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2013: Year of the L.A. Aqueduct - L.A. City Council Declaration
Mediterranean-Climate Cities to Converge On Los Angeles
[Press Release]
LOS ANGELES, CA (February 16, 2012 ) —How is your city prepaing to deal with the impacts of climate change? That is the question being framed at 2012’s The Mediterranean City: A Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, to be held June 27 in Downtown Los Angeles. Leaders from the five Mediterranean regions of the world will come together to focus specifically on adaptation, which seeks to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems to the effects climate change.
The conference will initiate an ongoing collaboration of Mediterranean cities working together to solve the mutual problem of adapting to an uncertain climate. In addition, the conference aims to create new and strengthen existing ties among the decision-makers, thought-leaders and academics, building bridges across disciplines.
“Our climate is changing and so it is more important than ever that cities work together around this common cause,” said Executive Director, Dr. Nancy Steele. “By coming together, conference participants will share resources and knowledge across regional and national boundaries to build effective solutions. We are excited to host this first ever convening of all the Mediterranean-climate regions around the world.”
Cities of the Future author Paul Brown will be the keynote speaker at the conference. Other invited speakers include: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, United State Representative Lois Capps, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, Yarqon River Authority (Israel) Executive Director David Pargament, Pacific Institute President Peter Gleick, and many more.
On June 25 and 26, an invited group of regional experts will come together for The Mediterranean City Consortium. During this time, small working groups of invited scientists, planners, engineers, resource managers, and policy makers will work collaboratively toward sharing solutions and suggest collaborative steps forward. The pre-conference working group activities will heavily shape the agenda of the The Mediterranean City Conference, which will be open to the public and present a forum for the working groups to present their shared findings and ideas for the future.
Conference Themes
Water: Resilient Water Management Strategies for a Changing Climate
Water is among the most basic of human needs and is necessary for economic vitality and food security. In the Mediterranean City, water is harnessed for consumption, industry, and waste management, while flood control systems seek to move water away from cities as efficiently as possible. Degradation of water quality occurs from urban practice and single purpose policy. As water scarcity increases with climate change, and as demand continues to outpace sustainable supplies, human and natural communities of the City and of the water-supply-shed are threatened at the most basic levels.
Energy: Transitioning to an Energy Efficient and Low Carbon Future
With a natural supply of abundant solar energy and the potential for tidal and off-shore wind and wave-to-energy power, the Mediterranean climate zones have great potential to harness renewable energy supplies. However, as urban populations in Mediterranean Cities continue to grow, renewable resource demand may outstrip renewable resource availability. Needs and costs of production must be better understood and affordable to move forward in producing green energy.
Biodiversity and Open Space: Building an Ecological City
Mediterranean ecosystems have nutrient−poor soils and are seasonally climate−limited, yet have evolved species−rich ecosystems with a great deal of endemism. Healthy ecosystems provide nature’s services to urban centers, cleaning air and water; providing spaces of beauty to refresh the soul and encourage recreation; producing food, fiber, and fuel; and mitigating natural disasters (e.g., drought and flood) while cleaning of polluted urban runoff.
The Built Environment: Designing Healthier Communities
In the face of rapid development and population growth, cities are under increasing threat of loss of functionality and ability to meet the needs to their residents. By redefining the built environment to require or incentivize green building design, ecologically-functional streets, transit-oriented communities, and open spaces, cities can become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. By becoming more compact, for example, cities can promote the preservation of regionally-unique habitats while also combating urban sprawl. Smart building and landscape designs can also effectively reduce the energy footprint of buildings while contributing to the overall energy portfolio of cities.
Public Health: Preparing People for Their Future
A healthy ecosystem - dependent on clean air and water, natural hydrogeologic processes, and biological diversity - nurtures a healthy human population, which in turn must respect and tend those resources through conservation. Human systems too must reorient towards healthier outcomes for natural and human populations through changed practices in sanitation, food provisioning, and ecosystem services management. Planning for greener cities that conserve these Mediterranean resources will also provide avenues for improving public health.
Governance: Rethinking Boundaries
Cities are now the engines of the world economy and social structure and must, therefore, work as a network across sectors and national boundaries to bring more resources and knowledge to building solutions. To bring resiliency to the city and to the network of information sharing, new forms of governance and public-private partnerships must be examined for their efficacy in supporting an open exchange and transfer of ideas and technology.
