Check out the saga of the green heron hunting for lunch
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
22,560 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.
Dirty Water – The Use of Oil Production Wastewater to Irrigate California Crops—by
Robocop: "For two decades farmers in California’s Central Valley have been buying water from the Chevron Kern River oil field, which is currently the 5th largest oil field in the country. The water being purchased is oil production wastewater. The field is located in the San Joaquin Valley, where oil was discovered in 1899, and covers 10,750 acres. Since most of the oil has been removed from the field, Chevron has moved to use 'enhanced production technologies' to extract the remaining oil, such as fracking, acidizing and cyclic steam injection. By some estimates, these production methods use approximately 2.14 million gallons of water every day. After production, this wastewater has nowhere to go. According to Rock Zierman, the chief executive officer of the California Independent Petroleum Association, 'if we’re not able to put the water back, there’s no other viable thing to do with it.' But in league with corporate agriculture, Chevron has been selling the water to be used for crop irrigation as a 'viable alternative.'"
Why I Would Like To Thank Royal Dutch Shell—by
LaFeminista: "Perverse as it may seem. A stark counterpoint to Van Beurden’s speech comes from a 2013 Shell New Lens Scenario planning document which suggests industry talk of lowering global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is just that. Referring to the internationally agreed limit on a global temperature rise of 2C, the document states: 'Both our scenarios and the IEA (International Energy Agency) New Policies scenario (and our base case energy demand and outlook) do not limit emissions to be consistent with the back-calculated 450 parts per million (CO2 in the atmosphere) 2C. We also do not see governments taking the steps now that are consistent with the 2C scenario.' According to one estimate, that Shell statement is tantamount to acknowledging that the world will disastrously vault over the 2C limit. Link this with
Fossil fuel companies are benefitting from global subsidies of $5.3tn (£3.4tn) a year, equivalent to $10m a minute every day, according to a startling new estimate by the International Monetary Fund."
You can find more excerpts from green diaries below the orange spill.
Climate Chaos
Sen. Whitehouse gives his 100th climate change speech. More senators should emulate him—by Meteor Blades: "Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island gave his 20-minute pilot floor speech on climate change in October 2011. But he began his weekly series with a climate change speech in April 2012. Since then, he has, with only a couple of exceptions, given another speech on the subject every week Congress has been in session. Monday, as you can see above, he gave his 100th speech. [...] Whitehouse should get a standing ovation for his efforts. Not because what he proposes is in any way radical. [...] A lot more senators should be standing up each week and speaking as he does. Whitehouse notes that there are several others—whom he names—who also speak on the subject. But there are 45 Senate Democrats (including Bernie Sanders who just became one) and the independent Angus King of Maine. And most of them don't have much to say about climate change in the Senate or anywhere else. Every single one of them ought to be at the Senate microphones about climate change frequently, relentlessly challenging the forces that are holding us back from taking the necessary aggressive action to keep climate change from being worse. They should also be taking their floor speeches to the home turf during Senate recesses. And they should be backing existing climate-related legislation from Whitehouse, Sanders, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Ed Markey and others."
Why I Would Like To Thank Royal Dutch Shell—by LaFeminista: "Perverse as it may seem. A stark counterpoint to Van Beurden’s speech comes from a 2013 Shell New Lens Scenario planning document which suggests industry talk of lowering global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is just that. Referring to the internationally agreed limit on a global temperature rise of 2C, the document states: 'Both our scenarios and the IEA (International Energy Agency) New Policies scenario (and our base case energy demand and outlook) do not limit emissions to be consistent with the back-calculated 450 parts per million (CO2 in the atmosphere) 2C. We also do not see governments taking the steps now that are consistent with the 2C scenario.' According to one estimate, that Shell statement is tantamount to acknowledging that the world will disastrously vault over the 2C limit. Link this with Fossil fuel companies are benefitting from global subsidies of $5.3tn (£3.4tn) a year, equivalent to $10m a minute every day, according to a startling new estimate by the International Monetary Fund."
A lot of talk, a lot of thinking, a lot of delay - World fails to limit GHG emissions.—by Pakalolo: "At a recent meeting in London, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) passed on the opportunity to set global emissions standards for the shipping industry. The Marshall Islands, which are experiencing the effects of rapid sea level rise, had proposed a cap on the shipping industry's emissions. Due to no verifiable measure on how to monitor progress, the Pacific island nation's plea was rejected by the IMO. Efficiency is a very top priority of the shipping industry and progress has been made. But it's just not enough as Maritime CO2 emissions are projected to increase 50% to 250% percent by 2050."
