Defense and intelligence agencies consider climate change a worldwide threat

A hard-hitting television ad charges Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., with blocking climate and renewable energy bills that could cut money flowing to oil-producing nations with close ties to terrorism.

The liberal veterans advocacy group, VoteVets, poured $2 million into a dual national and state-based ad campaign targeting Republicans and Democrats alike.

The local ad, and the only one targeting a Western politician, features Iraq War veteran Benjamin Cossel, of Pine Bluffs, Wyo. Cossel puts it to Barrasso to “decide whose side he’s on” after noting that the Wyoming senator received $50,500 from the oil industry with direct operations in Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria, and Algeria.

All told the senator has taken $398,700 from the energy and natural resource sector, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

As expected, Barrasso shot back. A spokesperson told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “The liberal, out-of-state special interest group paying for this ad does not represent Wyoming.”

However, the crux of the problem isn’t political ideology but the complicated connections of climate change, energy extraction and national security. And the money trail behind it that pushes simplistic soundbites, obstructs legislation and stokes public fears about terrorism.

VoteVets said in a statement that “the campaign was launched days after the oil industry revealed that it spent $154 million lobbying Congress in 2009 — much of it in opposition to comprehensive energy legislation.”

Enter Barrasso who has long fought environmental policies to promote carbon reduction and extractive energy regulations from his perch on two key Senate committees: Energy and Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works.

“The fight to get off Middle East oil is a matter of life and death for those of us who serve this country,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org. “Every day Congress delays action is another day they are siding with oil companies and against our veterans,” continued Soltz.

The Barrasso ad will reportedly run 400 times on Casper and Cheyenne television stations. Hang on to your hats.

h/t Grist.org

Iraq and Afghanistan war vets are rolling through New Mexico this week to advocate for renewable energy as foreign policy.

A new contest sponsored by the What’s Your Issue Foundation, along with a star-studded panel of judges, is accepting 3-minute videos addressing one of eight key priorities: education, environment, economic recession, health and healthcare, pathway from poverty, national security and defense, public service, human and equal rights and technology.

From the contest Web site:

We are seeking your innovative solutions to issues. We think that 14 to 24 year olds can offer a fresh, innovative approach to problem-solving. Specifically, we are looking for workable project ideas that can be locally launched that would tangibly tackle a problem. An example might be program or project in a city or town to deal with surplus cellphones, or with under-employed youth, or that would deal with national security or human rights.

Winning videos will be presented to senior officials in the Obama administration, broadcast on screens in Best Buy stores across the planet, posted on our iTunes tile and YouTube playlist. The foundation will also fly U.S.-based Jury winners to Los Angeles for our awards ceremony co-hosted by Sony Pictures.

The deadline for submissions is April 12.

Already some entries from the Rocky Mountain are available for viewing on the foundation’s YouTube channel. Thus far, most are earnest and heartfelt, some weird and others well … they’re pretty disturbing.

Colorado
Give a Hoot – on biking as environmentally friendly transportation
Save a Life – on opposing abortion
Thumbs Down to Pity – on film portrayals of the disabled

Utah
Innocence Lost – on preventing childhood sexual abuse
Think Twice – on obesity and food choices
Think. Believe. Act. – on totalitarianism set in a bologna factory

To date, no entries could be found from Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming. C’mon, Westerners, we’re counting on you!

h/t Peter Levine

President Barack Obama renewed a campaign pledge Wednesday to repeal the controversial military policy that forces gay servicemembers out.

A quick, quirky tour of life in the West: Los Alamos scientists behaving badly, Help Wanted: A Wyomingite who can spell, and more.