CLIMATE CHANGE

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA SAID YESTERDAY, "MY PRESIDENCY WILL MARK A NEW CHAPTER IN AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP ON CLIMATE CHANGE."

OBAMA SEES HIMSELF TAKING THE LEAD, IN COMBATING THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGH OUT THE WORLD. THE PRESIDENT-ELECT SUPPORTS A CAP AND TRADE SYSTEM APPROACH TO CUTTING GREEN HOUSE GASES. OBAMA PROPOSES SPENDING FIFTEEN BILLION DOLLARS ($15,000,000,000.00) A YEAR TO SUPPORT PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN AN EFFORT TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY.

THE PRESIDENT-ELECT WANTS TO ESTABLISH ANNUAL TARGETS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS TO THE LEVELS THEY WERE IN THE 1990'S BY THE YEAR 2020. THEN HE WANTS TO REDUCE THE EMISSIONS ANOTHER EIGHTY PERCENT (80%) BY THE YEAR 2050.

THE SYSTEM IS BASED ON ENERGY ALLOWANCES. HE THINKS INDUSTRY SHOULD BUY THE ALLOWANCES AND THEN IF A COMPANY DOES WELL THEY COULD SELL OFF THEIR ALLOWANCES TO COMPANIES WHICH DO NOT DO AS WELL ON THE EMISSIONS. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW THIS WOULD WORK. I AM NOT EVEN SURE IT WILL WORK.

THE CLIMATE IS NOT ONLY BEING ABUSED BY EMISSIONS FROM CARS, FACTORIES, HOMES , ETC., IT IS ALSO BECAUSE OF OUR POLLUTION OF WATER AND OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE TO STOP THINKING THAT THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE DESTRUCTION WE CAN DO TO MOTHER EARTH. OUR ANCESTORS, AND FUTURE DECEDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE HERE ON MOTHER EARTH.

ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD PRAISE OBAMA IN HIS VISION, THE QUESTION SHOULD BE WHAT ARE WE AS MOHEGANS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WHAT POLICIES SHOULD OUR GOVERNMENT DO TO HELP? WHAT SHOULD WE AS TRIBAL MEMBERS (IN OUR OWN LIVES) DO TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT? WHAT DO YOU THINK?