Climate takes up half Obama's commencement address to Coast Guard cadets, with some Arctic irony—by Meteor Blades: "President Obama added another strong speech Wednesday to his growing collection about a subject he and other presidential candidates barely mentioned during the 2012 election campaign: climate change. [...] He spoke of how tough are the politics of adopting farsighted climate change policies. Without naming names, he challenged the foes of those policies by pointing out how their opposition undermines military preparedness: "Denying it, or refusing to deal with it endangers our national security. It undermines the readiness of our forces. [...] It's in the interests of the U.S. to direct attention toward doing everything in the nation's power reduce the use of fossil fuels. That should include not exploiting those resources lying beneath the Arctic seabed. Instead, the administration just approved drilling there by Royal Dutch Shell. Okaying the extraction and burning of more Arctic hydrocarbons just days before issuing these cogent climate-change warnings to the cadets weakened the president's entire speech."
Shell and CCS: A 2 Degree Solution at odds—by e2247: "CCS: A 2 Degree Solution is unrealistic as evidenced by Shell stating in its "Oceans scenario" that 'greenhouse gas emissions follow a pathway worryingly much higher than the 2°C goal, which in turn further increases the focus on adaptation to the effects of climate change".An excellent Dkos diary of May 17, 2015 entitled 'Shell Oil Caught Planning for Deadly 4 to 6 Degree Rise in Global Temperature' is worth reading. And ask who benefits and what changes are planned by Shell in its idea of 'adaptation to the effects of climate change.' Royal Dutch Shell annual general meeting of Shell shareholders and U.S. Members of Congress should see this 'immersive animated journey depicting the scale of global carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption.' (runs 4.5 minutes; from WBCSD - World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
Shell Oil Caught Planning for Deadly 4 to 6 Degree Rise in Global Temperature—by ericlewis0: "Whoopsies. From The Guardian: Royal Dutch Shell has been accused of pursuing a strategy that would lead to potentially catastrophic climate change after an internal document acknowledged a global temperature rise of 4C, twice the level considered safe for the planet. A paper used for guiding future business planning at the Anglo-Dutch multinational assumes that carbon dioxide emissions will fail to limit temperature increases to 2C, the internationally agreed threshold to prevent widespread flooding, famine and desertification. Instead, the New Lens Scenarios document refers to a forecast by the independent International Energy Agency (IEA) that points to a temperature rise of up to 4C in the short term, rising later to 6C."
Extreme Weather & Natural Phenomena
Worms and other creepy-crawlers may be our best climate change fighters—by Walter Einenkel: "A new study led by the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies has been released. In it researchers studied the effects of interspecific interactions in climate feedback: We explore the potential of soil animals to mediate microbial responses to warming and nitrogen enrichment within a long-term, field-based global change study. The combination of global change factors alleviated the bottom-up limitations on fungal growth, stimulating enzyme production and decomposition rates in the absence of soil animals. However, increased fungal biomass also stimulated consumption rates by soil invertebrates, restoring microbial process rates to levels observed under ambient conditions. Our results support the contemporary theory that top-down control in soil food webs is apparent only in the absence of bottom-up limitation."
Critters & the Great Outdoors
Dawn Chorus: Birds in Flight—by Kestrel: "Since humans have existed, we have pondered the magic of flight made visable to all through the graceful beauty of birds. From the slow and elegant flight of large birds like egrets and herons to the amazing blur of the hovering hummingbird, birds in flight have always captivated. It was Leonardo da Vinci who conceptualized flying machines by carefully studying birds in the 15th century seen below through two of his early drawings."
Greater White-fronted geese
Daily Bucket: A Green Heron Hunts His Lunch—by
Lenny Flank: "A few days ago, I happened upon a Green Heron hunting for his lunch. Green Herons are much more shy than other herons and egrets, so when he saw me watching him he froze completely still for a good ten minutes, until finally deciding I wasn't a threat and going about his birdie business. The heron was hunting when I came upon him. He saw me right away. And froze, hoping I wouldn't notice him. After a little while he decided I wasn't a threat, and started his hunt again. When a Dragonfly flew overhead, he made a stab at it, but missed and watched it intently once it landed, but it didn't come within range again. A few minutes later he nabbed a fish that wandered too close."
A Little Good News for Honeybees—by nannyboz: Honeybees are going to get a little help from the White House. In an effort to help the declining bee and butterfly populations, the White House announced new steps to protect the pollinators—which, among other measures, calls for the planting of new bee-friendly gardens at federal offices across the country. The article goes on to say that for a year a task force has studied the decline of honeybee colonies and Monarch butterfly populations. The obvious villains, pesticides and their overuse, have been mentioned and plans to mitigate their effects are being made. As well, several thousands of acres are to be solely used for plantings that help attract the bees and butterflies in a safe environment."
