Welcome! "What's Happenin'?" is a casual community diary (a daily series, 8:30 AM Eastern on weekdays, 10 AM on weekends and holidays) where we hang out and talk about the goings on here and everywhere.
We welcome links to your writings here on dkos or elsewhere, posts of pictures, music, news, etc. Just about anything goes, but meta and pie fights are not welcome here. This is a community diary and a friendly, peaceful, supportive place for people to interact.
Everyone who wants to join in peaceful interaction is very welcome here.
|
Good Morning!
Autumn in Riley Park Neighbourhood, Vancouver BC
Drop in any time of day or night to say hello.
Hope on mid-Main Street, Vancouver BC, Canada
News & Information
State Deparment on Global Climate Change
The Bali Action Plan represents an important step in this global effort by recognizing that all countries that contribute to atmospheric emissions must undertake measurable, reportable, and verifiable mitigation actions in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The world community must work collaboratively to slow, stop, and reverse greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a way that promotes sustainable economic growth, increases energy security, and helps nations deliver greater prosperity for their people. As we move from Bali to Poznan to Copenhagen, the United States will continue to engage constructively to contribute to an agreed outcome on a post-2012 arrangement that is both environmentally effective and economically sustainable.
US Foreign Policy and the Environment 2007 - 2012
Bali, Indonesia Climate Change Conference, December 2007
Back from the brink
The main US beef was with China, emerging in 2007 as a global ecological phenomenon. It not only almost certainly overtook the US as the single biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it scoured developing countries for natural resources to fuel its industrial revolution. Last year, it used 48% of the world supply of cement, and while it has only four of the world's 100 largest cities, it has a number in the richest 100. It also has many of the most polluted on earth. The US demanded that it was only fair that it cuts its own emissions, even if, on a per capita basis, the 1,200 million Chinese emit only a quarter of the average American. Furthermore, by the end of the year, it was clear that nearly 30% of China's emissions were linked to its exports and arguably are the shared responsibility of rich nations.
Poznan, Poland, Climate Change Conference, December 2008
A Bleak Week at Poznan
The Americans weren't helping. It was the last conference for Harlan Watson, who has been President Bush's chief negotiator for the past seven years and has consistently blocked international progress on climate change. Asked if he had any regrets he quipped: 'My only regret is that I'm not 20 years younger, maybe a lot taller, and a lot more handsome.' I walked past him in the hall later, resisting the urge to knock him over.
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, December 2009
The US and China Joined Forces Against Europe
Last year's climate summit in Copenhagen was a political disaster. Leaked US diplomatic cables now show why the summit failed so spectacularly. The dispatches reveal that the US and China, the world's top two polluters, joined forces to stymie every attempt by European nations to reach agreement.
Cancun, Mexico Climate Change Conference, December 2010
Cancún climate change summit: America plays tough
It [the US] is already under pressure for its green agenda from a new conservative Republican power bloc in Congress determined to block the powers of the Environmental Protection Agency to act on greenhouse gases and other sources of pollution, and defund programmes dealing with climate change. There is next to no chance Congress would take up cap-and-trade legislation or ratify any UN treaty.
Durban, South Africa Climate Change Conference, December 2011
Derailing Durban's climate change conference: With the US dragging its feet at the Durban climate change conference, the influence of a powerful industry lobby is worrying by Amy Goodman
There is a growing consensus here in Durban that the United States is the main impediment to progress at these crucial talks. A consortium of 16 of the major environmental groups in the US wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who directly oversees the US climate negotiations. They pointed out that, while President Barack Obama originally campaigned on a promise to lead in global climate negotiations, "three years later, America risks being viewed not as a global leader on climate change, but as a major obstacle to progress."
Bonn, Germany Climate Change Conference , May 2012
Bonn, climate talks end in discord and disappointment
ove Maria Ryding, coordinator for climate policy at Greenpeace International, said: "Here in Bonn we've clearly seen that the climate crisis is not caused by lack of options and solutions, but lack of political action. It's absurd to watch governments sit and point fingers and fight like little kids while the scientists explain about the terrifying impacts of climate change and the fact that we have all the technology we need to solve the problem while creating new green jobs."
In search of a greener cloud: Google vs. Microsoft
Google has invested far more money into clean energy and is going out of its way to clean up the grids where its data centres operate. Microsoft may want you to "Bing it on", but its brown cloud should give people and businesses with environmental worries cause for concern. If you or your business wants to use a search engine, cloud platform or e-mail client that will help speed up the switch to clean energy, Google clearly has a much stronger commitment and is far ahead of Microsoft in delivering a cleaner cloud.
