Divorcing Mother Nature

The rising divorce rate doesn’t affect just the family– apparently, it takes a toll on the environment as well. According to a study published Monday at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, to lessen the toll humans are taking on the earth, it's better for people to stay together.

“A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household,” said Jiangua Liu, who authored the study. Liu, an ecologist at Michigan State University, explains households with more people sharing space are more efficient than those with less-– for example, a refrigerator uses the same amount of power whether there is one person using it, or three.

Two households forming from the split of one married household simply doubles the amount of land, water, and energy consumption and usage. Liu calculates divorced households add an extra $6.9 billion in utility costs, as well as an added $3.6 billion for water.

The study stresses it isn’t condemning divorce, as Liu adds that “some people really need to get divorces.” It just aims to show that living with other people reduces the impact of humans on environmental resources.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DIVORCE_ENVIRONMENT?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=SCIENCE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

A sinking feeling

One morning in Papa New Guinea, the ocean tide came in much higher than anyone had ever expected.

“I don’t know,” said Filomena Taroa when asked about what had happened. She had led her grandkids to higher ground the avoid the water that day. “I’d never experienced it before.”

This is only one of many reports that have been coming in from shorelines around the world. It’s tangible proof of how global warming is affecting us.

A handful of these villagers are going to travel to Bali, Indonesia this week to the U.N. climate conference. They want something done about their coasts and the effect that global warming is making, which is appearing all too real for them.

At the meeting, research group Global Governance Project will propose an international fund for climate refugees.

The ocean’s rising level appears to be rapidly increasing. Between 1993 and 2003, the U.N. climate-science network measured the seas to have risen globally one inch every 10 years; in a study done last year, oceanographers found the sea in parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans, to have risen almost one inch per year.

As the ocean creeps up onto the shoreline, islands are getting smaller and lands are becoming flooded. Ursula Rakova is one of those islanders suffering from the travesty: “We don’t have vehicles, an airport. We’re merely victims of what is happening with the industrialized nations emitting ‘greenhouse gases.’ Rakova lives on the Carteret atoll near Bougainvilla island.

There, villagers depend on the taro root as one of their food staples–so far, the saltwater has ruined their taro gardens. It has also contaminated the well water system. They are now suffering from chronic hunger. In response, the national government presented $800,000 to some families on the island–however, that left 3,000 other islanders empty-handed.

“That’s not enough,” Rakova said.




http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16754919

Penguins aren't enjoying the cruise

The effects of a diesel fuel spill off the coast of Antarctica that happened one month ago may still be hazardous. The accident’s location intersects with the migratory path of several penguin breeds in the area, said Maria Jose Rosello, a Chilean marine biologist. She names the area as a breeding grounds for Antarctic, Adelia and Papua penguins.

The spill may also affect other organisms in the area. Veronica Vallejos, director of the scientific department at the Chilean Antarctic Institute, said the area is a high biodiversity zone, so the danger is even higher for the habitants. Those in danger include sea lions, fish, seals, krill, algae and plankton colonies, which are all integral to the area’s food chain.

The spill occurred when The Explorer, a cruise ship on a 19-day long trip off the coast of Antarctica, hit ice. Onboard were 50,000 gallons of diesel, 6,300 gallons of lubricant and 260 gallons of gasoline.

Diesel oil continues to flow from the ship, which has already sunken 4,800 feet into the ocean.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fg-penguins2dec02,1,4768397.story?coll=la-news-environment&ctrack=1&cset=true

Riding into the future

It won’t quite be Disneyland, but this month at events like the International Electric Vehicle Symposium, attendees will be able to go on rides in over two dozen alternative-fuel vehicles. Features of these events include hydrogen fuel cell-power SUVs and solar paneled hybrid cars. Besides the car demonstrations, the symposium will have panel discussions and seminars. Some topics they’ll wrestle with are battery technology and fuel-cell development.

Additionally, next Saturday (Dec. 8) will be the first annual Renewable L.A. festival. There, event-goers can ride in or drive (it depends on which car) more alternative-fuel vehicles. There won't be any Deloreans, but they’ll have a Volkswagen Jetta powered by biodiesel oil present, along with a Prius equipped with rooftop solar panels.

Planners want to “raise awareness of solar electricity as a clean renewable energy source and to raise awareness of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles,” said Zan Dubin Scott, one of the event organizers.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-nutsbolts1dec01,1,7234658.story?coll=la-news-environment

Seeing red

In recent weeks, about 600 birds have been stranded onshore in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Scientists blame it on the red tide.

The red tide is an algal bloom that has been circulating in the bay at the same time these birds have been found ashore. It’s common in Monterey at this time of year. Scientists also say that such red tides are becoming more frequent and serious worldwide; they link this to climate change, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Either directly or as a byproduct, red tides produce a protein which scientists believe stick to the birds’ feathers and make them incapable of keeping themselves dry and warm. This would force the birds to leave the water in which they live and feed off of.

Dave Jessup, a state Department of Fish and Game veterinarian, said birds hurt by the red tide include loons and pelicans. 70 of these birds have died, and 530 have been taken to rescue centers, where their feathers are cleaned. Fish and marine mammals, however, seem to be unaffected.

Jessup also said that the red tide is likely to stay in the area until it is pushed out by a major weather system. Until then, the algal bloom may continue to injure birds.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov30/0,4670,RedTideBirds,00.html

The garden of good and evil

Terrachoice, an environmental marketing firm, says it found 1,018 products making eco-conscious claims, and that all but one of those products committed what they have marked as the “Six Sins of Greenwashing.”

“There were examples of shampoos that claimed to be certified organic, yet when we investigated and tried to find any sort of evidence of certification, we found none,” said Scot Case, a member of Terrachoice.

These are the ‘sins’ as follows:

The hidden tradeoff: This suggests a product is “green” based on very few factors, while potentially ignoring other environmental issues (for example, paper products that have recycled content but still have produce air and water emissions).

No proof: Products that lack certification of their “greenness” from a reliable and easy-to-access source (for example, energy efficient household lighting).

Vagueness: Claims that are too broad for consumers to understand properly (labels like, “All natural.” There are even poisons that are natural.)

Irrelevance: Making environmental claims that are unhelpful or unimportant for consumers (for example, CFC-free products...although CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons, have been legally banned for three decades).

Lesser of two evils: When the label of “green” is placed on a product that, although may be “organic,” is still a product that as a whole, is questionable in its effect on the environment (organic cigarettes).

Fibbing: Outright false statements (Terrachoice found a detergent claiming to be packaged in “100% recycled paper” although it was wrapped in plastic).

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16754919

Putting the 'eco' in decor

Columnist Arianna Huffington said it:

“It’s been a great transition: Hollywood has gone from the capital of conspicuous consumption to the cutting edge of conspicuous conservation.”

