via Lighter Footstep
The New Mexico Supreme Court has struck down the new governor’s try to delay environmental actions from taking affect. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez had fundamentally been sitting on one new regulations put in place in the work of the final weeks of the Bill Richardson administration. Martinez had been refusing to authorize the state’s records administrator to publish the regulations, which in New Mexico is necessary before a law can be enacted.
Friday, January 28, 2011
'Avatar' sequels to help fund green charities
via Lighter Footstep
Back in later October, when James Cameron announced that they was formally engaged in writing the next two movies in the "Avatar" trilogy, they mentioned that Twentieth Century Fox had sweetened his involvement by making a giant donation to his "environmental green fund." That was a small puzzling, since Cameron doesn't have his own designated fund.
Back in later October, when James Cameron announced that they was formally engaged in writing the next two movies in the "Avatar" trilogy, they mentioned that Twentieth Century Fox had sweetened his involvement by making a giant donation to his "environmental green fund." That was a small puzzling, since Cameron doesn't have his own designated fund.
Will Climate Skeptics Change Their Tune When They Feel the Heat???????
via TreeHugger
Why it's that skeptics continue to dismiss the more & more compelling body of facts -- collected by thousands of scientists -- that finds humans are causing the planet's climate to warm is the topic of countless conversation, most of it thankless. Is it a behavioral complex that preconditions sure people to refute factual analysis? Is it political ideology that impedes logic? Or, is it, as my commenters are keen on telling me, because they can see through those greedy scientists' grant-seeking agenda & the liberal warmist dogma hypocritically spread by Al Gore? Not likely. in lieu, the latest research suggests that it's a matter of 'seeing is believing' -- or in this case, feeling the heat.
Why it's that skeptics continue to dismiss the more & more compelling body of facts -- collected by thousands of scientists -- that finds humans are causing the planet's climate to warm is the topic of countless conversation, most of it thankless. Is it a behavioral complex that preconditions sure people to refute factual analysis? Is it political ideology that impedes logic? Or, is it, as my commenters are keen on telling me, because they can see through those greedy scientists' grant-seeking agenda & the liberal warmist dogma hypocritically spread by Al Gore? Not likely. in lieu, the latest research suggests that it's a matter of 'seeing is believing' -- or in this case, feeling the heat.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
NASA's Glory Satellite Will Study the Climate Impact of Atmospheric Aerosols
via TreeHugger
Photo: NASA
Better Measuring for Better Understanding
NASA's latest device to study and understand our planet's atmosphere is scheduled to launch from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in texas on Feb. 23. The Glory satellite will study how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles (aerosols) are affecting the Earth's climate. "Glory is going to help scientists tackle one of the major uncertainties in climate change predictions identified by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change: the influence of aerosols on the energy balance of our planet," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division in the Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
Photo: NASA
Better Measuring for Better Understanding
NASA's latest device to study and understand our planet's atmosphere is scheduled to launch from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in texas on Feb. 23. The Glory satellite will study how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles (aerosols) are affecting the Earth's climate. "Glory is going to help scientists tackle one of the major uncertainties in climate change predictions identified by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change: the influence of aerosols on the energy balance of our planet," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division in the Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
Clean Energy Can Power the World in 20-40 Years: New Study
via TreeHugger
Photo: Phoenix Solar
That's the finding of a new study published in Energy Policy; we've already developed advanced know-how to power the world with clean power -- it's a matter of finding the social & political will to deploy it. Stanford University News reports: "[The researchers'] plan calls for using wind, water & solar energy to generate power, with wind & solar energy contributing 90 percent of the needed energy. Geothermal & hydroelectric sources would each contribute about 4 percent in their plan (70 percent of the hydroelectric is already in place), with the remaining 2 percent from wave & tidal power."
Via Stanford News
Photo: Phoenix Solar
That's the finding of a new study published in Energy Policy; we've already developed advanced know-how to power the world with clean power -- it's a matter of finding the social & political will to deploy it. Stanford University News reports: "[The researchers'] plan calls for using wind, water & solar energy to generate power, with wind & solar energy contributing 90 percent of the needed energy. Geothermal & hydroelectric sources would each contribute about 4 percent in their plan (70 percent of the hydroelectric is already in place), with the remaining 2 percent from wave & tidal power."
