Archive for November, 2008

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High Tech Game Units Take a Lot of Juice

Friday, November 28th, 2008

High tech gadgets are among the top favorites as gifts for Christmas. The news showed Christmas shoppers storming the stores this morning where one man commented that there were only 14 Wii’s on the shelf but he got one of them at a great discount. It would have to be worth it to get me there at 5:00 am. It looked like a herd trying to squeeze through the corral gate at once, then off and running through the store. These shoppers must have cased the place first. The man got his Wii, but Wii’s, Xbox, and the like rely on the latest laser technology. Laser technology can be expensive, and it’s not just the purchase price. He may have got a deal at the store but not on his future energy bills.

Laser technology uses a lot of juice, as much as two new refrigerators. Unbelievable. But one of the CBS affiliates I was tuned into said the average family that owns one of these units often leave them on costing that average family an extra $100/yr. in electricity for idle time. Nationally that cost is one billion dollars. It’s obvious we’ve barely begun to conserve energy and this is just one example.

Not only is it a waste of money to forget to turn these off, the environment takes a hit as well for nothing more than forgetfulness. A billion dollars annually is a lot of electricity. We need to remember to turn our techie things off. But the trouble is that nowadays we have so much more of the stuff in our homes it’s no longer the same old mantra, “Turn the lights out when you leave the room.” It now applies to the laptop, printer, cell phone charger, Plasma TV, DVD player…

Posted in Alternative Energy, Conservation, Methods for Lowering Energy Costs | 3 Comments »

Give Thanks, Bad Economy or Not

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Give thanks today even if you feel in dire straits with the economy in the dumpster. If you have a little extra, give to the soup kitchens across America that are closing at a time when they are really needed. Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is still open in Detroit, and the Gleaners are busy too.

Not to be demeaning, but to put things in perspective, here are some jewels that I carry with me from 12 years of Catholic schools. They kick you right where you need it whenever you think we have it bad:

At least you’re not living in a hut, dying of thirst, hunger, or disease while watching your children die of the same, all the while insects and flies relentlessly aggravate the situation.

Another one: At least you have a family to give thanks with. There are children whose parents have long since died, or were murdered by marauding militia in places like Darfur. If they have any family, it’s the head of the household, like a 12-year old sister or brother.

Even if you are alone, and destitute, give thanks that there is always food somewhere in America. And even if you are living in your car—you have a car!

My 86-year old mother and myself pondered some of these things while strolling through Wiard’s orchard after they offered us all the Fuji apples we could eat because the season was over. All the beautiful apples that were left were going to cider anyway. We looked at each other and thought, only in America, and crunched away on our apples.

We also noticed on our fall drive, all the fruit trees in yards, especially a pear tree that was burdened from so many pears. Like me, I’m sure whomever lives there would gladly part with them. And since I’m the ultimate scavenger of everyone else’s vegetable garden long after the season ends and no one cares anymore, I know the wealth that can be found in leftover gardens. I’ve canned a mighty zesty green tomato, onion, carrot, and hot pepper medley, and green pepper relish galore, not to mention more than one Ratatouille dish, a great way to eat the last of the eggplant nobody wants?

All of this is nature’s bounty right before our eyes, but only in America is it scattered everywhere, and many times overlooked as food, good food, real food, for free.

Only in America, ask and ye shall receive from neighbors that you may not even know. I’ve read about people that have opened their homes to those that have no one this Thanksgiving. One woman has 35 people coming.

So give thanks to be an American in a land that is truly blessed compared to just about anywhere in the world, bad economy or not.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Toxic Algae Increasing Around U.S.Coastlines

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Recently I caught someone’s smart remark after reading that scientists are studying shrimp, putting them on treadmills, that’s right, on treadmills to find how they are coping with toxic algae. It probably doesn’t sound important to most people other than their favorite food may disappear. I answered the remark that the study is important, because first the shrimp, then us.

Then yesterday I watched a Nova presentation on PBS about a marine animal rescue facility in CA that is seeing a surge of Domoic Acid poisoning in the past 3 years after a rise beginning in 1998. In 1998 tests were done to determine the effects of this natural occurring marine neurotoxin. It is found in algae/plankton and was formerly believed to be cyclical. Until this Nova presentation.