But when you’re watching Ryan Seacrest pronounce the Emmy Awards as an eco-friendly event while he’s surrounded by burning klieg lights, things can get a little confusing.

“I started to think about all this stuff because I’d be going to events and the invitation would be printed with the words, ‘This is a green event!’” said conceptual event designer David Stark. He has worked high-visibility events for some of the nation’s elite organizations and celebrities. “There’d be burlap tablecloths and green lighting – and I don’t mean fluorescent bulbs, but the color green – and somebody would stand up and say, ‘Change starts here!’ and I’d think, you’ve got to be kidding.”

Stark was then commissioned to take reigns in designing the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s awards gala. “I wondered how that stuff could be more thoughtful," he said. "And then the artist in me wanted to present a commentary, not just a solution.”

Stark had the museum shred six months’ worth of their office paper, which he combined with papers from his own office and personal tax returns. Those 6,000 pounds of paper were then transformed into giant chandeliers and topiaries resembling those of Versailles’ gardens.

Stark was also concerned with what to do with such decor after events. Two years ago, the Costume Institute’s party for Chanel was decorated by artist David Monn. Afterwards, the 7,000 gardenias and 25,000 pounds of boxwood used for the event “went into the Dumpster,” said Monn. Making the effort to create environment-friendly decorations seems redundant when it is just thrown in the trash the morning after.

Simon Doonan, the creative director of Barneys New York, has also taken a genuinely earth-conscious approach to decor this year. This month’s holiday storefront windows feature mosaics using recycled products like soda cans.

“You can do this stuff at home. You can go gold with decaffeinated Diet Coke, and there’s lots of blue and silver in drinks like Pepsi and Red Bull. You can make wreathes out of old silver pot scrubbers,” Doonan said, giving insight on the do-it-yourself phenom.

If you're design-savvy enough, you just may be able to save yourself a trip to the store and your wallet by reaching for your garbage can.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/garden/29eco.html?_r=2&ref=environment&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Gore vs. Bush... again? Not quite

President George W. Bush and former vice president Al Gore had, according to Gore, a “very cordial” meeting in the Oval Office, one that seems unexpected when you consider the 2000 presidential election and its searing political aftermath involving the two.

"He was very gracious in setting up the meeting,” Gore said of the encounter. “It was a very good and substantive conversation.”

The two often stand on opposing viewpoints, most notably for everyone’s favorite topic– global warming. “Of course we talked about global warming–the whole time,” Gore said.


But this meeting wasn’t for hardballing–it’s an Oval Office tradition for U.S. Nobel Peace Prize winners to visit before the ceremonies take part. On Dec. 10 in Oslo, Gore will be one of the honorees awarded with a Prize. Gore’s attempts to push the changing climate upwards the global agenda will be recognized that evening, along with those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said Bush invited Gore as a “friendly and neighborly thing to do.”

“We have a great tradition in this country of political rivals being able to put the past behind them and to work together for the benefit of the American people,” Perino also said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-gore27nov27,1,1054613.story?coll=la-news-environment

Christmas tree-huggers

When the holiday season intersects with the year’s rising gone-green awareness, the topic of environmentally-PC Christmas trees is there on the radar.

No longer does choosing a Christmas tree have to get riddled down to looks alone– consumers can now also choose how “green” it is. And this isn’t just about whether the needles are hunter green, or emerald green– there’s now a system that can help people identify whether or not their tree has been grown under certain environmental standards.

The Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers has set an inspection process that tree farms may go through to test their growing methods–these include water and soil conservation practices. Although the trees are not organic, the inspections can help crack down on concerns like pesticide usage.

Coalition co-founder Joe Sharp cites education as one of the driving forces behind the organization.



“Now when consumers buy a tree, they can be sure that the tree was grown with the best intentions for the environment in mind,” he said.

The coalition’s members are three large Oregon growers who altogether harvest over 2 million trees yearly. Over a dozen other tree growers are waiting to join, and the coalition hopes to take their system nationwide.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004032648_greentrees24e.html

The long and windy road to solve energy production

A turbine blade towering 400 feet into the air turns as a 30-mile-per-hour wind powers its movement through the sky; it is one in a field of turbines resting in the channel separating Sweden and Denmark. The field, a $280 million wind park built by Swedish power company Vattenfall, can generate enough power to light 60,000 nearby homes.



As promising as it sounds, however, wind parks like these are no longer considered a smooth solution to producing ecologically sound power. They are now coming under scrutiny by energy experts.

The wind is incapable of always correlating with people’s demands for electricity, and for the coasts where energy is most needed, turbine fields would need to be located much closer. This doesn’t fly so well for places like the United States where the best breezes are caught mid-country.

Denmark, Europe’s pioneer of wind energy, has experienced a drop in wind farm growth. Ireland had to postpone connecting their wind farms to the electricity grid because of power surge strains in 2003. And in the United States, residents of areas chosen as wind park sites continue to protest their construction, often for aesthetic reasons. One of these sites is located in Nantucket Sound, where it has drawn protests from even the Kennedy family.

“The environmental benefits of wind are not as great as its champions claim. You’ve still got to have backup sources of power, like coal-fired plants,” said Euan C. Blauvelt, the research director of ABS Energy Research from London.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/business/23wind.html?pagewanted=2&ref=environment

Are fees a good thing, or are they making matters worse?

A new fee has been implemented to those involved with recreational boating. About $1,500 worth of fees that is. This new fee is an environmental fee. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls it an "effluent discharges incidental to normal operation of vessels."

The whole thing was passes to prevent damage to domestic waters from foreign marine species that cargo tankers and cruise ships carry on board, but since smaller recreational boats also contribute to the problem, they can be fined too. Even sailboats with automatic bilge pumps can be smacked with a fee.

There are nearly 1 million recreational boats registered in California, and Congress is planning on making alot of money of these boat owners. The question being asked is, is the fee being implemented for profit, or to help the environment?

Sen. Barbara Boxer said that, "Recreational boating and sport fishing should be allowed to continue as they always have."

“Every time you exhale, you're polluting the air. How crazy do we want to get?” said Purdon, who was appointed to the California Boating and Waterways Commission by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Is putting fees on boats to save the environment a good thing, or are the fees just making matters worse because California generates almost $2 billion in revenue from boat and accessory sales a year.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071119/news_1n19boaters.html

Surfers call it Kill the Spill

Darin Rosas, a local of San Francisco and a computer network security engineer unknowingly began a journey into the leader of a huge cleanup movement. He was frustrated by how slow the government was taking to clean up this catastrophe that was polluting his beloved coastlines, so he and his surfer buddies risked arrest and hit the sand.