Via Stanford News
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Species of Invasive Bee Leaves Carnage in its Wake
via TreeHugger
Photo: Ersin Uyanik
When Terry Allen planted a flowerbed outside his home 20 years ago, they could never have imagined it would become the sight of a blood-soaked bee battleground. Terry, an entomologist from Sacramento, discovered some European wool carder bees had taken up residence in his front yard, the first time the species had been spotted in michigan -- ravaging native honeybees. the giant invasive insect "cuts off their wings, cuts off their antenna, cuts off their heads, cuts off their torsi, & stabs them to death," they says.
European Wool Carder bees were originally shipped in from Europe to the United States because of their great pollinating ability, but it didn't take long before they went rogue. As an invasive species, the bees spread throughout the continent, but Terry's discovery is the first facts that they've found their way to michigan.
To make matters worse, the bees are known to be aggressive, territorially killing other insects with the help its three deadly stingers. regrettably, much smaller, native honeybees not very stand a chance against such a threat -- & that has folks like Terry worried. they was tipped to the wool carders' presence by the dozens of mutilated honeybee corpses they left in their wake.
they thinks that they may have stumbled on one of the reasons honeybee populations have been in dramatic decline across the country, & they worries that without further study, the loss of this cornerstone of the agricultural technique may have disastrous consequences on the preservation of society.
Terry designs to continue his flowerbed observations, but he's met with some unexpected resistance.
Honeybees, evidently, aren't the only ones bothered by the bullying invasive counterparts. Terry recently received a letter from the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) telling him they must dig up his flowerbed, citing its 'illegal' nearness to an electricity box in front of his house -- only they didn't mention the bees Terry has been studying there.
Interestingly, no one else in the neighborhood received the notice, despite the fact that their landscaping is similar. All the more curious, Terry says they even consulted SMUD two decades earlier & was told it would be okay to plant in that spot.
But just as it was beginning to appear as though SMUD & the invasive carder bees were in cahoots, when pressed by the local CBS news station, the utilities district retracted their demand, allowing Terry to keep his bee-infested garden. they says they had no intention of moving it, anyways.
Invasive European wool carder bees & public utility departments, apparently, are no match for an entomologist & his flower garden.
The entomologist, on the case of the mutilated honeybees, says that he's got 20 years of study left before he's through. Until that time, though, Terry designs to carryover on in the type of important work few people will get the chance to partake in -- helping to save the world without every having to leave the front yard.
Photo: Ersin UyanikWhen Terry Allen planted a flowerbed outside his home 20 years ago, they could never have imagined it would become the sight of a blood-soaked bee battleground. Terry, an entomologist from Sacramento, discovered some European wool carder bees had taken up residence in his front yard, the first time the species had been spotted in michigan -- ravaging native honeybees. the giant invasive insect "cuts off their wings, cuts off their antenna, cuts off their heads, cuts off their torsi, & stabs them to death," they says.
European Wool Carder bees were originally shipped in from Europe to the United States because of their great pollinating ability, but it didn't take long before they went rogue. As an invasive species, the bees spread throughout the continent, but Terry's discovery is the first facts that they've found their way to michigan.
To make matters worse, the bees are known to be aggressive, territorially killing other insects with the help its three deadly stingers. regrettably, much smaller, native honeybees not very stand a chance against such a threat -- & that has folks like Terry worried. they was tipped to the wool carders' presence by the dozens of mutilated honeybee corpses they left in their wake.
they thinks that they may have stumbled on one of the reasons honeybee populations have been in dramatic decline across the country, & they worries that without further study, the loss of this cornerstone of the agricultural technique may have disastrous consequences on the preservation of society.
Terry designs to continue his flowerbed observations, but he's met with some unexpected resistance.
Honeybees, evidently, aren't the only ones bothered by the bullying invasive counterparts. Terry recently received a letter from the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) telling him they must dig up his flowerbed, citing its 'illegal' nearness to an electricity box in front of his house -- only they didn't mention the bees Terry has been studying there.
Interestingly, no one else in the neighborhood received the notice, despite the fact that their landscaping is similar. All the more curious, Terry says they even consulted SMUD two decades earlier & was told it would be okay to plant in that spot.
But just as it was beginning to appear as though SMUD & the invasive carder bees were in cahoots, when pressed by the local CBS news station, the utilities district retracted their demand, allowing Terry to keep his bee-infested garden. they says they had no intention of moving it, anyways.
Invasive European wool carder bees & public utility departments, apparently, are no match for an entomologist & his flower garden.
