Text excerpted from the book: PROTECTING THE PLANET-Environmental Champions from Conservation to Climate Change (ISBN 978-1-63388-225-6)
by
Budd Titlow & Mariah Tinger
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG98CCWF / http://www.buddtitlow.com
The 2008 US National Election brought many precedent-setting changes to Capitol Hill when Barack Obama was elected President. In addition to being the first African American to serve in the White House—an astonishing turn of events given our country’s muddled history of race relations—Mr. Obama was a progressive environmentalist in every since of the word. After his election, he stated that “We are not acting as good stewards of God’s earth when our bottom line puts the size of our profits before the future of our planet.” Then, after his January 2009 Inauguration, he immediately jumped onto the 350.org bandwagon, pledging that 25% of energy consumption in the US would come from renewable sources by 2025 and that GHG would be reduced by 80% by 2050.
President Obama’s success in the environmental arena—while not living up to his ambitious campaign promises—was the bellwether of the early years of his presidency. He demonstrated his astuteness in environmental matters—especially the battle against Climate Change—by stating the following in his 2010 State of the Union address: “I know there have been questions about whether we can afford (energy efficiency) changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on Climate Change. But here’s the thing—even if you doubt the evidence—providing incentives for energy-efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation.”
In general, the American public either undervalued or just flat out failed to notice the supreme environmental efforts and successes being made by the Obama Administration. In fact, Carl Pope—National Executive Director of the Sierra Club—had this to say: “This is by far the best first year on the environment of any president in history, including Teddy Roosevelt. Most presidents have done their best environmental work late in their term. This is a very, very strong opening.”
President Barack Obama stands with climate activists—Professor Katharine Hayhoe and Actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
This was high praise indeed for Obama’s diligent, workman-like efforts on the environmental front. In fact, if the Republican controlled Congress had not been repeatedly sticking to Mitch McConnell’s often stated “one and only goal” of keeping Obama from winning a second term—and thereby opposing everything the president tried to do—we believe that Obama would be celebrated as the most accomplished environmental president to ever serve in the White House.
Author’s bio:For the past 50 years, professional ecologist and conservationist Budd Titlow has used his pen and camera to capture the awe and wonders of our natural world. His goal has always been to inspire others to both appreciate and enjoy what he sees. Now he has one main question: Can we save humankind’s place — within nature’s beauty — before it’s too late? Budd’s two latest award-winning books are dedicated to answering this perplexing dilemma. PROTECTING THE PLANET: Environmental Champions from Conservation to Climate Change, a non-fiction book, examines whether we still have the environmental heroes among us — harking back to such past heroes as Audubon, Hemenway, Muir, Douglas, Leopold, Brower, Carson, and Meadows — needed to accomplish this goal. Next, using fact-filled and entertaining story-telling, his latest book — COMING FULL CIRCLE: A Sweeping Saga of Conservation Stewardship Across America — provides the answers we all seek and need.Having published five books, more than 500 photo-essays, and 5,000 photographs, Budd Titlow lives with his music educator wife, Debby, in San Diego, California.
CONSERVING NATURE WITH WORDS & PHOTOS 