Nova showed satellite pictures of the coastline of California. Heavy concentrations of plankton that produces Domoic Acid showed up as a specific color on the map. Satellite images viewed after large storms that carry an overabundance of groundwater and stream/river water to the coastline also showed an increase in the plankton growth immediately afterward. This Nova presentation shows the connection of heavy runoffs of inland water that usually contains high concentrations of agricultural fertilizers and the resulting increase of “natural” plankton growth. It’s not looking so natural. Gee why would there be a steady rise since 1998, coinciding with the very anti-environmental, deregulation happy Bush administration?

The poor sea lions that are suffering seizures on the beach from this stuff were sad to watch. They were pretty much paralyzed, aware of humans but listless. Domoic Acid poisoning has no antidote. Plankton is a natural food source for sea lions and they are literally dying from too much of it. The poisoning was formerly thought to affect short-term memory. Now it’s believed that it is literally eating holes in the brain of the sea lions. Most of the poor animals we viewed will die.

Now the bad part. Humans and their pets can suffer the same poisoning. Rarely, for now anyway, Domoic Acid poisoning has sickened and killed humans in the past. Sardines, and all types of seafood eat plankton. And studies even before the Nova presentation have already ascertained that this over abundance of toxic algae is around the entire coastline of the U.S. Remember first the shrimp, then us.

The Nova presentation about the CA rescue facility is so new it isn’t available yet on this website. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ocean911/.

National Geographic’s previous info on Domoic Acid. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080617-sea-lions.html

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Posted in Animals in Peril, Bush Administration, California, Environmental Legislation, Environmentalism, Farms/Farming, Health, Marine Life, National Geographic Channel, Nova, Ocean Pollution, Pollution, Protecting Wetlands, Protesting Pollution | 1 Comment »

In Oil We Trusted; Environment Used Against American Auto Companies

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

I wrote this as a diary on other blogsites and found people weren’t as down on our car companies as thought. Since this blog does involve the environment I thought I would post it here also. Replies I’ve received from the west coast that buy foreign were a little surprised. One wanted to know about the new Ford Fusion hybrid. And many people including a congressman that I read about also find it curious that all three automakers ignored foreign competition. Here’s the blog:

We all had a hand in the recent demise of the American auto industry. Consumers ate up big gas guzzling SUV’s, trucks, and 300 hp engines in cars like my 9 year old Cadillac. Like most consumers, I figured if the Big 3 produces them, they are all right to buy; after all, the car companies have the inside track, and an eye up on the competition. We trusted their judgment and we were willing to buy.

American automakers sold us big gas guzzling cars, yet at the end of the Clinton administration, the Big 3 produced prototypes of energy efficient and hybrid vehicles for the future. When Bush/Cheney was elected all was abandoned. The Big Three were obviously assured by an overtly oil connected administration that the crude would keep flowing. The Big 3 trusted Bush/Cheney.

It is the trickle down of trust. Even though the source of this trust lies in an administration that is Wall St. friendly, (obviously), and anti-union, (prefers dictatorial management), even though the rest of the industrialized free nations are highly unionized and benefit from national health care systems. Hmm? Meanwhile, the Big 3 blindly and stupidly followed the lead of this anti-environmental administration, and totally ignored the competition that continued making hybrids. Odd. The assurances must have been great enough to go against basic business sense.

And what about the environment? The Bush administration appointed Michael Leavitt as EPA administrator in 2000. As new reports about global warming began to surface, they were either squelched or altered by the EPA. ENS reported: “The White House reversed course and rejected actions to control global warming pollution.” It is one of the worst deceptions the Bush/Cheney regime perpetrated on the American public, to cause doubt about global warming for the sake of the billionaire oil industry relishing the use of gas eating American cars by a trusting America and its auto industry.

As for Michael Leavitt, he left the EPA to head up Health and Human Services. Health and Human Services under his rule turned around and issued an e-mail to some 67,000 govt. employees urging them to buy hybrid cars, when U.S. automakers had none to offer. Of course the e-mail was a mistake, so sorry. What? As in a trial, the jury heard the stricken comment. Buy hybrid, buy foreign.
Within a span of a few years Michael Leavitt at the Bush/Cheney bidding was both anti-environmental, then suddenly green conscious. Bush/Cheney was purchasing more and more foreign oil. The beginning of 2007, before the economy took a dive, the Big 3 raced to Washington when oil prices rose to record highs. The Big 3 recognized the trouble ahead. They were snubbed by the same administration that obviously assured them early on. The oil was flowing but at outrageous prices, and now Bush/Cheney washed their hands of the auto industry. Not their problem. The Big 3 knew they had been duped. The environment was skillfully used as a means to an end.

