Environment

Things We Can Do Now To Cope With A Warmer Climate

Brian K. Noe · April 3, 2012 ·

Nine low-tech steps for community resilience in a warming climate. [Kaid Benfield | Switchboard | NRDC] – Over the past 50 years, our average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. That is fact, not opinion. Scientists say that under current trends, average US temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century.

There are many things we can and must do to reduce the warming trajectory, but turning this ship around is going to take time, even under the best scenarios.

Meanwhile, there are also measures we need to take right now inside our communities so that we are as prepared as possible for the warmer climate ahead.

Read the full article.

Atmospheric CO2 levels hit 800,000-year high

Brian K. Noe · March 19, 2012 ·

Atmospheric CO2 levels hit 800,000-year high: CSIRO. [Australian Broadcasting Corporation] – Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now higher than at any time in the last 800,000 years, while the last decade in Australia was the warmest on record, CSIRO scientists say.

The Crisis of Civilization

Brian K. Noe · March 17, 2012 ·

The Crisis of Civilization is a documentary about the end of the Industrial Age based on the book by Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed. Director Dean Puckett and Animator Lucca Benney remix, interweave and otherwise mashup clips and images from far and wide to illustrate Ahmed’s narration.

The film provides compelling evidence that the many crises facing us in our day are all interrelated manifestations of a single failing global system. The question is not whether there should be dramatic changes to our way of life. For better or worse, change is already upon us. The question is whether we can find a way to sustain human life and liberty in the coming age.

Our days of denial are coming to a close.

New Study: Synergistic Toxicity and GMOs

Brian K. Noe · March 14, 2012 ·

Enjoy your frankenfood Bt Sweet Corn this Summer.

From a Study Conducted at the University of Caen:

…we argue that modified Bt toxins are not inert on nontarget human cells, and that they can present combined side-effects with other residues of pesticides specific to GM plants.

Dueling Headlines

Brian K. Noe · March 9, 2012 ·

First, from yesterday’s New York Times:

Next, from today’s Wall Street Journal:

When you dig into the details, both reports seem “factual.” The question is whether or not these stories represent competing points of view, or competing agendas.

Click on the images to read the full articles.

Surprise: Keystone May Raise U.S. Gas Prices

Brian K. Noe · March 1, 2012 ·

Keystone Oil Pipeline May Raise U.S. Gas Prices. [Bloomberg] – TransCanada Corp. (TRP)’s Keystone XL oil pipeline, a project backers including Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum say will create cheaper U.S. gasoline, instead risks raising prices as much as 20 cents a gallon in the Midwest, Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.

Read the full story.

White House Approves Part of Keystone XL

Brian K. Noe · February 29, 2012 ·

Another reason I won’t be voting for Obama in 2012:

White House gives blessing to partial Keystone XL pipeline construction. [The Hill’s E2-Wire] – The White House backed TransCanada Corp.’s bid to build a major portion of the Keystone XL oil pipeline Monday, a move that could shield President Obama from growing GOP attacks over the project.

Occupy Our Food Supply February 27 Day of Action

Brian K. Noe · February 23, 2012 ·

Occupy Our Food Supply. [Rainforest Action Network] – Occupy Our Food Supply on February 27, 2012 will be a major decentralized global day of food action and solidarity. Actions are planned in dozens of cities across North America, Europe, and the world.

New Fracking Study Sounds Alert

Brian K. Noe · February 13, 2012 ·

In addition to causing general environmental degradation, earthquakes and poisoned water, it appears that hydraulic fracturing also leaks methane at dangerous levels not previously suspected.

Fracking study sends alert about leakage of potent greenhouse gas. [Pete Spotts | CSMonitor.com] – A new study finds that fracking is releasing methane, a greenhouse gas, from a Colorado field at a higher rate than estimates suggested. Researchers must determine if the field is an anomaly or part of a bigger problem.

Charting the Government’s Moves on Fracking

Brian K. Noe · February 9, 2012 ·

From Gung-Ho to Uh-Oh: Charting the Government’s Moves on Fracking. [Lena Groeger | ProPublica] – Fracking has only recently become a household word, but government involvement with the drilling technique goes back decades. ProPublica’s chart traces officials’ moves, and levels of caution, over time.