Welcome 😄 to Friday’s Roundup of Good News!
In the sixth grade my class was forced to memorize Rudyard Kipling’s IF--. Let’s not concern ourselves with Kipling’s attitudes, which have not all stood the test of time, but with this particular poem. Here are the first few lines:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too…
Boy, do these words remind me of several things President Biden has done recently! For example, ending the war in Afghanistan. He had the guts to do what the three previous presidents did not. And, when there was criticism — much unfair, but genuine concern about the Americans and allies trapped in the country — Biden listened and the administration evacuated more than 120 thousand people.
And, despite some bad press (and Biden had the sense to do the withdrawal in August, when so much of the world is on vacation), most people feel as if ending the war was the correct decision.
Still, standing up for what you believe in can be difficult, especially if you are criticized or mocked. Some of us are not so good at it. I find there are times when I am surprisingly good at it, but other times when just a wee bit of negativity deflates me. I think it helps to practice.
And — don’t you feel energized when someone else does it? I was inspired by Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal and the getting tough on vaccinations. So, if we stand up — keeping our heads, while checking our facts and assumptions — we, too, will inspire others. (I know I have been inspired by many of the gnusies here.)
Come in, dear friends, and let’s fill our heads with some fun facts so we’re ready to keep them pointed in the better direction.
Regular Scheduled Programming
No one here is naïve; we are aware of the many who are fighting to destroy our country. Some of us expected it: the cheating, the lying, the chaos, and yes, even the attempts to cling to power despite the clear will of the people. But we are here to read the efforts and the positive results of those (including us and our fellow gnus) who are working so hard to save our country from those very bad people. We are furious with them for what they are doing and we are letting them know. Remember:
💚 There are more of us than there are of them.
💛 They are terrified when we organize. THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE TERRIFIED!
💔 They want us to be demoralized. The best way to keep up your spirits is to fight. So, take the time to recharge your batteries, but find ways to contribute to the well-being of our country and our world.
🗽 Biden as President!🗽
Biden, Harris and their administration have been hard at work. Here are the last week’s posts at the White House briefing room.
- Thursday, September 16, 2021: Remarks by President Biden on the Economy
- Thursday, September 16, 2021:President Biden Announces Five Key Nominations
- Thursday, September 16, 2021: A Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2021
- Thursday, September 16, 2021: A Proclamation on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and Constitution Week, 2021
- Thursday, September 16, 2021: Background Press Call on the Administration’s Climate Policy
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Readout of Senior White House Meeting with Faith Leaders on Efforts to Relocate Afghan Allies
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Remarks by President Biden, Prime Minister Morrison of Australia, and Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom Announcing the Creation of AUKUS
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: President Biden Announces Members of the Community Development Advisory Board
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: President Biden Appoints Members to National Cancer Advisory Board
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Background Press Call on AUKUS
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Administration’s Proposed Investments in Childcare
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Statement by Vice President Kamala Harris on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Recall Election Victory
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Joint Leaders Statement on AUKUS
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 15, 2021
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Readout of the Sixth National Climate Task Force Meeting
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Letter to the Speaker and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect with Respect to Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Persons who Commit, or Support Terrorism
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Remarks by President Biden at a Meeting with Business Leaders and CEOs on the COVID-19 Response
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: President Biden to Host Leader-Level Meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: A Memorandum for the Secretary of State on Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2022
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Statement by President Joe Biden on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Recall Election Victory
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Whole-of-Government Effort to Ensure Child Tax Credit Reaches All Eligible Families
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Statement by President Biden on Yom Kippur
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Statement by President Biden on 2.8 Million Americans Gaining Health Care in the 2021 Special Enrollment Period
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the International Day of Democracy
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Remarks by President Biden on the Build Back Better Agenda and Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal | Arvada, CO
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Remarks by President Biden During a Tour of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Bogdan Aurescu, Foreign Minister of Romania and National Security Advisor to the President