"It was all very hush-hush at first, under the radar," said Rosas, 33. "We were worried about getting arrested."
Officials could arrest them because they said it is unsafe for unprofessionals, but after they were sorounded by volunteers from all over the Bay Area they admitted that they couldn't clean up the spill alone and accepted their help.

"This groundswell has been unprecedented," said Steve Edinger of the California Department of Fish and Game. "We've never seen people who wanted to clean oil off a beach."

Companies from all over donated supplies, and even breakfast for all the volunteers. People even donated their old running shoes for the locals who showed up in flip flops. Four hour seminars are being held to teach them how to be safe when cleaning the beach and animal control started gathering up all the oily birds that were almost dead.


Another man who lives close to an affected beach said he was trying to do the right thing, and is now facing federal charges because he "entered an emergency area and did not obey an order to leave."

So the Kill the Spill volunteers when a step farther, they started where white Tyvek suits and latex glove there were donated, not only to keep safe, but look more professional and less likely to be bothered by authorities. They are using "hair mats" to mop up the mess, which is hair collected from barbers and sewn into 1-foot square pads.

They are still in the process of cleaning up but have made remarkable progress, some of the beaches they have cleaned are even on the verge of re-opening.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-killspill18nov18,1,6301968.story?page=2&track=rss

Coal is driving China, and global warming.

With global warming on the horizon, there may be some fossil fuels that are bringing it closer, and its the dirtiest fossil fuels of them all, coal.

Coal is cheap and plentiful and is powering the rising economies of Asia. It accounts for 77 percent of China’s power, and has become the hardest obstacle to battle concerning global warming.

“It is the crack cocaine of the developing world,” experts are saying. It is too good to give up for a lot of the less rich, less concerned about global warming countries.

CO2 emissions from coal have more than doubled since 2000 to more than 2.7 billions tons a year. China has built 603 coal0fired generators, which is around 64 percent of the generators in the world. India has also built about 133.

Michael Wara, a Stanford University researcher who studies the emerging markets for greenhouse gases, said: “In 20 years, if India and China aren’t on board, the game is lost.”

And it doesn’t look like they will be onboard anytime soon because more generators are being built and more coal shipped in.

Leon E. Clarke, an economist at the Joint Global Change Research Institute at the University of Maryland said that “unlike conventional oil and gas, it can be treated as virtually inexhaustible over the coming century.”

China is expected to move ahead of the U.S. and be first in the world’s total carbon emissions. India is also going to speed past Russia into third.


http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-coal18nov18,1,6286911.story?page=2&cset=true&ctrack=1&coll=la-news-science

Ford is going green.

Ford Motor Co., being the last of the big motor companies to go green, will give 20 plug-in hybrids to Southern California Edison power company by December to help test the vehicles' commercial viability, Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said today.

These models can be recharged at home, take less power to charge, and can run on electricity longer than an average hybrid. Ford, although short on details is making a step in the right direction. Along side their hybrids, they plan to improve fuel economy by 10 to 20 percent without compromising performance.

They are now testing 20 fuel-cell vehicles in seven cities, and are making no promises to their costumers because they say that it isn’t smart to lead people on if they aren't sure they can deliver.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-autoshow15nov15,1,7641658.story?coll=la-news-environment&ctrack=1&cset=true

Even the unborn are suffering from pollution.

Fetuses are now showing signs that they aren't liking the pollution problem in America. The environment can cause changes in a fetus that alcohol, smoking and drug use have been known to cause.

More than a dozen studies have been done that show levels of air pollutants found in urban areas have been recognized and linked to low birth weight, stillbirth and intrauterine growth retardation. It can also impair lung function will the fetus is in the womb, and can cause things like asthma, which can affect the fetus into their grown lives.

"Fetal life and early infancy are now recognized as periods of remarkable susceptibility to environmental hazards," says Dr. David Barker, a British researcher who is widely credited with recognizing the link between low birth weight and later cardiovascular disease.

Some have even found that the environment effects on a fetus can affect their children and their children’s children.

"That means what your grandmother was exposed to could affect your health today," says Jerry Heindel, a biochemist and scientific program administrator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. "That is what makes this so scary. The data is so scanty at this time that we don't know how strong that is. If it turns out to be true, it could be very important."



It seems as though pregnant women have so much to fear while pregnant, like touching the wrong thing or painting their toenails, and now the environment is a global issue and it is affecting their babies too. It is scaring mothers-to-be to the point where they almost don't want to leave the house, and just sit by their air purifier until the baby is born.

Doctors aren’t trying to scare women; they are just trying to inform the public about the possibilities.


http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-fetal12nov12,0,2140947.story?page=1&track=mostemailedlink

Mayors, mayors, and more mayors are all about green cities.

Around 100 mayors attended a two-day Climate Protection Summit at the United States Conference of Mayors on November 2, all showing a lot of support for a new idea...cities going green. Meaning, cities would be centered on public transit, and built to a higher standard of energy efficiency that will save money and create a greener way of living.

A downside, it is hard to convince voters that going green is good, and that the mayors themselves aren't crazy.

"This is one of those things you do in your last term in office," John Robert Smith, the mayor of Meridian, Miss. said, "because they'll be sure you've lost your mind."

“You just can’t say we need to reduce global warming because there will be floods and polar bears will be gone,” said Mayor Douglas H. Palmer of Trenton, president of the Conference of Mayors. “They’ll run me out of town.” And instead of saying things like that, he has taken a more human approach by relating it to the voters, like their children’s asthma and new things like "green collar jobs" in which they will install solar panels and things of that nature.

New ideas are being thrown all over the place for a green way of living but one thing is for sure though, this conference made it clear that cities have to take up the slack in which the Bush administration has left when it comes to fighting global warming, even if it is a tough notion.

More than 700 mayors have signed a petition of reduce their cities' emissions of carbon dioxide and other dangerous gases, but it was never ratified.

Working towards more environmentally sound ways of living is going to be expensive and a seriously extensive process, but these mayors showed that they are willing to at least talk about it, which is a step further than the president.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/03/us/03mayors.html?ref=opinion

Global Warming is Getting Serious

National and world leaders are now considering global warning as the No. 1 threat to the planet, and the federal government is not responding to the cries for help.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sued the Bush administration on Thursday because they are not giving California permission to tighten up on standards for automakers in his attempt to curb global warming.

"We are now ready to implement the nation's cleanest standards for vehicle emissions, and we cannot do that, of course, until the federal government gives us a waiver," Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol news conference. "Our health and our environment are too important to delay any longer."

Schwarzenegger has been waiting for almost two years for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to give him the go ahead to proceed with his plan.

The urgency to move forward is a much needed one. The climate change has been the cause of the droughts in California in 2006 and 2007. It was also responsible for the record rains two years earlier. The changes have been dramatic and have not gone unnoticed.

