Tag Archives: cartoons

Writing the Perfect Protest Sign (cartoon)

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 11/6/09

Mean Joe Green #78: Writing the Perfect Protest Sign

Rule #1: Resort to name calling/labeling
Rule #2: Never consider the other side’s motivation
Rule #3: Refer to rule 1 and 2.

I wish these folks were protesting the end result of the actual chain of events that will lead to their future joblessness, which is:
Decreasing demand for coal (due to health concerns for earthlings and earth)=lost jobs for coal miners=find another similar job to suit your skills=can’t because factory jobs have long been shipped overseas to skirt environmental regulations and to exploit cheaper labor=PICKET THAT!–picket lost middle class jobs, the shrinking middle class, and the growing disparity between the rich and poor!

These good people have a right to be angry–but not at the “Treehuggers” who want to put an end to our dependence on fossil fuels. Their hostility needs to be directed at the coal (throw in oil, plastic, and biotech) industry fat cats who have long made billions while poisoning the world (poisoning the world poisons those who live in said world).

Mean Joe Green #50: “Pork” Confusing to GOP

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 2/6/09

Republicans have blasted the latest bailout package as being full of “pork”.

Hmmm–pork (barrel spending) by definition, is spending for projects that will benefit a certain group of constituents.

This article in Grist highlights all who will benefit from the “green pork” in the package.

Regarding increased fuel efficiency Obama shares:

This is what they call pork. You know the truth. It will not only save the government significant money over time, it will not only create manufacturing jobs for folks who are making these cars, it will set a standard for private industry to match. And so when you hear these attacks deriding something of such obvious importance as this, you have to ask yourself — are these folks serious? Is it any wonder that we haven’t had a real energy policy in this country?

Regarding clean energy:

After decades of dragging our feet, this plan will finally spark the creation of a clean energy industry that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next few years, manufacturing wind turbines and solar cells, for example — millions more after that. These jobs and these investments will double our capacity to generate renewable energy over the next few years.

And regarding energy efficiency:

This will save consumers money, this will spur innovation, and this will conserve tremendous amounts of energy. We’ll save through these simple steps over the next 30 years the amount of energy produced over a two-year period by all the coal-fired power plants in America.

Americans with lungs, and a heating bill sure does cover a large group of constituents. Sorry folks, but spending that will do wonders to clean up the earth and positively affect all earthlings is not “pork”.
Pork?

Related articles

Economic Stimulus Package: Will Obama Push for a Smart Grid?
Mean Joe Green #49: Economy Hurting the Republican Image
One man’s hybrid is another’s pork

Mean Joe Green #39: Naughty Mayors May Get Coal This Year

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 12/03/08
A recent Jerry James Stone article highlighted the fact that 902 mayors recently signed the Climate Protection Agreement–a pledge to meet the standards set by the Kyoto Protocol.

Well done to those mayors!

(Makes ya wonder how many didn’t… and why not!?)

Mean Joe Green #24: A Republican Wind Turbine

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 9/2/08

Welcome to the no spin zone…

The future of renewable energy does not bode well with a candidate who was absent for the eight key votes to extend renewable energy tax credits.
For more, read the articles linked below the cartoon.

Related Articles

John McCain Scores a Zero on the Environment
McCain is Absent on America’s Energy Crisis: Misses 8 Key Votes
An about face?..
McCain Meets with Pickens, Says “Of Course” he Supports Renewable Energy Tax Credits
On the other hand…
Top Ten Reasons to Vote for Obama/Biden

Mean Joe Green #23: Extreme Weather Has an Audience in Denver

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 8/26/08

Tornadoes send a reminder to Democrats in Denver.

With just about every report (even one from “W” himself) linking the increase in extreme weather (floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) to global warming, it was quite a coincidence that four tornadoes touched down near Denver on Sunday. With the Democratic National Convention beginning there on Monday, it seemed like an attempt by Mother Nature to remind the Democrats to treat climate change with the attention it deserves when they finally take the White House in a few months.

Related Articles

350: Stabilizing Earth’s Atmosphere – Animation Video to Build Awareness
Global Warming and Extreme Weather
Global Warmning Impacts: Deadly Weather
Extreme Weather Fits Global Warming Pattern

Group solar purchasing program 1 Block Off the Grid (1BOG) is currently running a campaign to lower the cost of rresidential solar energy in the Denver metro area.