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Arvada, Colorado
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Remarks by President Biden at a Get Out the Vote Event with Governor Newsom
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021: A Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2021
- Monday, September 13, 2021: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Louisiana Emergency Declaration
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Remarks by President Biden on the Administration’s Response to Recent Wildfires
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Remarks by President Biden in Briefing on the Impacts of the Recent Wildfire
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė of Lithuania
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Dr. Hiski Haukkala of Finland
- Monday, September 13, 2021: President Biden Announces Representatives for the United Nations General Assembly
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Remarks by President Biden in Briefing with Federal and State Fire Agency Officials
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate
- Monday, September 13, 2021: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Arizona Disaster Declaration
- Monday, September 13, 2021: President Biden Announces 10 Key Nominations
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Executive Order on Amending Executive Order 14007
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Boise, ID
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the Quad Leaders Summit
- Monday, September 13, 2021: Executive Order on White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
- Monday, September 13, 2021: A Proclamation on National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, 2021
- Sunday, September 12, 2021: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves California Disaster Declaration
- Saturday, September 11, 2021: Remarks by President Biden After Visiting with Firefighters and Their Families on the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
- Saturday, September 11, 2021: Remarks by Vice President Harris on the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
- Friday, September 10, 2021: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Pennsylvania Disaster Declaration
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 10, 2021
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Remarks by President Biden on How the Administration Is Helping to Keep Students Safe in Classrooms
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Remarks by Vice President Harris During Classroom Visit to Discuss Voting Rights
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Remarks by Vice President Harris in a Discussion with STEM Students at Hampton University
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Readout of the Inaugural Meeting of the White House Competition Council
- Friday, September 10, 2021: Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Further U.S. Citizen Departures from Afghanistan
- Friday, September 10, 2021: A Proclamation on National Grandparents Day, 2021
- Friday, September 10, 2021: A Proclamation on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2021
- Friday, September 10, 2021: A Proclamation on Small Business Week, 2021
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run…
I think we can agree that the Biden administration has been running hard!
CDC’s tally of the covid shots administered through Sept 16, 9 am: 383,038,403
👎 Out with the bad, in with the good 👍
And the DOJ is busy. Here are some excerpts from a Sherrilyn Ifill thread:
And mandates work!
And Elias still fighting the good fight
💣 Republicans in Disarray 💣
The Rs have been engaging in highly questionable strategies — not just from the vantage point of integrity, but from the goal of winning. For example: It’s hard to turn out the vote when you keep claiming the vote is rigged — especially if you do it before the election. From Sep 13, 2021, transcript of the Last Word
David Plouffe: The other thing I`d say, Lawrence. Republicans, clearly no matter what you think about polling. Democrats are way ahead in early polling. Republicans need massive same day turnout. It is historical malpractice to be shouting days before an election, when you need irregular Republican voters to turn out to say, you know what, the election is rigged, almost if it doesn`t matter.
I think this is a big part of `22, we saw it in Georgia, are they going to pay a price for maligning elections, saying that peoples votes don`t count. I think that`s the answer to that is yes. The question is, to what degree?
Amazingly, Larry Elder has proved to be more gracious than the former guy — well, I guess that is not so amazing, as tfg is as anti-gracious as they get — and has acknowledged he lost. But this puts the Rs in a bind. Are they supposed to accept election results or not?
Being FOR the virus is weird, but this seems to be the main R strategy. The loudest have been against all sensible moves to slow/stop the pandemic, the main idea being that if they make people sick and tank the economy, people will blame it on Biden. In the meantime, they’re killing their own supporters. Six unvaccinated right-wing radio hosts are now dead (and their leader, Rush Limbaugh, died earlier of lung cancer). As studies show, this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Not only is it killing many of these people, it’s leaving their families with massive bills and pitiful GoFundMe pages. But I’ve been wondering about other long-term effects. Long-haul covid is real, and those who survive are going to be weakened for a long time, possibly for the rest of their lives. Some will need care, and the caretakers may grow to resent the people who let this happen. I wonder if this will be more tangible than the original pandemic.
