Happy belated Earth Day! We hope you took our popular ?? EcoRight Superhero Quiz ??Be sure to share who you gotI was Katharine Hayhoe, I think less because I’m a science wonk and more because I answered the generational question appropriately. (Yes, I had fluffy bangs.)
Earth Day Twitter was awesome: No really… I’d like to share a few of my favorite Earth Day posts.
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich led with inspiration:
On #EarthDay, let’s appreciate the role we play in being stewards of our environment and do all we can to preserve our environment for future generations. This includes raising the issue of climate change to a higher, more vigorous level of public debate.
John Kasich (@JohnKasich) April 22, 2019
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz focused his Earth Day video climate message on national security warnings from military leaders:
On #EarthDay it’s fair to ask – why do climate change deniers not believe our military? We need a #GreenRealDeal. pic.twitter.com/ZfOq3IeSss
Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) April 22, 2019
Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe not only took our what #EcoRight superhero are you quiz, she got herself!
I had not seen this @republicEn quiz before and it is hilarious! Of course I had to do it myself And I can vouch for the fact that really does think I am me ?? https://t.co/EdMDrUQGJK
Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) April 22, 2019
EcoRight friend Sarah Hunt from the Rainey Center got the Terminator on the same quiz… ?? ?? ??(we wondered who would…)
I got @Schwarzenegger on quiz ‘Which #EcoRight Superhero Are You?’. What will you get? https://t.co/vDi2pdykdc
Sarah E. Hunt (@sarahehunt01) April 22, 2019
And Rep. Elise Stefanik responded to the special Earth Day quiz with good grace and humor.
Awesome! Thanks for the tweet @KathieDello – love #upstate! ?? ? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? #EarthDay2019 https://t.co/zIKVhsfiCR
Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) April 22, 2019
We hope on Earth Day you got off Twitter (I did, I promise) long enough to enjoy some of the great outdoors!
Come together: Former Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson teamed up to write On Earth Day, let’s restore bipartisanship on the environment(USA Today) in which they ask for a return to the bipartisan spirit of the days of yore. “As a conservative Republican and a progressive Democrat, we don’t agree on many things, but we both believe that Americans need to be good stewards of the natural resources upon which our environment, economy and public health are dependent,” they write. “We need to put partisanship aside and focus on finding commonsense solutions that will make this world more prosperous for this and future generations.” ??
EarthX: At EarthX festivities this week in Texas, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham spoke on a panel with Rhode Island’s Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the the urgency of climate action. “If we don’t act now, we’re going to get hit later,” Graham said. “If I were sick and 9 out of 10 doctors said, ‘You need to do something’, I would do it. Count me among those who believe in [climate change].” In Texas, the South Carolina climate change dream team got together:
South Carolina makes conservative climate champs. At #EarthX #ecoright pic.twitter.com/891U6xI1Vf
republicEn | E&EI (@republicEn) April 26, 2019
More from Graham: “It’s a real problem, not just for the planet, but for Republicans…If you want this party to grow, 18- to 35-year-olds believe in climate change, so you better find a way to get them involved.”
This week’s must read: Could a Utah carbon tax be on the ballot in 2020?(Salt Lake City Tribune) “Five Utah residents earlier this month filed paperwork laying the groundwork for a ballot initiative to tax carbon dioxide at $11 per metric ton starting in 2022 that would be paid by power companies, other major corporate users and motorists. Yoram Bauman, a Salt Lake City economist who’s helping to lead the push, says the proposal’s language is modeled after a bill that has failed in the state Legislature.” Utah just gets more and more interesting. Go, EcoRight, go!
This week’s must listen: Most teachers don’t teach climate change; 4 out of 5 parents wish they did (NPR) “A plurality of all parents support starting those lessons as early as elementary school. And though it may be a controversial subject, 65% of those who thought climate change should be taught didn’t think parental permission was necessary. Among Republicans, the corresponding figure was 57%.” Tune into the full report below:
Know thy plastic ?: Ever since hearing how “aspirational recycling”that thing we do when we *want* something to be recyclable (I’m looking at you bubblewrap) so we put it in the bin anywayand how bad it is for recycling as a whole, I’ve been obsessed with what can and can’t go out to the curb on recycle day. This New York Times plastics primer is helpful for recognizing “good plastic” (an oxymoron, I know) from bad and explains why it undermines our recycling efforts to mix plastics.
Caucus criteria: Rep. Francis Rooney, who assumed the GOP side of the helm of the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus, told Bloomberg Environment (as reported by The Hill) he and his co-captain and delegate mate Rep. Ted Deutch are considering applying “commitment” criteria to those who want to join the group. “We’re going to try and call a caucus meeting, have a big discussion about the idea of commitment and if so how would it be defined.” Last year, the Noah’s Ark (i.e. one member of each party joins at same time) caucus co-founded by Deutch and former Rep. Carlos Curbelo hit 90 members, 45 from each party, but 27 of the GOP members (including Curbelo) retired or lost their elections.
Last weekend in April! Here’s to soggy baseball, gardening, and whatever your weekend has to offer.