U.S. military forges ahead with plans to combat climate change – ‘It’s not a pretty picture for the United States’
By Joshua Zaffos and Daily Climate
2 April 2012 The U.S. military’s elite forces have always pushed the envelope. And this summer will be no exception, as the Navy deploys SEALs with $2 million of new gear on missions to save hostages, combat pirates, and counter terrorism around the world. What sort of next-generation weaponry, armor, or transportation will the funds provide? None. The cash will pay for solar technology, enabling the SEALs to power up equipment and purify water while on the move, and even refrigerate medical supplies and food. “It’s really the first step in the Navy’s effort to make the SEALs net-zero energy and net-zero water (use) down the road,” said Thomas Hicks, the Navy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy. Making the SEALs into a leaner, greener tactical force is one of many such steps being taken by all branches as the U.S. military reduces its environmental footprint. The Army is targeting net-zero energy use at several bases, and the Navy and Air Force are experimenting with running jets on biofuels that use wood waste and algae and less petroleum. In Afghanistan, patrols now carry eco-friendly solar blankets and LED lamps. Connecting the military’s fossil-fuel and overall energy use with risks to our national security hasn’t been easy in this political environment, especially with the presidential election looming. Congressional Republicans have repeatedly questioned and criticized the Armed Forces’ new-energy strategies, portraying initiatives as political favors to clean-energy businesses. But current and retired military leaders insist the policies are essential. The efforts protect soldiers and help them carry out missions. They also help curb climate change and its potential to intensify military conflicts. […] A 2010 Defense Department review identified climate change and energy security as “prominent military vulnerabilities,” noting that climate change in particular is an “accelerant of instability and conflict.” It was the first time the Pentagon addressed climate in a comprehensive planning document. […] A subsequent assessment by the National Research Council found that even moderate climate shifts will impact Navy operations. Sea-level rise and more severe storm surges will hit coastal military bases, and marine forces could also face more work in responding to an increase in humanitarian crises following disasters. The opening of the Arctic as sea ice disappears will likely require more patrols in harsh conditions as nations and industry interests are expected to vie for control of new trade routes and energy resources. “The severe weather effects of climate change aren’t going to start conflicts per se,” McGinn said. But it will put added pressure on political, religious, economic, and ethnic fault lines, particularly in fragile societies. “It’s not a pretty picture for the United States.” […]
U.S. Military Forges Ahead with Plans to Combat Climate Change
This is unbelievably hypocritical. It is the U.S. military that is spreading poisons like deplete uranium around entire countries, and now they think they can tell us they're "going green"?
What hypocrisy.
American military bases are some of the most toxic, polluted environments on the planet (look it up if you do not believe this). They also consume more oil energy the entire countries.
Going green (for real) would mean pull the troops home (all of them, in over 120 countries), stop trying to bully and police the entire world for the sake of American corporations, stop spreading poisons like depleted uranium, white phosphorus and stop building massive stockpiles of bio-weapons and nerve agents.
Until we see THAT, then this hogwash about "going green" is just yet another propaganda piece meant for stupid minds.