The governor says he is willing to "sue and sue agian" until California gets permission. Global warming is definitley getting serious.




http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-warm9nov09,1,3860.story?coll=la-news-environment&ctrack=2&cset=true

Jay Leno is going green.

Jay Leno is making a difference…even if it is a small, expensive one.

The comedian drives a different car everyday (ya, he has that many) and he gets a lot of flack for not being kind to the environment, but in reality, he is doing much more than most environmentalist could even dream of.

After getting sick of the critics, he decided to do something about it.
“There are people who say, ‘Well, you should sell all your cars and ride your bicycle. No. I’m not going to do that, but what else can I do?”

What else can he do indeed, and how will he do it? He’s got a lot of money, thats how. He has a 54-kilowatt solar-power system installed on the top of his 17,000 square foot garage that holds his 150-vehicle collection. On an average day, he generates 33 kilowatts. That’s enough electricity to run the air conditioning, overhead lights, and his power tools with enough to return some power to the city.


Although Leno believes in global warming, he knows some people don’t. He put it lightly that his “thing with the green situation is: Even if you don’t believe in global warming, don’t you want to screw the oil company or gas company of utility company?”

In addition to the solar panels, he has a wind turbine on his roof, and many other systems inside the garage that are designed to reduce toxic waste. He uses eco-friendly part cleaner that uses microbes to eat away the grease and grime. Yep, biodegradable.


He admits that what he does is expensive, around half a million to be exact, but he thinks that if people like him test out new ways to help the environment it will become more affordable to everyday households.

So thanks Leno, more rich people need to be like you.



http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/highway1/la-hy-throttle7nov07,1,53312.story?ctrack=3&cset=true

Nothing but "eco-education" here!

Some 325 people are really making the environment their main focus, and I mean living, breathing, entire college education kind of focus.

The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, founded in 1969 is a college with only one major, and no departments. That major is human ecology, with only one required course.

“The core of human ecology is real simple,” says David F. Hales, president of the college. “Individual humans exist in a natural and cultural environment, and human ecology is the study of how we relate to those environments.”

The college plans to become the nation's first campus to become "net zero," with absolutely no greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the year. They also say that by 2015, all the activities they partake in will be from renewable resources.

The classes usually have from five to 15 students, and are all about encouraging large-scale brainstorming. Although small and out of the box, this school shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is even listed in The Princeton Review’s “Best 366 Colleges.”

Everything, and I mean everything is environmentally friendly at the College of Atlantic. From biodiesel in the tractors and generator to organic farm and zero-waste graduation ceremonies, and even composting toilets are being discussed regularly.

One teacher said that, "we teach students that individuals can make a difference, and that if you have the opportunity to make a difference, you have the responsibility. We believe that, so we have to act on it.”

This isn’t the only college going green, there are almost a dozen "eco-colleges" across the country, and with the growing concern and more advocates of a greater environment there have been a growing number or applicants. There is even a N.C.A.A Division III athletic school, Northland, the only one of its kind, founded near Lake Superior in 1906.

A senior student, Ashlesha Khadse, described her major, human ecology, as “a way of looking at things and also a way of acting.” To these students, this really is a way of life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/lewin-atlantic.html?_r=2&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fE%2fEnvironment&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Building Green, And Afordable

Carlisle Development Group is a privately held developer based in Miami and is trying to open "green" construction to housing designed for low-income people.

As we all know, environmentally friendly construction is expensive and aimed at the high end of the housing market.


To the right is Matt Greer, chief executive at Carlisle, and he oversees a property management division that includes 7,500 apartment units.

This sophisticated 29-year-old says "Carlisle is using environmentally friendly features in developments that include a 200-unit rental project for the Broward County Housing Authority and a 100-unit project for the nonprofit Camillus House, in an historic building in downtown Miami."

When dealing with green projects, it typically costs more to develop. However Greer and other real-estate industry believe that these costs can be offset over time by the buildings' increased sustainability and energy savings.

Wall Street Journal Online did an interview with Greer on the strategies on "Going Green" and here is a piece from the interview.

WSJ.com: What specifically are you doing to make your buildings "green"?



MR. GREER: It involves a lot of things... There are people who come in a inspect the air and lighting and tune all of the settings so they are tuned for the most efficiency. For example, making sure the size of the air-conditioning unit is suited for the size of the room.
We're also diverting construction waste from dumps so that in can be reused. Ten percent of the materials we use are recycled waste; instead of hardwood, in many cases we use [wood shavings based particle board.] All the hardwoods we use are certified hardwood. We use low emitting materials in our carpets, paints, sealants. Some studies have found that these types of materials in the home can emit toxins. We install bike racks, and we petition to have bus stops moved near our properties. Then there are the water requirements, putting in low-flush toilets, which use .6 to 1.2 gallons per flush, and more efficient shower heads and kitchen sinks.

Chasta Nechvatal
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119344215484373464.html

NBC Universal to run on green synergy

This week, NBC Universal will be environmentally themed across all of its programming outlets.

A few programs that will be taking part in this eco-friendly cause are:

• "NBC Nightly News"which will dedicate each weeknight to an environmental topic
• MSNBC will target on the politics of green
• On the season premiere of "Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County," eco-friendly pop-ups will be featured Tuesday at 10pm
• CNBC will be exploring investing opportunites in the green movement
• "The Singing Bee" which is hosted by Joey Fatone, will have contestants singing songs about the Earth and the environment on Tuesday at 8pm
• "Deal or No Deal" will have the 26 sexy models making their entrance pedaling bikes and wearing dresses recylced from Army surplus parachutes AND Kermit the Frog will make an appearance from "It's Not Easy Bein' Green" fame.
• On "Life," Det. Charlie Crews has a dream about solar panels, which starts him thinking about buying a solar farm. That airs Wednesday at 10pm.
• On "Las Vegas," Delinda realizes the Montecito casino should be doing more to support the eco cause. (Friday at 10pm)
• "30 Rock" will push its corporate green initiative and poke fun at its excesses all at the same time.
• On this sitcom, they will have an act on a make-believe variant of NBC, with the network executive coming up with this fabulous idea of creating a green mascot named Greenzo. (Thursday at 830pm)

Television being one of the most fastest ways to communicate with others, NBC Universal has discovered a way to support the cause through their programs.

These favorite programs will attract a broad audience on the importance of the green cause.

-Chasta Nechvatal

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-weektv5nov05,1,1507544.story

Hawaii Kai, Mililani Try Curbside Recycling Pickup

In East Honolulu, the curbside recycling project began Saturday morning with high participation of thousands of Hawaii Kai residents going green.

"The participation rate seems to be well. The promising thing is you see a lot of homes only with the green, so you know they are trying to do without that second day of refuse pickup," said Department of Environmental Services employee Ken Shimizo.

In January, the city cuts regular refuse pick-up in Hawaii Kai from twice a week to once a week.

