See witsendnj's post about the video he made.
Many environmentally related posts appearing at Daily Kos each week don't attract the attention they deserve. To help get more eyeballs, Spotlight on Green News & Views (previously known as the Green Diary Rescue) normally appears twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The most recent Saturday Spotlight can be seen here. More than 21,900 environmentally oriented diaries have been rescued for inclusion in this weekly collection since 2006. Inclusion of a diary in the Spotlight does not necessarily indicate my agreement with or endorsement of it.
Black Death in Europe Was Caused by Climate Change in Asia & Trade, not Rats—by
FishOutofWater: "The black death killed thirty to fifty percent of the people of Europe in six years starting in 1347. Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, ravaged Europe in wave after wave for over 300 years, then slowly faded to black after the Great Plague of London in 1665-1666. This, the second plague pandemic, has long been blamed on rats harboring fleas which were the cause of the third plague pandemic in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that climate changes in Asia preceded plagues in Europe by 15 years. The researchers then tracked the progression of plague on the Silk road and other trade routes from Asia to Europe. The scientists first tried to find a relationship between plague outbreaks in Europe with weather and climate events in Europe. If European rats were the plague vector then conditions that favored growth in European rat and rodent populations would be expected to correlate with plague outbreaks, but no correlations were found."
You can find more rescued green diaries below the orange garden layout.
Canada as fossil-fuel promoting climate denier in the face of shrinking Arctic sea ice—by
annieli: "As Canada diverges from the US position on climate change presenting a national security issue - PM Harper seems to serve specific energy interests and demonize a small number of eco-activitists rather than accept some obvious climate change issues. One such issue is the shrinking Arctic sea ice in the Northwest passage that threaten Canadian sovereignty as Canada claims it as internal waterways, although many countries 'maintain they are an international strait and transit passage, allowing free and unencumbered passage.' That there has not been an immediate boom in the access of the two arctic sea routes is no proof that climate change is not continuing to make the route more feasible for commercial passage or development."
Energy
exploding oil trains, rig counts & other oil patch news—by rjsigmund: "it was an explosive week for the oil industry; in addition to three fiery train derailments in the news, an Exxon refinery in Torrance California blew up and left the city covered in a ghostly white ash...and of a less explosive nature, five spills were reported by the frackers in North Dakota, including one "double spill" which the company responsible believes was sabotage, something we might see more of as the roughnecks and rig hands think they're getting shafted by the unannounced layoffs ... a West Virginia oil train derailment & explosion on the Kanawha River in Fayette County got the most national attention, maybe because of the explosive nature of the fireball, maybe because the Governor of West Virginia declared a state of emergency in two riverside counties within hours of learning that burning oil tankcars had entered the river, the water source for much of the state….we'll include a news clip here so you can get a sense of what that looked like..."
The Sun Sets on British Coal—by Michael Brune: "Long ago, the expression "carrying coal to Newcastle" meant to do something utterly pointless, because the city of Newcastle-on-Tyne had a monopoly on British coal exports. But soon, though, carrying coal to anywhere in the United Kingdom will be pointless. On February 14, the leaders of all three of the U.K.'s major political parties announced a joint commitment to phase out the use of coal and fight climate disruption. Specifically, here's what they agreed to do: Seek a legally binding, global climate deal that limits temperature rises to below 2 degrees C (i.e. 3.6 degrees F). Forge a domestic agreement on carbon budgets. Accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. End unabated coal for power generation ('Unabated coal' is any coal that causes carbon pollution. At this point, that amounts to all coal.) Here in the U.S., the news got relatively little coverage. That's somewhat surprising -- it's not every day that opposing politicians anywhere (in the middle of an election campaign, yet) set aside their differences long enough to agree on an important, substantive issue. Heck, in this country, we can't even get the Obama administration to agree with itself on the importance of moving beyond coal and other fossil fuels. Even as one part of the administration acts strongly to clean up coal-fired power plants, another part sells billions of tons of coal from public landsat below-market rates."
Most Recent Measurements of Plutonium in Pacific: Fukushima Fallout Undetectable—by Marine Chemist: "The purpose of this diary is to report results from two recently published studies on plutonium releases from Fukushima to the Pacific Ocean. The post contributes to an ongoing series where results from peer-reviewed studies on the impact of the triple meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichii nuclear power plant on the health of the Pacific ecosystem and residents of the west coast of North America are reported. A frequently asked question of those involved in monitoring the health of the North Pacific is why more measurements of the long lived, alpha-emitting isotopes of plutonium (239Pu half-life 24,100 years; 240Pu 6,570 years) are not being made given the potential for these isotopes to pose radiological health risks. Previous work indicates that 239+240Pu releases from Fukushima were about 100,000 and 5,000,000 times lower than releases from the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and 20th century weapons testing respectively. Initial measurements of Pu isotopes in seawater and marine sediments off the coast from Fukushima indicated no detectable change occurred in Pu inventories in the western Pacific after the disaster. These two most recent studies monitored the activity and isotopic composition of Pu in seawater and marine sediments off of Japan from 2008-2013."
