Choice Words to Lambaste Politicians Who Reject the Scientific Consensus that Human Activity Is Causing Climate Change

While I have long championed a reduction in carbon emissions, it was a recent statement by famed scientist Michael Oppenheimer of Princeton--that “the millennials will have hell to pay” (if the world continues with its current inaction) that, sort of, shook me out of my stupor. [He uttered those words on the “Charlie Rose” show sometime last month.] I suddenly realized that I owed a responsibility to my young son--a millennial--because I helped bring him into the world, i.e., the responsibility of deploying my verbal skills toward fighting man-made climate change.

So, last Sunday, when I heard Senator Marco Rubio proclaim during an interview on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that he absolutely rejects the notion that human activity is contributing to climate change, I was indignant. Why? Because I have watched several of Rubio’s past interview on TV and come away with the impression that he is smart, knowledgeable, bright. As I reflected over Rubio’s stand, the following descriptors sprang to mind:

1. That he belongs to that select group of people who can be described as “today’s new breed of Holocaust Deniers.” Note that this strong and penetrating term is not at all an exaggeration when we think about the havoc predicted by scientists if nothing is done to sharply alter the current trajectory of the world’s carbon emissions.

2. Keeping in mind Rubio’s intellectual and other strengths mentioned in the second paragraph of this post (as well as the fact that he knows full well, just as you and I do, about the scientific consensus regarding the causes of the rapidly accelerating climate change), one can justifiably say that Rubio is “prostituting” himself for political purposes. Absolutely shameful!

In upcoming weeks and months, as and when I think up other terms and expressions for describing and denouncing politicians who, for their political ends, reject the scientific consensus with regard to climate change, I will write a post in the hope that readers who share my passion and concerns on the subject will use these terms for their own speeches and writings.

© Copyright 2014  V. J. Singal