Eideard

What real crop circles look like

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he will step up efforts to supply energy to Asia after Washington delayed a decision on whether to approve a new oil pipeline from Canada to the United States.

In a subtle warning to Washington, Harper told Chinese President Hu Jintao that providing energy to Asia was an important priority for Canada.

“This does underscore the necessity of Canada making sure that we are able to access Asia markets for our energy products,” Harper told reporters on Sunday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting in Hawaii. “That will be an important priority of our government going forward and I indicated that yesterday to the president of China.”

Citing health, safety and environmental concerns, President Barack Obama’s administration said it would now study a possible new route for TransCanada Corp’s Keystone XL pipeline. The delay could end up killing the $7 billion project altogether if supporters back out or the administration is unable to chart a new route.

Health, safety and environment are the concerns voiced. Most are wholly illegitimate. I’d gladly discuss any real issues here – but, decades of experience as environment activist requires cutting through the political crap.

Canada is already the largest foreign supplier of oil, natural gas, electricity and uranium to the United States. The proposed pipeline has the capacity to move 700,000 barrels of crude produced from the Alberta tar sands to refineries in Texas…

Harper’s conservative government has repeatedly voiced disappointment at the delay and some big businesses say the move by the Obama administration was purely political to push the decision out past the November 2012 election.

Certainly, the issues are being discussed. I started to watch a presentation on CNN, yesterday; but, the sophistry, lies and hypocrisy were at the level of a Republican “debate” on commerce with China. As soon as the so-called environmentalist said the oil was being transported to the Gulf of Mexico to be transshipped to our “arch enemy, China” – I changed the channel back to an FA Cup match.

As it stands, Canadians still must commit one way or the other on the much more critical ecological decision ranging from nuclear power generation to landscape regeneration before any expansion of oil sands production.

Mr. Mouth calling for state sovereignty

Texas Governor Rick Perry called on Texans to pray for rain as cooler temperatures on Thursday helped firefighters contain wildfires that have charred more than 1.5 million acres across the state.

Perry, a Republican, sought increased federal help in combating the blazes last weekend and urged Texans to ask the same from a higher power over the Easter holiday weekend.

This is the same buffoon who endorses secession and states’ rights when his butt isn’t burning.

“Throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer,” Perry said in a statement. “It is fitting that Texans should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this ongoing drought and these devastating wildfires.”

A wave of moisture and cooler weather had already helped the roughly 1,800 firefighters and support crews contain nine fires and make headway against many more by Thursday morning. Mother Nature generally accomplishes more than ideology.

But conditions fueling the fast-moving wildfires that killed two volunteer firefighters and destroyed 200 homes this month would not ease for good, officials warned.

This silly-ass Kool Aid Party Republikan whines most of the year about Big Government. Except when he needs a hand-up or a hand-out.

Like most of the hustlers who currently own the Republican Party he’s a national-class hypocrite. That he calls upon his dimwit followers to exercise their fundamentalist superstitions to assuage the natural results of administrative incompetence – follows as night the day.

The majority of Americans have limited understanding of the planet’s climate system and the causes and threats of climate change, according to a new study by Yale University. Only 1 in 10 of those surveyed by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication said they are “very well informed” about climate change issues. And while 63 percent believe that global warming is occurring, many do not understand why.

According to the survey, 57 percent of respondents know that the greenhouse effect refers to heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere; 45 percent understand that carbon dioxide traps heat from the planet’s surface; and only 25 percent are aware of coral bleaching or ocean acidification. And the majority of respondents had significant misconceptions about climate science, including the incorrect belief that the hole in the ozone layer, toxic waste, aerosol spray, and acid rain cause global warming.

Based on these results, the authors say only 8 percent of respondents would have knowledge equivalent to a grade of an A or B, and more than 52 percent would receive an F grade.

Anyone surprised?

Ignorance ain’t bliss, folks.

Earth-friendly perennial grain crops, which grow with less fertilizer, herbicide, fuel, and erosion than grains planted annually, could be available in two decades, according to researchers writing in the current issue of the journal Science.
 
Perennial grains would be one of the largest innovations in the 10,000 year history of agriculture, and could arrive even sooner with the right breeding programs, said John Reganold, a Washington State University Regents professor of soil science and lead author of the paper with Jerry Glover, a WSU-trained soil scientist now at the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas.
 
“It really depends on the breakthroughs,” said Reganold. “The more people involved in this, the more it cuts down the time…”

“People talk about food security,” said Reganold. “That’s only half the issue. We need to talk about both food and ecosystem security.”
 
