Archive for January, 2007

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New News on Global Warming

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

I had another post I was going to do, but this news has been in my face 3 times. First my husband brought home an article in the Free Press about calculations and the rising water due to global warming. They were wrong. It’s worse.

Then the news this morning that Sen. Henry Waxman and his House Reform Committee are investigating the Bush administration’s role in suppressing facts about global warming and it’s effects - I’m writing to him later. Don’t you think this is a waste of taxpayers dollars just to make something official? Heck, I already wrote about that in my 3rd blog.  I watched it on BBC TV. They showed documents that were altered and questioned the culprit from the White House. Now we’re going to spend how much to make it official? We need to quit wasting time. It’s obvious someone altered something in this country. I’ve been in many arguments with global warming naysayers in the Free Press blogs. And yes I moonlight. I blog all over the place. I have to say, Monroe is slow to blog and comment about a lot of current issues in the news. Jeff’s blog “Spiritual Wickedness In High Places” raises some excellent issues regarding Iraq.

I’ve digressed. Anyway, the next thing on the news is that global warming has been miscalculated. We are losing to it much more quickly than we thought. Friday there will be a new announcement from a consensus of 500 scientists from around the world. They converged in Paris for the purpose of presenting a new picture to the public regarding global warming. it isn’t going to be pretty. What’s new about the announcement is that it implicates and defines man’s part in global warming. The discussion is closed as to whether we’re to blame because many other parts of the world are out right scared. China is investing 54 billion dollars to divert their rivers from the south. They have polluted and raped their country so badly, there are no trees to stave off the effects of global warming. The Gobe desert is now only 100 miles from Beijing. They are running out of water there. Indonesia is already witnessing a rise in water. They would know. There are 18000 islands in that chain. They fear they will lose at least 2000 of them in the next 23 years.  

So now I ask you, what is going to happen to American energy companies when all of a sudden they’re asked to cap everything?  We’re rushing to put up another 150 coalburners in the country in order to bypass the gasification requirements which capture harmful emissions and essentially store them. We’re drilling for oil in some of the most pristine parts of the country and obvious, like Livonia. Yet the writing is on the wall for the environment. Greed seems to hand out blinders to companies. They put them on and forge ahead like mules for the almighty dollar only to end up in trouble. What happens when the status quo is stopped or restrictive controls put on their methods? Who is going to pick up the cost of that fiasco? Correct me if I’m wrong, but the general public is going to bear the brunt of most of it. I don’t call that fair and am fed up with it. Should we be able to sue big energy or any other corporations for this type of neglect? What about citizens mobilizing to build, own and operate alternative energy plants? The Farmers Associations do it with ethanol plants. Something needs to be done. I can see our entire energy grid in this country, which is old, and outdated, coming to an end in the future. What do you think?

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Smokestack Mercury

Friday, January 26th, 2007

Bush’s mention of global warming in his state of the union address recently is a bunch of hot ur um lukewarm air. We need to reduce our use of gasoline. This from an oilman? What? – Big oil has finally made enough money @ $1146 per second? Just sitting here typing this line would pay for my college debt. When I see Bush shell out subsidies to alternative energy producers, I’ll believe he is in earnest. When I see ethanol pumps springing up everywhere and actual hydrogen plants instead of another stack on the ole coal burner, I’ll believe it.

 
And what about Monroe? Of all the non-environmental things we have in our county, the coalburner is the absolute worst for pollution. The kind that lands everywhere and is bad for our health.  It’s already the second largest coal burner in the country and we’re expanding it. At least someone I know noticed a new stack. I write this and in the back of my mind I remember catching the headlines somewhere that the mercury levels in our lakes and water in the N.E. are 5 times higher than previously thought and increasing. 

 
Burning coal is the biggest generator of air born mercury. Mercury in pure form is not so toxic because it is heavy and passes quickly through the body. But there is smokestack mercury which either comes out as particles and falls quickly or as an aerosol which is so tiny it can and does travel anywhere around the globe. When it does fall and land in water which is low oxygen, it is consumed by bacteria. The bacteria add carbon and whalla, methylmercury forms. This stuff is more dangerous because it stays in the body a long time. So the little fish eat the bacteria. The big fish eat the little fish and get more mercury. Then we eat the big fish and, well you know. We’ve been told to stay away from the big fish. Exposure to mercury of this sort can cause fatigue, tremors, vision disorders, and kidney, brain, and circulatory damage. Lovely. It’s in the air!

