Regardless of the cause of climate change, it is clear our climate is changing. But even if it stayed the same, human industrial activity is polluting our water, atmosphere and food sources and this is not acceptable.

We have heavy metals and other toxins in our groundwater.  Our food is now imported from around the world and without international cooperation to protect these products from toxic contaminates, we risk putting ourselves and our children in danger.

Unlike the arguments about global warming, no one is denying that human pollution is killing thousands of species that keep the balance of nature and provide the necessities of life for human beings. If we ignore these warnings and fail to prepare for the drastic changes to our planet and the effect they will have on us, we will be ignoring them at our peril.

Scientists are predicting changing weather patterns will cause more rain in some areas and less rain in other areas. And while we may have fewer storms, they may be more severe. These changing patterns will have an effect on agricultural crops as well.

We should be planning for the long term sustainability of life on our planet. Regardless of how people feel about "cap and trade" or "cap and rebate," we can no longer deny that using fossil fuels for energy sources is not sustainable and the struggle for it has led to financial scarcity and wars among nations.

Even if new petroleum sources were discovered, they would be sold on the world market to the highest bidder and would do little, if anything, to reduce fuel costs. It would be very surprising for an oil company to flood the market with oil that would reduce the price and, therefore, their profits.

We must switch to sustainable, renewable, non-polluting energy solutions region by region applying the approaches most efficient for those regions – solar, wind, water turbines, geothermal, hemp production, etc. – that will also provide good paying jobs.   

The opening of a biodiesel manufacturing plant at the Port of Gray's Harbor has provided an opportunity for Washington's farmers. Washington State farmers are benefiting from this industry selling their canola, much like the Midwest. We must continue to support these efforts to reduce our national demand for oil.

In addition to the issues we may face from climate change, many areas of our country are losing natural resources. Not only have many oil wells gone dry, but so have Texas water wells and the Midwest aquifer is being rapidly depleted. Steps will need to be taken in the near future to find a new water source for our Midwest farmlands or our food supply will be in danger.

Loss of water resources, as well as desertification will lead to destabilization of not only our own food supplies and economy, but will effect other countries around the world and, therefore, possibly our security. Of particular concern are India, China and Iran. The U.S. needs to be proactive regarding our own resources and every effort must be made by the U.S. to partner with other countries to prepare for the changes to the world’s resources.

We must support reforestation and the restoration of our fish populations as well as the cleanup of our oceans that are being harmed by acidification and toxin buildups in marine life.