Do You Agree With Kids Suing the Government for Not Protecting the Earth?
SodaHead News
2011/05/06 19:00:00
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Kids today! With their texting and their tweeting and their MMO gaming and their suing the federal government for failing in their duty to protect the Earth's atmosphere as a public trust to be guarded for future generations.
Wait, what was that last one?
Turns out a group of teenagers in San Francisco have filed a federal lawsuit against Uncle Sam for not protecting the environment under the public trust doctrine, which states that certain public resources belong to the masses and that it is the government's job to protect those resources.
You know, like air and water and such.
"Youth have the moral authority and the legal right, as the generation most affected by the climate crisis, to demand that our governments protect the atmosphere for our future," reads a manifesto on the kids' website.
"No individual or corporation has the right to put as much carbon into the atmosphere as they want. And yet, that's exactly what's happening. The public trust law in our country and around the world says that common resources like water and air are held in TRUST by the government for the people and for future generations. A balanced atmosphere is one of the most important resources we need for our survival. So it should be protected by the government. But it's NOT."
Here are some of their demands: at least 6 percent Global CO2 reduction, at least a 6 percent reduction in global CO2 emissions every year and 100 gigaton reforestation.
The New York Times reported that similar suits are being filed around the country, noting that in addition to most of the plaintiffs in the new suit being teenagers, the use of the public doctrine – which dates back to Roman times -- is novel.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on a similar case last month brought by several states against the five largest utilities in the country, which frame greenhouse gas emissions as a public nuisance.
Are you down with these kids suing our government over environment?
Wait, what was that last one?
Turns out a group of teenagers in San Francisco have filed a federal lawsuit against Uncle Sam for not protecting the environment under the public trust doctrine, which states that certain public resources belong to the masses and that it is the government's job to protect those resources.
You know, like air and water and such.
"Youth have the moral authority and the legal right, as the generation most affected by the climate crisis, to demand that our governments protect the atmosphere for our future," reads a manifesto on the kids' website.
"No individual or corporation has the right to put as much carbon into the atmosphere as they want. And yet, that's exactly what's happening. The public trust law in our country and around the world says that common resources like water and air are held in TRUST by the government for the people and for future generations. A balanced atmosphere is one of the most important resources we need for our survival. So it should be protected by the government. But it's NOT."
Here are some of their demands: at least 6 percent Global CO2 reduction, at least a 6 percent reduction in global CO2 emissions every year and 100 gigaton reforestation.
The New York Times reported that similar suits are being filed around the country, noting that in addition to most of the plaintiffs in the new suit being teenagers, the use of the public doctrine – which dates back to Roman times -- is novel.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on a similar case last month brought by several states against the five largest utilities in the country, which frame greenhouse gas emissions as a public nuisance.
Are you down with these kids suing our government over environment?
Top Opinion
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Account Closed 2011/05/06 21:08:33No
+41Well Kids, I think you are suing the wrong Government. Take a look at these picks from China, India and third world countries.
They must also not wear any shoes or clothes because making sewing needles requires melting iron to turn it into steel, and their clothes would need to be transported by those evil fuel burning trucks.
No a/c or heat for the court room or their homes either.
If everyone does their part to stop pollution then we will see a change. We can force change by not buying into the products that pollute and the manufacturers will have to change. That means by local, not shipped and especially from overseas, as there is the effects of the shipping as well as the additional cost and lost domestic jobs. This is really a very complicated issue and kids don't seem to think of the big picture. It is first they have an "entitlement" to everything and then they want to punish someone else for their choices. Much of the blame falls on them too.
Who do they think pays for any litigation award anyway? It always goes back to the taxpayer and consumer and means it cost more in the first place. By "voting" with your purchasing dollar you have a much bigger impact than a lawsuit that you most times don't have a chance of winning anyway.
The auto industry has know for decades that they could greatly reduce if not stop the pollution by using vehicles that don't use oil, but they are in bed with the oil companies and therefore don't haven't made the needed changes to stop the oil dependency that is now costing us $4 a gallon at the pump to feed excess profits into the oil company pockets with no justification.
But we don't see kids willing to walk or ride bicycles to get where they want to go. They want to RIDE in a car even around the block.
This reminds me of a joke I got recently: A young man had just turned 16 and wanted to drive. He got his driving license and approached his father to use the family car. Dad told him that he would consider it if 1. he brought his grades up to a B 2. he read his Bible dai...
The auto industry has know for decades that they could greatly reduce if not stop the pollution by using vehicles that don't use oil, but they are in bed with the oil companies and therefore don't haven't made the needed changes to stop the oil dependency that is now costing us $4 a gallon at the pump to feed excess profits into the oil company pockets with no justification.
But we don't see kids willing to walk or ride bicycles to get where they want to go. They want to RIDE in a car even around the block.
This reminds me of a joke I got recently: A young man had just turned 16 and wanted to drive. He got his driving license and approached his father to use the family car. Dad told him that he would consider it if 1. he brought his grades up to a B 2. he read his Bible daily and 3. cut his hair
After 6 weeks he came back to his father and says, "Dad, my grades are a B and I have been reading my Bible daily. Can I drive the car?" Dad replied, "I am very pleased with your grades and that you are reading your Bible daily, but I would still like to see you cut your hair." The son tells h is father, "In studying the Bible I see Moses had long hair, David had long hair and it sounds like Jesus had long hair. So I don't see why I should cut my hair." Dad thinks about it for a second and then says, "Yes they did have long hair, but did you notice they all walked where they wanted to go?"
Is there a message in there for today's youth? I think there just might be.
~ teen pregnancies that result in single parents in need of every social entitlement program known to man that this useless government gives;
~ teen drug abuse and addiction that again costs in the entitlement programs, incarceration and rehab;
~ exceedingly high teen vehicle accident rate that results in property damage, severe injury and death - resulting from DUI, cell phone use, and just fooling around when behind the wheel;
~ teen bullying which can result in death;
~ teen dropouts that result in every American having to absorb the cost of entitlement programs they are more likely to need;
~ etc., etc., etc!
Grow-up and get educated on what is really happening in the world before you let anyone use your mindless beingings into supoorting something you know very little about - other than what the liberal left has fed you!!
Also, their scientific knowledge seems to be a bit lacking. They want to plant 101 gigatons of trees every year, and then suffocate them to death. (Apparently unaware that trees breathe carbon dioxide. More trees means we need more carbon dioxide. They should have paid a little more attention in 4th Grade.)
" The public trust law in our country and around the world says..."
The "public trust law?" I'd like to read that "law" as written and see just which code it's in.
These dolts... They should spend more time doing homework (and not for Ethnic Diversity class), planning pantie-raids and shaving their legs. If they want to reduce carbon dioxide emmisions maybe they should just quit talking out of their ass.
cars on batteries, but no one know what to with battery has to be replace another land fill.
Wind energy, i heard had problems killing birds. But in the end you still need coal, to make
electricity and it is still cheaper.