Hillary Clinton and Al Gore speak on climate change in Miami, Florida - Oct. 11th 2016
[Note: Doing the transcript took a few days as there were other events which caught my attention. So this transcript was done in pieces and I am quite glad it is finally done. Also, I could not locate other transcripts for these speeches.
(Update: I now see a transcript link here:
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/updates/2016/10/11/joined-by-gore-in-miami-clinton-lays-out-plan-to-fight-climate-change/. This is after I have finished the transcript of most of these two speeches on this post!!! Well, doing the transcript myself forced me to get pretty familiar with Clinton's and Gore's views on the matter. So I think it has been worth it anyway. end-Update)
As it deals with climate change and are from a potential USA president and from a former USA vice-president and global leader on climate change, I felt that it is important to make the transcript of most of these two speeches.]
Before the transcript, here are two articles on the event:
Hillary Clinton and Al Gore Bring Climate Change Message to the Issue’s Front Line, http://time.com/4527086/hillary-clinton-al-gore-climate-change-florida/, Oct. 11th 2016
Clinton dedicates an entire speech to climate change, https://thinkprogress.org/clinton-gore-florida-climate-speech-db6170a2cb70, Oct. 12th 2016
Here's a video of the event: Al Gore and Hillary Clinton address climate change in Miami, Florida, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEfHKgFJBmY, 46 min 13 secs, published Oct. 11th 2016
The transcripts of most of the two speeches in the above video are given below.
[From around 1:10]
Clinton: But what I am most excited about is to be here with one of the world's foremost leaders on climate change, Al Gore. [Clinton applauds and turns to Al Gore seated behind her who acknowledges her applause.]
You know about a decade ago, Al made a movie called, 'An Inconvenient Truth'. Now maybe some of you have seen it. But if you haven't, I hope you will watch it tonight. Now it doesn't have a lot of special effects but it does have a lot of drama. And here's the main message. Climate change is real. Its urgent and America can take the lead in the world in addressing it. Right! [Gore applauds]
We here in America can develop new clean energy solutions. We can transform our economy. We can rally the world to cut carbon pollution. And above all we can fulfill our moral obligation to protect our planet for our children and our grandchildren.
..
So let's remember, what's at stake. I am running against a guy who denies science, denies climate change, says its a hoax created by the Chinese.
So this is something that Al Gore has been working on for a really long time and I want you to know how far back he goes. It was in 1982 when he held the very first hearing on climate change in the House of Representatives with the world famous climate scientist, Jim Hanson. And then when Al became a Senator he continued to raise the alarm and look for solutions. And as vice-president he led America's efforts to negotiate the Kyoto protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
And .. You take all this together - those thirty years of leadership led Al Gore to be awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2007. [Applause]. I was very proud because he had been determined and persistent and in the face of a lot of people in public life, in business and elsewhere, who were trying to diminish the importance of the science, he never wavered. And in the years since the climate challenge has only grown more stark.
And I will tell you this - it is one of the most important issues at stake in this election. Look at it this way. Our next president will either step up our efforts to address climate change, to protect our planet, to protect our health and to create good jobs that cannot be outsourced, by growing our clean energy economy. Or, in the alternative, we will be dragged backwards and our whole future will be put at risk. So we've really got to get this right.
And if you need additional convincing, just remember what happened this week. Hurricane Matthew killed at least 26 people in our country, more than a thousand, as far as we know right now, in Haiti. North Carolina is still dealing with serious flooding and will be, at least for the rest of this week, if not longer. We all need to support each other as our communities put the pieces back together and begin the long road back from this disaster. That's why I've encouraged everyone to give what you can afford to the Florida disaster fund or to (Team Rubicon?), the veterans organization working to respond to Hurricane Matthew or to UNICEF helping children and families on the ground in Haiti.
Now some will say, you know, we have always had hurricanes. They have always been destructive and that's true. But hurricane Matthew is likely more destructive because of climate change. Right now the ocean is at or near record high temperatures and that contributed to the torrential rainfall and the flash flooding that we saw in the Carolinas. Sea levels have already risen about a foot - one foot - in much of the southeast which means that Matthew's storm surge was higher and the flooding was more severe.
Plus, as you know, the impact of climate change goes beyond extreme events like hurricane(s). Its become a daily reality here in Miami. You have streets in Miami beach and in (Shorecrest?) that are flooding at hightide. The ocean is bubbling up through the sewer system. Sometimes people call 311 because they assume a water main must have broken when actually it is the sea rising around them. So if you need proof that climate change is real and that it is costly, there you go.
...
Because this is what I want you to hear and understand. At the rate we are going, one in eight homes in Florida could be underwater by the end of this century. And when kids like that adorable young boy over there on his dad's shoulders, are grandparents, we believe that more than 400 billion dollars worth of property in Florida at risk, and nationwide, it is 882 billion in property at risk.
But there's also health consequences. Mosquitoes that carry diseases like the Zika virus and tics that carry (Lyme?) disease are expanding their ranges. And hotter summers and longer (pollencies?) are making allergies and asthma worse, which is especially bad for our children.
And look at what is happening in California - a brutal five year drought. Wildfires have burned more than nine million acres in our country last year.
And its also about our national security. The Pentagon has identified climate change as a threat to our national security. The US Atlantic fleet is based in Norfolk, Virginia. It is the largest naval installation in the world and because of rising sea levels the base is frequently flooded even when its sunny. So that's why the Pentagon is looking at how climate change will affect readiness and operations not just at Norfolk but all of our military bases around the world.
So you would think if you look at the facts, if you listen to the science that even the most committed climate sceptic would say OK, I agree. Something's happening here. We need to take it seriously. But, unfortunately, there are still too many people in Washington, on the campaign trail, who won't face what's happening right in front of us.
Donald Trump is quote, not a big believer in climate change. And, you know, as I said, he says it is a hoax created by the Chinese. And in our first debate two weeks ago he tried to deny saying that. But you know that tweet is still there for everyone to see. And I would wish that Donald would actually listen to people here in Florida like Miami Beach's mayor, Philip Levine and others who are doing incredible work to address the sunny day floods. Or maybe he would listen to Miami Beach commissioner, John Elizabeth Aleman. John Elizabeth is a Republican but she is supporting our campaign because she knows America can't afford a candidate who doesn't accept climate science.
Or maybe Donald would listen to our military leaders who say climate change threatens our national security. What about the ranchers in Colorado or the mayors in Arizona and the community leaders in Alaska who say, our lives and jobs are being affected. Please, let's come together as a country and do something about it. We cannot risk putting a climate denier in the White House at all. That is absolutely unacceptable. We need a president who believes in science and who has a plan to lead America in facing this threat and creating good jobs, and yes, saving our planet!
