AIDemocracy.org | climate change

Happy Earth Day!

April 22, 2013 by AIDemocracy Leave a Comment

Happy Earth Day everyone! Check out some of our reflections and thoughts from past Earth Days, below. “Earth Days” Links 1960s Radicals to Today’s Policy Wonks by Rachel Voss. John Grant Discusses the Benefits to Alternative Fuels by Joel Velarde Solar Energy- Getting it From the Sun: Energy Solutions in Front of our Eyes by Moustafa Hassab-Allah Adaption Aid: Dealing with Climate Change in the Developing World by Rachel Voss. Greening Urban Tourism: Progress in Urban Ecotourism by Katherine Zobre. Learn more about Water … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change, earth day, Sustainability, water

Making a Difference for Youth in Paraguay

April 8, 2013 by AIDemocracy Leave a Comment

By Matt Vaughan. Ever since attending the Global Citizen Corps (GCC) leadership training during high school I’ve committed my life to trying to make a difference in the world. During my 4 years of college I became ever more active working on campaigns and attending more trainings with AIDemocracy, the ONE Campaign and United Students for Fair Trade to name a few. After graduating my desire to have an impact on the world stage drew me to Peace Corps service. Though when I first arrived in Paraguay, a landlocked country in South America, I couldn’t … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change, Paraguay, Peace Corps, youth

World Insight Essay Series: Greening Urban Tourism: Progress in Urban Ecotourism

March 20, 2013 by AIDemocracy Leave a Comment

By: Katherine Zobre “On 13 December 2012, the one-billionth tourist will arrive somewhere in the world…. One billion small actions, one very big impact” (http://1billiontourists.unwto.org/ UNWTO, 2012) International tourism is the fourth largest sector in the global economy, accounting for 5 percent of the global GDP and 8 percent of the global workforce (Pratt, 2011), with recognized “spill-over effects” to other sectors (World Tourism Organization, 2012). Tourism has huge potential for impacting social issues such as environmental … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Essay Series, Blog, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change, economy, ecotourism

The Ice Caps Are Melting…Melting!

October 4, 2012 by Matt L Leave a Comment

Recently, an article was published in the New York Times regarding the new wealth of “rare earth metals” now attainable in Greenland. Due to a massive recession in the Greenland ice caps, one of the world’s largest stores of rare earth metals is now within reach. Now that that pesky ice has melted (much like the Wicked Witch of the West), Greenland’s government seems overjoyed with this new development and is poised to capitalize on this recent tragedy, claiming that this opportunity will create jobs, boost the country’s economy, increase … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change, global warming

Rio 2012, Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship PART I: The Puzzle

July 10, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

This June, the Rio + 20 Conference held amongst world leaders tackled the issues arising from climate change and unsustainable development. However, while little change is expected from these world leaders, mutual cooperation and genuine concern are urgently needed. Little has been achieved since the 1992 Rio Conference and the signing of the resulting Declaration on Environment and Development, to which all participating world leaders committed. At present, subsidies for fossil fuel consumption ($470 bn) outweigh the subsidies for renewable energy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Security Tagged With: 1992 Rio Conference, climate change, Dough McGill, global citizenship, Rio 20+Conference, subsidies

Opposed to Kyoto Protocol, United by Energy Profits

April 3, 2012 by Krystle Corpuz Leave a Comment

On April 2, United States, Canada, and Mexico pledged to develop a "Continental Energy Grid" that will allow for electricity generation and interconnection in North America. This energy cooperation will be given political support, which intends to reduce overall business costs. The cooperation believes such a venture falls in line with the objectives of the Durban climate conference to tackle climate change and reduce emissions. However, the announcement of such a trilateral cooperation to address climate change comes at a very controversial time. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change, Energy

Election 2012: Recap of candidate views on climate change

January 25, 2012 by AIDemocracy Leave a Comment

By Emma Peterson Climate change is being discussed all over the media, with Americans falling on all sides of this issue. Some are debating whether climate change even exists, or if this is just one of the Earth’s natural cycles, while others are debating the steps we should take to solve this complicated issue. Climate change is being brought up in the presidential debates as an important issue, and with all the media hype around each candidate, it can become hard to know where each of these candidates truly stand. Sometimes their history in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less Tagged With: climate change

Does the Keystone Pipeline really support national security?

January 19, 2012 by Ron 3 Comments

Many from the right have been harking on the immediate construction and opening of the Keystone Pipeline. Obviously, economic reasons are given as job creation is a huge topic during an election year, especially with 8.5% unemployment rate. Lately, there has been another issue raised, supporting the pipeline; national security. It's not a new concept, people have been citing America's dependence on foreign oil as a national security concern since 1979 when oil production dropped and increased prices caused economic shocks to rock the country. But does … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: alternative energy, climate, climate change, corporate responsibility, economy, energy security, global warming, Homeland Security, keystone pipeline, national security, natural resources, Obama

The blurry hope for a better 2012

December 31, 2011 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

The year 2011 was dominated in the media by revolutions, summits trying to alleviate global problems, and natural disasters. As we reach its end, many problems remain to be solved in 2012. One such problem is the growing division among countries and their citizens in the wake of the global economic crisis. Whether it is the euro crisis or the climate change discussions, countries around the world and their citizens prefer autarky over cooperation and mutual responsibility over the events on global scale. The strength and commitment to the European … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Breivik, climate change, EU, euro zone, Europe, homelessness, right - wing parties, war on terror

Get Used to the Orange Jumpsuit

December 27, 2011 by Patrick McDermott 2 Comments

The date is Tuesday, September 11th, 2012. I had just gotten back from seeing my family for the Christmas holiday. I’m sitting in the living room of my apartment, and I’m on my computer getting ready to write a critique of US foreign policy 11 years after 9/11. But just when I’m about to begin, there’s a knock on my door. I’m wasn't accustomed to getting knocks on my door, as I lived in an apartment complex and visitors were few and far between. In looking through the peephole, I realized there were two police officers standing outside my door. … [Read more...]