The US President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden are expected to make important announcements that will provide stimulus for a greener future. An Obama administration official has said that the President will make announcement regarding Smart Grids during his visit to Florida. Obama’s announcement of a Smart Grid will be the government’s largest investment of economic stimulus funds in clean energy.

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When 20 Nobel Laureates sit together to discuss ways to save Earth from the plight of global warming, the outcome would definitely be special. Out of the many suggestions that would flow from the Nobel Laureate Symposium being held in London, the US Energy Secretary (Barack Obama’s best man on “green), Steven Chu, came out with the most interesting : paint the world white.

Santorini Island, Greece - The Most Beautiful White Architecture in The World?

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President Obama and California are preparing to take the gloves off in the fight for emissions regulation to curb global warming. Normally the phrase ‘take the gloves off’ would mean they are getting ready to really duke it out. Not this time. The gloves will come off because the fight will be finished, IF, President Obama gets his way.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally reacts to Barack Obama's initiative on emission regulations

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There are many things on President Barrack Obama’s desk right now that need urgent attending. But one of the most significant of all the bills the President wishes to see get acceptance from the Congress is the carbon-capping program. Apparently, he not only thinks the program will help the planet get cleaner, but will also generate the much needed revenue for the country.

The cap and trade system that will be put in place by the new government once it gets the Congress approval, will start an innovative new plan which will put a price on climate-warming gases emitted by companies. Each company will have to pay a price for every extra ton of carbon gas that it emits beyond its designated limit.

Apart from forcing companies to take up the green path and cut on emissions significantly, this also means that there will be significant revenue generated from the selling of carbon emission credits. The funds are estimated to touch $646 billion in the initial year. The price for one ton of carbon emission credits is being set around $15 and will progressively go up in an effort o discourage all methods that pollute the air.

Obama’s budget for 2010 projects this revenue, from 2012 through 2019, will fund $150 billion in clean energy technology investments over 10 years and a tax credit to help Americans make the transition to a less carbon-intensive economy.

There are both economic and environment viewpoints that should support such an idea to curb carbon emissions. Let’s just hope that the Cap-and-Trade bill not just makes it through in the US, but all across the globe in one form or another.

Meanwhile, let’s be good stewards to our planet.

Japan’s PM Taro Aso is ordering his ministries to draft a “Green New Deal” this week. The “Green New Deal” is expected to counter the twin towers threats of climate change and economic downturn.

Green New Deal

Aso’s stimulus package will focus on slashing greenhouse gases.

Aso is expected to fall in step with new US President Barack Obama vow to lead the world on climate change. High on the agenda – new measures to encourage the development of fuel-efficient cars.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is also asked for a “Green New Deal” at a UN climate conference in Poland in December. (more…)

Whether you are a political or an environmental analyst, the word you’ll likely use to describe Barrack Obama’s new environment team at the White House is green.

From a political point of view, the team led by Steve Chu – director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and a Nobel laureate in Physics, doesn’t seem to have any experience and may, at times, fail in those crucial political negotiations that circle around environment issues. However, for those concerned about the planet, the team really is green as it seems to be made up of a team of people that have the planet’s best interests at heart.

Apart from Steve Chu, the team will consist of Lisa Jackson, who until recently headed the commission on environmental protection in New Jersey and is now all set to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Carol Browner, who will fill in the new position of White House Energy czar and Nancy Sutley, who will head the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Stacked with people who know a lot about the latest green energy technology, environment standards and what needs to be done to improve it during the next few years, unlike the past Bush administration, this team has worked long and campaigned hard for a cleaner planet.

With green jobs an important part of the agenda for the next government, expect stringent pollution control laws, a probable backing of emission standards that California has been asking for and a tight leash on polluting big boys who were let lose in the Bush regime.

Sounds like a good direction to be headed to.

Images by ktpupp and inAction

We love animals at GP, but this is ridiculous. NYC is hosting a cat show at Madison Square Gardens where cats representing John McCain ask visitors to “vote for your favorite DemoCat or Republicat.” McCain’s cat is called Renegade while the cat representing Obama is called Bombay.

A British shorthair cat named Renegade, representing John McCain

A Bombay cat named Barack Obama sits in his cage

There are cats selling grooming products, like Pocahontas. And a sphynx cat named Masquerade that is sure to hope Halloween will hurry up and get over. Seriously, folks. I think we should let these cats have a turn at dressing up their masters. What do you think?

Pocahontas, a brown patched tabby Persian cat, sits with his grooming products

Sharyn Hauck (R) holds her Bombay cat named Barack Obama, while Robin Beckett (L) holds her British shorthair cat named Renegade, representing John McCain

Images copyright : Sina

Al Gore, aka, Captain Planet scores no points for coming to the Obama camp AFTER Barack secures the nomination. What’s up with that? Seriously.

“Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges” including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis“, Al Gore said. “Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.”

And Obama replied : “Where were you when I needed you? Where were you when I was in a dog fight with Hillary to win this nomination? Why now?”

Of course, we know why it took Gore so long to choose a candidate. He wanted to be sure he chose a winner. Gore has a rock-star like following in many parts, but will probably won’t score any points for coming forward after the battle which has already been fought.

[Source: SF Gate]

Barack Obama will be the democratic presidential candidate. Yeah, yeah, the first black American to have a major party’s backing for president.

Black, white…what we really need to know is whether or not Barack Obama is green? And what shade?

It reminds me of an old not so funny story.

A bus driver during the fight for civil rights days was hauling some kids, black and white. The kids started fighting. Suddenly the bus driver got mad, stopped the bus and told them all to get off the bus.

He lectured them – “You all are not black and white. Stop fighting. From now on, all of you should think that you are green. You got it?”

The kids smiled at each other and at the bus driver and nodded their heads.

The bus driver then said, “Now get back on the bus. I want the dark green in the back and the light green in the front.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBikSDv4nM[/youtube]

I don’t wonder what color green Obama is. I wonder what he will do with that fist when it comes to punching green. We may find out soon enough.

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