Disclaimer: Both 1BOG and GO Media are owned by Virgance.

Mean Joe Green #22: “The Beijing Plan”

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 8/8/08
Tim Hurst’s recent article in Red, Green, and Blue highlights John McCain’s talk on taking care of the environment–in the case of the article, specifically as it relates to renewable energy.

Sorry John, but not showing up to cast the deciding vote on important energy incentives that would promote renewables, speaks louder than words I’m afraid.

I’m also afraid that sometimes mere talk wins out

talk

Mean Joe Green #21: Three and a Half Million Mosquitoes!

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 7/31/08
That’s how (I feel) the world views the U.S.

According to the CIA World Factbook we have 1/22 of the world’s population but use 1/4 of the world’s oil!

The United Nations and the World Health Organization share that the average person in the developing world uses 2.64 gallons of water a day. The average person in the United Kingdom uses 35.66 gallons of water per day…

The average person in the United States uses between 100 and 175 gallons every day at home.

Related Articles

The Facts About the Global Drinking Water Crisis
Sustainable Drinking Water Sources
All You Need to Know About Water Saving Technology Around the House
How to Ride Your Bike to Work
Better Living Through Biking

Mean Joe Green #20: Obama’s Election Key to Future of the Planet

I recently watched the video of Grist’s Nancy Pelosi interview. The video was filmed after Al Gore’s speech to move to 100% renewable energy in the next ten years. In the video Pelosi states the environmental impact of supporting Obama over McCain.

Mean Joe Green #19: Selective Hearing

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 7/17/08

8 years of inaction on global warming 8 years of environmental devastation.

When you spend two terms refuting facts from the world’s top scientists and environmentalists and allow the oil industry to call all the shots in regards to the nation’s energy plan you end up with horrible solutions to huge problems…

Related articles

Bush Lifts Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling – Why it Matters and Why it Doesn’t
Energy Task Force
The Cheney Energy Task Force

Mean Joe Green #18: G8 tells Mother Nature to Wait

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 7/11/08

We leave another G8 summit with little progress on global warming.

A vague emissions reduction goal was set–to be reached in 42 years, and without a baseline from which to begin. Seems to me the powers that be are placating the masses as they refuse to take the necessary measures to promote conservation, clean energy, etc.
Sorry Mother Nature…

Related articles on the G8 Summit

Critics Spurn G8 Statement on Climate Change
G8 summit: all talk, zero walk
Global Warming Talks Leave Few Concrete Goals

Mean Joe Green #17: Happy Independence Day!

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue on 7/4/08

Happy July 4th!!!

Celebrate your independence (from oil) every day!

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For more on oil independence vist www.gas2.org.

Mean Joe Green #16: W’s Solution to Floods and Fires

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 6/28/08
From the administration that brought you:
* A weakened Clean Air Act
* A weakened Clean Water Act
* A weakened dollar
* An unjust war
* An increase in logging contracts
* Strained international relations
* The border fence
*And much, much (MUCH), more…

Now brings you:
*A solution to floods and fires

Serious articles on the midwest floods and the California wildfires

*Contaminants in Flood Waters Threaten Food Part 1: Who is Watching? by Sarah Pressman Lovinger
*Floodwaters to Increase Mexican Gulf Dead Zone by Joshua Hill
*700 California Wildfires. Why Don’t we Have Enough Firefighting Resources? by Jennifer Lance

Mean Joe Green #15: McCain’s Vision for Renewable Energy

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue on 6/21/08

GOP candidate John McCain has his eyes on nuclear energy to address our current climate crisis.

Nothing like solving one problem while creating another. I can understand that he may hate the sun for what it does to his pasty white skin. And that he may hate the wind for messing up his well placed comb-over–but if he could just look past all that and see that both the sun and the wind could provide our country free, clean energy he’d have many more fans in the REAL world.

Could it be the one time cost for a wind turbine and/or solar panels that’s keeping the energy industry, John, and many of his right-wing good-old-boys from falling in love with the right alternative? Without the option for a wide base of customers to gouge repeatedly (ie. fuel costs) they all may be thinking–what’s the point?