The Daily Bucket: One person's weed...—by
Elizaveta: "What is a weed? According to my friend, Merriam Webster, it is 'a (1): a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.' The above photo is a small section of what was, up until this past spring, the vegetable garden. I've retired this well-used piece of ground, and it is now covered in weeds and old veggies gone to seed. The patch looks a little like a wildflower meadow and is busy with bees and other insects and a hummingbird or two. Don't get tangled in the twisting, orange vine as you follow me down the garden path for more. [...]Another friend of mine says that since she stopped mowing and weed eating her yard, she has identified over 80 species of plants growing on her property. Plants, she calls them. Not weeds. And the pollinators love what she's allowing to grow. She has also identified how many plants are edible and uses them with great gusto. In a way, she's turned straw into gold."
The Daily Bucket - recent canoodling—by
OceanDiver: "April/May 2015. Pacific Northwest. Whatever you want to call them, the spring mating rituals of animals are varied, and pretty serious, whether the commitment is long-term or short. Here are some pairs I've seen in nature this spring. Gulls are very noisy and expressive. You'll know if a pair is refreshing their bond (gulls have long-term monogamous relationships). Lots of eye contact, conversation and mirroring activity. They also present small bits of seaweed debris to each other. Here's one pair of Glaucous-winged gulls on the dock. If all goes well this pair will prepare a nest, incubate eggs and raise their chicks to fledging."
The Daily Bucket - Citizen Science at Work—by enhydra lutris: "A new report reported on by enn: Wildlife and Habitat Conservation News: Bird populations responding to climate change is based on Feeder Watch data. A multidisciplinary study's finding was summarized thusly: The researchers found that persistent shifts in rainfall and temperature drive boom-and-bust cycles in forest seed production, which in turn drive the mass migrations of pine siskins, the most widespread and visible of the irruptive migrants. 'It’s a chain reaction from climate to seeds to birds,' says atmospheric scientist Court Strong, an assistant professor at the University of Utah and lead author of the study."
birds along the fox—by blueyedace2:
Energy
If the power grid goes down, blame utilities' war on solar—by Ivy Main: "A large number of electric utilities across the country are famously engaged in a war against customer-owned solar. Using policy barriers, 'standby' charges and other tactics, utilities from Arizona to Virginia are doing everything possible to short-circuit a revolution that threatens their control of the electric sector. It won’t work. Trying to keep electric generation out of the hands of the rabble is a stop-gap solution, doomed to fail within a few years when battery storage allows customers with solar arrays (or wind turbines) to defect en masse. But utilities won’t be the only ones hurt in the process. Stifling distributed generation and forcing grid defection is the worst possible outcome for the economy, the climate, and the security of the electric grid. The more utilities succeed, the more everyone loses. With all its problems—and they are growing—the modern electric grid remains an efficient way of delivering competitively-priced power to American homes and businesses."
Oil, Coal, Gas & Nuclear
Exploiting Ebola and Poverty to Sell Coal: Peabody Energy—by climatedenierroundup: "Suzanne Goldenberg holds nothing back in a one-two punch of proper journalism in which she exposes the despicable actions of Peabody Coal—the world's largest privately-held coal company—taken in service of its profits. (Goldenberg's articles are part of The Guardian's 'Keep it in the ground' campaign.) First, Goldenberg explores Peabody's "campaign to rebrand coal as a poverty cure." She then exposes how 'Peabody Energy exploited [the] Ebola crisis for corporate gain.' The story behind the Ebola episode is pretty simple. During a presentation, a Peabody executive claimed (citing an infectious disease expert) that if Africa had more energy (generated by coal), then a hypothetical vaccine could have been distributed more quickly. In response, Goldenberg quotes other experts who strongly reject Peabody's claims, saying, '[the claims are] a pretty far-fetched leap,' and 'absolutely ludicrous.' Goldenberg also quotes the expert whose comments were used to justify Peobody's claims, and he himself points out that, due to cell phone towers, there's already plenty of electricity in Africa to keep vaccines refrigerated and ensure they're distributed efficiently. The Ebola claim is part of Peabody's larger effort to distract from the climate and health impacts of coal and instead portray it as a savior of the poor."
Shell Polar "Destroyer" Arrives (Photo Diary)—by momomia: "Thursday afternoon, 05/14/15, I heard you could see the Polar Pioneer coming into view from Alki Beach. I went to Jack Block Park adjacent to terminal 5 where it was towed to check it out. Following are just a few (and too many) photos of the 3 hours I spent there."
Asheville Coal Plant to Retire After High Profile Three-Year Campaign; Clean Energy Work To Continue—by
Mary Anne Hitt: "This week I want to honor some of the most hard-working activists on our Beyond Coal campaign - Team Asheville in North Carolina. After years of rallies, public meetings, educational forums, leadership from the Asheville City council, letter-writing, and even a visit from TV star Ian Somerhalder, on Tuesday, all that hard work paid off. Duke Energy announced it will retire its filthy Asheville coal plant, the 190th plant to announce retirement during the Beyond Coal campaign. While Duke is unfortunately ignoring Asheville residents' demands of replacing it entirely with clean energy (Duke plans to replace the plant with natural gas), these tireless activists can still claim a victory to be proud of—winning a reprieve for the French Broad river from coal ash, eliminating the region's biggest source of air and climate pollution, and a making a strong show of grassroots power that held one of the nation’s most powerful companies accountable. 'Duke's announcement to retire the coal plant came with the unwelcome news of a new gas plant, which of course is not the vision we hold for a clean energy economy here in North Carolina,' said Kelly Martin of Asheville Beyond Coal. 'We claimed our victory, but stayed honest about the outcome. At least now there is an end in sight to the coal ash pollution, the sulfur dioxide pollution, and the carbon pollution from this plant.'"
