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Environment & Ecology

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Moving Down the Food Chain

March 28, 2008 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

EXCERPT FROM PLAN B 3.0, CH. 9: “FEEDING 8 BILLION WELL”
Lester Brown, EPI :: One of the questions I am most often asked is, “How many peo-ple can the earth support?” I answer with another question: “Atwhat level of food consumption?” Using round numbers, at theU.S. level of 800 kilograms of grain per person annually […]

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Pharmaceuticals Found in Drinking Water of 24 Major Metropolitan Areas in US

March 10, 2008 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

A new study has found that selective seratonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI, or anti-depressants), sex-hormones, painkillers and anti-biotics in significant quantities in the drinking water of 24 out of 28 major metropolitan areas in the United States. Though the term “trace amounts” appears multiple times in today’s reporting of the findings, that term does not necessarily […]

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Kosovo to declare independence from Serbia, EU to help organize new state; Musharraf says elections will go ahead in Pakistan…

February 17, 2008 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

17 February :: Kosovo to declare independence from Serbia today, according to reports from Pristina, EU agencies; EU officials said “around 1,900 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1,100 local staff will be based in headquarters in Pristina or located throughout the judicial and police system in Kosovo”, according to CNN, […]

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Bush presents record $3.1 trillion budget; France does not intervene to stop Chad rebels, despite UNSC approval; London creates low-emissions zone…

February 4, 2008 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

4 February :: US pres. George W. Bush has presented the nation’s first federal budget exceeding $3 billion in spending; while giving generous expansions to defense spending, the budget seeks to cut $196 billion from healthcare spending, and projects near record budget deficits for at least two years; Bush claims that part of the 6% […]

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Polar Bear May Be Listed by US as Endangered by Global Warming

February 4, 2008 :: admin :: 14 Comments

The global climate change crisis may soon enter a new phase in terms of human society’s reaction, efforts to curb harmful activities that exacerbate the problem. The United States Dept. of the Interior is considering a proposal to list the polar bear as the first species facing extinction specifically as a side-effect of global warming.
The […]

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Uzbek vote declared "undemocratic"; Pope uses Christmas address to call for environmental responsibility…

December 27, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

26 December :: Uzbekistan’s elections have been criticized for official manipulation and declared “undemocratic”, with international observers citing a number of procedural measures and alleged incidents of intimidation that prevented a free and fair vote; Karimov, Uzbekistan’s only post-Soviet president officially won 88.1% of the votes tallied; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe […]

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Overcoming Acrimony, Bali Conference Brings Concessions, Start of a ‘Roadmap’

December 16, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

The UN climate change policy conference on the Indonesian island of Bali has ended in dramatic fashion, as EU and US delegates found themselves in a war of words over differences in how to reach long-term reductions in “heat-trapping gases” emitted by human societies, essentially: carbon emissions.
The International Herald Tribune reports on the confrontations […]

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The Time is Now, an Action Plan for Global Emissions Reduction

November 18, 2007 :: J.E. Robertson :: No Comment Yet

Due to the science we already have, the laws we have to govern our own activity and to force government to act for the public health, we face the real possibility of being forced, in American courts, in the future, to pay for damage done to the most affected populations in other parts of the world, as a result of inaction by our government. And if not in court, then as a matter of the de facto urgencies of international political stability.

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Congress report says Iraq, Afghan wars have cost $1.5 trillion to date; Bhutto barricaded in home, calls for Musharraf ouster…

November 13, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

13 November :: New report by Congressional Joint Economic Committee says wars in Iraq, Afghanistan have already cost taxpayers $1.5 trillion over last 6 years, including long-term cost rises related to oil, veterans’ healthcare, borrowing… Bhutto again under house arrest, calls for Musharraf to resign office, form interim “coalition of interests” to govern in run-up […]

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Mukasey takes helm as AG; 4,000-year-old temple found in Peru; IPCC expected to push binding emissions cuts…

November 12, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

12 November :: Judge Mukasey was sworn in Friday as US attorney general, after key senators said they were re-assured by his promises not to endorse any interrogation practices beyond the law… “A 4,000-year-old temple filled with murals has been unearthed on the northern coast of Peru, making it one of the oldest finds in […]

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Musharraf plans to lift state of emergency within 30 days; San Francisco demands answers for fuel spill; Georgia parliament backs martial law…

