16 Likes
“cancer cures”
9 Likes
Great news indeed, and I hope a precedent!
In March 2020 the nonprofit public interest law firm Our Children’s Trust filed a lawsuit on behalf of sixteen young Montana residents, arguing that the state’s support for coal, oil, and gas violated their constitutional rights because it created the pollution fueling climate change, thus depriving them of their right to a healthy environment. They pointed to a Montana law forbidding the state and its agents from taking the impact of greenhouse gas emissions or climate change into consideration in their environmental reviews, as well as the state’s fossil fuel–based state energy policy.
That lawsuit is named Held v. Montana after the oldest plaintiff, Rikki Held, whose family’s 7,000-acre ranch was threatened by a dwindling water supply, and both the state and a number of officers of Montana. The state of Montana contested the lawsuit by denying that the burning of fossil fuels causes climate change—despite the scientific consensus that it does—and denied that Montana has experienced changing weather patterns. Through a spokesperson, the governor said: “We must focus on American innovation and ingenuity, not costly, expansive government mandates, to address our changing climate.”
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Kathy Seeley found for the young Montana residents, agreeing that they have “experienced past and ongoing injuries resulting from the State’s failure to consider [greenhouse gas emissions] and climate change, including injuries to their physical and mental health, homes and property, recreational, spiritual, and aesthetic interests, tribal and cultural traditions, economic security, and happiness.” She found that their “injuries will grow increasingly severe and irreversible without science-based actions to address climate change.”
The plaintiffs sought an acknowledgement of the relationship of fossil fuels to climate change and a declaration that the state’s support for fossil fuel industries is unconstitutional. Such a declaration would create a foundation for other lawsuits in other states.
14 Likes
If I may be a bit self-absorbed for a minute, I have a bit of personal happy news: my wife and I are celebrating our 42nd wedding anniversary today. I’m not sure what she saw in me all those decades ago, but I’m still glad that she saw something she liked.
42 years together, two successful adult children, one grandchild, and I’m starting my transition to retirement this Fall. It’s a good moment, and I just wanted to share it with people I like and respect. Thanks for listening!
14 Likes
That’s awesome! Congratulations!
14 Likes
Most excellent!!
14 Likes
Congratulations!!!
13 Likes
That’s wonderful! That’s what this thread is for!
14 Likes
Congratulations to the both of you!
12 Likes
Wish to fuck someone’d give me $700 grand a day, just for a few days. I’m worth a fuckload more’n that ai garbage, and I could get the roof and everything else fixed.
13 Likes
They should ask the AI how to stay in business.
9 Likes
Now you mention it, I can’t help wondering whether that even occurred to them.
8 Likes
They did, can’t you tell from the results?
6 Likes
7 Likes
Cool. 
I wonder if it’s cutting into alcohol sales.
5 Likes
I was gonna say, if people are drinking less, that’s gotta be good. 
I am still frankly astonished that the liquor and tobacco lobbies allowed marijuana legalization in so many places.
1 Like
12 Likes
I read and re-read this article once a week. It helps me think positively.
Major thanks to @Melizmatic for the link.
This particular topic and approach are a big part of my value system.
13 Likes
