Our World and Everything in It

Not long ago I wrote a blog about H.R. 5852 (The Great Ape Protection Act) to protect our closest DNA relative from both mental and physical pain of suffering. Well, an article in USA Today stated that in Europe, apes could receive some of the same rights as humans very soon.

The article stated, “A Spanish parliamentary committee adopted resolutions last month that would give great apes, such as chimpanzees and gorillas, the right to life, freedom from arbitrary captivity and protection from torture.” It’s expected to be approved next year.

A specific court case in Austria is poised to go further and declare a chimp a person so that it can have a legal guardian and funds for upkeep. The European Court of Human Rights is considering this appeal for Matthew Hiasl Pan, a 28-year old chimp.

The only major legal argument against this is that it may conflict with a human’s rights somewhere down the line.

Spain’s legislation, however, stresses that this is about the basic rights not to be arbitrarily mistreated and killed. It would also “outlaw using great apes in experiments, circuses, TV commercials or films. Apes could be kept in zoos, but conditions would be improved.”

The case in Austria hinges on Matthew, who has always been treated as a human. He has lived in a Vienna shelter for 25 years and it’s going bankrupt. If Matthew has no place to live, he could simply be killed even though donors have pledged money for him, not the bankruptcy. A British animal rights activist who has worked with Matthew for 10 years will be his guardian.

The case wants about 4 out of the 50 human rights enjoyed by Europeans bestowed upon the animal as follows: the right to life, limited freedom of movement, personal safety, the right to claim property, and to a legal guardian.

This issue is being blown out of proportion as if Matthew’s lawyers are trying to get all human rights for a non-human animal “so he can go to college. This is about basic rights not to be killed.”

“Not to be killed” was a consideration for all living things in Bonn, Germany this year where representatives of 191 nations discussed putting a cost on saving nature. They looked into trying to make a highly profitable business out of saving forests, whales and coral reefs and to stave off extinction of the many species that will follow.

German Environment Minister, Sigmar Gabriel stated: “This conference deals with economic interests. It is critical that we assign ‘a measurable cost to the loss (of environment),’ or else we run the risk ‘of deleting data from nature’s hard drive.’” According to an article on the Mathaba News website “the initial results of a study, initiated in collaboration with the European Union, on the global costs of species and habitat loss amounts to 6 percent loss of global gross domestic product. Poor countries are the hardest-hit. The annual cost of species and habitat loss amounts to as much as half of their already modest economic strength.” So preserving biodiversity pays much bigger than destroying it.

It’s sad we have to go through all of this, put a price tag on life to give it value, when a good dose of morality/ethics that insures we have reverence and a deep abiding respect for all life that was given to us should be the norm in civilized society.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-07-15-chimp_N.htm

http://www.mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=593303

And the race is on. Alternatives or the same ole polluting solutions until we’re extinct. Looks like Washington isn’t waiting around for anyone’s opinion. The oil people are getting their dibs in while they can. We won’t see any of that oil for years but hey why not?

The wealthy are starting to polish their crowns in front of us.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/us/17alaska.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

A short synopsis of what I gathered from a brief presentation of Al Gore’s speech in Washington today:

Gore thanked all of the congressman present and the many that he has conferred with over the years and around the world. He said he hoped to lift partisanship from global warming efforts.

He went on to say that America needs to shake off its complacency because the survival of the United States is at risk, as well as, what’s at stake for all civilization relative to global warming.

He acknowledged what many of us are currently thinking that so many things are going so wrong simultaneously. The economy is tanking. We’re losing job. The mortgage industry is in dire straights. We still have security risks, and the Iraq war. Gas prices keep rising. Food prices are rising.  And our weather is increasingly horrible, posing new threats to the economy as many homeowners lose everything they own to fires, floods, and tornadoes.

Global warming is advancing faster than originally thought in 2001, (National Geographic’s “Planet Earth” series proves this). Our own U.S. Navy subs went under the Arctic Ice Cap, and it’s now believed 75% of it will be gone in just 5 years. Greenland is disappearing with 20 million tons of ice melting into open water daily. Sea levels will rise. And based on the latest round of increased lightening strikes during storms, scientists say that a 1% increase in global warming will increase lightening strikes 10% more. The problem is bigger than we think.

So the bulk of America’s problems can be categorized as economic, environmental, and as national security issues. After speaking with leaders from around the world, scientists, engineers, CEO’s of major corporations, etc., all agree that old solutions that treat each of these categories separately is a mistake because at the core of every bad issue is our dangerous dependency on fossil fuels.