However, after the first day of curbside recycling, residents began to see the difference and forgot about the cutback.

"This is much better. We don't have piles on the street, and we don't have to go to the recycling center anymore," resident Penny Sing said. "We all want to do something that can make things better in our community, and recycling is a major way to do that."

If one were to walk around Hawaii Kai, they would see green bins overflowed with branches, shrubs, and palms.

The green waste project has been a success with minor issues. The city said it will try the recycling project for a year in both Hawaii Kai and Mililani before deciding whether curbside recycling should go island wide.
Chasta Nechvatal
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21622761/

A 'green' solution for a parched, car-crazy region

Lisa and Jeff Peri, developers of Green Earth Waterless Car Wash spray, became entrepreneurs during their pursuit of cleaning products that were safe to use around their chemically sensitive daughter.

After 5 months with the waterless vehicle-spraying wash, they have been able to attract customers such as a major local hospital and California's biggest Lexus dealers, which they describe their product as environmentally gentle.

The Peris' Inglewood company, which currently goes by the name of its fragrance-free cleaner, also markets a few related products and sometimes will send its employees to wash cars.

The entrepreneurs are looking to attract buyers who are sensitive to chemicals in cleaners or concerned about drought, given that washing a car at home uses 80 to 140 gallons of water and running it through a carwash uses 20 to 45 gallons of water.

"We feel like we are doing something life-changing for other people," said Lisa Peri, 36.

To begin their business, Lisa's parents donated a substantial sum, and the Peris raided their own savings, reaching a total about $100,000.

"I don't know if that's impressive, or just crazy," Lisa said. "We feel an insane amount of responsibility. We have to succeed."

However, the problem is now trying to convince the public that it'a possible to spray a little liquid onto their cars and then wipe the dirt away without scratching off the paint.

They Peris's did a demonstration on a late-model Lexus showing that the liquid acts as a surfactant, lifting, suspending and encapsulating the dirt, which can then be wiped off, leaving a carwash finish and sheen.

"You're not giving up anything and you're still getting a clean car, and saving the water means it works for people on a number of different levels," Jeff said.

Chasta Nechvatal

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-carwash1nov01,1,4374842.story

Anaheim Succeeds with Trees

In the Anaheim Newsletter, the city of Anaheim reached its goal in planting 3,000 trees in 2007 and donating four orange trees to the brand new Orange Grove Elementary.

A year ago, the City celebrated the milestione of the 300,000th tree planted in the courtyard next to City Hall.

With the celebration of Anaheim's 150th anniversay, it's a succeeding goal the city has accomplished since Mayor Curt Pringle's address in January. Prior to this year, Anaheim's Public Utilitie's TreePower Program has planted 2,100 shade trees.


“TreePower is based on the idea that the right tree, strategically planted in the right place, will create shade for homes and buildings, and reduce energy used for air conditioning,” said Lon Cahill, Anaheim Public Utilities Board chairman. “However, the community benefits from much more than trees and energy savings. We’re pleased to be able to make a difference for the current and future students of Orange Grove Elementary.”

TreePower underwent a program expansion this year in which single-family homes are eligible to receive up to six free trees and are also entitled to one free citrus or avocado tree within program guidelines.

The TreePower Program, a joint energy-efficiency effort of the City’s Utilities and Community Services Departments, offers free shade trees to homes, schools, nonprofit/religious institutions and businesses.

Residents can sign up for a free landscape audit, allowing them to receive up to six free shade trees. The landscape audit is designed to help the residents select shade trees that are most suitable for their home’s landscape. Following the audit, TreePower will deliver the trees and planting supplies to the home or organization.

With these shade trees, plus the 30,000 planted in the program’s prior years, air-conditioning costs can be reduced by as much as 10 to 40 percent. At maturity, the trees will save 2.2 million kWhs (or enough energy to power 384 households for a full year), in addition to removing over 186 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

For more information about TreePower and the shade trees, please call (714) 491-TREE or visit http://www.anaheim.net/.

Going naturally into the hereafter

Some cemeteries are requiring eco-friendly burials, including such things as biodegradable caskets.

It's the ultimate recycling.

"No embalming, no vault and you have to use a biodegradable casket if you use one at all," said Kimberly Campbell, vice president of Memorial Ecosystems Inc., which operates the Ramsey Creek cemetery in rural South Carolina.

In 1998, Campbell's physician husband opened a cemetery that kicked off the contemporary green burial movement in the U.S. This cemetery allows grave makers.

However, it is not permitted in natural burial sections of Forever Fernwood in Mill Valley, Calif.

The cemetery near San Francisco is like an electronic scavenger when locating the grave of a departed loved one.

"We issue the family a Google map with the GPS coordinates," said Jay Boileau, executive vice president of Forever Enterprises, owner of the 32-acre facility.

Fernwood Cemetery was traditonally a normal burial but all the burials there now have to go natural. The plots currently sell for about $6,000 on the low end and go up to about $9,000, depending on the burial location.

"Your last act of life," Boileau said, "becomes one of land preservation."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-greendeath28oct28,1,4647439.story?ctrack=3&cset=true

Myspace releases "green" book

MySpace and HarperCollins are collaborating on an Environmental Book,which has a release set for Earth Day.

MySpace is currently the world's sixth most popular English-language website and the sixth most popular website in any language, and the third most popular website in the United States.

On April 22, Earth Day, the online network will collaborate with a children's imprint of HarperCollins on an environmental handbook.

"How great it is to launch a partnership with a company with as large an influence as MySpace on such an important topic," said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins.

"MySpace has entire online communities, such as the Impact Channel and OurPlanet, dedicated solely to environmental and social causes," Tom Anderson, co-founder and president of MySpace, said.

"The first MySpace book is just one more way we are working to engage the MySpace community in environmental issues and encourage people to take action."

A paperback original will be written by freelance jounalist Jeca Taudte and will soon be called Myspace/Our Planet: Change is Possible.

The book will be about 160 pages and cost about $12.95. A first printing of 200,000 is planned.
The book will feature ideas from MySpace users, who through Nov. 7 can post environmental tips on http://www.myspace.com/ourplanet.

The contributers suggestions will be woven into the book, either it be a sentence or a paragraph. However, they will not be paid, but will be credited by their usernames and geographic location.

The main idea of this book is that teenagers are not only contributing , but are also being provided a blueprint on how to help the environment.

As environmental issues become more aware throughout the community, myspace is a great way for people to take action.

-Chasta-
http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2207932,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=3768306

Bedroom Done in Green

In the Home section of the LA Times, an interior designer by the name of Cory Pernicano mixes glam and green for a young Hollywood Home for the annual design showcase in West Hollywood.

Pernicano combines flashy installations from Fendi Casa and Minotte.