Conference Organizer: Council for Watershed Health: The Council for Watershed Health supports healthy watersheds for the region by serving as a robust center for the generation of objective research and analysis. The Council has established a platform for meaningful collaboration among governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses and other nonprofit organizations with a vested interest in clean water, reliable water supplies, ample parks and open spaces, revitalized rivers, and vibrant communities.
Founded in 1996 by leading environmental activist Dorothy Green and others, the Council produces continuing research programs that examine water usage and quality as well as create and enhance preservation and conservation tactics. The trustworthy expertise and analysis that comes from the Council’s ongoing programs connects a diverse set of groups with overlapping missions in an effort to drive polices that will continually improve watershed quality.
The Mediterranean City Conference on Climate Change Adaptation is made possible thanks to the support CDM SMITH, the Department of Energy, the City of Los Angeles, The Nature Conservancy, UCLA, the Long Beach Water Department and more than 20 endorsing organizations.
For more information and to register to attend the conference, please visit the event website at www.medcityconference.org.
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Clinton Global Initiative Recognizes AEG Farmers Field
“We are so proud to have a company in Los Angeles being honored by the Clinton Global Initiative for their proven track record of providing the most innovative solutions to environmental issues while also creating jobs and opportunities for the community," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "Their tireless commitment to innovative, environmental programs such AEG 1 EARTH has set the precedent for the sports and entertainment industry across the world to follow.”
Los Angeles Convention Center's Earth Awareness
Los Angeles Convention Center hosted its third annual “Earth Aware… Doing Our Share” community event on April 27, 2011 from 8:00am to 11:30am at the Santee Education Complex. Roughly 300 biology and chemistry students attended the event and participated in educational earth-friendly activities in support of environmental awareness.
The morning kicked off with a ceremonial tree-planting with Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore Jan Perry. Ms. Perry gave the students a brief but inspiring talk about her environmental initiatives and participated in the planting of a new shade tree on the school grounds. Los Angeles Convention Center’s Chief Engineer, Rey Castro, gave the students a brief lecture about the LEED certification process and the Center’s solar program.
Afterwards, students visited the various display booths. Convention Center staff set up booths focused on LEED certification and water conservation efforts. Aqua-Tech Water Management walked students through the water purification process. Spectrum Engineering and BC International talked about energy management. LADWP was on hand to educate students on water and power conservation.
Los Angeles Convention Center’s Executive Chef, Brett Lewis, prepared three types of salsa from organic fruits and vegetables for students to taste. The ingredients were generously donated by Fresh Point Organic Foods.
After receiving a stamp at each booth, the students received a commemorative Earth Aware t-shirt. Chuck Burdick, Assistant Principal/SLC Administrator, of Santee Education Complex stated, “Successful high school programs in 2011 are those that include key community sponsors like the Los Angeles Convention Center. Their Earth Aware 2011 was a big success, attended by all of the Chemistry and Biology students at Santee Education Complex. The event raised awareness about conservation and healthy living, in a kid-friendly and interactive learning environment.
Our Santee students attended the Earth Day event in 2010 at the Convention Center, and this year the Convention Center came to us! They mean what they say as far as wanting to sustain partnerships with the local schools.”
Pouria Abbassi, General Manager and CEO, and Assistant General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Phillip Hill, both of the Los Angeles Convention Center, addressed students about the importance of environmental initiatives and community involvement. They also participated in the dedication of the new tree, which was planted by student volunteers. Mr. Abbassi stated “The students of Santee Education Complex were enthusiastic, inquisitive, polite, and grateful for the interactive learning opportunity. Our staff and vendors were thrilled to teach them about environmental responsibility while answering questions about potential career paths.” The students signed a posterboard which will be displayed in the offices of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
About the Santee Education Complex Santee is a secondary school located at 1921 South Maple Avenue in South Los Angeles. It serves grades 9 through 12 and just over 3,000 students. The high school is revered for its innovative seven small learning communities. For more information, visit www.santeefalcons.org.
About the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC)
The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is one of the most technologically advanced convention and exhibition centers in the world. LACC attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually and is renowned internationally as a prime site for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions. An integral economic component to the Southern California area, total sales from client secondary spending tops $1.1 billion annually, generating and sustaining over 12,000 local jobs.
