Some say children teach you the meaning of life, but my five-year-old son taught me the meaning of the First Amendment. On Sept. 27, the Malibu City Council and other dignitaries were invited by Gov. Schwarzenegger to a ceremonial bill signing of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). This landmark legislation will significantly help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Prior to the signing, I attended a press conference with Susan Jordan of California Coastal Protection Network, Malibu Mayor Kearsley and Malibu Councilmember Stern exposing the dangers of the proposed BHP Billiton Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG”) terminal. The Malibu City Council has strongly opposed the 14-story high terminal since 2004 because it will wreak havoc with the environment and increase greenhouse gas emissions.
When I arrived at the governor’s event, Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director of Governor Schwarzenegger’s staff, asked me to remove my “No LNG” button. I initially refused, but was reminded that the event was by invitation only, and I would not be allowed in if I didn’t take it off. I reluctantly removed it. She also asked my son to take off his T-shirt that had a red line through a picture of the BHP LNG terminal (which looks like an ‘oil platform on steroids’) and read, “Dear Governor, Terminate LNG.” He refused. I explained that it was the only shirt he had, and she reluctantly allowed us to enter.
While I met with dignitaries inside, my son went outside with his baby-sitter. When he came back, I noticed that the baby-sitter had taken her LNG T-shirt off and had put it inside out over my son’s LNG T-shirt. I asked why. She explained that my son was again asked to remove his shirt and turn it inside out. He refused (10 times to be exact), so she placed her shirt over his shirt.
Why was the governor afraid of a 5-year-old’s T-shirt? Perhaps it is because he knows in his heart that the right thing to do for his children, and all children is to veto the LNG terminal, but the lobbyists and other special interests are telling him otherwise. Let’s hope Gov. Schwarzenegger will be strong enough to say “no” to the big oil/gas interests and to stand up for what is right.
Pamela Conley Ulich
Malibu City Councilmember