Perennial grains, say the authors, have longer growing seasons than annual crops and deeper roots that let the plants take greater advantage of precipitation. Their larger roots, which can reach ten to 12 feet down, reduce erosion, build soil and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.  They require fewer passes of farm equipment and less herbicide, key features in less developed regions…

“Developing perennial versions of our major grain crops would address many of the environmental limitations of annuals while helping to feed an increasingly hungry planet,” said Reganold.

Can’t you just see the beancounter marketing directors of Monsanto or ConAgra reading this article? They’d have to change their drawers afterwards.

OTOH, there is hardly a class of human being more reluctant to adapt to change than peasants and other farmers. It will take progressive agriculture to implement progressive science – and perennial grains.

Bill McKibben says – “Forty years in, we’re losing”.

This weekend, when speakers at Earth Day gatherings across the country hearken back to the first celebration in 1970, they’ll recall great victories: above all, cleaner air and cleaner water for Americans.

But for 20 years now, global warming has been the most important environmental issue — arguably the most important issue the planet has ever faced. And there we can boast an unblemished bipartisan record of accomplishing absolutely nothing.

To mark Earth Day this year, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) were supposed to introduce their long-awaited rewrite of the House’s climate legislation. Now that’s been delayed for at least a few days, which is probably just as well, since, as Graham points out, it’s no longer really an environmental bill…

Worse, the bill might specifically remove the strongest tool the environmentalists won in the wake of Earth Day 1: the Environmental Protection Agency’s right to use the Clean Air Act to bring the fossil fuel industries to heel. Enforcement may be preempted under the new law. Even the right of states to pioneer new legislation, such as California’s landmark global warming bill, apparently could disappear with the new legislation…

That weakness has many sources, including the corrosive power of money in politics (and human beings have never found a greater source of money than fossil fuels). But at least part of the problem lies within environmentalism, which no longer does enough real organizing to build the pressure that could result in real change…

I remember interviewing Pete McCloskey, the California House member recruited by Gaylord Nelson to be the Republican sponsor of the original Earth Day…But just as important was what happened next: “About two weeks after Earth Day,” McCloskey said, “there was an article on the sixth or seventh page of the Washington Star — some of the Earth Day kids had labeled 12 members of Congress the Dirty Dozen and vowed to defeat them. Nobody paid much attention.

On the first Wednesday in June, though, everyone in Washington opened the paper to find that the two Democrats on that list — one a powerful committee chairman, the other a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee — had lost primary fights by fewer than a thousand votes. Within 24 hours, seven of the 10 Republicans on the list had come to me, even though I was despised, being against the war and all. ‘What’s this about water pollution, about air pollution? What can you tell us?’ ” For the next few sessions, anything tinged green passed Congress with ease: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act.

The Golden Rule for American politicians is – “Get re-elected!” Nothing else really matters.

Get up on your hind legs and register folks to vote. Do it as a Green activist. Scare some Democrat or Republican into pretending they have a conscience and an understanding of science beyond Howdy Doody.

New research by a team of ecologists and hydrologists shows that water temperatures are increasing in many streams and rivers throughout the United States. The research…documents that 20 major U.S. streams and rivers – including such prominent rivers as the Colorado, Potomac, Delaware, and Hudson – have shown statistically significant long-term warming.

By analyzing historical records from 40 sites located throughout the United States, the team found that annual mean water temperatures increased by 0.02-0.14°F per year. Long-term increases in stream water temperatures were typically correlated with increases in air temperatures, and rates of warming were most rapid in urbanized areas.

“Warming waters can impact the basic ecological processes taking place in our nation’s rivers and streams,” said Dr. Sujay Kaushal…lead author of the study. “Long-term temperature increases can impact aquatic biodiversity, biological productivity, and the cycling of contaminants through the ecosystem…”

“We are seeing the largest increases in the most highly urbanized areas which lead us to believe that the one-two punch of development and global warming could have a tremendous impact on stream and river ecosystem health,” said Dr. Kaushal.

Given long-term global warming and “urban heat island effects” related to the abundance of buildings, roads, concrete, and asphalt, the authors point out that conserving riparian forests, reducing impervious surfaces, adopting “green” infrastructure practices, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can help reduce increased water temperatures.

Good housekeeping, good planetkeeping, practices in any case.