Anyway, lots of sensible Rs — and many CEOs — are against the virus and for the vaccine. Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post
While Democrats remain far more supportive of mask and vaccine mandates, a significant share of Republicans are on board. For example, a third of Republicans support school mask mandates, and 27 percent support vaccination requirements for the workplace without the option of weekly testing. In addition, CNN reports, “Republicans who say they’ve been vaccinated themselves are somewhat more supportive of regulations than those who say they haven’t been: 43% of Republicans who’ve had the shot say they favor workplace vaccination requirements, compared with just 3% of those who aren’t vaccinated.”
A Morning Consult-Politico poll is even more striking. The poll reports: “Roughly 3 in 5 U.S. adults think the White House plan will result in reduced covid-19 cases and increased vaccination rates.” Overall, 58 percent favor vaccine mandates or weekly testing, including 33 percent of Republicans. In addition, “62 percent are in favor of encouraging states to require covid-19 vaccinations for all school employees; 60 percent support a vaccination mandate for most health care workers without the ability to opt out through regular testing; and 56 percent support the same rule for most federal workers and contractors.” Interestingly, the numbers remain roughly the same whether it is the federal government or state or local government doing the mandating.
And the latest Axios-Ipsos poll shows that 60 percent of Americans (including about 30 percent of Republicans) approve of vaccination requirements for federal workers and employees at firms with at least 100 workers. Moreover, “Only one in five (20%) Americans say they are not likely to get the coronavirus vaccine, the lowest level since we started tracking. Hard opposition, those not at all likely, has dropped to 14% of adults.” Perhaps mandates are pushing some in the “not likely” category into the “well, if I have to” column.
And, as more people get vaccinated, more of them will become pro-vaccine, because often our actions influence our attitudes, and not the other way around.
⚡️ Welcome! NH republican has enough and switches parties Daily Kos ⚡️
Here’s why I think going after Milley will not do well for the Rs
💙 Democrats Being Cool 💙
Newsom beat back the stupid recall. I was nervous, as were so many, when I read some of the earlier polls, especially given the ridiculous recall rules in California (I don’t know if the people who wrote it did it on purpose, but the people who accepted it and passed it were clearly terrible at math). The Ds agreed on a straightforward strategy, and implemented it (I sent a whole bunch of postcards myself). Here’s Jennifer Rubin on the matter. Washington Post
California’s gubernatorial recall election was not even close. With roughly 9 million votes counted (approximately two-thirds of the total), the “no” vote on Gavin Newsom’s removal leads by nearly 30 points, or 2.6 million votes. That may exceed Newsom’s 2018 margin (62 to 38 percent). With mail-in ballots distributed to all voters, turnout was exceptionally high and may come close to the 12.7 million cast in 2018. ✂️
Newsom
was triumphant late Tuesday: “We said yes to science," he said. “We said yes to vaccines. We said yes to ending his pandemic. We said yes to people’s right to vote without fear. We said yes to women’s constitutional right to decide.” ✂️
Republicans’ humiliating defeat may further outrage taxpayers. Granted, California is a blue state, but the 2022 elections will involve a number of swing seats in the Senate and House in which Republican freshmen who barely defeated Democratic incumbents in 2020 promised moderation. Those Republicans should be concerned that Newsom fired up the “no” voters by running straight at Republicans’ anti-vaccine mandate stunts in other states and Texas’s perverse abortion bounty bill. If those issues are enough to gin up Democrats in 2022, their House and Senate majorities may be less vulnerable than normal for a first midterm election.
It shows we can come out and do the right thing when we need to. Exit polls are showing that the pandemic was the main driver, but I have to believe that anyone watching what is going on in Texas has to be paying more attention to their own states.
AOC Dress
IF you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch
Not only outstanding and standing out, immensely popular. Tax the rich is what makes the infrastructure bills poll even better than they would otherwise (and to be fair, who wants to pay for infrastructure that will be looted by the rich?).
