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Archive for May, 2011
Alaska villages sold on biomass
Posted by Daily News Miner: Molly Rettig on May 22nd, 2011
Daily News Miner: Some Interior villages are already sold on biomass. Community leaders shared how they harvest energy from the forests and rivers around them with roughly 200 attendees at the Alaska Wood Energy Conference on Wednesday.
“We are a rural community that wants to promote to other rural communities that this can be done,” Tanana city manager Bear Ketzler said.
The three-day event focused on various fuel types, technologies, environmental impacts and supply issues associated with wood energy.
The...
Koch, GOP fire back at Waxman over oil sands pipeline inquiry
Posted by Hill: Ben Geman on May 22nd, 2011
Hill: Koch Industries and House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are criticizing Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-Calif.) probe of whether Koch stands to gain from a proposed pipeline to import Canadian oil sands – a project that Republicans hope to expedite with legislation. “Waxman's decision to question a single company rather than looking at the broader effects for the energy sector, U.S. workers, and families reveals his blatant disregard for the 7 in 10 Americans who are struggling to fill up at...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Koch, GOP fire back at Waxman over oil sands pipeline inquiryTexas drought: Texas farmers struggle to survive brutal drought
Posted by LA Times: Julie Cart on May 22nd, 2011
LA Times: The wind in West Texas is famously powerful and incessant. But this year, more big blows than anyone can remember have roared through, stripping away precious topsoil and carrying off another season of hope for farmers and ranchers. Everywhere, it seems, the land is on the move: sand building up in corners of the just-swept front porch and coating clean laundry on the line, dust up your nose and in crevices of farm machinery. Drive along unpaved county roads and the farmers' plight becomes clear:...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Texas drought: Texas farmers struggle to survive brutal droughtBrazil: Add coastal vegetation to the climate critical list
Posted by Nature: Margareth Da Silva Copertino on May 22nd, 2011
Nature: My country, Brazil, is home to 80% of the remaining Amazon rainforest, and has rightly worked to find ways to sustainably manage and commercialize these stocks of forest carbon. However, like most countries with long coastlines, Brazil has so far missed the opportunity to value and protect another important carbon store: its mangroves, seagrasses and tidal marshes.
The 9,000-kilometre vibrant and productive Brazilian coastline is covered with vegetated ecosystems that together contain hundreds...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Brazil: Add coastal vegetation to the climate critical listForest fires rage in Russia’s Far East, Siberia
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 22nd, 2011
Reuters: Fires are spreading fast across vast Siberian forests in a reminder of last year's worst drought on record which killed dozens of people and forced Russia to suspend grain exports.
The Emergency Ministry said on Sunday on its web site www.mchs.gov.ru that around 100,000 hectares of forestry was caught up in fires, mainly in the Far East as well as in the oil-rich Siberian province of Khanty-Mansiysk and nearby areas.
The European part of Russia, the country's agricultural hinterland, remained...
ALERT! Dear President Obama: All We Are Saying Is Give Peace and Ecology a Chance
Posted by Water Conservation Blog on May 21st, 2011
From New Earth Rising, project of Ecological Internet (EI)
Contact: Dr. Glen Barry, President, Ecological Internet glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org
TAKE ACTION NOW! The Human Family Says End the Wars, Bring American Boys and Girls Home, Fight Ecocide: It is time for President Obama to recommit America to the rule of international law; and begin demobilizing to realize a peace dividend for global ecology, human rights and needs, and worker equity. Again! End the wars, fight ecocide!
Posted in Uncategorized Comments Off on ALERT! Dear President Obama: All We Are Saying Is Give Peace and Ecology a ChanceSingapore: Climate change, water security among Dr Balakrishnan’s priorities
Posted by Channel NewsAsia: None Given on May 21st, 2011
Channel NewsAsia: New Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said he will focus his attention on climate change, water security and environmental safety.
In his first public remarks about his new portfolio, Dr Balakrishnan noted on his blog on Wednesday that Singaporeans have a growing interest in environmental issues, and there will be many opportunities for public consultation.
There will also be scope for new solutions that Singapore can pioneer.
Dr Balakrishnan had served the...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Singapore: Climate change, water security among Dr Balakrishnan’s prioritiesUnited Kingdom: Get ready for lots of dry summers as Government warns water companies of droughts
Posted by Daily Mail: David Derbyshire on May 21st, 2011
Daily Mail: Areas of Britain left bone dry by near-drought conditions were yesterday warned they were experiencing 'a taste of things to come`.
Environment minister Lord Henley said climate change would make parched springtimes more common and bring the threat of hosepipe bans.
England and Wales experienced a fifth of the normal rainfall in April, while March was the driest since 1961.
Scorched: A dried-up reservoir in Matlock. Water levels are 40 per cent lower than normal as companies are urged to...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Get ready for lots of dry summers as Government warns water companies of droughtsWildfire in the streets
Posted by Globe and Mail: Josh Wingrove on May 21st, 2011
Globe and Mail: The boreal forest covers a third of Canada, stretches across seven provinces and three territories and is home to 2.5 million people. And it's becoming more volatile.
After wildfires roared into this town of 7,000 last Sunday, the Premier called it the disaster of a generation. All told, 485 homes and businesses were razed or heavily damaged. Residents asked why there had been no warning; officials said the fire simply moved too quickly.
Research, however, suggests a fire like this was inevitable,...
Arid Kutch getting wetter, crop cover, livetock on a rise
Posted by Express India: None Given on May 21st, 2011
Express India: Ahmedabad Climate change has affected Kutch and there have been some positives too, according to a recent study sponsored by the Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC).
The arid district has become wetter and the increased rainfall has led to a growing livestock population and a variety of crops previously unseen. The drought years have come down since 1990 and the district’s land use data shows an increase in the net sown area from 1975 to 2008. This includes a 14 per cent rise in the cultivable area...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Arid Kutch getting wetter, crop cover, livetock on a rise