So here's what I want to do. First, we need to do a lot more on clean energy. The clean energy superpower of the 21st century is probably going to be Germany, China or us, and I want it to be us. And I want you to be part of making it us. [Al Gore applauds.]
And we need to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and create high-paying jobs, building and installing more solar panels and wind turbines, modernising our electric grid, retro-fitting buildings, building resilient twenty-first century infrastructure. And we have to make sure no community is left out or left behind. Not our inner cities or our small towns or our remote rural areas. [Al Gore applauds.]
Now, you wouldn't know it if you only listened to my opponent (on how) terrible everything is. He has such a dark divisive view of America. But that doesn't tell the story about what's really going on. It's actually pretty exciting. In red states and blue states, local leaders are stepping up. Rural electric co-ops are investing in community solar power. And you see that across America. Union workers in Michigan .. are getting ready to build electric Chevvies in a plant powered by clean energy. Iowa is already getting a third of its electricity from wind. Wind turbines are going up in New England and on Lake Erie. Renewable energy is already the fastest growing source of new jobs in America. I think that is so exciting. There are nearly two million people already working in energy efficiency and in (Spartanburg?), South Carolina, a project called (ReGenesis?) is taking an old landfill and turning it into a solar farm. That landfill was a blight and a health threat just two hundred and fifty feet away from a residential neighbourhood. Now that same land will generate enough clean renewable electricity to power five hundred homes. So this is what we can do.
And I think it is time Washington should back up and support doing more of that. As president I want to (have) 500 million more solar panels installed across America by the end of my first term. [Al Gore applauds.]
And lets generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America within the decade. [Al Gore applauds.]
Lets make our buildings and factories more energy efficient and cut our oil consumption by a third. And we can get there by investing and supporting in cutting-edge research to keep developing cheaper and better clean energy technologies, investing (in) clean energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, putting big partnerships together between state, cities and rural communities. We can do all of this. And create millions of good paying jobs as we do. So I am hoping that these good jobs will offer security and dignity while we produce the clean energy that will power the economy of the future. The clean energy solutions are being developed right here in America. We want (them) manufactured in America and installed in America, and putting people to work in America. [Al Gore applauds.]
And while we do that let's make sure that our communities are ready for the impact of climate change that are coming right at us. We need to invest in resilient infrastructure. Sometimes that might mean building a sea wall. Other times let's be more creative like in New York harbour where we are replanting oyster beds to form natural barriers to storm surge.
Sometimes we will overhaul an outdated sewer system to deal with flooding from heavy downpours. In Philadelphia they are trying something else. Green roofs, (xx?) pavements, curbside gardens to help absorb storm water. And here's something we don't talk enough about. Lets make sure our hospitals can stay open and operational in any kind of disaster. Because, sadly I saw what happened in New York during hurricane Sandy. Newborns who had been on respirators had to be evacuated down nine flights of stairs in one New York hospital. Because the electricity went off. Nurses - I love nurses; heroic, courageous nurses - were carrying those babies and manually squeezing bags of air to keep them breathing.
Here in Miami, you know how important this is. You have retrofitted the (Nicklaus?) children's hospital with a hurricane resistant shell for exactly this reason and every hospital in the country should follow your lead and build in more resilience.
And then finally we got to lead the world to confront the climate challenge. If we don't do it no one (will do it). We must confront the climate challenge. There is no doubt about that. And so let's move on with the kind of leadership that the world as well as our country deserves.
Now when I was secretary of state, I worked with President Obama to make climate change a top diplomatic priority. We fought to get China and India and other major polluters to agree for the first time in history to be part of the solution. [Ravi: If I recall correctly I read somewhere that Indian leaders have a different view and point out that major polluters who have contributed most to the climate change crisis are USA and other materially advanced countries, especially of the Western world, for decades! Looking only at the present situation without seeing the history of pollution by Western industrially advanced countries over decades is not fair, in their point of view. end-Ravi]
In fact, we had to crash a secret meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. Slipped past the guard; it was all very cloak-and-dagger but for a very important purpose. And because of that breakthrough and a lot of patient, persistent work and because of American leadership, one hundred and ninety five nations signed on to a global agreement (this last December). It is called the Paris agreement [Al Gore applauds] and I am not exaggerating when I say it is our last best chance to solve the global climate crisis.
And what does Donald Trump want to do? He wants to cancel the Paris agreement. You know, he doesn't care what it would do to the planet. He doesn't care how much that would damage American leadership. He doesn't care what it would do to the future we leave to our kids and grandkids. Well, he may not care but we do and that's why this election is so critically important. [Al Gore applauds.]
Because on the ballot it is not just my name, it is every issue (you) care about. It is our values (of) the country. Climate change needs to be (a voting issue). We need to elect people up and down the ballot, at every level of government who take it seriously. And are willing to roll up their sleeves and get something done. Please we cannot keep sending climate deniers and defeatists to Congress or state houses and certainly not to the White House. [Al Gore applauds]
And you know, if you care about climate, your senate race is also really important and I will tell you why.
It is an unacceptable ... for Marco Rubio when asked about climate change to say, I am not a scientist. Well, why doesn't he ask a scientist and maybe then he would understand why it is so important that he, representing Florida, be committed to climate change. That's why I hope you will elect Patrick Murphy to the United States Senate. [Al Gore applauds.] [Ravi: USA Senator Marco Rubio's views on climate change are provided at the bottom of this post.]
Look, we need leaders who can get results. It is easy to stonewall. It is not enough to protest. We need creativity. We need hard work and when it comes to climate change we don't have a minute to waste. And so, I know it is easy to get cynical, especially about our politics - I get that. But this election matters more than any has in a really long time and I believe that, as strongly as I can, we've got to address this issue for our sake, our children, our grandchildren. And it is so critically important when you think about how leadership can make a difference. And just look, if you will, look at the difference between your state, the sunshine state, which has less solar energy than New Jersey has, right now.
And you know why, because you have a governor who has ordered your state government never to use the words, climate change. [Ravi: See the bottom of the post to visit a link where the Florida governor is said to have denied this charge (of having ordered his administration to never use the words, climate change).] So my friends, this is a big deal in this election and it is going to be a big deal for our country and our world. And there isn't anybody, there isn't anybody who knows more, has done more, has worked harder .. I know he was in Miami just last year, training and educating people to be climate change activists. I can't wait to have Al Gore advising me when I am president of the United States. So please join me in welcoming our former vice-president, a climate change leader, and an all around great guy, Al Gore.