 
This methylmercury is accumulating quickly in our wetlands. So the level in birds is rising. 178 once pure species of birds were tested and found to have alarming levels of mercury. Wetlands are also ticking bombs. If they ever burn, all the years of mercury accumulation goes up at once into the atmosphere. There are many of these “sinks” in Alaska. Global warming has brought drought in some areas there that are full of peat. Once peat dries all one needs is a match and poof. Pristine Alaska will be shrouded in a methylmercury cloud.

 
And about the Great Lakes, what do you think? The Legacy Act has people out there dredging up God knows what and parking it near the water again, near me. It’s got mercury in it. So DTE throws another stack up to get more mercury going and the cycle continues. What’s the sense? Isn’t the Great Lakes Legacy Act a big waste of time and money if we’re just going to park the refuse near the water again where it can leach back in? And we continue to churn out more carcinogens and mercury with bigger coal burners. There oughta be a law. Oh that’s right, laws have been relaxed and big energy, industrialized farming, ISO standards, etc., are all about the honor system in this administration. So much for ethics where there’s a buck to be made.

 
There is a race to get pending and new permits for roughly 150 new coalburners across the country right now. The rush is on before a new congress clamps down. We’re so busy with Iraq, stuff like this is happening everywhere. The new plants will be built under old regulations.  They can let the pollutants fly without a gasification process where at least the emissions are collected and stored. Nice huh? Eleven of the plants are in Texas. I hope they’re in close proximity to the Bush ranch. What do you think?

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Who’s Stalling?

Sunday, January 21st, 2007

There is a lot of hubbub in our new congress about the environment. The biggest upset is Nancy Pelosi’s select committee on global warming. It supposedly flies in the face of John Dingell’s House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has the authority to write legislation on global warming. Dingell’s Climate Change Agenda, http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-memo.011707.climate_change.pdf, is pretty comprehensive but slow to move. Rep. Dingell calls Pelosi’s committee one of “world travel and junkets”. Rep. Bart Stupak weighed in on the fray. Stupak represents the Upper Peninsula and much the northern Lower Peninsula. He is chairman of the Oversight and Investigation subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He thinks Pelosi’s committee may do some good, but warns the legislative ability should remain with the House Energy/Commerce Committee. The fear is Pelosi’s committee might morph into one with legislative writing abilities. There would be conflict.

 
Dingell should get off his duff if he doesn’t want that conflict. The new senate flat out told Exxon Mobil and the Bush Administration to “stop the denial” about global warming and CO2. It exists. Dingell is dragging his feet on the issue, not because he doesn’t believe in environmentalism, but because it will hurt our already ailing automotive market. It looks to me like Pelosi is tired of waiting. Her committee is scheduled to have all info in and ready for the public by July 4th, this year. Dingell’s memorandum listed no deadline for completion.  Let’s think about this. It’s noble for Dingell to try to protect Michigan’s auto industry and much of our economy and his stock and mine.  But is stalling on global warming and the advent of new fuels the right way to do it?  I would gladly convert my Ford stock to invest in a new hydrogen plant. I would make more money, the hydrogen plants would employ people, and Michigan would be a forerunner for this alternative fuel and grow wealthy. Ford would still be rich.

 
Slowing the rush to stop global warming may help a little in the next year or two for American carmakers. They have very few hybrids and will not have much until 2009. Consumers are dialing down this winter and gas prices have dropped. That will help sell a few more cars. However, a savvy car buyer will be concerned about resale, just like large homeowners. And the weather is everyone’s conscience these days. It’s like that little voice that says something is not right. Don’t ignore it. The weather isn’t going to ease up. Eventually it will propel people to do whatever to stop it from escalating.