The bedroom is cool and crunchy, with walls finished in American Clay earth plaster and Kravet Green wallpaper wainscoting made from recycled bottles.

Designer Pernicano selected sustainable furniture from Cisco Home, including a driftwood floor lamp and a side table with a reclaimed teak top.

The designer added nearly 3 feet to the height of Cisco's Rowan wingback bed, upholstered in black cork fabric and available through Cory Pernicano Design, (323) 667-1390.

The free show, sponsored by Hollywood Life magazine, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 6 at the Pacific Design Center, 8786 Melrose Ave., Suite B219.

Starting from the bedroom is the first step to eliminating environmental issues. Pernicano made a statement that there are other materials that people can use for a more healthier and cleaner environment.

http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/home/la-hm-scoutyoung25oct25,1,2317181.story?ctrack=5&cset=true

California to sue EPA—next week

California's attorney genera with the support of governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had promised to sue the EPA this past Wednesday for a waiver allowing the state to enforce stricter vehicle emission laws passed in 2005.

They decided to postpone the suite because of the wildfires currently ravaging the southland.

Of the news outlets reviewed, the San Jose Mercury News had the shortest piece with Reuters having a slightly longer piece. The Associated Press ran a story early Monday morning stating the governor's promise to sue on Wednesday. I found it interesting that they kept the story intact, simply changed the first few paragraphs to include the new information on the suit's delay.

It made sense for the AP to keep the last paragraphs intact as they still contain current information; basically stating that the auto makers are filing a suit barring California from enforcing the stricter laws.

The AP: http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2007/10/23/california_postpones_epa_lawsuit/

REUTERS: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2335791120071024

San Jose Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7265527

Technorati tags: EPA, Schwarzenegger

Loss of elephant habitat

Six misbehaving wild elephants were electrocuted after drinking rice beer in India's remote north east.

A herd of 40 trespassed on a village in Meghalaya state where one of them broke a utility pole.

The elephants are known to have developed a taste for rice beer brewed by tribal communities and stored in outdoor in India's north east.

The story was treated in a very comical way by most news outlets; of the major American news outlets the Associated Press made the best attempt to keep composure and professionalism limiting itself to using the childish term "berserk."

The South African website News24.com used the absurd headline "Elephants die after beer binge" then quoting an activist describing what reads very much like a comical script. According to Google.com The Press Association used the headline "Jumbos' brew tragedy," again making fun of a serious matter.

BBC News took the most serious approach, treating the matter like the real environmental issue it is; also addressing the demise of these elephants' habitats.

-oScar

The Associated Press: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21432722/

News24.com: http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2207800,00.html

BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7058031.stm

Technorati tags: Asian elephants, rice beer

France

Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, has put environmental issues at the top of his newly elected agenda.

At a U.N. summit, Sarkozy urged developed countries to cut gases by 50 percent. Especially his new pal, George Bush.

some ideas:
-stickers on food packaging indicating how much carbon dioxide was emitted in making the product
-lowering speed limits on roads throughout France to encourage fuel efficiency
- charging households per pound of garbage they produce
-charging money to drive in big cities
- refitting historic mansions to make them more energy efficient

However, the AP reports France is more dependent on nuclear energy than any other nation and is behind in recycling and energy conservation.

Greenpeace has some issues with the proposed "ideas". As well as France's use of genetically modified food. Greenpeace feels that some of these actions are not enough. They think the use of genetically modified food should be completely banned, not just a "temporary freeze".

But the proposed year of change surprised me; 2050!

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GREENING_OF_FRANCE?SITE=KMOV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Today’s issue of the Daily 49er featured an air quality story by Roxanne Moreno as the main topic.

It uses a partial quote to describe the air quality as being in an unhealthy category, but the story fails to mention what this means, rendering the story meaningless without the reader going out of the way to research the topic.

The Long Beach Press Telegram also covered the issue, adding some more detail with data from the Port of Long Beach. However, the Press Telegram also used a vague and undefined term, “very unhealthy.”

Both stories failed to mention that the type of pollution in the Long Beach air is particle pollution that will mostly affect people who are predisposed to suffer breathing problems. They also failed to mention that the particle pollution levels are well above the federal standard.

This is a huge discrepancy on behalf of the news stories given that most air pollution issues circle around ozone and nitrous oxide—which causes smog and the most serious health problems—and the levels of both of these pollutants are well within normal.

-oScar

Daily 49er: http://media.www.daily49er.com/media/storage/paper1042/news/2007/10/23/News/Socal.Fires.Worsen.Long.Beach.Air.Quality-3049956.shtml
Press Telegram: http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_7258105
Port of Long Beach air quality data: http://polb.airsis.com/CurrentData.aspx

Leaning on green to bolster revenue

Many companies are turning to eco-friendlier production methods to attract customers.

A man by the name of Francisco Pinedo started making furniture as a teenager and became fascinated to make a little green.

In 2005, Pinedo's business, Cisco Bros. Corp. furniture company in Los Angeles, began producing a line of furniture that used only reclaimed or sustainable woods, organic textiles and natural padding materials. Even the detergent used to wash the fabrics is environmentally friendly.

"I was always close to the environment," said Pinedo, 45, who grew up in a Mexican village so remote that there was no electricity. "It was out of a conviction that I wanted to do this. And then I realized it was also a great niche."

As companies begin to look into more green products, they have seen in the last six months of cosumer interests in their goods.

"The environment is in the news every day," said Frederic Scheer, chief executive of Cereplast Inc., a Hawthorne business that makes plastic resin from agricultural products instead of the usual fossil fuels

Scheer was green from the beginning. He founded Cereplast in 2001 and brought on board a group of scientists who developed a process that used starches made from corn, wheat, potatoes and other agricultural products to produce plastic resin. Normally, the resin is made from fossil fuels and is cheaper to produce.

-Chasta Nechvatal

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ciscobiz23oct23,1,5475190.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Grocer pushes Earthy-friendly store design

Maine prides itself on environmental leadership.

State-owned buildings buy all their energy from renewable sources and state offices are heated by biodiesel.

Now a Maine-based grocery chain has announced plans for a state-of-the-art green supermarket.

Plants would be grown on part of the store's roof to add insulation and control storm water. It would also have photovoltaic panels to generate solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, high-efficiency refrigeration, energy-efficient lighting and an advanced recycling program.

These features are part of the reason that the supermarket, planned for Maine's capital, Augusta, would be the U.S. Green Building Council's first "platinum certified" green grocery store, said Ronald Hodge, Hannaford's chief executive.

"We can think of no better place for Hannaford to invest in a first-in-the-world environmental design," Hodge said.

Hannaford is part of an industry trend stretching well beyond America's borders, said James Carvin, editor of Supermarket Green News.