LACC is a model environmental-friendly facility, holding the prestigious USGBC LEED-EB GOLD Certification for existing buildings. LACC is also a Bronze Level recipient of the 2010 California Award for Performance Excellence (CAPE), Eureka Award. For more information, visit www.lacclink.com.
Sustainable Housing, 30/10 and Public Transit in LA
By Joel Epstein
The conference, hosted by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) and now in its ninth year, brought together a well-spoken group of leaders from the real estate, transportation, government, finance and planning communities. With a strong lineup of panelists and the show ably MC'ed by City Controller Wendy Greuel, I found myself busily scribbling away as speaker after speaker described successes and the many challenges they face in working to build sustainable housing and mixed use developments in LA County and elsewhere. http://joelepstein.com/
Sustainable Housing, 30/10 and Public Transit in LA
With last week's epiphany on how the unions should be investors in LA's 30/10 Initiative going nowhere, I was free to attend Wednesday's Mayoral Sustainable Housing and Transportation Summit.
30/10 is an innovative idea for accelerating construction of 12 critical voter-approved transportation construction projects in 10 years instead of 30. The conference, hosted by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) and now in its ninth year, brought together a well-spoken group of leaders from the real estate, transportation, government, finance and planning communities. With a strong lineup of panelists and the show ably MC'ed by City Controller Wendy Greuel, I found myself busily scribbling away as speaker after speaker described successes and the many challenges they face in working to build sustainable housing and mixed use developments in LA County and elsewhere.
LA remains one of the least affordable residential markets in the country and the conference effectively underscored the importance of removing obstacles to building in the city so that working people can find affordable, sustainable housing in safe neighborhoods with good schools within easy commuting distance of their jobs. Yes, that's a lot of modifiers.
The three panels that made up the generally well-paced program explored [different] definitions of sustainable communities, resources to support a sustainable community, and best practices for sustainable community development.
In the second panel discussion Larry Parks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco captured the challenge explaining that affordable housing developers and transit-oriented development (TOD) advocates need to do a better job of conveying to the media and policy makers that TOD reduces the amount of household income residents must spend on transportation from 25 percent to 9 percent.
Given my bias toward transit-oriented development and sustainable communities with a strong public transit component, my favorite comments came from Metro's Art Leahy, Senior Deputy Dan Rosenfeld from Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas' office and John Huskey, CEO of Meta Housing.
I am paraphrasing, but here is what I heard them say and/or why their comments rang true.
In his comments Leahy forcefully drove home how Metro's extensive and costly building program supported by revenue from voter-approved Measure R will create a true transit system out of our already extensive collection of bus and rail lines. This will mean a significantly more transit-oriented LA, conducive to greater mobility for those smart enough, or with no choice but, to ride Metro. Unlike some others in this town who advocate for greater mass transit but don't themselves take Metro, Leahy earns our respect in part because he is a customer, as well as Metro's CEO, who uses the system as often as he can.
Rosenfeld focused on the need to rally around greater density at Metro stations and to implement changes that make land acquisition and development around the stations easier. He bemoaned the fact that South LA, from Wilshire Blvd south to Long Beach has seen no transit oriented development around its rail stations even though the area has long had the Metro Blue and Green Lines.
Huskey of Meta Housing captured my imagination with his candid comments about the challenges of developing Adams & Central, a new mixed use development in what was once the heart of LA's African-American community and an R&B and jazz Mecca. Coincidentally, at the recommendation of Councilwoman Jan Perry I had visited the impressive development which includes a Fresh & Easy supermarket just last week. At least during the day, the development and the market are the envy of most mixed use developments and supermarkets in West LA.
Many of the other speakers spoke of LA's critical 30/10 Initiative, including Metro Board member Richard Katz who reminded us that those who are speaking of the death of 30/10 are underestimating the merits of the program and the hard work that has gone into creating an infrastructure financing model for the nation. Katz' wise counsel to the media, including yours truly, is worth heeding, just as many were forecasting Measure R's demise just before it was approved by a two thirds majority of County voters in November 2008.
Given the sustainability theme, the conference featured some nice touches including a cloth conference tote that will make a nice shopping bag now that the County Board of Supervisors has passed a sweeping ban on plastic shopping bags. The wasteful bags have become known as urban tumbleweed that all too rarely gets recycled.