And the Ds are working on it! Wonkette
The House Ways and Means Committee passed a package of tax increases on the rich and tax benefits to help working families and renewable energy; the bill will now go to the Budget Committee, where it will be incorporated into the $3.5 trillion (over 10 years) Build Back Better reconciliation bill that Democrats hope to pass by the end of the month. There's some good stuff in here! As we noted yesterday, the tax increases could be more aggressive, especially in taxing the most nauseatingly wealthy Americans, but there's still hope that the tax increases can be toughened up as the bill moves forward. ✂️
Among the revenue enhancers, we've got:
- Increased top corporate tax rate on income above $5 million, from 21 percent to 26.5 percent.
- Increased top individual income tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent (where it was before the 2017 tax cuts).
- Increased top capital gains tax, from 20 percent to 25 percent (Joe Biden had called for a top cap gains rate of 39.6 percent, since the super-rich get most income from investments, not taxable wages).
- A new three percent surtax on individual income above $5 million, which is nice except for that thing where few rich people get wages in that range. But some do.
- The portion of estates that are exempt from the estate tax would go back to its pre-2017 level of $12 million for a married couple; Trump had doubled that to $24 million. It had been set to expire in four years, the bill advances that expiration to the end of 2021.
- Higher taxes on overseas earnings of US companies.
💜 💉 Unity? 💉💜
Most people support the vaccine mandates. As companies start to require them and more people get them, they will become more popular (often attitudes follow actions, and not the other way around).
Majority of Americans support vaccine mandates Margaret Talev Axios
A majority of Americans — including suburban voters — support vaccine mandates for federal workers as well as private companies, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
Why it matters: The findings, on the heels of President Biden's mandates announcement last week, suggest that while his move was divisive, it may be politically safer than his opponents hope.
What they're saying: "From a political perspective, he especially reinforces himself with independents," said Cliff Young, president of Ipsos U.S. Public Affairs.
More information in this Monmouth poll! Same results, though.
And Biden is not alone; other places are being firm. France suspends unvaxxed health workers BBC
About 3,000 health workers in France have been suspended because they have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.
A new rule, which came into force on Wednesday, made vaccination mandatory for the country's 2.7 million health, care home and fire service staff.
But French Health Minister Olivier Véran said on Thursday that "most of the suspensions are only temporary".
Many are now agreeing to get jabbed because "they see that the vaccination mandate is a reality", he said.
It’s so frustrating to see the anti-vaxxers and their lies holding the country hostage. A few words from IF
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools…
Although we hear about the crazy anti-vax nurses, most health care workers get it.
📥 Actions You Can Take 📤
Message from Indivisible about the Infrastructure Bill(s)
We’re in a really important moment that could decide if a big, bold reconciliation package passes, or if conservative Democrats and the Republican Party manage to block it. If you want a bold bill that will address climate, immigration, lowering drug prices, and more (see a full list below), we need you to call your member of Congress now and tell them to pass the bill.
Why is it urgent that you call today?
Well, yesterday some news outlets started publishing the names of members of the Progressive Voting Bloc -- that’s the Democrats who are sticking together to insist that this bill pass before the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (💪💪💪). Having the list out there will make it easier for conservative corporate lobbyists to start pressure campaigns of their own. So we need to make sure that the progressives know we’ve got their backs right away.
Ready to call? Click here and we’ll connect you straight to your member of Congress, plus give you a script of what to say. Or dial 1-833-981-3066 and we’ll connect you straight through.
Voting rights. This may be the biggest issue threatening our democracy right now. Besides contacting your representatives at the state and federal level to do the right thing (depending on who they are), you can support and contact these organizations:
ACLU — American Civil Liberties Union
Democracy Docket — founded by Marc Elias, so important in fighting the challenges after the last election.
Fair Fight — founded by Stacey Abrams
🌱Grass roots. Biden and Harris can do the top-down stuff, but we have to support from the bottom. I don’t know how to deprogram 75 million people, but some things have been written about, such as deep canvassing, and lots of people are talking about this. If you know someone (who did not storm the Capitol), then see if you can be pleasant. Instead of trying to reason with them (logic is obviously not their strong point) distract them with something else. We need to remove the sources of lies and to take down the temperature. If we get more of the Rs to wear masks and to get vaccinated and to vote for Ds, the country will be a better place. We need to coax some of them out of the rabbit holes and diffuse the anger and the crazy.
