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[Al Gore-Environment Activities] [1]
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[Al Gore-Environment Activities] [1]
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Kathleen McGinty's Files
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FOIA Number: 2012-0769-F
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This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
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Council on Environmental Quality
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Kathleen (Katie) McGinty
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2612
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[A] Gore - Environmental Activities] [1]
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61
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6
1
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed. Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
Page 2 of 13
From: Clinton HQ
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
REMARKS OF GOVERNOR BILL CLINTON
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Earth Day -- April 22, 1992
Twenty-two years ago today, thousands of Americans marched and met and
spoke out across the country to raise a new concern onto our nation's agenda: the
protection of America's environment. That first Earth Day in 1970 awakened our
nation to the ticking of a different kind of biological clock -- a clock that measured
the careless degradation of America's air, water, land and natural resources.
Many of you here were not even born yet. And it's worth recalling the
whirlwind of change and progress that followed that day. Within two years, our
nation created the Environmental Protection Agency, passed the Clean Air, Clean
Water, and Endangered Species Acts, and banned DDT. For my generation, it was
a heady, hopeful experience.
Two decades later, all those efforts seem dwarfed by the enormity of old and
new threats to our communities, our resources, and our planet.
We restricted open dumping into our rivers, but now we see used hypodermic
needles washing up on our beaches.
We banished lead from our gas tanks, but still find it concentrated where the
children of our cities live and play.
We pinpointed the nation's toxic waste dumps, but have only cleaned up a
handful.
We confronted the acid rain killing our trees, but not the rush of development
that is wiping out wetlands at home and rainforests abroad.
We stopped building nuclear power plants, but now see our addiction to fossil
fuels wrapping the earth in a deadly shroud of greenhouse gasses.
We opened our eyes to the threats posed by oil-soaked beaches, smoggy skies,
and burning rivers; yet we still struggle to comprehend less apparent dangers, such
as an invisible hole in a distant ozone layer that allows unseen rays to plant the
microscopic seeds of cancer.
The question that falls to your generation is this: will the march that began 22
years ago move forward, or will we stand in place?
2
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
Page 3 of 13
From: Clinton HQ
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
Over the past generation, much has changed in our thinking. Children now
teach their parents to sort their garbage. Colleges like Drexel train young people in
environmental engineering. A Big Mac at McDonald's comes in a recyclable
cardboard container in a recycled paper bag.
Yet while the thinking of most Americans has changed, the thinking of our
recent leaders has not. For more than a decade, we've had no national energy
strategy, no environmental strategy, no economic strategy to capture the markets of
the future with new technologies that are energy-efficient and environmentally
sound.
Within the past decade, climate change, ozone depletion, and other global
environmental problems have emerged as threats to our very survival. Dependence
on foreign oil has been the cornerstone of our energy policy, and oil imports now
make up half our trade imbalance. The collapse of communism and the end of the
Cold War have created new markets and a new urgency for environmental cleanup.
We have an unprecedented opportunity to protect the earth and make our economy
grow.
Too often, on the environment as on so many issues, the Bush Administration
has been reactive, rudderless, and expedient. Under George Bush and Ronald
Reagan, presidential leadership on the environment has become an endangered
species.
George Bush promised to be the Environment President, but a photo op at the
Grand Canyon is about all we have to show for it.
He made Boston Harbor a prop in his negative campaign in 1988, but four years
later has done precious little to help clean it up.
He promised "no net loss" of America's precious wetlands, then tried to hand
half of them over to developers.
He invoked Teddy Roosevelt's devotion to preserving our natural heritage, then
called for opening the Arctic wilderness to oil drilling.
He talked about the need for an energy policy, then went to Detroit on the eve of
the Michigan primary to promise American automakers that he wouldn't raise fuel
efficiency standards for American cars.
He called for an international summit on the environment but now is
singlehandedly blocking an historic meeting in Rio de Janeiro of a hundred nations
to control global warming.
3
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
Page 4 of 13
From: Clinton HQ
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
And just yesterday, I read in the paper that he wants to make another attack ad,
this time about problems along the White River in Arkansas. We're fighting the
battle to clean up the White River, and I welcome the President's attention.
So, Mr. President, when you return from Rio, I hope you'll visit Northwest
Arkansas and the White River. I'll show you what the problems are and what
progress we've made. I'll show you rivers you can fish in, and streams kids can
swim in.
And if you really want to clean up the problem, I'll make an agreement with
you. We'll outline federal and state responsibilities and we'll get results. Our
people are tired of the politics of blame. But this is no Boston Harbor. If you want
to place blame, you'll have to shoulder some.
Let me be clear. I don't believe President Bush is bent on destroying the
environment. But his views were shaped in another era, when the world faced
other threats, and economic growth and environmental protection were seen as
mutually exclusive.
I've spent the last decade as Governor of a poor state, fighting to keep jobs and
make up for lost time. I know how much our people are hurting after the longest
recession and slowest economic growth in the last 50 years.
In the '80s, I also faced the old short-term tradeoffs between jobs and the
environment, made tougher by cutbacks in federal aid and the lack of clear policies
in some areas which allowed states to be played off against one another. In this
context, I've made the choice for jobs in a poor state without enough jobs or federal
help for environmental protection and cleanup.
But over the years I've learned something that George Bush and his advisers
still don't understand, to reject the false choice between economic growth and
environmental protection. Today, you can't have a healthy economy without a
healthy environment, and you don't have to sacrifice environmental protection to
get economic growth.
Our competitors know that you can't have one without the other. One of the
reasons German workers make 25% more than the average American worker is that
their economy uses half the energy to produce the same amount of goods.
Japanese companies enjoy a 5% competitive advantage in the global marketplace
because of higher energy efficiency. Our competitors are rushing to develop new
environmental technologies that will enable them to capture the markets of the
future. Only the United States is heading toward the 21st Century without a long-
term strategy to achieve sustainable economic growth.
4
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
Page 5 of 13
From: Clinton HQ
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
The Bush Administration doesn't understand that perpetuating the false choice
between environmental protection and economic growth is bad for the environment
and bad for the economy. Our lakes will be dirtier and our air will be more
dangerous because George Bush put Dan Quayle in charge of the Competitiveness
Council, a group which lets major polluters in through the back door at the White
House to kill environmental regulations they don't like. And the most disturbing
thing is, they call that competitiveness.
Over the long run, the Bush Administration isn't doing American business any
favors by pretending that energy efficiency and improved environmental protection
are at odds with economic growth. If we're going to compete and win in the world
economy, if we want to improve our quality of life as well as our standard of
living, we need to learn to use environmental protection as a tool for economic
growth.
That is what I've tried to do in Arkansas. As Governor, I've worked hard to
pursue both environmental quality and economic growth. In my first term, I took
on one of my state's strongest special interests when I tried to focus our utilities
more on conservation than construction of new power plants. Today that approach
is called "least cost planning," and nearly half the states use it to conserve resources
and save ratepayers money. Back then, the name didn't exist and the utilities
fought it tooth and nail. By the end of the '80s they had come around, and
Arkansas consumers and businesses will save lots of money in future.
We did other things, too. We set up one of the nation's first state-level paper
recycling programs, helped establish nearly 40 new wildlife preserves and parks to
protect our rivers, forests, wetlands, and prairies, and created a new statewide
reforestation program that has planted 25 million trees in the last two years. We've
provided Arkansas business a 30% tax credit for installing waste reduction and
recycling facilities -- a measure that is protecting Arkansas's environment and
creating Arkansas jobs.
There was a time in this country when environmental protection was viewed as
at best a necessary burden for industry to bear. Today that idea just isn't true.
Technology has changed; the stakes have changed; and it's time for our thinking to
change, too. In today's economy, there doesn't have to be a tradeoff between
growth and environmental protection. We now have the tools and the need to
choose both.
5
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
From: Clinton HQ
Page 6 of 13
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
What we need today is a New Covenant for Environmental Progress. That
covenant is built on a renewed commitment to leave our children a better nation --
a nation whose air, water, and land are unspoiled; whose natural beauty is
undimmed; and whose leadership for sustainable global growth is unsurpassed.
This new covenant will challenge Americans and demand responsibility at every
level -- from individuals, families, communities, corporations, and government
agencies -- to do more to preserve the quality of our environment and our world.
A new covenant for environmental progress will have three priorities: exerting
new American leadership to protect the global environment; preserving the quality
of our environment here at home; and finding ways to promote innovation and
growth consistent with firm environmental goals.
The first part of a new covenant for environmental progress must be for the U.S.
to exert international leadership for the health of the planet. The Cold War is over,
and we have entered a new era in which threats to our security are less evident, but
no less dangerous, than before. As Senator Gore has dramatized in his recent book,
Earth in the Balance, if we do not find the vision and leadership to defeat the
unprecedented new threats of global climate change, ozone depletion, and
unsustainable population growth, then those threats may defeat us instead.
This June, the nations of the world will meet in Rio to negotiate reductions in
their output of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses; to end the destruction
of the ozone layer; and to find rules for sustainable development to ensure that our
species does not outlive its welcome on this planet. Nearly a hundred heads of
state have firmly committed to attend. But yesterday, the President said he can't
decide whether or not to go.
We've seen eight of the hottest years in history in the last decade. The world's
rainforests are disappearing at the rate of one football field a ininute. An ozone
hole is growing over Kennebunkport. And the leaders of nearly every nation on
earth are waiting while the President of the United States makes up his mind
whether to act.
I say this is one foreign trip George Bush can't afford to miss.
If the President does decide to go, simply showing up in Rio is not enough.
Unless he makes the U.S. a leader against global warming and removes the
obstacles he has thrown in the way of a climate change treaty, nothing will come of
the Rio meeting. President Bush should commit the U.S. to limit U.S. carbon
dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000; and to join in new efforts to
protect the planet's biodiversity and preserve its forests. As Senator Gore says, this
is now are most important global environmental challenge.
6
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
From: Clinton HQ
Page 7 of 13
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
In a Clinton Administration, the U.S. will take the lead in promoting sustainable
development. We'll call on major banks and multilateral institutions like the IMF
and the World Bank to negotiate debt-for-nature swaps that allow developing
nations to reduce their crippling international debt burden by setting aside precious
lands. We should explore establishing the international equivalent of the Nature
Conservancy, a fund contributed to by developed nations and pharmaceutical
companies to purchase easements in the rainforests for medical research. These
easements and the profits from new drugs could make not developing the forests
more profitable than tearing them down.
We can also lead the quest for sustainable development by supporting efforts to
stem global population growth. As Al Gore has noted, it took mankind 10,000
generations to reach a population of 2 billion. Yet we will likely see that number
triple in my lifetime. The earth's resources and delicate eco-systems are straining
and breaking under this unsustainable burden. President Bush was once a strong
supporter of efforts to limit global population growth, and it is shameful that he
blocked our contributions to those efforts to appease the anti-choice wing of his
party. A Clinton Administration will restore U.S. funding for the U.N.'s population
stabilization efforts, and allow U.S. foreign aid to support Planned Parenthood.
But we cannot lead the fight for environmental progress abroad unless we do
more here at home. The U.S. constitutes just five percent of the world's
population, yet we consume over a quarter of its oil. We need to reduce our oil
consumption and increase our energy efficiency dramatically if we are to lead the
fight against global warming, sharpen our competitive edge in trade, and reduce
our vulnerability to cutoffs in the availability of foreign oil.
For the past 11 years, we have had no national energy policy. In a Clinton
Administration, we'll have an energy policy the day I take office:
We'll accelerate our progress toward more fuel-efficient cars,
and seek to raise the average goal for automakers to 45 miles
per gallon.
We'll increase our reliance on natural gas, which is
inexpensive, clean-burning and abundant, and can reduce our
carbon dioxide emissions. I'll start with an executive order
to purchase natural gas powered vehicles for the federal
fleet, following the lead of Gov. Ann Richards in Texas.
We'll push for revenue-neutral incentives that reward
conservation and make polluters and energy-wasters pay.
California, for example, has proposed giving purchasers of
fuel-efficient cars rebates paid for by a special fee on those
who buy gas-guzzlers.
7
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
Page 8 of 13
From: Clinton HQ
Fax-Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
We'll invest more in the development of renewable energy
sources. Federal funding for renewables has dropped from $850
million to $114 million in the last decade. There's no reason
why 60 percent of the Department of Energy's money should
still be going to nuclear weapons, with nuclear power and
fossil fuels getting most of the rest. We'll encourage the
use of new energy sources like wind and solar, and new ways to
get better results out of the sources we already have. In a
Clinton Administration, we will designate as wilderness the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and stop the crusade for new
drilling off our coasts.
As part of an effort to convert some of our Cold War military
spending to civilian purposes, we'll use research and
development funds to develop light rail, which can speed
travel, save fuel, and provide transportation for people less
able to afford it.
Finally, we'll make energy conservation and efficiency central
goals in every field of policy in designing our offices,
planning our communities, designing our transportation systems
and regulating our utilities. My goal is to improve America's
overall energy efficiency by 20 percent by the year 2000.
We also need a policy to prevent pollution. Since 1970, we've made great
strides in controlling pollution "at the pipe" -- regulating how much could be
dumped and where. Now we need to expand our efforts earlier in the process and
move from control to prevention.
One of our most urgent challenges is to reduce the amount of solid waste we
generate. A Clinton Administration will find new ways to prevent pollution in the
first place:
We'll create a system of tradeable credits that will reward
companies that recover a greater portion of their waste and
penalize those that don't.
We'll create incentives for firms and government to recycle,
and use federal purchasing power to create markets in recycled
materials.
We'll pass a national bottle bill to encourage recycling by
creating small deposits on all glass and plastic bottles.
8
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
Page 9 of 13
From: Clinton HQ
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
To improve the quality of our water, we need to turn greater attention to the
polluting effect of water running off our agricultural fields, city streets, and
suburban developments. We need a new Clean Water Act with standards for non-
point-source pollution and incentives that will unleash the creative and
technological potential of our firms, farmers, and families to reduce and prevent
polluted run-off at the source.
We also need to strengthen our efforts on toxic wastes. The Superfund program
has been disastrously mismanaged. We've spent $13 billion to clean up only 80 of
the 1200 deadliest dump sites -- with much of the money squandered on legal fees
and cost overruns to contractors who bought Rolex watches and art for their walls.
The Superfund program was a historic breakthrough in 1980. In my first term,
Arkansas was the first state in the country to have an EPA-approved hazardous
waste management program. Superfund enabled us to contain the most immediate
risks, and provided a powerful deterrent against toxic dumping. Now those of us
who care about the environment must take the lead to explore every possible
improvement that might get more sites cleaned up sooner for less, without letting
responsible parties off the hook.
We also need to improve America's resources by preserving our natural heritage
for future generations. As President, I will protect our old growth forests and other
vital habitats, and make the "no net loss" promise on wetlands a reality. I'll
rededicate the agencies that manage our national parks and wilderness lands to a
true conservation ethic. And I'll expand our efforts to acquire new parklands and
recreational sites with the funds already available under the federal Land and Water
Conservation Fund. Every year, millions of American families vacation in national
parks, from Yosemite to Yellowstone. They deserve an administration that cares
about America's parks as much as they do.
All of our efforts to improve the nation's resources ultimately depend on
enforcement and public awareness. In a Clinton Administration, we'll stop
shortchanging EPA's enforcement efforts, and ensure that we hold companies and
polluters responsible for their behavior. When corporate executives deliberately
violate environmental laws, they must pay the price.
The third priority I want to speak about today is the need to bring powerful
market forces to bear on America's pollution problems. Many of our
environmental efforts in the past were based on a "command and control" approach
to regulation that told firms how much pollution to produce and what kind of
technology to use. While that approach produced important successes, it
sometimes stifled innovation by locking firms into a specific kind of equipment,
and increased regulatory costs and burdens by taking such a detailed and inflexible
approach.
9
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed, Apr 22, 199211:41 AM
From: Clinton HQ
Page 10 of 13
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
I believe it is time for a new era in environmental protection which uses the
market to help us get our environment back on track -- to recognize that Adam
Smith's invisible hand can have a green thumb. While we need to maintain tough
guidelines and goals for reducing pollution, charging companies for their pollution
would give them a daily incentive to find progressively cleaner technologies and
manufacturing processes. In certain settings, this results-oriented approach can cut
compliance costs, shrink regulatory bureaucracies, enlist corporate support, take
environmental policy away from the specialists and lobbyists, and open it up more
to the general public.
But freeing up our companies to find cost-effective pollution control methods is
not the only step we need to take. It is time we recognized that environmental
technology will be one of the most vital and profitable economic sectors of the 21st
Century. The market for environmental technology and services is already around
$200 billion a year, and developing nations will need to install a trillion dollars'
worth of energy technology over the next 15 years.
Unfortunately, we're losing that battle. In 1980, the U.S. had three quarters of
the world sales of solar technology. By 1990, German and Japanese competition
had cut our share to 30 percent. We need to recognize that green economics is a
booming business. And as President, I'll ensure that the nation that pioneered the
environmental movement will be the world's foremost producer and exporter of
environmental technology and services by the end of this decade.
As I have travelled across this country campaigning for President, I have been
struck by the yearning I see among Americans of all backgrounds, incomes, and
colors to be united again in common purpose. If there is one thing that has united
Americans across dozens of generations, it is the feeling we have for this rich and
expansive land. Our forebears were passionate about it. They were farmers and
pioneers, who made these two billion acres we call America the canvas of their
dreams.
That stubborn, protective love of the land, which flows like a mighty
underground current through our national character, is what burst to the surface of
American life on April 22, 1970. And it was the well-spring for one of the most
important marches for progress we have known in our time.
10
To: Senator Gore's Office
Date: Wed. Apr 22, 1992 11:41 AM
From: Clinton HQ
Page 11 of 13
Fax Phone: 5013722292
Quality: Standard
For over a decade, that progress has been arrested. And for too many of those
years, we have walked backwards. Too many times we were told that trees cause
pollution and that sunglasses are the best answer to the ozone problem. And far too
many times we were divided against ourselves, falsely told to choose between our
quality of life and our standard of living. I believe now it is time to move past the
false choices, unite our nation again, and resume our progress for the land we
cherish, the values we share, and the only earth we have.
A generation ago, conservationist Aldo Leopold wrote that, "History consists of
successive excursions from a single starting point, to which man returns again and
again to organize yet another search for a durable set of values." One of the
starting points for America will always be our devotion to our natural heritage.
And today I ask you to join me in beginning an excursion from that starting point
anew. Thank you.
-30-30-30-
11
GORE: ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION**
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
Gore amendments passed by the Senate and enacted into law:
O To stop ozone depletion by requiring the phase-out of the
production and use of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs).
O Prohibiting the export of CFC-producing technologies
to countries that are not party to the Montreal Protocol, an
international agreement setting phase-out deadlines for ozone-
depleting chemicals.
O Forcing polluters to reduce pollution instead of destroying
neighborhoods by creating polluted "dead zones" around their plants.
O Including carbon dioxide emissions in studies of highway
pollution so that we don't just build bigger highways to deal with
emission problems but instead move to reduce pollution.
O Requiring federal procuring agencies to procure safe
substitutes for ozone-depleting substances.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program:
Adopted in 1990 as part of the Department of Defense Authorization
bill for Fiscal 1991, the SERDP brings the capabilities of the Defense
Department to global environmental problems.
Also initiated efforts that led to work with CIA Director Robert Gates
to make available to civilian environmental scientists previously
classified scientific data about the earth that is critical to the
research efforts of these scientists.
Energy:
Gore amendments enacted by the Senate as part of the 1992 energy
bill:
(NOTE ALSO: Gore was a leader in the successful efforts to kill
provisions that would have allowed drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.)
O The Gore Resolution (S. Res. 95) calling for an accelerated
phaseout of ozone-destroying chemicals pursuant to the Clean Air Act
amendments of 1991; the Resolution passed 96-0 in March, 1992, after
being filibustered by Republicans at the end of the previous session.
NOTE: The Clean Air Act amendments required the Administration to
speed up the phase-out of ozone depleting chemicals if new scientific
evidence demonstrated that the ozone depletion problem had gotten
worse since passage of those amendments. Despite new scientific
evidence, the Administration did not act until after Gore's amendment
was passed.
O To help small businesses increase their energy efficiency and
cut their energy bills by establishing energy diagnostic centers where
engineering students and their professors can work with small
businesses.
O To accelerate the government's efforts to procure the most
energy efficient products and to provide grant money to states to fund
energy efficiency and conservation initiatives
O Requiring the Tennessee Valley Authority of conduct least-cost
planning analyses of energy supply and demand requirements (with Sen.
Wirth)
Antarctica Protection:
O Author of Public Law 101-620, a resolution calling for the
protection of Antarctica from mining and development and declaring
the area a global ecological commons.
O Co-sponsor of Resolution adopted by the Senate in 1991 to ban
mining in Antarctica; led to Administration's adoption of current
policy to ban mining in Antarctica.
Interior Bill 1991
o Led efforts, with Sen. Wyche Fowler, to eliminate below-cost
timber sales and forest road subsidies.
O Led efforts to retain funding for research and development
joint venture funds for solar and other renewable forms of energy.
General
O Sponsor of legislation enacted prohibiting "backhauling", a
practice in which trucks carrying hazardous material in one direction
are loaded with food products for return trip, often with inadequate
cleanup from hazardous load.
O As a member of the the House of Representatives, chaired
hearings that revealed illegal dumping of billions of pounds of
hazardous chemical waste and co-sponsored the original Superfund Act
which resulted from those hearings.
Sponsor of resolution declaring April 22, 1990 as Earth Day,
marking the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day.
O Co-sponsored legislation, now law, providing a method of
locating private and government research on environmental issues by
geographic location, The Environmental Research Geographic Location
Information Act.
O Held hearings and led effort, with Rep. Marilyn Lloyd of
Chattanooga, to establish TIGER TEAMS to investigate environmental
contamination and human health and safety concerns due to radioactive
and toxic waste produced at national labs and weapons facilities.
####
** NOTE: This includes ONLY legislation passed. It does not include
legislation introduced by Sen. Gore or, Sen. Gore's other activities
and accomplishments on these issues.
Boston Sunday Blobe
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1992
THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE
DECEMBER 13. 1992
Gore playing key role in shaping transition
President-elect
Bill Clinton and
Al Gore 'developed
Senator's influence seen in policy and personnel choices
this intense
trusting
In this case, though. the reality
Gore has had an impact on every
Transition officials acknowledged
unusually close rapport during the
By Adam Pertman
belies the image.
Cabinet appointment
even if it is
that portraying Gore as a key player
fall campaign, they said, and Clinton
relationship on
GLOBESTAFF
According In senior Democratic
in a modest form," said Roy M. Neel,
serves Clinton well. It sends a signal
seems intent on maintaining it after
the campaign
officials in Washington and Arkan-
the Tennessee senator's chief of
that the new White House will re-
taking office next month.
truil and it's
WASHINGTON - There have
SILS. Gore has been playing an un-
staff.
main true to the issues Gore has
"Skeptics beware. history teach-
been few public sightings of Vice
precedented role during Bill Clin-
Bruce Reed. one of Clinton's
championed. they said, and demon-
es you nothing on this count." said a
evident every day
President elect AI Gore since Elee-
ton's transition to power: The offi-
principal domestic advisers, made
strates that Clinton will live up to his
senior Clinton aide in Little Rock,
now.
tion Day And. when he has ap-
cials said Gore has not only been
the same point in a separate inter-
vow to give his No. 2 unprecedented
referring to vice presidents being
BRUCE REED
peared. he's been standing silently at
helping shape policy but also has C.X.
view in Washington. He said Clinton
responsibilities.
relegated to attending funerals or
Clinton nide
press conferences in Little Rock.
erted considerable influence in the
sought Gore's advice on a wide range
At the same time, the officials in-
given some specific limited responsi-
Ark looking every bit the tradition-
selection of top-level administration
of personnel and policy questions.
sisted that there is nothing cosmetic
bilities.
al running mate whose primary pur
nominees.
particularly relating to foreign af-
or temporary about Gore's influence.
"Besides," the aide added, "all
pose helping his party win - has
"I think it's fair to say that N
fairs and the environment.
The two running mates developed an
you have to do is look at how much
already been served.
clout Al has excercised already to
understand that this is really, really
different."
The clearest example of Gore's
PAGE 2
sway thus far was last week's selec-
tion of Carol Browner as administra-
tor of the Environmental Protection
Agency. Browner was a top aide in
Gore's Senate office before assuming
her current post as Florida's envi-
ronmental enforcement chief.
Sources said that, when the ini-
tial list of prospects for the EPA job
was drawn up, Browner was not
even on it, but was added at her for-
mer boss' suggestion. The sources
stressed that Browner rose to the
top of most transition officials' lists
on her own merit, and that Gore was
careful not to disparage the other
candidates - including former Ver-
mont Gov. Madeleine Kunin, who
most observers thought would win
the EPA post.
Still, Gore got his first choice
when Clinton made his final cut.
Gore also cast his shadow, albeit
more faintly, during last week's dis-
cussions on nominations for key
Clinton administration economic
posts.
Lawrence Summers, a highly re-
garded Harvard economist, had
been considered a top candidate for
the new post of Economic Security
Adviser. But, when he was chief
powerful agencies as the Federal
and in areas of the federal govern-
economist at the World Bank, Sum-
Communications Commission and
ment where Clinton has less experi-
mers had written a memo in which
the Federal Trade Commission.
ence," said Neel.
he raised the prospect of disposing
banker Robert Rubin.
Already, Democratic officials
He pointed out that Gore is one
of toxic waste in developing nations.
Besides the environment, on
said, Gore has influenced public
of a handful of close Clinton advisors
Summers has since said he was
which Gore is considered one of the
statements made by Clinton on such
who discusses final decisions in the
merely offering an option, not an
nation's authorities, officials inter-
international issues as US involve-
governor's mansion in Little Rock
opinion, but Gore is known to have
viewed last week said they expected
ment in Bosnia and Somalia. And,
every night.
become wary of the economist as a
his recommendations to be given
they said, his recommendations have
"They developed this intense
result. While Gore reportedly did
particular weight in the areas of for-
been incorporated into the new ad-
trusting relationship on the cam-
not try to undermine Summers'
eign policy, technology and commu-
ministration's ethics guidelines and
paign trail and it's evident every day
prospects for the security adviser's
nications. That presumably includes
still-developing government-reorga-
now," Reed, the domestic policy aide,
job, the senator's allies made their
policy and personnel decisions af-
nization blueprints.
said. "I think you can bet that won't
displeasure known to Clinton, and
fecting such pivotal Cabinet depart-
"Clinton has relied on him heav-
change once they move into the
the position went to investment
ments as state and defense, and such
ily on both people-related matters
White House."
THE BOSTON GLOBE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1992
ENVIRONMENT
Remaking society to save the planet
By Ross Gelbspan
GLOBE STAFF
Gore asks radical global fix
ike a freight train
ously oppose an administration-sponsored
and pollution.
careening downhill out
energy bill that would create hundreds of
In "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and
of control, the planet
oil, coal and nuclear power plants over the
the Human Spirit," Gore makes the case
Earth seems to many
next four decades while doing little to pro-
for such steps by relentlessly cataloguing
scientists to be speeding
mote conservation and renewable energy
a list of accelerating planetary catastro-
toward environmental
sources.
phes - global warming, climate change,
apocalypse.
But those initiatives pale in the face of
sea level rise, deforestation, skyrocketing
Many despair of do-
his global blueprint, which includes a "Glo-
population growth - that threaten the sur-
ing anything about it,
bal Marshall Plan" to stabilize skyrocket-
vival of civilization.
but Sen. Al Gore (D-
ing population and halt deforestation and
Tenn.), a 1988 presidential contender and
destructive agricultural practices in devel-
In a particularly impolitic chapter,
a leader in the US Senate, has decided to
oping countries; to switch from oil, coal
Gore, the scion of one of Tennessee's lead-
throw his political future across the
and nuclear energy to solar, wind and oth-
ing Democratic families, warns Americans
tracks.
er renewables; impose stringent taxes on
they are fundamentally alienated from na-
He has done so in a new book that calls
virgin materials to force producers to re-
ture and their own experience, a split that
on Americans, and the world, to apply the
cycle and greuse products; and change the
has led to what he calls a- "dysfunctional
brakes by embracing individual, societal
way national budgets are calculated to re-
civilization" marked by addictive con-
and economic life-style changes that would
the true costs of resource depletion
GORE, Page 33
seem sweeping and radical coming from
the environmental establishment, let alone
from the heart of the po-
SEN. AL GORE
litical mainstream.
Its call for restructur-
ing modern civilization
WE'RE NEARING ATHRESHOLD BEYOND WHICH PEOPLE WILL REALIZE
around the principle of
global environmental re-
THAT THIS OUSTAND ABSURD FRENZY OF EXPLOITATION IS
demption proposes strate-
gies far more radical on
REALLY A DUMB PATTERNE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THINGS THAT TODAY
Capitol Hill than anything
publicly espoused by many
SEEMPOLITICALLY IMPOSSIBLE WILL THEN BE POLITICALLY IMPERATIVE.
,
environmental groups,
concerned about their credibility in the
hardball world of political compromise.
Gore's interest in environmental issues
is nothing new. Last week, the Senate vot-
ed 96 to 0 to adopt his resolution to speed
the phase-out of ozone-depleting chemi-
cals. And colleagues expect him to vigor-
Remaking society to save planet
GORE
with the caution of environmental
Continued from Page 29
leaders who feel that in the world of
sumption of oil and natural re-
Washington politics they can win
sources and an escalating frenzy of
only marginal improvements, saying
empty and unfulfilling consumerism.
the senator is "willing to be candid
and honest about the future of the
Although many of the ideas and
data in Gore's book come from scien-
planet, and tell people the shocking
tists and other environmental think-
truth about what's really required."
Gore himself insists that his book
ers, some who have read it say it is
SO radical that Gore runs the risk of
is not politically motivated, but some
marginalizing his political career.
critics on Capitol Hill, who asked not
"Maybe Gore feels his stage is out-
to be named, question his disclaimer.
side the Senate and that's why he
They note that while seeking the
wrote a book like this," said a senior
presidential nomination in 1988,
Senate staffer who asked not to be
Gore rode the environmental issue
named.
as hard as he could -- until it became
But others believe that, rather
clear the Democratic selection would
than courting political disaster, Gore
turn on other issues.
IS speaking over the heads of a hos-
tile Washington establishment to a
A personal rubleon
more receptive public.
He dismisses the political tea-leaf
"Gore is doing a smart thing po-
reading, saying that three years ago
litically," said David Gardiner, the
he crossed a personal threshold in
Washington-based legislative direc-
which political aspirations were
tor of the Sierra Club. "His book is
overwhelmed by conscience. The is-
likely to be very well received by the
sue, he said, is how to reconcile the
public. The people who find his ideas
need for radical remedies with the
scary are the lobbyists who don't
incremental change of the politically
want to make the changes we need
possible.
to make."
"I've tried to find the outer
"I think Gore's book is a signal of
boundary of what is politically feasi-
how mainstream the public's concern
ble within the framework we have,"
about the environmental crisis has
he said in an interview last week.
become. The public is far ahead of
"But I see social markers which are
most politicians on these issues," he
expanding that boundary. People ob-
added, citing a survey that found 80
ject when their backyards are
percent of Americans would pay
threatened by a new landfill or incin-
more for cars that achieved 45 miles
erator. But people's definition of
per gallon of gas.
backyard is changing. Each breath
"Al Gore's prescription - which is
we take has 600 percent more chlo-
bold enough to actually cure the pa-
rine than 40 years ago. The new in-
tient - puts him several orders of
tensity of storms due to climate
magnitude beyond where Congress,
changes will also affect backyards.
the President or either political par-
"When people make the connec-
ty is willing to go," said James
tion between their own backyards
Maddy, director of the Washington-
and the devastation of global envi-
based League of Conservation Vot-
ronment, you will see the same in-
1988 GLOUF STAFF PHOTO/ SUZANNE KRETTER
11. contrasted Gords holdness
He expressed disdan for those
Observers in Congress note that
droughts, flood and storins, pro-
internal ecology 01 numan feelings
who say the global danger is being
Gore has long had an environmental
pelled by a growing atmospheric
and responses by the numbing pow-
exaggerated He specifically chal-
focus, focusing on toxic waste prob-
overload of carbon dioxide and other
er of alienation and denial, which has
lenged a small minority of scientists,
lems as a young congressman and
"greenhouse gases." Those changes,
deafened leaders and paralyzed
actively supported by the Bush Ad-
helping establish the 42-nation In-
accompanied by rising sea levels, are
many of the world's people.
ministration, who deny there is a cri-
terparliamentary Conference on the
being accelerated by the ferocious
On one level, he wrote, politi-
SIS because of scientific uncertainties
Global Environment, an internation-
destruction of forests that consume
cians, news editors and individuals
about patterns of variation and spe-
al group to monitor global climate
carbon dioxide and replenish our
who refuse to address the threat
cific causes and effects. Gore com-
change.
oxygen supply.
