You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2004.
“Polluters should pick up the tab for cleaning up their own mess. It is unacceptable that the tax on companies that generated the most toxic waste has been allowed to expire, that the Superfund program is running out of cash and that the cost of toxic waste cleanups is being shifted to the taxpaying public. Yet the Bush administration has refused to support the Superfund tax on corporate polluters, sought to shift responsibility for cleanup cost to the taxpaying public, slowed the pace of cleanups and supported unjustified exemptions for the Department of Defense from toxic waste cleanup liability.”
Source: Clark 04; Protecting the Environment
“Of course, every advance in science puts power in human hands. The power to do good, but also the power to do harm. And the more powerful the science, the greater the potential threat. While we must dare to grasp this power and to harness its promise, we must be careful not to unleash its perils. And that can happen if we let discoveries fall into the wrong hands, and if we don’t respect strict rules of privacy and bioethics.
“Harnessing this power is not just a matter of being well-versed in math and science. It requires a fundamental humanity. A humanity that is based on judgment, wisdom and compassion. That understands the lessons of earlier years and can move beyond the familiar cycles of history. That understands how to use the tools of the modern world not just for human greatness – but for human good.”
Source: “Remarks On Twenty Year Vision For America”; Manchester NH, 1/10/04
“Clark will be a strong leader on the environment. I’ve read his environmental statement. It’s very good, and I agree with it. Clark’s environmental position is spelled out very well and it hits the important points.”
Earth Day Founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson, January 10, 2004
The candidate cited scientific studies that support theoretical estimations that the Bush Administration’s policies that disregard environmental concerns, if left unchecked, would eventually kill over 100,000 American citizens from pollution-related illnesses.
Clark said that renewable energy objectives are among his top specific goals to establish a “higher standard of leadership” that will bring the Nation together.
“We need to move towards energy independence with natural renewable fuel sources like wind and solar power,” said Clark. “We’ve got the technology. We’ve got the know-how. We just don’t have the political will. But when I am elected President, we will have the political will.”
Clark told this SolarAccess.com reporter that he would fully support a national Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to provide 10 percent of our country’s electricity needs from renewable energy by 2013 — and growing to 20 percent by 2020.
“I want the RPS and much more,” said Clark.
Source: SolarAccess, 1/8/04
“You can’t talk about family values if you’re going to wreck our environment.”
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“We need to move towards energy independence with natural renewable fuel sources like wind and solar power. We’ve got the technology. We’ve got the know-how. We just don’t have the political will. But when I am elected President, we will have the political will.”
Source: “Wesley Clark Seeks Renewable Energy Standard”; SolarAccess, 1/8/04
Presidential candidate Wesley Clark is turning to the Mars Society for input on space policy:
The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark has extended an invitation to Mars Society members and the space community at large to post their opinions and thoughts about space policy at http://space.forclark.com, with the express understanding that such input will be taken very seriously as the Clark campaign prepares an official policy statement regarding the future of the space program. Those who do not want to take the time to officially register on the site or be seen as Clark supporters by doing so can take a quick poll there on space issues and the presidential campaign, instead.
This opportunity builds on previous Mars Society political outreach work in which candidates Howard Dean, Richard Gephardt, Dennis Kucinich, and Wesley Clark have all expressed support for human Mars exploration. In addition, the Bush White House continues to prepare a space policy that is likelier to support Mars as the goal for America’s space program due to the delay of its release until after the arrival of the NASA Spirit rover in Gusev Crater on the night of January 3rd.
Source: Martian Soil, January 02, 2004
On environmental justice: African-American communities, and all citizens of this country, should receive the full protection of our environmental laws. This administration’s record on environmental protection and enforcement is abysmal; I’ll promote better enforcement for everyone. I’ll re-invigorate action on environmental justice at EPA, where it’s languished under President Bush, and ensure that it once again becomes a priority. And of course, I’ll make sure that protecting minority communities from toxic chemicals and other pollution doesn’t come at the expense of economic development. I’ll provide adequate funding for safely developing “brownfields” sites, & ensure that those sites are developed in a manner that respects the nature of the communities where they are located
Source: Campaign website Clark04.com, “Agenda for African Americans” Jan 1, 2004