 
I think the Big 3 ignored the little voice in lieu of Big Oil. Bush’s refusal to meet with the Big 3 is suspicious as if to say we’ve already paid you big time to continue as is, don’t whine.  Explain Daimler-Chrysler with no hybrid at the auto show. In 2003, they produced 3 hydrogen fuel buses for Iceland and invested in their hydrogen infrastructure. They obviously knew the shift was coming. They have nothing to offer Americans yet. Isn’t that curious? Why didn’t they invest in hydrogen plant facilities in Michigan?  Or have they? It would be ideal. We’re surrounded by water.

 
And what about Toyota? The Prius is not that new. The moment that car came out, the Big 3 should have seriously taken notice. Change was in the air. What happened to foresight? Where was marketing? While companies like GE and Dupont invest millions in an environmental future, much of it overseas, and stand to reap billions from it, the Big 3 have lost ground and are drowning in Big Oil. Toyota will pull farther ahead in the next two years. They will have perfected the technology. They already streamlined their manufacturing, cut their energy costs 20%, and will cut them by another 15%. With cost down they will produce a cheaper car. By 2009 Americans will have a choice to buy very expensive, don’t have the bugs out yet, limited models of hybrid American cars, compared to a cheaper, perfected, Asian version that offers many choices.  

                       

Stalling environmentalism and alternative fuels is doing more harm than good for our auto industry and economy.  To the people out there screaming global warming is a hoax, it’s a ploy, what if it is? The weather isn’t helping that argument any. And outside of being a virtuous act for the earth, environmentalism is moving the world’s economy in a different direction. We’re noticeably behind our competitors. They are positioned to overtake us on that front. We can thank Big Oil who furnished some of its $1146 per second net income for the denial machine that’s put us on this merry go round about global warming. Only a few American companies grabbed the golden ring of green. Michigan will not improve until it grabs this opportunity for what it is, a golden opportunity.  Pelosi’s committee will if anything get things moving. To that I say, get on with it.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Auto Show

Friday, January 19th, 2007

I sat down to write about the auto show but the weather in Europe is on the news. It’s bad there too. I guess, what we get, they get. It’s Friday and the British Isles were hit with 100 mile an hour hurricane force winds. Why they didn’t just call it a hurricane is beyond me. France had tidal waves at its shores. 41 people are dead. The news showed a plane taking off almost sideways. I’d freak if I were a passenger. 280 flights were canceled at Heathrow because of wind. I just thought I’d share that.

 
As for the auto show, go if you can. It was a weekday and early so I was able to see just about everything. It’s an interesting auto show because of the concept cars and hybrids. It wasn’t overly crowded and there seemed to be a lot of middle age or older men there with their buddies. Probably retired autoworkers. They were full of information about the cars. Ask a question, get a dissertation.  My friend and I learned as much about the engines or cars from the visitors as the show people.

 
I was interested in audience, who and what they were drawn to, what most of the MPGs were, who had hybrids already, who had concept cars with alternative energy sources, and what those sources were. I hate to say that it appears to be the same old status quo for cars except for the vibrant colors, Serius satellite radios, and places to park an i pod.  Most of the interest was around the concept cars, foreign cars, and hybrids.

 
Most of the autos and trucks still run on gas, so the idea is to get great gas mileage these days.  It just wasn’t there. Most of the MPGs were 28 to 32 or less highway. There are still far too many large SUV’s and big trucks that take more energy to move. We’re not quite green yet but the concept cars show a little more hope.  It was apparent America is lagging way behind Toyota.

Toyota had three hybrids. The Camry, Prius, and 4 something XL. The Camry was fine and as the gentlemen who got in the back seat explained, it was 15 thousand cheaper than the Lexus. He went on to name 5 different cars/trucks that come off the same line to include the Camry and Lexus. This is how Toyota cut its costs. It also cut its manufacturing energy use by 20% way back in 2000. They will lower it another 15% in the near future. With that savings, the cars should become more and more affordable. This is why they are poised to take first place in the world. Toyota uses electric motor and gasoline technology. Not bad, but electric and ethanol would be better. The Lexus V-10 concept sports car looked like it was made of stainless. It was beautiful. 

