Salvation Army goes to war with Greenpeace

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards announced this week that his campaign is going carbon neutral.

“Global warming is an emergency and we can’t wait until the next president is elected to take action,” said Edwards in a press release. “Each of us can take responsibility in small ways to make a big difference. I encourage all Americans to conserve energy in their own homes and workplaces and help fight global warming.”

According to ABC News’ Political Rader:

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Edwards has been approached about running a carbon neutral campaign before, but had dismissed it as infeasible. In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” in December of 2006, Edwards responded to Vice President Al Gore’s commitment to carbon neutrality by saying, “He’s better than me. It’s hard to see how you could do it in a presidential campaign.”

Apparently, Edwards has since found a way.

Since finding a way, Edwards will be offsetting the carbon spewed by his private jet as well as:

  • Organizing a “One Corps National Day of Energy Action” in January to get supporters involved in the fight against global warming by working on community service activities including weatherizing homes and distributing energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

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  • Using timers and motion detectors to control lights and shut down office equipment when not in use and turning off computers, televisions, and lights when not in use.

  • Online monitoring and management of heating and air conditioning to conserve energy.

  • Buying 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper and other recycled paper products.

  • Recycling paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, and other products.

  • Encouraging staff to adopt energy efficient practices in their office and homes. About a quarter of John Edwards for President headquarters employees walk to work.

Tom Vilsack was the first of the Democrats making a bid for the White House in ’08 to go carbon neutral, but then he bailed. So Edwards is the first-still-a-candidate-and-will-probably-be-for-awhile candidate to declare carbon neutrality.

Let the nitpicking and misrepresentation begin!