A Contract with the Earth featuring Newt Gingrich in conversation with Jeffrey Sachs.
Most people-regardless of how they categorize themselves politically are weary of the legal and political conflicts that prevent individuals and communities from realizing the benefits of environmental conservation.
In his new book, A Contract with the Earth, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and conservationist Terry L. Maple focus the environmental debate on the principle of common commitment.
They declare a need for bipartisan environmentalism - a new era of environmental stewardship. While acknowledging that liberals and conservatives do not see eye to eye on many issues, they argue that environmental stewardship is a mainstream value that transcends partisan politics.
Their approaches to our environmental challenges are based on three main premises: environmental leadership is integral to America's role in the world, technologically savvy environmental entrepreneurs can and should be the cornerstone of environmental solutions, and cooperation and incentives must be dramatically increased to achieve workable and broadly supported environmental solutions.
The foundation of the book - a ten-point Contract with the Earth - promotes ingenuity over rhetoric as the way forward- New York Public Library
Bio
Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the US House of Representatives. Now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Gingrich continues to advocate for smaller government and what he terms "fundamental values." He is also the founder and General Chairman of the American Solutions for Winning the Future group. On May 11, 2011, Gingrich announced he will seek the Republican nomination to run against Barack Obama in the 2012 United States Presidential election.
Gingrich is the author of Rediscovering God in America and To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom.
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs is the Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Since 2010 he has also served as a Commissioner for the Broadband Commission for Digital Development which leverages broadband technologies as a key enabler for social and economic development. He has authored Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet.
Originally one of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became renowned for implementing economic shock therapy throughout the developing world, and subsequently for his work on the challenges of economic development, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, debt cancellation, and globalization.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich questions the notion that a person can not be considered a true conservative if they also care about the environment.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and environmentalist Jeffrey Sachs debate whether the motive behind declaring war on Iraq was driven by oil.
My natural inclination is towards the more liberal progressive side but I must admit to being impressed with Newt Gingrich. I was less impressed with Jeffery Sachs attempt to politicize the discussion on a continuum of American politics. Not that I would throw all my eggs in Gingrich's basket but there is an optimism that should at the very least be encouraged. I for one would like to get beyond the political aka campaign debates and have us focus our energy in coming up with solutions - not bumperstickers.
I featured this video in one of my blog posts Energy And Politics Bio-Fuels And Barack