The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we’re contributing to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe.

Barack Obama

Nul doute en effet que l’énergie nucléaire ne soit une des formes de l’énergie du monde de demain et, si nous ne disons pas qu’elle en sera la forme d’utilisation définitive, c’est qu’il faut réserver sa place à l’énergie solaire, si abondante, de si haute qualité et dont la mise en œuvre par la technique vient à peine de commencer.

Louis Armand, 1958

The longer I live, the more I am certain that the great difference between the great and the insignificant, is energy – invincible determination–a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory.

Sir Thomas Bowell Buxton

We’ll run out of water before we run out of oil!

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of Nestle, the World’s largest food company

There is nothing more effective than high energy prices to promote efficiency in its use!

Sarsfield Cabral, Opinion writer for Publico

There is enough for everybody’s need, but not enough for anybody’s greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

We have to encourage the future we want rather than trying to prevent the future we fear.

Bill Joy, Sun Microsystems

A reduction in domestic emissions would slow the pace of global emissions increases, no matter what happens elsewhere.

US Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA, April 2, 2007

… good enough for our transatlantic friends… but unworthy of practical or scientific men.

Report of a committee of the British Parliament on the idea of an incandescent lamp, 1878

With tongue in cheek and apologies to the Wal-Mart version we have all heard, please consider these thoughts that are sure to help us NOT achieve sustainability in 2008.

1. Refuse to consider thoughts and opinions other than your own. If you are right and everyone else is wrong, why bother?

2. Remain glued to the status quo. After all if what you have been doing works, why take a chance on changing anything?

3. Reject any idea that even remotely sounds like compromise even though sometimes, that is the best way to accomplish progress.

4. Resist any new technology unless it is absolutely perfect and supports your position. “See I told you it wouldn’t work” can be all so satisfying.

5. Ridicule anyone who appears to be profiting from their work in sustainability, especially if their margin appears to exceed your own.

6. Repel anyone seeking knowledge or help. Everyone knowing as much as you do cannot be a good thing.

Last but not least

7. Resign yourself to the fact that the environmental problem is too large to be fixed. Seek new goals that are easier to achieve!

Dennis Salazar