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Jake Schneider - Nuclear Proliferation
Most Americans do notunderstand the full impact ofterrorism. Their onlyexperiences with the subject arestories of the Middle East or,more closely, the September11th attacks. As a Jew, I care agreat deal about the future ofIsrael, a state threatened byterrorist organizations.Moreover, as the son of aworking man who never walkedaway from the Twin Towers, Ihave the experience tounderstand the full and far-reaching effects of terrorism.This is a problem that cansocially, mentally, economically,end physically cripple any man, family, nation, and even the whole world.Today, the greatest threat to international security is a nuclear bomb. While currentlythe situation is stable, there is a good chance there will be conflict in the future. As it is,Iran, a country known to support terrorist groups, is currently enriching Uranium toweapons grade in hopes of attaining a nuclear weapon. If not ominous already, IranianPresident Ahmadinejad claimed that “ We shall soon experience a world without theUnited States and Zionism.” Personally, this seems more of a promise than a threat,which makes it infinitely more terrifying. The Talmud tells us Jews to “seek peace andpursue it.” As an American I was raised to do the same and to take the role as a leaderin this International endeavor It is clear to me that a nuclear Iran cam easily lead tonuclear terrorists. As a country that has experienced terrorism firsthand, the US shouldhave a large interest in preventing this form happening. I thank CongressmanFrelinghuysen for his past support on this issue, and urge him to continue to supporteconomic pressure through Iranian Devestment in the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act,especially focusing on their exports on oil and imports on gasoline. It makes sense thatincreasing pressure during this economic environment will be extremely effective inforcing Iran to focus on other areas and cease their enrichment of Uranium.On the issue of Nuclear Proliferation, which increase the changes of nuclear terrorist,I would thank the Congressman for his past support, but would urge him to refrain fromsupporting new nuclear weapons, like Reliable Replacement Warheads in the future. Iwould ask that in the allocation of the new budget, Congressman Frelinghuysen willhonor the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and not create new nuclearweapons.
 
Even though we have lost much of our international standing, other countries still lookto us, especially in terms of nuclear non-proliferation. By supporting these actions,congressman Frelinghuysen can continue to protect our country, Israel, and theInternational Community. As one personally touched by the crippling hand of terrorism, Ican appreciate the necessity of these actions.
Eric Frank and Jeremy Bergman - Renewable Electricity Standard
Eric: Hello. My name is EricFrank,Jeremy: and I am JeremyBergman.Eric: We are from Millburn,New Jersey and we arespeaking to you this morningon behalf of the “ReligiousAction Center”. We would liketo thank you for yourcontinuous support of the“Renewable ElectricityStandard”. We hope toexpand your knowledge of theissues taking place in the worldtoday revolving around climate change and the energy choices needed to tame it.Eric: Various gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane and watervapor, trap heat near the earth
ʼ
s surface. Human activities are enhancing this effectwith huge consequences for the global climate. The burning of fossil fuels,deforestation, and other agricultural and industrial practices unleash billions of tons ofcarbon dioxide into the environment each year. Studies show that atmospheric levels ofCO2 have increased by 30% in the past (160,000) one-hundred sixty thousand years.Animals over these past years have been threatened with endangerment and couldcreate a gap in the food chain. Scientists have observed the changes caused by theseharmful sources of energy and they say we could reach a point of no return. Theclimate will be irreversible if we don
ʼ
t act now to prevent it. A great threat is the chanceof increased droughts, floods, and severe natural disasters. These are alreadyoccurring as a result of the changing climate.
 
Jeremy: So, as you can see, it is time for change. We have seen it in the previouselection and, now we see it in our environment. Since the end of the eighteenth century,when our nation was just building on its power, the world
ʼ
s power was fueled by coal.Once the only source of energy and the most cost effective source, coal has seen itsdays as the world
ʼ
s main power provider come to an end. As our people have becomemore aware of how our energy systems work, we have realized how harmful coal canbe to our environment. The amount of carbon dioxide emissions by coal-burning plantsand gas-guzzling automobiles is high enough today to contribute to our unsafeatmosphere significantly by trapping the sun
ʼ
s heat within the atmosphere
ʼ
s limits. Theproblem is not going away even though this “inconvenient truth” has been drilled intoour heads over the past five years. So we must look to the alternative. Energy sourceslike wind, solar, and bio-fuel are clean renewable sources that scientists have provenwill be just as cost-efficient in the future as coal has been. The kinetic energy of thewind in Texas, North Dakota, and Kansas combined has been found to have enoughpotential energy to satisfy all of the country
ʼ
s electricity needs. Solar energy has thepotential to supply more energy per day than the world currently uses per day. Bio-fuels,such as sugar-based ethanol, are, contrary to popular belief, incredibly cost and energyefficient. Coal is reliable. Sure. But the benefits of these alternative fuels significantlyoutweigh the environmental risk that coal energy proposes.Eric: now you may be wondering how this issue affects us as a country and how itaffects other countries. Increasing temperatures could significantly raise sea levelsaround the globe causing floods. In Africa, malaria and other infectious diseases couldspread to areas that have never experienced them before due to increased flyingranges for mosquitoes. Droughts and floods could strike farmlands. This could lead toa shortage of crops and could worsen the economic crisis faced by the U.S. today.While the U.S. will be able to counteract the negative effects of climate change thanother nations, it will not be immune from these effects. Places like southern Florida,coastal Massachusetts and California, the gulf coast, and Manhattan Island are likely toexperience severe flooding as a result of rising sea levels. Though we home to only 5%of the world
ʼ
s population, the United States uses
¼
of the world
ʼ
s oil and coal and alsoproduces
¼
of the world
ʼ
s carbon dioxide emissions. U.S. cars alone emit more CO2than many large nations. We cause a good percentage of the problem, so we play alarge role in cleaning up the mess. The prime way to do this is by running our daily livesusing alternative energy.Jeremy: As a Reform Jew representing the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism,I do have a strong religious reason for my promotion of this progressive energy action.In our studies with Jewish scripture, we look to apply God
ʼ
s teachings into today
ʼ
ssociety and its problems. The easiest place to look on this issue is Genesis 2:15, whereGod urges Adam and Eve respect the Earth, “to till and to tend” to it. We take thismessage as an obligation to do whatever we can to help the environment and preserveGod
ʼ
s creations, for all of his creations are holy and beautiful. When God says this, he istalking about the Garden of Eden; so we must interpret it today as we must respect theearth like Adam and Eve should have respected the Garden of Eden. This is the
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