"are really saying they simply do not
pared them to tobacco company sci-
But, Gore says, it was a conver-
want to think about the disruption
It also forecasts rapid wilting of
entists who cite the lack of proven
gence of seismic personal changes,
that would accompany any serious
the food supply under the pressure
specific pathways by which smoking
marked by deep frustration and
effort to confront the problem."
of wasteful and destructive agricul-
causes cancer to deny the over-
pain, that prompted him to write his
At a deeper level, the apathy is
tural practices.
whelming evidence of such a link.
book. During his aborted 1988 presi-
caused by "dysfunctional patterns of
And it suggests the inevitability
Just as the United States rebuilt
dential run, he recalled, he gave
behavior" resulting from losing
of overpopulation coming to an
Europe after World War II in a poli-
speech after speech about environ-
touch with humanity's natural roots.
abrupt halt in a massive population
cy of enlightened self-interest,
mental problems "only to pick up the
crash driven by drought, famine, de-
Gore's book urges the developed na-
newspapers the next day and see not
forestation or other causes.
tions to embark on a "Global Mar-
one reference to those speeches."
shall Plan" to eliminate the buildup
"I started to wonder whether
Among other findings Gore cites
of greenhouse gases by switching to
those issues were peripheral after
to support his alarm:
"People object when their
renewable, non-polluting energy
all. I began to doubt my own political
While the global average tem-
backyards are threatened
sources such as solar, wind and pho-
judgment, so I began to ask the poll-
perature dropped by slightly more
by a new landfill or
tovoltaic cells. It also calls for drastic
sters. what they thought I ought to
than 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit during
Incinerator. But people's
reduction in the use of industrial
talk about," he wrote. As a result, "I
the Earth's last "little" ice age be-
definition of backyard Is
chemicals and soil-depleting chemi-
discussed what everybody else dis-
tween 1550 and 1850, scientists ex-
changing."
cal-intensive agriculture. And it calls
cussed, which too often was a. list
pect it to increase 4.5 to 7.2 degrees
on the world to provide education,
of what insiders agree are 'the is-
SEN. AL CORE
over the next 50 years.
infant health care and contraceptives
sues'.
Atmospheric concentrations of
to women in poor countries to check
Then, in 1989, he says, he under-
carbon dioxide have ranged from 200
population growth.
went a period of soul-searching after
to 300 parts per million during the
his six-year-old son was hit and
last two ice ages, but is expected to
Driven to consume
Factoring in hidden costs
nearly killed by a car. During the
skyrocket to 600 ppm in 50 years.
The source of the crisis lies in
Key to his plan is worldwide
weeks he and his wife spent in the
The world's tropical rain for-
our "addiction to the consumption of
adoption of an economic budgeting
hospital caring for their child, Gore
ests, which consume carbon dioxide
the Earth itself," he wrote, an addic-
system that includes the hidden
wrote, he realized "the change that
and provide homes to millions of spe-
tion that "distracts us from the pain
costs of pollution and resource deple-
sought me out in the middle of my
cies, are being destroyed at the rate
of what we have lost: a direct experi-
tion in calculating the Gross Nation-
life
gave me a new sense of ur-
of one football field per second, more
ence of our connection to the
na-
al Product, an approach advocated
gency about those things I value the
than one Tennessee per year.
tural world
by several economists who say the
most."
Partly as a result, wildlife spe-
That addiction must be faced be-
current system masks massive costs
cies are being destroyed a thousand
fore it can be curbed, he asserts, for
that then fall on future generations.
A horrifying tableau
times faster than at any time in his-
only then "can we recognize the de-
Gore, again echoing economists,
The result, "Earth in the Bal-
tory.
structive impact" of our habits. That
says that by reducing pollution and
ance" (published by Houghton Miff-
Earth's population, which grew
is the first step, "toward mourning
increasing energy efficiency, firms
lin), presents a horrifying tableau of
to 2 billion between the dawn of hu-
what we have lost, healing the dam-
actually increase competitiveness by
accelerating, unrestrained destruc-
man history and 1945, will more than
age we have done to the Earth and
finding ways to improve production,
tion that threatens in the next few
quadruple, to 9 billion, by 2020.
to our civilization, and coming to
maximize the ingenuity of their
decades to stress the global environ-
workforces and cut waste.
At the same time, Gore says,
terms with what it means to be a
ment to the breaking point.
there has been a destruction of the
steward of the Earth."
It foresees massive climate
change marked by wild increases in
ST.LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1992
EDITORIALS
Environmental Distortions
Among his targets for the fall re-election cam-
party. Those in control now cast the issue as environ-
paign, Vice President Dan Quayle has chosen "Earth
mental protection versus jobs, though that is seldom
In The Balance," the recent and now controversial
the case. And too often they are willing to allow
book by his opposite number, Sen. Al Gore. Mr. Gore,
industry to pass on the cost of environmental degra-
the Democratic nominee for vice president, has writ-
dation to the general public.
ten of the difficulties of sustaining life on this planet
Conversely, Democrats across the board do not
at the present rate of consumption, particularly in
believe that human beings and economic develop-
highly industrialized countries like the United States.
ment are incompatible. But many do believe that
Here is how Mr. Quayle summed up the differ-
great care must be given when forests are felled and
ences in the environmental philosophies of the Re-
lands mined, lest permanent damage to the environ-
publican and Democratic parties. In a speech last
ment be done.
week to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Mich.,
They believe, like moderate Republicans, that
Mr. Quayle said: "We envision
scarce resources should be hus-
man as the harvester, working
banded, that wastes that come
with the Earth to raise up
from economic inefficiencies
homes and cities, respecting
are wastes that cannot be sus-
nature but shaping it to legiti-
tained. And they realize that
mate ends
They [Demo-
small, thoughtful changes in liv-
crats] view man more as an
ing habits can sometimes result
uninvited guest here on Earth,
in great savings for society,
settling down and consuming
whether that be by a fuel tax that
resources to which he has no
encourages greater efficiency or
right."
by insulation standards that
What a gross oversimplifi-
make homes cheaper to heat and
cation_ The modern American
cool.
environmental movement be-
Mr. Gore's views are neither
gan with such Republicans as Theodore Roosevelt,
new nor extreme, but he does argue that sometimes
who believed in setting aside precious resources like
painful measures may have to be taken by govern-
the national parks for future generations to enjoy.
ment and individuals to curtail activities by human
Many moderate Republicans who recoil at the exis-
beings that are counterproductive in the long run.
tence of the likes of Dan Quayle in their party long
And part of the burden will fall on Americans, who
have worked to protect and preserve the environ-
consume more per capita in fuel, food and raw
ment for one and all. Other Republicans have em-
materials than any other nationality in the world,
braced the concept of conservation to save trees,
now or in the past. Mr. Gore's message is complex.
minerals, wildlife and vegetation.
Unfortunately, that makes it vulnerable to the cheap
But those Republicans are not in control of the
distortions of a Dan Quayle.
The Philadelphia Unquirer
Wednesday, September 16, 1992
Saving earth for and from mankind
How can we have 0 healthy econ-
By JAMES R. SPOTILA
omy if we do not have a healthy
cn. A) Gore's Earth in the Bal-
S
TaylorJones
environment? One of the most pre.
scient actions of late was America's
once is the most important
passage clean water and air legisla-
book of the decade, not because
tion during the 1960's and 1970's. We
it contains the answer, but because
only have to compare our environ-
it focuses on the question. How do
ment to that of eastern Europe to
we face a global environmental cri-
apprecrate the horror WC avoided
sis that threatens civilization as we
and the high quality of life we ob-
know it?
tained by those actions. Money in-
If we continue our neglect of eco-
vested in that effort paid for itself in
logical issues, the end will not come
jobs and quality of life a hundred
with a bang. as in a nuclear war, but
times over.
will arrive imperceptibly. Our
The question is not, as Gore's crit-
grandchildren might not enjoy the
ics would have it, which do you
clean air and water. the protective
want, jobs or a clean environment?
sky and changing seasons that we
The question is, how do we create
expect as our birthright.
Sen. Gore points out in accessible
jobs that contribute to maintaining
a sustainable and safe environ-
language that if we do not begin to
ment? Since 1970 many companies
address that growing environmen-
tal threat DOW. we may be able to
have grown. created jobs and pros-
accumulate short-term profits for a
pered by combining concern for on-
while. but our long-term legacy will
vironmental quality with techno-
be a world barren of nature due to a
logical innovation.
depleted ozone shield.
The 3-M company improved prof.
its with its Pollution Prevention
Gore exhorts us to change our
ways of thinking and of doing busi-
Pays program. Xerox and Dow insti-
tuted similar measures. Here in the
ness.
Since these conclusions have long
Delaware Valley. Betz Laboratories
been obvious to environmental SCI.
Roy F Weston, Inc. and Environ-
entists, it was with more than a little
mental Tectonics Corp. have grown
skepticism that I began to read Sen.
to employ over 6,000 blue collar.
Gore's book. To my surprise, i was
technical and scientific workers.
compelled not only by his clear pre-
They have demonstrated that caring
sentation of the data on global
for the environment and creating
warming. ozone depletion and other
jobs are compatible.
environmental horror stories. but
Gore sets six strategic goals for
also by his proposed solution to the
THE
the Global Marsball Plan.
crisis - A Global Marshall Plan.
IN
Gore calls for improved automo-
BALANCE
Stabilizing the world popula-
tion.
bile technology - such as the Japa.
Rapid creation and develop-
nese ceramic engine that runs at
ment of environmentally appropri-
higher temperatures and thus mini-
ate technologies.
mizes pollution -- because our cars
A comprehensive change in the
with their outdated engines pose "a
economic "rules of the road" by
morta! threat to the security of
which WC measure the impact of our
every nation that IS more deadly
decisions on the environment
ALBERT GORE
than that of any. military enemy we
Los
The negotiation and approval of
are ever again likely to confront."
8 new generation of international
He's right. A 2-to-5 degree Celsius rise in global
Sen. Gore makes clear WC must act to change
agreements to make the overall plan a success.
temperature poses & greater danger to the U.S.
our approach to the environment Not to act now
The establishment of a cooperative plan for
than Iraq does.
would be to bequeath our grandchildren a life so
educating the world's citizens about our global
There is nothing more important to our future
filled with disease and famine that they would
environment.
than & safe and sustainable environment With-
look back and rue the selfish actions WC are
The establishment, especially in the devel.
out it there IS no economy and our-civilization
taking today.
oping world. of the social and political condi-
will fade into oblivion.
Sen. Gore states, "We tolerate
the
violation
tions most conducive to the emergence of sus-
For America to maintain a viable environ-
of the rights of those who will come after us. As
tainable societies.
ment Sen. Gore advocates government plan-
we strip-mine the earth at a completely unsus-
AD environmental scientist could no: have
ning like that used to build up our military
tainable rate, we are making it impossible for
said it better.
strength during World War II and the Cold War.
our children's children to have a standard of
After 12 years of undermining support of
Over the last 12 years our government has
living even remotely similar to ours."
minimized our environmental crisis while
He also contends, "With the future so.open to
family centered programs, the Republicans are
maximizing short-term economic gains. The
doubt, WC routinely choose to indulge our own
talking to us about family values. Don't they
Reagan and Bush administrations have disman-
generation at the expense of all who will follow.
think family values also include ensuring that
tled our environmental safeguards, cancelled
We enshrine the self ns the unit of ethical
our grandchildren have clean air to breathe and
ecological studies, end gutted the Environmen-
account, separate and distinct not just from the
clean water to drink?
tal Protection Agency (EPA). Though the sav-
natural world but even from a sense of obliga-
If you care about your grandchildren. read
ings and loan bailout and budget deficit are on
tion to others - not just others in future gener-
Gore's book.
the national agenda. if WC fall to take action on
ations, but increasingly even to others in the
the environment. the costs of the "Environmen-
same generation; and not just those in distant
James R. Spotila is a professor of environmental
tal Debscle" will dwarf both of these problems.
lands. but increasingly even in our own."
science at Drexel University
rain forest and to the globe's other envi-
REVIEWS
ronmental Stations of the Cross. He
knows too much, however, to indulge in
mere sentimentalism about Earth-Moth-
erhood, or to join a doctrinaire rush to
simplification.
In drawing a line connecting the in-
dividual to the global, Gore here and
there sounds as if his inner Ancient
Mariner had lingered too long in adult-
BOOKS
until he came to rest in a gutter." The
children seminars with John Bradshaw,
child, at first near death, eventually re-
and humankind might 12-step the earth
A Crisis as
covered. It was in his son's hospital
green again. Still, the vocabularies of
room in Baltimore that Gore began writ-
the recovery movement open interest-
Real as Rain
ing Earth in the Balance.
ing windows upon a civilization that is
Since the book arises in part from a
dysfunctional, much given to denial, ad-
moment of personal crisis, it speaks
diction, co-dependency and brutal na-
with a certain passionate authenticity, a
ture abuse.
TITLE: EARTH IN THE BALANCE
ring of the unfakable that is rare enough
If the future (to use Gore-esque im-
AUTHOR: AL GORE
in the (usually ghostwritten) outpour-
agery) remains as dark as a mine shaft,
PUBLISHER: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; 407
ings of politicians. The American public,
humankind has at least begun to notice
PAGES; $22.95
much afflicted by sound bites, has all but
the alarming accumulation of dead ca-
THE BOTTOM LINE: A work of intelligence
abandoned hope for intelligent life in
naries about its feet. In part because of
and passionate authenticity.
Washington. It may be impressed by
his son's accident-and perhaps in part
By LANCE MORROW
Gore's sustained intellectual concentra-
because of George Bush's overwhelming
tion and mastery of his subject, the envi-
popularity in the polls after Desert
ENATOR AL GORE HAD JUST
ronment. Gore has studied it a while. In
Storm-Al Gore decided to sit out the
S
turned 40 years old. His presi-
the 1988 campaign, the Senator held the
1992 campaign. Instead of Gore for Pres-
dential campaign had broken up
wedding guests with his glittering eye
ident, the public has his book, which is
in the primaries the previous
and talked about such obscurities as the
itself an act of leadership.
spring. Then, as he reports, "one after-
greenhouse effect and the thinning
noon in April 1989, I walked out of a
ozone. Another candidate said he
baseball stadium and saw my son, Al-
sounded as if he were running for na-
bert, then six years old, get hit by a car,
tional scientist.
TELEVISION
fly thirty feet through the air and scrape
The subjects are less obscure now. In
along the pavement another twenty feet
Earth in the Balance Gore writes, "The
Graduating
global environmental crisis
is, as we say in Tennessee,
real as rain, and I cannot
With Honors
stand the thought of leaving
my children with a degraded
SHOW: THE COSBY SHOW
earth and a diminished
TIME: THURSDAY. APRIL 30. 8 P.M. EDT. NBC,
future."
FOR THE LAST TIME
Gore has produced a la-
THE BOTTOM LINE: The most successful
bor of statesmanship, evan-
sitcom of the '80s makes a graceful exit.
gelism and scientific exposi-
tion. He does not so much
By RICHARD ZOGLIN
break new ground as orga-
nize a wide variety of mate-
OTHING ON TV AGES FASTER
rial and experience to state
N
than a family show. The regu-
the case of environmental
lars at the Cheers bar or the
urgency and the need for
M H unit can stick
change, for what he calls a
around for years, with only occasional
"Global Marshall Plan." He
cast changes to accommodate stars who
has digested books, made
want to get into movies. But kids have a
friends with experts and
bad habit of growing up. Anyone tuning
traveled. Gore went, for ex-
in after a few years' absence to this
ample, to the Aral Sea in
week's final episode of The Cosby Show
Central Asia-10 years ago
may get a shock. Theo (Malcolm-Jamal
the fourth largest inland sea
Warner), a junior-high student when
CYNTHIA JOHNSON FOR TIME
in the world, now dead, its
the series began, is graduating from col-
fishing fleets stranded sur-
lege. Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), once
really in dry desert. The wa-
a pudgy preteen. is in college too, and
ter that once fed the Aral
has weathered a broken engagement.
was diverted in an ill-consid-
Cute little Rudy (Keshia Knight Pul-
ered irrigation project to
liam) has ceded the spotlight to a passel
Gore at home near Washington: his travels took him
grow cotton. Gore traveled
of even cuter, littler kids: Olivia, 6, step-
to the Aral Sea, now dead, and other disasters
to the vanishing Amazon
daughter of No. 2 daughter Denise (who
76
TIME, MAY 4. 1992
THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
August 10, 1992
Sound Environment, Sound Economy
The simple truth is that protecting
tion argued that the United States
BY AL GORE
our environment means new business
could not afford to stabilize emissions
Special to The National Law Journal
and increasing profits. Protecting our
of carbon dioxide, the major cause of
environment ensures that the United
global warming, at 1990 levels by the
THE AMERICAN people are being
States will remain competitive in the
year 2000. That argument ignored the
asked to choose between protecting our
International marketplace in the fu-
administration's own data and anal-
environment and strengthening our
ture. It means strengthening our econ-
yses showing that we can not only af-
economy. That's the choice President
omy. It means meeting the challenge
ford to stabilize emissions through vol-
George Bush and Vice President Dan
from our competitors, such as Germa-
untary energy conservation and other
Quayle are asking us to make. It is not
ny and Japan and others already mov-
measures, but we can do it at a profit.
just short-sighted, it is irresponsible.
ing to secure their place and their
We can enhance business profits and
And it is just plain wrong.
profits from these growing markets.
protect our environment at the same
Fortunately, the American people
If we fail to act, we lose. We lose jobs,
time.
are getting a second opinion before ac-
we lose opportunities, we lose our natu-
What was once called too expensive
cepting this false choice as true.
ral resources and the brighter future
is now called a bargain too good to
They're willing to work for a strong
every parent hopes to offer their child.
pass up.
economy. And because they care about
For example, during negotiations on
We have had a difficult time in the
protecting the environment they will
a climate convention signed at the
past coming to grips with the fantastic
leave their children, they're willing to
June international Earth Summit in
new powers we've gained from the
work to clean it up.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the administra-
Continued on page 18
THE NATIONAL LAW. JOURNAL
A Clean World Is Good for Business
Continued from page 17
and South, industrial countries and de-
process will prevent nearly 9,000 tons
technologies that drive our Industrial
veloping countries, that will work to
of CFCs from being released over the
society. Just as nuclear weapons trans-
counter global warming; to preserve
next eight years, while generating sav-
formed the consequences of all-out
our dwindling forest resources and
ings of $50 million.
warfare, so thousands of new technol-
other critical ecosystems; and to clean
ogies that magnify our ability to ex-
our air, our fresh-water resources and
Companies with the best environ-
mental strategies will lead business in
ploit the earth have transformed our
our oceans.
Here at home, we must accelerate
the 21st century. They are among the
relationship with the earth.
the development of new technologies
most competitive and profitable. Ja-
At the dawning of the nuclear age,
that foster economic progress without
pan has already recognized and seized
Albert Einstein said, "Everything has
changed, except our way of thinking."
environmental destruction. We must
upon this economic opportunity
During the last few decades, human
commit to using and promoting renew-
through energy efficiency and also by
beings have tried to come to grips with
able energy technologies and work to
investing in the future.
a new way of thinking about warfare.
move these programs from the bottom
For example, Japan's Ministry of In-
We have not fully acknowledged the
of the list of priorities to the top. We
ternational Trade & Industry began
work in 1990 to create the Research
debt that all humankind owes to Brazil
can start by taking advantage of the
wealth of expertise and talent in our
Institute of Innovative Technology for
and Argentina and other nations in
national labs and other federal facill-
the Earth, intended to develop environ-
South America that had the courage to
ties, bringing them together with the
mental technologies. In addition to $80
abandon this technology of nuclear
weapons and make a pact to stop the
private sector to produce these new
million in seed money from the minis-
technologies.
try, Japanese industry invested $45
march that other nations began to-
million in the first year of operation.
ward nuclear weaponry. If such pro-
New Technologies
Japanese companies have recognized
gress can be made in the area of war
Policies, technologies and processes
that huge profits can be made by de-
technology, we can certainly move for-
that prevent or stop pollution at its
veloping and using environmental
ward together to improve our manage-
source rather than clean it up later
technology.
ment of Industrial technology.
offer unprecedented business opportu-
The American people know, too, that
So now we face the necessity of ar-
nities. Last year, Northern Telecom
we can both save the environment and
riving at a new way of thinking about
Ltd., which has its American head-
strengthen the economy. They know
our relationship to technologies for ex-
quarters in Nashville, Tenn., became
we do not have to sacrifice economic
ploiting the earth. Our successful start
the first major electronics company to
stability and jobs to protect the world
in dealing with CFCs, or chlorofluoro-
eliminate the cleaning solvent CFC-113
around us. It can and must be done.
carbons, give us cause for hope be-
from its manufacturing operations.
The American people want from
cause agreements have been reached
The company used available technolo-
their leaders vision and courage, un-
by most nations of the world that will
gy, working with its customers and
derstanding, compassion and real
eventually result in their phaseout. We
vendors to create alternatives to the
commitment on these Issues. They ex-
must build on that success by develop-
CFC solvent. Northern Telecom estl-
pect and deserve leaders who will am-
ing a new partnership between North
mates that the use of the alternative
plify their voices, not overpower them.
The New Republic
Oct. 19, 1992
Green giant
amendments of the 1990 Clean Air Act
time. What is more, the book offers a
re-authorization. including requiring
long-range strategy for asserting Ameri-
the phaseout of ozone-depleting
can leadership in a new system of col-
L
ooking at Al Gore's legislative
hvdrochlorofluorocarbons. His pro-
lective security built around the "cen-
record. one would hardly
posal for a "strategic environmental
tral organizing principle" of environ-
judge him an "environmental
research and development program" to
mentally sustainable economic devel-
extremist." the label the White House
bring the research resources of the
opment.
has tried to pin on him. Though he has
Defense Department to bear on global
The Bush-Quayle campaign has used
been a vocal and effective critic of the
environmental problems was adopted
the book as exhibit A for its charges that
Bush Administration's environmental
in 1990. He was the author of a resolu-
Gore is an extremist. Quavle has called
failures. and though greens support
tion calling for the protection of
it the Democratic "manifesto" and said
him enthusiastically. his ecological vot-
Antarctica from mining and other
that following its recommendations
ing record puts him well into the mid-
velopment. He was also a leader of
would require sharp increases in taxes
die of the pack of Democratic senators.
the successful effort to bar oil develop-
and lose thousands of jobs. The Repub-
Indeed. Gore's lifetime grade from the
ment from the Arctic National Wildlife
licans are particularly shrill about
League of Conservation Voters. a con-
Refuge. He has been particularly active
Gore's suggestions on the use of carbon
sortium of mainstream environmental
in promoting environmentally sound
taxes to encourage the reduced con-
groups. is a middling seventy-seven out
technology to help restore the nation's
sumption of fossil fuels. hoping once
of a possible 100. Early in his congress-
competitiveness in international mar-
again to stimulate a knee-jerk reaction
ional career. in fact. Gore failed one of
kets. successfully pushing. for example.
10 the word "tax." The Clinton cam-
the environmentalists litmus test issues
for the creation of a new national net-
paign has handled the book rather gin-
of the late 70s by voting against pro-
work of high-speed information "super-
gerly, particularly the carbon tax idea.
tecting the endangered snail darter in
highways" that would link powerful
which it has described as only a sugges-
favor of constructing the Tellico dam
computers with schools and research
tion for study. In fact. Gore's own words
in his home state of Tennessee.
centers. Since his vote on the snail
unmistakably show that he thinks it
Critics in the Bush Administration
darter. Gore "has worked strongly for
would be a good idea. But he also states
want it both ways While branding Gore
the protection for species and habitat."
unequivocally that he is not advocating
an extremist. they accuse him of not
according to the League of Conserva-
a tax increase. Under the plan, other
being an effective legislator on the
tion Voters. And as a member of the
taxes would be lowered commensu-
issues. "Quite frankly there is not
House in the late 70s. Gore presided
rately. As for the idea of building a new
much there." said Michael Deland.
over a landmark investigation that dis-
system of collective security around sus-
chairman of the White House Council
closed the magnitude of the nation's
tainable development. it was embraced
on Environmental Quality. "There has
hazardous waste problem. Shortly
by almost all governments at the Earth
been a lot of rhetoric but not much in
thereafter. he co-sponsored the Super-
Summit in Rio. If Gore is an extremist
the wav of performance." Administra-
fund bill 10 clean up toxic waste sites.
for proposing it, so are the leaders of
tion officials point out that Gore was
Gore is not a member of "The Club."
Germany. Japan, and other industrial-
not a major player on many of the most
the coterie of influential senators who
ized democracies.
important environmental bills taken
cut deals over legislation. But despite
The good news for Gore is that the
up by recent Congresses. These
his lack of insider status. he is without
extremist tag does not appear to be
include the Clean Air Act amendments
question the most prominent environ-
sucking. even within the Administra-
of 1990, the 1990 farm bill. the national
mental activist in the United States
tion. Gore "cares a lot and knows a lot
energy strategy, the highway bill, the
Congress. His leadership stems from
about the issues," EPA administrator
elevation of the EPA to cabinet level, the
his demonstrated ability to recognize,
William K. Reilly said in a recent televi-
oil pollution act. nuclear liability legis-
master, and articulate emerging issues.
sion interview, adding, "1 don't think
lation, and others. Indeed, even some
He has been well ahead of the curve on
he's an environmental extremist." Of
environmental lobbusts sav Gore has
issues from hazardous waste in the '70s
course, within the administration,
been less influential than he could be
to global warming destruction of the
Reilly's a bit of a fringe figure himself.
because he does not serve on the Sen-
earth's protective ozone layer, and the
ate Environment and Public Works
disappearance of species in the '80s
PHILIP SHABECOFF
Committee or any other key committee
and '90s. Earth in the Balance, Gore's
concerned with environmental mat-
best-selling book on the global environ-
Philip Shabecoff's book on the envi-
ters.
ment. is a meticulously researched,
ronmental movement. A Fierce Green
In fact. Gore's record is substantial.
careful analysis of some of the most
Fire, will be published in January by Hill
He was the author of several major
important geopolitical issues of our
& Wang.
20 THE NEW REPUBLIC OCTOBER 19, 1992
We must understand what we cannot forget.
THE ECOLOGY OF SURVIVAL
By Al Gore
heories about history are built on sand. Yet
mense empires began to die with the Archduke Ferdi-
T
millions have died believing in their ultimate
nand. The World War hardly made the world safe for
truth. It's because we have paid such a high
democracy. but it did put the foes of democracy on
price for historical theorizing that we can ill
notice. The period since then represents a succession of
afford to lose our perspective now, or to stop thinking
struggles between democratic powers and tyranny in all
about where we've been and what it tells us about where
its guises. In 1914, as Europe descended into carnage.
we're going. To paraphrase Santayana, those who can-
by far the greater number of the world's peoples lived
not remember the past ought to be condemned to
under tvrannies. But of the major nations that went to
reread it.
war in Europe, only the established democracies sur-
Seventy-five years, the measure of one magazine, is
vived with their political systems intact. The interwar
now the measure of one human lifetime-the number
years were marked by philosophical as well as geopoliti-
of years an American child born today can expect to
cal struggles on a global scale, with the ideologies of
live. Looking back 75 years, we can accept or ignore any
fascism, communism, and democracy in contention. In
number of political, cultural, or strategic lessons. Look-
World War II, not only was fascism defeated: its exem-
ing ahead into the life of that child, however, we see two
plars underwent apparently permanent societal conver-
indisputable patterns. With the invention of nuclear
sions, from which they emerged as democracies them-
weapons we changed the character of warfare in ways
selves. Now we appear to be experiencing the rapid
that must preclude any conflict on the scale of the one
dissolution of Communist tyranny. The process is ad-
that began in 1914. That lesson is widely understood,
vancing in Europe and perhaps gathering strength in
and we have some basis for hoping that it will guide our
Asia, the result of irresistible internal forces that can be
future affairs. The second dramatic change has not yet
set back but not permanently stopped.
been so widely accepted. Humankind has suddenly en-
In the developing worlds of Latin America, Africa,
tered into a new relationship with the planet Earth. Our
and Asia, the battle between democratic and tvrannical
survival depends upon our capacity to grasp, and quick-
forms of government has been less decisive. Neverthe-
ly, the extent to which the current pattern of world
less, over the last decade the trend has been toward
civilization threatens the ecological system that sustains
democratic forms, from Argentina and Brazil to the
life as we know it.
Philippines. Looking at this pattern, some conclude that
From this side of the Atlantic, at least, the future
humankind is maturing out of tutelage, throwing off
looked better in 1914. Back then America didn't need a
submission to the arbitrary rule of those who claim
coup in Panama; that year we opened the Canal. Pro-
legitimacy by divine right or historical "law" and em-
ductivity growth in the United States was almost too fast
bracing instead the self-rule that derives its legitimacy
to measure. In the fall of 1913 a Model T came off the
from the will of the electorate. Perhaps so. But experi-
assembly line at Henry Ford's new Highland Park plant
ence ought to make us wary of premature declarations
every 12 hours. By the spring of 1914 that plant was
of victory, and we should certainly reject the idea that
producing one car every hour. The world environment
we have arrived at the end of political history. The
was as untrampled as the poppies in Flanders Fields.
human imagination is much too fertile for that, and the
The biggest threat to the rain forest was Tarzan, cTe-
human capacity for inventing systems of political belief
ated that year by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
has not exhausted itself. We can expect that "isms" will
From politics to art, the world was breaking loose
continue to appear, displaring others in the hearts and
from the old order. The acceleration of history was
minds of millions, over cycies of time that may run from
already well under way. Einstein's theory of relativity
decades to centuries and even to millennia.
had jolted science. Cubism was fracturing the way art-
Yet because of the events and accomplishments of
ists interpreted the world. Ancient dynasties and im-
the last 75 years, there are indeed critical. and perma-
nent, new factors in the life of humanity. These relate to
AL GORE is a U.S. Sena: from Tennessee.
the physical world, whose constants are beyond the
26 THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OF THE NEW REPUBLIC NOVEMBER 6, 1989
power of ideological manipulation. We have. in the
times greater than at any time in the last 65 million
course of a single life span, managed 10 grasp the levers
years; we are filling the atmosphere with gaseous
of our own destruction: first, in the form of nuclear
wastes that threaten changes 10 the climatic system in
weapons; and second, in the form of the industrial
the next 75 vears as large as those that accompanied
destruction of the biosphere, which has begun to move
the ice ages over hundreds of thousands of vears.
ahead at geometric rates of increase. When you consid-
These dramatic changes are taking place not only be-
er the relationship of the human species 10 the planet
cause the human population is surging and our stan-
Earth, not much change is visible in a single year. in a
dard of living has increased, but because we tolerate
single nation. Yet if you look at the entire pattern of that
environmental vandalism on a global scale.
relationship from the beginning of the modern eΓa in
For 75 years the price we would have to pay for our
1914 until today, the contrast is starkly clear.
actions has seemed impossibly remote. Only now are
In 422 years. from the time of Christopher Columbus
we beginning to see, in Ivan Ilvch's phrase, "the
until 1914, world pop-
shadow our future
ulation tripled, 10
Thorstein Veblen Reconsidered George Charney
throws." Whether we
1.6 billion. In the last
look forward in hopes
75 years it has tripled
THE NEW
of glimpsing what the
again, to 5.2 billion.
future holds or gaze
We are told that in the
backward at the events
next 75 years It will
that have dominated
double and perhaps
the world since 1914,
even triple once more.
REPUBLIC
we see something that
Nearly every index of
resembles one of
the impact of modern
those artist's depic-
industrial society fol-
A Journal of Politics and the Arts January 22. 1972 50 cents
tions of relativity the-
lows the same pattern
ory, with time and
of sudden, unprece-
space curved like
dented acceleration.
a checkerboard grid
Americans consumed
How Clean
painted by Salvador
around 40 billion kilo-
Dali. Our political
watt-hours of electric-
itv in 1914. Last year
Is Clean?
awareness of the world
is shaped and bent by
we used 60 times that
events. Vast calamities
much. U.S. produc-
The Editors on Water Pollution
such as the world wars
tion of synthetic oΓ-
exert
a
power-
ganic chemicals (from
ful gravitational pull
PCBs to pesticides
on every idea we
to plastics) has gone
Moving to the Suburbs Robert Cassidy
have about the world
from almost nothing
Shooting at Henry John Osborne
around us. And, just as
to 225 billion pounds
in Einstein's theory,
per vear-half a ton
War Powers Alexander M Bickel
future events can exert
for every American.
The Old Decency Reed Whittemore
the same gravitational
The world's fossil fuel
Populist Rumblings - Peter Barnes
pull on our thinking as
use has increased ten
events in the past. The
times over, and with it,
political will to slow
carbon dioxide has
down the nuclear arms
flooded the Earth's at-
COVER
race came from the
mosphere. Other greenhouse gases have soared upward
feeling that we were being pulled toward a future we had
at similar rates: U.S. nitrogen oxide emissions are up
never seen but didn't want. Now, as we are being drawn
800 percent since 1914; methane concentrations have
toward the brink of ecological collapse. we must be will-
nearly doubled: and the world's emissions of chloro-
ing 10 consider drastic ecological action.
fluorocarbons, which had not vet been invented in 1914.
There is no way for humanity 10 forget its skills for
have increased by 80 times since World War II, and are
self-destruction. by war upon each other or by war upon
still doubling every decade, posing a deadly threat to the
the environment. In an exchange of Promethean pro-
Earth's protective ozone shield.
portions. we have acquired deadly knowledge that we
The hole in the ozone laver is only the most widely
can never lose but must learn 10 keep under control
accepted manifestation of a much broader challenge 10
forever. That is the new and permanent point of depar-
the Earth's environment. We are destroying forest
ture for political wisdom. And if we are to succeed in
land at the rate of one acre per second; we are poison-
keeping civilization intact. it is clear that one ism must
ing our rivers, lakes, groundwater. and oceans: we are
be revived and renewed: globalism-by which I mean
causing living species to be destroved at a rate 1,000
not some kind of world order prescribed and imposed
28 THE 73TH ISSUE 01 THE NEW 6 1989
from above, but rather a sense of responsibility for the
tal disorder in the not so distant future. For the devel-
good order of the world. rising upward from all of its
oping world, the problems of reconciling economic
peoples. and ultimately manifesting itself in the behav-
growth and environmental protection are compounded
ior of their governments, both domestically and in in-
by high rates of population growth and a massive debt
ternational relations.
burden. Yet the cooperation of Third World nations is
A new globalism cannot be based on some transfor-
crucial to controlling problems as vast as global warm-
mation of human nature, by which people will be en-
ing. Their share of greenhouse gas emissions from
dowed with new virtues of foresight and restraint. In the
fossil fuels could grow from about 20 percent today to
last 75 years we have had enough of efforts to create the
as much as 60 percent by 2050. A Strategic Environ-
New Man in one image or another. Jefferson's educated
ment Initiative would promote environmentally sus-
citizenry will have to suffice. The globalism we need can
tainable development by identifying and spreading new
develop out of roots already universally present. It will
technologies to developing countries, where 95 percent
be an enlightened, informed extension of our desire to
of world population growth will take place during the
survive, and of our often even more intense desire to
next century. Here in the United States, the Strategic
provide for the survival and well-being of our children
Environment Initiative must modernize technologies
and grandchildren. Globalism will be marked by the
and practices in every economic sector. from more fuel-
sense that if our affairs are conducted on the basis of an
efficient cars and energy-efficient appliances to manu-
unlimited struggle for supremacy-whether among na-
facturing that relies on recycled material, to a second
tions or over nature-the result will be an increasingly
green revolution requiring fewer fertilizers and pesti-
high risk of almost immeasurable loss for all. It will be
cides. The emerging consensus for environmental pro-
marked also by a sense that at some level, cooperation
tection is opening the door to solutions once consid-
secures for all of us what strife cannot.
ered politically impossible.