Shedding light on a gas patch blackout—by EARTHWORKS: "When a friend recently asked me how work was going, I told him about an investigative research project that Earthworks was finishing up. He responded with a quote by writer Kurt Vonnegut: 'Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do the maintenance.' That about sums up the central conclusion of our report, Blackout in the Gas Patch: How Pennsylvania Residents are Left in the Dark on Health and Enforcement—that as Pennsylvania’s government rushes to expand fracking, it is failing to protect air, water, and health. In other words, the state is more than willing to build the gas and oil industry, but is far less interested in making sure it functions well. Blackout is the first report to analyze oversight of the gas and oil industry on a site-by-site basis and from the starting point of why it matters, every day for real people. The starting point was a question that gas and oil field residents often ask when their health and environment change after drilling begins: What happened to cause my problems, and what’s being done to solve them?"
Fracking
U.S. Geological Survey: Fracking waste is the primary cause of the dramatic rise in earthquakes—by Jen Hayden: "The U.S. Geological Survey has backed-up what scientists have been suggesting for years–that deep injection of wastewater is the primary cause of the dramatic rise in detected earthquakes: Large areas of the United States that used to experience few or no earthquakes have, in recent years, experienced a remarkable increase in earthquake activity that has caused considerable public concern as well as damage to structures. This rise in seismic activity, especially in the central United States, is not the result of natural processes. Instead, the increased seismicity is due to fluid injection associated with new technologies that enable the extraction of oil and gas from previously unproductive reservoirs. These modern extraction techniques result in large quantities of wastewater produced along with the oil and gas. The disposal of this wastewater by deep injection occasionally results in earthquakes that are large enough to be felt, and sometimes damaging. Deep injection of wastewater is the primary cause of the dramatic rise in detected earthquakes and the corresponding increase in seismic hazard in the central U.S."
The 'Keystone XL of the East': Help, I'm being F*CKED!—by bogbud: "Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a farmer... so finally, I decided last year 49 years was long enough to wait. I scraped together what little life savings I had, and literally 'bought the farm'! Living in Africa during the purchase, I trusted others to do due diligence—oh well! The seller's agent didn't disclose, and my attorney didn't care. .. the seller sold a permanent easement to the Constitution Pipeline about 3 weeks before the deal, and now I'm going to be FRACKED! [...] I've been standing by my neighbors who have stood and fought, doing my part... speaking out at hearings, writing letters to the state Department of Environmental Conservation in an attempt to have the 401 Water Quality Certificate denied (there's still time, but not much! Check out StopThePipeline.org for details, but do it today - the comment period ends this week!), but we're down to the wire, and we all know who the system is rigged for. .. This week, a Federal District Judge started handing down orders in the company's favor in the 80 or so Eminent Domain proceedings, and the DEC comment period ends in the days ahead. This thing is coming through."
Keystone XL & Other Fossil Fuel Transportation
President Obama will quickly veto Keystone XL pipeline bill when it hits his desk today—by Meteor Blades: "The White House says there will be no fanfare or other drama surrounding the veto of the Keystone XL pipeline bill Congress is sending to President Obama this morning. The bill, which circumvents an executive branch process for approving international pipelines (bridges and tunnels) that dates back to the Grant administration and has been governed by executive order since 1968, will be quickly vetoed to avoid distractions from the possible shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. [...] But the president's veto will not necessarily mean that Obama will later reject the pipeline itself. Over the past 21 months since he gave his climate speech, there have been hints that he will reject it at the completion of the State Department's evaluation of whether the project is in the 'national interest.' But the full range of his thinking in the matter is unknown. Whether or not the pipeline is eventually approved, the opposition to it—which has been built around an alliance determined to reshape U.S. energy policy away from the profligate burning of fossil fuels that is one of the key elements powering climate change—will not be closing up shop. Win or lose on Keystone XL, that opposition has many more battles to fight."
As promised, Obama vetoes bill that approved Keystone XL. Republicans vow override vote by March 3—by Meteor Blades: "President Obama vetoed the bill approving construction of the northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline Tuesday. In a statement, he said: I am returning herewith without my approval S. 1, the 'Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act.' Through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest. The Presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously. But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people. And because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest—including our security, safety, and environment—it has earned my veto."
KXL -- The End Game Begins—by Michael Brune: "Surprising nobody, President Obama has quietly followed through on his promise to veto the bill from Congress that would have authorized construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. It's only the third veto of his presidency, and it means the way is now clear for the president to make a final decision about whether Keystone XL, and the toxic tar-sands oil it would pump across America's heartland, are in the national interest. Why did Congress force the president to waste perfectly good ink reasserting his authority to make this decision? Certainly not because they were looking out for the best interests of the American people, who would be accepting all of the many risks associated with Keystone without seeing any appreciable benefits. The more people learn about the project, the more they think it's a bad idea. A poll just released by the League of Conservation Voters found that after hearing arguments both for and against the pipeline, a majority of voters believe President Obama should reject it."
