At the convergence of environmentalism, economics, and
politics is the controversy over supporting solar power. Traditionally a party
that dismissed environmentalism as a fad and eyed Obama’s administration as one
of “solar cronies,” the Republican Party is now turning onto a new, but
divisive path. Several conservative leaders and party members now accept and
welcome an increase in the development and usage of renewable energy resources,
especially solar energy. Big name Republican politicians, including Barry
Goldwater Jr., claim themselves to be the “original environmentalists,” who
loved the original Western Frontier. Georgia’s Tea Party has even teamed up
with the Sierra Club to form the “Green Tea Coalition” just last year.
Traditional conservatives panic at the support the GOP has
for policies usually associated with liberals. At the heart of this rather sudden
switch are multi-faceted issues of “national security,” fossil fuel spending,
and the concept of the free market. Every conservative solar-panel user has
different motives for pledging allegiance to the growing solar power movement.
Instead of eyeing domestic oil reserves as we noticed our pro-drilling panel
members did in our ANWR debate, Republicans like Tom Morrissey, former state
party chairman for Arizona, see solar energy as an opportunity to divest from Middle
Eastern fossil-fuel related conflicts. The utilities industry is also
increasingly seen as “regulated monopolies” controlled by a handful of
bureaucrats, not the free market economy that most Republicans advocate. This new, more liberal stance on energy consumption is
surprising, but positive as well, in my opinion. If Obama’s administration
chooses to campaign for an advancement in renewable energy resources research
and usage, perhaps change will happen faster with more Republicans’ support. It’s
important we take this political shift in attitudes, driven by economics and
foreign policy, and produce real action.
Find the original article here.
In other news, SAS, Tanglin Trust School, UWC East, and the International School of Singapore hosted the first local global issues conference last week! It was a definite success Students from eight schools discussed issues to a number of problems that are prevalent here, ranging from the lack of care for elderly people and preserving the Macritchie rainforest (as opposed to converting it into a trainforest, as one of my friends cleverly put it). Each GANG - Global Action Network Group - presented their Local Action Plans and committed to the carrying out of the plans, with a set timeline. We also hosted three speakers who focused on human trafficking. Check out the photos from the event. More information on each of the action plans will come in once people make progress!