Hannaford, which is based in Scarborough, Maine, wants to build its store on the former site of Cony High School. Hodge cast it as "a research laboratory" for the company to test innovations that lower energy use, waste and water consumption.

However, the project would violate a 19th century trust agreement of Daniel Cony, who wanted the site limited only to educational uses. Therefore, a new high school has replaced the building that now stands vacant on the proposed market site.

The building in Maine would incorporate the latest in energy-saving technology. But neighbors fear traffic from shoppers and delivery trucks that the market would draw.

According to Manager Megan Hellstedt of Hannaford's environmental sustainability, it's estimated that the store would be 40% more energy-efficient than the industry standard.

And construction would be environmentally friendly too, says the company, which promises to exceed standards set by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council.

The company's goal was to recycle 95% of the building and its contents said Hellsteadt.

"We are leading by example," said Maine Gov. John Baldacci.

-Chasta Nechvatal

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ft-hannaford22oct22,1,927944.story

Homeland Security allowed to ravish homeland in name of security.

Homeland Security Secretary used powers given to him by the Real ID Act of 2005 to continue with construction of a wall through protected wildlife areas in Arizona

Yes, that's right! The Real ID Act of 2005 gives this man the power to disregard environmental laws to further this administration's goals, yet The New York Times completely overlooked this fact in its coverage.

Of the stories reviewed, the Associated Press' was the most complete with about 650 words.

The Phoenix Business Journal had the best lead, covering not only the who, what and where, but the why.

-oScar

AP: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21432742/
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/us/23fence.html?ref=science
Phoenix Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/10/22/daily20.html

Technorati tags: Homeland Security, immigration,

Science-Fiction or Science-Business?

Environmental business is still business. And now more than ever—business and companies are trying to get a solid grasp on the prosperous field.

Russ George is chief executive of Planktos—a company that thinks they have a solution to global warming, by dumping enough iron into the ocean to spur a growth of plankton that will then in turn ingest the carbon dioxide, while Planktos sells carbon credits to big businesses.

This month Planktos “plans to dissolve tons of iron…over 2.47 million acres” near the Galapagos Islands. The iron will cause plankton to bloom and the researches will calculate how much carbon dioxide is ingested. This is considered comparable to planting trees on land.

There still remains much debate over the idea

Pros:
-it is true that plankton, a natural carbon dioxide “eater”, will bloom due to the dissolution of iron
-inexpensive solution “The cost of offsetting carbon through these technologies is less than the cost of building solar panels or windmills,”—Daniel Kammen Professor at UC Berkley)
-it’s too easy!

Cons:
-obviously longer research is essential
-when the plankton is eaten, marine life releases some of the carbon back into the atmosphere. (Same effect with the decomposing of the plankton)
-when plankton blooms-methane and nitrous oxide could release, increasing greenhouse gases
-it’s too easy!

There has to be a catch. What happens when marine animals eat the plankton that probably has higher levels of iron than is natural? What about the idea that more gases are released? So many questions…

Planktos is not the only company vested in this idea either. Climos is another company that boasts legitimate scientists and future research as well.

But to the main point: “going green” has become a lucrative business for those that have the right plan. Possible government subsidies and big money might be speeding the process of finding alternatives to global warming and this worries some.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/business/01plankton.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15298749

Playing for the same team?

When it comes to environmental protection legislation, California often sets precedents for other state standards. Many of our politicians have been pro-active in environmental affairs, including our current governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

California has always received waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency that has allowed California to have stricter laws regarding pollution since the enactment of the Clean Air Act in the 1960s.

The EPA is now taking an extensive amount of time in determining whether waivers will be allotted to California. A decision is promised by the end of the year but a legal pursuit, by California, is allowed at the 180 day deadline which is this coming Monday.

The Supreme Court has officially ruled that carbon dioxide is a pollutant. California intends to do is cut emissions by 30 percent by 2016.

If an unfortunate decision does come true there could still be hope for California, conservationists or anyone that has any stake in the EPA to make a right decision.
“Two staffers on Capitol Hill, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Democratic members were looking at the possibility of getting Congress to override an unfavorable EPA decision, making it a global-warming and states'-rights test case” (MercuryNews.com)

The article gave no reason to why the EPA has let the decision come down to the wire:
“Democrats are worried that the lobbying efforts against the waiver by Bush administration transportation officials and the auto industry means that "the fix is in," as Rep. Henry Waxman of Los Angeles put it, and that the EPA will turn down the request.”

Upon some googling of the EPA, I found one basic EPA guideline to be very important: it is necessary to give scientific reason if the EPA chooses not to regulate an area.

On the EPA’s website:"The phrase 'climate change' is growing in preferred use to 'global warming' because it helps convey that there are changes in addition to rising temperatures."

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7222028?nclick_check=1

Environment for '08

You could call it an obvious choice—but presidential hopefuls call it an agenda. Or even better; a plan.

As the 2008 election rapidly descends upon us there is so much talk surrounding Medicare and Iraq but what about the environment.

Presidential candidates are now running on the “green ticket” reports NPR:
“Candidates who are out talking to the public all the time understand that this is an issue that the public wants to hear about," says Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters.

This is a far cry from last year’s mid term elections as supporting the environment was an issue that Democrats and Republicans were often in opposition on.

There is now a new website devoted to the candidates’ views on environmental issues: http://www.heatison.org/
Here are some statements taken from the candidates on the website. There are clearly two opposing sides but can there be one vision?
The Democrat
Hillary Clinton:
-changing our tax system to stop subsidizing oil
-“energy efficiency is an enormous underutilized energy resource”
- through legislation, there can be “strong targets, uses flexible, market-based mechanisms to get there, provides for investments in new energy technologies, and offsets impacts on low-income Americans."

The Republican
John McCain
-“The announcement today by a top U.S. business leader recognizes that our nation has both an obligation and self-interest in facing head-on the serious environmental, economic and national security threat posed by global warming”
-goal to pass legislation that creates “innovative, meaningful, and economically feasible” measures
-and “facilitate international measures to solve the problem”

Staying true to their party’s platforms—Clinton and McCain’s verbiage outlines where the two parties differ.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10840816

Japan-so hot right now!

I heard about this a while ago but I thought it was a really realistic and cool idea(no pun intended), in doing our part to fight global warming.

In Japan, a policy was implemented that has cut more than 2 million tons of greenhouse gases. Two years ago, the policy stoped men from wearing business suits in government agencies.

From a practical point, it makes complete sense; Cut down on the need for air-conditioning by dressing weather appropriate.

“Cool Biz” has inspired clothing companies to now create lighter attire that is more breathable. With the average thermostat at 82 degrees, you would definitely be inclined to buy such clothing. There is even a “cool biz” haircut!