[Around 22:24]
Former vice-president of USA, Al Gore: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, Secretary Clinton and ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for the warm welcome. I appreciate those kind words very much. I want to acknowledge all of the elected officials and distinguished guests who are here and I want to say a special word of thanks to president (Eduardo) Padron and Miami Dade college. I understand you got a pretty good women's volleyball team here. Go ladies (xx?). Is that what you say?
I am here today with two very simple messages. Number one - when it comes to the most urgent issue facing our country and the world, the choice in this election is extremely clear. Hillary Clinton will make solving the climate crisis a top national priority. Very important. Her opponent, based on the ideas that he has presented, would take us toward a climate catastrophe. So that's my first message. The climate crisis is and must be regarded as a top national priority and a top global priority.
Here's my second message. Your vote really, really, really counts - a lot. You .. can consider me as an exhibit A of that group [laughter]. Now for those of you .. who are younger than 25, you might not remember the election of 2000 and what happened here in Florida and across the country. For those of you older than 25, I heard you murmuring just now. But, take it from me, it was a very close election. Elections ..[ Audience says, you won, you won.] Well [Al Gore mildly laughs/chuckles], here's my point, here's my point. I don't want you to be in a position years from now where you welcome Hillary Clinton and say, actually, you did win. It just wasn't close enough to make sure that all the votes were counted or whatever.
Elections have consequences. Your vote counts. Your vote has consequences. And in this election, the future of Miami and cities up and down the west coast and the east coast of Florida are on the ballot as well. Indeed, the entire state of Florida and its future are on this ballot. So is our economy, our health, our national security. The common thread that binds all of these issues together - what we decide to do about carbon pollution and its damage to the ecological system of the earth.
I don't have to tell you, here in Florida, that the climate crisis is real. Yes, it is true that some of your elected officials have not recognised that its real. But every single night on the television news is like a (xx?) book? of Revelation. You look at the floods and the droughts and the mudslides and the fires and the incredible downpours (and) as secretary Clinton just mentioned, hurricane Matthew just recently. You know, it (spun?) up from a tropical storm into a category 5 hurricane in just 36 hours. That's extremely unusual. And the reason that happened is the climate crisis is trapping so much extra heat in the earth's system equivalent to what would be released by 400,000 Hiroshima class atomic bombs going off everyday. Its a big planet. But that's a lot of energy. And its warming the oceans - more than 90% of that heat energy goes into the oceans. And so the (southern Caribbean where it spun?) up into a category 5 so quickly was much warmer than normal, because of that. And the Gulf stream was way warmer than normal for this time of year for the same reason.
So this means also that all the water vapour coming off the oceans into the atmosphere is brought over the land and so we get these record downpours. Just in the last year, we have seen one in a thousand year downpours in Louisiana, West Virginia, Texas, Maryland. In Houston, in one twelve month period they just had two 500-year floods and one 1000-year downpour. In one (of them?) they had as much water dumped on Harris County, Texas, where Houston is, as would have been put there by three and a half days of the entire flow of Niagara Falls. This is not normal. It is becoming the new normal which is now a set of conditions that we have created with all this manmade global warming pollution.
Secretary Clinton also mentioned the sea level rise. We have seen already - some of you who are little bit older may remember hurricane Andrew when .. when Hillary and I were first campaigning together in 1992, hurricane Andrew came through. Just (since?) hurricane Andrew, the sea level in the waters around Florida have gone up three inches since hurricane Andrew. And every vertical inch of sea level rise means 4 to 8 feet of the water going (inward?) and the storm surges on top of that.
And yes, there are now at high tide, sometimes fish from the ocean swimming in some of the streets of Miami beach and Del Ray and Fort Lauderdale. And the rainfall in Carolina. Secretary Clinton mentioned what they are still (dealing?) there. They have got 17 inches of rain because the warmer oceans not only make the wind speed much stronger than it has been on the past on average. But it also dumps all of that water on the land. And she mentioned the role it plays in health.
Just yesterday there were six more cases of Zica announced in Dade county. And the public health authorities (are) doing a great job and really wrestling with it. And these tropical diseases have spread so quickly partly because of airline travel and the transportation revolution. But the changing climate conditions change the places where these tropical diseases become endemic and put down roots. The mosquitoes mature faster. And then the virus in the mosquito incubates much faster. And they bite more often because they are cold-blooded and when the temperature goes up their metabolism goes up and they spread the disease way more quickly. So these and many other consequences including the fires out west that secretary Clinton talked about are really wake-up calls for us.
Mother nature is giving us a very clear and powerful message. We cannot continue putting a hundred and ten million tons of (global?) warming pollution into the atmosphere every day as if it is an open sewer. We've got to stop that. We've got to wake up and recognize the need for change. So, most people know that we have to change this. But here's the really good news that more people should know.
We can change this. We now have the ability to change this. Its going to be a long hard fight. We've got a long way to go but we now have the renewable energy technology and the efficiency improvements and the electric vehicles and sustainable and organic agriculture and sustainable (forestry?) and the other ways of changing our lives for the better that can sharply diminish the amount of global warming pollution that we are putting up there.
And secretary Clinton is exactly right. That we can create good jobs in the process. Jobs that can't be outsourced. She's also right that either China or Germany or some other country other than the US could become the .. renewable energy superpower of this new century. One day, last December Germany, which is much higher in latitude than the US and pretty cloudy at that - one day, they got 87% of all their electricity from wind and solar and renewable energy. We can be on track to do that as well. And China - yes, China is the biggest polluter now. But they have begun to change bigtime. Their coal use is going down. Their overall emissions are going down. And they have just announced that this .. next year in 2017 they are adopting a nationwide (cap-n-trade?) program and they are taking other measures to reduce and to create those jobs in China.
And in Paris - the Paris agreement is a big deal. Yes, it is not enough. Yes, it needed to do more. But it is by far, the biggest step forward the world has ever taken to solve the climate crisis. Every nation in the world virtually - I think there were three of four (xx?) Nicaragua and some who didn't. But virtually every nation in the world agreed to phase out these greenhouse gas emissions and go to net zero emissions, early in the second half of this century and to begin that process now.
And it (has sent) a powerful signal to businesses and industries and investors. And I can tell you that signal is being received. We hear news every single day (of) more businesses making that shift. So the question in this election - and this comes back to my first message - is which of these candidates is going to continue the progress and actually increase the rate of progress. With Hillary Clinton, we will build on the progress made under President Obama with the Paris agreement and she will seize the opportunities. After all, solar electricity and wind electricity is now way cheaper than it was years ago when some of us started sounding the alarm about this crisis. Hillary Clinton knows this very well and she has worked with President Obama.