BREAKING: Obama Vetoes Keystone Bill!—by greendem: "Will it be overridden by Congress? Nope. Neither chamber of Congress currently has the required two-thirds of votes to override a presidential veto. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), said on the Senate floor Tuesday that the Senate plans to hold a vote to override Mr. Obama’s veto by March 3, but it’s unlikely to reach the 67 votes needed to pass."
NYS DEC Commissioner Just LIED On Statewide TV—by andydrew617 : "New York State Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation Joseph Martens just appeared on Time Warner Cable News' program 'Capitol Tonight.' Discussing the issue of crude oil trains, he claimed that the state has no power to prevent these trains from coming through New York. Clearly he has no familiarity with the law, as will be shown below the fold. [...] Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of law, whenever the commissioner finds, after investigation, that any person is causing, engaging in or maintaining a condition or activity which, in his judgment, presents an imminent danger to the health or welfare of the people of the state or results in or is likely to result in irreversible or irreparable damage to natural resources, and relates to the prevention and abatement powers of the commissioner and it therefore appears to be prejudicial to the interests of the people of the state to delay action until an opportunity for a hearing can be provided, the commissioner may, without prior hearing, order such person by notice, in writing wherever practicable or in such other form as in the commissioner's judgment will reasonably notify such person whose practices are intended to be proscribed, to discontinue, abate or alleviate such condition or activity, and thereupon such person shall immediately discontinue, abate or alleviate such condition or activity."
Get used to it. Dept. of Transportation predicts 10 oil-train derailments a year—by Meteor Blades: "According to an exclusive Associated Press article published this weekend, a U.S. Department of Transportation report last July predicts that over the next decade there will be an average of 10 derailments a year of trains hauling crude oil or ethanol. Damage from these over the next two decades could be as high as $4.5 billion. But if a derailment occurs in one of the densely populated cities through which these trains routinely travel, it could kill as many as 200 people and cause $6 billion in damages."
Climate Chaos
Climate Action Hub: YOU Are In the Spotlight!—by boatsie: "It's Oscar night. La crème de la crème of Hollywood gather for yet another over-the-top display of flitter and flash, yet another disconnect distracting us from owning and acting on the core realities which need to be front and center if we are to achieve radical and sustainable shifts in the way we act in the world. The Climate Action Hub this evening provides an alternative, an opportunity to participate in authentic actions on our very own 'Green Carpet,' to step up to the podium and be counted by joining two key climate action campaigns. [...] OUR NOMINATIONS—Top Eco Story of the Year—Hundreds Of Thousands Turn Out For People's Climate March In New York City. Here at DailyKos, there were were over 300 posts on the PCM, including a trilogy on the Moment of Silence."
Super-Duper Big: Harvard-Smithsonian Harboring Koch-Funded Climate Denier Wei-Hock Soon—by Climate Brad: "The fossil-fuel industry's campaign to promote climate denial, led by the Koch brothers, has corrupted Harvard University and the Smithsonian, two of the most trusted scientific institutions in the world.
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, a joint program of the Smithsonian Institution and Harvard University, is harboring a polluter-funded climate denier. Documents uncovered by Greenpeace reveal that Dr. Wei-Hock "Willie" Soon has taken money from the Kochs, Exxon Mobil, coal giant Southern Company, and others to produce "deliverables" that push the long-debunked claim that solar activity, not fossil fuel pollution, drives global warming. [...] The Guardian reports on the spigot of Koch and other oil cash Soon received: ExxonMobil gave $335,000 but stopped funding Soon in 2010, according to the documents. The astrophysicist reportedly received $274,000 from the main oil lobby, the American Petroleum Institute, and $230,000 from the Charles G Koch Foundation. He received an additional $324,000 in anonymous donations through a trust used by the Kochs and other conservative donors, the documents showed."
Soon Funding Controversy Continues—by ClimateDenierRoundup: "While the deniersphere (and Climate Depot in particular) attempts to get people interested in Pachauri's resignation from the IPCC (and his subsequent unexplained hospitalization) by hyping his comment that protecting the Earth, all species and the sustainability of our ecosystems is his "religion" and "dharma," the rest of the media is focused on the Soon controversy. And with good reason, as things seem to be heating up. Due to Soon's undisclosed conflict of interest when submitting research to academic journals, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has sent requests to seven universities asking them for the funding records of researchers who may have Soon-esque conflicts of interest. In addition to their initial coverage, Inside Climate News has a few different pieces related to the Soon controversy that are beginning to emerge. In one piece, Lisa Song takes a closer look at the letters Soon sent to the journals that published his work to see if he disclosed the payments from fossil fuel interest groups to the journals before publication. David Hasemyer writes on the Smithsonian, which has started an internal investigation as well as a review of their ethics and disclosure policies. This internal investigation is key, as the newly released documents show that it was in fact Soon's employers at the Smithsonian that signed the contract with coal-powered utility Southern Company (a fact that WUWT highlights) for Soon's work."