The LABC tote included a soon to be collectible "Watts Is Worth It" reusable coffee mug, grace à the LA Housing Authority's Jordan Downs Redevelopment.
At breakfast and lunch, what looked like biodegradable cutlery and unbleached paper napkins accompanied the food. Nice, though as Metro's Leahy noted, is there really a plentiful water source in Las Vegas, where the bottled water provided to the panelists came from? Am I the only one who remembers when conferences provided a pitcher of ice water and glasses to their presenters?
One more criticism of the otherwise excellent sustainable housing and transportation conference. It appeared as if I was as guilty as most of the other attendees in driving alone to the early morning event at UCLA's Anderson School. Maybe next year LABC can organize a shuttle from the Metro Wilshire 720 Rapid, the Metro 2 and other buses that make stops in Westwood.
All small issues. Kudos to the LABC for organizing this important conference! Oh, one more thing. The Mayor spoke as well.
Joel Epstein is a Los Angeles-based public transportation advocate and also a contributor to the Huffington Post. http://joelepstein.com/
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Environmental Charter School Opens Doors In Los Angeles
Environmental Charter Schools (www.echsonline.org) celebrates the grand opening ofthe Environmental Charter Middle School (ECMS) with speeches by environmental experts Rachel Gutter, Tom Feegel, educational expert Alison Suffet-Diaz and ECMS Principal Kami Cotler.
When: Friday, September 10, 2010
Program begins at 8:15am
Moderator: Sarah Backhouse (Host from Planet Green, Discovery Network),
Speakers Rachel Gutter (Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council), Tom Feegel (co-Author of Green My Parents), Alison Suffet-Diaz (Founder and Executive Director, Environmental Charter Schools) and Kami Cotler (Environmental Charter Middle School Principal).
Rachel Gutter is widely recognized as one of the nation's foremost experts on the topic of green schools. She oversees the U.S. Green Building Council's National Green Schools Campaign, the LEED for Green Schools Green Building Rating System and is responsible for initiating many programs at the USGBC.
Alison Diaz, Founder of Environmental Charter High School, and Executive Director of Environmental Charter Schools; is responsible for driving strategic development, as well as fundraising, fiscal and capital budgeting and planning, and oversight of administrative operations.
Environmental Charter Middle School Principal Kami Cotler will oversee the implementation of the Environmental Charter Schools curriculum and manage the day to day school activities.
ECMS will be presented with the Assembly Certificate of Recognition by a representative from the office of Assembly member Steven Bradford. Field Representative April Lawrence will present the school with a certificate on behalf of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
ECMS opens its doors to 120- 6th grade students for the 2010 - 2011 school year; Enrollment is open to all students regardless of district boundaries. The school offers students a small, caring school environment, 25-30 children per classroom, which supports students' transition from elementary school and prepares them for high school success. The educational program is designed to help students develop the academic skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to succeed in a college preparatory high school and to be effective stewards of their community. The middle school will extend learning beyond the classroom doors encouraging students to take action to solve local community issues and make measurable improvements in their environment.
The opening of ECMS signifies a watershed moment in urban Environmental Education. The school will deliver the same type of award-winning curriculum as Environmental Charter High School, curriculum that has been recognized by the Obama White House and which has been featured on PBS television.
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House Plant Vacations At The Hammer Museum
The Hammer invites you to give your houseplant a vacation during our August cultural retreat for plants. Throughout the entire month, participant's plants will be installed in the light flooded Lindbrook terrace, and presented with a series of readings, performances and musical events, for plants every Saturday from 1-4pm. See below for the full schedule and for information about plant portraiture by Lisa Anne Abash. (Please no sick/infested plants - this is a vacation, not rehab).Plant drop off is July 31, 11am- 6pm and pick up August 28, 11am- 6pm ONLY!
You can download the attached plant release waiver and fill it out before you come to the museum or you can do this when you drop off your plant.
- Saturday, July 31, 11am to 6pm: Drop off at the Hammer Museum and plant portrait photography
- Saturday, August 7, 1-4pm: Musical performances, dramatic readings, and psychic plant healing
- Saturday, August 14, 1-4pm: Musical performances, poetry, and psychic plant healing
- Saturday, August 21, 1-4pm: Musical performances, historical accounts of botanical exploration and psychic plant healing
- Sunday, August 29, 11am to 6pm: Plant pick up at the Hammer Museum
About A.I.R.