Since the beginning of the Obama administration the cost of wind electricity has come down by half. Solar is down by 64%. LED is down by 94%. We have .. seen electricity from solar increase 30 times over. Last year in the entire United States - in the calendar year 2015 - if you look at all of the new electricity generation that was added in the US last year, what percentage of it do you think was solar and wind? 71%. Virtually zero from coal.
And its already creating millions of jobs and it continues to get cheaper and cheaper every single week. World records are being broken every month now as it continues to get cheaper. Now Hillary Clinton knows this not only because she has studied it and not only because she has worked with President Obama but her work in the Senate emphasised this. Her work on child asthma and air pollution and helping to improve children's health by cutting down on air pollution was very important. Her work on environmental justice, helping call attention to the fact that it is the poor people and minority communities and people with colour who are almost always victimised more than the rest of us .. by these environmental crises.
And she has proposed a terrific plan to install - well, she said herself and I am not going to repeat all of it - but I will just say this. When she put out her solar plan - half a billion solar panels by the end of her first term and enough renewable energy to power every home in America - I looked at that plan very carefully. And I will say to all of you, you will hear a lot of candidates for office who will put out plans that have words you are not even sure what they might mean because words - you know, there are ways to put things - I went through that with a fine toothcomb. And I will tell you that her plan on solar panels and expanding renewable energy - it is right at the limit of what we can do. And that is exactly the kind of ambitious goal that we need from the next president of the United States of America. [Applause]
Almost a hundred years ago, America's most famous inventor, Thomas Edison, said these words, and it is an exact quote. "I would put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power. I hope we don't have to wait until the oil and coal run out before we tackle that." [Ravi: This link seems to confirm the Edison quote and gives some background info about a conversation between Henry Ford (automobile manufacturer), Harvey Firestone (tire manufacturer) and Edison about sources of energy like coal, oil, wood, wind, tide and solar, where Edison seems to have said those words: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/08/09/solar/.]
Now I want to say a brief word. I am going to return to my second main point here in a minute. But I want to say a brief word about something else that all of you can do. You can elect Patrick Murphy to the United States senate instead of a climate denier. But here's something else you can do.
Vote No on (initiative 1?) on your ballot. Hillary mentioned that there are fewer solar jobs in the sunshine state, Florida, than there are in New Jersey. Actually Florida also lags behind Massachusetts which is even farther north. Despite having 3 times the population of Massachusetts, Florida has less than half of the solar jobs that have been created in Massachusetts. Massachusetts installed more solar energy last year alone than Florida has installed in its entire history. .. Yes, its ridiculous. That's exactly right.
And the head of one of the fossil fuel burning utilities actually said last year, Well yes, Florida is the sunshine state but remember it is also the partly cloudy state. Well, they are trying to cloud the truth by putting forward a phony-baloney initiative that sounds like it protects solar. It doesn't protect solar. The things they claim protect solar are protections you already have. But they are trying to fool you into amending your state constitution in a way that gives them the authority to shut down net metering and do in Florida what they did in Nevada and just kill the solar industry. Now this is a question -. Our democracy has been hacked. And the fossil utilities here have spent more than twenty million dollars to try to pull the wool over your eyes. And twenty million dollars can buy a lot of wool.
So, amendment 1 would benefit the incumbent fossil fuel companies here in Florida by making it harder for home owners to go solar. Now let me close by returning to my second message.
The stakes in this election simply could not be higher. You will often hear people from podiums like this one say something like that at election time. I know, I have heard it. I have even said it before. But honestly to those of you here, and those within who can hear my voice by whatever means - this election really matters. The world is on the cusp of either building on the progress and solving the climate crisis or stepping back, washing our hands off America's traditional role as the leader of the world and letting the big polluters call the shots.
The choice is that clear. It is that stark. The consequences for not just our children and grandchildren and future generations but for all of us, are really quite significant. So because of that please take it from me, every single vote counts. Every single vote counts. If you are not registered to vote, do so today. If you are on the fence about whether to vote, remember what is at stake in this election. And if you think your vote does not matter, take it from me, your vote can make all of the difference in this election. Vote early and don't let your friends (sit) this election out. Early voting begins here in Dade county on October 24th, and in several other parts of Florida, it begins on Oct. 24th. If you have any confusion whatsoever about where you vote or whether you are registered or whether you are going to the right polling place, visit iwillvote.com. iwillvote.com. Say it with me, iwillvote.com. One more time. iwillvote.com.
Now if you want to be really in touch with this election process, and get really involved in taking other people to the polls, there is a - if you like to text, then text climate, the word climate, to this number, 47246, and you will get updates. You will get the information you need. And then even on election day you will get updates on your polling place. So remember, text climate to 47246. Say it with me. 47246.
All right. Now, in closing, I made two points. The climate crisis must be a top priority. We must have a president who gets it, who cares about it, who has internalised it, who is passionate about it, who is determined to lead our country, and with our country to lead the world, at the key moment when we really do have the opportunity to solve this climate crisis and make our country stronger and more prosperous at the same time.
My second message is - you know what it is - every vote counts. That's why I am here. And that's why I will vote for Hillary Clinton. I know .. that my vote counts. I know that your vote counts. I hope you will consider carefully the future in making your decision this November or beginning when early voting starts when (you go) into the (ballot box/voting booth). Together, we have the opportunity to look back on this year as a time when our nation finally chose to answer the alarm bells on the climate crisis, and went into action to solve it.
I know that there are still some who doubt in their hearts that we as human beings, and we as Americans have the ability to bring about such a big and important change. Do we have the capacity? I will remind you that the will to change and build a brighter future is itself a renewable resource.
Let's make Hillary Clinton the next president of the United States of America.
--- end transcript of speeches of Hillary clinton and Al Gore ---
Senator Marco Rubio's views on climate change: Marco Rubio: Environmentalist push 'not good public policy', http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/marco-rubio-climate-change/, March 11, 2016. Rubio is quoted in this article as saying, "They are asking me to support public policies that will do nothing to effect the environment but will have a direct and immediate impact on our economy"..."I think that's a terrible trade-off ... anyone who stands for that is called a 'denier?' These guys are off on their own crusade here but it's just not good public policy."
Here's an article about Florida Gov. denying that the phrase 'climate change' has been banned in his administration: Florida Gov. Scott Denies Banning Phrase 'Climate Change', http://www.npr.org/2015/03/10/392142452/florida-gov-scott-denies-banning-phrase-climate-change, March 10, 2015 (over one and a half years ago).
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.