Tom Harris's campaign of climate change confusion debunked—by ClimateDenierRoundup: "It's official. After years of research, the Climate Investigations Center and Greenpeace have unearthed incontrovertible proof that long-time denier Willie Soon (who claims variation in the sun's energy is largely responsible for recent climate change) has received over $1.2 million from energy industry and lobby groups. Soon is a favorite amongst deniers for his impressive-sounding credentials as a Smithsonian-employed PhD aerospace engineer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Turns out, Soon's 'deliverables' for the likes of ExxonMobil, the Southern Service Company and the Charles B. Koch Charitable Foundation included scientific papers (some of which, according to this DeSmogBlog article, even found their way into the IPCC reports!) With early coverage in The New York Times and the Guardian, most major outlets in and out of the deniersphere are weighing in. Over at Breitbart, James Delingpole has a piece trying to downplay the significance of Soon's fossil-fuel-funded distortion of climate science (while misrepresenting and exaggerating Soon’s credentials), saying, 'Another day, another attack on the integrity of the Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist Dr. Willie Soon, this time in The New York Times.' Meanwhile, Anthony Watts over at wattsupwiththat has an article comparing "what's happening to Dr. Willie Soon at the hand of green activists and the compliant media," to the wrongful conviction of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption."
Wei-Hock Soon and the best Climate Change Denial money can buy—by blue aardvark: "The NYT, relying on FOIA information obtained by Greenpeace.He (Dr. Soon) has accepted more than $1.2 million in money from the fossil-fuel industry over the last decade while failing to disclose that conflict of interest in most of his scientific papers. At least 11 papers he has published since 2008 omitted such a disclosure, and in at least eight of those cases, he appears to have violated ethical guidelines of the journals that published his work. The documents show that Dr. Soon, in correspondence with his corporate funders, described many of his scientific papers as “deliverables” that he completed in exchange for their money. He used the same term to describe testimony he prepared for Congress.Climate Change is a conspiracy ... er, Climate Change Denial seems to be. Pro tip: most scientists don't view testimony before Congress as a deliverable product."
BREAKING: Phony Climate Change "Science" Paid For By Corporate Cash—by Tasini: "Mark this one down under 'I'm shocked, shocked to find that...' corporations are trying to pervert science...you mean, for profit? No. In the United States of America? Shocked, shocked ... Just up on The New York Times website (and with a tip to the snow coming down that finds me on my sofa), "Deeper Ties to Corporate Cash For a Doubtful Climate Scientist":For years, politicians wanting to block legislation on climate change have bolstered their arguments by pointing to the work of a handful of scientists who claim that greenhouse gases pose little risk to humanity. One of the names they invoke most often is Wei-Hock Soon, known as Willie, a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who claims that variations in the sun’s energy can largely explain recent global warming. He has often appeared on conservative news programs, testified before Congress and in state capitals, and starred at conferences of people who deny the risks of global warming."
Leading climate-denier's deep ties to fossil-fuel industry exposed (yes, Koch brothers too)—by Walter Einenkel: "One of the few scientists in the world who insists there is no link between climate change and human activity has been thoroughly busted for taking huge sums of money from oil giants: He has accepted more than $1.2 million in money from the fossil-fuel industry over the last decade while failing to disclose that conflict of interest in most of his scientific papers. At least 11 papers he has published since 2008 omitted such a disclosure, and in at least eight of those cases, he appears to have violated ethical guidelines of the journals that published his work. The documents show that Dr. Soon, in correspondence with his corporate funders, described many of his scientific papers as “deliverables” that he completed in exchange for their money. He used the same term to describe testimony he prepared for Congress. The fact that 'Willie' (as he is called) is taking money from the fossil-fuel industry is not news. The extent of his ties to the fossil-fuel industry is news."
VIDEO: Climate denier Willie Soon runs from Questions on Exxon Funding—by cgibosn: "Extra Extra! Read all about climate denial scientist Willie Soon's dirty money from petrochemical billionaire Charles Koch, coal utility Southern Company, oil giant ExxonMobil and other fossil fuel companies to deny the science of climate change! The last time I bumped into Willie Soon, I asked him if there was any explanation for some of the information in our latest round of documents indicating that his employer was eager to take money from ExxonMobil. The questions I tried asking Dr. Soon (who won't talk to me, after a few of these encounters went bad for him) are based on seemed to show that despite all the embarrassment Soon has caused his employer, the Smithsonian Institution, private communications with ExxonMobil indicate that Smithsonian was all too happy to take Exxon's money for their general operating budget."