Mikhail Gorbachev now speaks as an advocate of a
globalist approach based on mutual consent, rather than
t will not be enough, however. to change our laws.
hegemony. It is certainly a revolution of sorts to hear
I
policies, and programs. We must also change the
such things from a Soviet leader. But it is well to remem-
way we think about ourselves, our children. and our
ber that Gorbachev has at best caught up with the doc-
future. For a very long time, we have seen ourselves
trine of collective security as propounded by Woodrow
as separate from the world around us. At least since the
Wilson in 1918 and again by Franklin Roosevelt in 1945.
beginning of the scientific method, and probably since
The essence of the doctrine of collective security is
Aristotle, we have seen nature as the object of our
that security is indivisible and mutual: it must be pro-
experiments, exploitation, and dominion. As scientists
vided for all, by actions to which all must contribute, or
reflected on Einstein's revolution, they discov- ed that
it exists for no one. That is certainly the lesson we must
the act of observing alters what is observed. Heisenberg
apply as we struggle to redefine our security relation-
established that "uncertainty principle" in 1923. But its
ship in military terms. Reductions of strategic and con-
philosophical application is not limited to the subatom-
ventional weapons are desirable, but not in the abstract.
ic world he described. In a kind of Heisenberg Principle
They must seek a result in which the residual forces are
writ large, we have altered-without realizing it-our
perceived by all concerned parties to be stable, in the
relationship to nature itself. We must now create a new
sense of lacking the capacity for decisive surprise. And
pattern of thinking in which we once again see ourselves
reductions must be carried out in a political context that
as a part of the ecological system in which we live. We
buttresses the expectation of peace and justifies dimin-
have lost, so to speak, our eco-librium.
ished preparation for war.
How can we gain sufficient distance from ourselves to
But the notion of mutual security must now move
see a pattern that contains us in a larger context? My
from an exclusive concern with security as an issue of
own religious faith teaches me that while we are given
peace or war to a definition of security that includes the
dominion over the Earth, we also are required to be
global environment. With that in mind, I have proposed
good stewards of the Earth. If our actions cause the
a Strategic Environment Initiative (SEI). Let's face it:
destruction of half the living species God put on this
the Strategic Defense Initiative can't assure our survival
Earth during our lifetimes, we will have failed in the
for the next 75 years. A Strategic Environment Initiative
responsibility of stewardship. Are those actions, be-
might I am no admirer of SDI, but one doesn't have to
cause of their result, "evil"? The answer depends not
be an admirer to recognize that it drew together previ-
upon the everyday nature of the actions, but upon our
ously scattered facilities and resources and that it at-
knowledge of their consequences. For the individual
tracted a generous share of the government's budget
actions that collectively produce the world's environ-
for research and development. We need to approach
mental evil are indeed banal when they are looked at
the technological challenge of environmental protec-
one by one: the cutting of a tree. the flicking on of an air
tion and economic growth with at least the same inten-
conditioner, the dumping of some inconvenient waste.
sity-and with comparable or greater levels of funding.
"Evil" and "good" are terms not used frequently by
If we continue our current pattern of technology and
politicians. Yet I do not see how this problem can be
production. we will be able to achieve economic growth
solved without reference to spiritual values found in PV-
in the near term only at the cost of massive environmen-
ery faith. For many scientists on the edge of new discov.
30 THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OF THE NEW REPUBLIC NOVEMBER 6, 1989
enes in cosmology and quantum physics, the reconcilia-
faith in the future of life on Earth after our own. a faith in
tion of science and religion sometimes now seems near at
the future that justifies sacrifices in the present, a new
hand. It is a reconciliation not unlike the one we seek
moral courage to choose higher values in the conduct of
between humankind and nature. But even without defin-
human affairs, and a new reverence for absolute princi-
ing the problem in religious terms, it is possible to con-
ples that can serve as stars by which to map the future
clude that the solutions we seek will be found in a new
course of our species and our place within creation.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 1990
To Skeptics on Global Warming
thickness of the Earth's diameter, a
alone. It's about drastically changing
By Al Gore Jr.
thin blue line around the crust of the
climatic patterns that affect the dis-
600
Earth Unprecedented population
tribution of rainfall, the intensity of
WASHINGTON
Soaring
growth and new technologies for
storms and droughts and the direc-
hen environ-
580
Levels of CO2
burning fuels. clearing forests and
tions of prevailing winds and ocean
W
mental
and
560
manufacturing chemicals have given
currents, which in turn dramatically
financial
ex-
humankind the ability to alter the
affect our weather and climate. Some
perts
from
540
composition of the atmosphere.
scientists say the first effects will be
around
the
520
Everywhere on Earth, for example,
erratic weather patterns with ex-
world
gath-
each lungful of air now contains 600
tremes of heat and cold.
red in Washington this week for a
500
percent more chlorine atoms than it
Q.: Isn't it easier to adapt to these
Thite House-sponsored conference
did 40 years,ago or 3 billion years
changes than to prevent them?
n global warming, they expected a
480
ago, for that matter. That chlorine is
A.: The changes could occur so
erious discussion. Instead, they were
460
responsible for burning a hole in the
swiftly that effective adaptation
urprised and angered to hear Presi-
stratospheric ozone layer. Similar in-
might become virtually impossible.
ent Bush wholeheartedly endorse
440
creases in methane, nitrous oxide and
The longer we wait, the more un-
elay and inaction.
other polluting gases add to the seri-
420
pleasant our choices become.
Global climate change is real. It is
ousness of global warming.
We are in fact conducting a mas-
he single most serious manifestation
400
Q: But how can we trust scientists
sive, unprecedented - some say
1 a larger problem: the collision
on this issue when some of them say
ourse between industrial civilization
380
unethical - experiment with conse-
global climate change is real and
quences for all future generations. As
nd the ecological system that sup-
360
some of them say it's not?
orts life as we know it.
A.: Five hundred years ago, most
The purpose of Earth Day is to
340
scientists said the world was flat.
lert people around the world to that
320
Most people believed them because
npending collision. And yet the Bush
the Earth did indeed look flat. The
You're
dministration. according to a leaked
300
new "model" of a round Earth was
nemo, IS advising its policymakers
based on mathematical calculations
280
hat "a better approach IS to raise the
that they could neither touch nor un-
wrong on
any uncertainties," and argue with
260
derstand. Similarly, Galileo was pun-
CO2
facts and
ther skeptics that nothing should be
ished for his then-novel view that the
one until unresolved questions are
240
Earth orbited the sun, instead of the
efinitively answered.
220
2.5
other way around.
reasoning.
What are the skeptics' questions?
In the last 20 years, eminent scien-
:ere are several of the most promi-
200
0
tists continued to ridicule the theory
ent None of them stands up under
°C
180
of continental drift. The theory of
2.5
crutiny.
global climate change used to be
you make your choice. bear in mind
Q.: Aren't the dire predictions
Auxid
5.0
ridiculed, 100. But in the last few
that you're choosing not only for your
bout global warming based on un-
years, the overwhelming majority of
own generation but for your grand-
eliable computer models? How do
7.5
scientists who have examined the evi-
children as well. And remember too
e know that there is any correlation
dence have agreed that the problem
etween increased levels of carbon
10.0
that our abuse of the environment
is real.
could lead to the extinction of more
oxide in the atmosphere and
Q.: Didn't NASA just report that
than half of all species within the life-
hanges in temperature?
160
120
80
40
0
new measurements of the Earth's
A.: The most compelling evidence
Age: thousands of years
Present
times of our children.
temperature in the last 10 years
omes from careful studies of tiny air
showed no evidence of warming?
Q. Isn't the cost of preventing this
The New York Times: Illustration by Janusz Kapusta
ubbles in Antarctic ice. These show
problem 100 high?
A.: That was the impression some
A.: Many of the solutions, such as
hat has actually happened to the
people got. What NASA actually re-
arth's climate during the last
we eliminate the uncertainties?
ported was that "nothing could be
eliminating subsidies for clear-cut-
50,000 years. As illustrated by the ac-
A.: That was the Administration's
said" about a warming trend one way
ting forests, actually save money. In
ompanying graph. carbon dioxide
excuse last year, when it asked a dis-
or another "due to the relatively
any event, the costs of inaction are
nd temperature have gone up and
tinguished United Nations-sponsored
short satellite data record." Tem-
much higher, even if the skeptics
own in lockstep for as far back as
group of scientists to answer that
peratures naturally fluctuate so
refuse to measure them.
cientists can measure.
question. A draft of the scientists'
much from year to year that a single
Q.: The changes you say are
Through the last two ice ages and
long-awaited report, leaked to the
decade IS not a long enough yardstick
needed are too sweeping to be politi-
he period of great warming in be-
press this week, concludes that we
for a long-term trend. The decade as
cally possible.
veen. levels of carbon dioxide have
must act now. The scientists say
a whole, according to several other
A.: What if I had asked you six
uctuated between 200 and 300 parts
there's still a chance that the problem
studies, was the hottest since tem-
months ago to assess the possibility
er million. Even the skeptics agree
won't be as bad as they fear, but
peratures have been recorded. The
that people in every country in East-
hat concentrations of carbon dioxide
there's an equal chance that it will be
six hottest years on record occurred
em Europe would abandon Commu-
ill be pushed to levels of 600 parts
much worse than predicted.
in the 1980'
nism, sing "We Shall Overcome" and
er million within the next 35 to 45
Q. Come on, isn't this really a little
0 O.K.; suppose temperatures do
embrace democracy within 90 days?
ears. It IS irresponsible to assume
far-fetched? After all, the Earth IS a
rise by a few degrees. So what?
Would you have called that "unlike-
at after moving in tandem with car-
big place and probably has some kind
Even small changes in the aver-
ly?" We all would have. But it hap-
on dioxide for 160,000 years, tem-
of natural "thermostat" to maintain
age global temperature can have dra-
pened because people changed their
eratures will not be affected by
the present climate. Don't some
matic consequences. The last time
way of thinking about Communism.
lose dramatic increases.
scientists say that clouds or the
there was a change as big as the one
People are changing their thinking
Q., Do we know enough to act?
oceans or sunspots will offset any ef-
some now predict, temperatures
about the importance of protecting
houldn't we study the problem until
fect caused by human activity?
dropped several degrees and what is
the global environment. We too are
A. While the Earth IS indeed vast
now New York City was covered by
showing our willingness to act. The
/ Gore Jr., Q Democrat. is a Senator
in size, the atmosphere surrounding it
ice one kilometer thick.
obstacles may seem immovable, but
om Tennessee.
is less than one one-thousandth the
But this isn't about temperatures
S0 did the Berlin wall. With bold lead-
ership and a new political "ecolibri-
um." we 100 shall overcome
THE NEW REPUBLIC
FOUNDED 1°14
A Weekly Journal of Opinion
ISSLE 3.858
WASHINGTON DC
DECEMBER 20 1986
POSTCARD
ANTARCTICA
that man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) were responsible.
UNBEARABLE WHITENESS
A new international agreement was signed this year to
reduce CFC production a little, though not enough. Mean-
while, the world's fossil fuels are being burned at such a
I
'M TRYING TO remember what 1 thought about Ant-
arctica before I came here. For the most part, 1 didn't
rapid rate that the resulting carbon dioxide, along with
other "greenhouse gases," may have already triggered the
think about it at all. It is just plain remote. From the other
long-predicted global warming. At least some scientists
side of the world, in Christchurch, New Zealand, it is
said this summer that they are finally convinced.
another eight hours due south by plane to the main U.S.
base, McMurdo, and then another three hours from there
The air is clearer and crisper in Antarctica than any-
where I've ever been, and visibility is remarkable over
to the South Pole.
great distances. But that can suddenly change, as I learned
I came to the coldest place on Earth to hunt for informa-
firsthand, during something known as a "whiteout." The
tion about global warming, but I was unprepared for the
winds of a sudden storm saturate the air so thoroughly
continent itself. For example, I didn't know that the land
with snow that first the horizon, then closer landmarks,
area is half again as large as the entire United States. Or
and then even the hood of your vehicle can disappear in a
that 90 percent of all the ice in the world is here-which
shroud of whiteness. Travelers lose their orientation and
means, among other things, that there is really no compari-
perspective. Some tell stories of seeing a building in the
son between this place and the Arctic. Antarctica is larger,
distance only to find that it was a pack of cigarettes a few
more isolated, more important in the global ecosystem-
feet away. Having just lived through a general election
and much colder.
campaign in which Willie Horton was a more prominent
You don't expect a continent at the "bottom" of the
political landmark than the budget or trade deficit, I had
world to have an altitude three times higher than any other
the feeling I had gone from one whiteout to another.
continent. When I stepped out of the ski plane at the
Pole, my awareness was divided between the 56-degree-
below-zero weather and the dizziness of being at almost
I
CAME HERE because Antarctica is now the frontier of
the global ecological crisis. High in the Transantarctic
10,000 feet. The altitude of the enormous polar plateau is
Mountains, a badly sunburned scientist talked about the
due primarily to ice that is almost two miles thick. Al-
ice cores he and his team were pulling from a deep hole
though its ice and snow contain 70 percent of all the fresh
drilled into the glacier on which we stood. He interpreted
water on Earth, Antarctica gets so little precipitation that
the annual layers of ice and snow the way woodsmen read
it is classified as the world's largest desert. And while the
tree rings. "Here is where the U.S. Congress passed the
continent goes dark for six months in winter, it still re-
Clean Air Act," he said, pointing to the beginning of the
ceives more sunlight during its six-month-long summer
1970s. Moving down the ice core, back to the early 1960s,
day than the equatorial regions receive in an entire year.
he added, "And here is where the world stopped atmo-
Yet all that light creates virtually no surface heat, because
spheric nuclear testing." These and other ice cores contain
most of it is reflected right back up into space. For anyone
highly accurate information about the makeup of the
caught in that crossfire of whiteness, sunglasses are a
Earth's atmosphere year by year for tens of thousands of
medical necessity.
years. From such cores, we know, for example, that there
The ice shelf expands in winter to seven times its sum-
were dramatically lower levels of carbon dioxide in the
mer maximum. The small population of human beings sent
atmosphere at the peak of the last Ice Age, 20,000 years ago,
here by 22 nations expands in summer and contracts in
when the island of Manhattan was under one kilometer of
winter by proportions almost precisely inverse to those of
ice. By contrast, the ice and snow laid down in the 1980s
the ice.
show levels of carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, nitrous
oxide, and other gases responsible for the greenhouse ef-
W
HILE MOST of Antarctica is the cleanest, most
fect higher than they have been in at least 160,000 years (as
pristine area on Earth, the waters immediately adja-
far back as the ice cores measure). CFCs are receiving
cent to the American base are among the most polluted in
particular attention because they cause not only 20 percent
the world. PCBs and "we don't know what else," dumped
of the greenhouse effect but virtually all of the destruction
years ago, have killed every vestige of life in a small area of
of the ozone layer.
McMurdo Sound. The nuclear power plant that leaked in
Something else is different about the ice layers from the
1962 was dismantled and returned to the United States. But
1980s-they look different to the naked eye because of
even today the base dumps "diluted" raw sewage directly
thick, alternating layers of "hoar" ice, apparently caused
into the sound and burns its solid waste in an open pit
by partial melting and recrystallization into larger gran-
In the last few years, several other developments have
ules. The scientists are as yet cautiously withholding judg-
brought new attention to Antarctica. In 1985 an emergen-
ment on whether this is the clear signal of Antarctic warm-
cy expedition confirmed the existence of a large and
ing that many have anticipated.
growing polar hole in the stratospheric ozone layer
When I say Antarctica is the frontier of the ecological
(which protects humans from deadly ultraviolet-B radia-
crisis, I don't mean only that pollution can now be found at
tion) The same team found incontrovertible evidence
the remotest point on Earth Antarctica is also the place
where both ozone destruction and global warming have
redistribution of heat from the equator to the poles and
their first and most dramatic impacts. It is also increasingly
cold from the poles to the equator has been accomplished
apparent that Antarctica plays a far more significant role
through an essentially constant pattern of wind and ocean
than any other part of the Earth in the global climate
system. For one thing, the cold waters surrounding the
continent absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmo-
currents. If temperatures rise disproportionately in Antarc-
sphere than all the rain forests, and create the nutrient-rich
tica, the equilibrium could change, creating new patterns
"bottom water" for most of the world ocean of which
that would redistribute less cold and more heat. Something
like this once happened on a small scale in Greenland. The
Antarctica is the epicenter. Also, aside from the sun and
the rotation of the Earth, Antarctica is the single most
so-called "little ice age" beginning 500 years ago abruptly
covered the southern and western agricultural areas that
powerful engine driving the world's weather, redistribut-
gave Greenland its name with the ice and snow that now
ing its massive coldness through the winds of the air and
make people wonder where the name came from.
the currents of the sea. As greenhouse gases trap more heat
Similar though larger and anthropogenic global weath-
in the Earth's atmosphere and temperatures climb, they are
expected to climb fastest of all here in Antarctica, because
er changes now thought to be under way are expected to
cause widespread droughts and heat waves within our
any melting at the edge of the ice shelf is accompanied by a
dramatic change in the albedo-reflectivity-of the sur-
children's lifetimes. Indeed, some argue they have al-
ready begun.
face exposed to sunlight. The increased absorption of the
sun's rays by the ocean then magnifies the local warming
In spite of these enormous stakes and in spite of the
trend, melting more ice at the margin and absorbing yet
central role played by Antarctica, an international scientif-
more radiation from the sun.
ic conference in Tasmania this fall concluded, "There is no
established strategy either for early detection of climate
HERE ARE three potential catastrophes that scientists
change in Antarctica or understanding and prediction of
T
fear could eventually be caused by the warming of
the probable effect of climate warming on atmospheric and
oceanic circulation, ice-sheet volume, and sea level."
Antarctica. First, a dramatic rise in sea level. This would
come not from the melting of sea ice, which is already
Even at that, the scientists are further along than the
floating in the ocean, but from a rapid breakup of the
politicians. Why are we waiting to act?
massive West Antarctic ice shelf, which scientists believe
Perhaps partly because of the unprecedented nature of
the crisis. It is simply beyond our experience and outside of
could then plop into the ocean, raising the sea level 15 to
20 feet, wiping out low-lying coastal cities and nations like
what we call common sense. So we put it in the place in our
Bangladesh. But this is further off than most greenhouse
minds where Antarctica exists and tag it with the same
impacts, perhaps 200 years.
mental labels-remote, alien, hopelessly distorted by the
Second, something that some scientists worry could OC-
maps of the world we inhabit, too hard to get to and too
unforgiving for us to stay very long.
cur much sooner is a change in the ability of the Antarctic
seas to absorb carbon dioxide as they get warmer. Partly
The real question is whether the world's political system
can find a new equilibrium before the world's climate
because it is so cold, the southern ocean now absorbs
between one-third and one-half of all carbon dioxide
system loses its current one. Even now, the winds of
change are approaching hurricane force. It took a million
emissions from industrial nations. Since carbon dioxide is
years for the population of the world to reach two billion.
by far the most important greenhouse gas, we must con-
Now, in the course of a single human lifetime-mine-it is
cern ourselves not only with the rate at which our civili-
zation produces it but also the rate at which the Earth
rocketing toward ten billion (and is already halfway there)
absorbs it
Startling graphs showing the loss of forest land, topsoil,
The Earth has two lungs-the forests and the southern
stratospheric ozone, and species all follow the same pattern
of sudden, unprecedented acceleration in the latter half of
ocean. Unfortunately, we are destroying our forests at the
rate of one football field every second, an area the size of
the 20th century. And yet, so far, the pattern of our politics
remains remarkably unchanged.
Tennessee every year. Since the oceans of the world contain
When it does come, the change will involve a new set of
50 times as much carbon dioxide as the atmosphere, even
small changes in the temperature-sensitive mechanisms by
global goals, and a new way of thinking about ourselves,
our children, and our whole world-even Antarctica.
which carbon dioxide is transferred back and forth between
the oceans and the air can have profound implications
AL GORE
Third, scientists fear that if their predictions are correct,
and temperatures at the poles increase far more rapidly
Al Gore is U.S. senator from Tennessee.
than at the equator, then the very pattern of the world
weather system might change. This is because the differ-
ence between temperatures at the equator and at the poles
has been relatively constant for a long time. As a result, the
ENVIRONMENT
The
Green
Factor
Does protecting the
planet destroy jobs? Bush
says yes, Clinton says no,
and their running mates
fight it out on the stump
By EUGENE LINDEN
HAT HAPPENED TO THE "ENVI-
W
ronmental President"? In
1988 Vice President Bush
vowed to combat the green-
house effect with the "White
House effect," and mercilessly attacked Mi-
chael Dukakis for his failure to clean up
Boston Harbor. But last June, President
Bush played Scrooge at the Earth Summit
in Brazil. In September he visited timber
country in the Pacific Northwest, where he
promised to lift a court-imposed injunction
that has halted logging in federally owned
ancient forests. His Interior Department is
planning to open national forests to private
strip mining What happened between 1988
and 1992? Politics happened.
While the Administration has not en-
tirely abandoned its green appeal-White
House officials claim that Bush has done
more for the environment than any other
President since Teddy Roosevelt-the re-
election team is betting that U.S. voters
will put their anxiety over the economy
ahead of their worries about the planet.
Thus the Bush campaign is attempting to
paint Bill Clinton as a hostage to environ-
mental extremists who would sacrifice
American jobs to mollify the tree huggers.
Point man in this assault: Vice President
Dan Quavle. His main target: Clinton's
running mate. Al Gore.
Clinton. for his part, is betting that
concern for the environment is more than
MAN VS. NATURE: loggers clear-cut a
stretch of forest in Washington State
a fad. He has assigned Gore the mission of
capitalists to Nazis and calls for the elimi-
than offset job losses in the oil business
delivering the message that working to
nation of the internal-combustion engine.
Gore says the jobs-vs.-environment at
preserve the biosphere can create rather
"It's all pretty bizarre stuff." said Quayle
gument is based on the same flawed logic
than cost jobs. Clinton and Gore contend
in a speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
that caused American businesses to disre-
that sound environmental policies can be
last August. "This is a view detached from
gard business guru W. Edwards Deming's
an engine of growth that will help the
reality and devoid of common sense."
seminal ideas on quality in past decades.
American economy compete with Germa-
In his book, Gore does call for new tax-
"American manufacturers assumed that
ny and Japan in the 1990s.
es-but only to replace old ones. The idea
market forces had already perfectly bal-
The different ways the
is to tax ordinary workers
anced quality against cost and that any im-
two camps use environmen-
less while making polluting
provements would hurt the bottom line."
tal issues reflect their diver-
Is the quality of
industries pay the true costs
says Gore. "Deming took his ideas to the
gent visions about the forces
the environment
of their activities. The $100
Japanese, who proved that you could si-
that will shape America's fu-
getting better?
billion figure is not a sug-
multaneously improve quality and profits
ture. The Democrats argue
gested giveaway but merely
and proceeded to steal markets from
that environmental deci-
Yes
30%
a computation of what the
American companies." Gore argues that
sions should be an integral
post-World War II Marshall
Bush is now making the same mistake
part of economic planning.
No
62%
Plan to reconstruct Europe
with pollution. The Japanese, already
The Republicans seem to be
would cost in today's dollars.
more energy efficient than the U.S.. recog-
saying the country should
Will the govern-
The reference to Nazis is a
nize that excessive pollution IS a sign of in-
address environmental prob-
ment's current
greatly stretched interpreta-
efficiency and that reducing pollution can
lems only when it can afford
tion of Gore's comment in
help make industry more competitive For
environmental
10. Nowhere do these differ-
the book that the failure in
Gore the real job of a competitiveness
ences emerge more sharply
regulations
the past to heed the distress
council would be to foster similar efforts to
than in the attitudes of the
weaken or
signals coming from the
develop efficient technologies in the U.S
vice-presidential contenders.
strengthen the
planet is analogous to the
Senator Gore, who led
economy in the
failure of the outside world
RESIDENT BUSH ALSO HAS AT-
the congressional delegation
to realize the seriousness of
that attended the Earth
long run?
P
tacked Gore on the jobs-vs.-en-
the German threat after Na-
vironment issue. During a visit
Summit in Rio, is the Sen-
Weaken
23%
zis destroyed Jewish homes
to Colville, Washington. last
ate's most committed and
and synagogues during the
month, he chastised the Senator
knowledgeable environmen-
Strengthen
Kristallnacht rampage in
for advocating protection of the spotted
27%
talist. Last spring Houghton
1936.
owl, which is endangered because 90% of
Mifflin published Gore's
Gore also argues that
its old-growth forest habitat has been cut.
best-selling Earth in the Bal-
No effect
36%
during the next 25 years the
"It's time to put people ahead of owls." he
ance: Ecology and the Human
U.S. should develop a more
said, and mockingly challenged Clinton to
Spirit. a call for Americans to
Was Bush's
efficient alternative to the in-
endorse Gore's book.
take urgent action in the face
statement that
ternal-combustion engine. It
Though that message was obviously
of a global ecological crisis.
is hard to see why this is any
meant to appeal to Western voters. Bush
he would be the
Vice President Quayle,
more bizarre than sanctify-
may have miscalculated its effect. While
by contrast. argues that ex-
"environmental
ing a 19th century technol-
he was applauded by the region's timber
isting programs to improve
President" a lie?
ogy as the core of American
workers, many other Westerners realize
the environment are more
prosperity. "If Bush and
that the issue of preserving the remaining
than adequate, that the state
Yes
60%
Quayle want to pretend that
fragments of old-growth forest is more
of America's air, water and
25 years from now our global
complex than owls VS. lumberjacks.
forests is getting better. and
No
28%
competitors will be using the
George Atiyeh, a former timberman and
that further improvements
from a telephone poll 1,400 adult Americans
same technology on automo-
fourth-generation Oregonian. left the buse
will come at the expense of
tober to: 22-245,
bile engines that we are us-
ness after watching what clear-cuts nave
Yarkelovich Clancy Shulman.
jobs. Quayle plays a major
Sampling enter is 2.5.
ing today, they are kidding
done to the Oregon landscape. "Eather my
policymaking role in this
themselves," says Gore.
eyes were lying. or I was kidding myself
area as chairman of the President's Coun-
In Grand Rapids. Quayle attacked Gore
about logging being sustainable. he savs.
cil on Competitiveness, an eight-member
for supporting congressional efforts to
From the air, Oregon's national forests
panel that. in the name of reducing gov-
raise average fuel economy from 27 to 40
look far worse than the rain forests of Ron-
ernment impediments 10 business, has
m.p.g., a move, Quayle argued, that would
donia, Brazil, which has become a symbol
worked to loosen environmental regula-
cost 300,000 jobs nationwide. This figure,
of the wanton destruction of the Amazon
tions on everything from wetlands to air
taken from a study by the Motor Vehicle
Atiyeh argues that automation and ex-
pollution. The council was influential in
Manufacturers Association, is based on the
ports have cost far more jobs than the pro-
persuading President Bush. virtually
unrealistic assumption that everyone now
tection of endangered species has Be-
alone among world leaders, not to sign a
making a car that gets less than 40 m.p.g.
tween 1980 and 'SS the amount of timber
treaty to protect endangered species at the
would be put out of work. In contrast. a
cut in western Oregon increased 19%
Rio conference. The Administration's ar-
study to be released this week by the Ameri-
while timber employment fell 14% The
gument: that the treaty would harm the
can Council for an Energy-Efficient Econo-
Administration's hard line on the environ-
U.S. biotechnology industry.
my contends that improving fuel economy
ment does not appear to be winning many
In taking aim at the Democrats' envi-
to 40 m.p.g. would lead to a net gain of
votes-and may even be hurting the Re-
ronmental policies. Quayle ridicules
70,000 jobs by the year 2000. Howard Geller,
publicans. In a TIME/CNN poll of likely vot-
Gore's book as "their manifesto." As de-
executive director of the council, says fuel
ers taken in late September. half the I'e'-
scribed by the Vice President. Earth in the
economy creates jobs by spurring the devel-
spondents said the loss of jobs because of
Bulance is a collection of lunatic proposals
opment of efficient new technologies for
environmental regulations was a Thig
that calls for a $100 billion giveaway to the
automobiles and putting money from gas-
problem." Yet when asked to choose be-
Third World. recommends new taxes that
oline savings into the hands of consum-
tween protecting the environment and
would put millions out of work, compares
ers. These gains, adds Geller, will more
protecting jobs, 4S% chose the environ-
55
TIME OCTOBER 12. 1992
ment while 36% chose jobs. Forty percent
among Republicans, 40% of those polled
es to use town dumps as disposal sites for
of those questioned said they would be less
said he lied about his intentions. Ironical-
certain hazardous wastes. Administration
likely to vote for a candidate if they dis-
ly, the more Bush hammers at the jobs-vs.-
spokesmen have also begun to back away
agreed with his environmental position
environment issue, the more he seems to
from another Competitiveness Council
even if they agreed on other major issues.
convince voters that he never meant to
proposal that would vastly decrease the
That could spell trouble for the Presi-
carry out his earlier promise.
acreage now protected by wetlands legis-
dent, whose credibility on the issue is not
Bush's advisers may have begun to
lation. The timing of all this could be coin-
high. When asked whether they felt Bush
weigh the political risks of their hard-line
cidental. But it may be that, in the final
lied when he said he would be the "en-
stance on environment. Last week White
stretch of his re-election campaign, Bush
vironmental President," 60% said yes. The
House chief of staff James Baker vetoed a
has concluded that one endangered spe-
figures were larger among baby boomers
proposal by Quayle's Competitiveness
cies he would like to protect is his own
(62%) and independents (63%). Even
Council that would have allowed business-
presidency.
W
Preserving the 'Web of Life'
U.S. Sen. Al Gore, 43, is one of the most
stand the global environment is part of
active defenders of the environment in
their backyard. When the connection be-
Washington and is the author of a new
Al Gore
tween the devastation of the global envi-
book "Earth in the Balance." Recently he
ronment and our backyard is made emo-
met with NEWSWEEK'S Mary Hager to dis-
tionally, not intellectually, then the
cuss his concerns about the global environ-
same intensity you see with local landfill
ment and what changes he believes are
issues will be brought to global environ-
needed to preserve it Excerpts:
mental issues.
HAGER: You saw the environment as an issue
What role should governments play?
long before it was the popular thing to do. Why
Affirmative measures by the nations
were you such an early convert?
of the world to address specific points will
GORE: I had a professor. Roger Revelle,
be necessary. I propose a global Marshall
who was the first person to measure CO2,
Plan, with Japanese and European capi-
in the global atmosphere. I had tremen-
tal helping to lead the way, to address
dous respect for his mind and I believed
those factors which cause the demo-
him. not his critics. That was the initial
graphic transition, to make possible the
seed. The issue itself pulled me deeper
development and dissemination of new
into an effort to understand it. Now, ev-
JOHN FICARA-NEWSWEEK
technologies to substitute for the ones
ery time I pause to do a reality check
that are so harmful. A lot of these
about how serious this really is, the an-
A leading U.S.
changes are ones we need to make for
swer is, it is even more serious than we
senator says the
other reasons anyway. Pollution is
thought. It is a real challenge to our civi-
waste. It is economic waste. It is environ-
lization to realize the enormity of what
environment will
mental waste. Eliminate one, you elimi-
we doing and then to imagine and or-
nate the other. When enough people are
ganize an effective response. I'm remind-
become a defining
committed, the transformation is going
ed of the old parable of the blind man and
political issue
to be a lot easier than people think.
the elephant. We see the problems of
ozone depletion, global climate change,
around the world
How close are we to that critical mass?
destuction of tropical rain forests, loss of
I think within a very few years-much
biological species and ecological catas-
closer than most people believe. The po-
trophes like the Aral Sea, but it takes a
litical equilibrium is about to shift.
little time to realize they are all part of
Are you a voice in the wilderness, or
the same underlying crisis.
are others beginning to see and say the
Why did you write "Earth in the Balance?
same things?
In hopes of hastening the arrival of
What is that "same underlying crisis"?
The new way of thinking about our
that shift. I think we are in a race. I don't
A collision between industrial civili-
responsibility to the global environment
think we have that much time before we
zation as we presently organize it and
is gaining momentum rapidly. Young
do irreparable damage to the ecological
the ecological system of the earth. Basi-
people think this is the No. 1 issue facing
balance. The rate of loss of living species
cally, three factors have led to this. The
the world. Europe has already modified
is now 1,000 times greater than any time
first is population, with a staggering
its political equilibrium to take these is-
in the last 65 million years. The accumu-
increase in our lifetime. Second, the sci-
sues into account, [and] Japan is moving
lation of greenhouse gases is proceeding
entific and technological revolution has
SO much more rapidly than we are. It is
at a reckless pace. It is crazy to keep this
magnified our ability to affect the envi-
only a matter of time before our political
up. We have to change the pattern of our
ronment and changed the consequences
system shifts and takes this into account.
political system before the earth's eco-
of exploiting the earth as profoundly
I think this must and will become the
logical system loses its current pattern.
as nuclear weapons changed warfare.
central organizing principle for the post-
Civilization has prospered for the last
Third, and most important, a change in
cold-war world.