 
BMW had a row of sports cars all in white. But I was interested in their concept car. It was a four-door sedan, which I didn’t find that appealing because I’m looking for a sporty car. BMW’s concept car runs on hydrogen or gasoline. The car was locked and actually one of few that I could touch. I peered through the window and yep right there on the steering wheel was the H2 button for hydrogen power. I was intrigued. It’s so James Bond. There was no price yet. I’m holding out for sporty anyway.

 
Of the American cars, GM had a plug in electric sports car that runs on batteries. Each wheel also has its own battery. They are recharged either by gas, hydrogen fuel cell, or diesel. I don’t agree they were the best-looking hybrid sports car.  It was very small and I wasn’t impressed because I barely remember it. But it is all electric and can go hundreds of miles on a charge.  It’s a concept car and the bugs aren’t out yet. I didn’t look at trucks or SUV’s sorry.

Daimler Chrysler was a disappointment with no alternative anything. Considering they produced hydrogen buses for Iceland way back in 2003. I find this curious. 

 
Ford is clearly ahead for innovation. And I’m not particularly a Ford fan. We’ve been buying GM. Its concept car is absolutely beautiful. It won best in the show.  Lincoln Mercury’s concept car was equally nice. Ford had a few hybrids already with more to come. Their hybrids are predominantly ethanol run for now. I was impressed. I’m glad I held onto my Ford stock. If Daimler-Chrysler doesn’t come out with hydrogen power in the near future and GM doesn’t produce a bigger hybrid electric car soon, it looks to me like Ford will be doing battle with Toyota for the American versus foreign hybrid competition.

 
My friend agreed. Ford was the American hybrid highlight of the show and Japan is definitely the forerunner for foreign hybrids. She is a big Mini Cooper fan but was really impressed with the 60 mpg of the Prius. It’s a roomy little car too. Germany is right behind them. My husband has his eye on a Beemer. But, Ford is the American forerunner for hybrids so far. It will be fun to watch the metamorphosis of the entire industry. I think it’s inevitable. I saw what people were drawn to.  Like I said before, I don’t think the consumer cares how an auto is fueled as long as the car looks good, goes fast, and has extras at an affordable price. There are plenty of people out here looking to invest in a new infrastructure for alternative fuels also.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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99 lbs.

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

When we say or hear environmentalism we think big stuff, global warming, alternative energy, industrial pollution, etc. But everyday litter builds up too.  I have a new road in front of my house, all the ditches have been redone, the berms renewed. I walk as much as possible on my new road and already the ditches are littered with plastic bottles, various types of liquor bottles, fast food styrofoam cartons, and stuff. Heck the guys working on the road left their plastic bottles everywhere.

 
I call this American sloth. We find the energy to stop and  buy the fast food or drink, but won’t go out of our way a few steps to a container to toss the trash from it. Littering is the same category as the shopping carts that don’t make it 10 steps further to the cart corral after making it all the way from the store. Most of us are fat and could use the extra 20 steps round trip, but I won’t digress. When I wrote a blog that the average person creates 4.5 lbs. of garbage a day, I’m sure many people balked. Maybe you personally don’t create 4.5. Maybe you feel you only create 2 lbs per day. But rest assured, in order to get that average, someone else is creating a bigger mess somewhere. Or could it be that all the little things we don’t think twice about tossing have a big accumulative effect we don’t realize?

 
So what are some of these little things? What is it we seek to acquire, carry around with us like they’re life or death staples, then simply toss when we’re through? Cigarette butts. I couldn’t believe it, but a news program showed the daily street cleanup in Times Square, New York. Every day an entire hefty bag of cigarette butts is gathered in that one area alone, 99 lbs. of cigarette butts. It makes one wonder why the bug problem in N.Y. (cockroaches), considering tobacco is a poison.  It seems they could scatter the butts around the tenements to rid them of pests. Jerry Baker could use these butts for his poisonous tobacco juice treatment.

 
If there are 99 lbs. of cigarette butts found daily in Times Square alone, how many lbs. nationwide? The news program didn’t say but offered a solution. They showcased these handy little ashtrays that hold up to 4 butts. I started laughing. Because when they’re full, 4 butts get tossed at once, in a pile.