New study points to climate change facilitating the emergence of infectious diseases—by Walter Einenkel: "From Science Daily comes more bad news about climate change. In an article published online today in conjunction with a special issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Daniel Brooks warns that humans can expect more such illnesses to emerge in the future, as climate change shifts habitats and brings wildlife, crops, livestock, and humans into contact with pathogens to which they are susceptible but to which they have never been exposed before. 'It's not that there's going to be one "Andromeda Strain" that will wipe everybody out on the planet,' Brooks said, referring to the 1971 science fiction film about a deadly pathogen. 'There are going to be a lot of localized outbreaks putting pressure on medical and veterinary health systems. It will be the death of a thousand cuts.'"
The future of bathing?
Alaska's famed Iditarod race forced to move due to warm temperatures—by
Jen Hayden: "While much of the U.S. is frozen solid right now, Alaska is facing warmer-than-normal temperatures and organizers have been forced to change the route of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race: Recent helicopter surveys of the Alaska Range near Willow, the town just north of Anchorage where the roughly 1,000-mile (1,600 kilometer) race usually begins, revealed that "snow conditions were worse in critical areas than in 2014 and therefore not safe enough for the upcoming race," the Iditarod Trail Committee said in a statement. It's not a one-time thing, it is part of a very troubling trend:
This year's poor snowfall fits with a trend of rising temperatures in Alaska, whose rate of warming was twice the national average in the past 50 years, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."
Critters & the Great Outdoors
Sacramento and Klamath salmon return numbers released—by Dan Bacher: "As anglers get ready for the upcoming ocean and river salmon seasons, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) revealed that 212,000 adult fall-run Chinook salmon returned to spawn in the Sacramento River and its tributaries in 2014. About 10,000 adult salmon returned to the San Joaquin River system, including the Cosumnes, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers. The 2014 adult salmon return, or escapement, exceeds the minimum conservation goal set by fishery managers of 122,000 to 180,000 fish. Representatives of fishing groups, including the Golden Gate Salmon Association (GGSA), are 'cautiously optimistic' about the outlook for upcoming ocean and river salmon seasons."
The Daily Bucket--Say Hello to My Little Friend—by
6412093: "I live in the suburbs. In most areas mankind has modified this environment beyond recognition, despite the best efforts to preserve some natural features. I try to deal with these changes by limiting my queries to single features. Today, culverts. Most of us have seen culverts, which are usually large pipes that channel streams under highways. Here's is a crappy culvert. That is a poor culvert because the stream channel has eroded to a couple of feet below the pipe. How can fish swim upstream, unless they are prepared for a big jump into a pipe? And that's not the worst type of culvert failing. Sometimes the stream flows undercut the pipe, and water flows through the soils under the pipe, instead of the pipe itself. Sometimes the pipes collapse and nothing gets through. In some cases, the culverts are undersized, and the water shoots through at high speed, and no fish could pass."
The Daily Bucket - Color Me Spring—by Milly Watt: "The earliest signs of spring can be very subtle. Before leafing out, some stems take on brighter colors of renewed life. [...] Oaks keep their leaves in fall colors throughout the winter here. So, I guess it's a sign of early spring that new green leaves haven't replaced the old yet."
DC, State & Local Eco-Politics
How to fight climate change-and create jobs—by ESNH: "His first major proposal was to invest a trillion dollars in infrastructure over ten years. This would create 13 Million jobs, and go a long way towards reducing long term unemployment. He also proposed taking ambitious steps to combat climate change while creating jobs. Many of these, like weatherizing 1 million homes a year, or reauthorizing tax credits for renewable energy, have already been proven to be good drivers of high paying job creation. Others, like leveraging hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment through a green bank, are more innovative. Although I do not agree with Sen. Sanders on every issue, especially some of his more fiery rhetoric against banks and the rich, I do believe his plans for fighting climate change and creating jobs are the best I have yet seen out of any prospective 2016 candidate. Whoever the Democratic nominee is in 2016, they would be wise to make job creation a significant part of their platform."
New Congress Targets Climate with “Fifty Days of Nay”—by Marcia G Yerman: "Needless to say, Sen. Mitch McConnell is not going to get the leading role in any film, but he is a star player in this script. He has been practicing his lines of dialogue since the November election, with rhetoric about pushing through the Keystone Pipeline and vowing to deadlock any advancement in the regulation of coal. Backing moves to reduce the carbon pollution emanating from power plants is not in his screenplay—no way, no how. However, McConnell has creatively managed to construct a scenario for undoing two decades of environmental legislation. In his rewrite, there will be no going back to the days when safeguarding the environment and health of Americans were embraced by both parties—and were not a mater of partisan politics. In the key role of supporting actor is climate-denier, Sen. James Inhofe, 80, who has landed the part of a lifetime. He is now the Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW). As the protagonist character, despite being 'cast against type,' Inhofe will have dialogue coaches reeling as he delivers many of the off-the-cuff, improvisational remarks that have won him renown. ('Man can’t change climate.')"
