Posted on 04/14/2016 3:56:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In an unprecedented move, a US judge has given a group of 21 youths permission to sue the federal government for threatening their future health and security by failing to take sufficient action against climate change, despite being aware of the risks.
"This decision is one of the most significant in our nation’s history," said the kids' attorney, Philip Gregory. "The Court gave America’s youth a fair opportunity to be heard ... The next step is for the Court to order our government to cease jeopardising the climate system for present and future generations."
The lawsuit was brought before Oregon Federal District Court Magistrate, Judge Thomas Coffin, who ruled against dismissing the case.
And before we get ahead of ourselves here, all that means is that the case will be heard, despite the government's best efforts to get it thrown out. It doesn't mean anyone is going to get in trouble for dragging their feet on climate change just yet, or be ordered to take action, but it's a huge step, because it's the first time a US court will give young people the chance to fight for their future.
The plaintiffs in this case were 21 young people, aged between eight and 19, as well as top climate scientist James Hansen.
Put simply, they're suing the federal government because it has "known for decades that carbon dioxide (C02) pollution has been causing catastrophic climate change", but failed to take necessary action to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
And according to the kids' representative, this violates their fifth and ninth amendment rights "by denying them protections afforded to previous generations and by favouring short term economic interests of certain citizens". We've got to say, they kind of have a point...
Judge Coffin ruled that the "unprecedented lawsuit" needed to be heard, seeing as "the debate about climate change and its impact has been before various political bodies for some time now."
He added that the government's inaction will also have an incredibly disparate impact on one class of society - in other words, seeing as most of us are going to be dead by the time the proverbial sh*t hits the fan, knowing the risks and still refusing to take action is akin to discriminating against the youth of tomorrow.
The bold move was one of Judge Coffin's last, as he's retiring this year. The case will now move into the hands of Judge Ann Aiken.
This isn't the first time that the courts have become involved in federal law - in the Netherlands last year, a court ruled that the government had to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 to avoid "knowingly exposing its own citizens to dangerous situations".
The fact that a similar lawsuit is now being allowed to be heard in the US is a pretty big deal, because it sets a precedent for all kinds of climate change cases to come out of the woodwork. And hopefully it'll result in the US government taking more urgent action to protect their future citizens against extreme temperature increases and rising sea levels.
"The future of our generation is at stake," said 16-year-old plaintiff Victoria Barrett. "People label our generation as dreamers, but hope is not the only tool we have. I am a teenager. I want to do what I love and live a life full of opportunities. I want the generation that follows to have the same chance. I absolutely refuse to let our government’s harmful action, corporate greed, and the pure denial of climate science get in the way of that."
"If anything, I’m going to use my positive energy to show my government that I won’t let my world stop for them. WE won’t let our world stop for them. Our generation will continue to be a force for the world," she added.
All we can say in response to that boss statement is that, if the adults aren’t going to do anything about climate change, we’re glad these incredible kids are stepping up. The power is yours!
Read Levin’s book. The shoukd be suing for the inter-generational theft.
Whereas Global Warming has been identified as a danger to public health, and
Whereas the Congress of the United States has refused to act to diminish the danger, and
Whereas the people of the United States have selected me to protect them from all dangers, foreign and domestic,
Therefor, I , President Hillary Clinton, do hereby order that all power plants fueled by coal, oil, natural gas or other petroleum product be immediately shut down, and
Furthermore, I order all petroleum refineries to be shutdown, and
Furthermore, I order the immediate end of the operation of all vehicles powered by petroleum products, whether operated on air, land, or water.
signed, President Hillary Clinton
------------------------------------------
How long will the little kiddies last without their cellphones and computers? I'm guessing about an hour.
Yes, the 20 or so trillion in debt is a REAL and present danger these kids.
Emissions in the USA have been declining for decades. The increases in emissions are coming from China, India, and the third world. No liberal seems to be concerned about emissions outside the US and Europe.
How! The little bastards don’t pay taxes. They don’t have any standing. This “judge” must be doing too many recreational drugs.
Suing for inaction on eliminating the $17 Trillion (or whatever amount it is up to now) National Debt I could agree with.
“Climate Change” is such nebulous a concept (warmer, colder, drier, wetter...over what period....etc) that determining a specific action is impossible.
AGW due to CO2 is so far outside reality (other than in the minds of Hollywood and the taxation/confiscation politicians) that it is a complete joke. Look a the physics!
Can this judge be recalled?
He seems too delusional to sit on the bench and rule.
Can we all join the suit? I want in.
I am so sick of the Established Religion of Environmentalism(TM).
As if the gov hasn’t done every fascist thing it can to “save the !%!##$! planet”.
It's now in the hands of Clinton appointee Ann Aiken. Hold on to your wallets.
I heard somewhere that Swat Kats was canceled specifically by Teddy Turner for captain eco-wacko.
Kats had gunplay, gadgets, and other stuff going for it.
Good dirt. Moved to the mountains in Park county. Glad to be out of the ‘burbs.
How ‘bout you, you good?
FReegards
Even though they are not adults they get to sue to limit the free speech of adults.
Even though they are not adults they get to sue to limit the free speech of adults.
Allow them to only be able to sue their parents.
We will see how long this goes on.
That’s a PARE — Protective Aura of Righteous Egomentalism.™
Suing over policy?
Ok, I want to file suit for against that ponzi scheme known as social security.
Also, gov known for years that raising minimum wage reduces youth employment, so there’s the suit for abolishing min wage.
Plenty of others, but don’t want to type them all.
The Penn and Teller show BS had an episode on global warming. It featured a 60 second section by the founder of the Weather Channel. The trend line of CO2 is only up over the 20th century, while weather oscillates warm and cold in at least two cycles. AKA, rising CO2 didn’t prevent two cold periods over a century, so it doesn’t cause global warming.
Got about five inches last weekend and still have several on the ground here in northern Michigan.
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