The Big 3 scrambled back to Detroit to produce environmentally friendly cars. Ford is unveiling a hybrid Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan that goes up to 47 mph on electric power before switching to gas. The Prius tops out at 30-35 mph. Quite an achievement for Ford in a short time. GM is in the middle of producing a plug-in car. And Chrysler helped produce hydrogen-powered buses for Iceland in 2003. So they have the know how.

But there are new problems out of the auto industry’s control. The beloved Wall St. darlings of the Bush/Cheney era fumbled badly. Instead of just breaking unions, at least two of the Big 3 are on the precipice of extinction now. The final sword is bailing out Wall St. with $700 billion, and corps. like AIG twice, but stalling on the car companies for $25 billion citing that it will just be a cup of water on the fire.

If GM sold all 8 of its jets @ $35 million each, the total $280 million would by the same rationale be a thimble on the fire. If 20 execs conceded $5 million each in any perks or salary increases the resulting $100 million would be half a thimble on the fire. But there is no real fire. The auto industries have advanced greatly toward producing hybrid cars of the future in a very short time after realizing it was sheer stupidity trusting an administration that lead us into a war with Iraq. We’ve been mislead by the Bush/Cheney administration many times over and the one source that has profited greatly is Big Oil.

I believe Big Oil should return the favor to the Big 3 and float them the money to stay on the final stretch of track toward cars that won’t need oil in the future. If Obama can appoint his adversaries, then the oil industry can boost the car companies to a greener future without them. The auto companies deserve a bailout. The oil industry can easily afford it. They were bedfellows before. It’s time for some alimony.

Over four hundred blogs and all of the research, I’ve learned that all things lead back to politics through policy, legislation, and regulation. The past 8 years saw the demise of many things we’ve only just begun to notice. To blame unions and U.S. autoworkers for any of the problems the auto industry is currently experiencing continues to play into the hands of the Bush/Cheney mindset that would like to render our entire country an “at will” entity where no U.S. citizen will have the job security most of our major competitors in the free world enjoy. Understand that unions are the last powerful voice any average citizen has against the likes of a Wall St., that will most certainly make sure nothing, absolutely nothing trickles down. In light of what has happened, we’d be fools to think otherwise.

Japanese unions: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5D8163EF933A15754C0A964958260.
Germany’s unions: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3755519,00.html
Britain’s unions: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/apr2000/rov-a
06.shtml

Posted in CO2 Emissions, Chrysler, EPA, Environmental Spin, Environmentalism, Ford, GM, Global Warming, Global Warming Policy, Global Warming Reports, Industry, Oil Industry, Politics, Science, U.S. Automakers | 1 Comment »

Ancient Cedar Forests in Oregon Threatened

Monday, November 24th, 2008

When we think of Oregon, we think of lush forests and the shores of the Pacific; forests that have been in tact long enough to call ancient. These ancient forests of cedar and fir trees are along the western side of Oregon. After all the devastating fires we’ve had out west, it’s good to know that this ecosystem still stands. Its trees, wetlands and miles of rivers are a respite for the environment, an oasis compared to the scorched California terrain.

Oregon’s ancient forests are also home to black bear, and deer, as well as endangered species like the spotted owl. But that may change quickly. Bush is planning on handing out last minute offerings to his industry buddies, like two million acres to big lumber who will mow through the middle of Oregon’s ancient forests. The Wilderness Society said: “It would fragment this old growth ecosystem with the desolation of stumps and logging roads.” Two million acres would indeed look like desolation from the air.

Nice real nice. But it’s not a done deal. Conservation groups have backed the president down and now he’s accepting public comments. So let him know that in view of all the fires, and what might be a lack of water out west, to waste 2 million acres of Oregon’s forests is just plain sinful. What I want to know is where is all the lumber going? No one is building right now because of the economy. This really does look like nothing more than a wasteful hand out with no foresight as to how it will affect the environment, animals, their habitat, and all of us in the future.