Eco-Action & Eco Justice
Anti Keystone Activists Questioned by FBI—by SRD: "Public Radio International's "Living on Earth" host Steve Curwood speaks with reporter Becky Kramer, a staff reporter with The Spokesman-Review, based in Spokane, Washington and attorney Larry Hildes, an attorney in Bellingham, Washington, who is well known for his work with civil disobedience cases. They discuss the FBI’s investigation and history of surveillance against political activists. Before interviewing Kramer and Hildes, Curwood provides the following introduction: 'Ever since the Keystone XL pipeline to bring Canadian tar sands oil to Gulf coast refineries was first proposed in 2008, it’s faced strong opposition, including acts of civil disobedience. During recent months some activists have received visits from FBI agents keen to ask them questions.' This is a fascinating and frightening interview which aired during the week of February 20, 2015. The FBI's response to the anti-KXL activist investigations is predictable."
California's plastic bag ban stifled until 2016—by Walter Einenkel: "A few months ago Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 270 into law. It effectively ended the use of plastic bags in California. Daily Kos diarist ybruti covered it here. Yesterday, the ban was put on hold until a referendum is voted on in 2016. Officials said that based on a random sample of 800,000 names submitted by the American Progressive Bag Alliance at the end of last year, opponents to the ban had mustered 555,000 names—more than the 505,000 needed to force a vote. The signatures qualify it for referendum. The people of California will vote on it. That's how democracy works!"
Agriculture, Food & Gardening
US Gov Scientists Recommend Reducing Meat Consumption to Mitigate Climate Change—by VL Baker: "Yep, those are pigs you see flying over DC. The new proposed changes (pdf) to the US Dietary Guidelines are getting a lot of press because they propose changing the US agricultural paradigm to a environmentally sustainable model for the first time in history. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), a panel of scientists that makes recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on every five years when the agency updates its Dietary Guidelines, published its 2015 report Thursday. In it, the DGAC states that adopting a sustainable diet helps ensure that future generations will have access to the foods we have access to now. It also stated that 'a diet higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in calories and animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with less environmental impact than is the current U.S. diet.' I've been writing about reducing meat consumption to mitigate climate change and protect water and land resources for over eight years. I always knew that people did not want to hear about reducing meat consumption as a solution for mitigating climate change because it was a change they didn't want to make. But, in fact, it is the most effective action we can take to reduce our carbon footprint."
That hill on the right in front of the shrub is the waterfall in my pond! Gah!
Daily Bucket - Dreaming of Summer—by
Attack Gardener: "Another lovely day in the great Northeast! The temperature is currently hovering at a balmy negative 1 degree. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing at negative 11 degrees and the dog is hiding under her blanket. Yes, I'm thrilled to be a resident in the national icebox! Get this winter over with already!!! As a reminder to myself, and those in our community who are also having trouble believing it, this too shall pass. Soon, the snow will all melt away and we'll start to see signs of new life."
A Quiet Revolution—by Robocop: "I’m still chuckling over the Carl’s Jr. television ads featuring gorgeous women devouring monstrous hamburgers while the words 'hormone-free,' 'grass-fed,' and 'free-range' are prominently displayed. Their latest ad, apparently shown on Super Bowl Sunday, has a well-endowed female beauty parading down the street in a bikini while chewing on one of those burgers. 'This ad tells you that Carl’s Jr. sees this as enough of a mainstream issue. They’re realizing that this is something people want and not just something that a bunch of activist, doomsday folks are trying to push,' said Michael Hansen, senior scientist with Consumer’s Union. Indeed, Brad Haley, chief marketing officer for CKE Restaurants, Carl’s Jr.’s parent company, says that 'sales of the burgers have exceeded projections.' And now, as many of us predicted, the trend is expanding into other food industries. The ice cream behemoth, Breyers, announced last week it will stop using milk from cows treated with rBST. Unilever, Breyers’ parent company, also owns Ben & Jerry’s, Fruttare, Good Humor, Klondike, Magnum and Popsicle, all of which they plan to include in the rBST ban in the next few years. Alessandra Bellini, vice president of brand development at Unilever North America, says that 'these industry-leading changes are the latest in our commitment to do right by parents and the environment.' Once again, Monsanto is involved."
Saturday Morning Garden Blogging ~ Vol 10.52 : Gung Hay Fat Choy—by
kishik: "It was the Lunar New Year on Thursday—and so that means Red is the featured colour for the diary this week. Red is the colour that reflects happiness and fortune. And oh—it does contrast beautifully with all the surrounding white of late. ... Red is also a Fire element. Something much desired as we in the northeast are snow and cold weary. So let's go Scarlet in the Garden! And maybe this can start some sort of warming/melting trend ... because it's just too damn cold to think about Gardening in my yard right now."
you asked for a status - the hyacinths have bloomed (also the amaryllis and crocus)—by
Missys Brother: "I posted a diary on January 18th titled 'wooden crates of hyacinths—the joy of forcing.' In that diary, I had shown approximately fifty hyacinth bulbs that I had just removed from a six-week period of complete darkness. I was asked at that time to show the hyacinths when they bloomed and I have also been contacted since then to show them. Here are the bulbs the last time they were shown in the public eye. They had good root systems going and about an inch of top growth."