9,000 years within a global climate bal-
our way of thinking which began with
ance that has remained essentially un-
the scientific revolution 350 years ago
How will that come about?
changed. Civilization is carefully config-
but was basically benign until our great-
In most counties in my home state of
ured to that climate balance. If we
er numbers and ecological power made
Tennessee, the hottest single issue is
change it suddenly, the consequences
it dangerous to the earth. That change
where to put the new landfill or the new
will be devastating and extremely diffi-
was based on the assumption that we
incinerator. The reason people get SO in-
cult to cope with. The amount of suffer-
are separate from the earth. In fact, we
timately involved is they think it in-
ing, loss of life, disruption in civiliza-
are part of the web of life and we are
volves their backyard, and that overrides
tion's ability to move forward will be
recklessly endangering ourselves as we
economic concerns. What is in the proc-
unimaginable. Some change is already
go about this process of destroying the
ess of changing politically is the defini-
built into the system, but the worst of it
ecological balance of the earth.
tion of backyard. Young people under-
can be avoided.
GORE: ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION**
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
Gore amendments passed by the Senate and enacted into law:
O To stop ozone depletion by requiring the phase-out of the
production and use of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs).
O Prohibiting the export of CFC-producing technologies
to countries that are not party to the Montreal Protocol, an
international agreement setting phase-out deadlines for ozone-
depleting chemicals.
O Forcing polluters to reduce pollution instead of destroying
neighborhoods by creating polluted "dead zones" around their plants.
O Including carbon dioxide emissions in studies of highway
pollution so that we don't just build bigger highways to deal with
emission problems but instead move to reduce pollution.
O Requiring federal procuring agencies to procure safe
substitutes for ozone-depleting substances.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program:
Adopted in 1990 as part of the Department of Defense Authorization
bill for Fiscal 1991, the SERDP brings the capabilities of the Defense
Department to global environmental problems.
Also initiated efforts that led to work with CIA Director Robert Gates
to make available to civilian environmental scientists previously
classified scientific data about the earth that is critical to the
research efforts of these scientists.
Energy:
Gore amendments enacted by the Senate as part of the 1992 energy
bill:
(NOTE ALSO: Gore was a leader in the successful efforts to kill
provisions that would have allowed drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.)
O The Gore Resolution (S. Res. 95) calling for an accelerated
phaseout of ozone-destroying chemicals pursuant to the Clean Air Act
amendments of 1991; the Resolution passed 96-0 in March, 1992, after
being filibustered by Republicans at the end of the previous session.
NOTE: The Clean Air Act amendments required the Administration to
speed up the phase-out of ozone depleting chemicals if new scientific
evidence demonstrated that the ozone depletion problem had gotten
worse since passage of those amendments. Despite new scientific
evidence, the Administration did not act until after Gore's amendment
was passed.
O To help small businesses increase their energy efficiency and
cut their energy bills by establishing energy diagnostic centers where
engineering students and their professors can work with small
businesses.
0 To accelerate the government's efforts to procure the most
energy efficient products and to provide grant money to states to fund
energy efficiency and conservation initiatives
O Requiring the Tennessee Valley Authority of conduct least-cost
planning analyses of energy supply and demand requirements (with Sen.
Wirth)
Antarctica Protection:
O Author of Public Law 101-620, a resolution calling for the
protection of Antarctica from mining and development and declaring
the area a global ecological commons.
O Co-sponsor of Resolution adopted by the Senate in 1991 to ban
mining in Antarctica; led to Administration's adoption of current
policy to ban mining in Antarctica.
Interior Bill 1991
O Led efforts, with Sen. Wyche Fowler, to eliminate below-cost
timber sales and forest road subsidies.
O Led efforts to retain funding for research and development
joint venture funds for solar and other renewable forms of energy.
General
O Sponsor of legislation enacted prohibiting "backhauling", a
practice in which trucks carrying hazardous material in one direction
are loaded with food products for return trip, often with inadequate
cleanup from hazardous load.
O As a member of the the House of Representatives, chaired
hearings that revealed illegal dumping of billions of pounds of
hazardous chemical waste and co-sponsored the original Superfund Act
which resulted from those hearings.
O Sponsor of resolution declaring April 22, 1990 as Earth Day,
marking the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day.
From : Pam
RE: Some recycled thoughts on recycling
o
Recycling offers us a very real and immediate opportunity to
make strides toward addressing the many global environmental problems
we face. Global warming, ozone depletion, and pollution abatement are
all interconnected with the resource conservation that recycling
permits. If we would recycle more than 37 percent of our newspapers,
for example, we would not need to cut the 500,000 trees we fell each
week for newspaper production.
O
Each man, woman, and child in America produces 3 1/2 pounds of
trash every day. The Japanese recycle half their trash and people in
Western Europe recycle 30 percent. Here in the US, where only ten
states require it, we recycle a mere 10 percent.
O
A critical element to successful recycling is, however, missing:
Cities and towns that have worked hard to initiate successful
recycling programs now find they can't get rid of their recycled
products because there are no markets for them.
o
To remedy this problem, Al introduced the National Recyclable
Commodities Act for the last two legislative sessions. The bill is
intended to strengthen and expand markets for recycled products.
Specifically, the bill will create demand for recycled commodities by
requiring federal agencies to procure those commodities in preferance
to virgin materials. Although we have held hearings, the bill has not
come up for a floor vote, and no important recycling bills passed this
legislative session.
O
More on Al's National Environmental Policy Act (which the
National Recyclable Commodities Act is a part of)
1. Establish an office of recycling and waste minimization
within the EPA to study and develop ways to reduce consumption of
products which cannot be recycled.
2. Establish a national clearinghouse for information an
successful recycling programs across the country.
3. Gradually phase out the use of non-recyclable packaging
within five years.
4. Set standards for the recycling and use of recycled products
for various commodities (i.e. in order to be called 'recycled', a
product would have to meet certain federal requirements).
o
Under Al's legislation, the federal government sets the
standards for recycling and procurement, but states will have the
power to carry them out. In drafting the bill, Al felt it was very
important not to propose a single national program, but to let
individual states design programs that make the most sense for them.
O
Al has also introduced an bill, The Enviromental Aid and Trade
Act that would promote environmental technologies. It would:
- give special emphasis to promoting the exports of enviro techonology
- create an "Environmental Business Center" to promte US goods abroad.
- establish credit and loan guaranty programs to support US
environmental export ( which would give financial boosts to many
companies, such as recycling technology firms).
However, the bill did not pass this session.
o
Al held a conference on July 15, 1989 at UT Knoxville to
"educate Tenneseans about waste minimization and recycling efforts and
approaches nationwide and in TN". So we have worked both nationally
and locally to increase recycling.
March 18, 1992
Mr. Tom Gniewek
123 Norwood Circle
Camden, TN 38320
Dear Mr. Gniewek:
Thank you for writing me concerning several important matters.
I appreciate your words of support about my views on foreign trade and
the war in the Persian Gulf last year, and I sincerely regret the
delay in my response.
You might be interested to know that I offered an amendment to
the energy bill earlier this month that responds to an international
scientific study on ozone depletion. My amendment, which the Senate
approved by a vote of 96 to 0, calls on the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency to accelerate the phase-out of ozone-
destroying chemicals in light of this data which shows that the ozone
layer over densely populated areas of the United States and Europe has
thinned twice as fast as had been previously measured and that an
ozone hole may open over northern New England. I strongly believe,
and hope you will agree, that my amendment is an appropriate response
to the conclusion drawn by the hundreds of experts who prepared the
report. I have enclosed for your review a copy of this report, as
well as information on alternatives for chlorofluorocarbons as you
requested.
As you may know, I introduced several measures in the 101st
Congress addressing this matter. These include legislation designed
to protect the stratospheric ozone layer through the phase-out of
ozone-destroying chemicals, a ban on non-essential consumer products
containing these chemicals, new provisions requiring labeling of
products containing these chemical, and requirements for recycling
these chemicals to prevent their release into the atmosphere. I also
was responsible for several provisions to protect the ozone layer that
were passed as part of the Clean Air Act.
Finally, I am sending you a copy of my letter to Chairman Marvin
Runyon of the Tennessee Valley Authority regarding the proposed wood
chipping facilities along the Tennessee River. I assure you that I
will continue to monitor developments in this area.
Again, thank you for sharing your views with me.
Sincerely,
Albert Gore, Jr.
United States Senator
AG/ea
enclosures
To: Katie
Frm: Pam
Re: Hazel Rollins O'Leary
Hazel Rollins testified numerous times during her stint at
DOE before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the
House Interstate and Foreign Commerce committee on which al sat. The
most salient hearings follow:
-- April 18, 1980. Stripper Oil Miscertification.
The committee was looking into the allegations that big oil
companies were miscertifing oil as "stripper oil", that is, oil that
comes from a well that produces less than 10 barrels a day. Stripper
oil was heavily subsidized and brought higher prices on the market
(i.e. $35 for stripper oil to $6 for regular oil). The idea was that
if stripper oil didn't bring higher prices, those wells would go out
of production because it wasn't economical to continue producing.
That of course leaves open a large window for chicanery -- oil
companies were reporting more oil from stripper wells than was
actually coming from the wells. The discrepancy between the data
reported by the stripper production sites and the data reported by the
big refineries started averaging around 200,000 barrels a day in 1979.
The committee calculated that the cost to the consumers of stripper
miscertification at $1 billion per year.
Ms. Rollins testified as the Administrator of the Economic
Regulatory Administration in DOE. The ERA oversaw both the people who
collect the data on the oil and also the enforcement section. Rollins
testified that: one, she thought some of the discrepancy was
unintentional misreporting and two, her agency didn't have the
resources to deal with prosecuting the big oil companies.
Al got into it with Rollins over both these points. He accused
the oil industries of "lying, cheating and stealing" in no uncertain
terms and also accused Rollin's agency of not pursuing the violations
aggressively enough. I have attached the relevant pages from the
hearing.
-- July 30, 1980. Cost to Consumers of Deregulation of Crude Oil
Rollins testified again as head of the ERA regarding the cost of
oil deregulation. The hearing consisted mostly of bickering between
the committee and the panel regarding whose statistics were more
accurate. The House committee believed the cost of dereg to be
somewhere around $9.5 billion above what DOE was estimating. Rollins
also testified to the possibility of revising the nation's emergency
gasoline plans by allowing states with severe shortages to participate
in a state set aside program. Pretty dry stuff -- Rollins saying she
was doing as much as she could in the DOE bureaucracy, Congress saying
she should do more. Al didn't ask Rollins any questions here.
-- March 9, 1982. DOE's Emergencies Preparedness Budget
Rollins testified as a private energy consultant on the Reagan
Administration's DOE saying that "DOE has already, quite deliberately,
and without regard to congressional intent, done away with its
capacity to deal with future energy emergencies." She declared that
the Committee should move to install more people and increase the
budget at DOE to be able to handle another energy emergency. Al had
no statement.
To: Katie
From: Pam
Re: WTI, the incinerator from hell
WTI CHRONOLOGY:
March 14, 1977 - Economically depressed Columbiana County, Ohio,
creates through the county commission a Columbia County Port Authority
(CCPA) charged with developing a port on the Ohio river to create jobs
and revenue.
March 21, 1979 - East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce director supports
new port idea and requests funds from the state.
July 30, 1979 - The Ohio General Assembly appropriates $4 million to
the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to acquire property and
make improvements to enhance the use of the Ohio river.
February 28, 1980 - An agreement is reached between the State of Ohio
and the Columbiana Port Authority to purchase land for a port facility
on behalf of the CCPA.
May 19, 1980 - EPA hazardous waste permitting regulations are adopted
to implement the Hazardous Waste Permit Program of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended by RCRA. The regulations specifically
require that the landowner of an EPA permitted hazardous waste
facility must be held equally responsible with the operator and must
co-sign the permit applications (this was done for liability
purposes). NOTE that the Columbiania Port Authority, the owners of
the WTI site, were not listed as such on the permit processed at a
later date by the EPA.
September 16, 1980 - Army Corps of Engineers issues approved permit
for a river port facility, but prohibits the handling of hazardous
wastes at the site.
February 11, 1981 - Wayne Disposal, Inc. in Dearborn Michigan, submits
a application to US EPA Region V for a Hazardous Waste Management
Facility. Application is signed by both the landowner, Ford Motor
Company and the facility owner, Wayne Disposal Inc. (This sets a
precedent for Region V's permitting process -- i.e. the assertion that
the regulations for landowners signatures were loosely followed by the
Regions is belied by the fact that other permits were properly issued
before the WTI permitting was done.)
May 15, 1981 - Waste Technologies, Incorporated signs a lease option
to lease 22.5 acres of riverfront property from the CCPA on which to
build a commercial hazardous waste incinerator. Waste Technologies, a
subsidiary of Jackson Stevens' financial empire is
later sold to Von Roll (America), Inc.
June 26, 1981 - Waste Technologies Industries files a joint venture
agreement with four corporate partners : Koppers Environmental
Corporations {a wholly owned subsidiary of Koppers Company Inc};
Energy Technology Company { a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mustang
Fuel Corporation}; Waste Technologies, Incorporated { wholly owned by
Stephens, Inc ( NOTE: as in Jackson Stephens, ARK native and $100,000
contributor to the Clinton campaign) }; and Von Roll America, Inc.
{wholly owned by Von Roll AG, a Swiss company}.
August 18, 1981 - Land is taken by CCPA and Ohio Department of
Transportation under eminent domain from River Services Company for
$900,000 + in compensation.
September 4, 1981 - Waste Technologies Industries files permit
application with US EPA to build a hazardous waste incinerator on CCPA
land. The RCRA permit (required by the RCRA regulations 45CFR 33074,
issued May 19, 1980) does not include the CCPA as the owner of the
land.
July 28, 1982 - WTI files permit application with Ohio EPA for state
hazardous waste permit. Application is referred to the Ohio Hazardous
Waste Facility Board for public hearing and permit approval. Note
that Ohio law also requires landowners to be included on the permit
application. CCPA is not included as a landowner on this permit
either.
February 8, 1983 - Koppers Environmental Corporation changes its name
to Environmental Elements Ohio (Inc.).
June 7, 1983 - Congressman Doug Applegate writes to US EPA
Administrator William Ruckleshaus concerning the WTI permit, stating:
"Part of the proposal by WTI includes estimates of particulate
emissions in Columbiana County -- a non-attainment area for
particulates -- of 95 tons per year in particulates. This figure is
predicated on the electrostatic precipitator operating at 99.6%
efficiency. Simple mathematics will tell you that a decrease of .05%
in efficiency will result in emissions in excess of 100 tons per year
-- in excess of the "trigger" figure needed to require a Clean Air Act
Discharge Permit WTI could not obtain."
June 14, 1983 - Hearing Examiner of the Hazardous Waste Facility
Approval Board recommends denying the WTI State Hazardous Waste
permit, based on an incomplete application. Inadequacies included:
waste analysis, closure plan, contingency plan, personnel training and
performance standards, no analysis of emissions.
June 17, 1983 - Memo circulated by John Skinner, US EPA Director,
Office of Solid Waste to all hazardous waste branch chiefs, notifying
offices that the landowner must sign the permit as required by the
regulations or the permit is not valid or legal.
June 24, 1983 - US EPA issues Federal RCRA permit to WTI without the
required landowners signature (CCPA). The State of West Virginia
appeals the decision by US EPA to issue WTI a RCRA permit. WV will
continue to battle US EPA and Ohio EPA and WTI in court for years.
Final decision in final temporary restraining order (TRO) injunction
issued fall of 1992.
April 27, 1984 - Ohio Hazardous Waste Facilities Approval board issues
permit to WTI without the required landowner signature, in spite of
recommendation by the Hearing Examiner that the permit be denying or
amended.
July 25, 1983 - Congressman Applegate writes again to Ruckleshaus
stating that: "I have raised concerns about the process used to permit
the facility used by the US EPA
frankly, I am not sure the
procedures have adequately safeguarded the public in this instance.
Again the response "not within the scope of RCRA". Finally I have
raised technical questions that have brought about a slew of
nonsequitors and bureaucratic rhetoric -- and no real answer except
"we believe them" In sum, Mr. Ruckleshaus, I would be much more
comfortable with this situation if it were not for a decided feeling
that EPA wants this facility as much as WTI does and that this permit
is too important to the agency to deny no matter what the consequences
are to East Liverpool."
August of 1984 - Ohio enacts new siting criteria which would prohibit
the siting of a waste incinerator 2000 feet from any school, hospital,
prison or residence or in a flood plain. WTI is within 1100 feet of a
school and in a 100 year flood plain. Should WTI's permit be declared
invalid, these new permitting requirements would most likely prevent
the approval of a new permit.
November 19, 1986 - A WTI Acquisition, Inc. incorporates in ARK.
December 1, 1986 - Waste Technologies, Incorporated changes its name
to WTI, Inc.
December 4, 1986 - Waste Technologies, Incorporated gives consent to
WTI Acquisitions, Inc to use a similar name Waste Technologies
Incorporated.
May 20, 1987 - Memo by US EPA Air and Radiation Branch Chief Steve
Rothblatt to Deputy Regional Counsel Dave Ullrich concerning WTI's Air
Pollution permits issued by Ohio EPA states:
"The location of the proposed construction is under Section 110 (a)
(2) (I) construction ban for total suspended particulates
The
permit would allow a major source to construct in violation of the
Federal construction ban. The permit may be considered valid by the
Ohio EPA because the state would consider only Ohio law. However,
since the construction ban is a Federal regulation, US EPA should
consider the permit invalid." In spite of determinations that WTI is a
"major source" under Clean Air Act (CAA) laws, and that the amount of
lead emitted by WTI would likely violate federal standards, EPA
concludes that since the levels of lead allowed are so far below the
possibility of impacts of human heath, WTI should not be punished for
its excessive emissions. There is no precedent for such action with
regards to other incinerators.
July 10, 1987 - The partners in the plant are listed as Environmental
Elements Ohio (Inc) {a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental
Elements (Delaware) Inc. Energy Technology Company {wholly owned by
Mustang Production Company}; Waste Technologies Incorporated { wholly
owned by Stephens Holding Company} ; and Von Roll (Ohio), Inc. {wholly
owned by Von Roll (America), Inc}.
December 3, 1987 - WTI applies for financing assistance from the Ohio
Water Development Authority requesting OWDA permission in issuing tax
free revenue bonds for up to $139,000,000. In WTI's description of
permitted equipment, WTI lists a spray dryer.
December 3, 1987 - WTI, Inc. (formerly Waste Technologies
Incorporated) is dissolved.
February 11, 1988 - Business disclosure statements with the Ohio
Attorney General's office show that the officers and directors of
Environmental Elements Ohio, Inc., Energy Technologies, Inc., Waste
Technologies Incorporated, and Von Roll (Ohio) Inc. are the same for
each company and all took office on this day.
October 1989 - Ohio EPA completes its Capacity Assurance Plan as
required by the federal Superfund law, showing that Ohio has more than
2 1/2 times the capacity needed by the state to burn all of the
hazardous waste generated in Ohio.
May 7, 1990 - US EPA contends that records indicate WTI construction
commenced on May 7, 1990.
June 22, 1990 - Agreement between Environmental Elements (Delaware)
Inc, and Von Roll (America), Inc. to sell and purchase all of the
issued and outstanding stock of Environmental Elements (Ohio) Inc to
Von Roll (America), Inc. Von Roll (America), Inc. becomes the sole
owner of WTI.
July 9, 1990 - WTI files request for 8 changes to its Ohio EPA
Installation and Operation Permit. Included among other changes is
the addition of a spray dryer to the incineration system
September 21, 1990 - Operating contract signed by WTI as owner and Von
Roll (Ohio), Inc. as operator indicating management control by Von
Roll (Ohio), Inc. This change in operational control was done in
violation of RCRA regulations which specifically require 90 notice and
written pre-approval of the administrator.
October 8, 1990 - The Ohio EPA classifies WTI's July 9, 1990 permit
changes including the spray dryer, as revisions. Had the changes been
labelled as modifications, repermitting through the Ohio hazardous
materials board would have been required.
October 29, 1990 - WTI requests one change to its US EPA RCRA permits
for the addition of the spray dryer, which WTI has characterized as
advanced pollution control equipment that would bring the WTI facility
up to date.
January 17, 1991 - Ohio EPA holds a public hearing regarding the
permit change request for the Ohio EPA Air pollution permit to add the
spray dryer.
January 30, 1991 - WTI cited by Ohio EPA for four Construction
violations - most stemming from failing to change requirements for its
permits. These are eventually resolved as "revisions", not
modifications.
April 22, 1991 - WTI submits revised hazardous waste permit
application to Ohio and US EPA with the proposed changed listing Von
Roll (Ohio) Inc., as the operator of the WTI facility.
May 15, 1991 - Memo written in Ohio EPA Air Enforcement Branch raising
the question of illegality of WTI building in a prevention of
significant deterioration zone.
May 24, 1991 - Ohio EPA approves the addition of the spray dryer to
the Ohio EPA Air Pollution Permit.
July 29, 1991 - US EPA writes to Ohio EPA warning them again that the
violation of the permit for Prevention of significant deterioration
requirements had not been corrected. Note there is a great deal of
infighting between Ohio and federal EPA. WTI later cites this as
"bureaucratic red tape" in their appeal to the Competitiveness
Council.
August 21, 1991 Ohio EPA classifies WTI's April 12, 1991 permit
changes request as revisions.
November 12, 1991 - Metzenbaum, Glenn, Rockefeller staffers hold first
meeting with citizen and EPA officials. Bill Muno, the EPA Region 5
official in charge of permitting the WTI incinerator said that EPA did
know of the illegality of not including the Columbiana Port as an
owner of the WTI site.
December 2, 1991 - Region V Adminstrator Adamkus writes to Senator
Rockefeller concerning landowner signatures on permits, stating that
"In 1988 the Agency did not make the distinction between property
owners and facility owners. WTI owns the facility; it does not own
the property. Since 1988, the Agency has changed its policy." This
contradicts, however, the memo from John Skinner, Office of Solid
Waste, in 1983 stating that landowner must be on permits. Note also
that EPA Region V had required a landowner signature on the Michigan
permit referred to earlier.
December 20, 1991 - US EPA Region 5 Counsel Nancy Ellen Zusman
notifies the CCPA by letter the Region 5 intends to modify the US EPA-
WTI permit to include CCPA as a co-permittee.
January 9, 1992 - WTI proceeds with construction of the spray dryer
and is fined $129, 000 by US EPA for proceeding without a permit.
Although WTI has a state permit revision for the dryer, they do not
have a federal permit revision yet.
January 20, 1992 - Von Roll President Blake Marshall writes to the
Associate Director of the Office of Cabinet Affairs, James Fitzhenry,
at the White House saying that regulatory relief was needed for his
company. He particularly asked for relief in granting consideration
for EPA Region V to approve a spray dryer for the facility, since the
dryer was not approved in the original WTI permit.
January 30, 1992 - J. Michael Kapp, attorney for the CCPA responds to
the US EPA letter of December 20, 1991 notifying the EPA that the CCPA
did NOT wish to be named as a co-permittee for the incinerator, in
spite of their ownership of the land.
February 3, 1992 - US EPA issues a RCRA permit including approval for
a spray dryer to WTI. The Columbiana County Port Authority is added
to this permit revision as a landowner over CCPA's previous
objections.
March 13, 1992 - WTI makes request for a temporary authorization from
US EPA for a 180 test burn period.
April 21, 1992 - The Attorney General's office of West Virginia files
a lawsuit against WTI, U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA asserting claims under
common law and federal environmental law.
May 7, 1992 - Congressional Hearing is held before the House Judiciary
Subcommittee on Administrative Law to explore the WTI controversy. US
EPA witnesses testify that EPA had issued illegal permits originally
by not listing CCPA as a co-permittee. Claim mistake was inadvertent.
Attention is also drawn to the fact the Von Roll (Ohio), Inc. -- an
owner of WTI -- had become responsible for the day to day operation of
the facility. EPA was not notified of this change to WTI's 1990
Operating Contract. U.S. EPA then requests that WTI initiate a
modification to its permit to add Von Roll (Ohio), Inc. as an
additional operator. A thirty day comment period on this proposed
modification closed on Nov. 2, 1992. Responses have not been
published.
May 20, 1992 - Ohio Senator Metzenbaum introduces an amendment to the
RCRA reauthorization (S. 976) that would prohibit WTI from burning
hazardous waste until court and administrative appeals have been fully
resolved.
May 21, 1992 Blake Marshall again writes the White House, this time
to Quayle's Competitiveness Council, asking again fora 180 day
temporary permit to conduct a test burn.
June 10, 1992 - The Competitiveness Council, along with OMB and CEA,
conduct a meeting with WTI proponents.
June 12, 1992 - US EPA informs WTI's attorney that the Sept. 21, 1990
operational contract which was signed as WTI as owner and Von Roll
(Ohio) as operator was a change in operational control from the
original permits as granted to the four company partnership constitute
a change in operational control and the WTI should have notified the
Agency about this change.
July 7, 1992 - US EPA Region 5 issues formal information request
inquiring into the identification of the corporate partners of WTI.
July 9, 1992 - EPA issued the first phase of the Agency's risk
assessment of WTI. Final risk assessment will be completed after the
Trial Burn period. This risk assessment is not required by law.
July 9, 1992 - US EPA grants WTI a temporary authorization to proceed
with the shakedown (preparation for test burn).
The congressman from the East Liverpool Ohio area, Douglas
Applegate, offers an amendment to HR 3865, a RCRA bill, that says:
(a) The Comptroller General shall conduct as study of the manner in
which the Environmental Protection Agency handled the hazardous waste
permit application for the commercial hazardous waste incinerator
located in East Liverpool, Ohio, with respect to which a permit was
issued with the Environmental Protection Agency hazardous waste permit
identification number OH980613541. The Comptroller General shall
submit to Congress a report on such study not later than 6 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act. The report shall include
such recommendations as the Comptroller General considers necessary
for the Environmental Protection Agency to correct irregularities in
the process by which the permit was issued. (b) The Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency many not approve a trial burn plan
for the commercial hazardous waste incinerator referred to in
subsection (a) until such time as the Administrator implements all
recommendations contained in the report of the study conducted under
subsection (a). (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as
authorizing an investigation or review into the merits of the
commercial hazardous waste incinerator referred to in subsection (a).
The amendment passes but the final bill does not.
July 10, 1992 - Citizens groups travel to Washington to protest the
EPA decision. They occupy Reilly's office - Associate Administrator
Lew Crampton is assigned to handle discussions with the citizens.
July 15, 1992 - The Inspector General's Office of EPA issues an audit
stating no illegalities in the permitting had occurred.
July 20, 1992 - Another meeting in Washington between citizens and Lew
Crampton of the EPA is held. After meeting for several hours, the
citizens declare they will not leave EPA until EPA signed a document
that revoked WTI's temporary permit. They are arrested.
July 22, 1992 - US EPA Assistant Administrator Don Clay sends memo to
EPA staff on WTI, saying that while is "true that the individual
partners constituting WTI have changed, but this does not affect the
permit status."
July 23, 1992 - WTI attorney Charles Waterman responded to US EPA's
information request on ownership. The WTI incinerator is owned and
operated by a 1986 created affiliate of Von Roll (America), Inc. - Von
Roll (Ohio) Inc. The changes in the original four partners to one Von
Roll subsidiary had occurred without mandatory EPA notification and
pre-approval.
July 24, 1992 - Environmental Appeals Boards of the US EPA overturns
the EPA Region V decision of February 3, 1992 to arbitrarily add the
CCPA to the WTI permit. The determination was not made, however, that
this oversight of adding the CCPA renders the permit invalid, but
recommended that the permit be modified to include the Port
Authority. The EAB upheld the spray dryer modification for the
permit.
August 1, 1992 - CCPA announces it will sell the land -- taken by
eminent domain and paid for with state tax dollars -- on which the
incinerator is located to WTI.
August 4, 1992 - Ohio EPA director Don Schregardus asks CCPA to add
their name as co-permittee to the WTI permit. The permit change will
then be sent to the Ohio Hazardous Waste Board.
August 11, 1992 - CCPA and WTI signed a real estate purchase contract
for $5 million for the sale of CCPA public property to WTI.
August 20,, 1992- Memo from Law Clerk Ignacio Arrazola to US EPA
Region 5 Council Nancy Ellen Zusman. The memo explores the legal
aspects of whether there has been an unapproved transfer of the
ownership of WTI for purposes of the RCRA permit - and should the
permit be revoked?
"Good faith legal arguments can be made to either buoy or sink
WTI's existing permit. Ultimately, the decision of whether the permit
should pass through the legal niceties unscathed is a policy
determination," the memo says. This is repeated to me (Pam McElwee)
by the Ohio AG's office. Paula Cotter, the staffer heading the AG's
investigation told me that "Ohio law will ignore the formalities if it
doesn't express true reality. If something is done to defraud
somebody, that's one thing. Under the law, I don't believe this is the
case with WTI".
August 20, 1992 - Memo written by Nancy-Ellen Zusman, Region 5 counsel
to other EPA officials laying out a schedule of items to be
accomplished in relation to the WTI incinerator. The memo assumes
that EPA will eventually approve the permits although legal
investigations were ongoing. The memo "serves to memorialize the
schedule of times to be accomplished in relation to the WTI
incinerator
which was discussed in a briefing of the Regional
Administrator on August 20, 1992." In it, a timeline of action was
laid out in which the actions included:
-- A letter would be written to the Ohio AG's office that formally
requests its determination on the ownership and operational control
issues for the WTI permit.
-- The US EPA will inspect the WTI facility on 8/25 and 8/26 to
determine compliance with its permit. {The inspection later was
positive and WTI was allowed to bring waste on site.}
-- The EPA will issue a letter to WTI stating the results of the
technical inspection and that there are problems with the permit in
relation to the ownership and operation control of the facility.
Until those issues are cleared up to U.S. EPA's satisfaction no
hazardous waste will be permitted to be brought on site. (Early
Sept.)
-- The real estate transaction between the Columbiana County Port
Authority and WTI/Von Roll will be consummated, clearing up the
property owner problem. ( Mid Sept).
-- WTI will submit its revised permit application, as previously
requested (Mid Sept).
-- The Ohio AG's office will give US EPA its preliminary assessment of
the owner/operator issue (mid Oct) { NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT DONE AS OF
JAN 2, 1992.}
-- US EPA will take enforcement action against WTI for failure to
notify and will request a Class 2 modification to correct the problems
with the current permit. (Mid Oct)
-- Ohio will issue its formal determination (Early Nov.)
-- WTI will initiate a Class 2 modification (Early Nov)
-- The permit will be modified to correct the owner operator issue.
(Jan - Feb. 1993)
-- WTI will be allowed to bring hazardous waste on-site. {Approved
September 30, 1992.}
The big uproar over this memo was that it seemed to assume,
before ownership questions were resolved and inspections done, that
WTI would be allowed to operate. However, the memo does add this
caveat: "The majority of these dates are tentative. The dates and/or
milestones may change at any time if U.S. EPA determines that human
health or the environment is not being protected." So while EPA does
make clear that they intend to process WTI with caution, this memo is
so controversial that Metzenbaum calls for all involved to "resign".
The memo concludes with the statement, "There is nothing to
indicate that the original permit is invalid, nor that the Agency did
not have a viable liable party to pursue
However,
note
that
a
law clerk memo dated that same day makes clear that there are some
legal loopholes that EPA has left open.
August 24, 1992 - Nancy Ellen Zusman writes to Paula Cotter in the
Ohio AG's office formally requesting the AG investigation of the
change of ownership and partnership status for WTI under Ohio state
law. This is the report that is ongoing. NOTE that the AG report was
requested AFTER the temporary "shakedown period" burn was approved.
Also note that the Ohio report will deal only with Ohio state issues.
September 1, 1992 - Hearing on a Temporary Restraining Order filed by
the West Virginia Attorney General's office. WTI agrees to give seven
days notice to all the parties before accepting hazardous waste.
Septmeber 8, 1992 - Nancy Ellen Zusman writes to WTI Attorney Chuck
Waterman asking WTI to submit a formal modification request to list on
the facility permit Von Roll (America), Inc. as the owner of the
facility (since the original four partners had all been bought out by
Von Roll (America), Inc.)
September 18, 1992 - CCPA sells land to WTI.
September 30, 1992- Region 5 EPA, changing its mind from 3 weeks
earlier, writes to WTI president Blake Marshall that US EPA has
concluded that there has been no change in ownership for the purposes
of RCRA that would require modifications in the permit. Region V
concludes that WTI can begin accepting hazardous waste.
October 1, 1992 - EPA determines that WTI may accept hazardous waste
and begin shakedown period. In the shakedown, non-hazardous materials
(i.e. fossil fuels) are burned to determine if the equipment works
properly. A Trial Burn plan must be approved by US EPA before
hazardous waste may be burned. Note that a failure of equipment to
perform properly during the shakedown is not necessarily taken into
account in the approval of the Trial Burn plan. WTI has serious
problems with a fan in the incinerator, but this fan is not addressed
in the Trial Burn plan now being reviewed by US EPA.
October 5, 1992 - Metzenbaum finds out about August 21 memo setting
out a finalized schedule of permitting changes and declares that he
was shocked by the memo and asks EPA administrator Reilly to suspend
all parties involved and make a new team to deal with WTI.
October 8, 1992 - The judge in the WV TRO case dismisses defendants US
EPA and Ohio EPA, on the grounds that there was no jurisdiction over
the federal and Ohio EPA, leaving WTI as the sole defendant.
October 9, 1992 - WTI gives seven days notice that it will begin
accepting hazardous waste.
October 13, 1992 - Hearing on injunction against WTI begins.