I can’t help but wonder if there’s some sort of gene of self-destruction stuck into the DNA of cretins who not only disregard science, environmental records; but, seem to have forgotten basic instincts about not crapping in your own den.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and Boris Johnson
Daylife/AP Photo used by permission

London could become Britain’s first plastic-bag-free city in time for the Olympics in 2012, under plans published today by Boris Johnson to reduce litter and landfill waste. Shoppers will be given greater incentives to bring their own reusable bags, and supermarkets may be encouraged to charge for single-use bags issued at the checkout…

The Republic of Ireland cut plastic bag consumption by 90 per cent when it introduced a 15 cent charge per bag in 2002. The average person in Ireland used 27 bags in 2008, compared with 220 per person in Britain…

Isabel Dedring, the mayor’s environment adviser, said the aim was to achieve a massive reduction in single-use plastic bags before the Olympics, allowing London to be presented as a plastic-bag-free city. Modbury in Devon became Britain’s first plastic-bag-free town in 2007…

Marks & Spencer cut bag consumption by 80 to 90 per cent after introducing charges. Other retailers, including Tesco and Sainsbury, prefer rewarding shoppers with loyalty points for reusing bags. Their schemes have cut consumption by 48 per cent in three years.

I have to chuckle a wee bit – since the 33 London councils voted in 2007 to ban shops handing out free plastic bags. A uniform proposal went to Parliament – and apparently vanished.

Which has now presented an opportunity for London’s Conservative mayor to demonstrate his “leadership”. Still praiseworthy – since here in the colonies, our Know-Nothing Conservatives could care less about any environmental issue.

The amount of forest and farmland certified by Rainforest Alliance will continue to soar along with demand for products that meet standards for social and environmental sustainability.

“The amount of Rainforest Alliance certified farmland will increase dramatically over the next few years because it has to. We already have the demand so that sets everything in motion,” said Chris Wille, Rainforest Alliance chief of Sustainable Agriculture…

In 2008, farm and forest land certified by Rainforest Alliance grew by 23 percent to more than 131 million acres (52 million hectares), from 107 million acres in 2007, Rainforest said last month.

“The drive is coming from all along the value chain and especially companies. We’ve never seen more interest from companies, from consumers and from producers,” Wille said, adding this was a welcome move amid the current global financial crisis…

“So now farmers are lining up outside the doors of our partner NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and eager to get involved,” Wille said.

For years, Rainforest Alliance has certified farms that produce coffee, bananas, tea and cocoa. Recent additions include grapes, acai, chestnuts, apples and pears.

Our weekly grocery run to town always includes a measure of food that embraces one or another environmentally-friendly certification. It makes good sense for the future of this planet and our species.

A cull of 211 cormorants on Canada’s Middle Island in Lake Erie last year cost $130,000, or $616 per bird, national parks officials said.

The uninhabited island is part of Point Pelee National Park. Federal officials undertook the controversial cull claiming the birds’ droppings were killing off trees and vegetation needed by the endangered Lake Erie water snake and red mulberry tree, five threatened species and two species of special concern, the Windsor Star reported.

This year’s ongoing shooting cull has netted 752 birds, the report said.

The Cormorant Defenders International environmental group unsuccessfully tried to block the cull last year, and spokeswoman Liz White told the Star she hoped the costs would rattle taxpayers.

“I suspect a lot of people would say what the hell are you spending the money for? It’s an island in the middle of the lake,” she said.

Even if the cull is justifiable – and I always question human beings oversight of species which requires killing off one species in favor of another – there remains two questions: [1] How the hell did it cost so much? – and [2] how do officials expect to prevent cormorants returning every year to a spot they appear to relish?

Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of The Green Generation Campaign which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. With negotiations for a new global climate agreement coming up in December, Earth Day 2009 must be a day of action and civic participation, to defend The Green Generation’s core principles: Family with windmills: Renewable energy for future generations.

Under the umbrella of The Green Generation, 100,000 people attended Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Sunday, April 19th.

Secretary of State Hilda Solis, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Representative Edward Markey, green celebrities like Chevy Chase and Matthew Modine, and other representatives of the environmental community addressed the crowd and encouraged the world to join The Green Generation. The Flaming Lips, moe., Los Lobos and DJ Spooky added the soundtrack. Large-scale volunteer events in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, and DC had been going over the weekend, in partnership with Green Apple Festival, followed by thank you concerts for those who participated.

Our partners in Cleveland, Columbus, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Beijing, and Manila, among others, also brought out hundreds of thousands of people and sent a loud and clear message to the world: The Green Generation™ is here to stay! Activities are happening all through April. Find one near you!

Join in, folks, I remember the first Earth Day. I was in Amherst, Massachusetts for the celebration at UMass.

Terrific music. As I recall, my favorite group was Palestinian – from Springfield, Mass.