April 27 In less than 100 days the truth-despising and climate change-denying Trump/Pence regime has: defunded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Parks Department, refused to appoint a science advisor, vowed to repeal carbon dioxide emission limits on power plants while pledging to do away with fuel economy standards, abolished oversight of how federal projects may contribute to climate change, and cut funding for scientific and public health institutions (with the exceptions of those related to “defense”).
This regime’s appointments themselves are a condemnation of science. Trump appointed Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. Pruit aims to dismantle it. He has contempt for scientific data – ranging from the effect of pesticides to carbon dioxide as the leading cause of climate change.
As Trump sprints to his 100th day milestone he has made sure to leave no land protected. Yesterday Trump signed an Executive Order for the Department of Interior to review use of the Antiquities Act in the establishment of national monuments going back to 1996. This order puts at risk national treasures, sacred land, vital wildlife habitat along with the advantages to water and air quality that having protected lands provides. This regime is set on upending conserved areas and opening up these spaces to drilling, mining and logging putting local ecosystems and resources at risk. Tomorrow Trump is set to sign an executive order to expand offshore drilling. This regime has total disregard for the health of our planet and its inhabitants and is concerned only about enriching this empire through the extraction of fuel.
We must act to protect and preserve the world’s fast-vanishing natural ecosystems and stem climate change catastrophe. If not, this planet could very well become uninhabitable for billions of people, and possibly all of humanity, as well as for most of the world’s flora and fauna.