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"If we do not address the global crisis of climate change, transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, the planet that we're going to be leaving our kids and our grandchildren may well not be inhabitable," Sen. Sanders declared during the first Democratic debate on October 13.
(Photo: AP)
Bernie Says: No Bones About It, Our Biggest Threat is Climate Change
Candidate's response to Democratic debate question echoes the concern of majority of people worldwide
Oct 14, 2015
When asked during the Democratic debate Tuesday night to name the most significant national security threat facing the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders did not hesitate to answer: "The global crisis of climate change."
"The scientific community is telling us: if we do not address the global crisis of climate change, transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, the planet that we're going to be leaving our kids and our grandchildren may well not be inhabitable," Sanders said. "That is a major crisis."
Highlighting their more establishment--and hawkish--perspectives, his Democratic rivals responded with more 'on the ground' threats: current frontrunner and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed to nuclear proliferation; former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, named the turmoil in the Middle East; former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said a nuclear Iran; and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb mentioned China, cyber warfare, and the Middle East.
However, the Independent senator from Vermont's response most closely echoed the concern of a majority of people worldwide, particularly those in the global south, where communities are most at risk from the impacts of global warming. U.S. military leaders, as well as President Barack Obama, have also identified global warming as an "immediate risk to our national security"--which viewers Monday evening were quick to note:
\u201cGreatest national security threat? #Climate change. Just ask some Generals. #DemDebate\u201d— David Turnbull (@David Turnbull) 1444786848
\u201cMilitary leaders agree with @BernieSanders on #climatechange being national security threat https://t.co/4cqreOwXGf #DemDebate\u201d— Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb (@Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb) 1444787450
Overall, environmentalists and progressives were thrilled to see the threat of climate change given due attention.
\u201cI think @BernieSanders is exactly right--biggest threat to natl sec. is climate change. And he's been leading the charge for a long time now\u201d— Bill McKibben (@Bill McKibben) 1444787286
\u201cThank you @BernieSanders for giving the big picture view: Earth's climate crisis is the biggest threat. #DebatewithBernie #DemDebate\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1444787065
\u201cGreatest global threat? Climate change says Bernie. Crowd at @Neumos erupts in cheers, including us! #DemDebate #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Kshama Solidarity Campaign (@Kshama Solidarity Campaign) 1444786955
Meanwhile, those on the other side of the political spectrum had their take on the matter.
\u201cThey believe climate change is a greater threat than Islamic extremism, that a sunburn is worse than a beheading. It's nonsense! #DemDebate\u201d— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@Gov. Mike Huckabee) 1444784456
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Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
barack obamabernie sandersclimate changedemocratic primarieselection 2016fossil fuelsglobal warmingmike huckabeenational securitynational security risksnuclear proliferationprogressivesrenewable energy
When asked during the Democratic debate Tuesday night to name the most significant national security threat facing the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders did not hesitate to answer: "The global crisis of climate change."
"The scientific community is telling us: if we do not address the global crisis of climate change, transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, the planet that we're going to be leaving our kids and our grandchildren may well not be inhabitable," Sanders said. "That is a major crisis."
Highlighting their more establishment--and hawkish--perspectives, his Democratic rivals responded with more 'on the ground' threats: current frontrunner and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed to nuclear proliferation; former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, named the turmoil in the Middle East; former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said a nuclear Iran; and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb mentioned China, cyber warfare, and the Middle East.
However, the Independent senator from Vermont's response most closely echoed the concern of a majority of people worldwide, particularly those in the global south, where communities are most at risk from the impacts of global warming. U.S. military leaders, as well as President Barack Obama, have also identified global warming as an "immediate risk to our national security"--which viewers Monday evening were quick to note:
\u201cGreatest national security threat? #Climate change. Just ask some Generals. #DemDebate\u201d— David Turnbull (@David Turnbull) 1444786848
\u201cMilitary leaders agree with @BernieSanders on #climatechange being national security threat https://t.co/4cqreOwXGf #DemDebate\u201d— Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb (@Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb) 1444787450
Overall, environmentalists and progressives were thrilled to see the threat of climate change given due attention.
\u201cI think @BernieSanders is exactly right--biggest threat to natl sec. is climate change. And he's been leading the charge for a long time now\u201d— Bill McKibben (@Bill McKibben) 1444787286
\u201cThank you @BernieSanders for giving the big picture view: Earth's climate crisis is the biggest threat. #DebatewithBernie #DemDebate\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1444787065
\u201cGreatest global threat? Climate change says Bernie. Crowd at @Neumos erupts in cheers, including us! #DemDebate #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Kshama Solidarity Campaign (@Kshama Solidarity Campaign) 1444786955
Meanwhile, those on the other side of the political spectrum had their take on the matter.
\u201cThey believe climate change is a greater threat than Islamic extremism, that a sunburn is worse than a beheading. It's nonsense! #DemDebate\u201d— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@Gov. Mike Huckabee) 1444784456
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
When asked during the Democratic debate Tuesday night to name the most significant national security threat facing the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders did not hesitate to answer: "The global crisis of climate change."
"The scientific community is telling us: if we do not address the global crisis of climate change, transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, the planet that we're going to be leaving our kids and our grandchildren may well not be inhabitable," Sanders said. "That is a major crisis."
Highlighting their more establishment--and hawkish--perspectives, his Democratic rivals responded with more 'on the ground' threats: current frontrunner and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed to nuclear proliferation; former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, named the turmoil in the Middle East; former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said a nuclear Iran; and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb mentioned China, cyber warfare, and the Middle East.
However, the Independent senator from Vermont's response most closely echoed the concern of a majority of people worldwide, particularly those in the global south, where communities are most at risk from the impacts of global warming. U.S. military leaders, as well as President Barack Obama, have also identified global warming as an "immediate risk to our national security"--which viewers Monday evening were quick to note:
\u201cGreatest national security threat? #Climate change. Just ask some Generals. #DemDebate\u201d— David Turnbull (@David Turnbull) 1444786848
\u201cMilitary leaders agree with @BernieSanders on #climatechange being national security threat https://t.co/4cqreOwXGf #DemDebate\u201d— Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb (@Jane \u201cGo Vote\u201d Kleeb) 1444787450
Overall, environmentalists and progressives were thrilled to see the threat of climate change given due attention.
\u201cI think @BernieSanders is exactly right--biggest threat to natl sec. is climate change. And he's been leading the charge for a long time now\u201d— Bill McKibben (@Bill McKibben) 1444787286
\u201cThank you @BernieSanders for giving the big picture view: Earth's climate crisis is the biggest threat. #DebatewithBernie #DemDebate\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1444787065
\u201cGreatest global threat? Climate change says Bernie. Crowd at @Neumos erupts in cheers, including us! #DemDebate #DebateWithBernie\u201d— Kshama Solidarity Campaign (@Kshama Solidarity Campaign) 1444786955
Meanwhile, those on the other side of the political spectrum had their take on the matter.
\u201cThey believe climate change is a greater threat than Islamic extremism, that a sunburn is worse than a beheading. It's nonsense! #DemDebate\u201d— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@Gov. Mike Huckabee) 1444784456
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