Take action against this last minute logging: http://action.wilderness.org:80/campaign/ognw/xwnke5kr1ent8k5?.

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Posted in Bush Administration, Conservation, Endangered Species, Federal Government, Global Warming, Logging, Protecting Wetlands, The Wilderness Society, Wildlife | 1 Comment »

Wilderness Bill Affects Michigan in a Good Way

Friday, November 21st, 2008

There is a wilderness bill before congress that will protect more than a million acres of new wilderness areas in 8 states. It’s a good counterbalance to the acres of national forests that went up for auction over the past 8 years. Michigan is one of the states that would gain protected wilderness area through this bill.

A current Wilderness Society newsletter stated, “the bill [] would prevent new oil and gas leasing along the Wyoming Range and make permanent the National Landscape Conservation System, made up of 26 million acres of unspoiled public lands in the West.”

The only drawback to the bill is the authorization of a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, which groups like the Wilderness Society strongly oppose. They will work to get this one provision removed. The bill may pass by the end of the year. If not it will be presented again during the new administration.

This wilderness bill is actually a composite of 150 public land bills, and according to the same article would “designate wilderness in Michigan for the first time in 21 years. The Beaver Basin Wilderness at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore would protect a popular hiking, boating, and camping spot on Lake Superior.”

Aside from this, I recall reading WXYZ’s news ticker a couple of weeks ago that stated Sleeping Bear Dunes Park would be adding 35 miles of hiking trails and expanding the wilderness area of the park by 45%.

Encourage our state reps to pass this wilderness bill, as it will protect many areas of many states from roads, structures, and off-road vehicles forever. It’s the least we can do after the Bush Administration’s onslaught against our national parks, public lands, and wildlife, and get back on track for protecting some of our beautiful national heritage.

Posted in Conservation, Environmental Legislation, Michigan Environmental News, Michigan/Great Lakes, National Forest, Nature, Public Lands, The Wilderness Society | 1 Comment »

Brown Clouds Across Asia

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

 

As we continue to argue whether or not man causes global warming, brown clouds are shadowing land from the Arabian Peninsula across Asia all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Hey when we can see it, it’s idiotic to deny it.

The clouds are not only darkening cities but also causing the Himalayan glaciers to melt. How is that happening? One would assume that darkened skies shield the glaciers from the sun’s glare. An article from Beijing, China on Environmental News Service states: “Atmospheric brown clouds, formed by the burning of fossil fuels, biofuels, wood and plants, absorb sunlight and heat the air.” Not only that but, “The clouds also mask the actual warming impact of climate change by anywhere between 20 and 80 percent because they include sulfates and other chemicals which reflect sunlight and cool the surface.”

There is no logic relative to global warming. You know the same simple logic that figures we are getting cooler so it can’t possibly be global warming. That’s a little too easy. As anyone can see from this latest study, what should be isn’t, plus the affects are hidden.

The scientists that conducted this study are from universities and research centers throughout Asia, Europe, and the U.S. The article went on to show yet another chain reaction: “The possible impact of atmospheric brown clouds could include elevated levels of ground-level ozone, which could result in crop losses of up to 40 percent in Asia.” And the Himalayan glaciers are the source for the rivers throughout China. Food and water shortages may happen in the near future. With over a billion people, could this mean a widening world famine?

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2008/2008-11-13-02.asp

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Asia, Conservation, Environmental News Service, Environmentalism, Global Warming, Global Warming Reports, Industry, Pollution, Tibet | 1 Comment »

The Wildfires in California

Monday, November 17th, 2008

 

There are still arguments whether or not global warming has contributed to the onslaught of wildfires in California that certainly appear to be getting worse. As a matter of fact, I read an article that suggested it is because of invading populations of people moving into fire prone areas, and/or forest management practices instead. But a scientific paper published a year ago stated “that the changing climate was a greater influence on wildfire activity and intensity than forest management.” http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/Global-Warming-California-Wildfire-47102305.