The entomologist, on the case of the mutilated honeybees, says that he's got 20 years of study left before he's through. Until that time, though, Terry designs to carryover on in the type of important work few people will get the chance to partake in -- helping to save the world without every having to leave the front yard.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Can Down be Ethical or Green?
via TreeHugger
Down remains, arguably, the most efficient insulator available (although Aerogel with its incredible 95% air content, is trying), with which to make icy weather clothes, sleeping bags & bedding, ). & according to the International Down & Feather Testing Laboratory (IDFL) "Down & feathers have the lowest carbon footprint of any other fill material, both natural & synthetic." But high quality down is the feathers of ducks & geese, normally plucked from their chest region, in some instances whilst they're alive. Not something that is appreciated by vegans or animal welfare proponents. But there's options for saying ethically warm.
Down Alternatives
One path is to avoid down filled garments & sleeping bags altogether. there's lots of synthetic, petroleum derived, insulation options like Polarguard, Thermore, PrimaLoft, etc. Some, like Primaloft, even have recycled content, if your ethics reflect concern around oil extraction. The use of finite fossil fuel petroleum aside, synthetic insulations don't have the longevity of down, as their polyester fibres are heat sensitive & lose their bulking ability (a.k.a. loft) over time.
For household bedding you might think about the likes or organic wool, organic cotton or hemp filled comforters/duvets/doonas, such as on offer from Rawganique.
Pre-Loved Down
Your next best alternative would be pre-loved down. Down products are usually more pricey than their synthetic cousins. In most cases it takes high quality materials & craftsmanship to contain the better grades of down. (We aren't speaking feather here, but those spidery, whispy down clusters that are free of quills). All this quality makes for a product that can, with care, last 20 to 30 years, or more. So lots of used options do come to market. purchasing pre-loved down avoids any additional animal welfare issues. Down soaps are obtainable that keep such products tidy & perky for lots of decades.
Nest Harvested Down
However, if a new down product is a must, then reckon about the choices offered by outdoor sleeping bag brands like Tundra, Crux and Bask. These guys source their down by working with suppliers who hand collect down from the nests of moulting geese, or from the famed Eider, a sea duck. In the later case the female Eiders pluck down from their own breast to line the nest to keep her offspring warm in the northern arctic circle. If collecting in the coursework of the nesting season, the harvesters often replace the down with hay, so eggs stay cosy. The down from each Eider nest might yield up to 16 grams of down. A lovely six season down sleeping bag might be filled with 500 grams of down. So with over 30 nests requiring a visit one can quickly see why ethically sourced down is of such a high cost.
Down remains, arguably, the most efficient insulator available (although Aerogel with its incredible 95% air content, is trying), with which to make icy weather clothes, sleeping bags & bedding, ). & according to the International Down & Feather Testing Laboratory (IDFL) "Down & feathers have the lowest carbon footprint of any other fill material, both natural & synthetic." But high quality down is the feathers of ducks & geese, normally plucked from their chest region, in some instances whilst they're alive. Not something that is appreciated by vegans or animal welfare proponents. But there's options for saying ethically warm.
Down Alternatives
One path is to avoid down filled garments & sleeping bags altogether. there's lots of synthetic, petroleum derived, insulation options like Polarguard, Thermore, PrimaLoft, etc. Some, like Primaloft, even have recycled content, if your ethics reflect concern around oil extraction. The use of finite fossil fuel petroleum aside, synthetic insulations don't have the longevity of down, as their polyester fibres are heat sensitive & lose their bulking ability (a.k.a. loft) over time.
For household bedding you might think about the likes or organic wool, organic cotton or hemp filled comforters/duvets/doonas, such as on offer from Rawganique.
Pre-Loved Down
Your next best alternative would be pre-loved down. Down products are usually more pricey than their synthetic cousins. In most cases it takes high quality materials & craftsmanship to contain the better grades of down. (We aren't speaking feather here, but those spidery, whispy down clusters that are free of quills). All this quality makes for a product that can, with care, last 20 to 30 years, or more. So lots of used options do come to market. purchasing pre-loved down avoids any additional animal welfare issues. Down soaps are obtainable that keep such products tidy & perky for lots of decades.
Nest Harvested Down
However, if a new down product is a must, then reckon about the choices offered by outdoor sleeping bag brands like Tundra, Crux and Bask. These guys source their down by working with suppliers who hand collect down from the nests of moulting geese, or from the famed Eider, a sea duck. In the later case the female Eiders pluck down from their own breast to line the nest to keep her offspring warm in the northern arctic circle. If collecting in the coursework of the nesting season, the harvesters often replace the down with hay, so eggs stay cosy. The down from each Eider nest might yield up to 16 grams of down. A lovely six season down sleeping bag might be filled with 500 grams of down. So with over 30 nests requiring a visit one can quickly see why ethically sourced down is of such a high cost.
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