[I thank Secretary Hilary Clinton, former vice-president Al Gore and Senator Marco Rubio and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above transcripts/quotes from their speeches/remarks on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
(Update: I now see a transcript link here:
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/updates/2016/10/11/joined-by-gore-in-miami-clinton-lays-out-plan-to-fight-climate-change/. This is after I have finished the transcript of most of these two speeches on this post!!! Well, doing the transcript myself forced me to get pretty familiar with Clinton's and Gore's views on the matter. So I think it has been worth it anyway. end-Update)
As it deals with climate change and are from a potential USA president and from a former USA vice-president and global leader on climate change, I felt that it is important to make the transcript of most of these two speeches.]
Before the transcript, here are two articles on the event:
Hillary Clinton and Al Gore Bring Climate Change Message to the Issue’s Front Line, http://time.com/4527086/hillary-clinton-al-gore-climate-change-florida/, Oct. 11th 2016
Clinton dedicates an entire speech to climate change, https://thinkprogress.org/clinton-gore-florida-climate-speech-db6170a2cb70, Oct. 12th 2016
Here's a video of the event: Al Gore and Hillary Clinton address climate change in Miami, Florida, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEfHKgFJBmY, 46 min 13 secs, published Oct. 11th 2016
The transcripts of most of the two speeches in the above video are given below.
[From around 1:10]
Clinton: But what I am most excited about is to be here with one of the world's foremost leaders on climate change, Al Gore. [Clinton applauds and turns to Al Gore seated behind her who acknowledges her applause.]
You know about a decade ago, Al made a movie called, 'An Inconvenient Truth'. Now maybe some of you have seen it. But if you haven't, I hope you will watch it tonight. Now it doesn't have a lot of special effects but it does have a lot of drama. And here's the main message. Climate change is real. Its urgent and America can take the lead in the world in addressing it. Right! [Gore applauds]
We here in America can develop new clean energy solutions. We can transform our economy. We can rally the world to cut carbon pollution. And above all we can fulfill our moral obligation to protect our planet for our children and our grandchildren.
..
So let's remember, what's at stake. I am running against a guy who denies science, denies climate change, says its a hoax created by the Chinese.
So this is something that Al Gore has been working on for a really long time and I want you to know how far back he goes. It was in 1982 when he held the very first hearing on climate change in the House of Representatives with the world famous climate scientist, Jim Hanson. And then when Al became a Senator he continued to raise the alarm and look for solutions. And as vice-president he led America's efforts to negotiate the Kyoto protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
And .. You take all this together - those thirty years of leadership led Al Gore to be awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2007. [Applause]. I was very proud because he had been determined and persistent and in the face of a lot of people in public life, in business and elsewhere, who were trying to diminish the importance of the science, he never wavered. And in the years since the climate challenge has only grown more stark.
And I will tell you this - it is one of the most important issues at stake in this election. Look at it this way. Our next president will either step up our efforts to address climate change, to protect our planet, to protect our health and to create good jobs that cannot be outsourced, by growing our clean energy economy. Or, in the alternative, we will be dragged backwards and our whole future will be put at risk. So we've really got to get this right.
And if you need additional convincing, just remember what happened this week. Hurricane Matthew killed at least 26 people in our country, more than a thousand, as far as we know right now, in Haiti. North Carolina is still dealing with serious flooding and will be, at least for the rest of this week, if not longer. We all need to support each other as our communities put the pieces back together and begin the long road back from this disaster. That's why I've encouraged everyone to give what you can afford to the Florida disaster fund or to (Team Rubicon?), the veterans organization working to respond to Hurricane Matthew or to UNICEF helping children and families on the ground in Haiti.
Now some will say, you know, we have always had hurricanes. They have always been destructive and that's true. But hurricane Matthew is likely more destructive because of climate change. Right now the ocean is at or near record high temperatures and that contributed to the torrential rainfall and the flash flooding that we saw in the Carolinas. Sea levels have already risen about a foot - one foot - in much of the southeast which means that Matthew's storm surge was higher and the flooding was more severe.
Plus, as you know, the impact of climate change goes beyond extreme events like hurricane(s). Its become a daily reality here in Miami. You have streets in Miami beach and in (Shorecrest?) that are flooding at hightide. The ocean is bubbling up through the sewer system. Sometimes people call 311 because they assume a water main must have broken when actually it is the sea rising around them. So if you need proof that climate change is real and that it is costly, there you go.
...
Because this is what I want you to hear and understand. At the rate we are going, one in eight homes in Florida could be underwater by the end of this century. And when kids like that adorable young boy over there on his dad's shoulders, are grandparents, we believe that more than 400 billion dollars worth of property in Florida at risk, and nationwide, it is 882 billion in property at risk.
But there's also health consequences. Mosquitoes that carry diseases like the Zika virus and tics that carry (Lyme?) disease are expanding their ranges. And hotter summers and longer (pollencies?) are making allergies and asthma worse, which is especially bad for our children.
And look at what is happening in California - a brutal five year drought. Wildfires have burned more than nine million acres in our country last year.
And its also about our national security. The Pentagon has identified climate change as a threat to our national security. The US Atlantic fleet is based in Norfolk, Virginia. It is the largest naval installation in the world and because of rising sea levels the base is frequently flooded even when its sunny. So that's why the Pentagon is looking at how climate change will affect readiness and operations not just at Norfolk but all of our military bases around the world.
So you would think if you look at the facts, if you listen to the science that even the most committed climate sceptic would say OK, I agree. Something's happening here. We need to take it seriously. But, unfortunately, there are still too many people in Washington, on the campaign trail, who won't face what's happening right in front of us.
Donald Trump is quote, not a big believer in climate change. And, you know, as I said, he says it is a hoax created by the Chinese. And in our first debate two weeks ago he tried to deny saying that. But you know that tweet is still there for everyone to see. And I would wish that Donald would actually listen to people here in Florida like Miami Beach's mayor, Philip Levine and others who are doing incredible work to address the sunny day floods. Or maybe he would listen to Miami Beach commissioner, John Elizabeth Aleman. John Elizabeth is a Republican but she is supporting our campaign because she knows America can't afford a candidate who doesn't accept climate science.
Or maybe Donald would listen to our military leaders who say climate change threatens our national security. What about the ranchers in Colorado or the mayors in Arizona and the community leaders in Alaska who say, our lives and jobs are being affected. Please, let's come together as a country and do something about it. We cannot risk putting a climate denier in the White House at all. That is absolutely unacceptable. We need a president who believes in science and who has a plan to lead America in facing this threat and creating good jobs, and yes, saving our planet!