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For the record, if the choices were coal or nuclear–I’d choose nuclear. But those aren’t the choices–wind and solar are viable clean alternatives. Especially when we, as a society, learn to conserve and re-use more and spend a lot less.

Mean Joe Green #14: A Car That Runs On Pure Venom!

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue on 6/17/08
I can’t believe I have yet to do a cartoon with Cheney as the subject. Actually, now that I’ve done one I can safely say I’d never like to do another. Staring at his picture for roughly 15 minutes (in order to draw him correctly) was enough to make my blood boil. This man is concentrated greed and evil. He made headlines again this week with some more quote-worthy material. Some more good old xenophobic (this time) fear mongering (all the time)…

Mean Joe Green #13: Got B.O. ?

Originally published on RedGreenandBlue.org on 6/7/08
Finally, the wait is over. Congratulations to Barack Obama!
Go get ‘em!!!
Obama

Mean Joe Green #12: White House Completes a Realistic Climate Change Report 4 years late!

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 5/30/08
The New York Times had a brief and POOR-ly titled article on the White House’s recent (and surprisingly factual) report on climate change.
The article’s title “White House: Poor Face Health Risks From Warming” may cause a reader to dismiss the article, and thus the report, in a “phew-atleast-I-don’t-face-health-risks” manner. In fact, the 271 page report forecasts coming severe weather, water shortages, heat waves and a whole slew of bad tidings for the entire world and all who dwell in, on, and over it (not just the poor). It’s a shame the report took so long–but I think it should be required reading for every american.
If only to search for Bush’s many spelling and grammar errors…

Bush Climate Change Report cartoon

Mean Joe Green #11: Analyzing George Bush’s HanDWriTinG

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 5/23/08
I read this terrific article in the LA Times last week. It had handwriting experts analyze the signatures of the three presidential candidates. One glaring exclusion was the analysis of our current commander in chief. So, I called (drawed) in an expert to fill that void. Here’s what he had to say:

mjg0111.jpg

Mean Joe Green #10: Pessimistic Poetry

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 5/16/08I am typically an optimistic, hopeful fella. But, a recent look at NRDC’s Bush Record, and a peek at Bush’s Orwellian “Clear Skies Act“, and this recent study on the environmental apathy of US citizens have turned my blue skies gray.

This bout with pessimism led to the poem and morbid cartoon after the break. But, let it be known that writing and art are outlets–we all need outlets or we’ll go MAD!–and I’m feeling optimistic again.

I have faith that Barack Obama will get elected. And that he’ll make a change for the better (it could hardly get worse). The biggest thing I like about Barack is the excitement he brings to our democracy–hopefully enough so that people will become an active part of the political process each day, as opposed to each election cycle. Afterall, that is the worst time to get a feel for what being a part of a democracy is all about. As Mark Twain once said:

“If we would learn what the human race really is at bottom, we need only observe it in election times.”

Note: The following poem and cartoon are a direct result of reading the “Clear Skies Act” and the NRDC Bush Record on air quality, and then wondering: “When will a change ever truly take place?”

mjg0101.jpg

More doses of environmental realism

The World at 350–Bill McKibben
Earth Our Sacred Trashcan: Sustainablog–Justin Van Kleeck

Mean Joe Green #9: Big Oil’s Mess? It MTBE, It Could Be, It Is!!!

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue.org on 5/9/08
We learned it in Kindergarten–”If you make a mess, CLEAN IT UP!”

Especially if that mess is the gasoline additive MTBE, a possible carcinogen that has leaked into our groundwater. It’s been around since 1979 (ironically, when I was in kindergarten) and is now banned in 23 states, and has not been used by oil companies since 2006.

For more on the 423 million dollar law suit requiring Big Oil to pay big money, check out this article in Grist–after you take a peek at my cartoon, of course…

Big oil cartoon

Mean Joe Green #8: The 800 Pound Gorilla is Biking to Work.

Originally posted on RedGreenandBlue on 5/3/08
HG Wells said, “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race.” I agree.

Hate rising gas prices? Ride your bike! In cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam they seem to outnumber cars. Portland and Chicago are catching up. People of all ages, all over the world ride them daily to school, work, the store, a friend’s house…

It’s THE #1 solution to rising gas prices, yet our fearless leader won’t even mention it.

Stupid, weak, bicycle lobbying groups…

mjg0081.jpg