1) The consequences of not taking strong enough action are far worse than the financial hit many perceive from climate legislation.

2) Supporting appropriate climate legislation will encourage a new, green -energy economy, keep US energy dollars and millions of new, cleaner, safer jobs at home, reduce dependence on foreign oil, increase homeland security, and help America lead the world in renewable, clean, energy technology and manufacturing. 

3) Any legislation must have provisions for those who would be adversely hit financially. These safety-net provisions should be sufficient to protect lower-middle income and poorer people. Individuals earning more than these levels should be able to absorb associated costs and will ultimately enjoy the rewards of the redirected economic focus on a cleaner economy.

4) Legislation must produce significant improvements in the environment that will ultimately benefit human and other life on the planet. A cleaner environment will ultimately save healthcare dollars for individuals, as well as state and federal government.

5) Global supply and demand will ultimately lead to war if we do not start to build a renewable energy economy. We will be competing with countries such as China and India as they develop their economies. There is a century or less of economically recoverable, yet polluting, fossil fuel sources---including less than 75 years of uranium, according to Big Energy's Conoco-Phillips. These sources and companies have been subsidized while making record profits, sidetracking investment in renewables.  Prices from these limited, finite sources will reflect supply and demand and continue to rise. It's time to change to renewables---change that we, the taxpayers, pay for---carbon credits can be a tool to use for this change and will help build a clean, responsible energy future.

6) Whether one agrees that humans are causing the climate crisis, we have a moral obligation to lead the world and our country to a more sustainable future, one that is healthier, and a future with energy prices eventually stabilizing and dropping like other consumer goods, as all countries become more energy independent with renewables. As we do this, we must keep the reduction of greenhouse gases as our foremost goal---for example, certain biofuels can be too water intensive in a drying climate, and cause deforestation by increased need for land. Poorly thought out, or hasty solutions, or ones that only benefit a particular industry, can contribute to the climate crisis more than they reduce it.  

7) In order to stabilize the climate, scientists agree that we must keep the CO₂ concentration at around 350 parts per million. We are currently at 389 PPM and rising. The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) sets a goal of 450 PPM. We can see what is happening now at 389 PPM. It's clear we need to hold or reduce emissions below what we have now. Effective legislation must set a limit of 400 PPM, or less. The number and severity of weather related disasters in Missouri has increased over the last several years. These disasters hit hard, causing loss of livelihood, industry and taxpayer dollars. For this and other reasons, Missouri SEMA officials were prompted to state, in late January of 2008, that weather may now be the greatest threat to homeland security.

8) Finally, any legislation must not undo progress made before, such as language that would weaken our long-standing Clean Air Act, or weaken EPA authority.

Here are a couple of sample letters for inspiration!! Both were published as op-eds in area papers recently.

Express yourself!! Write to top Missouri and national papers and tell their readers how important this is. Cut and paste some of our talking points above, or modify them in your own words (better).

Remember to be brief, and to give your name and address at the end (papers don't publish anonymous letters). Thank you for adding your voice!!

When you're done, why not send your letter to your Missouri senators? Contact information is just below the newspaper links for your convenience

Missouri Papers