November 12, 1992 - US district court judge Frederick Stamp Jr. rules
against AG Mario Palumbo of WV in his injunction to prevent the WTI
shakedown on behalf of the citizens of WV. Stamp rules that Palumbo
failed to prove that the state or public would be harmed without the
injunction. He also stated that the WTI officials had testified that
they were losing $115, 000 each day the incinerator was not running and
that jobs were in danger of being lost (100 people are employed at the
plant). NOTE that this case did not reopen the legal permitting
issues. This case explored whether or not there was cause for an
injunction. Because US EPA testified on behalf of WTI, the judge
deferred to their judgement on the heath and safety of the
incinerator. However, US EPA whistleblower Hugh Kaufmann, an opponent
of the incinerator, was not allowed to testify for the state of WV by
a federal administrative rule enacted by Reagan that prevents
testimony against the government by its employees. However, note that
EPA or Ohio EPA were not parties to the suit, so its is unclear why
exactly Kaufmann was prevented from presenting his testimony.
November 13, 1992 - Ohio EPA issues conditional air permit to allow
the plant to conduct the test burns. WTI begins bringing hazardous
waste on site.
November 30, 1992 - Arrests at the plant of WTI protestors have been
going on for several weeks. Over 100 people have been arrested for
trespassing on WTI property. Most pay fines but 8 people with
multiple arrests face trial and go to jail.
December 7, 1992 - Senators Gore, Metzenbaum, Specter, Rockefeller,
Byrd, Wofford, Glenn and Congressman Mollohan of WV write to the
General Accounting Office (GAO) asking for an investigation of the EPA
approval process. Specific areas of concern are: the proper handling
of the EPA permit process; the landowner issue; the ownership issue;
and the health and safety concerns of residents.
December 7, 1992 - WTI issues statement in response to GAO
investigation that states:
"The US EPA also conducted an extensive and thorough
investigation into the so-called ownership issues, and both regulatory
agencies and the courts are thoroughly satisfied with the ownership of
the plant and that responsibility for the facility has in no way been
compromised
The company did not receive permission for a temporary
permit because of a visit to the Competitiveness Council. To our
knowledge, the Competitiveness Council never took any interest in the
plight of incineration advocates in general, or WTI in particular."
December 16, 1992 - WTI supporters take out full page ads in the
Washington Post, NY Times, WSJ, and Arkansas Democrat Gazette
protesting the Gore GAO letter.
December 17, 1992 - The Ohio Senate approves a moratorium on the
construction of hazardous waste incinerators. The bill is supported
by the Governor and probably will be signed. The bill does not affect
start up of WTI, but does prevent the construction of an incinerator
in Nova, Ohio. The state currently has four times the capacity to burn
hazardous waste generated within Ohio. Ohio currently disposes of 20
percent of the nations commercial hazardous waste without WTI start
up.
December 18, 1992 - AP reports that the EPA "will act on WTI's request
to conduct a test burn at its hazardous waste incinerator in East
Liverpool.' Administrator Reilly says that the Region V office will
handle the WTI permit before inauguration. "They will have action on
their trial burn proposal in the very near future." said Reilly.
Reilly also says "It could have been better sited
but siting is not
the jurisdiction of EPA".
December 22, 1992 - GAO representatives meet with Congressional Staff
of the Senators making the investigative request. GAO asks for more
specific guidelines on questions to be explored. A three month time
line for the initial report exploring the most serious allegation
surrounding WTI is requested by the Senators' staffs.
December 25, 1992 - Region V Adminstrator Adamkus writes to Von Roll
(Ohio) Inc. President Blake Marshall after reviewing the WTI Trial
Burn plan. Adamkus states that more information on the trial burn is
needed before approval will be granted by the EPA. Specific areas of
concern are technical, such as "estimating the fate of the trial burn
principal organic hazardous constituents" and "establishing a
relationship between the incinerator volumetric flue gas flow and the
induced draft fan motor current". Adamkus also asks WTI to clarify a
Supply Contract with Chemical Waste Management, Inc. that the US EPA
was not previously made aware of, and to clarify the role that Von
Roll Inc (VRI) will play in WTI and how that is distinguished from Von
Roll (Ohio), Inc. and Von Roll (America) Inc. {-- There is a reputed
connection between Von Roll Inc -- the Swiss Corp -- and New Jersey
Steel, which is a VRI subsidiary that may involve a Thomas Petrizzo, a
alleged mob boss. The role of VRI and subsidiaries in operating WTI
is unclear which is presumably why EPA is asking for clarification of
VRI's role.}
MAJOR ISSUES GORE AND OTHERS WILL BE ASKING THE GAO TO INVESTIGATE:
1) The role of the landowner on the RCRA Permit.
The EPA permit for WTI, issued on June 24, 1983, did not include
the land owner, the Columbiana County Port Authority as a permittee.
The Port Authority did not sign the permit application, as required by
EPA regulations (45 Fed. Reg. 33074, May 19, 1980) and was not
identified in the permit application as an owner of the facility.
The Region V office knew how to process the permits -- on Feb
11, 1981 they processed a Michigan application with the landowner and
operator. The office was also reminded by the US EPA on June 17, 1983
by John Skinner, head of the Office of Solid Waste, that landowners
must be on the permit or it is not valid or legal. The permit was
approved without the signature by the US EPA on June 24, 1983 and by
Ohio on April 27, 1984.
In a meeting with Senatorial Staff on November 12, 1991 with
Bill Muno, a EPA Region V official, Muno admits that EPA knew that
CCPA was the landowner and WTI the operator even though the permits
did not reflect this. Again on May 7, 1992, EPA admits in
Congressional testimony to violating federal laws by excluding CCPA
from the original permit, and then by adding CCPA to the permit --
without their permission -- and without public comment.
The CCPA was added to the original permit on February 3, 1992,
even though the Port Authority did not apply and if fact, their
attorney wrote to EPA saying the Port Authority refused to be a co-
permittee because of liability problems.
In December of 1991, Region V Adminstrator Adamkus wrote to
Senator Rockefeller concerning landowner signatures on permits,
stating that "In 1988 the Agency did not make the distinction between
property owners and facility owners. WTI owns the facility; it does
not own the property. Since 1988, the Agency has changed its policy."
This contradicts, however, the memo from John Skinner, Office of Solid
Waste, in 1983 stating that landowner must be on permits. Note also
that EPA Region V had required a landowner signature on the Michigan
permit referred to earlier.
EPA said again in a memo dated Sept. 30, 1992 that "Although US
EPA's regulations require that landowners be included on RCRA permits,
the practice in US EPA regional offices at the time of permit issuance
varied, and WTI's permit, as well as others, was issued without
identifying the landowner as permittee. As we have explained, the
failure to include the Port Authority was inadvertent, and the issue
was not raised by anyone during two rounds of public comment on the
draft permit
In any event, the issue is now moot because WTI
purchased the land form the Port Authority effective Sept. 18, 1992".
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE WILL BE POSING FOR THE GAO:
a) Who has owned the land on which WTI operates under Ohio law since
1977 and for what periods of time?
b) Was the taking of land under eminent domain for commercial purposes
legal? The lease option between the Ohio Department of
Transportation, River Services Company, CCPA and VRA was clearly for
commercial purposes, and not for a port.
c) Please provide evidence of all deeds for the transactions between
these companies.
d) The Army Corps of Engineers permit for a port specifically said the
port development was not to handle hazardous waste. What are the
ramifications of the violation of this permit?
2) Ownership of WTI has changed since the original permit.
The original four partners in the permit were Koppers
Environmental Corp, Energy Technology Co, Waste Technologies, Inc.,
and Von Roll America, Inc. However, through name switching and
subsidiary buyups, WTI was sold to WTI Acquisitions, wholly owned by
Stephens, Inc. Additionally, VRA created Von Roll (Ohio), Inc. as a
subsidiary, and then sold its shares to VRO. Koppers changed its name
to Environmental Elements Ohio, Inc. Although the four original
companies had separate corporate parents, all are now owned by VRA.
The EPA permit for WTI does not identify the facilities operator, Von
Roll (Ohio), Inc., because VRO did not come into existence until 1986,
three years after the permit was issued.
Although Nancy Ellen Zusman of Region V EPA wrote to WTI on
September 2, 1992 and ask that the permit be modified to reflect that
Von Roll (America) Inc. was now the owner of the facility and Von Roll
(Ohio) Inc, the operator, that decision was mysteriously overturned
three weeks later when Region V Adminstrator Adamkus wrote to Blake
Marshall on September 30, stating that "US EPA has concluded that
there has been no change in ownership for the purposes of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act which would require modification of the
WTI permit."
Regarding the dissolution of the original four partners of WTI,
US EPA has since determined that "based on the express provisions of
the joint venture agreement, we cannot conclude that the transfer of
partnership interest dissolved WTI." However, an Ohio State
University business law professor has written that "the WTI of 1981 is
not the WTI of 1992 WTI does not meet the definition of a
partnership in Ohio law any longer." He based this determination on
the fact that not only had all the partners had changed, but also on
the fact the Von Roll (America), Inc. owns all the stock in the
corporate entities now, but does not share those profits with these
entities. VRA is not one of the partners claimed by the owners (Von
Roll (Ohio), Inc.) of the plant. The Ohio AG's office thinks that
although formal legal law probably has been broken with regards to the
original permit, they do not think the partnership is a sham. The
original partnership may be different, but the AG's office does not
think this was done in willful attempt to defraud.
The August 20, 1992 EPA memo written by an EPA law clerk
assigned to determine the legal status of this partnership concluded
that "good faith legal arguments can be made to either buoy or sink
WTI's existing permit. Ultimately the decision of whether the permit
should pass through the legal niceties unscathed is a policy
determination." This same clerk concluded that "WTI appears to be a
valid partnership on paper because there are four validly existing
corporations acting as general partners
If these subsidiaries are
the "mere instrumentalities" of Von Roll America Inc, a valid argument
could be made that WTI is no longer a legitimate partnership because
it is no longer an associations of two or more persons. A single
individual or entity cannot be the owner of a partnership." Stock
records should help clarify whether WTI is an instrumentality of VRA.
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE WILL BE POSING TO GAO:
a) Under what authority does EPA have to waive the federal
requirements of a minimum 90 day pre-notification/approval process
pending a change in owner or operator of a facility?
b) Does EPA have the authority to issue negotiable financial
instruments? I.e. can EPA transfer the original permit for WTI to a
new owner/operator if that company was not even in existence at the
time of the permitting?
c) Please provide a copy of stock certificates, board of director
lists and meetings of all companies named as original or later owners
of WTI. Additionally, please track the sale of the original stock to
Von Roll (America), Inc. and establish the exact nature of liability
in light of stock transfers.
d) Did WTI and/ or Von Roll (Ohio), Inc. notify EPA prior to the
change of operating control vis-a-vis the Sept. 21, 1990 Operation
Contract that established Von Roll (Ohio), Inc as the operator of the
facility?
e) When was the EPA permit modified to show Von Roll (Ohio), Inc. as
the managing partner and Von Roll (America), Inc. as owner? Under
what authority may EPA change the RCRA permit in this fashion?
3) What was the role of the Competitiveness Council in allowing EPA to
issue a temporary start up permit?
On January 20, 1992, Von Roll President Blake Marshall wrote to
the Associate Director of the Office of Cabinet Affairs, James
Fitzhenry, at the White House saying that regulatory relief was needed
for his company. He particularly asked for relief in granting
consideration for EPA Region V to approve a spray dryer for the
facility, since the dryer was not approved in the original WTI permit.
Ohio had approved the permit but EPA had not at the time the spray
dryer was built. Hence, EPA fined Von Roll $129,000 for this
violation.
Blake Marshall wrote to the Council again on May 21, 1992,
asking for help. Although the permit for the spray dryer is approved
at this point, Marshall wants a shakedown approval. He states that
"To move forward we must have a 180 day temporary authorization permit
from US EPA. Von Roll representatives subsequently meet with the
Council and White House staff on June 10, 1992. EPA then issued on
July 5 -- without precedent and provided for under no federal law -- a
temporary authorization for WTI to bring in hazardous waste and
proceed with shakedown while the ownership issue was still up in the
air.
An EPA memo from Nancy-Ellen Zusman dated August 20 sets out a
timeline for approval of WTI, even though the report from the EPA law
clerk on the legal aspects of the permits did not come out until that
day. Was the approval of WTI a foregone conclusion after the
Competitiveness Council meeting?
On December 7, 1992, Blake Marshall responds to the request for
a GAO investigation with a statement that "The Company did not receive
permission for a temporary permit because of a visit to the
Competitiveness Council. To our knowledge, the Competitiveness
Council never took any interest in the plight of incineration
advocates in general, or WTI in particular." We know this is not true,
as a meeting was held on June 20, 1992 with the Council.
SPECIFIC GAO QUESTIONS:
a) Did EPA have instruction from the Council to approve the permits,
regardless of what the ownership investigation turned up?
b) What previous contact, either written or verbal, did WTI have with
the White House or Competitiveness Council besides the Jan 20 and May
21st letters and the June 10 meeting? What contact did the
Competitiveness Council have with EPA after the June 10 meeting?
c) Who was at the June 10 meeting and what was discussed? Please
provide notes, agendas or telephone logs.
December 16, 1992
Mr. Harry Snyder
Director
Office of Surface Mining,
Reclaimation, and Enforcement
U.S. Department of the Interior
1951 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
Dear Mr. Snyder:
I wish to bring to your attention a situation in Tennessee that
requires immediate resolution. The Skyline Coal Company, a subsidiary
of the AMAX corporation, has been operating for over two years without
a Toxic Materials Handling Plan (TMHP), as required by the 1977
Surface Mining Act. The company was granted a "interm temporary
relief" permit this summer, allowing the company to continue to mine
in without a TMHP. The legality of this temporary permit has since
been questioned. I understand that the Knoxville field office of OSM
has sent a letter to Skyline notifying them that they must cease
mining until such a plan is formulated and approved by your office.
I am requesting that you involve the Environmental Protection
Agency in the formulation and eventual evaluation of the Skyline
materials handling plan. I requested such action in the case of Rith
Energy, a surface mining company in Bledsoe County, Tennessee in 1989,
and I believe the situation worked to the benefit of all parties
involved. It is my hope that a similar situation could be used to
address the very serious problems involving Skyline Coal.
I stand ready to work with you and the Environmental Protection
Agency to protect the health and safety of Tennessee residents
concerned about the toxic seepage from Skyline, as well as miners and
their families concerned about their jobs. I look forward to hearing
from you soon.
Sincerely,
Albert Gore, Jr.
United States Senator
AG/pdm
A cooperative effort must be undertaken as soon as possible
involving the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, citizen's groups and miners, to make progess toward
a mining permit plan for the Skyline Coal Company that takes into
account both economic and environmental concerns and allows Skyline to
operate within our federal surface mining laws. I would encourage the
Skyline mining company to enter into a dialogue with these parties to
begin to remedy this situation.
I understand the concerns of miners affected by the closing of
the Skyline coal mine. It is my understanding that this action by the
Knoxville field office of the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) was a
result of the OSM's finding that the Skyline toxic materials handling
plan was inadequate. I have followed developments in this area and
believe that a cooperative effort among the concerned parties can
begin to resolve this issue.
To: Katie
From: Pam
Re: Skyline
More updates on the Skyline Coal Company. You will remember
that Skyline was the focus of Keith Schneider's front page story in
the Times about two weeks ago. The Knoxville Office of Surface Mining
Field Office has just written a letter dated Dec 11 to Skyline Coal
asking them to cease mining because of a lack of an approved toxic
materials management plan. (They have been operating for over two
years with out one in violation of the 1977 Surface minig Act. The
citizen's group Save Our Cumberland Mountains is asking us to step in
and request EPA's involvement in formulating a plan for skyline. The
citizens fear that the Washington OSM office will interfere in this
request to shut down Skyline, just like the Washington office
overruled the Knoxville office this July and granted a "interm
temporary relief" permit for them to keep mining without their toxic
materials handling plan.
One option for us is to handle Skyline like we handled Rith
Eneryg, a similar coal mining operation in 1988. In that case, Rith
Energy surface coal mine wanted a permit revision from the OSM. OSM
was to conduct an environmental impact assessment of Rith's toxic
materials handling plan, and to ensure ts environmental soundness, we
asked EPA to review and comment on the plan before the permit was
granted. In the case of Skyline, we could send a similar letter to
the OSM office in Washington, asking them to consult with EPA while
OSM requires a handling plan from Skyline.
We need to do something -- this will not go away. Its obvious
that the Washington OSM office violated teh law -- not just in the
Skyline case but other cases around the country as well. In fact,
OSM's troubles are so bad that rumors have started that Harry Synder,
the head of OSM, will be indicted by thei Inspector General of teh
Interior department pending an investigation into bribery and other
nasty charges. I suggest we issue a statement andn sent a letter to
OSM -- I have drafted such and it follows.
HISTORY ON SKYLINE
In 1990 a notice of violation was issued to the Skyline Coal
Company (a subsidiary of AMAX Coal Co) because uncontrolled iron seeps
were impacting Glady Fork Creek in TN. Office of Surface Mining
ordered Skyline to submit revisions to their permit for mining to
address plans to treat exisiting seeps and prevent the formation of
future problems. Under the 1977 Surface Mining Law, a company has 90
days to abate a violation. If the violation is not addressed, then a
cease order to stop mining is issued and fines are levied until the
problem is addressed. In the Skyline case, the extension was granted
for 10 X the usual period (i.e. almost two years)
After the cease order was issued, AMAX filed a appeal thru the
Solicitors Office in DC. Thru Harry Snyder (head of OSM) and the
chief solicitor of OSM, the extention (called a "temporary interm
relief" and NOT granted by any surface mining law -- basically an
arbitrary OSM decision to allow them to continue) was granted for
AMAX. Normally, this would all go thru the Knoxville field office of
OSM, who has the statutory authority to issue extentions or revisions,
but they were merely told by Washington how to handle this.
The status now is that a hearing on this "temporary" permit is
being held at the request of a citizen's groups Save Our Cumberland
Mountains. An adminstrative law judge hears this case and then
determines whether or not to grant relief to the company from the law
or not. (The 1977 Surface Minig Law grants this hearing process for
citizens and companies). Skyline is still mining thru out this time
period, and the hearing will probably not end until January (Skyline
keeps calling more witnesses and dragging this thing out).
STATEMENT OF SENATOR AL GORE ON THE PROTOCOL ON ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION TO THE ANTARCTIC TREATY
On October 4, 1991 the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties
adopted and opened for signature the Protocol on Environmental
Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Twenty-five Consultative Parties
have signed the Protocol, including the US. I urge my colleagues to
ratify this protocol.
The Protocol builds upon the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, extending and
improving the Treaty's effectiveness as a mechanism for ensuring the
protection of the Antarctic environment. It designates Antarctica as
a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science, and sets forth
environmental protection principles applicable to human activities in
Antarctica that will be binding under international law. These
include obligations to accord priority to scientific research and a
prohibition of Antarctic mineral resource activities. The Protocol is
intended to replace existing Treaty recommendations addressing the
protection of the Antarctic environment, including the Agreed Measures
for the Conservation of Antarctic Flora and Fauna.
Additionally, the Protocol enforces an indefinite ban on mineral
prosecting, exploration and development activities. This ban is not
reviewable for fifty years, and has no termination date, unless agreed
upon by 75% of the consultative members. This ban is essential to
uphold the integrity of the Antarctic environment.
The Protocol is urgently needed to protect Antarctica's fragile
environment. The Antarctic is remote from our thinking on most
occasions and, yet, as we become more concerned about global climate
changes, we begin to understand Antarctica. Far from being at the
fringes of life on Earth, Antarctica is near its core, a prime mover
in the organic food chain, a principal cause of the the wind and ocean
currents which make up the system of weather as we know it.
Anyone who visits Antarctica cannot help but experience a sense
that the place dwarfs all human scale. I travelled to Antarctica in
1988, to gather evidence on global warming and ozone depletion. In
many ways, Antarctica is the frontier of the ecological crisis. It
is the Antarctic where the first evidence of an ozone hole was
discovered. The Antarctic provides ice cores that indicate high
levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere correlate with changes in
global temperature. And it is the Antarctic that acts as a massive
engine driving the world's weather, redistributing its massive
coldness through the winds of the air and currents of the sea.
It is also the Antarctic that contains some of the most polluted
waters in the world. A soup of PCBs, raw sewage and other unknown
substances contaiminates much of McMurdo Sound. Without the Protocol,
more tragic situations like this are likely to develop, as yet more
scientists and tourists make the long journey to the South Pole.
Most alarming is the possibility that mining could be carried out
in the fragile Antarctic environment. Mining in Antarctica could have
global consequences. Oil spills and pollution could kill the
plankters that convert carbon dioxide into oxygen in the cold waters
surrounding Antarctica. Other zooplankton provide the bottom layer of
the food chain that so many marine organisms depend on.
That is why in 1989 I introduced a bill to protect Antarctica
as a global ecological commons. That bill, and another measure by my
colleague Senator Kerry, were signed into law in 1990 by President
Bush. But while we in Congress had clearly stated that it should be
the policy of the US to pursue an indefinite prohibition on commercial
mineral development and related industrial activities in Antarctica,
President Bush went about undermining such a position.
When the Antarctic Treaty parties met in Madrid in the spring of
1991 to negotiate the future of Antarctica, the President sent his
reprentatives with the instruction to push for a temporary ban on
mineral exploration - maybe 20 or 30 years- after which time the
moratorium would be lifted. That is clearly not an indefinite ban,
which we in Congress had passed into law. The President was ignoring
the wishes of the American people as expressed through votes here in
Congress.
It should have come as no surprise that the Bush Adminstration
would attempt to scrap a treaty on environmental protection. It's a
strategy we've seen played out in subsequent negotiations on other
global environmental issues. The Interior Department, in 1990, urged
President Bush not to sign my legislation, claiming that there should
be an open door to mineral exploration in Antarctica. President Bush
ignored the request at the time, but went on to eventually embrace
such a position at the Madrid negotiations - a blatant defiance of the
laws we worked so hard to pass. I and 15 of my colleagues, in a
bipartisan effort, wrote to the Administration on March 27, 1991 and
urged him to abandon his policy that would ultimately facilitate and
encourage mining activities in Antarctica. The Adminstration took no
heed and proceeded to Madrid, virtually isolated from the world
community, set to stonewall the negotiations.
The incredible thing about the President's position is that there
is no reason to push for mining in Antarctica. The US mining industry
has had little interest in mining there - the environment is too harsh
for uncertain rewards. Furthermore, the Office of Technology
Assesment has stated the "There are no known oil, gas or mineral
deposits in Antarctica of commercial value, and furthermore, the
technology does not presently exist to recover minerals in the harsh
environment of Antarctica."
While other nations at the Madrid negotiations pushed for a
permanent and indefinite ban on mining activities in Antarctica, the
US continued to ask for only a 20-40 year moratorium. The talks
appeared to be doomed to failure until an eleventh hour change of
heart hit the US delegates. The Administration finally softened its
opposition to a total ban after a compromise agreement was offered to
them. The compromise called for a 50 year mining moratorium, and the
indefinite extension of a ban, unless 75% of the sigantory parties
agreed to alternate measures. The rest of the negotiating teams had
been prepared to agree to a permanent ban, but the US defeated this
provision of the Protocol.
To add to the outrage, the Bush Administration demanded last
minute changes in the Protocol after the first round of Madrid
negotiations had concluded. The US arrived at the meeting that was to
have been the ceremonial signing of the treaty, and demanded a
substantive addition. The US position was that unless a provision was
added to allow any government to exempt itself from the minerals
prohibition, if the amendment to allow mining under a new legal regime
had not come into force within three years, that the US would not
sign. They essentially demanded that the veto power over minerals
exploration that was wielded by any of the signatories be removed.
And they asked for this change without consulting any of the other
signatory countries. Their demand reflected an ideology that we have
seen over and over when the Administration addresses environmental
issues. Short term, shortsighted policy making, influenced by the
possibility - however remote - of securing economic advantage always
outweighs any other conceivable considerations. Preservation and
protection of the global environment is not even in the running to
challenge that myopic interest.
Rather than risk the demise of the whole treaty, the other
signatory countries acquiesced to the US demands and created a
compromise treaty that would ban minerals exploration for 50 years and
would continue the ban unless 75% of the consulting countries agreed
to rescind it. This final compromise is what we are here to ratify
today.
It is not a perfect measure. It is weaker than what I and others
in Congress had hoped for. It is not the strongest bill the world
could have had. The Administration made sure of that. But it is a
first step. It is a clear advantage over what the status quo offers,
which is no protection whatsoever for Antarctica's environment. In
spite of the fact that the Bush Administration torpedoed a stronger
protocol, I support this measure, and ask my colleagues to do the
same.
The International Tropical Timber Agreement was negiotiated in
1983 by all major producers and consumers of tropical timber. It is
an international treaty focusing soley on tropical forests and their
sustainable utilitzation as well as the expansion and diversification
of trade and wood-based industries. The International Tropical Timber
Organization is the intergovernmental adminstrative arm of the ITTA,
but is not an executing agency. Rather, it is a commondity
management orgniation. Member countries suggest projects for
development and study to the ITTO, which is funded by donations from
those countries.
The ITTA is up for complete reauthorization this year. Some of
the issues to be addressed in the negiotiating sessions are:
* A push by developing countries, led by Malaysia, to include
temperate and boreal forests in the agreement. At the Nov. 1992
meeting in preparation for ITTA renegiotiation, the members stated
that they would like to see this proposal included in the
negotiations. The US did not have a position at this meeting although
most US negotiators are very opposed to this idea. The US is
currently ironing out a position before the next prep meeting in
January.
* Meeting the self stated goal of harvesting ALL tropical forest in a
sustainable manner by 2000. This is a very lofty goal, as the ITTO is
currently in the process of funding projects to determine just what
sustainble development for each forest is.
The Tropical Forestry Action Plan was a plan of for the development of
tropical forests while sustaining their general integrity. It was a
cross-sectional plan developed by the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization, the World Bank and the World Resources institute.
TFAP has come under fierce fire since it's inception in
1985. Many NGO's claimed that TFAP encouraged developing countries to
increae development of tropical timber at the expense of conservation.
The TFAP is under discussion at FAO as to how it could be reforumalted
to deal with serious deficiencies. It is unlikely that TFAP will
contiune as a viable program for the management of tropical forests.
To marla
From katie
re: alaska wetlands
Reilly announcemet today
decision to exempt Alaskan wetlands
from Sec. 404 of the Clean Water Act. Alaska will be the ONLY state
with this special exemption. The exemption is absolutely illegal
The is no foundation ofr it in sec 404. Reason: oil folks want to
drill and fill these wetlands. Developers in Ak will be able to
destroy wetlands even if alternatives to wetlands destruction exist
and they will not be required to compensate for wetlands destruction
thru wetlands restoration.
Why wetlands are important to AK:
AK's fisheries thrive because wetlands filter and purify
surface runoff and provide important spawning areas for fish. The
commercial fishing industry is the largest private employers in the
state and is the second largest revenue generator. The gross revenues
from the harvest of salmon alone exceed $500 million annually and the
gross revenues to processors exceed $1 billion annually. Salmon
harvest involves nearly 17,000 licensed vessels, over 500 processors
and more than 70,000 jobs.
O
Altho AK has a vast number of unspoiled wetlands, only 345,
000 acres are coastal wetlands regualted under the Clean Water Act.
These wetlands, regarded as especially important to wildlife, are the
wetlands most vulnerable to development.
O
About 70 percent of America's remaining wetlands are in AK.
EPA's exemption ignores the national significance of AK's wetlands to
migratory birds. AK wetlands provide a fall flight of 80,000 swans,
750,000 geese and 10 million ducks to all corners of the world. 96%
of all seabirds found in U.S. waters breed in AK.
Why is rule is inane:
O
The existing guidelines are flexible enough to allow
appropriate economic development and growth in AK. The Army Corp of
Engineers processed 3,997 permit applications for wetlands fills in AK
from 1972 thru 1992. The agency denied only 2.7% percent of those
applications.
O EPA's Region X office predicted that "this proposal will
result in extensive losses of significant wetlands. Even the most
valuable, most rare and most unique wetlands would not be subject to
the careful assessment required by the current guidelines
(V) irtually all the estuarine wetlands of the state could be
destroyed" (Inside EPA)
o EPA's Alaska office cautioned: "An alteration of the 404 (b)
(1) Guidelines with potential impacts to millions of acres of wetlands
would be considered significant. Results may include severe water
quality impacts, especially for watersheds within local population
centers. This may directly affect a substantial number of small
entities, including commericial fishermen, subsistence groups, and the
tourism industry.' (Inside EPA)
October 13, 1992
Dr. Phil Vargas
Human Research and Development, Inc.
2060 North Fourteenth Street
Suite 109
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Dr. Vargas:
Thank you for contacting my office. I appreciate receiving a
copy of your report, "Revitalizing American Society," and your kind
words of support, and I sincerely regret the delay in my response.
You might be interested to know that I introduced several bills
addressing federal laboratories and technology transfer this year. S.
2866 would have established a program that gave the thirteen national
laboratories of the Department of Energy authority to take the lead in
applying their human and technical resources toward environmental
technologies. The Assisting Deployment of Energy and Environmental
Practices and Technologies Program (ADEPT) sought to use the national
labs in coordination with other government agencies to promote the
development and international export of clean technologies for
environmental protection and restoration.
In a related matter, I introduced the Environmental Aid and Trade
Act of 1992. This bill, S. 3261, would have required agencies,
including the Commerce and State departments, the Agency for
International Development, and the Export-Import Bank, to give special
emphasis to promoting the exports of environmental goods and services
through better use of existing resouces and programs. However, the
102nd Congress adjourned before either of these measures was
addressed. You may be assured that I will continue to work to
preserve our natural resources.
Again, thank you for letting me hear from you.
Sincerely,
Albert Gore, Jr.
United States Senator
AG/pdm
CC: Congresswoman Pat Schroeder
Our new Administration will build a partnership with the
American people. That partnership will be built on a genuine
commitment to leave our children a better nation whose air, water, and
land are unspoiled; whose natural beauty is undimmed; and whose
leadership for sustainable growth is unsurpassed. We will challenge
Americans and demand responsibility at every level from individuals,
families, communities, corporations, and government agencies to do
more to preserve the quality of our environment -- and at the same
time to improve the quality of our lives. This is the challenge I
issue to you today. We need your help and expertise in designing the
type of society we want and need in the future. We stand at the brink
of an unprecedented and unparelled time, and I ask you to join with
Bill Clinton and I as we assemble the vision needed to address our
environmental chanellenges with innovation and courage.
Again, thank you for this honor.
Date: October 28, 1992
Topic: tn projects
Subtopic: corps of engineers
Synopsis: new chip mills CON; WL
Aide's Initials: pdm
PCD:
Item #: update 2774
Enclosure:
no
Thank you for contacting me regarding your concern about wood
chip mills. I appreciate hearing your views.
Over the past year, I have heard from hundreds of Tennesseans
both supporting and opposing the proposed wood chip mills on the
Tennessee River. Most of those in opposition to the mills raised the
concern that unregulated clearcutting of timber for the mills would
cause irreparable damage to Tennessee's environment. To clarify these
potential problems, I requested an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on the possible impacts of the mills.
After examining the draft EIS and the EIS review by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, I am still convinced that the chip
mills are not in the long term economic or environmental interest of
Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and EPA both
concurred that they were inclined to deny the permits based on the
evidence of environmental damage to the Tennessee Valley. I have
urged TVA and the Corps of Engineers to deny the permits for the
chipping mills and I will continue to oppose not only the permits, but
the mills themselves.
Recently, however, the possibility has been raised by one chip
mill operator that construction on the mills will proceed without TVA
permits. In this scenario, the wood chips would be shipped from the
mill by truck or rail, rather than by barge on the Tennessee River.
This action would preempt TVA's authority and therefore require no
federal or state approval process.
In my view, such a plan would demonstrate both a lack of concern
and a lack of environmental responsibility on the part of the company
operating the mill. I assure you that I will continue to urge
practices that ensure the sustainable harvesting of timber for the
chip mills. Although federal agencies cannot prevent the chip mills
from being built, I will work with state officials to protect
environmental standards in the region.
Again, thank you for letting me know your views on this issue.
October 30, 1992
Ms. Louise Pendley
34 Sharon Circle
Rossville, GA 30741
Dear Ms. Pendley:
Thank you for contacting my office with your concerns on the
issue of religion and the environment. I appreciate hearing from you.
The world faces an unprecedented environmental crisis of global
proportions. The hole in the ozone layer, the burning of the tropical
forests, the poisoning of lakes and rivers, and the explosion of the
world's population are all part of the problem. Because I am a person
of faith, I respond to this challenge through the lens of my religious
background. My faith teaches me that "the earth is the Lord's and the
fullness thereof," and that although man was given dominion over the
earth, we must be good stewards of the planet that was entrusted to
us.
In my efforts to call for protection of the environment, I have
joined with many other people of faith at meetings of the Joint Appeal
on Religion and Science over the last few years. Together with some
of the leading scientists in the country, the Joint Appeal includes
the widest spectrum of American church leaders, including the head of
the Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the
National Council of Churches, and representatives of the U.S. Catholic
Conference. This group has called upon people of all faiths to work
to protect the environment. My interaction with the Joint Appeal has
been extremely enlightening, as well as enriching and inspiring.
Again, thank you for contacting me with your concerns.
Sincerely,
Albert Gore, Jr.
United States Senator
AG/pdm
Date: October 30, 1992
Topic: environment
Subtopic: general
Synopsis: cost of rio trip
Aide's Initials: pdm
PCD:
Item #: pls assign
Enclosure:
no
I travelled to Rio de Janeiro this past summer as the official
chairman of the U.S. Senate delegation to the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). I was appointed by
the Senate Majority Leader to lead this effort and to study and report
to the Senate on the legally binding international treaties that had
been negotiated and were to be signed at the summit. Those treaties
included the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
biodiversity treaty. In addition, the more than 120 nations that were
represented in Rio agreed to a massive program of action called Agenda
21. This program is intended to promote sustainable patterns of
development. As you can imagine, these documents are very complex and
represent an enormous undertaking by the U.S. and other countries. I
studied these thoroughly and issued a detailed report to my colleagues
in the Senate as we deliberated these matters during treaty
ratification procedures. As you know, it is incumbent upon the Senate
to address these efforts pursuant to Article Two, Section Two of the
U.S. Constitution. I appreciate the benefit of your views on this
matter and assure you that I will keep them in mind.