Renewables, Conservation & Storage
Tesla Powerwall, Take Two: The Pricepoint, The Competition, The Vision—by jamess: "After recapping the Tesla Powerwall last week-end, I commented that I would dig into the tech and the price points, a bit more critically this week-end. SOOOOO, here are a few note-worthy articles that might be worth your time, especially if you see yourself as an 'early adopter' of this market-shaking 'transition technology.' The first article, somewhat critical of Tesla, tries to shake out their 'true price points,' among other things (like grid pay-backs). Overall though, they seem somewhat enthused about Tesla's practical entries into this critical sector."
Costa Rica: 100% Renewable Electricity for 100 Days, Carbon Neutral by 2021—by gmoke: "Costa Rica has provided all of its electricity from renewables, usually a mix of 68 percent hydro, 15 percent geothermal, and 17% mostly diesel and gas, for the first 100 days of 2015. The Tico Times reports (http://www.ticotimes.net/...). 'The clean energy streak is likely to continue. Last Friday [April 17, 2015] ICE (Costa Rica Electricity Institute) released a report estimating that 97 percent of the country’s electricity will be produced from renewables this year. This is good news for Costa Rican residents, who will see their electricity prices drop up to 15 percent starting this month. In 2016, Costa Rica is a launching a satellite to monitor CO2 across the world tropical belt (http://www.ticotimes.net/...). '...the first Central American satellite, built in Costa Rica, will be launched into space in 2016. The satellite will collect and relay daily data on carbon dioxide to evaluate the effects of climate change.' Costa Rica announced in 2009 that it plans to be a carbon neutral country by 2021 and they are following through on that planning."
Fracking
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott does industry's bidding and signs state ban on local fracking bans—by Meteor Blades: "When the residents of Denton, Texas, voted 59-41 percent to impose a ban on hydraulic fracturing in their community, the howls of industry and their legislator marionettes could be heard statewide. The industry's lawyers got busy and sued Denton, population 113,000. There are 270 nearby wells where hydraulic fracturing—"fracking"—is used to pry natural gas from a tight shale formation. The state legislature, which usually makes a big deal oratorically about local control, got busy and crafted HB 40, a bill that would stop Denton and any other Texas municipality from passing fracking bans, by referendum or other means, against a 'prudent operator.' Or rather, former ExxonMobil lawyer Shannon Ratliff got busy and drafted the bill's language."
Breaking: North Carolina granted a stay of Execution by Fracking!!—by windsong01: "Superior Court Judge of Wake County, Donald W. Stephens, temporarily halts permits pending review of how the states mining and Energy Commission was formed. Environmental groups have argued that controversial commission was formed in violation of the state constitution. The injunction will temporarily stop the commission form processing or accepting permit applications for hydraulic fracturing drilling units."
Fracking up the NATIONAL Food and Water Supply - Do you Give a F*k?—by lizadeeza: "If you think the benefits of Fracking and US Domestic Fossil Fuel Drilling, in general—lowered gas prices, and maybe in the distant future less reliance on oil from the Middle East—outweigh the risks—consider what you put in your mouth these days. Don't worry, I am only talking about Food and Bottled Water ... Blowjobs won't be directly affected. Back on Track to a tangled tale—California is in the midst of the third worst drought in recorded history. Check out California Drought Monitor and you will see that 50 per cent of the state is in 'Exceptional Drought Condition' meaning, exceptionally BAD! And California supplies close to fifty per cent of the nation's vegetables, fruits and nuts, as well as being the home for numerous water bottling plants. So what, YOU say? You haven't heard about any reductions in the food supply, due to the drought. And you are right—California farmers are still cranking out the produce, in spite of their dry water resevoirs. How? Because they are relying on alternate water sources.They are now pumping ground water to irrigate their fields."
Keystone XL & Other Fossil Fuel Transportation
California pipeline bursts near popular Santa Barbara beach, 4-mile-long oil slick on beaches—by Jen Hayden: "Campers at popular Refugio State Beach in California were alarmed by noxious fumes and notified authorities, who discovered a 21,000 gallon oil leak: After flowing from the pipeline, crude pooled in a culvert before spilling into the Pacific, where it created a four-mile-long sheen extending about 50 yards into the water. Officials said winds could send the oil another four miles south toward Isla Vista. The pipeline, built in 1991 and designed to carry about 150,000 barrels of oil per day, is owned by Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline, which said in a statement that it shut down the pipe. The culvert was also blocked to prevent more oil from flowing into the ocean, the company said. Clean-up is underway, but no timeline has been announced. The state beach campground was at capacity for a busy holiday weekend, but all campers have been forced to pack up and leave."
