Two hundred and thirty seven years ago, US colonies freed themselves from the injustice of British rule, now America needs to free itself from the injustice of fossil fuels. The United States’ Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. On that day, thirteen American colonies proclaimed their freedom from Great Britain. On the fourth of July 2013, America needs to start thinking seriously about a declaration of
freedom from fossil fuels.
A few years after the American revolution, the
industrial revolution dawned, beginning America’s meteoric rise to global
dominance. However, fossil fuels are the engine that drove this growth and they are also the leading cause
of climate change.
Americans have some important choices to make. Ending fossil fuel subsidies is an important first step. But this cannot be accomplished as long as Americans vote for Republicans who continue their unyielding support for dirty energy.
We must
rethink some of the basic notions of the old economy. We need to move towards
more efficient and sustainable visions of the future. It is time for Americans
to declare their independence and begin working towards a future free of fossil
fuels.
© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights
reserved.
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