From global warming, to climate change, to stem cell research, to biotechnology, to many other technological innovations, independent voters aren’t interested in the usual partisan spin on science issues. Independents want to explore all sides of the scientific debate so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. Science and technological innovation, when applied in an efficient, ethical, and transparent manner, can serve as vital tools in improving the economy, enhancing our quality of life, and crafting effective public policy. Science is all about questioning the consensus and maintaining an open mind, no matter where the facts may lead.
In 2004, California voters approved $3 billion of new funding for stem cell research, especially targeted at the controversial embryonic stem cells. Proponents predicted the game-changing scientific research would develop effective treatments and potential cures for patients suffering from the likes of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease, and dozens of other severe ailments.
Voters headed to the polls this November will be confronted with the option of legalizing the cultivation and recreational use of marijuana. Before deciding, Californians might want to take a cue from the federal government, well the business arm of it anyway, and take a serious look at the dramatic health benefits of the oft stigmatized plant.
Building energy efficient LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, serving locally grown food to reduce pollution from trucking in the food, and creating water-management systems that reuse captured rainwater are just some of the sustainability practices underway at numerous California universities.
The New York Times recently ran an article entitled “Farmers Cope With Roundup-Resistant Weeds”.
The American Lung Association 2010 State of the Air Report brings the unsettling news that despite major progress in improving air quality, California has some of the unhealthiest air in the nation.
March 2010 was the warmest month on record when combining land and ocean temperatures worldwide, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose records go back to 1880. Is this a fluke, a one-time spike in temperatures? Could be, but the Pentagon sure doesn’t think so.
One winter storm that hit the east coast this past winter had the anti-global warming advocates claiming victory over Al Gore and environmental groups pursuing legislative solutions to anthropogenic (man-made) climate change.