In June 2009, the Hammer Museum was awarded a $1 million Arts Innovation Fund grant from the James Irvine Foundation to create a new model for visitor engagement, conceived and driven by artists. To that end, in November, the museum welcomed its first Public Engagement Artist in Residence (A.I.R.), Machine Project. The Echo Park-based collective, led by Mark Allen, has produced nearly 40 programs onsite including an overnight Dream-In; microconcerts in a coatroom-turned-theater; and needle pointing group-therapy sessions.
For additional information on these and other A.I.R. projects, please check the museum’s blog http://hammer.ucla.edu/newsblogs/ or Machine Project’s website.
About Machine Project
Machine Project is a non-profit performance and installation space investigating art, technology, natural history, science, music, literature, and food. Machine presents events, workshops, and site-specific installations using hands-on engagement to make rarefied knowledge accessible. Beyond their storefront space, Machine Project operates as a loose confederacy of artists producing shows at locations ranging from the Santa Monica beach to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Currently, Machine Project is serving as artist in residence at the Hammer Museum producing a year of programming addressing the visitor experience and public engagement.
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Los Angeles Goes For FiT - Solar Feed-in Tariffs
If only Los Angeles could bottle the kind of energy seen during Lakers Day Parades, such as the one on Monday, June 21st, there would be little need for discussions about rate hikes and energy consumption. Until that day arrives, the Los Angeles Business Council has been consulting with local stakeholders and helping Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilwoman Jan Perry and others to come up with a Feed-in Tariff plan for Solar energy. This is how it is proposed to work in benefit to Los Angeles the city and its citizens.
- Ratepayer cost-savings: Future solar installation costs will continue to fall at the same time that fossil fuel costs will rise. Our study finds that ratepayers will save money over the long-term because a solar program will begin to produce energy more cheaply than the utility’s other potential sources of power within five years.
- Regulatory climate: California law, AB 32, will require all utilities to meet 20 percent of their power needs with renewable sources by the end of the year, a mandate that will soon increase to 33 percent. A FiT program could be an important component in helping utilities to meet renewable energy goals.
Can't See The Video? CLICK HERE
- A magnet for clean-tech manufacturing: A FiT program would signal a long-term political commitment to greening Los Angeles and could be used as an incentive to attract clean-tech firms and manufacturers to our region and keep them here. Germany—which is home to the world’s largest solar market despite its relatively marginal sunlight— has used a nationwide FiT program to help generate more than 100,000 jobs and build a robust green economy.
- Job creation: A FiT program would create more than 11,000 high-wage private sector jobs to install, maintain, repair, assemble and manufacture solar panels inside the Los Angeles basin.
| What Is A Solar Feed-in Tariff Program? A solar Feed-in Tariff program allows businesses, public and non-profit organizations, and residents to install solar panels on their roofs and parking lots and sell the power generated back to the local utility. Participants receive a payment back from the utility for each Kilowatt-hour fed back into the power grid. FiT programs can generate a cost-effective source of renewable energy, create local jobs, and bring in revenue for businesses and ratepayers. Successful FiT programs have been put in place around the world. LABC has singled out programs in Germany and Gainesville, Florida as particularly effective models that Los Angeles should look to emulate. | |
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Contact the Los Angeles Business Council for more information on the Solar FiT program. This month LABC has been building a broad coalition in support of bringing an ambitious 600 Megawatt Solar Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program to Los Angeles using the guidelines we have developed in partnership with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. |
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California Enterprise Zone
In what can temptingly be referred to as the "Tony and Arnold Show," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, applauded earlier this week the re-affirmation of the East Los Angeles Enterprise Zone and the implementation of the three-year tax holiday for new businesses established in Los Angeles, both outcomes of the newly refocused Office of Economic and Business Policy.
A healthy example of this public-private partnership is Baxter BioScience, a 50-year resident in the Mayor's native neighborhood of East Los Angeles.
Deadlines Not Headlines
The Mayor stated that the newly refocused L.A. Office of Economic and Business Policy has a new mantra, "...And that mantra is 'Deadlines, not headlines.' Our enterprise zones...We've gained the remarkable distinction of having the most acreage in the state with enterprise zone designation.