🏃 Run for something. If you want to run for something, but have no idea what to do, these people will help you. They also like money and volunteers to help those people who are running, so even if you’re not in a position to stand for office, you can help. Note: they are especially planning to target the 57 Rs in local governments who participated in the insurrection.
👎 Defund the seditionists. This is a list with companies that sometimes have donated to the seditionists, and their current approach to supporting or not supporting the seditionists. The list is long. You will recognize many of the corporations, and you probably have a relationship with some — either you are a customer, a shareholder, or maybe even an employee. Contact them and compliment or complain, but let them know you are watching. Forward it to others.
🐍 Schadenfreude 😈
About damned time!
Tomorrow is the redo of the January 6th storm the Capitol event, but only the organizer seems to care Jordan Green Raw Story
While a seven-foot security fence is being erected around the US Capitol and its police force requests National Guard support in anticipation of Saturday's rally to support the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, virtually no one except the organizer appears to be excited about it.
Tweets from Matt Braynard, the little-known political consultant behind the event, have been almost universally met with derision from people who scorn the hundreds of people facing charges for involvement in the Capitol attack.
Worse, most far-right groups like the Proud Boys, who played an active role in the assault, are forcefully urging supporters to stay away.
Beyond that, right-wing influencers associated with Donald Trump, the Stop the Steal effort and the events of Jan. 6 for the most part aren't even talking about it.
Obviously we will learn more on Saturday. And possibly there will be violence in other areas, but if they are trying to storm Capitols around the country, at least those won’t be in session on Saturday.
Speaking of January 6:
📣 Let’s Honor Truth ☀️
Words matter. Refusing to call a partisan hack an audit Margaret Sullivan Washington Post️. But the award goes to the journalists at The Philadelphia Inquirer
There’s a simple but powerful idea behind the Philadelphia Inquirer’s recent decision not to use the word “audit” when referring to an effort by the state GOP to investigate the 2020 election:
The words that a news organization chooses to tell a story make a difference. If a journalist calls something a “lie,” that’s a deliberate choice. So is “racially tinged.” Or “pro-life.” Or “torture.”
Such decisions carry weight. They have power.
Testifying against Nassar and the system that enabled him BBC. Medals for all these women for stepping forward, again and again.
Elite US gymnast Simone Biles has testified before the Senate about abuse she suffered at the hands of disgraced former team doctor, Larry Nassar.
Former teammates Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney also appeared before the committee, along with FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The committee is examining shortcomings in the FBI's investigation into Nassar, later convicted of sexually abusing girls.
He is serving a life sentence in jail. ✂️
The four athletes were among more than 200 women who gave powerful impact statements to a court in 2018, detailing Larry Nassar's abuse as the sports doctor of the United States women's national gymnastics team.
In total, Nassar was accused of sexual abuse by more than 330 women and girls at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.
These women came forward again and agains, and they are finally being heard. Often you have to repeat the truth.
We need to clean up the FBI. Here’s hoping they will look into the travesty of the non-investigation into Kavanaugh!
🌹 Let’s Celebrate Love ❤️
Violence interrupters bringing peace to dangerous places Andy Corbley Good News Network
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
As city officials wrangle under the pressure to reduce urban violence and deal with demands from police unions, homeowners’ associations, and gun lobbyists, residents in some of the most violent neighborhoods in the country have opted instead to pull up a chair, and have a sit down.
One such movement has been the 21 Days of Peace event in Minneapolis, a place where, even before the death of George Floyd, sometimes saw 11 homicides a month.
Here, community and church congregation members are simply seating themselves in lawn chairs on street corners in the most dangerous neighborhoods, and acting as “violence interrupters”—and police statistics show it’s working.