America needs to end dependency on carbon-based fuels!  (Roar from the crowd). It’s easy to see that these same measures to help the environment can:

• Ease the economy by offering thousands of new jobs in new green industry right here in America
•  Stop the energy/safety threat we suffer through control by foreign oil interests. These foreign (enemy) interests have a stranglehold on us. If we don’t need oil, we won’t need them. Oil fuels their wealth and power.  

Gore stated that the U.S. is borrowing money from China to purchase oil in the Middle East. We end up polluting while accelerating global warming. In that statement alone are the three categories of our problems economics, security, and the environment. We’re dealing with potential enemies to supplies us with our needs while they drain our bank account.

The quickest, cheapest, best answer to all three problems is the efficient production of electricity for all of our needs. Science proclaims that the sun provides enough cumulative energy every 40 minutes to provide 100% of the entire world’s needs. Now why wouldn’t we use that instead? Gore also reiterated what I’ve already learned, that there is enough wind through the U.S. corridor to provide all of America’s energy needs. Add geothermal power to the equation and we simply have enough energy to get away from fossil fuels once and for all.

Gore remembers a statement that was made long ago that if oil got to $30 per barrel then alternative energy sources would be competitive. We’re closing in on being 5 times that limit and greater demand for alternative energy by big corporate consumers is already bringing costs down.

The logic then follows that we must put an end to our old fossil fuel solutions. We need a new start. Gore presented a strategic challenge to all of America. It is the linchpin of a bold new strategy to change America’s direction. He urged Americans to strive to reach 100% reliance on clean alternative energy sources within the next 10 years! And we should never think we can’t, because we can. Gore sited the walk on the moon at this juncture. (Huge applause and ovation).

Talking about solutions 40 years away is ridiculous. We have to aim for less than 10 years and if that challenge is not politically viable, Gore said, “Then ask the people.” (Another huge ovation).

Gore stated that our country can’t afford 10 more years of a tanking economy, job outsourcing, horrible weather disasters whereby the home insurance business may bottom out, and 10 more years of troop deployments to dangerous regions who happen to have huge oil supplies. Hmmm that last statement was interesting. Did we really invade Iraq for the oil and how is that playing out, and what oil companies and people are benefiting from our grief?

That’s pretty much all CNBC and CNN allowed us to watch. CNN announced at the same time Gore was giving this speech that John McCain was in Kansas getting an ovation for his idea about offshore oil drilling. I think Gore can forget partisan unity at this point.   

I got some interesting e-mails today. One announced that Al Gore will be speaking in Washington D.C. tomorrow about the way we think about energy and climate, and bringing prosperity to America.

His speech should generate a great deal of attention. But that was it.

This ought to be interesting and raise a whole new wave of Gore remarks from the environmentally uneducated. Tune in.

If you ever had any questions about a anything relating to earth and its functions, how it all happened, how our climate is changing and why, how we know this stuff, and many other things, watch National Geographic’s presentation “Planet Earth.” This is family stuff, enlightening, interesting, and a little bit scary.

Some of the presentations are explosive. It’s a little mind boggling how they are able to present prehistoric earth with video footage of events and places from the present. I watched the one about ice mass, and last night was about earthquakes, ending with volcanic eruptions. There is as much action as the latest Rambo movie. My husband was perturbed we changed channels from the movie “Mash,” but said it was really a great presentation and he wants to see more of it now. You’ll find yourself saying “Wow”  and “I didn’t know that!” more than once.

I know some people don’t get the National Geographic Channel, but the DVD set of “Planet Earth” is available. It’s better than any encyclopedia books I was brought up with. Maybe if they had this type of learning tool back then more of us would have went into science.

“Planet Earth” is on every night this week, beginning at 9:00 pm on the National Geographic Channel. Tune in.

I read an e-mail from Defenders of Wildlife that explained how wealthy speculators (oil) are driving up the price of oil to double or more per barrel than what it should be. It stated that, “Michael Masters of Masters Capital Management, who testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in June, ‘with greater regulation [of speculation], oil prices could drop to $65 or $70 a barrel within about 30 days.’”

Well, that’s a no-brainer. Even Bush’s Energy Information Agency estimates that oil from drilling in the Arctic wouldn’t hit the market for 4 years and would only reduce gas by a few cents. It’s more of our own oil, but it’s still going to be $4 per gallon or more? What’s wrong with this picture? This speculation business looks to be true in that case. The agency also said “offshore drilling would not significantly impact domestic production or prices before 2030.”

