instead of dealing with losses later. But for precisely the reason you propose 0-- greed-- the fossil fuel industry wants to keep skimming everyone else's money, and keep its head in the sand about the increasingly common complications of relying on fossil sources of energy. And they do it, as they do it in Florida, with the enabling of government. That's the private sector and the public sector both failing. I don't expect the private sector to look out for the public. Their interest is themselves. But I do expect the public sector to look out for the public. That's why it's called the public sector. It fails in its mission and mandate in too many places.
I believe that if there were economic incentives for businesses to pollute less or eliminate it completely it would drive innovation. And businesses. Capitalists is all for the most profit in the shortest amount of time. That is their pro-fossile fuel incentive because oil companies will likely line their pockets for that. To get incentives to pollute less takes electing people that will say no to the oil lobbyists.
Thank you! It breaks my heart this regime that doesn’t believe in climate crisis. And everytime a disaster strikes my I think @ “Mother Nature is mad and striking back at us.” How can anyone deny this??
The connection between disaster responce costs and rising utility bills is something that often gets buried in regulatory jargon. When Maine's storm recovery costs go thirtyfold and families inherit 25-year payment plans from single storms, that's a systemic transfer of risk from corporations to comunities. The Climate Superfund model mirrors the toxic waste precident perfectly, companies profited knowingly from harm, so accountability should follow the same patern.
A late friend of mine once said, one day we will look at the oil companies in the same way we now look at the cigarette companies and their decades long campaign to hide the harm they did and avoid taking responsibility for that harm. We have a long road ahead of us, but it's one we must travel. Thanks, Qasim.
PS, Next time you travel to Los Angeles, let us know. I'd love a chance to get to meet you personally and shake your hand.
I was out of commission for a few days last week with a stomach virus, which is why I have not posted any comments on your Substack in about a week.
I’m very impressed with all of the wonderful humanitarian work you do. And that your commitment to social justice extends even beyond human rights and includes animal welfare and protecting endangered species and their habitats, as evidenced by the content in some of your recent newsletters.
Hence, I think that you should “roll the dice just one more time,” to quote Journey, as difficult as it may be, and run for something again.
Also, I continue to have high hopes for NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. I believe him to be a moral compass for a party and country that, at least for the time being, has lost its way and its honor.
The word Zohran can translate to “radiant” or “the sun” in Urdu and has connections to the Arabic word zahra, which means to shine in Arabic, and to the Hebrew mystical term Zohar which means “light” or “splendor.”
Thus, I have supreme confidence that Zohran Mamdani is going to do everything within his power to bring a shining light back into the life of NYC residents who, due to New York City’s out of control affordability crisis, are currently “living in a river of darkness.”
I am sorry to say that most Americans show no evidence of the least concern about global warming. Buying bigger gasoline powered vehicles and driving them far over the speed limit shows that no thinking about fossil fuel use is happening when it comes to personal decisions. Every day I see people sitting in parked cars with the engine running as they play on their smartphones.
Recycling is a joke. At the local Panera, there is no option to recycle so it is apparent there is no demand for it. Daily I pull out a multitude of plastic cups and recycle them myself at a city bin just outside the Panera door. Not only are the plastic cups thrown away, they are often full or half full of beverages and ice, pointless weight that goes into the garbage to increase gasoline consumption when the trash is hauled to the landfill transporting all this heavy liquid with otherwise very lightweight plastic.
Global warming is never a topic in the news. Though Trump calls it a hoax, the evidence is clear that it is happening. See here for the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere by year at the NOAA Mauna Loa observatory: https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/index.html Where the annual increase is going up, not down. Then look here to see global average temperature change by year, also increasing: https://tinyurl.com/szn3pem3 There are always guidelines being suggested for CO2 reduction but they are never met. Companies pledge to use more recycled materials, set targets and then fail to meet them. There is no uproar, no demands, we all keep consuming.
It is clear that to Americans, climate change doesn't matter enough for us to change the way we live. I think the expectation is that some technology will save the day. It is selfish and irresponsible but that is modern America in a nutshell.
I, too, was in New Orleans after Katrina (and Rita) trying to be of help. The wreckage of homes and businesses was horrific, but the broken hearts and spirits were even more affecting. When I think of the lies that contribute to such things happening, I am outraged. Thanks, Qasim!
I appreciate you calling attention to this important topic. We need to move forward, even as we protect ourselves against the ravages of this administration. Congratulations on bringing this forward, and I hope many people use the opportunity to connect with the organization you mentioned.
But AFAIC, the key is accountability before the disaster. It''s not impossible, just requires breaking the corporate hold on governments and regulatory bodies (the biggest challenge)...and consumers boycotting products that pollute, ( like single use plastics. polyester clothing, ready-meals....) -something we all could do.