So here's what I want to do. First, we need to do a lot more on clean energy. The clean energy superpower of the 21st century is probably going to be Germany, China or us, and I want it to be us. And I want you to be part of making it us. [Al Gore applauds.]
And we need to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and create high-paying jobs, building and installing more solar panels and wind turbines, modernising our electric grid, retro-fitting buildings, building resilient twenty-first century infrastructure. And we have to make sure no community is left out or left behind. Not our inner cities or our small towns or our remote rural areas. [Al Gore applauds.]
Now, you wouldn't know it if you only listened to my opponent (on how) terrible everything is. He has such a dark divisive view of America. But that doesn't tell the story about what's really going on. It's actually pretty exciting. In red states and blue states, local leaders are stepping up. Rural electric co-ops are investing in community solar power. And you see that across America. Union workers in Michigan .. are getting ready to build electric Chevvies in a plant powered by clean energy. Iowa is already getting a third of its electricity from wind. Wind turbines are going up in New England and on Lake Erie. Renewable energy is already the fastest growing source of new jobs in America. I think that is so exciting. There are nearly two million people already working in energy efficiency and in (Spartanburg?), South Carolina, a project called (ReGenesis?) is taking an old landfill and turning it into a solar farm. That landfill was a blight and a health threat just two hundred and fifty feet away from a residential neighbourhood. Now that same land will generate enough clean renewable electricity to power five hundred homes. So this is what we can do.
And I think it is time Washington should back up and support doing more of that. As president I want to (have) 500 million more solar panels installed across America by the end of my first term. [Al Gore applauds.]
And lets generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America within the decade. [Al Gore applauds.]
Lets make our buildings and factories more energy efficient and cut our oil consumption by a third. And we can get there by investing and supporting in cutting-edge research to keep developing cheaper and better clean energy technologies, investing (in) clean energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, putting big partnerships together between state, cities and rural communities. We can do all of this. And create millions of good paying jobs as we do. So I am hoping that these good jobs will offer security and dignity while we produce the clean energy that will power the economy of the future. The clean energy solutions are being developed right here in America. We want (them) manufactured in America and installed in America, and putting people to work in America. [Al Gore applauds.]
And while we do that let's make sure that our communities are ready for the impact of climate change that are coming right at us. We need to invest in resilient infrastructure. Sometimes that might mean building a sea wall. Other times let's be more creative like in New York harbour where we are replanting oyster beds to form natural barriers to storm surge.
Sometimes we will overhaul an outdated sewer system to deal with flooding from heavy downpours. In Philadelphia they are trying something else. Green roofs, (xx?) pavements, curbside gardens to help absorb storm water. And here's something we don't talk enough about. Lets make sure our hospitals can stay open and operational in any kind of disaster. Because, sadly I saw what happened in New York during hurricane Sandy. Newborns who had been on respirators had to be evacuated down nine flights of stairs in one New York hospital. Because the electricity went off. Nurses - I love nurses; heroic, courageous nurses - were carrying those babies and manually squeezing bags of air to keep them breathing.
Here in Miami, you know how important this is. You have retrofitted the (Nicklaus?) children's hospital with a hurricane resistant shell for exactly this reason and every hospital in the country should follow your lead and build in more resilience.
And then finally we got to lead the world to confront the climate challenge. If we don't do it no one (will do it). We must confront the climate challenge. There is no doubt about that. And so let's move on with the kind of leadership that the world as well as our country deserves.
Now when I was secretary of state, I worked with President Obama to make climate change a top diplomatic priority. We fought to get China and India and other major polluters to agree for the first time in history to be part of the solution. [Ravi: If I recall correctly I read somewhere that Indian leaders have a different view and point out that major polluters who have contributed most to the climate change crisis are USA and other materially advanced countries, especially of the Western world, for decades! Looking only at the present situation without seeing the history of pollution by Western industrially advanced countries over decades is not fair, in their point of view. end-Ravi]
In fact, we had to crash a secret meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. Slipped past the guard; it was all very cloak-and-dagger but for a very important purpose. And because of that breakthrough and a lot of patient, persistent work and because of American leadership, one hundred and ninety five nations signed on to a global agreement (this last December). It is called the Paris agreement [Al Gore applauds] and I am not exaggerating when I say it is our last best chance to solve the global climate crisis.
And what does Donald Trump want to do? He wants to cancel the Paris agreement. You know, he doesn't care what it would do to the planet. He doesn't care how much that would damage American leadership. He doesn't care what it would do to the future we leave to our kids and grandkids. Well, he may not care but we do and that's why this election is so critically important. [Al Gore applauds.]
Because on the ballot it is not just my name, it is every issue (you) care about. It is our values (of) the country. Climate change needs to be (a voting issue). We need to elect people up and down the ballot, at every level of government who take it seriously. And are willing to roll up their sleeves and get something done. Please we cannot keep sending climate deniers and defeatists to Congress or state houses and certainly not to the White House. [Al Gore applauds]
And you know, if you care about climate, your senate race is also really important and I will tell you why.
It is an unacceptable ... for Marco Rubio when asked about climate change to say, I am not a scientist. Well, why doesn't he ask a scientist and maybe then he would understand why it is so important that he, representing Florida, be committed to climate change. That's why I hope you will elect Patrick Murphy to the United States Senate. [Al Gore applauds.] [Ravi: USA Senator Marco Rubio's views on climate change are provided at the bottom of this post.]
Look, we need leaders who can get results. It is easy to stonewall. It is not enough to protest. We need creativity. We need hard work and when it comes to climate change we don't have a minute to waste. And so, I know it is easy to get cynical, especially about our politics - I get that. But this election matters more than any has in a really long time and I believe that, as strongly as I can, we've got to address this issue for our sake, our children, our grandchildren. And it is so critically important when you think about how leadership can make a difference. And just look, if you will, look at the difference between your state, the sunshine state, which has less solar energy than New Jersey has, right now.
And you know why, because you have a governor who has ordered your state government never to use the words, climate change. [Ravi: See the bottom of the post to visit a link where the Florida governor is said to have denied this charge (of having ordered his administration to never use the words, climate change).] So my friends, this is a big deal in this election and it is going to be a big deal for our country and our world. And there isn't anybody, there isn't anybody who knows more, has done more, has worked harder .. I know he was in Miami just last year, training and educating people to be climate change activists. I can't wait to have Al Gore advising me when I am president of the United States. So please join me in welcoming our former vice-president, a climate change leader, and an all around great guy, Al Gore.