Just yesterday I blogged that even the most environmentally minded in congress were willing to back drilling if necessary. Necessary to lower gas prices and make them look good for re-election? Now it’s really starting to look like this speculation thing is real. Look at the facts:

• Drilling for oil both in the Arctic and offshore will not bring gas prices down quickly at all.
• Those in Washington opposed to new drilling will now consider it if necessary, even though it doesn’t change the fact that drilling will not bring prices down. 
• Necessary must mean whatever it takes to bring gas prices down for re-election.
• Speculators are the only ones that can bring gas prices down quickly and drastically.

 Conclusion:  Environmentally minded congressional leaders are willing to give in to speculators wishes to drill in the Arctic and offshore in exchange for immediate relief at the pump for consumers and ultimately their re-election. Isn’t this extortion? Isn’t this our congressional leaders complying with extortion?

Congress needs to regulate speculators and quick if we want to see a fast, drastic drop at the pump. It’s a much better solution than giving in to greed and extortion while sacrificing clean water, marine life, and wildlife habitat.

We had to know this was going to happen. The U.S. has continued to sell oil leases even though the Arctic is still protected. When these guys get a plan in their head, war and extortion are not out of their realm. This is the final push during Bush’s term and it’s going to be a very bumpy ride. It appears this speculation news is being kept to a minimum.

I caught a little bit of Anderson Cooper on CNN last night asking the same question, “Are speculators driving up the price of oil?” Of course the official reply from someone official pooh, poohed the whole idea. And I guess that is supposed to be the end of it. Much of our country’s leadership, certainly wealthy corporations no longer answer to anyone anyway. 

Most of the time, if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it’s a duck. And this is a real game plan speculators have going here. They’re no better than thugs making us suffer until we give in to their demands. Contact your congress people and soon. Regulate speculators.

President Bush lifted the ban on offshore oil drilling Monday, but it means nothing if Congress renews the ban as part of the annual spending bill for the Department of the Interior. Congress has done so since 1981 but it appears that many in congress even the most ardent environmentalists might support drilling where it makes sense. Sense?

How political can you get? Everyone including those in Bush’s administration admitted that drilling for oil will not bring immediate relief at the pump, if at all. Oilmen in this country have stated there isn’t enough to sustain us anyway. It’s been stated over and over that 2012 would be the earliest we will see any relief as far as gas prices in the U.S. from any new drilling.

But people in this country want immediate satisfaction, and become oblivious to facts in the quest for instant gratification. So now even our most enthusiastic defenders of the environment are saying they would consider it, but for what possible reason? It’s not going to bring prices down for four years, one whole presidential term. Ah but it will make our reps look like they are doing something to help a very impatient public. And for that, they just might get re-elected. To hell with the environment in an election year. Now we see true colors come out. This is a pretty late hour to succumb to the Bush oil regime. I thought we had more sense than that. Oh that’s right. Bush/Cheney wouldn’t be in office at all so there wouldn’t be a war in Iraq, our economy wouldn’t be plummeting, and we wouldn’t be trillions in debt if we had any sense.

I wrote a blog, “Polar Bears vs. Big Oil; Guess Who’s Going to Die?” I’m starting to feel like Humans vs. Big Oil…

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/opinion/15tue3.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

I can’t believe it, but for whatever reason, DTE is going green. They are poised to invest billions in alternative energy for Michigan and from what I gathered of the Detroit Free Press article in yesterday’s Sunday paper, it is to help jumpstart Michigan’s economy. Actually, it said it was: “boosting the state’s efforts to become a leader in this rapidly growing market.” It can’t be talking about our senate’s recent efforts. It looks more like this is another example of the market driving environmentalism. The company couldn’t have made a more timely decision.

The article went on to say that DTE would invest $3 billion dollars over the next 6-7 years. This hinges on the state passing the mandate to insure 10% of Michigan’s electricity comes from renewable sources. The article reiterated that there are major differences between the senate and house energy bills, and that unless these differences are resolved, Michigan will continue to lose out on environmental jobs. 

DTE recognizes the potential for job growth, reduction in global warming, and energy independence by going green. The company is taking up the slack on wind power in Michigan that the latest round of energy bills through the senate seemed to dismiss. The “bulk of DTE’s multibillion-dollar investments will be in wind power.” The wind farms will be in the thumb region, the western side of the state, as well as, the possibility of a wind farm in Huron County.