I read, and believe, the greatest single thing an individual can do to reduce climate change is to stop eating animals. Bigger than driving an electric car. If enough people would do that we could push for government to assist farmers (many whom are losing their farms already) by offering programs to assist with transitioning to growing crops, making plant milks, or learning a completely different trade. There are some examples of this in the UK. Everyone's excuse is, "but everyone would have to do and I'm not going to do it if everyone else doesn't."
Reducing meat eating is not particularly painful, and certainly would help with the climate crisis (sorry, it's way past "change"). In fact it's well established that the "Mediterranean" diet is healthy and tied to longevity - said diet not including meat every day. And having lived in many different cultures, I can vouch for the fact that lots of regional/national cuisines are incredibly delicious without meat. It's just we've been acculturated to bacon- with- breakfast, burger- for- lunch, steak- for- dinner lifestyles, encouraged by Big Food industry. And then the media starts acting surprised that there's a pandemic of obesity!!!
And absolutely agree farmers need assistance transitioning.
I didn't find it painful at all. I've been plant-based for 10 years. In addition, I have become ethically vegan because I think reducing harm to animals is an additional benefit and eliminating animal flesh and secretions is much healthier. So a 3-way win in my book! Thank you for your reply.
The fines for polluters should cover the cost of cleaning up the mess they made plus 10%. This would be forcing them to take responsibility.
The polluter should not be the one to do the actual work. I don’t trust them to do a proper job, but they should see what their pollution is doing, the animals that are harmed, the vegetation that is destroyed, and the ugly mess, in general.
I’m so thankful for you 🤗 you are a person that truly gives back to humanity every day. When you decide to run again… (hint, hint) count on me to knock on doors and make phone calls!
In Florida, Florida Power and Light (FPL) has gotten the state to agree that FPL can charge a minimum monthly bill. My daughter and son-in-law live in Massachusetts, in a larger house than mine, and with fewer solar panels than I have. Massachusetts does not allow the electric company (Eversource) to charge a minimum monthly bill, and my daughter and son-in-law often enough get electric bills of $0, and sometimes a small check from Eversource.
This arrangement regarding electric companies that rely on fossil fuels puts me in mind of the horse industry, when cars were becoming more common. I don't know what the horse industry did, possibly to delay or divert becoming irrelevant, but the fact is that more and more people drove cars, fewer and fewer people relied on horses, and today, essentially no one rides a horse for daily transportation.
Either because of climate change, or because fossil fuels are not renewable, that's what's going to happen regarding burning coal, oil, and gas. As you rightly say, the percentage is in seeing this coming, and making adjustments sooner, instead of dealing with losses later. But for precisely the reason you propose 0-- greed-- the fossil fuel industry wants to keep skimming everyone else's money, and keep its head in the sand about the increasingly common complications of relying on fossil sources of energy. And they do it, as they do it in Florida, with the enabling of government. That's the private sector and the public sector both failing. I don't expect the private sector to look out for the public. Their interest is themselves. But I do expect the public sector to look out for the public. That's why it's called the public sector. It fails in its mission and mandate in too many places.
Make them bastards pay 🙌🏽
I believe that if there were economic incentives for businesses to pollute less or eliminate it completely it would drive innovation. And businesses. Capitalists is all for the most profit in the shortest amount of time. That is their pro-fossile fuel incentive because oil companies will likely line their pockets for that. To get incentives to pollute less takes electing people that will say no to the oil lobbyists.
Thank you! It breaks my heart this regime that doesn’t believe in climate crisis. And everytime a disaster strikes my I think @ “Mother Nature is mad and striking back at us.” How can anyone deny this??
The connection between disaster responce costs and rising utility bills is something that often gets buried in regulatory jargon. When Maine's storm recovery costs go thirtyfold and families inherit 25-year payment plans from single storms, that's a systemic transfer of risk from corporations to comunities. The Climate Superfund model mirrors the toxic waste precident perfectly, companies profited knowingly from harm, so accountability should follow the same patern.
A late friend of mine once said, one day we will look at the oil companies in the same way we now look at the cigarette companies and their decades long campaign to hide the harm they did and avoid taking responsibility for that harm. We have a long road ahead of us, but it's one we must travel. Thanks, Qasim.
PS, Next time you travel to Los Angeles, let us know. I'd love a chance to get to meet you personally and shake your hand.
Qasim,
I was out of commission for a few days last week with a stomach virus, which is why I have not posted any comments on your Substack in about a week.
I’m very impressed with all of the wonderful humanitarian work you do. And that your commitment to social justice extends even beyond human rights and includes animal welfare and protecting endangered species and their habitats, as evidenced by the content in some of your recent newsletters.
Hence, I think that you should “roll the dice just one more time,” to quote Journey, as difficult as it may be, and run for something again.
Also, I continue to have high hopes for NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. I believe him to be a moral compass for a party and country that, at least for the time being, has lost its way and its honor.
The word Zohran can translate to “radiant” or “the sun” in Urdu and has connections to the Arabic word zahra, which means to shine in Arabic, and to the Hebrew mystical term Zohar which means “light” or “splendor.”