I. Marbelled murrellet
* The murrellet is a fish-eating bird that lives in the old growth
forests of the coast ranges of northern California, Oregon and
Washington. The extent of habitat overlap with spotted owls is not
known: i.e. there may be some but protection for the murrellet coulf
also cause additional forest to be put off limits to logging.
* The murrelet was listed today as threatened. It is effective
MONDAY.
* A Sept. 18th court order stopped logging in Washington's Olympic and
Mount Baker Snopualmie National Forests, because enviros wanted the
murrellet listed on the endangered species list, and are in court
about it. The ban on logging was temporary but now the Interior Dpt.
will have to designate critical habitat for the murrellet.
*
This will prohibit the taking of the birds, either directly or
through habitat destruction. Listing may mean that already sold
timber could be prevented from logging. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER
ADDITIONAL SALES APART FROM THOSE PREVENTED BY THE SPOTTED OWL LISTING
WILL BE CANCELLED. There may be more, there may not.
* But Bush has been President for four years and yet he made NO
attempts to provide management plans for the spotted owl, the
murrellet or any other species. He has allowed this crisis to build.
Where was he when a concerted plan could have prevented this crisis???
Scientists have been telling him for years the not just these two
birds, but a whole series of species are threatened by the decimation
of old growth forests.
II. ESA:
1. Bush has sat by and watched as thousands of jobs have been lost in
the timber industry. (Best figure here is that from 1979 to 1989,
26,000 jobs have been lost).
2. He only cares about those losses now that his own job is on the
line.
3. Posing a false choice -- once again -- between the environment and
the economy, Bush is pointing the finger of blame at the endangered
species act.
5. Fact of the matter is that it is not the endangered species act
that is causing job loss (GAO study documented that -- of 18,211
project reviews conducted pursuant to the ESA from 1987 to 1991, only
23 had to be extensively modified or cancelled). The fact of the
matter is that it is the Bush administration's utter disregard for
working American families and struggling communities -- rural and
urban -- that is causing the crisis we now face.
6. President Bush has known for 10 years that our old growth forests
are in trouble (this when spotted owl first identified as an indicator
species). Rather than follow the law -- which would have put in place
a process to find a strategy to preserve jobs and the natural resource
base they depend on, Bush has ignored and blatantly violated the law -
- and thrown timber communities needlessly into a state of crisis and
despair.
7. There are alot of changes in the timber industry. While all of
these jobs have been lost, timber production has actually increased 19
percent (due to increased automation and exports). Bill Clinton and
I understand this. We know that what timber communities need is a
strategy to maintain and expand and diversify their economic
opportunities. What they do not need is to be the pawns in Mr. Bush's
blame game.
8. We're prepared to listen and to ensure that communities do have
the opportunity for a promising economic future.
9. Some communities are already doing that:
--Lebanon, Oregon was in a crisis 4 years ago when Champion
paper CO. shut down there. Since that time they have worked hard to
develop new oppotunities -- they've attracted light manufacturing;
heavy industry; new solid wood product manufacturing facilities.
--In Aberdeen, Washington they're converting their current port
-- that can only handle log exports -- into a deep draft port that can
handle imports of all kinds -- grains, autos, etc. They are also
emphasizing tourism -- and it has become their second largest souce of
income. And they are conducting a comprehensive review of their land
use plan so that they can better attract businesses to their
community.
10. Rather than just denying that we have a problem -- which Mr. Bush
has done -- Bill Clinton and I will work with communities to help them
identify and pursue these opportunities for families and workers.
To: Katie
From: Pam
Re: Al's visit to Hanford
*
Hanford is the world's largest nuclear weapons building complex.
*
In July of 1990, DOE acknowledged that over 540,000 curies of
iodine 131 were inadvertently released into the atmosphere from
Hanford's nuclear reators between 1944 and the mid-1950s. (TMI was a
release of 15 curies). The families living aroung Hanford may have
received radiation doses over the years ten times higher than did
residents living near Chernobyl at the time it melted down.
* Hanford is a 560 square mile reservation. It was founded in 1943
to make plutonium for the a-bombs. Hanford closed in 1988 for safety
reasons and a lack of plutonium. Hanford contains 2/3 of the high
level radioactive waste from weapons production in the entire US.
Clean up could cost over $50 billion. 149 underground storage tanks
hold almost 1 million gallons of high level mixed radioactive waste.
No once quite knows what to do with it - hence the creation of the
Environmental labs at hanford to investigate clean up options. Most
of the tanks even have yet to be sampled to find out what kind of soup
is inside.
* DOE reportedly dumped millions of gallons of radioactive and
chemically hazardous waste into unlined trenches. Citizens want DOE
to unclassify the documents related to DOE's mishandling of this
waste. Watkins' arrival in 1989 led to some new disclosures ( such as
those about the iodine releases) but much has yet to be uncovered.
*
Cong. Norm Dicks of WA asserts that some of DOE's clean up money -
$250 million- is going to other new DOE projects, like new plutonium
processing facilities. The GAO is investigating.
*
Watkins has said that Hanford will be a "model" for clean up and
will keep its 14,000 workforce - but there is some question if Hanford
will ever be decontaminated given the slow progress of work so far.
* One big complaint toward DOE is their continued holding of info.
Watkins personally tries to review all documents before release -
leading to a huge backlog. Information that is released is often
outdated or too technical for citizen's groups to understand.
* Lawsuits files by enviros and citizens groups are pending in WA to
increase DOE liability for the damages thus far. A 1988 study by a
House approp. subcommittee found that on average, DOE's cost estimates
for various clean ups increased by an average of about 500 percent
between the time of proposal and the completion or cancellation - i.e.
some contractors are gettin' by and perhaps lining their pockets.
* more horror stories at hanford:
- groundwater pollution with levels of radioactivity several hundred
times higher than federal standards.
- whistle blowers getting harassed.
- DOE wanted to start up one of the nuke reactors ( the N reactor) at
Hanford despite the fact that they knew it was less safe than
Chernobyl had been. They gave up the plan in 1988 after NRDC
threatened to sue.
* Northwest Regional Power Council:
- This council was established by a 1980 federal law ( which i
cannot find the name of or al's vote on it) that sought to deal with
both power generation and water rights in the NW. The law mandated
the establishment of this council whose recommendtions carry the full
force of law.
- The council has jurisdiction over both energy planning and
fish/wildlife issues, as conservation plays a big role in solving both
problems of eneryg use and salmon issues.
- The council has developed a plan to increase stocks of salmon
on the snake and columbia rivers, becuase 76 stocks in WA and ID are
threatened with depletion. Additionally, some 3 species of salmon are
on the threatened list.
The plan adopted in Dec of 1991 would:
o Drawdown of water for salmon in rivers. Historically, salmon
have relied on the force of water rushing downstream to push the
smolts to the ocean after mating ( There are now "ladders" - paths in
the river - around dams so that fish can go UPSTREAM, but now the
little fishies are having trouble getting back down). So the plan
recommends that hydro plants and the other dams on the river store up
a lot of water in the fall and then use it for winter power generation
( when demand is the highest anyway) and release it so by spring the
flow of water downstream is stronger than in the fall.
O Drawdown of water from certain resevoirs. Currently,
reseviors behind dams spread out and decrease the flow of water.
Salmon smolts need fast rushing streams to move downstream. These
drawdowns will not be feasible for a few years. One prototype study
is being carried out now - one dam on the Columbia is being lowered.
In 1995, all the studies of the drawdowns should be completed and
implementation of the council's plan should start in 1996. There is
opposition to this, however. Farmers and barge operators fear that
with less water in reseviors, less water for them. The studies will
try to resolve this question.
o decreased use of river water for irrigation. Currently, one-
fifth of the Columbia and Snake river water is used for irrigation.
If farmers used less water, there would be more for the salmon. One
recommendation of the plan is to pay farmers not to irrigate.
Bonnevile Power - the main electric CO - would provide the money for
paying the farmers b/c more water in the river means increased value
for hydropower ( its easier to generate elect. with faster flowing
rivers). Enviros would like to see more water saved than is currently
proposed by the council - they have suggested supporting water
conservation measures as policy ( like use water only during the night
or something).
*
Columbia Basin Project:
This is a water diversion project out of the Columbia River in
central Wash. About 100,00 acre ft of water will be drawn out in the
area for farmers. Enviros are po'd cause they think the farmers don't
need as much water (heavily subsidized of course). But this plan is
much reduced from a previous plan to draw out 500,000 acre ft. The
river ecosystem of course sustains some damage from large diversions,
tho some wetlands areas are created in the process.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR SCIENCES LABORATORY:
-The energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report passed by teh
Sneate on 9/15 contains $28.5 million for the EMSL. EMSL is basic and
applied research lab that will work on site characterization and clean
up at Hanford. Eventually, Hanford hopes it will be a center for
environmental research of all types. EMSL is currently funded solely
by federal appropriations. Private sector involvement is expected to
increase as more projects are planned.
International Environmental Institute:
The institute was founded in May, 1991 to study the Hanford site and
then determine the best, most cost-efficient means to clean-up
Hanford. Professors from various universities -- across the globe --
serve on its Board of Directors. Funding for the Institute comes from
both the government and corporations.
9/18/92
To: Katie
From: Pam
Re: Hot Issues in North Carolina
Some of the people who will be at the town meeting are the folks
who will be cleaning up the Wilmington, N.C. beaches before and after
the Gore visit. So the coastal issues that were disucssed in NJ are
still quite relevant. In addition, there are other N.C. specific
issues that people may want addressed:
** OIL AND GAS DRILLING: Bush did not include N.C. in his 1990 list
of areas to be protected by a drilling moratorium. North Carolinians
feel rather miffed because they also have fragile coastal ecosystems,
like the Florida Keys, that would be impacted negatively by oil/gas
drilling. The Outer Banks - the thin line of coastal islands running
down the coast of NC - are a vulnerable ecosystem. Sen. Sanford and
Congressman Rose of N.C. have long pushed for a moratorium on
drilling. Congress has passed a one-year moratorium (which includes
N.C. and most other coastal areas except the eastern Gulf of Mexico)
every year since 1988, as part of Interior Approps. Sen. Sanford
wants to see a moratorium until the year 2000. The federal government
is in the process of buying back the only oil and gas lease that has
been issued in NC waters, so oil drilling has never, and hopefully
will never, occur in the Outer Banks. The Gore position is that a
moratorium on new drilling in NC should be extended.
CLEAN WATER: Two decades ago, when the Clean Water Act was
passed, the law declared that all waters would eventually be
"swimmable and fishable". That has obviously not been accomplished.
In fact, water quality in some areas has gotten worse under Reagan-
Bush-Quayle. Examples include:
-- Reagan-Bush, in 1987, vetoed the reauthorization of CWA
TWICE, claiming that the bill's $18 billion authoriziation for local
sewage treatment plants was triple the amount they had asked for and
therefore was too much. Congress passed the reauthorization over the
veto. Raw sewage and trash that is wshing into our rivers and oceans
were responsible for 2400 beach closing in 10 states in 1989 and 1990,
with economics impacts measurable in the billions, due to lost
tourism, fishing, etc.
The Adminstration has missed every deadline for action
established in the 1987 Clean Water Act reauthorization.
--The Adminstration has not forwarded a reauthorization proposal
for the CWA to Congress this year. ( One is due). And Bush proposed
a cut in EPA's budget by $25 million this year in the water pollution
abatement and compliance section.
** WATER IN NC: Several areas around Wilmington, such as Bradley,
Howe and Hewletts Creek, are under a shellfish ban. The State closed
the creeks for oystering when fecal coliform levels became dangerously
high. Enviros say the high coliform counts are from poision
stormwater runoff; developers say it is faulty residential septic
systems. Whichever is true - studies are being conducted now by Univ.
of NC - point is that Bush adminstration has not made clean water a
priority since it cut EPA's budget. States have less resources to
deal with problems like these thanks to Bush.
** OVERFISHING: A ban on recreational fishing has been proposed by
the state fisheries board for parts of NC. The stocks of
grouper/snapper/other bottom dwelling fish have been almost totaly
depleted. People may asked how Gore feels about the ban. Sanford's
office thinks the best thing to say is that a management plan needs to
be developed that would allow sport fishermen to continue fishing,
without allowing overfishing. Point here is that if we don't manage
our resources well, whatever they may be, they won't be around long.
** INCINERATION: Gov. Jim Martin is seeking to build a hazardous waste
incinernator for five states in the region - some people are up in
arms. Be ready for questions about incineration.
To: Al, Marla
From: Katie
Re: Endangered Species Act Response and Gnatcatcher.
In case needed -- some talk points on the Endangered species
act/logging controversy and on our friend the gnatcatcher.
I. ESA:
1. Bush has sat by and watched as thousands of jobs have been lost in
the timber industry. (Best figure here is that from 1979 to 1989,
26,000 jobs have been lost).
2. He only cares about those losses now that his own job is on the
line.
3. Posing a false choice -- once again -- between the environment and
the economy, Bush is pointing the finger of blame at the endangered
species act.
4. His arrogance here is only matched by ignorance.
5. Fact of the matter is that it is not the endangered species act
that is causing job loss (GAO study documented that -- of 18,211
project reviews conducted pursuant to the ESA from 1987 to 1991, only
23 had to be extensively modified or cancelled). The fact of the
matter is that it is the Bush administration's utter disregard for
working American families and struggling communities -- rural and
urban -- that is causing the crisis we now face.
6. President Bush has known for 10 years that our old growth forests
are in trouble (this when spotted owl first identified as an indicator
species). Rather than follow the law -- which would have put in place
a process to find a strategy to preserve jobs and the natural resource
base they depend on, Bush has ignored and blatantly violated the law -
- and thrown timber communities needlessly into a state of crisis and
despair.
7. There are alot of changes in the timber industry. While all of
these jobs have been lost, timber production has actually increased 19
percent (due to increased automation and exports). Bill Clinton and
I understand this. We know that what timber communities need is a
strategy to maintain and expand and diversify their economic
opportunities. What they do not need is to be the pawns in Mr. Bush's
blame game.
8. We're prepared to listen and to ensure that communities do have
the opportunity for a promising economic future.
9. Some communities are already doing that:
--Lebanon, Oregon was in a crisis 4 years ago when Champion
paper CO. shut down there. Since that time they have worked hard to
develop new oppotunities -- they've attracted light manufacturing;
heavy industry; new solid wood product manufacturing facilities.
In Aberdeen, Washington they're converting their current port
-- that can only handle log exports -- into a deep draft port that can
handle imports of all kinds -- grains, autos, etc. They are also
emphasizing tourism -- and it has become their second largest souce of
income. And they are conducting a comprehensive review of their land
use plan so that they can better attract businesses to their
community.
10. Rather than just denying that we have a problem -- which Mr. Bush
has done -- Bill Clinton and I will work with communities to help them
identify and pursue these opportunities for families and workers.
II. Gnatcatcher
Bush today in San Diego praised the Natural Community
Conservation Program -- a program set up by the State to have enviro,
industry, municipalities, etc. to come up with a land management plan
that can protect the gnatcatcher.
Gnatcatcher habitat is coastal sage scrub. Habitat is unique to
Southern California. Effort to put management plan together (started
1.5 years ago) welcomed as a cooperative effort and also because it
was designed to manage the whole ecosystem -- rather than just step in
to save the gnatcather itself.
Enviro problems with the effort: (1) the state is using it as
an excuse not to list the gnatcatcher pursuant to state endangered
species act. (2) this is important because, if it gets listed, then
all gnatcatcher habitat falls within the purview of the act and would
be subject to provisions requiring management plans to preserve the
species. Under the NCCP, industry gets to select which lands will be
preserved as critical habitat.
Enviros sued the state for failure to list; state lost and court
has required state to come up with reasons for not listing.
The NCCP was also defunded this year at enviros insistence
because a bill failed in state legislature that would have required
that all coastal scrub sage lands be reviewed for possible inclusion
as critical habitat (therefore it is kind of crazy that Bush was
commending the effort today).
Fish and Wildlife service faces a deadline on the 17th on
whether or not to list under federal ESA. Expected decision is that
Lujan will punt -- ESA gives 60 day extended review period. NRDC has
put Lujan on notice that they will sue if a decision is not made when
that statutory period expires.
BOTTOM LINE is that (1) the NCCP is a good idea -- cooperative
effort to come up with a comprehensive management scheme that looks at
a whole ecosystem -- rather than just a single species. But (2)
SCIENCE should determine whether the bird should get listed and, if it
is listed, which lands should be preserved as critical habitat.
Basically -- the effort should complement the ESA; NOT be considered a
substitute for it.
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF EXPLORATION
BOTTOM LINE:
You have not voted for any "bans" on oil and gas drilling.
O You have supported "moratoria" on drilling. However, you have only
gone further than Bush on this front in calling for a moratorium on
the entire coast of Florida (i.e. the Eastern Gulf of Mexico) --
rather than just the around the Keyes and the Everglades as he has
done.
O You have not supported moratoria on drilling off the coasts of
Louisiana or Texas (i.e. the Western Gulf of Mexico). This is where
the action is -- and this is where Bush et. al would like to have
people believe you have supported a moratorium.
Clinton/Gore position -- moratorium except for the Western Gulf.
o Where does moratorium now apply? Nearly entire coast of
California; Pacific Northwest; Bristol Bay, Alaska; Georges Banks off
Mass.
O Why in these areas? All coastal areas ecologically sensitive
to some degree because of reef/shelf activity -- rich ecosystems;
critical barrier functions. However, current moratoria are more
significantly a product of the squeeky wheel gettin' the grease (or in
this case -- not gettin' the grease (i.e. -- those states that have
protested most loudly have gotten the protection) ) )
o Further extensions possible: Miller got language in House energy
bill that extends moratorium to all coastal waters except most of
Alaska (there is currently a moratorium in Bristol Bay) and the
Western Gulf (again -- doesn't even try to touch Texas or Louisiana).
This is currently being duked out in conference.
****
MORE DETAILED BACKGROUND:
A. The Bush record. I'm assuming here that you have seen the
flip/flop document that Little Rock ginned up (am faxing again just in
case).
B. The Bush Declaration:
Soon after taking office in February of 1989, Bush announced that
three of the most controversial of the OCS lease sales proposed by
Interior under Reagan would be delayed until a Cabinet-level task
force could evaluate the environmental consequences of drilling in
those areas. The Florida Keys was one of these parcels; other two
were in California (one in Southern California; other in Northern
California). The task force concluded that the leases should be
delayed until extensive environmental testing could be done on the
areas.
On June 26, 1990, Bush followed the task force recommendation and
declared a moratorium on oil and gas leasing and development off most
of California and the area south of the 26 degrees north latitude line
in Florida, which comprises the Keys and the area leading into the
Everglades. Although there is no oil and gas production within
these areas, 73 active leases are held there by 10 companies. The
Bush proposal advocated cancellation of existing leases and the
initiation of discussions with the state of Florida for its
participation in a joint buyback of the leases.
C. Your Record:
o You voted for a Graham amendment to the energy bill that would have
included the Florida coastline above the 26 latitude line (i.e. -- not
just the Keyes, but the Panhandle, too) in the moratorium on leasing
oil and gas rights. The amendment specified that -- for the areas
outside the Keyes -- the moratorium should be in place until a
comprehensive set of environmental and other studies are completed or
until the year 2002.
O You never supported an outright ban for this area. (Note here,
however, that, because there is currently no drilling activity in the
area, the moratorium amounts to a ban during the period the moratorium
will be kept in effect. This is because, as I understand it,
the effect of a moratorium is to prevent any NEW drilling activity.
It does NOT interfere with drilling that is already going on pursuant
to an outstanding lease, NOR does it prevent the renewal of that lease
when it expires if drilling is still on-going at the time of
expiration (to the best of my knowledge, an active lease is
AUTOMATICALLY renewed). There is not -- and never has been to my
knowledge -- drilling in the Keyes. I am not absolutely certain of
the situation in the rest of the Panhandle. However, I believe that -
- while there are leases outstanding there -- there has not been
drilling or exploratory activity.)
o With respect to the Keyes and the Everglades areas, the Graham
amendment provided for a permanent moratorium on drilling. (This goes
further than the Bush position which is that a moratorium should be in
place until studies are completed or the year 2000).
o Your view is consistent with that of both Senators from Florida,
Graham and Mack. Therefore another justification for your stance is
that this is to a large extent a state's rights issue and you have
supported the right of these states to make that determination.
O Co-sponsored legislation, now law, providing a method of
locating private and government research on environmental issues by
geographic location, The Environmental Research Geographic Location
Information Act.
O Held hearings and led effort, with Rep. Marilyn Lloyd of
Chattanooga, to establish TIGER TEAMS to investigate environmental
contamination and human health and safety concerns due to radioactive
and toxic waste produced at national labs and weapons facilities.
####
** NOTE: This includes ONLY legislation passed. It does not include
legislation introduced by Sen. Gore or, Sen. Gore's other activities
and accomplishments on these issues.
Boston Sunday Globe
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1992
THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE
DECEMBER 13. 1992
Gore playing key role in shaping transition
President-elect
Bill Clinton and
Al Gore 'developed
Senator's influence seen in policy and personnel choices
this intense
trusting
In this case, though, the reality
Gore has had an impact on every
Transition officials acknowledged
unusually close rapport during the
By Adam Pertman
belies the image.
Cabinet appointment
even if it is
that portraying Gore as a key player
fall campaign, they said, and Clinton
relationship on
CLOBESTATE
According to senior Democratic
in a modest form," said Roy M. Neel,
serves Clinton well. It sends a signal
seems intent on maintaining it after
the campaign
officials in Washington and Arkan-
the Tennessee senator's chief of
that the new White House will re-
taking office next month.
truil and it
WASHINGTON - There have
sas, Gore has been playing an un-
staff.
main true to the issues Gore has
"Skeptics beware, history teach-
been few public sightings of Vice
precedented rule during Bill Clin-
Bruce Reed, one of Clinton's
championed, they said, and demon-
es you nothing on this count." said a
evident every day
President-elect AI Gore since Elec-
ton's transition to power: The offi-
principal domestic advisers, made
strates that Clinton will live up to his
senior Clinton aide in Little Rock,
now.
tion Day. And, when he has ap-
cials said Gore has not only been
the same point in a separate inter.
vow to give his No. 2 unprecedented
referring to vice presidents being
BRUCE REED
peared. he's been standing silently at
helping shape policy but also has ex-
view in Washington. He said Clinton
responsibilities.
relegated to attending funerals or
Clinton aide
press conferences in Little Rock.
erted considerable influence in the
sought Gore's advice on a wide range
At the same time, the officials in-
given some specific limited responsi-
Ark, looking every hit the tradition.
selection of top-level administration
of personnel and policy questions.
sisted that there is nothing cosmetic
bilities.
al running mate whose primary por-
nominees.
particularly relating to foreign af.
or temporary about Core's influence.
"Besides," the aide added, "all
pose helping his party win - has
"I think it's fair to say that Al
fairs and the environment.
:
The two running mates developed an
you have to do is look at how much
already been served
clout Al has excercised already to
understand that this is really, really
different."
The clearest example of Gore's
PAGE 2
sway thus far was last week's selec-
tion of Carol Browner as administra-
tor of the Environmental Protection
Agency. Browner was a top aide in
Gore's Senate office before assuming
her current post as Florida's envi-
ronmental enforcement chief.
Sources said that, when the ini-
tial list of prospects for the EPA job
was drawn up, Browner was not
even on it, but was added at her for-
mer boss' suggestion. The sources
stressed that Browner rose to the
top of most transition officials' lists
on her own merit, and that Gore was
careful not to disparage the other
candidates - including former Ver-
mont Gov. Madeleine Kunin, who
most observers thought would win
the EPA post.
Still, Gore got his first choice
when Clinton made his final cut.
Gore also cast his shadow, albeit
more faintly, during last week's dis-
cussions on nominations for key
Clinton administration economic
posts.
Lawrence Summers, a highly re-
garded Harvard economist, had
been considered a top candidate for
the new post of Economic Security
Adviser. But, when he was chief
powerful agencies as the Federal
and in areas of the federal govern-
economist at the World Bank, Sum-
Communications Commission and
ment where Clinton has less experi-
mers had written a memo in which
the Federal Trade Commission.
ence," said Neel.
he raised the prospect of disposing
banker Robert Rubin.
Already, Democratic officials
He pointed out that Gore is one
of toxic waste in developing nations.
Besides the environment, on
said, Gore has influenced public
of a handful of close Clinton advisors
Summers has since said he was
which Gore is considered one of the
statements made by Clinton on such
who discusses final decisions in the
merely offering an option, not an
nation's authorities, officials inter-
international issues as US involve-
governor's mansion in Little Rock
opinion, but Gore is known to have
viewed last week said they expected
ment in Bosnia and Somalia. And,
every night.
become wary of the economist as a
his recommendations to be given
they said, his recommendations have
"They developed this intense
result. While Gore reportedly did
particular weight in the areas of for-
been incorporated into the new ad-
trusting relationship on the cam-
not try to undermine Summers'
eign policy, technology and commu-
ministration's ethics guidelines and
paign trail and it's evident every day
prospects for the security adviser's
nications. That presumably includes
still-developing government-reorga-
now," Reed, the domestic policy aide,
job, the senator's allies made their
policy and personnel decisions af-
nization blueprints.
said. "I think you can bet that won't
displeasure known to Clinton, and
fecting such pivotal Cabinet depart-
"Clinton has relied on him heav-
change once they move into the
the position went to investment
ments as state and defense, and such
ily on both people-related matters
White House."
THE BOSTON GLOBE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1992
ENVIRONMENT
Remaking society to save the planet
By Ross Gelbspan
Gore asks radical global fix
GLOBE STAFF
ike a freight train
ously oppose an administration-sponsored
and pollution.
careening downhill out
energy bill that would create hundreds of
In "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and
of control, the planet
oil, coal and nuclear power plants over the
the Human Spirit," Gore makes the case
Earth seems to many
next four decades while doing little to pro-
for such steps by relentlessly cataloguing
scientists to be speeding
mote conservation and renewable energy
a list of accelerating planetary catastro-
toward environmental
sources.
phes - global warming, climate change,
apocalypse.
But those initiatives pale in the face of
sea level rise, deforestation, skyrocketing
Many despair of do-
his global blueprint, which includes a "Glo-
population growth - that threaten the sur-
ing anything about it,
bal Marshall Plan" to stabilize skyrocket-
vival of civilization.
but Sen. Al Gore (D-
ing population and halt deforestation and
Tenn.), a 1988 presidential contender and
destructive agricultural practices in devel-
In a particularly impolitic chapter,
a leader in the US Senate, has decided to
oping countries; to switch from oil, coal
Gore, the scion of one of Tennessee's lead-
throw his political future across the
and nuclear energy to solar, wind and oth-
ing Democratic families, warns Americans
tracks.
er renewables; impose stringent taxes on
they are fundamentally alienated from na-
He has done so in a new book that calls
virgin materials to force producers to re-
ture and their own experience, a split that
on Americans, and the world, to apply the
cycle andreuse products; and change the
has led to what he calls a "dysfunctional
brakes by embracing individual, societal
way national budgets are calculated to re-
civilization" marked by addictive con-
and economic life-style changes that would
flect the true costs of resource depletion
GORE, Page 33
seem sweeping and radical coming from
the environmental establishment, let alone
SEN. AL GORE
from the heart of the po-
litical mainstream.
Its call for restructur-
ing modern civilization
WE'RE NEARING ATHRESHOLD.BEYOND WHICH PEOPLE WILL REALIZE
around the principle of
global environmental re-
THAT THIS RIDICULOUS AND ABSURD FRENZY OF EXPLOITATION IS
demption proposes strate-
gies far more radical on
REALLY A DUMB PATTERNE WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THINGS THAT TODAY
Capitol Hill than anything
publicly espoused by many
SEEM POLITICALLY IMPOSSIB LID WILLTHEN BE POLITICALLY IMPERATIVE.
environmental groups,
concerned about their credibility in the
hardball world of political compromise.
Gore's interest in environmental issues
is nothing new. Last week, the Senate vot-
ed 96 to 0 to adopt his resolution to speed
the phase-out of ozone-depleting chemi-
cals. And colleagues expect him to vigor-
Rem akir g society to save plane
GORE
with the caution of environmental
Continued from Page 29
leaders who feel that in the world of
sumption of oil and natural re-
Washington politics they can win
sources and an escalating frenzy of
only marginal improvements, saying
empty and unfulfilling consumerism.
the senator is "willing to be candid
and honest about the future of the
Although many of the ideas and
data in Gore's book come from scien-
planet, and tell people the shocking
tists and other environmental think-
truth about what's really required."
Gore himself insists that his book
ers, some who have read it say it is
so radical that Gore runs the risk of
is not politically motivated, but some
marginalizing his political career.
critics on Capitol Hill, who asked not
"Maybe Gore feels his stage is out-
to be named, question his disclaimer.
side the Senate and that's why he
They note that while seeking the
wrote a book like this," said a senior
presidential nomination in 1988,
Senate staffer who asked not to be
Gore rode the environmental issue
named.
as hard as he could - until it became
But others believe that, rather
clear the Democratic selection would
than courting political disaster, Gore
turn on other issues.
is speaking over the heads of a hos.
tile Washington establishment to a
A personal rubleon
more receptive public.
He dismisses the political tea-leaf
"Gore is doing a smart thing po-
reading, saying that three years ago
litically," said David Gardiner, the
he crossed a personal threshold in
Washington-based legislative direc-
which political aspirations were
tor of the Sierra Club. "His book is
overwhelmed by conscience. The is-
likely to be very well received by the
sue. he said, is how to reconcile the
public. The people who find his ideas
need for radical remedies with the
scary are the lobbyists who don't
incremental change of the politically
want to make the changes we need
possible.
to make."
"I've tried in find the outer
"I think Gore's book is a signal of
boundary of what is politically feasi-
how mainstream the public's concern
ble within the framework we have,"
about the environmental crisis has
he said in an interview last week.
become. The public is far ahead of
"But I see social markers which are
most politicians on these issues," he
expanding that boundary. People ob-
added, citing a survey that found 80
ject when their backyards are
percent of Americans would pay
threatened by a new landfill or incin-
more for cars that achieved 45 miles
erator. But people's definition of
per gallon of gas.
backyard is changing. Each breath
"Al Gore's prescription - which is
we Lake has 600 percent more chlo-
hold enough to actually cure the pa-
rine than 40 years ago. The new in-
Gent puts him several orders of
tensity of storms due to climate
magnitude beyond where Congress,
changes will also affect backyards.
the President or either political par-
"When people make the connec-
ty is willing (1) go," said James
tion between their own backyards
Maddy, director of the Washington-
and the devastation of global envi-
based League of Conservation Vot-
conment, you will see the same in-
1988 GLOUE STAFF SUZANNE
contrasted Gords boldness
He expressed disdain for those
Observers in Congress note that
droughts, flood and storms, pro-
internal ecology 01 numan feelings
who say the global danger is being
Gore has long had an environmental
pelled by a growing atmospheric
and responses by the numbing pow-
exaggerated. He specifically chal-
focus, focusing on toxic waste prob-
overload of carbon dioxide and other
er of alienation and denial, which has
lenged a small minority of scientists,
lems as a young congressman and
"greenhouse gases." Those changes,
deafened leaders and paralyzed
actively supported by the Bush Ad-
helping establish the 42-nation In-
accompanied by rising sea levels, are
many of the world's people.
ministration, who deny there is a cri-
terparliamentary Conference on the
being accelerated by the ferocious
On one level, he wrote, politi-
SIS because of scientific uncertainties
Global Environment, an internation-
destruction of forests that consume
cians, news editors and individuals
about patterns of variation and spe-
al group to monitor global climate
carbon dioxide and replenish our
who refuse to address the threat
cific causes and effects. Gore corn-
change.
oxygen supply.
"are really saying they simply do not
pared them to tobacco company sci-
But, Gore says, it was a conver-
want to think about the disruption
It also forecasts rapid wilting of
entists who cite the lack of proven
gence of seismic personal changes,
that would accompany any serious
the food supply under the pressure
specific pathways by which smoking
marked by deep frustration and
effort to confront the problem."
of wasteful and destructive agricul-
causes cancer to deny the over-
pain, that prompted him to write his
At a deeper level, the apathy is
tural practices.
whelming evidence of such a link.
book. During his aborted 1988 presi-
caused by "dysfunctional patterns of
Just as the United States rebuilt
And it suggests the inevitability
dential run, he recalled, he gave
behavior" resulting from losing
of overpopulation coming to an
Europe after World War II in a poli-
speech after speech about environ-
touch with humanity's natural roots.
abrupt halt in a massive population
cy of enlightened self-interest,
mental problems "only to pick up the
crash driven by drought, famine, de-
Gore's book urges the developed na-
newspapers the next day and see not
forestation or other causes.
tions to embark on a "Global Mar-
one reference to those speeches."
shall Plan" to eliminate the buildup
"I started to wonder whether
Among other findings Gore cites
of greenhouse gases by switching to
those issues were peripheral after
to support his alarm:
"People object when their
renewable, non-polluting energy
all. I began to doubt my own political
While the global average tem-
backyards are threatened
sources such as solar, wind and pho-
judgment, so I began to ask the poll-
perature dropped by slightly more
by a new landfill or
tovoltaic cells It also calls for drastic
sters what they thought I ought to
than 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit during
Incinerator. But people's
reduction in the use of industrial
talk about," he wrote. As a result, "I
the Earth's last "little" ice age be-
definition of backyard is
chemicals and soil-depleting chemi-
discussed what everybody else dis-
tween 1550 and 1850, scientists ex-
cal-intensive agriculture. And it calls
cussed, which too often was a. list
changing."
pect it to increase 4.5 to 7.2 degrees
on the world to provide education,
of what insiders agree are the is-
SEN. AL CORE
over the next 50 years.
infant health care and contraceptives
sues'."
