As the UN prepares for a Climate Change summit hosted by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Tuesday, this morning New York saw a massive People’s Climate March down the west side of Manhattan, one of dozens of climate change events around the globe.
Ban Ki-moon: “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.”
All Blue America- endorsed candidates are “good on Climate.” Our candidates are all enthusiastic about the march and about the summit. And no one is better on this than Michigan congressional candidate Paul Clements.
He may be a progressive across all the important issues that Americans face but I always get the feeling that Climate Change is what motivated Paul to run for Congress. And he’s running for the seat occupied by the #1 biggest enemy of the environment in the entire country, House Energy Committee Chairman Fred Upton. Yep– the man who bottles up all the environmental and climate proposals and never lets them see the light of day.
This morning Paul told us that “Climate change is the greatest threat facing Michigan and our world in the 21st century. We need bold leadership on combatting climate change, both domestically and internationally. America needs to lead this charge and create the economy of the future while doing so.”
“Congressman Upton isn’t just a part of the problem on climate change,” he continued, “he is the problem. The L.A. Times named him “One of the biggest threats to Planet Earth.” That’s not hyperbole. Upton has led the effort to deny science and prevent any action on climate change. He hasn’t just worked to stop proactive legislation, but has consistently sided with polluters and worked to fast track devastating projects like the Keystone pipeline. He has voted to protect the tax breaks for oil and gas companies as their profits have increased to record levels.”
After another pipeline explosion and more pollution this week, progressive organizations have joined with western Michigan residents in calling for Upton to give back the gigantic campaign contributions he’s scooped up from Big Oil and Gas. Adam Green from PCCC: “Republican House Energy Chair Fred Upton has taken $2,091,236 from big oil, gas, and other energy interests– and voted with them against his constituents. PCCC members are calling on Upton to give his money from big polluters to local cleanup efforts– and to stop voting with his big-money donors.” And May Boeve, executive director of 350 Action made a similar suggestion: “Companies like TransCanada couldn’t care less about our health or or climate. Greed is what drives them, and their campaign dollars are driving climate denial in Congress. Activists fighting TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline have known this for years: Members of Congress who take the most fossil fuel money are the ones most eager to help fossil fuel companies wreck our climate by building risky pipelines like Keystone XL. Voters need to know that Fred Upton is beholden to fossil fuel companies who don’t have their best interest at heart. We are proud to join PCCC in calling him out.”
It’s an issue that’s effective in a part of Michigan that prides itself on its natural beauty and clean environment. More and more voters are starting to worry about what Upton’s role has actually been in these matters. Clements pointed out that “At the same time he protected their tax breaks, Upton personally had at least $238,000 in oil and gas company stock and he has received over $644,000 dollars in contributions from the industry. Upton directly received contributions and profited from supporting tax breaks for oil and gas companies while middle class families pay the price. My passion for the environment, specifically climate change, is one of the main reasons I decided to challenge Congressman Upton and run for Congress. For years, I have studied the politics of climate change and how to make our economy stronger while combatting it. I’m proud of my friends marching in New York to change the status quo and save our planet. Activists like Bill Mckibben have been leading the charge while Congress has been absent, and it’s time to change that.”
The Democrats may not win the House back but the message of Clements beating Upton would resound decisively across the country. Please consider contributing to Clements’ campaign here.
Comments