Thus, I have supreme confidence that Zohran Mamdani is going to do everything within his power to bring a shining light back into the life of NYC residents who, due to New York City’s out of control affordability crisis, are currently “living in a river of darkness.”
Best,
David Hurwitz
Chicago, IL
Glad you are feeling better my friend. And thank you for your incredibly kind and thoughtful words. When the time allows I will. inshaAllah.
I am sorry to say that most Americans show no evidence of the least concern about global warming. Buying bigger gasoline powered vehicles and driving them far over the speed limit shows that no thinking about fossil fuel use is happening when it comes to personal decisions. Every day I see people sitting in parked cars with the engine running as they play on their smartphones.
Recycling is a joke. At the local Panera, there is no option to recycle so it is apparent there is no demand for it. Daily I pull out a multitude of plastic cups and recycle them myself at a city bin just outside the Panera door. Not only are the plastic cups thrown away, they are often full or half full of beverages and ice, pointless weight that goes into the garbage to increase gasoline consumption when the trash is hauled to the landfill transporting all this heavy liquid with otherwise very lightweight plastic.
Global warming is never a topic in the news. Though Trump calls it a hoax, the evidence is clear that it is happening. See here for the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere by year at the NOAA Mauna Loa observatory: https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/index.html Where the annual increase is going up, not down. Then look here to see global average temperature change by year, also increasing: https://tinyurl.com/szn3pem3 There are always guidelines being suggested for CO2 reduction but they are never met. Companies pledge to use more recycled materials, set targets and then fail to meet them. There is no uproar, no demands, we all keep consuming.
It is clear that to Americans, climate change doesn't matter enough for us to change the way we live. I think the expectation is that some technology will save the day. It is selfish and irresponsible but that is modern America in a nutshell.
I, too, was in New Orleans after Katrina (and Rita) trying to be of help. The wreckage of homes and businesses was horrific, but the broken hearts and spirits were even more affecting. When I think of the lies that contribute to such things happening, I am outraged. Thanks, Qasim!
I appreciate you calling attention to this important topic. We need to move forward, even as we protect ourselves against the ravages of this administration. Congratulations on bringing this forward, and I hope many people use the opportunity to connect with the organization you mentioned.
More reasons every time I read your podcast to continue to subscribe. Remarkable.
Two of the worst: "Coca-Cola creates approximately 3.224 million metric tons of plastic annually, while PepsiCo produces around 2.5 million metric tons" Time for a boycott. Do youself a favor and stop drinking this liquid high fructose corn syrup! And help save the planet! https://fortune.com/2024/11/01/coca-cola-pepsi-plastic-pollution-lawsuit-los-angeles-county/
Make sure to send a copy of this petition to the Polluter in Chief, Donald Trump!
Bravo.
But AFAIC, the key is accountability before the disaster. It''s not impossible, just requires breaking the corporate hold on governments and regulatory bodies (the biggest challenge)...and consumers boycotting products that pollute, ( like single use plastics. polyester clothing, ready-meals....) -something we all could do.
I read, and believe, the greatest single thing an individual can do to reduce climate change is to stop eating animals. Bigger than driving an electric car. If enough people would do that we could push for government to assist farmers (many whom are losing their farms already) by offering programs to assist with transitioning to growing crops, making plant milks, or learning a completely different trade. There are some examples of this in the UK. Everyone's excuse is, "but everyone would have to do and I'm not going to do it if everyone else doesn't."
Reducing meat eating is not particularly painful, and certainly would help with the climate crisis (sorry, it's way past "change"). In fact it's well established that the "Mediterranean" diet is healthy and tied to longevity - said diet not including meat every day. And having lived in many different cultures, I can vouch for the fact that lots of regional/national cuisines are incredibly delicious without meat. It's just we've been acculturated to bacon- with- breakfast, burger- for- lunch, steak- for- dinner lifestyles, encouraged by Big Food industry. And then the media starts acting surprised that there's a pandemic of obesity!!!
And absolutely agree farmers need assistance transitioning.
I didn't find it painful at all. I've been plant-based for 10 years. In addition, I have become ethically vegan because I think reducing harm to animals is an additional benefit and eliminating animal flesh and secretions is much healthier. So a 3-way win in my book! Thank you for your reply.
Completely agree. And we should do both! Preventative and restorative.
The fines for polluters should cover the cost of cleaning up the mess they made plus 10%. This would be forcing them to take responsibility.
The polluter should not be the one to do the actual work. I don’t trust them to do a proper job, but they should see what their pollution is doing, the animals that are harmed, the vegetation that is destroyed, and the ugly mess, in general.
I’m so thankful for you 🤗 you are a person that truly gives back to humanity every day. When you decide to run again… (hint, hint) count on me to knock on doors and make phone calls!
Thank you Sheryl ❤️✊🏽