DTE said it has begun to make multimillion dollar investments into its venture capital fund for alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and biofuels, but also new technologies and solutions, power storage, and companies that produce equipment like meters that monitor electricity use. This venture fund, formed in 1995, has not been active for the past few years, and is one of the few corporate venture funds available in the state “focused on alternative energy.” 

Recently, I happened to find a 1997 congressional presentation by many companies, including DTE, and from many states relative to alternative energy innovation. DTE presented some pretty advanced technology way back then. I’ve followed one of their investments, a company that produces hydrogen fuel cell extractors. It’s really advanced technology.  

What I find interesting is that these absolutely wonderful alternative ideas for energy presented to our federal congress back in the mid to late 90’s that were either ready to be developed further, marketed, and/or sold, just got shelved for years during the Bush administration. It looks like a big “Green Thumb” kept wraps on new technology entering the general public milieu even though the Texas ranch uses geothermal energy, and I wouldn’t doubt Cheney’s digs are eco friendly too. DTE just admitted their alternative energy venture fund has been on hold. It was obviously waiting on politics and/or the market.

I wonder if this new push to go green by DTE has anything to do with a federal judge vacating the “Clean Air Mercury Rule” as just another way to move pollution around, while demanding that the EPA set new standards for mercury emissions in less than 2 years? That ruling has a direct impact on coal fired plants. That’s for sure. Or is DTE keen enough to see the writing on the wall that a new environmental economy will lure more money and investment into Michigan, a good thing for all business, and in which case DTE is doing what our congress should be doing. Or is another monopoly forming because the possibility exists that any home can get solar panels, or a wind turbine, or a bio-digester for methane gas production, or all three, and provide energy for itself in the future. That paints a pretty scary picture for big utility companies and great incentive to go green first. 

I’ve blogged about our federal courts being very environmental lately against the EPA, against mercury, against incinerators, and now the U.S. Forest Service. A long time ago, I blogged about an energy company that was poised to drill for oil on a tract of land along the Au Sable River. Drilling would inevitably ruin the area. It’s a haven for trout fishing and canoeing.

The Mason Tract, if I recall correctly, was donated by the Mason family as a place for people to get away from it all. I believe it was Earthjustice (Sierra Club) that got an injunction to stop the drilling. I want to say that was over 2 years ago. The Mason Tract is on the southern end of the Au Sable River. 

The fight between Earthjustice and Savoy Energy must have made the rounds in court because the U.S. Forest Service got involved and ended up approving the drilling, but a Federal Court judge overturned the decision saying Savoy Energy acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” when they made the decision.

Yessss! Imagine leaving a particular piece of land to the state for the public to enjoy as a peaceful woodland escape, and after 50 years it means nothing.  All of a sudden it’s OK to drill for oil there. And the U.S. Forest Service that is supposed to be the champion of our forests felt it was OK to allow it.

This fight is done for now but probably not over. I’m really glad to see that so far our federal courts are hanging strong for the environment. The Au Sable area is a great spot.  I did an overnight canoe trip there in March way, way back when. Many people have canoed down this river and hopefully helped fight the fight to keep the area the way it is.

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/NEWS01/307110008/1002/NEWS01

When we think of environmental problems we think of giant melting glaciers, huge hurricanes and tsunamis, but it’s the little things that can get us too like bacteria. There is a new germ that’s arrived in the U.S. from Iraq and although it’s deadly, it’s not a terrorist threat. It arrived here innocently enough with our wounded soldiers. It seems to be following the evacuation route of the wounded all the way back to the U.S.

If you haven’t seen the Nova presentation about this new bacteria called Baumannii or IraqiBacter, you should. Everyone should be aware of this potential danger.

Baumannii is highly drug resistant. It hangs around in places like doorknobs and pillowcases for weeks. It’s been exposed to our most powerful antibiotics but keeps morphing or conjugating its way out of death. By conjugating, I mean Baumannii bacteria likes to practice horizontal gene transfer with any old germ it comes in contact with. If it contacts pneumonia germs, bingo, the next generation of Baumannii carries pneumonia genes. One strain was found to have 46 different or foreign genes in just one sector of its DNA. One of the genes was Legionaire’s disease.

Watch the video: Nova Video about Baumannii. Just click under watch the segment.