Liberty, Responsibility, and Climate Change

As the U.S. celebrates its independence from England, Americans everywhere honor the fallen soldiers who made it possible, and those who have made enormous sacrifices to maintain our liberty throughout the intervening 237 years.  That makes today a good time to remember what the United States truly stands for: honesty, fairness, decency in all our affairs, both domestically and internationally.  When the sun sets this evening and the fireworks and patriotic music commences, I hope we’ll all take a moment and think about this brave nation, its ideals, and what we all, collectively, need to do to get it back on track.

This is an idea not lost on Rhone Resch, the President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the solar energy industry, who begins his article in RenewableEnergyWorld:

As we celebrate the 4th of July holiday, Americans everywhere will take a moment to remember the men and women who have made freedom possible.  But let’s not forget: freedom also carries a responsibility. It’s simply not enough to remember those who have come before us and offer them thanks. We must also remember those who will follow us and offer them hope.

From an environmental perspective, few things in the future threaten our freedom more than climate change. Leaving a world void of hope and bankrupt of resources would be as oppressive as any tyranny.

He then goes into his exposition on solar energy and how it serves as an opportunity to make a difference in the outcome vis-à-vis global warming.  Good going, Rhone. Keep up the good work.