To return to the poem, these people could have avoided these neighborhoods, could have talked them down. But they pulled out their chairs and sat down. Well done.
📎Odds & Ends 📎
Carbon neutral Delta Airlines? I admit I don’t know if this is green-washing or real. but after hearing their ad on a podcast on MSNBC, I had to listen.
“We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between seeing the world… and saving it.”
The words from Delta’s new brand campaign underscore its commitment first announced in March 2020 to be the first carbon-neutral airline globally.
At that time, Delta committed $1 billion over the ensuing 10 years to drive innovation, advance clean air travel technologies, accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions and waste, and establish new projects to mitigate the balance of emissions.
It does not mean that they have done it, yet. But it is interesting.
Maybe we should just let the trees help themselves Andy Corbley Good News Network
Naturally regenerated forests are much better ways of achieving climate targets than mass planting, and Brazil could achieve 150% more reforestation if the forests are left to their own schemes. ✂️
However, it has lost nearly 80% of its original area due to logging and agricultural expansion, making it ideal for restoration initiatives, reports a study from 2018.
A report from Forest News finds that Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, the oft-ignored, great forest habitat in the country is a perfect site for natural reforestation. ✂️
The Center for International Forestry Research feels the best bet for the world’s forests in a changing climate is to simply take our hands off the wheel.
The MooLoo: Potty training calves to reduce dangerous emissions Jennifer Hassan and Rachel Pannett Washington Post
A herd of “clever cattle” in Germany have successfully been potty-trained and can now relieve themselves in a designated area nicknamed the “MooLoo,” scientists say — a move that they hope will help lower greenhouse gas emissions amid the global warming crisis.
There are an estimated 1.4 billion cows on Earth and they happen to emit a lot of harmful waste products — through burping, urination and defecating — making the animals a major driver of climate change.
Their frequent urination produces 55 to 110 gallons of methane each day and contains nitrogenous components that pollute Earth’s streams and rivers, make the waters dangerous for people to swim in or drink from, and pose a risk to wildlife.
The University of Auckland joined forces with scientists at a research laboratory in Germany for an experiment that would allow the cow’s urine to be collected, treated and neutralized — so it poses less of a risk.
New coal projects have declined by 76% since Paris agreement Olivia Rosane EcoWatch
Scientists have warned that coal burning needs to be phased out by 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Now, a new report reveals that this goal may be within sight: the number of proposed coal plants has dropped by 76 percent since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015.
"The structural transformation of the global electricity sector is accelerating, with countries increasingly steering away from coal power generation as they recognise that coal is a fuel of the past," report author and E3G research manager Leo Roberts said in a press release.
The new report was a joint effort from E3G, Global Energy Monitor and Ember, according to The Guardian. It found that a total of 40 countries have no new coal plants planned. This means that they could easily join the 44 countries that have already committed to no new coal.
Yeah, we need a lot more than just not doing more stupid stuff, but turning around the world is not easy.
Waiting for a White House cat!
🐦 I do a lot of other writing. A recent offering: Hunters of the Feather, a story about a thinker-linker crow who wants to save birdkind from extinction, and the sequel, Scavengers of Mind. (They’re really good! They’re really cheap! Buy and review or rate positively! And Hunters is also available on Audible!) Other stories, based on Jane Austen novels — including a new one for lovers of Pride & Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet’s Advice to Young Ladies — and others on Greek mythology, can be found here.
💙 What You Can Do to Rescue Democracy 💙
It turns out that participation in democracy is not just an every-four-years event but requires active participation, like, whenever you can find time.
Current projects:
Look in the comments for Progressive Muse’s report on Postcards to Voters
And some other ideas:
You can relax and recharge.
You can join protests and freeway blog.
You can help register new voters.
You can smile.
You can get out the vote for special elections.
You can reach out to upset Republicans. We need to win some back.
You can share your ideas below.
🌻
💙 “Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured.” 💙
President Joseph R. Biden
🌹 🌹 🌹
TRUTH MATTERS. LOVE MATTERS.