Santa Barbara oil spill highlights dangers of offshore fracking and drilling—by Dan Bacher: "In the same region where questionable "marine protected areas" were created under the helm of a Big Oil lobbyist, state and federal government crews are cleaning up a big oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara. The spill from a ruptured pipeline owned by Plains All American Pipeline spans four miles wide and there is still some seepage, according to authorities. 'The ruptured pipeline in Goleta leaked an estimated 21,000 gallons of crude oil Tuesday, some of which flowed into the ocean off Santa Barbara County, authorities said,' the LA Times reported."
Pipeline leak: Santa Barbara County beach this time—by juliandomain: "Apparently the pipeline is not owned by Exxon. The company that claims to own it traces back to three companies so far as far as ownership. I'm going to have to continue researching but with so many shell companies we may never know who really owns the pipe."
Candidates & DC, State & Local Eco-Politics
Hillary Clinton changes her mind about melting Arctic over lunch—by VL Baker: "Guardian columnist George Monbiot and Climate change activist George Marshall took part in the discussion at a Guardian Live event in King's Place in central London on 13 May. The discussion was about the glaring disconnect about why almost all governments agree that we need to reduce greenhouse gases, but at the same time they try to maximize fossil-fuel production. The highlight about Hillary Clinton's compartmentalizing the issue was especially revealing. How can we ever solve the climate crisis when our government's are trying to have it both ways?"
Illinois Legislators Face Backlash for Coal Mining Bill—by Willinois: "Illinois State Senator Andy Manar is getting pushback from constituents after introducing a bill to help the heavily subsidized state coal mining industry. A coal industry lobbyist with Foresight Energy joined Manar and other legislators at a press conference for a bill to give Illinois coal an advantage over imports. Roughly 90% of coal burned in Illinois is imported from other states because power plant operators are too cheap to install better pollution controls. Their press release claims Manar and Senator John Bradley introduced the bill to ensure coal is part of the discussion in negotiations over state energy policy. How sweet of them to look out for poor, overlooked Foresight Energy after it donated only $185,600 to Illinois politicians this year! Coal is already king of corporate welfare in Illinois. Mining equipment is exempt from the state sales tax, it's heavily subsidized by the Coal Development Office, and it doesn't pay an excise tax levied in other coal producing states. Despite all the extra help, Foresight Energy is still worried their Illinois mines can't compete in a competitive market."
2016 Presidential Election: The Candidates On Climate Change—by Marcia G Yerman: "Although the country is over a year and half away from the 2016 presidential election, candidates are stepping up to throw their hats into the ring. Voters may be exhausted by the time November ’16 rolls around, but the upside is that it will give them plenty of time to dig deep into each entrants position on the environment, climate change, and the commitment (or lack of) to protecting the planet for future generations. Gallup has put together a poll on the views of the American electorate focusing on the question of global warming, and looking at responses on a Conservative Republican to Liberal Democrat continuum. [...] This information is essential to understand the posturing of most candidates who have to appeal to one demographic in the primaries and another in a nationally contested race between (most probably) two candidates. This becomes clear specifically for those who emanate from within a narrower base core (such as the Tea Party)."
Citizen-led WA ballot initiative pushes politician climate action—by Pacificshift: "Washington state legislators are concerned that a $25/ton carbon tax proposed in Carbon Washington’s ballot initiative, I-732, will be too “blunt” an instrument. So they are reviving a more nuanced carbon-pricing plan proposed by the governor. This demonstrates the power of citizens to place climate action pressure on elected politicians, and the need for citizen to keep the pressure up. Meanwhile, Carbon Washington and the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, which has been considering its own initiative, have achieved a public rapprochement. The two groups have been in some tension, but have now issued a joint statement committing to avoid competing 2016 initiatives. They could build further collaboration by joining in an urgently needed public campaign to illuminate the promise of clean energy and the need for some form of carbon pricing to drive it forward. If Washington Gov. Jay Inslee manages to pass his carbon cap proposal this legislative session, he will owe a debt of gratitude to Carbon Washington and its effort to place a carbon tax on the ballot."
