Broder, John. “House Passes Bill to Address Threat of Climate Change.” New York Times 26 Jun. 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html?fta=y
About a week ago the House of Representatives passed important legislation that could have a profound effect on America’s future environmentally and economically. The bill’s passage, by 219 to 212, marked the first time that Congress approved a bill that will attempt to curb heat-trapping gases that scientists have linked to climate change. The bill sets a limit on overall emissions of these gases yet allowing companies to trade pollution permits amongst themselves. However, as time goes on the amount of emissions allowed will decrease thus making industries find cleaner methods of making energy. The bill also puts forth billions of dollars for new energy products and subsidies for low carbon agricultural practices. President Obama noted about the bill, “[it is] a bold and necessary step.” While the bill is seen as a momentous advancement in the United States, many European governments don’t believe it addresses enough of the energy issues that affect global warming.
In this scenario Washington D.C. is the hearth of the United States commitment to address the climate change. This political center of the United States just passed legislation that will have a ripple effect that will expand from the origin (Washington D.C.) to all part of the United States of America and that ultimately will influence the entire world. This shows how humans have a profound effect on the environment in terms of hurting it or helping it. The attempt here is to take away certain things from the landscape. Heat-trapping gases are used extensively by companies and this is a form of exploiting the land and air just as father countries did with their colonies. Instead of allowing these companies to hurt the common people and help themselves by polluting the planet, Congress is enacting legislation to make change to benefit the environment and its patrons that originated from the hearth in Washington D.C.
I like how you wrote this.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is a step forward. But I don't necessarily agree its the best step forward. Money leads to corruption. And as we all know, money leads to control and power in Washington D.C. I really really hope this bill makes a difference and that the cap-and-trade doesn't just result in the larger more financially powerful companies buying up all of the smaller companies credits resulting in these smaller companies going out of business because they can't find sustainable ways to exist and the larger companies continuing to run as they do...through pollution.