Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

As it is now, he is travelling the world as a private citizen speading the warning and hope and also premiering An Inconvenient Truth which I believe debuts in the UK, Australia, and a couple of other countries this month. In many ways he already is a global environmental ambassador, so why not make it official?

This then is the letter I have sent to the UN:

To: Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations Building
1st Avenue@ 46th Street
New York, NY. 10017

Dear Secretary-General Annan,

Climate Change is an ever present specter threatening many areas of our world and its effects are now beginning to be seen clearly. Mr. Annan, as a Secretary-General who has advocated for sound solutions to this problem, you have also seen the damage it has done and is doing on every continent including the Arctic. This is not a crisis that will be solved even within the next few years, and it will then require a joint effort of all world leaders coming together, including those countries that cannot efficiently and effectively meet this challenge due to poverty, disease, and political turmoil to seriously enact a global strategy for sustainability.

Climate change is also more than just a phenomenon that will affect temperature, as you well know. This is the most important issue we as a species will face in the 21st century, and the peoples of the world need a leader on this issue to coordinate efforts on a global scale of equality that benefits all. We also need a global leader that will educate, inform, and inspire people for this common cause.

Therefore, we hereby petition again as we did this past November, to consider establishing a new UN post for the 21st century: that of Global Environmental Ambassador. We also then petition you to consider the Honorable Al Gore Jr., former Vice President of the United States, statesman, environmental advocate, and author as our first UN Global Environmental Ambassador.

Vice President Gore has traveled extensively throughout the world in the cause of the environment and to speak truth about the climate crisis and its effects. His movie and book entitled," An Inconvenient Truth" sounds a clarion call to the world about the future we face in the wake of our own actions and the hope and will we need to face this crisis head on together. He is well respected throughout the world and because of his stature and vast knowledge of this crucial subject he can relay important information regarding it to people in terms they also can understand, which is very important considering so many are still unaware of how it truly effects their lives and futures. His background in foreign relations, the economy, the environment, and in governing makes him more than qualified to lead our world as a Global Environmental Ambassador. He has also been a leader on this issue since his days in the United States Senate over twenty five years ago. He has devoted his life to this cause, and fully understands and realizes that all other issues are affected by the environment.

Stronger storms caused by climate change warming ruin crops, erode land, and cause damage that can severely stifle an economy, which Hurricane Katrina already proved right here in America, and which has been predicted by climate scientists. Diseases caused by changing weather patterns that bring unknown diseases to areas which have not experienced them before also cause health crises which also effect economies and take lives. Severe droughts as what are now being felt in China, South America, Africa, and also in the U.S. Plains are a direct result of anthropogenic climate change, and have displaced and or put millions of lives at risk. The depletion of natural resources (specifically water) due to weather conditions which cause famine (as we are seeing in Niger and many African countries right now,) drought, floods, mudslides, etc. can also lead to corporate privatization of those resources (as we are seeing in India,) which then effects the very livelihoods and lives of those under the control of corporations and governments that would seek to use such conditions to their political advantage, which then has the potential of leading of war.

Mitigation of these factors by way of sound management, education, global cooperation, and sustainability principles is key to addressing the two most crucial issues we face in this century: the climate crisis and the water scarcity crisis due to population increase, depletion of resources due to waste, terrorism, and political and corporate exploitation at the expense of the poorest in our world.

Vice President Gore has the expertise and dedication to lead on this issue, and also sees the spiritual side to this issue which is the essence of it which is also very important to many cultures around the world. The position of Global Environmental Ambassador would then be no small post. This post would be a huge responsibility combining knowledge, experience, and commitment to all areas of our world and the impact of the climate crisis on it as a whole. Having a unique understanding of government, foreign relations, the environment, and especially technological advances, is in my view the perfect combination for such an esteemed position.

We would then be most grateful if you would respond to this most serious and sincere request. Our Earth is now in critical need of all of us coming together to face this threat to our very existence. It will take a coordinated effort of all led by one with exemplary economic, technical, scientific, and governmental skills, and someone who also understands the spiritual symbiosis we share with this planet, our only home to effectively take on this challenge and work with others.

That person is the Honorable Al Gore Jr., and we have every confidence that should this position be created and he appointed as our first Global Environmental Ambassador of the 21st Century, that he would serve the world and its peoples honorably, sensibly, and passionately regarding this issue.

However, as suspected, this idea has come up against criticism from others in the "Gore support Internet community." I suppose they believe it will detract from using his movie and work as a totally political vehicle in an election year. Well, I am writing to state that factually, this issue is much more urgent and goes way beyond the Presidency of this country or any country and I believe that Mr. Gore is fully aware of that despite knowing the power the Presidency can exert when it is used for good instead of evil.

I have seen An Inconvenient Truth and read the book, and in both instances I got the same impression: Mr. Gore is a man who is going beyond the Presidency of the United States of America in this quest for truth, accountability, and sustainability.