Transportation & Infrastructure
Inside China's "New Normal"—by Pepe Escobar via TomDispatch: "If you are following this frenzy of economic planning from Beijing, you end up with a perspective not available in Europe or the U.S. Here, red-and-gold billboards promote President Xi Jinping’s much ballyhooed new tagline for the country and the century, 'the Chinese Dream' (which brings to mind 'the American Dream' of another era). No subway station is without them. They are a reminder of why 40,000 miles of brand new high-speed rail is considered so essential to the country’s future. After all, no less than 300 million Chinese have, in the last three decades, made a paradigm-breaking migration from the countryside to exploding urban areas in search of that dream. [...] Another 350 million are expected to be on the way, according to a McKinsey Global Institute study. From 1980 to 2010, China’s urban population grew by 400 million, leaving the country with at least 700 million urban dwellers. This figure is expected to hit one billion by 2030, which means tremendous stress on cities, infrastructure, resources, and the economy as a whole, as well as near-apocalyptic air pollution levels in some major cities."
Trade & Eco-Related Foreign Policy
Richmond, CA City Council Votes No to Fast-Tracking Corporate-Friendly Trade Deals—by PDA: "On Tuesday evening, February 17, the Richmond, CA City Council in an almost unanimous vote passed 'A Resolution Opposing the Fast-Track of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, TAFTA and TiSA' and declaring the City of Richmond a TPP-TAFTA-TiSA-Free Zone. The Resolution calls on President Obama and US Trade Representative Michael Froman to cease TPP, TAFTA, and TISA negotiations, to make all related text and processes public immediately, and to refrain from 'Fast-Tracking' any trade agreement, in the interests of democracy, the people and the planet. [...] During discussion, Councilmember McLaughlin stressed that only 5 of the 29 Chapters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership cover traditional trade issues, while the remainder 'rob the city of protections and of democracy.' Citing the local impacts of the TPP on land use, food safety, and economic policy such as “Buy Local” and 'Sweatshop Free,' she emphasized that trade agreements that give more power to corporations make it imperative for cities to pass resolutions to oppose 'fast-tracking' secretly negotiated trade agreements."
Sustainability & Extinction
Cities Scale: Boston Living with Water—by gmoke: "Cities scale is where real climate change adaptation is taking place, now, whether or not we have national or international agreements on greenhouse gases. Cities and regions have to deal with weather emergencies and, it turns out, preparing for weather emergencies and other natural disasters is very much like adapting to climate change. The best of it can be climate mitigation, too. One way cities are climbing the learning curve is by holding design competitions. In Boston, the city, the Harbor Association, the Redevelopment Authority, and the Society of Architects are hosting the Boston Living with Water, an international call for design solutions that create a 'more resilient, more sustainable, and more beautiful Boston adapted for end-of-the-century climate conditions and rising sea levels.' They will be announcing the finalist on Thursday, February 26 but you can vote on which of the 49 different plans you like until 12 pm (EST) on Wednesday, February 25 here"
Eco-Essays and Eco-Philosophy
New insights into evolution: resurrection ecology and global warming—by don mikulecky: "It is a happening we should have expected, I guess, but I am surprised by it. Cryofreezing is best known for its appearances in science fiction, but self-styled 'resurrection ecologists' are now showing the world just how real it is. In 2012, scientists germinated flowers from a handful of 32,000 year old seeds excavated from the Siberian tundra. Last year, researchers hatched 700-year old eggs from the bottom of a Minnesota lake, while another team resuscitated an Antarctic moss that had been frozen since the time of King Arthur. Bacteria, however, are the uncontested masters of cryogenics—one bug, at least, was alive and kicking after 8 million years of suspended animation. As we toy with the ecosystem using genetic engineering, nature may be toying with us. You can be assured that my colleagues have no reservations about doing some toying with this new material. But this simple example illustrates the essential promise that resurrection ecology holds. Scientists can now study how ancient genes behave in a modern environment, and perhaps run experiments that recreate evolution itself."
The Land of Red Stone Canyons—by Leah Sellers: "Skies of radiant Blue
Above Red Stone Canyons
Hauntingly still and silent
Long deserted
Red Stone villages
A Crow
Bursts from the rustling
Sycamore Tree
The Bird’s
Raucous Call
Echoes down the Canyon
Down my Serpentine Spine
I am Alive
I am Present
Aware of the Past
Still Breathing and Whispering
Down the Red Stone Canyons
A tendril Bridge
Between Time and Place [...] "
Oceans, Water & Drought
Field poll reveals majority of Californians are opposed to tunnels—by Dan Bacher: "A Field Poll released on February 24 revealed that Governor Jerry Brown continues to receive 'strong approval' from California voters, but the same voters oppose his big government spending projects, including the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP to build the twin tunnels. The poll results find nearly 56% of the state's voters approving of Brown's performance in office, while 32% disapprove. However, then asked to consider three negative statements that have been made about the Governor, a 57% majority agrees with one of them—'favors too many big government projects that the state cannot afford right now.'"