[Around 22:24]
Former vice-president of USA, Al Gore: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, Secretary Clinton and ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for the warm welcome. I appreciate those kind words very much. I want to acknowledge all of the elected officials and distinguished guests who are here and I want to say a special word of thanks to president (Eduardo) Padron and Miami Dade college. I understand you got a pretty good women's volleyball team here. Go ladies (xx?). Is that what you say?
I am here today with two very simple messages. Number one - when it comes to the most urgent issue facing our country and the world, the choice in this election is extremely clear. Hillary Clinton will make solving the climate crisis a top national priority. Very important. Her opponent, based on the ideas that he has presented, would take us toward a climate catastrophe. So that's my first message. The climate crisis is and must be regarded as a top national priority and a top global priority.
Here's my second message. Your vote really, really, really counts - a lot. You .. can consider me as an exhibit A of that group [laughter]. Now for those of you .. who are younger than 25, you might not remember the election of 2000 and what happened here in Florida and across the country. For those of you older than 25, I heard you murmuring just now. But, take it from me, it was a very close election. Elections ..[ Audience says, you won, you won.] Well [Al Gore mildly laughs/chuckles], here's my point, here's my point. I don't want you to be in a position years from now where you welcome Hillary Clinton and say, actually, you did win. It just wasn't close enough to make sure that all the votes were counted or whatever.
Elections have consequences. Your vote counts. Your vote has consequences. And in this election, the future of Miami and cities up and down the west coast and the east coast of Florida are on the ballot as well. Indeed, the entire state of Florida and its future are on this ballot. So is our economy, our health, our national security. The common thread that binds all of these issues together - what we decide to do about carbon pollution and its damage to the ecological system of the earth.
I don't have to tell you, here in Florida, that the climate crisis is real. Yes, it is true that some of your elected officials have not recognised that its real. But every single night on the television news is like a (xx?) book? of Revelation. You look at the floods and the droughts and the mudslides and the fires and the incredible downpours (and) as secretary Clinton just mentioned, hurricane Matthew just recently. You know, it (spun?) up from a tropical storm into a category 5 hurricane in just 36 hours. That's extremely unusual. And the reason that happened is the climate crisis is trapping so much extra heat in the earth's system equivalent to what would be released by 400,000 Hiroshima class atomic bombs going off everyday. Its a big planet. But that's a lot of energy. And its warming the oceans - more than 90% of that heat energy goes into the oceans. And so the (southern Caribbean where it spun?) up into a category 5 so quickly was much warmer than normal, because of that. And the Gulf stream was way warmer than normal for this time of year for the same reason.
So this means also that all the water vapour coming off the oceans into the atmosphere is brought over the land and so we get these record downpours. Just in the last year, we have seen one in a thousand year downpours in Louisiana, West Virginia, Texas, Maryland. In Houston, in one twelve month period they just had two 500-year floods and one 1000-year downpour. In one (of them?) they had as much water dumped on Harris County, Texas, where Houston is, as would have been put there by three and a half days of the entire flow of Niagara Falls. This is not normal. It is becoming the new normal which is now a set of conditions that we have created with all this manmade global warming pollution.
Secretary Clinton also mentioned the sea level rise. We have seen already - some of you who are little bit older may remember hurricane Andrew when .. when Hillary and I were first campaigning together in 1992, hurricane Andrew came through. Just (since?) hurricane Andrew, the sea level in the waters around Florida have gone up three inches since hurricane Andrew. And every vertical inch of sea level rise means 4 to 8 feet of the water going (inward?) and the storm surges on top of that.
And yes, there are now at high tide, sometimes fish from the ocean swimming in some of the streets of Miami beach and Del Ray and Fort Lauderdale. And the rainfall in Carolina. Secretary Clinton mentioned what they are still (dealing?) there. They have got 17 inches of rain because the warmer oceans not only make the wind speed much stronger than it has been on the past on average. But it also dumps all of that water on the land. And she mentioned the role it plays in health.
Just yesterday there were six more cases of Zica announced in Dade county. And the public health authorities (are) doing a great job and really wrestling with it. And these tropical diseases have spread so quickly partly because of airline travel and the transportation revolution. But the changing climate conditions change the places where these tropical diseases become endemic and put down roots. The mosquitoes mature faster. And then the virus in the mosquito incubates much faster. And they bite more often because they are cold-blooded and when the temperature goes up their metabolism goes up and they spread the disease way more quickly. So these and many other consequences including the fires out west that secretary Clinton talked about are really wake-up calls for us.
Mother nature is giving us a very clear and powerful message. We cannot continue putting a hundred and ten million tons of (global?) warming pollution into the atmosphere every day as if it is an open sewer. We've got to stop that. We've got to wake up and recognize the need for change. So, most people know that we have to change this. But here's the really good news that more people should know.
We can change this. We now have the ability to change this. Its going to be a long hard fight. We've got a long way to go but we now have the renewable energy technology and the efficiency improvements and the electric vehicles and sustainable and organic agriculture and sustainable (forestry?) and the other ways of changing our lives for the better that can sharply diminish the amount of global warming pollution that we are putting up there.
And secretary Clinton is exactly right. That we can create good jobs in the process. Jobs that can't be outsourced. She's also right that either China or Germany or some other country other than the US could become the .. renewable energy superpower of this new century. One day, last December Germany, which is much higher in latitude than the US and pretty cloudy at that - one day, they got 87% of all their electricity from wind and solar and renewable energy. We can be on track to do that as well. And China - yes, China is the biggest polluter now. But they have begun to change bigtime. Their coal use is going down. Their overall emissions are going down. And they have just announced that this .. next year in 2017 they are adopting a nationwide (cap-n-trade?) program and they are taking other measures to reduce and to create those jobs in China.
And in Paris - the Paris agreement is a big deal. Yes, it is not enough. Yes, it needed to do more. But it is by far, the biggest step forward the world has ever taken to solve the climate crisis. Every nation in the world virtually - I think there were three of four (xx?) Nicaragua and some who didn't. But virtually every nation in the world agreed to phase out these greenhouse gas emissions and go to net zero emissions, early in the second half of this century and to begin that process now.
And it (has sent) a powerful signal to businesses and industries and investors. And I can tell you that signal is being received. We hear news every single day (of) more businesses making that shift. So the question in this election - and this comes back to my first message - is which of these candidates is going to continue the progress and actually increase the rate of progress. With Hillary Clinton, we will build on the progress made under President Obama with the Paris agreement and she will seize the opportunities. After all, solar electricity and wind electricity is now way cheaper than it was years ago when some of us started sounding the alarm about this crisis. Hillary Clinton knows this very well and she has worked with President Obama.