 
I told you that to tell you this. Most things found on the streets end up in our waterways. I’m not saying cigarette butts are polluting our freshwater supplies and we’ll die like bugs. I’m saying cigarette butts are a miniscule part of our pollution problem, but look how many there are. For anyone to think the world is so vast that it’s impossible for man to have any kind of huge impact on it, think again.  There are 6.7 billion of us polluting with anything from as tiny as a cigarette butt to the massive industries we’ve created. Get real if you don’t think it’s possible we can affect our environment enough to fan global warming. We’re doing it alright.

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It Could Be Us

Sunday, January 14th, 2007

I was going to write about the auto show, but I haven’t attended yet. There are more pressing issues I caught on the news.  It relates to my blog “Moral Obligations.”  We’re seeing more and more activity in Africa regarding Al Quaeda.  As a typical American, I know we don’t discern individual countries in Africa very well. Africa is Africa to us, but there are sooo many fighting factions in very different countries of Africa, that are clearly removed from Al Quaeda.  I think the guerilla fight in Niger might get distorted and lumped together by Americans as just another factor of terrorism.. But they aren’t..

 
World News Tonight reported Nigerien (Niger’s citizens) militants threatened to blow up oil fields in the Niger Delta. Africa is our 5th largest oil supplier. The discussion on the news was that the militants are basically avenging their land. Before closing, the last question wasn’t about anyone’s plight there but “How much of a threat does this pose to our oil?”

 
Never mind these people are the same ones I spoke of in Moral Obligations. The so-called Nigerien militants are really Catholic Christians fed up with what is happening in their delta region. Besides Lake Chad evaporating from global warming, their land has been overtaken by oil fields spewing pollution, ruining their ground, and pretty much making people sick. Fighting is escalating. Royal Dutch Shell evacuated their employees recently. The militant groups are kidnapping workers in the oil fields and holding them for ransom. 

 
It is reported that the total amount of wasted and/or stolen money through corruption of both the government and the oil companies is near $400 billion. Niger remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Rubbing salt in that wound are all the bad environmental factors the people live with, starving them out even worse.

 
I want people to watch how this unfolds. We American’s are a fickle lot. We’re choosy anymore with who gets our sympathy. It may be suggested in the future that Nigerien militants are the enemy because they threaten our oil. They don’t deserve our wrath.  They deserve our help. What are Niger’s people supposed to do when no one listens? Their land is overtaken, their air is polluted, their freshwater supply is disappearing, and someone is filthy rich, but it’s not them.

 
There is a fine line between them and us. Our land is being high-jacked for oil or natural gas, our mountain tops stripped away for coal, we have smog alerts for our air, our water has mercury hotspots, and someone is getting filthy rich, but it’s not us. Oh and ditto for corrupt government, oil companies, and nobody listening to us anymore. We’re only one or two big disasters away from being miltants ourselves.

 
 
 
 
 

 

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Michigan a Dinosaur?

Tuesday, January 9th, 2007

There is a big environmental problem in Michigan. Some of the new taxes proposed in Michigan will be on green things. I’m protesting this to the Governor before it becomes real. I will write to my reps. Get involved. National news just announced man causes global warming. And what do we do in Michigan? Put the biggest squelch we can on a budding green economy, tax it out of possibility.

Better speak up about many non-green things, about running on coal for the next 24 years, allowing drilling for oil in the state, the latest possibility is Livonia, and allowing Smithfield Foods anywhere near a state surrounded by water. Promote an active search for investors in the ethanol markets, the recycling markets, and a hydrogen fuel infrastructure. And give them breaks, not taxes. Duh, we’re surrounded by water. Water – fuel – fuel – water. We have water bottling plants galore, but no plastic recycling plants. We bury the entire production of plastic from the bottled water companies in Michigan earth instead. It is ignorant and unnecessary. We could have income and jobs from both the producers and recyclers while saving us the trash. We need jobs, the green market worldwide is becoming more lucrative, still we tax the green in Michigan and continue to pollute?

The January 15th, 2007 edition of Time magazine ran an article “How Business Saw the Light,” by Bryan Walsh. http://mobile.time.com/detail.jsp?key=70288&rc=bu_ne. The article says our industrial competitors in the world market look to the environment not only out of virtue but to crush their rivals. That would be us. But even amongst us, there are very disproportionate takes on environmental gold. Michigan is sadly lagging behind.