Now, we know that the President of this country can exert great influence upon policy, but in this country where Representative Democracy is supposed to be the guiding factor behind that influence his power and influence is only as great as Congress and the people will allow... again, that being in this country based upon how the Constitution was written, not as it is currently being run aground by the current regime which has no respect for such checks and balances, and is being allowed to get away with their abuses unchecked by the people as a whole.

So let's look at that. In order for the climate crisis to make any headway in our political system as an issue of grave importance our leaders must first be made to realize this and act accordingly in the best interests of our people and our planet. Now, this can be done through pressure being exerted by the people most assuredly. However, how is that pressure to be exerted successfully when the people as a whole don't even have knowledge or will? And how are they to vote for leaders who will be willing to face this crisis head on in conjunction with all the other issues that intertwine with this, if our political system is already bought and paid for?

I read many articles and blog entries regarding 2008, and it truly baffles me how so many people in this country are still either in the dark as to the forces that truly run our government or they are clearly in denial. And on this issue we cannot be in denial, in the dark, or continue to perpetuate the lie that this government is above board, because it isn't. That fact must be considered in how we begin to face this problem. We must shine the light of truth throughout this country first to empower people. Hence, An Inconvenient Truth.

An Inconvenient Truth is not only a movie made to inform people of the truth facing them regarding their own contribution to the environmental crisis we now find ourselves in, but to also inform people as to the current Constitutional and Democratic crisis we find ourselves in now. To speak out about the climate crisis and to begin to educate and inform the people on this "planetary emergency" must be our first step. And of course, there are no illusions that this first step will be hard, long, arduous, and frustrating. There is no quick fix to this problem, not even Al Gore running in this bought and sold system now and he knows that.

This must be a methodical step by step plan that starts with spreading this truth throughout America and other areas of this world. Then, hoping that those people who need to see this and those who are the choir being preached to carry the momentum of the urgency this film relates to others in such a way that it trickles up to those leaders who begin to see this urgency as well. That won't happen overnight and it won't happen unless all of us who deeply care for where this world is heading join in that first step. But more frankly, it won't happen here with leaders who have no conscience, who have been already bought, and who are into soundbites and political rhetoric to the point where political standing means more than political courage. That is the point we are currently at in our own system. So it would appear we are at an impasse politically on a Federal level, which then means that it is incumbant upon the people to make the changes Federal legislation otherwise would have mandated.

That is why citizen activism regarding this climate crisis is so important now. The power to make positive change on this issue is now in the hands of the people. It has been made clear that those who are supposed to represent us in Congress do anything but that, and it is then our duty as citizens to look beyond Congress and into our own lives. Our Declaration of Independence gives us that power. It is now time for local governments, businesses, and citizens to begin taking the necessary steps to use that power to work to mitigate the effects of climate change by changing their lifestyles, becoming conscious of their choices, becoming vocal about restoring Democracy to this process, and looking to the future instead of always looking for the quick fix or the satisfaction in the here and now.

That is why I began and support this effort, because he or whoever would occupy this post can inspire people GLOBALLY to action, which is the entire point of his environmental campaign and the message that together we truly can change the world.

It cannot be stressed enough how dire this situation will get if we choose to either ignore it, drag our feet, or expect that one quick fix such as a campaign where we put someone up to run for President in this system in only a year's time when we have done nothing to fix it, will solve this crisis. This will be hard work and it will require all of us being a part of it which is how it should be in a Democratic society. That I believe is what Al Gore is looking to, and right now that goes beyond the Presidency of this country. It goes to the very core of who we are as human beings, Americans, students, parents, teachers, businessmen, farmers, lovers, thinkers, and world citizens.

For that vision Mr. Gore is to be applauded and for the hope this message brings that we can share in working to solve this as a species we should be empowered. This is our time and this is the moment to show what we are made of in a crisis. Mr. Gore is out here with others providing the bread crumbs to lead to the facts that we must then take in hand and use to make the changes that will have a profound effect on our entire world for decades to come.

No President of any country alone can assure that change on such a wide scale. It must come from the people collectively because this is a moral issue. We are on the cusp of a sea change in how policy is made if we only take the opportunity being afforded us, and I say, it is about time.

And I also say that on this issue we deserve the best and most dedicated and qualified individual to lead us into the 21 Century. There are a few others on my list, but on the top is the Honorable Al Gore, and that is why my efforts will continue not only for him but for the world I wish to see my child live in. Therefore, if you have managed to read this far and agree about this, you can write to the UN at the address noted in my letter and also request that a UN Global Environmental Ambassador be considered to begin the work we must all do to preserve our planet in bringing us together whether you believe that position should be held by Al Gore or not. For as trite as it may sound, it really does begin with us.

Thank you,
Jan Moore
Chairperson,
Patriots for Al Gore