Robert Kiener, Director of Member Outreach at the Precision Machined Products Association, says in a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing Friday that if manufacturers can not acquire the capital they need for employees, equipment and raw materials due to the credit crisis, consumers will be forced to outsource from overseas. (0:30)
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says exiled Tibetan Dalai Lama’s rule has shown humility and kindness that is inspirational and fatherlike. (01:01)
The 14th Dalai Lama says U.S. weapons are powerful but not as powerful as American principles. (0:26)
by Julianne LaJeunesse- University of New Mexico
The 14th Dalai Lama was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to receive a Lantos Foundation award for his human rights service, and despite a missing President Obama, the religious leader still offered kind words and advice for “America… the greatest democratic country.”
“I think American weapons, military forces, of course, is to some people… you can take seriously,” the Dalai Lama said. “But the real greatness of America is your ancestors, or the principles. These are, at any cost, you must preserve these principles. That is important.”
Some of those principles could be in question with the Obama administration’s decision not to receive the Dalai Lama this week. The White House says Obama will meet with the leader after a November session with China’s President Hu Jintao in Beijing, a decision which the Dalai Lama says he understands.
At the Lantos Foundation ceremony, which was created to further late Rep. Tom Lantos’ work on human rights and justice issues within U.S. policy making, John McCain (R- Ariz.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised the work of both Lantos, who died in 2008, and the Dalai Lama’s humanitarian efforts. McCain called the Dalai Lama “an example of a moral leader.”
McCain called the Dalai Lama, who won the Noble Peace Prize in 1989, a father to Tibet, despite the tensions between the exiled ruler and the Chinese government.
“For over half a century, he has led their struggle, petitioning governments and people of conscience throughout the world to lend their voice to the just demands of Tibetans,” McCain said. “He has endured the long trying years, and every setback for their cause, with an unyielding determination that is singular because of the patience, humility, and kindness that are his most admirable qualities.”
If Obama and the exiled leader don’t meet this year, it will mark the first time in 14 years that a U.S. president has not received the Dalai Lama. In 2007, the Dalai Lama received the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, a ceremony attended by President George W. Bush.
Peggy Liu, Chairperson non-profit group the Joint U.S.-China Cooperation on Clean Energy, says Friday in a discussion at the Woodrow WIlson Center that China has the desire to turn green and would if it was given instructions for how to do so. (0:10)
Peggy Liu, Chairperson of non-profit group the Joint U.S.-China Cooperation on Clean Energy, says Friday in a discussion at the Woodrow WIlson Center that because of China’s large population, it must a sustainability leader in the world. (0:20)
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Duke Energy David Mohler says Friday in a discussion at the Woodrow WIlson Center that China is developing so rapidly that it will be the trail blazer in technologies that deal with climate change. (0:17)
By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service
The Joint U.S.-China Cooperation on Clean Energy, a non-profit aiming to reduce China’s carbon footprint, is collaborating with Chinese mayors in a training program that teaches city leaders to reduce their environmental impact.
“China is developing so quickly and at such scale,” said David Mohler, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Duke Energy. “We saw a real opportunity to work with our Chinese counterparts.”
According to JUCCE China’s urbanization rate rose from 20 to 44.9 percent between 1980 and 2008. JUCCE said maintaining a clean national power grid for China’s 600 million population is an admittedly difficult task.
“Almost no matter what China does… it is going to set the curve for what happens with climate,” Mohler said. “Being the number one and number two emitters of CO2 globally, it became clear to us that we really need to work together to address the issue.”
The JUCCE mayoral training program provides workshops that train leaders in working with companies that can assist them in implementing more energy efficient programs and technologies in their cities.
“China is at a point where they do not need to be lectured on why to go green, they know that,” said Peggy Liu, chairperson of JUCCE. “What they want is a solution handed to them on a silver platter and that is what we are trying to do.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D- Ohio) says the Waxman-Markey bill is a good starting ground, but the level of presidential discretion in the bill needs more work.
:26
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says that 20 years from now he does not want to debate which country contributed the most environmental harm and “lost Earth”. Kerry says he’d like to view the U.S.’ climate change partnership with China as the beginning of a new era (0:16)
