President Obama on Climate Change: Savoring the Moment

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PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES CLIMATE CHANGE CENTER OF HIS INAUGURATION SPEECH AND HIS SECOND TERM:

Before my children went to bed last night, I went into each of their rooms and read President Obama’s words to them about climate change from his inauguration speech. I wanted these words to sink in for my children; for them to hear these words in my voice but to know they were the words spoken by our President on his inauguration day. I am so proud of our President and so full of hope.

I kept the emotion out of my voice, keeping the tears back so my children didn’t see them (they already think I am too much of a “softee”). I know deep in my heart and from everything I learn, read and hear from eminent scientists the world over, that the threat we face from climate change is a dire one and that my children’s lives, because of climate change may be very difficult and different then the life I have lived so far…. But today I want to hope and believe in a more positive and a very livable future for my children. I want to savor this moment and President Obama’s comments. I want to hope and believe that with strong leaders who use the power of their office and with all of us – Climate Mamas and Papas joining together with family, friends and our communities demanding and creating change – that we will veer from the climate cliff we are currently hurtling towards.

To quote Martin Luther King who on August 28th, 1963 said :

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”

I believe in that fierce urgency of “NOW” and that the following words by President Obama are our marching orders.. Share President Obama’s words with your kids today and believe….savor this moment today..tomorrow we all must join in, in earnest, for the fight of our lives – for our children’s future and for our own.

President Barack Obama, January 21st, 2013:

“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming
judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries — we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure — our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.”

With faith and hope in our President and each of us,

Yours,

Climate Mama

Obama family photo credit: Renegade98 via photopin cc

flag photo credit: JcOlivera.com via photopin cc

Obama Time Magazine photo credit: MyEyeSees via photopin cc