Published on July 21st, 2008
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Al Gore presented a dramatic and widely discussed speech on matters of climate, carbon emissions, and energy last week. Maybe you didn’t get to listen to it at the time, and would like to read the text, but reading speeches can be boring.
Science-fiction author and journalist Bruce Sterling, who founded something called the Viridian Design Movement back in 1998 has posted the text of Gore’s speech interspersed with his own comments (((which he nests in triple parentheses))).
It makes an interesting document that much more fun to read:
We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. (((Or, “American politician schemes to save civilization.” Hey, it’s a plan. Who else has got such a plan? Any similar politician of any other country? No, I didn’t think so.)))
Published on July 4th, 2008
Fireworks displays create surges of pollutant ozone in lower levels of the atmosphere, where it is a respiratory irritant, greenhouse gas, and plant toxin. Some scientists believe fireworks are an “insignificant source of pollution”, because they occur infrequently; however, no source of greenhouse gases is insignificant considering our current climate crisis, not to mention the heavy metals and potassium perchlorate in these grand patriotic displays.
Via: www.abc.net.au & Grist
Image: dcJohn on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
Related posts on fireworks, ozone, and the environment:
Published on June 24th, 2008
The River Ganges is provides spiritual and physical sustenance for 400 million people. Raw sewage and industrial waste contaminate the river at every city along its banks (fecal contamination is thousands of times above the safe limit for bathing). The glaciers that feed the river are melting due to global warming, and dam/hydro-electric projects are altering the upper reaches of the river to feed India’s massive demand for energy. Dr.G.D.Agrawal, India’s pre-eminent environmental Scientist, will “fast-unto-death” for the conservation of River Bhagirathi/Ganga. Dr Agrawal explained his decision in a letter to close friends:
As you are aware, R. Bhagirathi Ganga has a very special place in Indian culture, thought and tradition. In the past few years, however, the continuity, quantity, quality and regime of flows are being disrupted for generation of hydro-electricity like all other rivers. Already in the reach downstream of Maneri, long stretches of Bhagirathi remain waterless for long periods. In the near future this may become the state of the entire river. As a serious student of environment sciences and as a faithful Hindu, this is hard for me to swallow. I strongly believe that at least Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi should be spared of any works that disturb its natural flow-regime, ecology, purity or piety and, after brooding over it for several months, I have decided to oppose such works with all the might I have……. So after deep deliberation I have decided to “fast-unto-death” to oppose the destruction of this ecological marvel and the epitome of Hindu cultural faith.
Image: jonrawlinson on flickr under a Creative Commons license
Published on June 9th, 2008
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat. New Zealand scientists have developed a vaccine to cut down on livestock flatulence, which should help farmers avoid a proposed “flatulence tax” on the methane their livestock produces. New Zealand cows and sheep are responsible for about half of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Via: It’s Getting Hot in Here
For a more in depth post on the anti-farting vaccine, please visit Planetsave.
Published on May 27th, 2008
Those extra pounds Americans are carrying around are causing climate change. Considering eating more food requires more agriculture production and transportation costs, obese people are contributing to food shortages and higher energy prices, according to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. “We are all becoming heavier and it is a global responsibility,” said Phil Edwards. “Obesity is a key part of the big picture.” 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by agriculture.
Image: colros on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
Published on May 23rd, 2008
Yikes!
Published on May 18th, 2008
The accumulation of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere can be a difficult concept to visualize (maybe something to do with the fact that CO2 is invisible). So if you’re a visual learner like me, you’ll want to watch this short from the Energy Saving Campaign [45 seconds].
Published on May 14th, 2008
Published on April 15th, 2008
Environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Council, are staging a coal plant-by-coal plant attack on any proposed new coal-fired power plant in the United States. Using bureaucratic or legal means, such as zoning or water use, environmental groups have stopped 65 coal plants in the last three years. The LA Times explains its really a war about climate change, “Coal puts twice as much temperature-raising carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as natural gas, second to coal as the most common power plant fuel.”
Image: Ohio Citizen
Published on April 13th, 2008
Among the many other ill effects it is causing, global climate change may also be contributing to failures of hops and barley crops. Without these two essential ingredients, the supply of beer will be reduced, and prices for what remains will rise dramatically.
According to Jim Salinger, a climate scientist at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, the warming globe will likely cause a decline in the production of malting barley, which, when combined with the scarcity of hops right now, stands to have a profound and negative impact on the world’s beer supply starting now, and for decades to come.
More information at Treehugger.
Image Source: Tnarik - via Flickr CC photo