Wyoming can now put you in jail for sharing nature photos with the government—by Walter Einenkel: "You can face a $5000.00 fine and up to a year in prison if you share your nature photography with the government, according to a new Wyoming law. The Wyoming Senate just signed Bill 12: Trespassing to collect data (or Date Trespassing Bill). Ostensibly a private property/trespassing law, Bill 12 is incredibly wide-reaching: The new law is of breathtaking scope. It makes it a crime to 'collect resource data' from any 'open land,' meaning any land outside of a city or town, whether it’s federal, state, or privately owned. The statute defines the word collect as any method to 'preserve information in any form,' including taking a 'photograph' so long as the person gathering that information intends to submit it to a federal or state agency. In other words, if you discover an environmental disaster in Wyoming, even one that poses an imminent threat to public health, you’re obliged, according to this law, to keep it to yourself."
Wyoming New Law! Prison for Reporting Pollution—by thepanamarick: "While your all talking about how you can reason with these people, you should take a look at this. Passed by the Wyoming state government and signed into law by Gov. Matt Mead (R) in March, the law makes it illegal to 'collect resource data' from any land outside of city boundaries, whether that land be private, public, or federal. Under to the law, 'collect' means to 'take a sample of material, acquire, gather, photograph or otherwise preserve information in any form from open land which is submitted or intended to be submitted to any agency of the state or federal government.'"
Call Gov. Cuomo Today: No Tar Sands Crude in New York!—by Albanius: "NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) may issue a permit tomorrow to Global Partners for a facility to accept and heat heavy crude from the infamous Alberta Tar Sands in Canada, the dirtiest oil in the world. Tar Sands produces less net energy than ordinary crude and emits far more greenhouse pollution. Reports say that DEC could announce a decision to permit the project this Thursday 5/21. The GLOBAL HEATING facility would use multiple boilers to heat rail cars full of “heavy crude oil” to allow it to flow enough to be pumped to barges on the Hudson. The only heavy crude in sight is from the Tar Sands, which Global has not denied. Tar sands crude, AKA dilbit (diluted bitumen), sinks in water and would pollute the Hudson indefinitely if it spills. The 2010 Kalamazoo River dilbit spill cost over $1.2 Billion. CALLS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY are needed to let Cuomo know that Tar Sands development is the poster boy—as in PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE—for the emerging clean energy/climate justice movement. Top climate scientist James Hansen says that development of the huge Tar Sands reserves would mean 'game over for the climate'."
Eco-Action & Eco Justice
Matt "King Coal" Ridley Disparages Divestment—by ClimateDenierRoundup: "In a (thankfully)paywalled oped in the London Times, #MattKingCoal Ridley attacks the fossil fuel divestment movement with the usual set of misleading talking points, focusing on the microeconomic issues and ignoring the larger social goals of the movement. To his defense, Ridley does mention that he has 'a commercial relationship with a coal company' before claiming that—since the company is not public—it won't be hurt by divestment. What Ridley's oped conspicuously fails to mention is that the real goal of divestment is to revoke the social license for fossil fuel firms to operate. Given this, it's no surprise Ridley doesn't mention that he actually stands to lose an estimated £20m should divestment be successful. This is because divestment is really about society demanding we leave all fossil fuels in the ground. With this goal, most of Ridley's points are rendered moot. What remains is a disingenuous plea for the poor and a debunked notion that warming to 2°C won't be so bad. His desire for the poor to have fossil fuels ignores the health impacts, as pointed out in a edifying new NYT interview: "When coal is burned to produce electricity it produces pollution that kills more than 10,000 Americans each year, and more than a quarter million Chinese.' Ridley concludes by asking a rhetorical question rich with unintended irony: 'Where is the morality in hurting today's poor people for the sake of these distant plutocrats?'"
Paddle in Seattle Saturday (photo diary)—by momomia: A photo diary of preparations for anti-Arctic drilling kayak protest.
One of the five beautiful canoes at the protest.
Agriculture, Food & Gardening
CT-Sen: Richard Blumenthal (D) Keeps Up The Fight For Mandatory GMO Labeling—by poopdogcomedy: "Received this e-mail today from U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D. CT): As a dad, it’s always been important to me to know what my kids were eating. Carrots for dinner? Sure. Ice cream? Maybe wait for dessert. It’s even more important to me to know if my family is eating genetically modified foods. That’s why I’m appalled that Congress is on the brink of passing the DARK Act – a law that would ban states from requiring GMO labeling. I’m calling on Congress to defeat the DARK Act and support mandatory labeling of GMOs, but I need your help. Will you add your name now and stand with me to demand GMO labeling?"
Transportation & Infrastructure
Sunday Train: Benefits of the Maryland Red and Purple Lines—by BruceMcF: "Just as national attention has been focused on the sections of Baltimore that have been largely locked out of the revival of economic activity in downtown Baltimore and the Inner Harbor, the new Republican governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, is considering whether to proceed with the construction of the Red Line in Baltimore, as well as the Purple Line in the Maryland DC suburbs. As discussed in StreetsblogUSA back in January, 'Considering to proceed,' here, means: Early in his gubernatorial campaign, Hogan promised to kill the projects, saying the money would be better spent on roads and that the western, eastern, and southern parts of the state deserved more attention. But closer to the election he moderated his views, saying the lines were 'worth considering.' Now Transport for American (t4america.com) has weighed in, producing a report that argues that the benefits of the lines make them well worth their cost. Indeed, part of their case may well help explain why Gov. Hogan is 'deciding' when originally Candidate Hogan sounded like he had already made up his mind."