   

As for people moving into fire prone areas, sure there would be more likelihood of fires, and more property damage, but Mother Nature is seriously contributing to the wildfire fiasco with a record drought, temperatures in the 80’s-90’s instead of the 70’s for this time of year, and winds that are clocking at 60 and 70 mph, with gusts up to 85! Besides authorities declared that the wildfires in California this past July set a record. There were over 1781 fires burning at once, but luckily most were in sparsely populated areas. So much for the “people-cause-the-fires” theory. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/california-wildfires-set-a-record/.

 

What I find odd is that the same people that deny the fire activity in California is due in part to global warming but instead caused by people, simultaneously deny that people cause global warming. Is this not selective reasoning? Certainly the smoke from these fires contributes heavily to air pollution.

 

Even an article in Business Week suggested that if we don’t do something soon about global warming the costs of the bad weather produced by it could be devastating for California. It stated that there could be “as much as $3.9 billion in annual damages caused by wildfires, rising sea levels and extreme weather events.” I say ditto for many other parts of the country. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D94EAOUO1.htm.

 

California isn’t the only area of concern. Hurricane ravaged Galveston, Texas did not get enough press during the presidential campaign. There are still what can be termed “Katrina victims.” I’ve noticed a pronounced change in path and verocity of tropical storms up the east coast of America. We do not want to see anything that resembles a hurricane hit NYC. This past spring our midwest was hit with horrible floods. Tornadoes in the South in November are becoming common. And let’s get real here. Five states in the SW have experienced huge growth, even though 4 of those states collectively rely on one and the same Colorado River for all of their water needs. Add the mentality that wants to maintain a steady growth in population in America, and we have to ask, “Just where is everyone supposed to live that won’t pose some sort of weather and/or uninhabitable terrain problem in the U.S.?” Can’t run, can hide from Mother Nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in California, Cyclones/Hurricanes, Drought, Extreme Weather in U.S., Fires, Floods, Global Warming Policy, Pollution, U.S. Weather Patterns, Weather/Climate | 1 Comment »

Florida Land Set Aside for Conservation to be Exempt from Taxes

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

 

A majority of Floridians didn’t just vote for president-elect Obama last Tuesday, but also for Amendment 4 to the Florida constitution. According to Environmental News Service (ENS), Amendment 4 will “allow land that is being used for conservation purposes, but which has not been permanently set aside, to be taxed according to its conservation use.” In other words, no property taxes as we know them.

 

Time will tell if more regulation needs to be added to the new amendment because other groups have cited possible problems with lost tax base while others tout it as the saving grace for the Everglades and the endangered Florida Panther.

 

The Nature Conservancy had a hand in getting this amendment passed, and hopes that it will be “a powerful incentive for more private landowners to engage in conserving Florida’s forests, waters and wildlife.”

 

You’ve got to admit it is a cheap and easy way to nudge people into another way of thinking about conserving places that are at once beautiful and vital to our ecosystems that would have been too costly to maintain under the former property tax structure.

It will be interesting to see how this works out. The tax exemption begins in 2010.

 

Read more: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2008/2008-11-06-091.asp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Conservation, Environmental Legislation, Florida | 1 Comment »

The Environment and a New Administration

Monday, November 10th, 2008

 

With a new administration on the way, the U.S. is about to get much more environmentally friendly. As a matter of fact the environment is a priority on a very crammed transition agenda. As an article in the Washington Post reported: “While Obama said at a news conference last week that his top priority would be to stimulate the economy and create jobs, his advisers say that focus will not delay key shifts in social and regulatory policies, including some — such as the embrace of new environmental safeguards — that Obama has said will have long-term, beneficial impacts on the economy.” Yeah, a lot of new jobs.

 

Some things to be looking for right off the bat:

 

Declaring carbon dioxide emissions endanger human welfare.

 

Rescinding the Bush administration’s decision last December to deny California the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles, (17 states are lined up right beyond California to do the same).

 

Creating a National Energy Council

 

Improving Food and Drug Regulations

 

Not a bad start. Anything has to be better than an administration that consistently pushed science aside in lieu of ideological beliefs or for politically motivated reasons. Hopefully, we are about to see many brand new industries emerge that will provide new construction, new jobs, new investments, and new futures for many people.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110801856.html?hpid=topnews

 

Posted in CO2 Emissions, Conservation, Environment and Jobs, Environmental Legislation, Environmentalism, Federal Government, Global Warming, Politics, Pollution, Science | 4 Comments »

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