Ozaukee Community Awareness Forum

August / September 2008 Newsletter

Repowering America:    It’s time to make the switch … to renewable energy!

There has been a lot of pressure lately to open up protected areas for oil drilling, fueled by lobbyists and oil companies who benefit most from America’s addiction to oil.  Their solution to the oil addiction?  More oil!

Common sense says drilling in protected areas is not the answer (and would not lower gas prices much now or later) … switching is – to 100% renewable energy within ten years.  Switching now to clean energy sources will revitalize our economy and provide many new “green” jobs.  We can be global leaders in developing and manufacturing clean energy technologies.  It will enhance our national security, reducing the pressure on our troops to protect oil supplies and avoiding the worst climate impacts in politically unstable regions of the world.  It will make high gasoline prices less of a burden in our daily lives, enabling us to transition to clean, plug-in hybrid electric cars.

As Al Gore said in his July 17, 2008, speech, all three of our global challenges – financial, environmental and national security – are connected to our reliance on carbon-based fuel.  Making the switch to clean, renewable energy will help solve the climate crisis, but if we fail to act soon, there will be dire consequences for our children and grandchildren.  Half the world’s forests are already gone; 80% of the world’s fisheries have been decimated; 20% of the coral reefs have disintegrated and more are severely threatened. 

For more information, to view Al Gore’s presentation and a new video on repowering America, go to:  www.wecansolveit.org.  Sign the petition for a global treaty on energy changes; write or call your legislators about this urgent concern!

“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey work of the stars.”

                                                Walt Whitman, LEAVES OF GRASS
 
 

 

 


 

IOUSA  is a new film about our financial crisis.  It will be shown in our area on August 21 at the North Shore Theater, Mequon.  This film, featuring former OMB director David Walker and other noted personages, spares no horses as it presents to the American people the true facts about our off-the-charts fiscal irresponsibility.

How much is a trillion dollars?  A one trillion dollar stack would be 95 MILES high!  The current U.S. debt is 9.5 trillion dollars… and growing!
 
The film boldly examines the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the U.S. and its citizens.  Burdened with ever-expanding government and military, increased international competition, over-extended Social Security and Medicare, and debts to foreign countries, America must mend its spendthrift ways or face economic disaster!

Also available is a Citizen’s Guide which

provides a concise summary of where our

nation is headed fiscally.  The Guide is

intended to inform you of the nature and

seriousness of our fiscal challenge, propose a

way forward and a series of action steps.  As voters,
we must hold current and prospective elected
officials accountable – the future of our children and grandchildren is at stake!  For more information about the movie or to find the Guide, go to www.iousathemovie.com. 

NOTE:  The film is not yet on DVD – we will keep you informed.

 

The Mega Pentagon:  As the clock ticks down to November 4th, a lot of people are investing hope (as well as money and time) in the possibility of change at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.  But when it comes to the Pentagon, don’t count too heavily on change, no matter who the new President may be.  After all, seven years, four months, and a scattering of days into the Bush presidency, the Pentagon is deeply entrenched in Washington and still aggressively expanding.  It has developed a taste for unrivaled power and unequaled access to the treasure of this country.  It is an institution that has escaped the checks and balances of the nation.

Frida Berrigan, Tomdispatch.com, May, 2008

 

November 4th Draws Near:    Just How Stupid Are We? Facing the Truth About the American Voter, by Rick Schenkman, gives us these statistics:

  • Only 2 in 5 voters can name the three government branches
  • Only 1 in 7 can find Iraq on a map
  • Only 1 in 5 know there are 100 Federal Senators
  • 49% of Americans think the President has the authority to suspend the Constitution

Why do so many American voters know so little about their own government?    Apparently, “Civics” (as we called the class in high school which taught us about government) no longer exists as a separate subject; there is a lack of interest in general about how government works, and the corporate media mislead and misinform regularly.  Too often, news is more “infotainment” than news that people need to hear and understand.  Thomas Jefferson said it most succinctly:  “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free… it expects what never was and never will be.”

Educating ourselves about crucial issues, and then voting intelligently (not from our emotions but from our critical thinking about issues and leadership) is the most important thing we can do as citizens this November.  Vote the common good!

Voting Joke:  How many legislators does it take to change a light bulb?  Answer:  None; they’ll all sit in the dark.
 
 

 

 


Coming Events: Summer Video Series: 

OCAF is sponsoring FREE showings of the following videos in the locations listed, followed by small group discussion.  Popcorn at all showings!

  • August 21 (Thursday) – 7-9 p.m., Port Washington Police Station Community Room - BUYING THE WAR - An exposition of the role of the media in the Iraq occupation and how the administration marketed the war to the American people.  How and why did the press buy it and what does it say about the role of journalists in helping the public sort out fact from propaganda?  Running time:  90 min.
  • October 6 (Monday) – 7-9 p.m., Emerson Room, Unitarian Church, 13800 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon -  NO END IN SIGHT?   A comprehensive and devastating look at the Bush Administration’s conduct of the Iraq occupation; how ultimately completely unqualified people were left in charge.  The inside story from the ultimate insiders.  (8 Oscar wins and 7 nominations).  Narrated by Campbell Sco0tt.  Running time: 102 min. (parental advisory).
  • Coming:  Winter Soldier Program, probably late October at the Unitarian Church, Mequon.  Don’t miss this second provocative and heart-rending presentation of videoed testimony of Iraq War veterans in Washington, D.C. about their experiences in the occupation.  A roomful of participants participated in  the early July presentation and discussion.

Tuesday, August 19, 4-5:30 p.m.  – ANTI-IRAQ OCCUPATION DEMONSTRATION – corner of Grand Avenue and Franklyn Street.  PLEASE JOIN US!

 

A Parting Thought:

“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.  There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things.  Among them are [a] few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas.  Their number is negligible, and they are stupid.”

                                    President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 11/8/54

 

F.Y.I

Senator Kohl:  (202) 224-5653                  http://kohl.senate.gov/contact.html

Senator Feingold:  (202) 224-5323                       http://feingold.senate.gov/contact.html

Rep. J. Sensenbrenner:  (202) 225-5101.           http://sensenbrenner.house.gov/contactform