Atmospheric concentrations of
to women in poor countries to check
Then, in 1989, he says, he under-
carbon dioxide have ranged from 200
population growth.
went a period of soul-searching after
to 300 parts per million during the
his six-year-old son was hit and
last two ice ages, but is expected to
Driven to consume
Factoring In hidden costs
nearly killed by a car. During the
skyrocket to 600 ppm in 50 years
The source of the crisis lies in
Key to his plan is worldwide
weeks he and his wife spent in the
The world's tropical rain for-
adoption of an economic budgeting
our "addiction to the consumption of
hospital caring for their child, Gore
ests, which consume carbon dioxide
system that includes the hidden
the Earth itself," he wrote, an addic-
wrute, he realized "the change that
costs of pollution and resource deple-
and provide homes to millions of spe-
tion that "distracts us from the pain
sought me out in the middle of my
cies, are being destroyed at the rate
tion in calculating the Gross Nation-
of what we have lost: a direct experi-
life
gave me a new sense of ur-
of one football field per second, more
ence of our connection to the
at Product, an approach advocated
na-
gency about those things I value the
than one Tennessee per year.
tural world
by several economists who say the
most."
Partly as a result, wildlife spe-
That addiction must be faced be-
current system masks massive costs
that then fall on future generations.
cies are being destroyed a thousand
fore it can be curbed, he asserts, for
A horrifying tableau
Gore, again echoing economists,
times faster than at any time in his-
only then "can we recognize the de-
The result, "Earth in the Bal-
says that by reducing pollution and
tory.
structive impact" of our habits. That
ance" (published by Houghton Miff-
increasing energy efficiency, firms
Earth's population, which grew
is the first step, "toward mourning
lin), presents a horrifying tableau of
actually increase competitiveness by
to 2 billion between the dawn of hu-
what we have lost, healing the dam-
accelerating, unrestrained destruc-
finding ways to improve production,
man history and 1945, will more than
age we have done to the Earth and
tion that threatens in the next few
maximize the ingenuity of their
quadruple, to 9 billion, by 2020.
to our civilization, and coming to
decades to stress the global environ-
workforces and cut waste.
At the same time, Gore says,
terms with what it means to be a
ment to the breaking point.
there has been a destruction of the
steward of the Earth."
It foresees massive climate
change marked by wild increases in
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1992
EDITORIALS
Environmental Distortions
Among his targets for the fall re-election cam-
party. Those in control now cast the issue as environ-
paign; Vice President Dan Quayle has chosen "Earth
mental protection versus jobs, though that is seldom
In The Balance," the recent and now controversial
the case. And too often they are willing to allow
book by his opposite number, Sen. Al Gore. Mr. Gore,
industry to pass on the cost of environmental degra-
the Democratic nominee for vice president, has writ-
dation to the general public.
ten of the difficulties of sustaining life on this planet
Conversely, Democrats across the board do not
at the present rate of consumption, particularly in
believe that human beings and economic develop-
highly industrialized countries like the United States.
ment are incompatible. But many do believe that
Here is how Mr. Quayle summed up the differ-
great care must be given when forests are felled and
ences in the environmental philosophies of the Re-
lands mined, lest permanent damage to the environ-
publican and Democratic parties. In a speech last
ment be done.
week to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Mich.,
They believe, like moderate Republicans, that
Mr. Quayle said: "We envision
scarce resources should be hus-
man as the harvester, working
banded, that wastes that come
with the Earth to raise up
from economic inefficiencies
homes and cities, respecting
are wastes that cannot' be sus-
nature but shaping it to legiti-
tained. And they realize that
mate ends.
They [Demo-
small, thoughtful changes in liv-
crats] view man more as an
ing habits can sometimes result
uninvited guest here on Earth,
in great savings for society,
settling down and consuming
whether that be by a fuel tax that
resources to which he has no
encourages greater efficiency or
right."
by insulation standards that
What a gross oversimplifi-
make homes cheaper to heat and
cation. The modern American
cool.
environmental movement be-
Mr. Gore's views are neither
gan with such Republicans as Theodore Roosevelt,
new nor extreme, but he does argue that sometimes
who Believed in setting aside precious resources like
painful measures may have to be taken by govern-
the national parks for future generations to enjoy.
ment and individuals to curtail activities by human
Many moderate Republicans who recoil at the exis-
beings that are counterproductive in the long run.
tence of the likes of Dan Quayle in their party long
And part of the burden will fall on Americans, who
have worked to protect and preserve the environ-
consume more per capita in fuel, food and raw
ment for one and all. Other Republicans have em-
materials than any other nationality in the world,
braced the concept of conservation to save trees,
now or in the past. Mr. Gore's message is complex.
minerals, wildlife and vegetation.
Unfortunately, that makes it vulnerable to the cheap
But those Republicans are not in control of the
distortions of a Dan Quayle.
The Philadelphia Unquirer
Wednesday, September 16, 1992
Saving earth for and from mankind
How can we have a healthy econ-
By JAMES R. SPOTILA
omy if WC do not have a healthy
S
cn. Al Gore's Earth in the Bal.
TaylorJoner
environment One of the most pre.
scient actions of late was America's
ance is the most important
passage clean water and air legisla.
book of the decade, not because
tion during the 1960's and 1970's. We
it contains the answer. but because
only have to compare our environ.
it focuses on the question. How do
ment to that of eastern Europe to
we face a global environmental cri-
appreciate the horror WC avoided
sis that threatens civilization as we
and the high quality of life we ob-
know it?
tained by those actions. Money in-
If we continue our neglect of eco-
vested in that effort paid for itself in
logical issues. the end will not come
jobs and quality of life a hundred
with a bang. as in a nuclear war, but
times over.
will arrive imperceptibly. Our
The question is not, as Gore's crit.
grandchildren might not enjoy the
ICS would have it, which do you
clean air and water, the protective
want, jobs or a clean environment?
sky and changing scasons that WC
The question is. how do we create
expect as our birthright.
jobs that contribute to maintaining
Sen. Gore points out in accessible
a sustainable and safe environ-
language that if we do not begin to
ment? Since 1970 many companies
address that growing environmen-
have grown. created jobs and pros-
tal threat now, we may be able to
pered by combining concern for en-
accumulate short-term profits for a
vironmental quality with techno-
while. but our long-term legacy will
be a world barren of nature due 10 a
logical innovation.
The 3-M company improved prof.
depleted ozone shield.
its with its Pollution Prevention
Gore exhorts us to change our
ways of thinking and of doing busi-
Pays program Xerox and Dow insti-
tuted similar measures. Here in the
ness.
Delaware Valley. Betz Laboratories
Since these'conclusions have long
been obvious to environmental sci-
Roy F Weston, Inc. and Environ.
entists, it was with more than a little
mental Tectonics Corp. have grown
skepticism that I began to read Sen.
to employ over 6,000 blue collar,
technical and scientific workers.
Gore's book. To my surprise, i was
compelled not only by his clear pre-
They have demonstrated that caring
sentation of the data on global
for the environment and creating
warming. ozone depletion and other
jobs are compatible.
environmental horror stories. but
Gore sets six strategic goals for
also by his proposed solution to the
THE
the Global Marshall Plan.
crisis - A Global Marshall Plan.
in
BALANCE
Stabilizing the world popula-
tion.
Gore calls for improved automo-
bile technology - such as the Japa-
Rapid creation and develop-
nese ceramic engine that runs at
ment of environmentally appropri-
higher temperatures and thus mini-
atc technologies.
mizes pollution - because our cars
A comprehensive change in the
with their outdated engines pose "a
economic "rules of the road" by
mortal threat to the security of
which we measure the impact of our
every nation that is more deadly
decisions on the environment.
ALBERT GORE
than that of any military enemy WC
Los
JONES
The negotiation and approval of
are ever again likely to confront."
a new generation of international
He's right. A 2-10-5 degree Celsius rise in global
Sen. Gore makes clear we must act to change
agreements to make the overall plan a success.
temperature poses a greater danger to the U.S.
our approach to the environment Not to act now
The establishment of a cooperative plac for
than Iraq does.
would be to bequeath our grandchildren a life SO
educating the world's citizens about our global
There is nothing more important to our future
filled with disease and famine that they would
environment.
than 8 safe and sustainable environment. With-
look back and rue the selfish actions WC are
The establishment, especially in the devel-
out it there is no economy and our civilization
taking today.
oping world, of the social and political cond:-
will fade into oblivion.
Sen. Gore states, "We tolerate
the violation
tions most conducive to the emergence of sus-
For America to maintain a viable environ-
of the rights of those who will come after us. As
tainable societies
ment, Sen. Gore advocates government plan.
we strip-mine the earth at a completely unsus-
An environmental scientist could not have
ning like that used to build up our military
tainable rate. we are making it impossible for
said It better.
strength during World War II and the Cold War.
our children's children to have a standard of
After 12 years of undermining support of
Over the last 12 years our government has
living even remotely similar to ours."
family centered programs. the Republicans are
minimized our environmental crisis while
He also contends. "With the future so.open to
maximizing short-term economic gains. The
doubt, WC routinely choose to indulge our own
talking to us about family values. Don't they
Reagan and Bush administrations have disman-
generation at the expense of all who will follow.
think family values also include ensuring that
We enshrine the self as the unit of ethical
our grandchildren have clean air to breathe end
tled our environmental safeguards, cancelled
account, separate and distinct not just from the
clean water to drink?
ecological studies, and gutted the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency (EPA). Though the sav-
natural world'but even from a sense of obliga-
If you care about your grandchildren. read
ings and loan ballout and budget deficit are on
tion to others - not just others In future gener-
Gore's book.
the national agenda. if we fail to take action on
ations, but increasingly even to others in the
the environment, the costs of the "Environmen-
same generation; and not Just those in distant
James R. Spotila is a professor 01 environmental
tal Debacle" will dwarf both of these problems.
lands, but increasingly even in our own."
science at Drexel University.
rain forest and to the globe's other envi-
REVIEWS
ronmental Stations of the Cross. He
knows too much, however, to indulge in
mere sentimentalism about Earth-Moth-
erhood, or to join a doctrinaire rush to
simplification.
In drawing a line connecting the in-
dividual to the global, Gore here and
there sounds as if his inner Ancient
Mariner had lingered too long in adult-
BOOKS
until he came to rest in a gutter." The
children seminars with John Bradshaw,
child, at first near death, eventually re-
and humankind might 12-step the earth
A Crisis as
covered. It was in his son's hospital
green again. Still, the vocabularies of
room in Baltimore that Gore began writ-
the recovery movement open interest-
Real as Rain
ing Earth in the Balance.
ing windows upon a civilization that is
Since the book arises in part from a
dysfunctional, much given to denial, ad-
moment of personal crisis, it speaks
diction, co-dependency and brutal na-
with a certain passionate authenticity, a
ture abuse.
TITLE: EARTH IN THE BALANCE
ring of the unfakable that is rare enough
If the future (to use Gore-esque im-
AUTHOR: AL GORE
in the (usually ghostwritten) outpour-
agery) remains as dark as a mine shaft,
PUBLISHER: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; 407
ings of politicians. The American public,
humankind has at least begun to notice
PAGES; $22.95
much afflicted by sound bites, has all but
the alarming accumulation of dead ca-
THE BOTTOM LINE: A work of intelligence
abandoned hope for intelligent life in
naries about its feet. In part because of
and passionate authenticity.
Washington. It may be impressed by
his son's accident-and perhaps in part
By LANCE MORROW
Gore's sustained intellectual concentra-
because of George Bush's overwhelming
tion and mastery of his subject, the envi-
popularity in the polls after Desert
ENATOR AL GORE HAD JUST
ronment. Gore has studied it a while. In
Storm-Al Gore decided to sit out the
S
turned 40 years old. His presi-
the 1988 campaign, the Senator held the
1992 campaign. Instead of Gore for Pres-
dential campaign had broken up
wedding guests with his glittering eye
ident, the public has his book, which is
in the primaries the previous
and talked about such obscurities as the
itself an act of leadership.
spring. Then, as he reports, "one after-
greenhouse effect and the thinning
noon in April 1989, I walked out of a
ozone. Another candidate said he
baseball stadium and saw my son, Al-
sounded as if he were running for na-
bert, then six years old, get hit by a car,
tional scientist.
TELEVISION
fly thirty feet through the air and scrape
The subjects are less obscure now. In
along the pavement another twenty feet
Earth in the Balance Gore writes, "The
global environmental crisis
Graduating
is, as we say in Tennessee,
real as rain, and I cannot
With Honors
stand the thought of leaving
my children with a degraded
SHOW: THE COSBY SHOW
earth and a diminished
TIME: THURSDAY. APRIL 30, 8 P.M. EDT. NBC,
future."
FOR THE LAST TIME
Gore has produced a la-
THE BOTTOM LINE: The most successful
bor of statesmanship, evan-
sitcom of the '80s makes a graceful exit.
gelism and scientific exposi-
tion. He does not SO much
By RICHARD ZOGLIN
break new ground as orga-
nize a wide variety of mate-
OTHING ON TV AGES FASTER
rial and experience to state
N
than a family show. The regu-
the case of environmental
lars at the Cheers bar or the
urgency and the need for
M*A*S H unit can stick
change, for what he calls a
around for years, with only occasional
"Global Marshall Plan." He
cast changes to accommodate stars who
has digested books, made
want to get into movies. But kids have a
friends with experts and
bad habit of growing up. Anyone tuning
traveled. Gore went, for ex-
in after a few years' absence to this
ample, to the Aral Sea in
week's final episode of The Cosby Show
Central Asia-10 years ago
may get a shock. Theo (Malcolm-Jamal
the fourth largest inland sea
Warner), a junior-high student when
CYNTHIA JOHNSON FOR TIME
in the world, now dead, its
the series began, is graduating from col-
fishing fleets stranded sur-
lege. Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), once
really in dry desert. The wa-
a pudgy preteen, is in college too. and
ter that once fed the Aral
has weathered a broken engagement.
was diverted in an ill-consid-
Cute little Rudy (Keshia Knight Pul-
ered irrigation project to
liam) has ceded the spotlight to a passel
Gore at home near Washington: his travels took him
grow cotton. Gore traveled
of even cuter, littler kids: Olivia, 6. step-
to the Aral Sea, now dead, and other disasters
to the vanishing Amazon
daughter of No. 2 daughter Denise (who
76
TIME, MAY 4. 1992
THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
August 10, 1992
Sound Environment, Sound Economy
The simple truth is that protecting
tion argued that the United States
BY AL GORE
our environment means new business
could not afford to stabilize emissions
Special to The National Law Journal
and increasing profits. Protecting our
of carbon dioxide, the major cause of
environment ensures that the United
global warming, at 1990 levels by the
THE AMERICAN people are being
States will remain competitive in the
year 2000. That argument ignored the
asked to choose between protecting our
International marketplace in the fu-
administration's own data and anal-
environment and strengthening our
ture. It means strengthening our econ-
yses showing that we can not only af-
omy. It means meeting the challenge
ford to stabilize emissions through vol-
economy. That's the choice President
George Bush and Vice President Dan
from our competitors, such as Germa-
untary energy conservation and other
ny and Japan and others already mov-
measures, but we can do it at a profit.
Quayle are asking us to make. It is not
just short-sighted, it is irresponsible.
ing to secure their place and their
We can enhance business profits and
And it is just plain wrong.
profits from these growing markets.
protect our environment at the same
Fortunately, the American people
If we fail to act, we lose. We lose jobs,
time.
are getting a second opinion before ac-
we lose opportunities, we lose our natu-
What was once called too expensive
cepting this false choice as true.
ral resources and the brighter future
is now called a bargain too good to
every parent hopes to offer their child.
pass up.
They're willing to work for a strong
economy. And because they care about
For example, during negotiations on
We have had a difficult time in the
protecting the environment they will
a climate convention signed at the
past coming to grips with the fantastic
leave their children, they're willing to
June international Earth Summit In
new powers we've gained from the
work to clean it up.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the administra-
Continued on page 18
THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
A Clean World Is Good for Business
Continued from page 17
and South, industrial countries and de-
process will prevent nearly 9,000 tons
technologies that drive our industrial
veloping countries, that will work to
of CFCs from being released over the
society. Just as nuclear weapons trans-
counter global warming; to preserve
next eight years, while generating sav-
formed the consequences of all-out
our dwindling forest resources and
Ings of $50 million.
warfare, so thousands of new technol-
other critical ecosystems; and to clean
Companies with the best environ-
ogies that magnify our ability to ex-
our air, our fresh-water resources and
mental strategies will lead business in
ploit the earth have transformed our
our oceans.
the 21st century. They are among the
relationship with the earth.
Here at home, we must accelerate
most competitive and profitable. Ja-
At the dawning of the nuclear age,
the development of new technologies
pan has already recognized and seized
Albert Einstein said, "Everything has
that foster economic progress without
upon this economic opportunity
changed, except our way of thinking."
environmental destruction. We must
through energy efficiency and also by
During the last few decades, human
commit to using and promoting renew-
investing in the future.
beings have tried to come to grips with
able energy technologies and work to
For example, Japan's Ministry of In-
a new way of thinking about warfare.
move these programs from the bottom
ternational Trade & Industry began
We have not fully acknowledged the
of the list of priorities to the top. We
work in 1990 to create the Research
debt that all humankind owes to Brazil
can start by taking advantage of the
Institute of Innovative Technology for
and Argentina and other nations in
wealth of expertise and talent in our
the Earth, intended to develop environ-
South America that had the courage to
national labs and other federal facill-
mental technologies. In addition to $80
abandon this technology of nuclear
ties, bringing them together with the
million in seed money from the minis-
weapons and make a pact to stop the
private sector to produce these new
try, Japanese industry invested $45
march that other nations began to-
technologies.
million in the first year of operation.
ward nuclear weaponry. If such pro-
New Technologies
Japanese companies have recognized
gress can be made in the area of war
Policies, technologies and processes
that huge profits can be made by de-
technology, we can certainly move for-
that prevent or stop pollution at its
veloping and using environmental
ward together to improve our manage-
source rather than clean it up later
technology.
ment of industrial technology.
offer unprecedented business opportu-
The American people know, too, that
So now we face the necessity of ar-
nities. Last year, Northern Telecom
we can both save the environment and
riving at a new way of thinking about
Ltd., which has its American head-
strengthen the economy. They know
our relationship to technologies for ex-
quarters in Nashville, Tenn., became
we do not have to sacrifice economic
ploiting the earth. Our successful start
the first major electronics company to
stability and jobs to protect the world
in dealing with CFCs, or chlorofluoro-
eliminate the cleaning solvent CFC-113
around us. It can and must be done.
carbons, give us cause for hope be-
from its manufacturing operations.
The American people want from
cause agreements have been reached
The company used available technolo-
their leaders vision and courage, un-
by most nations of the world that will
gy, working with its customers and
derstanding, compassion and real
eventually result in their phaseout. We
vendors to create alternatives to the
commitment on these issues. They ex-
must build on that success by develop-
CFC solvent. Northern Telecom esti-
pect and deserve leaders who will am-
ing a new partnership between North
mates that the use of the alternative
plify their voices, not overpower them.
The New Republic
Oct. 19, 1992
Green giant
amendments of the 1990 Clean Air Act
time. What is more. the book offers a
re-authorization. including requiring
long-range strategy for asserting Ameri-
the phaseout of ozone-depleting
can leadership in a new system of col-
L
ooking at Al Gore's legislative
hvdrochlorofluorocarbons. His pro-
lective security built around the "cen-
record, one would hardly
posal for a "strategic environmental
tral organizing principle" of environ-
judge him an "environmental
research and development program" to
mentally sustainable economic devel-
extremist." the label the White House
bring the research resources of the
opment.
has tried to pin on him. Though he has
Defense Department to bear on global
The Bush-Quayle campaign has used
been a vocal and effective critic of the
environmental problems was adopted
the book as exhibit A for its charges that
Bush Administration's environmental
in 1990. He was the author of a resolu-
Gore is an extremist. Quayle has called
failures. and though greens support
tion calling for the protection of
it the Democratic "manifesto" and said
him enthusiastically. his ecological vot-
Antarctica from mining and other
that following its recommendations
ing record puts him well into the mid-
development. He was also a leader of
would require sharp increases in taxes
die of the pack of Democratic senators.
the successful effort to bar oil develop-
and lose thousands of jobs. The Repub-
Indeed. Gore's lifetime grade from the
ment from the Arctic National Wildlife
licans are particularly shrill about
League of Conservation Voters. a con-
Refuge. He has been particularly active
Gore's suggestions on the use of carbon
sortium of mainstream environmental
in promoting environmentally sound
taxes to encourage the reduced con-
groups. is a middling seventy-seven out
technology to help restore the nation's
sumption of fossil fuels. hoping once
of a possible 100. Early in his congress-
competitiveness in international mar-
again to stimulate a knee-jerk reaction
ional career. in fact. Gore failed one of
kets. successfully pushing. for example.
10 the word "tax" The Clinton cam-
the environmentalists litmus test issues
for the creation of a new national net-
paign has handled the book rather gin-
of the late 70s by voting against pro-
work of high-speed information "super-
gerly, particularly the carbon tax idea.
tecting the endangered snail darter in
highways" that would link powerful
which it has described as only a sugges.
favor of constructing the Tellico dam
computers with schools and research
tion for study. In fact, Gore's own words
in his home state of Tennessee.
centers. Since his vote on the snail
unmistakably show that he thinks it
Critics in the Bush Administration
darter Gore Thas worked strongly for
would be a good idea. But he also states
want it both wave While branding Gore
the protection for species and habitat."
unequivocally that he is not advocating
an extremist. they accuse him of not
according 10 the League of Conserva-
a tax increase. Under the plan, other
being an effective legislator on the
tion Voters. And as a member of the
taxes would be lowered commensu-
issues. Quite frankly, there is not
House in the late 70s. Gore presided
rately. As for the idea of building a new
much there." said Michael Deland.
over a landmark investigation that dis-
system of collective security around sus-
chairman of the White House Council
closed the magnitude of the nation's
tainable development. it was embraced
on Environmental Quality. "There has
hazardous waste problem. Shortly
by almost all governments at the Earth
been a lot of rhetoric but not much in
thereafter. he co-sponsored the Super-
Summit in Rio. If Gore is an extremist
the way of performance." Administra-
fund bill to clean up toxic waste sites.
for proposing it, so are the leaders of
tion officials point out that Gore was
Gore is not a member of "The Club."
Germany, Japan, and other industrial-
not a major player on many of the most
the coterie of influential senators who
ized democracies.
important environmental bills taken
cut deals over legislation. But despite
The good news for Gore is that the
up by recent Congresses. These
his lack of insider status. he is without
extremist tag does not appear 10 be
include the Clean Air Act amendments
question the most prominent environ-
sticking. even within the Administra-
of 1990, the 1990 farm bill. the national
mental activist in the United States
tion. Gore "cares a lot and knows a lot
energy strategy, the highway bill, the
Congress. His leadership stems from
about the issues," EPA administrator
elevation of the EPA to cabinet level, the
his demonstrated ability to recognize,
William K. Reilly said in a recent televi-
oil pollution act. nuclear liability legis-
master, and articulate emerging issues.
sion interview, adding. "I don't think
lation, and others. Indeed, even some
He has been well ahead of the curve on
he's an environmental extremist." Of
environmental lobbvists sav Gore has
issues from hazardous waste in the '70s
course, within the administration,
been less influential than he could be
to global warming. destruction of the
Reilly's a bit of a fringe figure himself.
because he does not serve on the Sen-
earth's protective ozone laver, and the
ate Environment and Public Works
disappearance of species in the '80s
PHILIP SHABECOFF
Committee or any other key committee
and '90s. Earth in the Balance, Gore's
concerned with environmental mat-
best-selling book on the global environ-
Philip Shabecoffs book on the envi-
ters.
ment, is a meticuloush researched,
ronmental movement, A Fierce Green
In fact. Gore's record is substantial.
careful analy sis of some of the most
Fire, will be published in January by Hill
He was the author of several major
important geopolitical issues of our
& Wang.
20 THE NEW REPUBLIC OCTOBER 19. 1992
We must understand what we cannot forget.
THE ECOLOGY OF SURVIVAL
By Al Gore
T
heories about history are built on sand. Yet
mense empires began to die with the Archduke Ferdi-
millions have died believing in their ultimate
nand. The World War hardly made the world safe for
truth. It's because we have paid such a high
democracy, but it did put the foes of democracy on
price for historical theorizing that we can ill
notice. The period since then represents a succession of
afford to lose our perspective now, or to stop thinking
struggles between democratic powers and tyranny in all
about where we've been and what it tells us about where
its guises. In 1914, as Europe descended into carnage,
we're going. To paraphrase Santayana, those who can-
by far the greater number of the world's peoples lived
not remember the past ought to be condemned to
under tvrannies. But of the major nations that went to
reread it.
war in Europe, only the established democracies sur-
Seventy-five years, the measure of one magazine, is
vived with their political systems intact. The interwar
now the measure of one human lifetime-the number
years were marked by philosophical as well as geopoliti-
of years an American child born today can expect to
cal struggles on a global scale, with the ideologies of
live. Looking back 75 years, we can accept or ignore any
fascism, communism, and democracy in contention. In
number of political, cultural, or strategic lessons. Look-
World War II. not only was fascism defeated; its exem-
ing ahead into the life of that child, however, we see two
plars underwent apparently permanent societal conver-
indisputable patterns. With the invention of nuclear
sions, from which they emerged as democracies them-
weapons we changed the character of warfare in ways
selves. Now we appear to be experiencing the rapid
that must preclude any conflict on the scale of the one
dissolution of Communist tyranny. The process is ad-
that began in 1914. That lesson is widely understood,
vancing in Europe and perhaps gathering strength in
and we have some basis for hoping that it will guide our
Asia, the result of irresistible internal forces that can be
future affairs. The second dramatic change has not yet
set back but not permanently stopped.
been so widely accepted. Humankind has suddenly en-
In the developing worlds of Latin America, Africa,
tered into a new relationship with the planet Earth. Our
and Asia, the battle between democratic and tyrannical
survival depends upon our capacity to grasp, and quick-
forms of government has been less decisive. Neverthe-
ly, the extent to which the current pattern of world
less, over the last decade the trend has been toward
civilization threatens the ecological system that sustains
democratic forms, from Argentina and Brazil to the
life as we know it.
Philippines. Looking at this pattern. some conclude that
From this side of the Atlantic, at least, the future
humankind is maturing out of tutelage. throwing off
looked better in 1914. Back then America didn't need a
submission to the arbitrary rule of those who claim
coup in Panama; that year we opened the Canal. Pro-
legitimacy by divine right or historical "law" and em-
ductivity growth in the United States was almost too fast
bracing instead the self-rule that derives its legitimacy
to measure. In the fall of 1913 a Model T came off the
from the will of the electorate. Perhaps so. But experi-
assembly line at Henry Ford's new Highland Park plant
ence ought to make us wary of premature declarations
every 12 hours. By the spring of 1914 that plant was
of victory, and we should certainly reject the idea that
producing one car every hour. The world environment
we have arrived at the end of political history. The
was as untrampled as the poppies in Flanders Fields.
human imagination is much 100 fertile for that, and the
The biggest threat to the rain forest was Tarzan, cre-
human capacity for inventing systems of political belief
ated that year by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
has not exhausted itself. We can expect that "isms" will
From politics to art, the world was breaking loose
continue to appear, displa ring others in the hearts and
from the old order. The acceleration of history was
minds of millions, over cycles of time that may run from
already well under way. Einstein's theory of relativity
decades to centuries and even to millennia.
had jolted science. Cubism was fracturing the way art-
Yet because of the events and accomplishments of
ists interpreted the world. Ancient dynasties and im-
the last 75 years, there are indeed critical. and perma-
nent, new factors in the life of humanity. These relate to
AL GORE is a U.S. Sena: from Tennessee.
the physical world, whose constants are beyond the
26 THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OF THE NEW REPUBLIC NOVEMBER 6. 1989
power of ideological manipulation. We have, in the
times greater than at any time in the last 65 million
course of a single life span. managed to grasp the levers
years: we are filling the atmosphere with gaseous
of our own destruction: first. in the form of nuclear
wastes that threaten changes to the climatic system in
weapons; and second. in the form of the industrial
the next 75 years as large as those that accompanied
destruction of the biosphere, which has begun to move
the ice ages over hundreds of thousands of years.
ahead at geometric rates of increase. When you consid-
These dramatic changes are taking place not only be-
er the relationship of the human species to the planet
cause the human population is surging and our stan-
Earth. not much change is visible in a single year, in a
dard of living has increased. but because we tolerate
single nation. Yet if you look at the entire pattern of that
environmental vandalism on a global scale.
relationship from the beginning of the modern era in
For 75 years the price we would have to pay for our
1914 until today, the contrast is starkly clear.
actions has seemed impossibly remote. Only now are
In 422 years. from the time of Christopher Columbus
we beginning to see, in Ivan Ilvch's phrase, "the
until 1914, world pop-
shadow our future
ulation tripled, to
Thorstein Veblen Reconsidered George Charney
throws." Whether we
1.6 billion. In the last
look forward in hopes
75 years it has tripled
of glimpsing what the
again, to 5.2 billion.
THE NEW
future holds or gaze
We are told that in the
backward at the events
next 75 years it will
that have dominated
double and perhaps
the world since 1914,
even triple once more.
Nearly every index of
REPUBLIC
we see something that
resembles one of
the impact of modern
those artist's depic-
industrial society fol-
A journal of Politics and the Arts January 22. 1972. 50 cents
tions of relativity the-
lows the same pattern
ory, with time and
of sudden, unprece-
space curved like
dented acceleration.
a checkerboard grid
Americans consumed
How Clean
painted by Salvador
around 40 billion kilo-
Dali. Our political
watt-hours of electric-
itv in 1914. Last year
Is Clean?
awareness of the world
is shaped and bent by
we used 60 times that
events. Vast calamities
much. U.S. produc-
The Editors on Water Pollution
such as the world wars
tion of svnthetic oΓ-
exert
a
power-
ganic chemicals (from
ful gravitational pull
PCBs to pesticides
on every idea we
to plastics) has gone
Moving to the Suburbs Robert Cassidy
have about the world
from almost nothing
Shooting at Henry John Osborne
around us. And, just as
to 225 billion pounds
in Einstein's theory.
per vear-half a ton
War Alexander M Bickel
future events can exert
for every American.
The Old Decency Reed Whittemore
the same gravitational
The world's fossil fuel
Populist Rumblings - Peter Barnes
pull on our thinking as
use has increased ten
events in the past. The
times over, and with it,
political will to slow
carbon dioxide has
down the nuclear arms
flooded the Earth's at-
COVER
1972
race came from the
mosphere. Other greenhouse gases have soared upward
feeling that we were being pulled toward a future we had
at similar rates: U.S. nitrogen oxide emissions are up
never seen but didn't want. Now, as we are being drawn
800 percent since 1914; methane concentrations have
toward the brink of ecological collapse. we must be will-
nearly doubled: and the world's emissions of chloro-
ing to consider drastic ecological action.
fluorocarbons, which had not yet been invented in 1914,
There is no way for humanity 10 forget its skills for
have increased by 80 times since World War II. and are
self-destruction. by war upon each other or by war upon
still doubling every decade, posing a deadly threat to the
the environment. In an exchange of Promethean pro-
Earth's protective ozone shield.
portions. we have acquired deadh knowledge that we
The hole in the ozone laver is only the most widely
can never lose but must learn 10 keep under control
accepted manifestation of a much broader challenge 10
forever. That IS the new and permanent point of depar-
the Earth's environment. We are destroying forest
ture for political wisdom. And if we are 10 succeed in
land at the rate of one acre per second; we are poison-
keeping civilization intact. it is clear that one ism must
ing our rivers, lakes, groundwater, and oceans: we are
be revived and renewed: globalism-by which I mean
causing living species to be destroved at a rate 1.000
not some kind of world order prescribed and imposed
28 THE ISSUE O: THE NEW 6. 1989
from above, but rather a sense of responsibility for the
tal disorder in the not so distant future. For the devel-
good order of the world, rising upward from all of its
oping world. the problems of reconciling economic
peoples, and ultimately manifesting itself in the behav-
growth and environmental protection are compounded
ior of their governments, both domestically and in in-
by high rates of population growth and a massive debt
ternational relations.
burden. Yet the cooperation of Third World nations is
A new globalism cannot be based on some transfor-
crucial to controlling problems as vast as global warm-
mation of human nature, by which people will be en-
ing. Their share of greenhouse gas emissions from
dowed with new virtues of foresight and restraint. In the
fossil fuels could grow from about 20 percent today to
last 75 years we have had enough of efforts to create the
as much as 60 percent by 2050. A Strategic Environ-
New Man in one image or another. Jefferson's educated
ment Initiative would promote environmentally sus-
citizenry will have to suffice. The globalism we need can
tainable development by identifying and spreading new
develop out of roots already universally present. It will
technologies to developing countries, where 95 percent
be an enlightened, informed extension of our desire to
of world population growth will take place during the
survive, and of our often even more intense desire to
next century. Here in the United States, the Strategic
provide for the survival and well-being of our children
Environment Initiative must modernize technologies
and grandchildren. Globalism will be marked by the
and practices in every economic sector. from more fuel-
sense that if our affairs are conducted on the basis of an
efficient cars and energy-efficient appliances to manu-
unlimited struggle for supremacy-whether among na-
facturing that relies on recycled material, to a second
tions or over nature-the result will be an increasingly
green revolution requiring fewer fertilizers and pesti-
high risk of almost immeasurable loss for all. It will be
cides. The emerging consensus for environmental pro-
marked also by a sense that at some level, cooperation
tection is opening the door to solutions once consid-
secures for all of us what strife cannot.
ered politically impossible.