According to the author, “behemoths like GE and DuPont are carving profits out of a worldwide green-business market worth more than $600 billion.” Daniel Esty, director of the Center for Environmental Law and Policy at Yale claims, “This is a watershed moment in the business community.” Esty also wrote a book, “Green to Gold.” The title is self-explanatory. He claims “the environment has become a strategic issue. It’s something every company must do to stay competitive.”

I think smaller communities like Monroe might take the initiative on a very lucrative green-business market and seek out new business in the area with a plastic recycling plant, or ethanol and/or hydrogen processing facility, if they had a little funding or tax breaks from the state. The competition is needed considering we have a nuke, a coal burner, and trash disposal site. But the state is just not getting with the green program and plans the opposite. Michigan’s Big Three automakers had absolutely no foresight in this area either. Now the Japanese are poised to become the world’s leading auto manufacturer for the first time. Part of the reason, the Prius hybrid.

With thousands of autoworkers searching for new work, Ford and GM, might have invested in the technology that is putting Toyota ahead. They would be enjoying that spot now. Toyota had the foresight for the green way back in 2000. You know, the Al Gore year. Toyota has reduced energy use from its manufacturing by 30% since then. It looks to reducing levels of emissions of CO2 from both its cars and manufacturing by 20% from its 2001 level in the next 3 years. We’re drowning in a sea of oil compared to these guys.

Joel Makower, exec editor of GreenBiz.com says we’re green hypocrites. “Consumers remain depressingly ignorant about the environmental impact of what they do.” The Time author goes on to say “American consumers haven’t really begun to change their habits.” We will end up having to change much more drastically the longer we wait. Our decisions will have to be more radical than the ones businesses are making now in order to avert more hostile global warming effects. If Americans in general aren’t changing their habits fast enough, or big enough, then where is Michigan on a scale compared to California? We’re dinosaurs.

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Loaded Dice

Saturday, January 6th, 2007

 
 
This morning ABC News reported first and foremost 99.9% of all credible scientists worldwide concur GLOBAL WARMING IS MAN MADE. It was all over the radio yesterday. I don’t think it could be any clearer. They also went on to say if we keep it up, it’s like playing with loaded dice. I did a blog on being duped about global warming by members of the Bush administration, who, when, how. Still I received opposing websites.  When I’d check the author of many naysayer websites, they were either a little radical and syndicated (scary), or could be traced to Exxon Mobil somehow. Out of curiosity I was going to check further myself, but a study has already been completed by The Union of Concerned Scientists. ABC News, Technology and Science author Clayton Sandell wrote an article “Report: Big Money Confusing Public on Global Warming.” An excerpt says “A new report details what it calls an “enormously successful” disinformation campaign by Exxon Mobil that used tobacco-industry tactics to fund groups who cast doubts and deceive the public on the scientific consensus regarding global warming.”

 
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m angry. Exxon Mobil is criminal in my book. To purposely obstruct truthful information regarding climate that immediately impacts the lives of everything on earth is just not right. It is even more criminal that the truthful information withheld is relative to the demise of life on the planet. Either directly or indirectly it is a result of a global warming. Maybe if the world took on Exxon Mobil in court and won, smaller energy companies would take heed. I don’t like being lied to and I’m seeing more and more forked tongues these days. I’ve seen an awful lot of energy commercials touting clean coal. HA. Now that’s a true oxymoron. Most of the big energy companies claim they are investing millions into renewable energy, wind, water, solar, but down the line they make statements that don’t add up.

 
DTE Energy has me confused. I know Gov. Granholm has stipulated industrial emissions be reduced by 70% by 2010. I’ve caught DTE’s commercial declaring they are ahead already, down 64% for emissions. There is more. They too are investing millions into renewable energies. Why then in the Dec. 11th Business Section of the Free Press did it state Michigan will continue to use COAL for the next 24 years? We’re lead to believe there is new coal out there that burns clean. In reality it’s the same old coal but they’ve got new technology that traps the mercury and other cancer causing agents produced by coal.  Once it’s trapped, it has to be stored somewhere. The nuke plants are already storing stuff somewhere. Do not fall for the misleading information about coal. My college class diced to pieces an official clean coal website when it was presented as ethically questionable. One student noticed the use of an adolescent for the tutorial on coal.  An adolescent in coal’s TV ad suggests it is the energy of a clean future for them. Innocence and clean coal, slick.

