JK at Harvard Today

[globalvillage]

In a Harvard Law School classroom today, Senator John Kerry (D - Mass.) stressed the urgency of the climate change problem, arguing that the federal government needs to take action immediately to combat global warming.

more and photo

http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2008/01/16_kerry.php

[kerrygoddess]

1. this goes nicely with the letter he sent to Interior on Polar Bears

http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2008/01/16/kerry-asks-interior-department-to-delay-lease-sale-in/

[globalvillage]

2. I saw that.

So, they're going to delay adding the polar bear to the endangered list so they can slide in that drilling deal? How slimy is that?

John Kerry - protecting the vote and the polar bear on the same day. That's why I like the guy. He can multitask.

:-)

[Island Blue]

6. He really needs this tie.

http://www.vineyardvines.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/categoryID/cd4faf3a-903c-4b2c-9c00-59e52e20304d/productID/0f9fc719-0a9a-4ed9-b1dc-dab6fd95f30c/

[TayTay]

7. I agree

Really nice tie. I like that one a lot.

[MBS]

3. here's the article from the Harvard Crimson. .

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521580
First published Jan 17, but still up on the home page. . .

In uncharacteristically blunt terms, Sen. John F. Kerry delivered an impassioned plea for action on climate change at the Law School Wednesday, rebuking the nation’s “screwed up” priorities and criticizing both the U.S. government and Harvard for not taking stronger action to reduce carbon emissions.

“The level of irresponsibility with respect to environmental issues is beyond comprehension,” Kerry said, noting that the U.S. has ignored international efforts to cap emissions and is trailing most of the developed world in using renewable fuels for electricity generation. “How do we expect to lead the world if we’re so dedicated to our head-in-the-sand, ostrich policy?”

Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee and Massachusetts’ junior senator, had harsh words for the Bush administration, accusing it of failing to take meaningful steps to avert climate change.

“We don’t have time to screw around with this,” Kerry said. “They are avoiding this in the most shocking and inappropriate way.”

Kerry was no less severe with Congress, taking it to task for its funding priorities and noting that the recent energy bill passed by the Democratic Congress would put in place fuel economy standards by 2020 that are lower than standards China will enact next year.

“Our priorities are so screwed up, it’s depressing,” he said. “If, instead of spending seven to nine billion dollars a month in Iraq, we put seven to nine billion dollars a year into this, there would be a stunning output.”

. . . .

The senator’s speech on climate change came amid a recent drive among campus activists to lower Harvard’s carbon imprint. In December, Dean of the Faculty Michael D. Smith expressed support for a plan to reduce Harvard’s greenhouse gas emissions.

But Kerry criticized President Drew G. Faust’s refusal to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment—an agreement of university and college presidents to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050 that has been signed by 440 university presidents.

“Every university and college in America that is dedicated to teaching students correctly and instilling moral values has to make a commitment to adopt this ,” Kerry said. “And any university with a multi-billion dollar endowment such as Harvard has an even greater responsibility.”

Students who attended the event said Kerry’s speech was refreshing for its candor.

“He was very frank about how the politics surrounding climate change have unfortunately frustrated good policy,” said second-year law student Andrew A. Friedman.

[Fabio]

4. Having ready access to students at great colleges and univ

must be one of the joys of politics for people like Senator Kerry.

[TayTay]

5. The huge number of students and the energy therein

is one of the more interesting aspects of living here. Boston has the 2nd youngest average population in the nation. (I think only Austin, TX, another college town, has a younger average population.)

A cousin's daughter, on my husband's side, got her degree in Astrophysics from MIT a year or so ago. She also did humanitarian work in Africa and in Costa Rico. We could have nice conversations about science, poverty, tech humor, MIT's uniqueness and, ah, the Red Sox. (Well, it is Boston.)

There is a lot of energy that the student's bring to Boston. There is always a sense that the next new thing is just over there, being a-born. Makes this old area feel vital and renewed.

Who else to share news with and engage in long-term battles: http://www-tech.mit.edu/V118/N22/ckerry.22n.html


This is Spinal Tap:
Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.