Since the beginning of the Obama administration the cost of wind electricity has come down by half. Solar is down by 64%. LED is down by 94%. We have .. seen electricity from solar increase 30 times over. Last year in the entire United States - in the calendar year 2015 - if you look at all of the new electricity generation that was added in the US last year, what percentage of it do you think was solar and wind? 71%. Virtually zero from coal.
And its already creating millions of jobs and it continues to get cheaper and cheaper every single week. World records are being broken every month now as it continues to get cheaper. Now Hillary Clinton knows this not only because she has studied it and not only because she has worked with President Obama but her work in the Senate emphasised this. Her work on child asthma and air pollution and helping to improve children's health by cutting down on air pollution was very important. Her work on environmental justice, helping call attention to the fact that it is the poor people and minority communities and people with colour who are almost always victimised more than the rest of us .. by these environmental crises.
And she has proposed a terrific plan to install - well, she said herself and I am not going to repeat all of it - but I will just say this. When she put out her solar plan - half a billion solar panels by the end of her first term and enough renewable energy to power every home in America - I looked at that plan very carefully. And I will say to all of you, you will hear a lot of candidates for office who will put out plans that have words you are not even sure what they might mean because words - you know, there are ways to put things - I went through that with a fine toothcomb. And I will tell you that her plan on solar panels and expanding renewable energy - it is right at the limit of what we can do. And that is exactly the kind of ambitious goal that we need from the next president of the United States of America. [Applause]
Almost a hundred years ago, America's most famous inventor, Thomas Edison, said these words, and it is an exact quote. "I would put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power. I hope we don't have to wait until the oil and coal run out before we tackle that." [Ravi: This link seems to confirm the Edison quote and gives some background info about a conversation between Henry Ford (automobile manufacturer), Harvey Firestone (tire manufacturer) and Edison about sources of energy like coal, oil, wood, wind, tide and solar, where Edison seems to have said those words: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/08/09/solar/.]
Now I want to say a brief word. I am going to return to my second main point here in a minute. But I want to say a brief word about something else that all of you can do. You can elect Patrick Murphy to the United States senate instead of a climate denier. But here's something else you can do.
Vote No on (initiative 1?) on your ballot. Hillary mentioned that there are fewer solar jobs in the sunshine state, Florida, than there are in New Jersey. Actually Florida also lags behind Massachusetts which is even farther north. Despite having 3 times the population of Massachusetts, Florida has less than half of the solar jobs that have been created in Massachusetts. Massachusetts installed more solar energy last year alone than Florida has installed in its entire history. .. Yes, its ridiculous. That's exactly right.
And the head of one of the fossil fuel burning utilities actually said last year, Well yes, Florida is the sunshine state but remember it is also the partly cloudy state. Well, they are trying to cloud the truth by putting forward a phony-baloney initiative that sounds like it protects solar. It doesn't protect solar. The things they claim protect solar are protections you already have. But they are trying to fool you into amending your state constitution in a way that gives them the authority to shut down net metering and do in Florida what they did in Nevada and just kill the solar industry. Now this is a question -. Our democracy has been hacked. And the fossil utilities here have spent more than twenty million dollars to try to pull the wool over your eyes. And twenty million dollars can buy a lot of wool.
So, amendment 1 would benefit the incumbent fossil fuel companies here in Florida by making it harder for home owners to go solar. Now let me close by returning to my second message.
The stakes in this election simply could not be higher. You will often hear people from podiums like this one say something like that at election time. I know, I have heard it. I have even said it before. But honestly to those of you here, and those within who can hear my voice by whatever means - this election really matters. The world is on the cusp of either building on the progress and solving the climate crisis or stepping back, washing our hands off America's traditional role as the leader of the world and letting the big polluters call the shots.
The choice is that clear. It is that stark. The consequences for not just our children and grandchildren and future generations but for all of us, are really quite significant. So because of that please take it from me, every single vote counts. Every single vote counts. If you are not registered to vote, do so today. If you are on the fence about whether to vote, remember what is at stake in this election. And if you think your vote does not matter, take it from me, your vote can make all of the difference in this election. Vote early and don't let your friends (sit) this election out. Early voting begins here in Dade county on October 24th, and in several other parts of Florida, it begins on Oct. 24th. If you have any confusion whatsoever about where you vote or whether you are registered or whether you are going to the right polling place, visit iwillvote.com. iwillvote.com. Say it with me, iwillvote.com. One more time. iwillvote.com.
Now if you want to be really in touch with this election process, and get really involved in taking other people to the polls, there is a - if you like to text, then text climate, the word climate, to this number, 47246, and you will get updates. You will get the information you need. And then even on election day you will get updates on your polling place. So remember, text climate to 47246. Say it with me. 47246.
All right. Now, in closing, I made two points. The climate crisis must be a top priority. We must have a president who gets it, who cares about it, who has internalised it, who is passionate about it, who is determined to lead our country, and with our country to lead the world, at the key moment when we really do have the opportunity to solve this climate crisis and make our country stronger and more prosperous at the same time.
My second message is - you know what it is - every vote counts. That's why I am here. And that's why I will vote for Hillary Clinton. I know .. that my vote counts. I know that your vote counts. I hope you will consider carefully the future in making your decision this November or beginning when early voting starts when (you go) into the (ballot box/voting booth). Together, we have the opportunity to look back on this year as a time when our nation finally chose to answer the alarm bells on the climate crisis, and went into action to solve it.
I know that there are still some who doubt in their hearts that we as human beings, and we as Americans have the ability to bring about such a big and important change. Do we have the capacity? I will remind you that the will to change and build a brighter future is itself a renewable resource.
Let's make Hillary Clinton the next president of the United States of America.
--- end transcript of speeches of Hillary clinton and Al Gore ---
Senator Marco Rubio's views on climate change: Marco Rubio: Environmentalist push 'not good public policy', http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/marco-rubio-climate-change/, March 11, 2016. Rubio is quoted in this article as saying, "They are asking me to support public policies that will do nothing to effect the environment but will have a direct and immediate impact on our economy"..."I think that's a terrible trade-off ... anyone who stands for that is called a 'denier?' These guys are off on their own crusade here but it's just not good public policy."
Here's an article about Florida Gov. denying that the phrase 'climate change' has been banned in his administration: Florida Gov. Scott Denies Banning Phrase 'Climate Change', http://www.npr.org/2015/03/10/392142452/florida-gov-scott-denies-banning-phrase-climate-change, March 10, 2015 (over one and a half years ago).
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.
[I thank Secretary Hilary Clinton, former vice-president Al Gore and Senator Marco Rubio and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above transcripts/quotes from their speeches/remarks on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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