Arctic melting: the science behind the ice
What are the impacts on areas of the world beyond the Arctic?
Nick: The ice is a big cooling system and the earth’s weather patterns depend on it. There will not be the same dispersion of cold and heat – for example, warm water currents will not move past Britain any more – making it less temperate. Britain is actually at the same latitude as Siberia and is made warmer by the North Atlantic current.
Julienne: The Arctic drives Northern Hemisphere weather patterns. Open water absorbs the sun's energy, which is transferred back to the atmosphere in autumn, causing the Arctic to warm further. Arctic warming changes the difference in temperature between the equator and the pole, large-scale air circulation patterns such as the jet stream. These changes can result in more persistent weather conditions, such as droughts, heat waves and flooding.
How do you think the world will respond?
Nick: It’s disturbing that we have changed the face of the planet in a way we can visually see. But people won’t really change until it affects them on a day to day level.
Julienne: I hope that this year’s sea ice loss will have an impact on the US government and change thinking.
Whistleblower forced investigation of TransCanada pipeline
Evan Vokes said he raised concerns about the competency of some pipeline inspectors and the company’s lack of compliance with welding regulations set by the National Energy Board (NEB), the federal energy industry regulator.
"I wrote a series of emails to a series of project managers saying, 'We can't do this practice, we can’t do this practice, we can’t do this practice,'" Vokes said. "And I received increasingly pressured emails about how things were OK to do it that way."
[...]
Vokes went on stress leave in November 2011. In March 2012, he met with top National Energy Board officials and on May 1, he filed a formal written complaint with the NEB. TransCanada fired him on May 8.
Blog Posts of Interest and Interesting Blogs
The Center for Biodiversity
GET THE LEAD OUT
Lead is an extremely toxic element that we’ve sensibly removed from water pipes, gasoline, paint and other sources dangerous to people. Yet toxic lead is still entering the food chain through widespread use of lead hunting ammunition and fishing tackle, poisoning wildlife and even threatening human health. At least 75 wild bird species in the United States are poisoned by spent lead ammunition, including bald eagles, golden eagles, ravens and endangered California condors. Thousands of cranes, ducks, swans, loons, geese and other waterfowl ingest spent lead shot or lead fishing sinkers lost in lakes and rivers each year, often with deadly consequences.
Now, the National Rifle Association is trying to intervene in our lawsuit, and its well-heeled gun lobby is arguing that removing toxic materials from the sporting marketplace is "extreme" and somehow anti-hunting and -fishing, introducing legislation that would gut the Toxic Substances Control Act and prevent the EPA from regulating toxic lead ammunition.
The Post-Carbon Institute
Why Growth Is Ending (the elevator pitch)
Diminishing Returns. Of the three phases of the industrial period (coal/steam/railroads, 1800-1930; oil/electrification/automobiles, 1930-1980; and computers/cell phones/Internet, 1980-present), the second yielded the lion’s share of growth. By the 1980s, electrification and car-buying had reached a point of diminishing returns in the industrialized world. Since then, spectacular new technologies have led to minor rates of economic expansion. This suggests that rapid oil/electricity-based growth was a historic one-off. Will we see more new inventions? Of course. Will they result in a booming economy? Not necessarily.
The DEBATES
New. Clear. Vision.
Blinded by the Light of an Electoral ‘Reality Show’
by Randall Amster
So it’s no wonder that politicians have likewise embraced the trend. ‘Obama vs. Romney’ plays more like a wrestling grudge match, complete with sensational graphics and confrontational cutaways. The whole experience is intended to be visceral rather than cerebral, all planned to obfuscate rather than educate. Shall the candidates honestly discuss the perpetual resource wars that will dominate the globe for generations to come? Should they openly engage the realities of climate change and the manner in which we need to immediately change our way of life in order for life to continue at all? Would it be expedient to point out that the economy is a sham and we are but fodder for the 1%?
Daily Kos
The Evening Blues
Remember when progressive debate was about our values and not about a "progressive" candidate? Remember when progressive websites championed progressive values and didn't tell progressives to shut up about values so that "progressive" candidates can get elected?
Come to where the debate is not constrained by oaths of fealty to persons or parties.
Come to where the pie is served in a variety of flavors.
"The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum." ~ Noam Chomsky
|