Trade & Eco-Related Foreign Policy
TPP: Corporate 'Tribunals' Bad for People, Environment & Climate Justice—by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse: "Senator Elizabeth Warren has noted that ISDS is a policy in the new TPP, and she, other lawmakers, environmentalists and human right activists object to ISDS for good reasons. The full name of Investor-State Dispute Settlement sounds like a harmless process to settle disputes between a foreign government and a corporation that invests in that country. If the host country 'violates' rights granted to the corporation under a trade agreement, then the investor may bring the matter before an 'arbitration tribunal.' The U.S. is proud of our democracy and the rule of law so it is curious that this ISDS basically operates in direct opposition to our rule of law whenever possible. Joseph E. Stiglitz (and other distinguished professors and former judges and justices) wrote a letter to Congressional leaders to state their opposition to ISDS based on impacts to our rule of law. The ISDS is a new legal system for only foreign investor/corporations, it is not available to 'nations, domestic investors, or civil society groups alleging violations of treaty obligations.'"
Reps DeLauro, Slaughter and Pingree demand Obama administration release food safety language in TPP—by VL Baker: "Kudos to Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) for demanding that the Obama administration release the food safety language in the proposed TPP. The three democrats (of course!) are concerned about the secrecy revolving around the massive global trade deal-like our food system needs more help from the multi-nationals! 'The controversial trade deal with eleven Pacific Rim nations could erode our capacity to prevent unsafe food imports from entering the U.S. food supply. More imports will mean that a smaller share of imported food and fish will be inspected at the border, while the structural TPP food safety provisions could undermine critical U.S. import surveillance and food safety standards. 'The fish farming (or aquaculture) industry in the TPP partner nations of Vietnam and Malaysia presents a case study in potential problems when trade meets food safety. Both countries have aggressively developed their export-oriented aquaculture industries. But fish farmers in these countries often use veterinary medicines and fungicides that are illegal in the United States to combat disease in overcrowded fish ponds and river cages.'"
fracking and Obama's corporate trade deals, again—by rjsigmund: "this past week we witnessed an elaborate kabuki in the Senate, wherein the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that Obama has sought at first appeared to have blocked by the Senate Democrats, and then, within 48 hours, a deal was cut and we saw it pass...hence, the last chance to stop this TPA, and hence the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will mandate exports of our gas and oil to Asia and turn half this country into a fracking hellhole, lies with the House, where we'll need a coalition of progressive Democrats and tea-party Republicans to stop it ... if it is not stopped, any hopes for home rule in Ohio, or anywhere else in the nation, will be waylaid by the coming multinational corporate state, and we'll begin the transition into a world wherein our national laws and environmental regulations will be subservient to the international investors and corporations that will ultimately become the de facto new world government ... "
What will the TPP do about this atrocity?—by VL Baker: "It seems that Vietnam has a history of slaughtering live animals with sledgehammers. It's the traditional way of killing food animals when they are ready for slaughter. The Guardian is reporting about the big hoopla this is causing in Australia, where investigation has revealed that live cattle that they have exported to Vietnam are being slaughtered using the traditional sledgehammer method. Australia says it will not cease export of live animals to Vietnam because, well, Tony Abbott is currently Prime Minister and for him it's all about profit. Vietnam is one of the twelve countries negotiating the secret TPP (along with the US). How are we to know if these traditional practices will be curtailed?"
Eco-Essays and Eco-Philosophy
Arguing against Climate Denialism Using Logic—by yunohu: "There is a logical argument I’ve been using very successfully against people who question or deny anthropogenic climate change, also known as global warming, climate instability, climate chaos & a whole bunch of other terms. Over the many times I’ve presented this line of reasoning, no one has even attempted to refute it, & a number of times my interlocuteur has come around to accepting the logic, which is a very gratifying feeling for me, so it appears to be a quite formidable argument, & I offer it to you in case you’d like to use it. Also, when debating this issue (or any issue in which you want to persuade people one way or another), treat people with respect & don’t automatically assume that since the individual with whom you’re conversing is questioning global warming that he or she is necessarily a climate denialist or troll. There are many people out there who come to these sites sincerely trying to find the answers having heard both sides of the debate. The other side is intentionally sowing confusion & doubt in the general population, & it’s succeeding with help from compliant politicians & the corporate media. To immediately dismiss the individual as a shill or troll or idiot will dispose that person to be hostile & disbelieve you, & may also lead onlookers who read your posts to think of you as belligerent & ganging up on a poor, innocent individual just seeking the truth."