Trash, Pollution & Hazardous Waste
Federal prosecutors charge Duke Energy with nine misdemeanors over North Carolina coal ash leaks—by Meteor Blades: "Late Friday, federal prosecutors in North Carolina, along with the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section, filed nine misdemeanor charges against Duke Energy for illegally dumping millions of gallons of toxic coal ash into four of the state's rivers. Four of the charges relate to a 35-million-gallon spill a year ago this month into the Dan River. That tainted the water for 70 miles downstream. The charges under the Clean Water Act cite negligence. If the feds had cited intentional actions, felony charges would presumably have been filed. But the criminal charges won't bring the matter to a close. Duke still faces civil liability."
BP loses legal bid–still on the hook for $13.7 billion—by Walter Einenkel: "New Orleans, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier rejected BP's attempt to reduce the possible civil fine they could face–leaving it at $4,300 per barrel spilled. BP had sought a $3,000 per barrel maximum, equal to a maximum $9.57 billion civil fine. Barbier has not decided how much BP should pay, and it is unclear when he will. You can understand BP's trepidation. It was just a couple of weeks ago that 10,000,000 missing gallons of oil were found. In BP's defense, they don't want to have to keep on paying money for their criminal negligence. In fact, just a few months ago, this very judge called them "grossly negligent", and that cannot be good."
After pipeline spill, petroleum confirmed in the fish of the Yellowstone River—by Jen Hayden: "In January, 50,000 barrels of oil spilled into the Yellowstone River from a pipeline near Glendive, Montana. At the time, officials said they were 'unaware of threats to public safety or health.' Now, more than a month later, officials are offering a sad warning: Detectable levels of petroleum were found in tests of fish pulled from the Yellowstone River downstream from a broken petroleum pipeline near Glendive last month. This week, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks advised fishermen to use caution when deciding whether to eat fish caught in the area affected by the oil spill."
Forests, Wilderness & Public Lands
The Silent War on Trees—by witsendnj : "I am old enough to remember learning about plate tectonics in college, when students were still cautioned that it was a controversial proposition. I was incredulous that something so brilliantly, obviously true could still be considered unproven. However, there have been many theories that were treated as heretical when first unveiled—gravity, evolution, the origin of ulcers, and the dangers of tobacco smoking all come to mind. It is my hope that someday soon, the notion - that spewing poisons known to be toxic to vegetation into the atmosphere at ever increasing rates must and has achieved a threshold that is intolerable to trees - will become crystal clear as well. It is in that spirit that I made the film."
Expanding the National Parks System- #26 Montana—by MorrellWI1983: "This is the twenty-sixth diary in my Expanding the National Parks System series. [...] This week I'm in Montana, sometimes called the 'Treasure State.' Montana is the 4th largest state in area, at slightly under 150,000 miles in area, only Alaska, Texas and California are bigger. 29.9% of Montana is federally owned, less than many Western states and good for 12th nationally in that measure. Currently, Montana has 2 national parks, 3 national monuments, 9 national forests, 21 wildlife refuges and 6 historic sites and other NPS Units. I will be proposing adding 5 more monuments to Montana's tally."
Miscellany
A fishy Supreme Court decision—by Adam B: "Commercial fisherman John Yates got let off the hook by the Supreme Court of the United States today. Caught by Officer John Jones of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the Gulf of Mexico harvesting undersized red groupers in federal waters, Yates ordered a crew member of the Miss Katie to toss the suspect catch into the sea. Yates was charged—not with violation of some federal fishing law, but with violating a provision of the post-Enron Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which provides: Whoever knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States or any case filed under title 11, or in relation to or contemplation of any such matter or case, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. 'A fish is a tangible object,' prosecutors argued. 'Oh, come on, that's not what SarbOx was about—it's about financial records,' Yates' attorneys responded. In a 5-4 decision this morning, the Supreme Court agreed with Yates that this application of SarbOx was one tale too far, and dismissed the charge."
Sued by Chesapeake Energy for Stealing Trade Secrets, Aubrey McClendon Hires PR Giant Edelman—by Steve Horn: "Chesapeake Energy has sued its former CEO, Aubrey McClendon, for allegedly stealing its trade secrets in the months between his resignation and the formation of his new company, American Energy Partners. To defend itself outside of the courtroom, American Energy Partners has hired Edelman, the 'world's largest' and often controversial public relations firm. Filed on February 17 at the District Court of Oklahoma County, Chesapeake's legal complaint alleges McClendon covertly took map-based data owned by the company in the time between resigning from the company and then officially leaving the company in early 2013. Chesapeake also alleges that he then utilized that same confidential data for business and investment decisions at his new startup in deciding which land to purchase for hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') for oil and gas."