So if you're a business in L.A., coming to L.A. and paying taxes for the first time, for the next three years you're not going to pay business taxes so we can grow jobs here in the city of Los Angeles."
Vice President of Baxter BioScience, Joy Amundson noted the key role the company and its 3,000 employees have played in the California economy for the past 50 years: "Since 1953 we've been a cornerstone of the L.A. business community, right here, operating right here on Colorado Boulevard and San Fernando Road. For more than 50 years -- 50 years -- Baxter BioScience has played a significant role in elevating biotech."
Ms. Amundson emphasized the company's commitment to sustainability, pointing out that Baxter BioScience is recognized today as one of the 100 most sustainable corporations in the world.
"We're not just an ordinary company, ladies and gentlemen; we're biotech. We are the cream of the crop here in Los Angeles," continued Ms. Amundson, "Our technology helps patients who suffer from a range of medical conditions. In fact, this plant is the world's only producer of a therapy that treats infant botulism called BabyBIG."
Mayor Villaraigosa likes to point out that Los Angeles is positioned to be the "Greenest Big City in America."
According to Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner a recent study concluded, contrary to popular belief, that the three-year tax holiday for new businesses actually would spur enough job growth to create more tax revenue and that it wouldn't impact the budget because it's money the city is not currently collecting. The Tax Holiday is estimatedd to create 55,000 new jobs, with a 12 percent unemployment.
The Tony And Arnold Show
Mayor Villaraigosa: I recognize what it is to have a job and particularly a good-paying job like you have here at Baxter, what it is to be able to maintain your families.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: I think this is a very important move, that the local government and the state government worked together and showed great partnership. And as you can also see, I'm a Republican, he's a Democrat. There are Democrats and Republicans here. We all worked together because we don't care about the party; we care about one thing, to serve the people and to serve you, the workers, to keep the jobs here and to help businesses. That is the important thing for California and for Los Angeles.
Mayor Villaraigosa: Someone last night called me and said, "You know, your press conferences with the Governor are now almost done on a weekly basis. What's this about?"
I think the Governor said something very important. It's about jobs. I think people are tired of the partisanship you see in Sacramento, in Washington D.C. I just came back from the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Oklahoma City and the one thing every single mayor there laments is that partisanship, the inability to work together.
Well, this Governor, I can tell you, has delivered for Los Angeles and he's delivered for Los Angeles on a regular basis. And so every time he delivers, the least we could do is be here. And I want to acknowledge my friend, the governor of the great state of California, the man whose office helped us move through the bureaucracy and the red tape so that we could celebrate this day, my friend Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And, of course, I'm always kissing up to him because he's only got about six more months in office. He's going to do another movie and he says he's going to put me in it when I'm out of a job. So, you know, this is good. And again, thank you, my friend and thank you for your leadership.
The Governor also hosted his monthly display of alternative fuel vehicles at the
Governor's Summit on Advanced Transportation And Clean Energy Cars earlier this week in Sacramento:
Governor Schwarzenegger: When I came into office in 2003, I remember I asked our administration to go and have a display in the next auto show, in the next car show in Los Angeles of alternative-fuel vehicles. And at that point, the first display, I remember we had were two vehicles -- two.
Today when I walked around I was counting and there were 20 different vehicles.
Schnapps And Oil Don't Mix
The Governor asks the question, are we really addicted to oil?
Governor Schwarzenegger: I mean, one needs only to look to the Gulf of Mexico and the tragedy and what happens when you just rely on oil. And I think that this has really woken up everybody.
And it is shameful how desperate and how dependent we have become on fossil fuels. I mean, 95 percent of our transportation is done through fossil fuels and that's pitiful.
And I don't believe what Thomas Friedman said, when he said that we are addicted to oil, because I think there's a difference between having alternatives and you're addicted to one thing, you have to have this one thing. That's an addiction. Like if I have a choice to drink water versus schnapps but I continuously drink schnapps, then I have an alcohol problem and I should go to an addiction center to get rid of my addiction. But if I only have schnapps to drink, you know, then it's another thing.
We need an energy policy so that we know where our energy is coming from. Do we want to continue relying on countries and sending $400 billion a year to countries that hate us, or do we want to go in a different direction? I mean, that is really the question.
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