Oceans, Water & Drought
For the first time-Dead Zones have been found in the tropical Atlantic in underwater "hurricanes"—by Pakalolo: "We are aware of the dead zones along inhabited areas of coast line, particularly in the US East Coast Gulf of Mexico and the Baltic Sea. These dead zones are a result of fertilizer, oil (think BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill) and other chemicals. No sea life can survive in them as the pollutants trigger massive algae blooms. Once the bloom dies it sinks to the sea bed and are consumed by bacteria that depletes the oxygen in the water. For the first time dead zones have been found in deep open water in the tropical Atlantic ocean. The European Geosciences Union reports that a team of German and Canadian researchers have discovered dead zones hundreds of miles off the coast of Africa. These dead zones are created by large eddies and have a probability of encountering islands killing all the ocean life that the residents need to survive."
There's A Monster At The Door, And It Better Not Get In. Super El Nino Is Back!—by pollwatcher: "Last year a monster Kelvin wave (bubble of warm water) formed in the pacific and started heading eastward. Often times this is the forerunner of an El Nino event. The Kelvin wave surfaced and was followed by a bubble of cool water, which meant the end of any chance of a Super El Nino and we ended up with a weak, late El Nino. It's looking like this time, it's really going to be different. Another Monster Kelvin wave has formed and this time it's looking like the real thing. [...]One thing we should keep in mind is that at this time of year the models don't have a great record for accuracy for what happens later. But there are other factors that are supporting the models this year, which is why the confidence level is exceptionally high as of now. One of the problems I have with trying to predict intermediate term weather patterns like El Nino, is that we don't live in the same climate that we did when many of these patterns were first noticed. What we expect, based on the patterns of the past, may not be what we get in our new climate of extremes."
Western US drought advances; Washington State declares state of emergency—by VL Baker: "With only 16% of normal snowpack this year, half of Washington State is in drought condition; putting 1.2 bn of crops in jeopardy. [...] Andrea Thompson at Climate Central explains the difference between the dry California drought and the Washington state 'wet drought':
Unlike the intense drought that has plagued California, which is a factor of both heat and lack of precipitation, the drought across the Pacific Northwest is what has been called a “wet drought.” The region had plenty of storms blow across over the winter, but because of record warm temperatures, most precipitation fell as rain and not snow."
Trash, Pollution & Hazardous Waste
Miscellany
Jane Goodall: We're destroying the planet; but there are solutions—by VL Baker: "Jane Goodall, the legendary researcher, is known for her ability to communicate with chimpanzees. She develops an emotional and verbal closeness which allows her to gain their trust and acceptance. She then uses that closeness to observe their most intimate actions and compares their behavior to that of her own species to determine similarities. Goodall, is most concerned about the future of our planet and humanity's part in its destruction. She doesn't pull punches: 'How is it possible that the most intellectual creature that has ever walked on planet earth is destroying its only home?'"
The Indy 500: Can the *Entirety of Its Carbon Emissions Be Accurately Estimated?—by dana anderssen: "As a polluter, the Indy 500 is so much more than a few hours of muscle machinery going around a circle in what passes for sport: it's 2-plus weeks of practice races, countless generator-powered preliminary events and media trucks—seas of RV camping—huge corporate sponsorships, etc, glorifying ... I have no clue as to its appeal, short of primal, testosterone-fueled thirsts for blood and spectacle. Is it possible, then, to calculate the sum of carbon emissions related to this sport? Can honest numbers legitimately be ascribed? I don't know. But whatever the estimate, multiply it by the Daytona 500, the entire NASCAR schedule, and all such sport of its kind."
Cheaper Street Drugs and Weaponized GMOs—by edg: "An editorial in the May 18, 2015 edition of Nature calls for the regulation of GMO yeast that can be used to cheaply synthesize common opiates such as morphine and codeine. The editorial is in response to recent research that reported the development of a pathway for converting tyrosine into reticuline, a necessary step toward production of illicit substances. In principle, anyone with access to the yeast strain and basic skills in fermentation would be able to grow morphine-producing yeast using a home-brew kit for beer-making. If the modified yeast strain produced 10 grams of morphine, users would need to drink only 1–2 millilitres of the liquid to obtain a standard prescribed dose._Ibid. (Emphasis added.)"
Editor of American Chemical Society's Journal Environmental Science & Technology Gets a New Sofa—by LakeSuperior: "These musings by the Editor in Chief of the American Chemical Society's publication, Environmental Science & Technology, are a worthy read for those interested in the interaction between science, policy, the public and consumer attitudes. The piece from EST's editor concerns polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which are fire retardants that have been historically in widespread use in the manufacture of furniture, and which are a hard fought issue of consumer protection and chemical regulation. PBDEs are contained in the cushion foam and other plastics to retard combustability of those materials. However, particles containing PBDE can be shed from such foam by mechanical wearing action and material degradation."