November 10, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

10 November :: Pakistan gov’t announces plans to lift state of emergency within one month, saying it was declared to fight radical fundamentalist militia allegedly spreading from country’s northwest border provinces… NY Times reports “The Pakistani police allowed the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto to leave her house today, but blocked her from visiting the home […]

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US Senate subcommittee approves emissions cap bill; London police found guilty in shooting death of innocent man in 2005…

November 3, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

3 November :: Senate subcommittee approves America’s Climate Security Act, legislation aimed at capping greenhouse gas emissions, now to be voted by full Environment and Public Works committee; bill touted as milestone in US climate policy; Sen. Lieberman has said it is the “Manhattan Project” for climate change that activists have long called for, bill […]

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US southeast in tri-state water-scarcity conflict; coal becoming increasingly popular as petroleum costs escalate…

October 28, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

28 October :: US southeast caught up in political conflict over scarce water resources; PhysOrg reports “Hoping to guarantee no one will go thirsty, Georgia authorities want to drastically reduce the outflow from a reservoir that supplies drinking water to three million people. But neighboring Alabama claims that would have devastating economic effects on its […]

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China to spend $14 bn to clean up toxic lake; FEMA apologizes for sham press briefing…

October 27, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

27 October :: China plans to spend $14.4 billion to clean up Lake Tai, 3rd largest fresh-water lake in country, affected by direct toxic dumping, rampant algal bloom that cut off drinking water to Wuxi, a city of 2.3 million; according to IHT “Lake Tai, known as China’s ancient “land of rice and fish,” is […]

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CA plans to sue EPA over emissions; Kurdish rebels offer truce with Turkey; Microsoft cedes to EU regulators…

October 23, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

23 October :: California attorney general Jerry Brown has said he plans to file suit against the EPA, for stalling permission for CA, 11 other states to force automakers to produce cleaner vehicles; suit aims to push emissions regulations designed to reduce threat/pace of human-induced global warming… Kurdish rebel group offers Ankara truce, saying “Our […]

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Nobel Peace Prize Awarded for Work to Raise Awareness About Global Climate Change

October 14, 2007 :: admin :: One Comment

Climate change is no longer controversial; it has been accepted as scientific fact by a global consensus of researchers and policy makers, including the Bush White House, which resisted acknowledging human activities were a vital contributing factor, until recently. Now the Nobel committee selecting the Peace Prize laureate has raised the issue of warming posing a major international security crisis.

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Project Quipu: Integrated Economic Atlas for the 21st Century

October 8, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

. . . INTRODUCTION
Examining the manner in which financial news is reported in the popular media, THINK proposes to create a system whereby live-update, rss-technology, and financial and editorial expertise, come together to produce a reliable up-to-the-minute resource for evaluating broad economic trends and engagements, without limiting analysis to single-parameter references like GDP or individual […]

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Bush says US "will do its part" to curb climate change; Pfizer faces $8.5 billion suit for Nigeria drug test…

October 1, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

1 October :: US pres. George W. Bush has promised in a speech at his climate change conference in Washington, DC, the US “will do its part” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce risk of dangers caused by human-induced climate change; critics continue to say his approach is designed to postpone any comprehensive global regime […]

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The Elders Initiative, an Effort to Infuse Wisdom into Global Policy & Conflict Resolution

September 30, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

The Elders is a humanitarian initiative led by South African archibishop Desmond Tutu and former South African pres. Nelson Mandela, designed to bring the African “village elders” concept to the global village, in an effort to defuse flashpoint crisis situations and speed responsible policy-making. Its foundations are the basic principles of human rights and […]

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Clinton Global Initiative Brings Together 1,300, Including 52 Current or Former Heads of State

September 26, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

Former US pres. Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative (CGI) holds a major international stakeholders’ and donors’ conference each year in conjunction with the UN’s General Assembly, in New York City. This year’s convention brings together 1,300 delegates from 72 countries. 52 active or former heads of state are participating, in only the 3rd year […]

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Population, Land & Conflict

September 26, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

Lester R. Brown, EPI :: As land and water become scarce and as competition for these vital resources intensifies, we can expect mounting social tensions within societies, particularly between those who are poor and dispossessed and those who are wealthy, as well as among ethnic and religious groups. Population growth brings with it a steady […]

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Police fire on demonstrating monks in Rangoon; global carbon footprint 23.881 billion tons…