There are unfortunately some realistic drawbacks to every “save the earth” campaign:
“Japan has pledged under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 6 percent below 1990 levels. Instead, emissions have grown 8 percent. The Cool Biz savings amount to 0.1 percent.”(NPR)
Still -- it is a start.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14024250

Local food becomes even more local

Vertical farming is being called an excellent alternative to feeding much of the world’s booming population(another 3 bill by 2050). It seems hard to imagine but it also seems worth looking into.

Bringing world expansion from “out to up” seems very logical as land becomes scarce. Professor Dickson Despommier, of Columbia University, cites one of the positives as disease elimination from crops and less transportation measures. For example: There are studies that show nursing mothers having jet fuel in their breast milk. Could a more isolated environment cut certain risks?

One of the drawbacks would be is the need for power to grow the crops. Some levels would need artificial sunlight some of the feeding would be done by machines. It seems as if maybe a reduction on machine reliance could open jobs.

Already in Arizona, Eurofresh Farms, a 265-acre greenhouse in Arizona, has done well. There is still more research needed in hopes of cutting down electrical consumption to grow the plants


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21154137/

Nobel Prize For a Noble Cause

Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth”. Most of the media has covered the news in one way or another.

The Wall Street Journal reported the news very objective—all the way to the end, when concluding that most of the Democrats have called for environmental action as well as two Republican candidates. The WSJ also had a precursor aricle to the announcement which quoted several news organizations on their adverse opinions if Gore won.

On MSNBC—there were quite a few articles devoted to the new Nobel recipient. They covered the story much better, giving attention to detail as to why he was chosen:
"His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change. He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted."
MSNBC also covered Gore’s not so greatest fans, for example:
"He's like the proverbial nut that grew into a giant oak by standing his ground," Patrick Michaels, a scholar with the free market Cato Institute, said in a statement. "We can only hope that he can parlay his prize into a run for the U. S. presidency, where he will be unable to hide from debate on his extreme and one-sided view of global warming."


It was also said that however happy President Bush was for Mr. Gore, Bush will not be calling to congratulate him on the award. I guess you cant win them all! Congratulations Mr. Gore and Thank You!


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119217994461357186.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2007/10/11/last-minute-fight-erupts-over-peace-prize/?mod=sphere_ts

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21262661/from/RS.1/

Poor China

Truly—in the name of having a stronger economy, China has taken much of the brunt work for cheap production and the massive conglomerates and private vendors it facilitates. China is considered one of the most polluted countries in the world (asiannews.com and numerous other webcites), with no help from the rest of us. However disputed, China has started taking serious precautions in order to compete in the global economy and survive.

China is now facing an issue of environmental relocation. This is not to say that economic reasons are not a part of the issue, just not a focus here. The Three Gorges Dam is for hydroelectric production, a renewable resource, and other benefits. Of course there are downfalls such as the probability that over farmed soil will create just more mud and sewage problems in still water (CNN). As well as the relocation of about 4 million people (MSNBC)—it was originally set at 1.3 million(CNN).

Communist China has little to no say on the fate of the dam, but the warning it screams is deafening. Could this be America’s fate if so much damage requires extensive environmental bandages?
But like everything it is hard to pass judgment when the gray area overshadows both options.

(photo: a boy whose family had been relocated)

http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/9711/04/china.dam.reut/
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3568
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21267562

A water crises...again?

No, no--it really never went away. As Southern California drains its water resources thoroughly, it's no wonder that the Metropolitan Water District wants to ration our water supply and raise prices.
Southern California residents do not conserve as much as they need to. Record dry winters have helped put us in the red zone, a drought compromises California's agriculture and our obscenely clean cars.
But there is some positive news: "Locally, Long Beach has taken the most radical action on water conservation. The city's water board has prohibited residents from watering their lawns during the day or more than three times a week. Residents cannot use water hoses to clean driveways, patios, sidewalks or other paved areas unless they use a pressurized broom device.Long Beach restaurants are barred from serving water unless diners expressly request" (LATimes.com)
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-water9oct09,1,1888237.story?coll=la-news-environment&ctrack=2&cset=true

Possible Nobel Prize

The term "Global Warming" became that of a household name after the Oscar-award documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth".That is not to say it wasn't widely known, but Al Gore and Hollywood have had a hand in commercializing the likelihood of irreparable future events. On October 12--it is anticipated that environmental activists, Al Gore and Shelia Watt-Cloutier, could win the Nobel Peace Prize (Yahoo News). "An award once reserved for statesmen, peacemakers and human rights activists"(Yahoo News)

Something to keep in mind "If a campaigner against global warming carries off the accolade, it will accentuate a shift to reward work outside traditional peacekeeping and reinforce the link between peace and the environment."(MSNBC)

If predictions are correct and the two environmental activists bring the $1.5 million home, it can only allude to one thing: The environment is taking precedence on the global scale.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21149448/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071005/wl_canada_nm/canada_nobel_peace_col_1

Vermont law challenged by automakers

In it's attempt to forge new vehicle emissions ground, the state of Vermont is facing suits from automakers, appealing a 240-page ruling allowing the state to regulate not not only mileage but also things like was produced by auto air conditioning.

The Wall Street Journal ran a typical easy-to-read long article with loads of details and data.

The Detroit News presented more of the automakers point of view earlier on in the story giving the whole piece a less-than neutral feel.

The Detroit News' second to last paragraph read:

In its defense, Vermont argued that the state's environment is at stake -- even the health of its storied maple syrup industry -- if automakers don't reduce greenhouse gas emissions. State officials also noted that since 1953, the average snowfall has declined by 15 percent and the period of snowfall on the ground yearly has declined by a week per year, harming skiing.


I found this to be a very amusing--almost childish way to handle the issue.

-oScar

The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119161822493850532.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071005/UPDATE/710050437

Technorati tags: auto industry, Detroit,

Gore's film approved for UK schools

A British judge has ruled that Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” is biased, but accompanied by a disclaimer stating so it may be shown in schools.

It was interesting to note the different leads used.

The Associated Press chose to place Gore’s name right at the very top:
“Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's Oscar-winning climate change docume…”

United Press International’s lead was by far the most news oriented”
“Schools in Britain can show "An Inconvenient Truth" but only after warning students that the film promotes partisan political views.”

The Daily Mail took a split path, using the former vice president’s name and getting right to the news:
“Schools will have to issue a warning before they show pupils Al Gore's controversial film about global warming, a judge indicated yesterday.”


I didn’t notice much bias in the reporting of this news, all three stories evaluated treated it as a straight-news item. The main differences were in the depth of coverage that was given.

-oScar

Associated Press:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/02/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Gores-Documentary.php

United Press International:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2007/10/03/teachers_to_warn_pupils_about_truth_bias/6597/

Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=485336&in_page_id=1811

Technorati tags: Al Gore, global warming, education