Kate Sheppard over at Grist points out that even George W. Bush conceded, finally, that climate change might be for real. Not that he turned the words into action. Now, with one 2012 presidential possibility after another popping Republican bubbles with affairs and resignations, Jeb Bush, the guy who was supposed to follow in dad’s footsteps to the White House has made his own views clear on the subject in Tucker Carlson’s Esquire interview:
Do you believe global warming is primarily man-made?
I'm a skeptic. I'm not a scientist. I think the science has been politicized. I would be very wary of hollowing out our industrial base even further... It may be only partially man-made. It may not be warming by the way. The last six years we've actually had mean temperatures that are cooler. I think we need to be very cautious before we dramatically alter who we are as a nation because of it. |
Remind us, Jeb, how old is the earth?
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Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse uncovered some euphemizing in Obama Admin Ends MTR Mining With A Name Change: "The Obama administration is at least testing the waters of changing the name of mountaintop removal mining to "Appalachian surface coal mining" or ASCM. This name change, which neutralizes the horrific visuals of MTR mining, may help Obama gain support for a new policy to reduce the harmful environmental impacts of MTR mining. The Obama administration is taking steps that are a ‘firm departure’ from Bush who ‘failed to protect our communities, water, and wildlife in Appalachia.’ For the first time the government is acknowledging the adverse impacts of MTR mining and will, for example, review the ‘cumulative impact of valley fill permits on water quality and look at entire watersheds instead of isolated streams.’ However, the question is whether MTR mining should be limited to a policy of environmental impact relativity or do we insist that MTR mining be stopped in obvious recognition that MTR mining by definition violates the environmental rules of law?"
skywaker9 explained that Mass Transit and Smart Growth Save Time, $ and the Environment: "One of the primary assumptions of the so-called ‘Smart Growth’ movement has long been that smart growth, combined with expenditures on mass transit (especially transit such as light rail or streetcar that encourage ‘choice’ riders who might otherwise drive) save everyone time and money and protect the environment. The latest statistics from the Texas Transportation Institute show this to be the case. This diary will briefly describe Oregon's land use system as it applies to Smart Growth and our investments in public transportation, along with their impacts."
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The Overnight News Digest is posted. Included is the story Hamas "Morality" Cops Enforce Islamic Law
Turkana looked in at the summit in As Obama Arrives, Good News/Bad News On G8 Climate Deal: "Although the paradigmatic difference is that President Obama is trying to break the gridlock and move the world towards accepting the full package of emissions reductions, while Bush still wasn't accepting the basic science that proves the human role in creating global warming. Even so, this will not be easy. Although President Obama invited the leaders of China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and other developing economic powers for a parallel forum, China's President Hu Jintao had to leave, because he has an ethnic uprising to crush. ... the breakdown in negotiations came because the emerging powers won't accept specific targets, want to establish mid-term goals for 2020, and want commitments from the developed powers on financial and technological aid. They do have a point, in that the developed powers became so developed largely through an industrialization that contributed so much to the current climate crisis; which is something critics of climate change treaties don't seem to understand: who are we to tell other nations not to develop along the same lines that created our wealth and power."
Jill Richardson was not surprised but not happy to learn that Obama White House Appoints Former Monsanto Lobbyist to FDA: "He was going to do it, and he did it. For months now, occasional rumors have gone around that Obama was going to appoint Michael R Taylor to this or that. And he did it. Finally. Monday. It happened with very little fanfare, actually. My fellow food conspirators and I knew there was going to be a White House food safety press briefing on Tuesday. We knew who was invited - mostly big ag shills, including Michael Taylor. He was listed as representing George Washington University, not the FDA. But by Monday or Tuesday the rumors were FLYING. And by mid-day Tuesday they were confirmed, with a USA Today article and a FDA press release. Monsanto must be having a party back in St. Louis."
citisven told us that I want to ride my bicycle (w/bonus Amsterdam photos): "Last week the City of San Francisco adopted a new bicycle plan that will launch 45 new projects to improve biking in the city and add almost double the number of existing bike lanes to the city streets. None of this would have been possible without a growing movement of people willing to get out of their cars and brave these roads that were built and designed around the automobile. The SF Bicycle Coalition now has over 10,000 members and has played a significant role not only in lobbying politicians but in helping to make biking a more vital part of our culture. From Bike to Work Day to Sunday Streets during which entire sections of town are closed to automobiles, these activities have shown residents that the bicycle is not only a means of transportation but a community builder. By getting out of our cars we're starting to see each other in real time again."
Pickens out of wind? was the story that piqued irate’s interest: "I can only speculate that our government has refused to subsidize billonaire Pickens in his attempt to control wind power to his own profit and rate payers expense. I'm no expert on wind power or co-ops but some recent events have led me to speculate on the possibility of a local and perhaps national network of co-ops to harness this resource. This ought to be possible."
EJMorley reported that Greenpeace scales Mount Rushmore, hangs banner: "Why are they up there? Because Obama's not delivering the climate leadership he promised. Not on ACES, and not now, at the G8, where, as we've just revealed, US negotiators have been trying to weaken the G8s already weak commitments."
davidwalters wrote his No. 3 installment of the Daily Kos Nuclear Alternative Energy Round Up: "Clearly the Chinese have NOT been listeng to anti-nuclear ‘Rush Limbaugh’ Harvey Wasserman. Had they, they would not of announced that YET AGAIN(!!!) they are raising the amount of new nuclear from 40, then 56, then 60, then 72 and now 86 gigawatts of new nuclear plant online by 2020 ...1 0 years away. There is much speculation of why the Chinese has upped this number so greatly. Personally, I think it has to do with two optimistic projections."