September 26, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

26 September :: Riot police in Burma (Myanmar under its military dictatorship) have fired on 10,000 Buddhist monks and pro-democracy activists protesting against totalitarian rule; US has announced new sanctions against regime, Bush denouncing “19-year reign of fear”; on Monday, 100,000 marched to support the “saffron rebellion”… Global carbon footprint at 23.881 billion tons, as […]

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Ban calls for global action to slow climate change; Antarctic melt moves inland; Ahmadinejad in NY…

September 25, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

25 September :: UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon has called for concerted action to slow global warming, saying “I am convinced that climate change, and what we do about it, will define us, our era, and ultimately the global legacy we leave for future generations”… Discovery reports “Antarctica’s once fringe-thawing is moving well inland, say […]

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100,000 march for democracy in Burma; Ahmadinejad says no nukes, no war with US; Gore, Schwarzenegger push emissions protocol…

September 24, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

24 September :: Estimated 100,000 march in Rangoon (Yangon) to support Buddhist monks calling for end to military rule in Burma; some fear junta will impose another harsh crack-down… Iran pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his nation does not need nuclear weapons and is not headed for war with US; news comes amid heightened tensions […]

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Geothermal Energy Creates Hope for Global Energy Solution

September 23, 2007 :: l.johr :: No Comment Yet

The race to tap large quantities of underground, geothermal energy is heating up. In a recent bid to solve their country’s demand for clean energy, the Swiss are digging deep, and the Earth is responding. A scientist at MIT, in the US, says 40% of US geothermal sources could power the entire country’s energy needs in excess of 56,000 times.

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World Creating Food Bubble Economy Based on Unsustainable Use of Water

September 22, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

Lester R. Brown, EPI :: On March 16, 2003, some 10,000 participants [met] in Japan for the third World Water Forum to discuss the world water prospect. Although they [would] be officially focusing on water scarcity, they [would also] indirectly be focusing on food scarcity because 70 percent of the water we divert from rivers […]

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Water Resource Stress: Global Economic-Ecological Factor for the 21st Century

September 19, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

Sentido.tv :: More than 1 billion people already face fresh water scarcity, figure expected to double in 20 years’ time
Water is one of the “fundamental building-blocks of life”, as is often said in science, in biology classrooms, in medicine, theology, environmental policy debates, and in cosmology and space exploration. It is also a commodity whose […]

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Dirty Air Tied to Economic Growth

September 19, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

The world is facing a major environmental crisis, with multiple serious battles to fight on various fronts, if we are to avert crippling long-term environmental degradation. One fundamental problem is that post-industrial societies have not sufficiently divorced their economic activity from extreme contaminants like carbon-based fuels, so that special cases of exorbitant economic growth […]

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Six-party talks stalled; Ukraine to seal Chernobyl site with steel shell…

September 17, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

17 September :: The "six-party talks" aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear apparatus, normalizing relations with rogue regime, suspended, in move apparently linked to allegations of Syrian nuclear ties; Israel allegedly bombed, in secret, facilities in Syria it now claims contained North Korean nuclear technology, that claim has caused a heightening in tensions between Pyongyang, […]

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CIA chief defends detention, ‘rendition’ practices; APEC sets ‘goal’ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions…

September 8, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

8 September :: Gen. Michael Hayden, head of US CIA, has publicly defended detention and "extraordinary rendition" practices used by CIA in treatment of those captured in association with terror investigations; EU courts investigating abductions, illegal transport of prisoners, detention without judicial review, with evidence suggesting hundreds of clandestine flights related to such practices; lawsuits […]

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Euro Bank injects 42.245 billion € to avert crisis; global carbon footprint 22.199 billion tons…

September 6, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

6 September :: European Central Bank has injected another 42.245 billion € into the euro-zone markets, via monetary auction with minimum interest of 4%; at least 46 banks and financial institutions are reported to have participated in the bidding for extra cash; the move is intended to shore up the euro against increasing ‘volatility’ as […]

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67% of Greeks believe wildfires arsonist conspiracy; RMT Union shuts down London transport; US negotiator says DPRK not ‘de-listed’…

September 4, 2007 :: admin :: No Comment Yet

4 September :: Greece political climate soured by nationwide fires; 67% of those polled believe fires started deliberately by arsonist conspiracy, 31% say foreign entities, while 26% suspect property developers; Christian Science Monitor reports "European Commission’s European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) estimates that 469,000 acres burned between Aug. 24 and 28 alone. The financial […]

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