 
What I’m basically saying is that we’ve all been slicked one time or another. But the recent dupe by our own administration about global warming, then big money like Exxon Mobil contriving to withhold info, and on a smaller scale,  DTE says it’s investing in renewable sources but plans to continue for 24 years or more with coal is enough. What are the sayings  “Fool me once, fool me twice…” or “If it looks like a duck…” or “We’ll know them by their deeds,” in other words, wise up.

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Lovely Weather We’re Having

Friday, January 5th, 2007

I love it. Don’t you love the weather? But, it belongs in Florida. Bugs to trees to birds and even some people are suited to be in the old Michigan climate. There are people who love winter to ice skate and ski. Some bugs are meant to die. Remember the Ash tree? Landscape doesn’t look so good with those dead trees everywhere. Maybe the bug that invaded those trees would have frozen to death in a real winter. Evergreen trees are threatened by a borer now. Imagine Michigan without evergreens. License plates would have to change again. And the mosquitoes, well won’t they be a challenge when they emerge as birds. Termites are a reality in Michigan if the weather keeps warming up. The fun we’ll experience with one of those big pesticide tents over our homes to get rid of them. Kiss apples, cherries, pears, and the like goodbye if the trees blossom and it freezes. The list goes on when everythings askew and we bask in the warmth of it. This is not normal weather we’re having at all.
We need snow in Michigan. 50 billion gallons of water is lost from snow piles alone. We need cold to get rid of allergies if anything, and fruit flies. I Googled fruit flies and global warming just for the heck of it. I couldn’t believe I pulled up more than one hit. It seems someone has tracked the fruit fly for quite some time, and why not? It’s the gene pool favorite of biology classes everywhere. Because of their short life span, and pro-creational abilities, 4 to 6 generations per year, they’re studied for DNA changes. Populations of fruit flies have independently evolved identical gene changes within the last twenty years in order to cope with global warming. It’s genetically prepared for global warming already. It makes me wonder if having a brain and free will is better than letting nature controls things with natural adaptation and instinct. After all, the fruit fly, and other lowly bugs, like viruses are ahead of us in this game. They’re prepared. We are not. We’re busy basking in the sun and not paying attention to the consequences ahead. Hey wait a minute wasn’t there a children’s story, about the grasshopper…
 
 

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First Project of The Great Lakes Legacy Act

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

The Great Lakes Legacy Act was established as a strategy to restore and protect the Great Lakes. “Contaminated sediments at the bottom of the Great Lakes can make fish unsafe to eat for both people and animals. To fix this problem, the Great Lakes Legacy Act authorizes $270 million to clean up contaminated sediments in Areas of Concern.”  http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/sediment/legacy/index.html.
I just finished blogging a return comment to ML and decided to post a new blog about it.  Here are the  results of the first project completed through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The Black Lagoon in Trenton Channel just South of the Grosse Ile bridge was dredged. This first project was completed in 2005. Ninety thousand cubic yards of silt from the bottom was removed. Lucky me, it was dumped as landfill in a contained disposal site out here in Pt. Mouille somewhere near my home. The site is on the lake, near the game reserves, and wildlife.  http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/sediment/legacy/blklagoon/blklagoon.html.

 
90,000 cubic yards dredged out of the Black Lagoon and dumped near the lake again contains:

160 pounds of PCB’s,

360 lbs. of mercury,

300,000 lbs, of oil and grease,

38,000 lbs. of lead,

140,000 lbs. of zinc.

 
I did the math and yes the mercury is about 4 /1000th’ per cubic yard, but there will be more. What I want to know is how this stuff just goes away or are we just moving it around? Any civil engineers out there? I would like to know how 300,000 lbs of oil and grease just dissipates somehow? If anyone knows, we would love to hear how we are making this stuff go away for good and what is happening that will prevent more of it. YUK!

 
 
 

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