The Climate Crisis and Corrupt Politics: Overcoming the Powerful Forces that Threaten our Future

by Larry J. Schweiger

Overview

There is only one earth and our world is undergoing dramatic changes brought on by the climate crisis and other human-induced ecological disruptions. The world's top scientists studying these threats and the forces behind them have been warning us for decades to end the use of fossil fuels or face catastrophic consequences. Countering the still small voices of science, our democratic system of government has been rigged largely by the fossil fuel industry and other special interests leaving America hoodwinked and held hostage to dirty fuels. Campaigning politicians claim to be working for us when in fact they are being paid and controlled by fierce special interests.



As a lifetime environmental insider in the struggle against fossil fuel interests I have written this book to better equip Americans for the struggle ahead. Since 1978, I spent my career in the struggle to end carbon pollution in all of its forms and I have taken a unique perspective on the far-reaching corrupt forces at work in government at all levels.



This is an urgent message aimed at parents and grandparents who care about their children forced to live on the ragged edge of an unprecedented climate crisis. This book is also for young leaders who understand that we must act now with a "Green New Deal" scale response. Together, we must confront and overcome the many toxic money influences, reverse a failing democracy and retake the reins of government to enact policies that secure our shared future and the future of life on earth.



We must work together. Learn how powerful forces operating behind the curtain have been orchestrating our system for their benefit and our ultimate downfall. Discover ways we can work together to fix a broken system and reclaim leadership to stem the climate crisis and avoid the ecological meltdown that threatens a million species on Earth. Together, we can and must reclaim our government and restore our precarious environment. We must confront the lies and end gerrymandering, voter suppression and other political manipulations that thwart progress to a clean energy future. We must respond to the climate crisis with a bold plan to convert to a carbon-free energy future. By acting now, we can still change the outcome of life on earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627342803
Publisher:	Universal-Publishers.com
Publication date:	11/15/2019
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	362
Sales rank:	919,107
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Larry was President, and CEO of three organizations including National Wildlife Federation, PennFuture, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He was the president, and chief executive officer of the 4.5million-member National Wildlife Federation for ten years having served in various positions for an additional fourteen years. As President of the Conservancy, Schweiger led the effort to fund the restoration of Fallingwater and created many acres of public lands including the creation of Erie Bluffs State Park.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface xi

SECTION I

The First Thirty Years: Environmental Awakening

Chapter 1: The Modern Environmental Movement

of the 20th Century 3

SECTION II

Powerful Special Interests Aligned Against

Environmental Protection

Chapter 2: Fossil Fuel Money: Stoking Relentless

Climate Change 19

Chapter 3: Lies, Broken Promises, and Massive

Oil Spills 49

Chapter 4: Its Time for an Oil Change, Clean Cars,

and Clean Energy 79

Chapter 5: Modern Union Busting, and the Decline of

Democracy 87

Chapter 6: Frack-Gas: A Bridge Too Far 99SECTION III

For Our Children

Chapter 7: Hoodwinked and Held Hostage 141

Chapter 8: The U.S. Supreme Court is Undermining

Democracy and Preventing Action on the

Climate Crisis 159

Chapter 9: Environmental Protection in the

Trump Era 191

Chapter 10: As Fires, and Floods Rage as Two Worlds

are Colliding 217

Chapter 11: Repairing the Guardrails: Handing

Off to a New Generation of Leaders 239

Chapter 12: The Betrayal of Our Children:

A Grandfather’s Lament 253

Notes 279

Index 325

About the Author 335

Editorial Reviews

Larry Schweiger is a hero of the modern American environmental movement. He has been leading the fight for clean air and clean water since the very first Earth Day, and he brings a wealth of wisdom, knowledge and insight to his assessment of where we stand in the greatest environmental battle of all—the battle to avert catastrophic climate change. Read this book to arm yourself with the facts necessary to fight back against the polluters and win this battle.

Michael E. Mann, Director, Penn State Earth System Science Center and author of The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our politics, and Driving Us Crazy

From the Publisher