Mikhail Gorbachev now speaks as an advocate of a
globalist approach based on mutual consent, rather than
I will not be enough. however. to change our laws.
hegemony. It IS certainly a revolution of sorts to hear
I
policies, and programs. We must also change the
such things from a Soviet leader. But it is well to remem-
way we think about ourselves, our children. and our
ber that Gorbachev has at best caught up with the doc-
future. For a very long time. we have seen ourselves
trine of collective security as propounded by Woodrow
as separate from the world around us. At least since the
Wilson in 1918 and again by Franklin Roosevelt in 1945.
beginning of the scientific method, and probably since
The essence of the doctrine of collective security is
Aristotle, we have seen nature as the object of our
that security is indivisible and mutual: it must be pro-
experiments, exploitation, and dominion. As scientists
vided for all, by actions to which all must contribute, or
reflected on Einstein's revolution, they discove "ed that
it exists for no one. That is certainly the lesson we must
the act of observing alters what is observed. Heisenberg
apply as we struggle to redefine our security relation-
established that "uncertainty principle" in 1923. But its
ship in military terms. Reductions of strategic and con-
philosophical application is not limited to the subatom-
ventional weapons are desirable, but not in the abstract.
ic world he described. In a kind of Heisenberg Principle
They must seek a result in which the residual forces are
writ large, we have altered-without realizing it-our
perceived by all concerned parties to be stable, in the
relationship to nature itself. We must now create a new
sense of lacking the capacity for decisive surprise. And
pattern of thinking in which we once again see ourselves
reductions must be carried out in a political context that
as a part of the ecological system in which we live. We
buttresses the expectation of peace and justifies dimin-
have lost, so to speak, our eco-librium.
ished preparation for war.
How can we gain sufficient distance from ourselves to
But the notion of mutual security must now move
see a pattern that contains us in a larger context? Mv
from an exclusive concern with security as an issue of
own religious faith teaches me that while we are given
peace or war to a definition of security that includes the
dominion over the Earth, we also are required to be
global environment. With that in mind, I have proposed
good stewards of the Earth. If our actions cause the
a Strategic Environment Initiative (SEI). Let's face it:
destruction of half the living species God put on this
the Strategic Defense Initiative can't assure our survival
Earth during our lifetimes, we will have failed in the
for the next 75 years. A Strategic Environment Initiative
responsibility of stewardship. Are those actions. be.
might. I am no admirer of SDI, but one doesn't have to
cause of their result, "evil"? The answer depends not
be an admirer to recognize that it drew together previ-
upon the everyday nature of the actions, but upon our
ously scattered facilities and resources and that it at-
knowledge of their consequences. For the individual
tracted a generous share of the government's budget
actions that collectively produce the world's environ-
for research and development. We need to approach
mental evil are indeed banal when they are looked at
the technological challenge of environmental protec-
one by one: the cutting of a tree. the flicking on of an air
tion and economic growth with at least the same inten-
conditioner, the dumping of some inconvenient waste.
sity-and with comparable or greater levels of funding.
"Evil" and "good" are terms not used frequently by
If we continue our current pattern of technology and
politicians. Yet I do not see how this problem can be
production, we will be able to achieve economic growth
solved without reference to spiritual values found in el-
in the near term only at the cost of massive environmen-
ery faith. For many scientists on the edge of new discov-
30 THE BITH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OF THE NEW REPUBLIC NOVEMBER 6. 1989
eries in cosmology and quantum physics, the reconcilia-
faith in the future of life on Earth after our own. a faith in
tion of science and religion sometimes now seems near at
the future that justifies sacrifices in the present, a new
hand. It is a reconciliation not unlike the one we seek
moral courage to choose higher values in the conduct of
between humankind and nature. But even without defin-
human affairs, and a new reverence for absolute princi-
ing the problem in religious terms, it is possible to con-
ples that can serve as stars by which to map the future
clude that the solutions we seek will be found in a new
course of our species and our place within creation.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 1990
To Skeptics on Global Warming
thickness of the Earth's diameter, a
alone. It's about drastically changing
By Al Gore Jr.
thin blue line around the crust of the
climatic patterns that affect the dis-
600
Earth Unprecedented population
tribution of rainfall, the intensity of
WASHINGTON
Soaring
growth and new technologies for
storms and droughts and the direc-
hen environ-
580
Levels of CO2
burning fuels, clearing forests and
tions of prevailing winds and ocean
W
mental
and
560
manufacturing chemicals have given
currents, which in turn dramatically
financial
ex-
humankind the ability to alter the
affect our weather and climate. Some
perts
from
540
composition of the atmosphere.
scientists say the first effects will be
around
the
Everywhere on Earth, for example,
erratic weather patterns with ex-
520
world
gath-
each lungful of air now contains 600
tremes of heat and cold.
red in Washington this week for a
500
percent more chlorine atoms than It
Q.: Isn't it easier to adapt to these
Thite House-sponsored conference
did 40 years,ago or 3 billion years
changes than to prevent them?
480
n global warming. they expected a
ago, for that matter. That chlorine is
A.: The changes could occur so
erious discussion. Instead, they were
460
responsible for burning a hole in the
swiftly that effective adaptation
urprised and angered to hear Presi-
stratospheric ozone layer. Similar in-
might become virtually impossible.
ent Bush wholeheartedly endorse
440
creases in methane, nitrous oxide and
The longer we wait, the more un-
elay and inaction.
other polluting gases add to the seri-
pleasant our choices become.
420
Global climate change is real. It IS
ousness of global warming.
We are in fact conducting a mas-
he single most serious manifestation
400
Q: But how can we trust scientists
sive, unprecedented - some say
1 a larger problem: the collision
on this issue when some of them say
unethical - experiment with conse-
ourse between industrial civilization
380
global climate change is real and
quences for all future generations. As
nd the ecological system that sup-
360
some of them say it's not?
orts life as we know it.
A.: Five hundred years ago, most
The purpose of Earth Day is to
340
lert people around the world to that
8 E
scientists said the world was flat.
Most people believed them because
320
npending collision. And yet the Bush
the Earth did indeed look flat. The
You're
dministration, according to a leaked
300
new "model" of a round Earth was
nemo, IS advising its policymakers
based on mathematical calculations
280
wrong on
at "a better approach is to raise the
that they could neither touch nor un-
any uncertainties," and argue with
260
derstand. Similarly, Galileo was pun-
facts and
ther skeptics that nothing should be
CO₂
ished for his then-novel view that the
one until unresolved questions are
240
Earth orbited the sun. instead of the
efinitively answered.
220
2.5
other way around.
reasoning.
What are the skeptics' questions?
In the last 20 years, eminent scien-
:ere are several of the most promi-
200
0
tists continued to ridicule the theory
ent. None of them stands up under
°C
of continental drift. The theory of
180
2.5
crutiny.
global climate change used to be
you make your choice. bear in mind
Q.: Aren't the dire predictions
ridiculed, too. But in the last few
-5.0
that you're choosing not only for your
bout global warming based on un-
years. the overwhelming majority of
own generation but for your grand-
eliable computer models? How do
7.5
scientists who have examined the evi-
children as well. And remember too
e know that there is any correlation
dence have agreed that the problem
that our abuse of the environment
10.0
etween increased levels of carbon
is real.
could lead to the extinction of more
toxide in the atmosphere and
Q.: Didn't NASA just report that
than half of all species within the life-
hanges in temperature?
160
120
80
40
0
new measurements of the Earth's
times of our children.
A. The most compelling evidence
Age: thousands of years
Present
temperature in the last 10 years
Q.1 Isn't the cost of preventing this
omes from careful studies of tiny air
showed no evidence of warming?
The New York Times. Illustration by Januaz Kapusta
problem too high?
ubbles in Antarctic ice. These show
A.: That was the impression some
A.: Many of the solutions, such as
hat has actually happened to the
people got. What NASA actually re-
eliminating subsidies for clear-cut-
arth's climate during the last
we eliminate the uncertainties?
ported was that "nothing could be
ting forests. actually save money. In
50,000 years. As illustrated by the ac-
A.: That was the Administration's
said" about a warming trend one way
or another "due to the relatively
any event, the costs of inaction are
ompanying graph. carbon dioxide
excuse last year, when it asked a dis-
nd temperature have gone up and
tinguished United Nations-sponsored
short satellite data record." Tem-
much higher, even if the skeptics
refuse to measure them.
own in lockstep for as far back as
group of scientists to answer that
peratures naturally fluctuate so
cientists can measure.
much from year to year that a single
Q.: The changes you say are
question. A draft of the scientists'
decade is not a long enough yardstick
needed are too sweeping to be politi-
Through the last two ice ages and
long-awaited report, leaked to the
press this week, concludes that we
for a long-term trend. The decade as
cally possible.
ne period of great warming in be-
veen, levels of carbon dioxide have
must act now. The scientists say
a whole, according to several other
A.: What if I had asked you six
uctuated between 200 and 300 parts
there's still a chance that the problem
studies, was the hottest since tem-
months ago to assess the possibility
er million. Even the skeptics agree
won't be as bad as they fear, but
peratures have been recorded. The
that people in every country in East-
hat concentrations of carbon dioxide
there's an equal chance that it will be
six hottest years on record occurred
em Europe would abandon Commu-
ill be pushed to levels of 600 parts
much worse than predicted:
in the 1980's
nism, sing "We Shall Overcome" and
er million within the next 35 to 45
Q.: Come on, isn't this really a little
Q. O.K., suppose temperatures do
embrace democracy within 90 days?
ears. It is irresponsible to assume
far-fetched? After all, the Earth is a
rise by a few degrees. So what?
Would you have called that "unlike-
131 after moving in tandem with car-
big place and probably has some kind
A:: ven small changes in the aver-
ly?" We all would have. But it hap-
on dioxide for 160,000 years, tem-
of natural "thermostat" to maintain
age global temperature can have dra-
pened because people changed their
eratures will not be affected by
the present climate. Don't some
matic consequences. The last time
way of thinking about Communism.
lose dramatic increases.
scientists say that clouds or the
there was a change as big as the one
People are changing their thinking
Q.: Do we know enough to act?
oceans or sunspots will offset any ef.
some now predict, temperatures
about the importance of protecting
houldn't we study the problem until
fect caused by human activity?
dropped several degrees and what is
the global environment. We too are
A.: While the Earth is indeed vast
now New York City was covered by
showing our willingness to act. The
i Gore Jr., C Democrat, IS a Senator
in size, the atmosphere surrounding it
ice one kilometer thick.
obstacles may seem immovable, but
om Tennessee.
IS less than one one-thousandth the
But this isn't about temperatures
so did the Berlin wall. With bold lead-
ership and a new political "ecolibri-
um," we 100 shall overcome
THE NEW REPUBLIC
FOUNDED 1914
A
Weekly Journal of Opinion
ISSLE 3.858
WASHINGTON DC
DECEMBER 20 1986
POSTCARD
ANTARCTICA
that man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) were responsible.
UNBEARABLE WHITENESS
A new international agreement was signed this year to
reduce CFC production a little, though not enough. Mean-
I
TRYING TO remember what I thought about Ant-
while, the world's fossil fuels are being burned at such a
arctica before I came here. For the most part, 1 didn't
rapid rate that the resulting carbon dioxide, along with
think about it at all. It is just plain remote. From the other
other "greenhouse gases," may have already triggered the
side of the world, in Christchurch, New Zealand, it is
long-predicted global warming. At least some scientists
said this summer that they are finally convinced
another eight hours due south by plane to the main U.S.
base, McMurdo, and then another three hours from there
The air is clearer and crisper in Antarctica than any-
where I've ever been, and visibility is remarkable over
to the South Pole.
great distances. But that can suddenly change, as I learned
I came to the coldest place on Earth to hunt for informa-
firsthand, during something known as a "whiteout." The
tion about global warming, but I was unprepared for the
winds of a sudden storm saturate the air so thoroughly
continent itself. For example, I didn't know that the land
with snow that first the horizon, then closer landmarks,
area is half again as large as the entire United States. Or
and then even the hood of your vehicle can disappear in a
that 90 percent of all the ice in the world is here-which
shroud of whiteness. Travelers lose their orientation and
means, among other things, that there is really no compari-
perspective. Some tell stories of seeing a building in the
son between this place and the Arctic. Antarctica is larger,
distance only to find that it was a pack of cigarettes a few
more isolated, more important in the global ecosystem-
feet away. Having just lived through a general election
and much colder.
campaign in which Willie Horton was a more prominent
You don't expect a continent at the "bottom" of the
political landmark than the budget or trade deficit, I had
world to have an altitude three times higher than any other
the feeling I had gone from one whiteout to another.
continent. When I stepped out of the ski plane at the
Pole, my awareness was divided between the 56-degree-
below-zero weather and the dizziness of being at almost
I
CAME HERE because Antarctica is now the frontier of
the global ecological crisis. High in the Transantarctic
10,000 feet. The altitude of the enormous polar plateau is
Mountains, a badly sunburned scientist talked about the
due primarily to ice that is almost two miles thick Al-
ice cores he and his team were pulling from a deep hole
though its ice and snow contain 70 percent of all the fresh
drilled into the glacier on which we stood. He interpreted
water on Earth, Antarctica gets so little precipitation that
the annual layers of ice and snow the way woodsmen read
it is classified as the world's largest desert. And while the
tree rings. "Here is where the U.S. Congress passed the
continent goes dark for six months in winter, it still re-
Clean Air Act," he said, pointing to the beginning of the
ceives more sunlight during its six-month-long summer
1970s. Moving down the ice core, back to the early 1960s,
day than the equatorial regions receive in an entire year.
he added, "And here is where the world stopped atmo-
Yet all that light creates virtually no surface heat, because
spheric nuclear testing." These and other ice cores contain
most of it is reflected right back up into space. For anyone
highly accurate information about the makeup of the
caught in that crossfire of whiteness, sunglasses are a
Earth's atmosphere year by year for tens of thousands of
medical necessity.
years. From such cores, we know, for example, that there
The ice shelf expands in winter to seven times its sum-
were dramatically lower levels of carbon dioxide in the
mer maximum. The small population of human beings sent
atmosphere at the peak of the last Ice Age, 20,000 years ago,
here by 22 nations expands in summer and contracts in
when the island of Manhattan was under one kilometer of
winter by proportions almost precisely inverse to those of
ice. By contrast, the ice and snow laid down in the 1980s
the ice.
show levels of carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, nitrous
oxide, and other gases responsible for the greenhouse ef-
W
HILE MOST of Antarctica is the cleanest, most
fect higher than they have been in at least 160,000 years (as
pristine area on Earth, the waters immediately adja-
far back as the ice cores measure). CFCs are receiving
cent to the American base are among the most polluted in
particular attention because they cause not only 20 percent
the world. PCBs and "we don't know what else," dumped
of the greenhouse effect but virtually all of the destruction
years ago, have killed every vestige of life in a small area of
of the ozone layer.
McMurdo Sound. The nuclear power plant that leaked in
Something else is different about the ice layers from the
1962 was dismantled and returned to the United States. But
1980s-they look different to the naked eye because of
even today the base dumps "diluted" raw sewage directly
thick, alternating layers of "hoar" ice, apparently caused
into the sound and burns its solid waste in an open pit.
by partial melting and recrystallization into larger gran-
In the last few years, several other developments have
ules. The scientists are as yet cautiously withholding judg-
brought new attention to Antarctica. In 1985 an emergen-
ment on whether this is the clear signal of Antarctic warm-
cy expedition confirmed the existence of a large and
ing that many have anticipated.
growing polar hole in the stratospheric ozone layer
When I say Antarctica is the frontier of the ecological
(which protects humans from deadly ultraviolet-B radia-
crisis, 1 don't mean only that pollution can now be found at
tion). The same team found incontrovertible evidence
the remotest point on Earth Antarctica is also the place
where both ozone destruction and global warming have
redistribution of heat from the equator to the poles and
their first and most dramatic impacts. It is also increasingly
cold from the poles to the equator has been accomplished
apparent that Antarctica plays a far more significant role
through an essentially constant pattern of wind and ocean
than any other part of the Earth in the global climate
system. For one thing, the cold waters surrounding the
continent absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmo-
currents. If temperatures rise disproportionately in Antarc-
sphere than all the rain forests, and create the nutrient-rich
tica, the equilibrium could change, creating new patterns
"bottom water" for most of the world ocean of which
that would redistribute less cold and more heat. Something
like this once happened on a small scale in Greenland. The
Antarctica is the epicenter. Also, aside from the sun and
the rotation of the Earth, Antarctica is the single most
so-called "little ice age" beginning 500 years ago abruptly
powerful engine driving the world's weather, redistribut-
covered the southern and western agricultural areas that
gave Greenland its name with the ice and snow that now
ing its massive coldness through the winds of the air and
make people wonder where the name came from.
the currents of the sea. As greenhouse gases trap more heat
in the Earth's atmosphere and temperatures climb, they are
Similar though larger and anthropogenic global weath-
expected to climb fastest of all here in Antarctica, because
er changes now thought to be under way are expected to
any melting at the edge of the ice shelf is accompanied by a
cause widespread droughts and heat waves within our
dramatic change in the albedo-reflectivity-of the sur-
children's lifetimes. Indeed, some argue they have al-
ready begun.
face exposed to sunlight. The increased absorption of the
sun's rays by the ocean then magnifies the local warming
In spite of these enormous stakes and in spite of the
trend, melting more ice at the margin and absorbing yet
central role played by Antarctica, an international scientif-
more radiation from the sun
ic conference in Tasmania this fall concluded, "There is no
established strategy either for early detection of climate
T
HERE ARE three potential catastrophes that scientists
change in Antarctica or understanding and prediction of
fear could eventually be caused by the warming of
the probable effect of climate warming on atmospheric and
Antarctica First, a dramatic rise in sea level This would
oceanic circulation, ice-sheet volume, and sea level."
come not from the melting of sea ice, which is already
Even at that, the scientists are further along than the
floating in the ocean, but from a rapid breakup of the
politicians. Why are we waiting to act?
massive West Antarctic ice shelf, which scientists believe
Perhaps partly because of the unprecedented nature of
could then plop into the ocean, raising the sea level 15 to
the crisis. It is simply beyond our experience and outside of
20 feet, wiping out low-lying coastal cities and nations like
what we call common sense. So we put it in the place in our
Bangladesh. But this is further off than most greenhouse
minds where Antarctica exists and tag it with the same
impacts, perhaps 200 years.
mental labels-remote, alien, hopelessly distorted by the
Second, something that some scientists worry could OC-
maps of the world we inhabit, too hard to get to and too
cur much sooner is a change in the ability of the Antarctic
unforgiving for us to stay very long.
seas to absorb carbon dioxide as they get warmer. Partly
The real question is whether the world's political system
because it is so cold, the southern ocean now absorbs
can find a new equilibrium before the world's climate
between one-third and one-half of all carbon dioxide
system loses its current one. Even now, the winds of
emissions from industrial nations. Since carbon dioxide is
change are approaching hurricane force. It took a million
years for the population of the world to reach two billion.
by far the most important greenhouse gas, we must con-
Now, in the course of a single human lifetime-mine-it is
cern ourselves not only with the rate at which our civili-
zation produces it but also the rate at which the Earth
rocketing toward ten billion (and is already halfway there)
absorbs it.
Startling graphs showing the loss of forest land, topsoil,
The Earth has two lungs-the forests and the southern
stratosphenc ozone, and species all follow the same pattern
of sudden, unprecedented acceleration in the latter half of
ocean. Unfortunately, we are destroying our forests at the
rate of one football field every second, an area the size of
the 20th century. And yet, so far, the pattern of our politics
remains remarkably unchanged.
Tennessee every year. Since the oceans of the world contain
When it does come, the change will involve a new set of
50 times as much carbon dioxide as the atmosphere, even
small changes in the temperature-sensitive mechanisms by
global goals, and a new way of thinking about ourselves,
our children, and our whole world-even Antarctica
which carbon dioxide is transferred back and forth between
the oceans and the air can have profound implications.
AL GORE
Third. scientists fear that if their predictions are correct,
and temperatures at the poles increase far more rapidly
Al Gore is U.S. senator from Tennessee
than at the equator, then the very pattern of the world
weather system might change. This is because the differ-
ence between temperatures at the equator and at the poles
has been relatively constant for a long time. As a result, the
ENVIRONMENT
The
Green
Factor
Does protecting the
planet destroy jobs? Bush
says yes, Clinton says no,
and their running mates
fight it out on the stump
By EUGENE LINDEN
HAT HAPPENED TO THE "ENVI-
W
ronmental President" In
1988 Vice President Bush
vowed to combat the green-
house effect with the "White
House effect," and mercilessly attacked Mi-
chael Dukakis for his failure to clean up
Boston Harbor. But last June, President
Bush played Scrooge at the Earth Summit
in Brazil In September he visited timber
country in the Pacific Northwest. where he
promised to lift a court-imposed injunction
that has halted logging in federally owned
ancient forests. His Interior Department is
planning to open national forests to private
strip mining What happened between 1988
and 1992? Politics happened.
While the Administration has not en-
tirely abandoned its green appeal-White
House officials claim that Bush has done
more for the environment than any other
Presiden: since Teddy Roosevelt-the re-
election team is betting that U.S. voters
will pu: their anxiety over the economy
ahead of their worries about the planet.
Thus the Bush campaign is attempting to
paint Bill Clinton as a hostage to environ-
mental extremists who would sacrifice
American jobs to mollify the tree huggers.
Point man in this assault: Vice President
Dan Quavle His main target: Clinton's
running mate, A] Gore.
Clintin. for his part. is betting that
concern. for the environment is more than
MAN vs. NATURE: loggers clear-cut a
stretch of forest in Washington State
a fad. He has assigned Gore the mission of
capitalists to Nazis and calls for the elimi-
than offset job losses in the oil business.
delivering the message that working to
nation of the internal-combustion engine.
Gore says the jobs-vs.-environment ar-
preserve the biosphere can create rather
"It's all pretty bizarre stuff," said Quayle
gument is based on the same flawed logic
than cost jobs. Clinton and Gore contend
in a speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
that caused American businesses to disre-
that sound environmental policies can be
last August. "This is a view detached from
gard business guru W. Edwards Deming's
an engine of growth that will help the
reality and devoid of common sense."
seminal ideas on quality in past decades.
American economy compete with Germa-
In his book, Gore does call for new tax-
"American manufacturers assumed that
ny and Japan in the 1990s.
es-but only to replace old ones. The idea
market forces had already perfectly bal-
The different ways the
is to tax ordinary workers
anced quality against cost and that any im-
two camps use environmen-
less while making polluting
provements would hurt the bottom line."
tal issues reflect their diver-
Is the quality of
industries pay the true costs
says Gore. "Deming took his ideas to the
gent visions about the forces
the environment
of their activities. The $100
Japanese, who proved that you could SI-
that will shape America's fu-
getting better?
billion figure is not a sug-
multaneously improve quality and profits
ture. The Democrats argue
gested giveaway but merely
and proceeded to steal markets from
Yes
30%
that environmental deci-
a computation of what the
American companies." Gore argues that
sions should be an integral
post-World War II Marshall
Bush is now making the same mistake
part of economic planning.
No
62%
Plan to reconstruct Europe
with pollution. The Japanese. already
The Republicans seem to be
would cost in today's dollars.
more energy efficient than the U.S., recog-
saving the country should
Will the govern-
The reference to Nazis is a
nize that excessive pollution is a sign of 11)-
address environmental prob-
ment's current
greatly stretched interpreta-
efficiency and that reducing pollution can
lems only when it can afford
tion of Gore's comment in
help make industry more competitive. For
environmental
to Nowhere do these differ-
the book that the failure in
Gore the real job of a competitiveness
ences emerge more sharply
regulations
the past to heed the distress
council would be to foster similar efforts to
than in the attitudes of the
weaken or
signals coming from the
develop efficient technologies in the U.S.
vice-presidential contenders.
strengthen the
planet is analogous to the
Senator Gore, who led
economy in the
failure of the outside world
RESIDENT BUSH ALSO HAS AT-
the congressional delegation
to realize the seriousness of
that attended the Earth
long run?
P
tacked Gore on the jobs-vs.-en-
the German threat after Na-
vironment issue. During a visit
Summit in Rio, is the Sen-
Weaken
23%
zis destroyed Jewish homes
to Colville, Washington, last
ate's most committed and
and synagogues during the
month, he chastised the Senator
knowledgeable environmen-
Strengthen
Kristallnacht rampage in
for advocating protection of the spotted
27%
talist. Last spring Houghton
1936.
owl, which is endangered because 90% of
Mifflin published Gore's
Gore also argues that
its old-growth forest habitat has been cut.
best-selling Earth in the Bal-
No effect
36%
during the next 25 years the
"It's time to put people ahead of owls," he
ance: Ecology and the Human
U.S. should develop a more
said, and mockingly challenged Clinton to
Spirit, a call for Americans to
Was Bush's
efficient alternative to the in-
endorse Gore's book.
take urgent action in the face
statement that
ternal-combustion engine. It
Though that message was obviously
of a global ecological crisis.
is hard to see why this is any
meant to appeal to Western voters, Bush
he would be the
Vice President Quayle,
more bizarre than sanctify-
may have miscalculated its effect. While
by contrast. argues that ex-
"environmental
ing a 19th century technol-
he was applauded by the region's timber
isting programs to improve
President" a lie?
ogy as the core of American
workers, many other Westerners realize
the environment are more
prosperity. "If Bush and
that the issue of preserving the remaining
than adequate. that the state
Yes
60%
Quayle want to pretend that
fragments of old-growth forest is more
of America's air, water and
25 years from now our global
complex than owls VS. lumberjacks.
forests is getting better. and
No
28%
competitors will be using the
George Atiyeh, a former timberman and
that further improvements
from a telephone polici 1.400 adult Americans
same technology on automo-
fourth-generation Oregonian. left the busi-
will come at the expense of
the TIME SASE 22-245,
bile engines that we are us-
ness after watching what have
Yankelovich Claricy Shuknan.
jobs Quayle plays a major
Sampling enos IS = 2.5.
ing today, they are kidding
done to the Oregon landscape "Eather my
policymaking role in this
themselves," says Gore.
eyes were lying, or I was kidding myself
area as chairman of the President's Coun-
In Grand Rapids, Quayle attacked Gore
about logging being sustainable.' he says
cil on Competitiveness, an eight-member
for supporting congressional efforts to
From the air, Oregon's national forests
panel that, in the name of reducing gov-
raise average fuel economy from 27 to 40
look far worse than the rain forests of Ron-
ernment impediments 10 business, has
m.p.g., a move, Quayle argued, that would
dônia, Brazil, which has become a symbol
worked to loosen environmental regula-
cost 300,000 jobs nationwide. This figure,
of the wanton destruction of the Amazon.
tions on everything from wetlands to air
taken from a study by the Motor Vehicle
Atiyeh argues that automation and ex-
pollution. The council was influential in
Manufacturers Association, is based on the
ports have cost far more jobs than the pro-
persuading President Bush, virtually
unrealistic assumption that everyone now
tection of endangered species has. Be-
alone among world leaders, not to sign a
making a car that gets less than 40 m.p.g.
tween 1980 and 'SS the amount of timber
treaty to protect endangered species at the
would be put out of work. In contrast, a
cut in western Oregon increased 19%
R.o conference The Administration's ar-
study to be released this week by the Ameri-
while timber employment fell 14% The
gument: that the treaty would harm the
can Council for an Energy-Efficient Econo-
Administration's hard line on the environ-
U.S. biotechnology industry.
my contends that improving fuel economy
ment does not appear to be winning many
In taking aim at the Democrats' envi-
to 40 m.p.g. would lead to a net gain of
votes-and may even be hurting the Re-
ronmental policies, Quayle ridicules
70,000 jobs by the year 2000. Howard Geller,
publicans. In a TIME/CNN poll of likely vot-
Gore's book as "their manifesto." As de-
executive director of the council, says fuel
ers taken in late September. half the 11"
scribed by the Vice President, Earth in the
economy creates jobs by spurring the devel-
spondents said the loss of jobs because of
Balance is a collection of lunatic proposals
opment of efficient new technologies for
environmental regulations was a "big
that calls for a $100 billion giveaway to the
automobiles and putting money from gas-
problem." Yet when asked to choose be-
Third World. recommends new taxes that
oline savings into the hands of consum-
tween protecting the environment and
would put millions out of work, compares
ers. These gains, adds Geller, will more
protecting jobs, 48% chose the environ-
55
TIME. OCTOBER 12. 1992
ment while 36% chose jobs. Forty percent
among Republicans, 40% of those polled
es to use town dumps as disposal sites for
of those questioned said they would be less
said he lied about his intentions. Ironical-
certain hazardous wastes. Administration
likely to vote for a candidate if they dis-
ly, the more Bush hammers at the jobs-vs.-
spokesmen have also begun to back away
agreed with his environmental position
environment issue, the more he seems to
from another Competitiveness Council
even if they agreed on other major issues.
convince voters that he never meant to
proposal that would vastly decrease the
That could spell trouble for the Presi-
carry out his earlier promise.
acreage now protected by wetlands legis-
dent, whose credibility on the issue is not
Bush's advisers may have begun to
lation. The timing of all this could be coin-
high. When asked whether they felt Bush
weigh the political risks of their hard-line
cidental. But it may be that, in the final
lied when he said he would be the "en-
stance on environment. Last week White
stretch of his re-election campaign, Bush
vironmental President," 60% said yes. The
House chief of staff James Baker vetoed a
has concluded that one endangered spe-
figures were larger among baby boomers
proposal by Quayle's Competitiveness
cies he would like to protect is his own
(62%) and independents (63%). Even
Council that would have allowed business-
presidency.
N
Preserving the 'Web of Life'
U.S. Sen. Al Gore, 43, is one of the most
stand the global environment is part of
active defenders of the environment in
their backyard. When the connection be-
Washington and is the author of a new
Al Gore
tween the devastation of the global envi-
book "Earth in the Balance." Recently he
ronment and our backyard is made emo-
met with NEWSWEEK'S Mary Hager to dis-
tionally, not intellectually, then the
cuss his concerns about the global environ-
same intensity you see with local landfill
ment and what changes he believes are
issues will be brought to global environ-
needed to preserve it. Excerpts:
mental issues.
HAGER: You saw the environment as an issue
What role should governments play?
long before it was the popular thing to do. Why
Affirmative measures by the nations
were you such an early convert?
of the world to address specific points will
GORE: I had a professor, Roger Revelle,
be necessary. I propose a global Marshall
who was the first person to measure CO2,
Plan, with Japanese and European capi-
in the global atmosphere. I had tremen-
tal helping to lead the way, to address
dous respect for his mind and I believed
those factors which cause the demo-
him. not his critics. That was the initial
graphic transition, to make possible the
seed. The issue itself pulled me deeper
development and dissemination of new
into an effort to understand it. Now, ev-
JOHN FICARA-NEWSWEEK
technologies to substitute for the ones
ery time I pause to do a reality check
that are so harmful. A lot of these
about how serious this really is, the an-
A leading U.S.
changes are ones we need to make for
swer is, it is even more serious than we
senator says the
other reasons anyway. Pollution is
thought. It is a real challenge to our civi-
waste. It is economic waste. It is environ-
lization to realize the enormity of what
environment will
mental waste. Eliminate one, you elimi-
we're doing and then to imagine and or-
nate the other. When enough people are
ganize an effective response. I'm remind-
become a defining
committed, the transformation is going
ed of the old parable of the blind man and
political issue
to be a lot easier than people think
the elephant. We see the problems of
ozone depletion, global climate change,
around the world
How close are we to that critical mass?
destuction of tropical rain forests, loss of
I think within a very few years-much
biological species and ecological catas-
closer than most people believe. The po-
trophes like the Aral Sea, but it takes a
litical equilibrium is about to shift.
little time to realize they are all part of
Are you a voice in the wilderness, or
the same underlying crisis.
are others beginning to see and say the
Why did you write "Earth in the Balance?
same things?
In hopes of hastening the arrival of
What is that "same underlying crisis"?
The new way of thinking about our
that shift. I think we are in a race. I don't
A collision between industrial civili-
responsibility to the global environment
think we have that much time before we
zation as we presently organize it and
is gaining momentum rapidly. Young
do irreparable damage to the ecological
the ecological system of the earth. Basi-
people think this is the No. 1 issue facing
balance. The rate of loss of living species
cally, three factors have led to this. The
the world. Europe has already modified
is now 1,000 times greater than any time
first is population, with a staggering
its political equilibrium to take these is-
in the last 65 million years. The accumu-
increase in our lifetime. Second, the sci-
sues into account, [and] Japan is moving
lation of greenhouse gases is proceeding
entific and technological revolution has
so much more rapidly than we are. It is
at a reckless pace. It is crazy to keep this
magnified our ability to affect the envi-
only a matter of time before our political
up. We have to change the pattern of our
ronment and changed the consequences
system shifts and takes this into account.
political system before the earth's eco-
of exploiting the earth as profoundly
I think this must and will become the
logical system loses its current pattern.
as nuclear weapons changed warfare.
central organizing principle for the post-
Civilization has prospered for the last
Third, and most important, a change in
cold-war world.
9,000 years within a global climate bal-
our way of thinking which began with
ance that has remained essentially un-
the scientific revolution 350 years ago
How will that come about?
changed. Civilization is carefully config-
but was basically benign until our great-
In most counties in my home state of
ured to that climate balance. If we
er numbers and ecological power made
Tennessee, the hottest single issue is
change it suddenly, the consequences
it dangerous to the earth. That change
where to put the new landfill or the new
will be devastating and extremely difn-
was based on the assumption that we
incinerator. The reason people get SO in-
cult to cope with. The amount of suffer-
are separate from the earth. In fact, we
timately involved is they think it in-
ing, loss of life, disruption in civiliza-
are part of the web of life and we are
volves their backyard, and that overrides
tion's ability to move forward will be
recklessly endangering ourselves as we
economic concerns. What is in the proc-
unimaginable. Some change is already
go about this process of destroying the
ess of changing politically is the defini-
built into the system, but the worst of it
ecological balance of the earth.
tion of backyard.' Young people under-
can be avoided.