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Archive for February, 2013
Nepali farmers abandon rice as monsoon shifts
Posted by AlertNet: None Given on February 19th, 2013
AlertNet: For most of his adult life, Bidur Basnet has planted paddy rice each monsoon season on his five hectares of mountain land. But in the last five years, as monsoon rains have grown increasingly unreliable, he has had to abandon the country's staple crop.
Now he grows easier-to-water vegetables on half his land, leaving the other half fallow.
"How can we prepare our paddy fields when we do not know which month in any year the monsoon rains will drench our fields?' grumbles Basnet, 43, who gave...
Texas Fracker Accused of Bully Tactics Against Foes
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 19th, 2013
Bloomberg: When a Texas landowner took his fear that a gas driller had poisoned his well to federal regulators, the company, Range Resources Corp (RRC)., turned around and sued him for conspiring “to harm Range.”
In Pennsylvania, a state lawmaker who criticized the company was dubbed “completely unhinged” by a Range representative and had his fundraising e-mails to its executives leaked to the local newspaper.
Critics say the Fort Worth-based company, which pioneered the use of hydraulic fracturing in...
‘Ice loss, weather extremes show climate risk’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 19th, 2013
Agence France-Presse: The record shrinkage of Arctic sea ice last year and a spell of catastrophic droughts, floods and storms highlight the risk of climate change, the UN Environment Programme said yesterday.
In an annual review of the world's environment, that coincided with ministerial-level talks in Nairobi, the UN group also warned of an alarming surge in elephant and rhino poaching.
In 2012, summer sea ice in the Arctic covered a record low of 3.4million square kilometres, which was 18% below the previous...
Global standard targets water waste
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 19th, 2013
BBC: An international standard on water reduction has been launched in an effort to order to encourage businesses to use water more sustainably.
The UK's Carbon Trust, which developed the scheme, said many business leaders did not see the issue as a priority.
The Water Standard will require firms to measure water use and demonstrate efforts taken to reduce consumption.
It is estimated that more than 60% of Europe's largest cities consume water faster than it can be replenished.
UN data shows...
Study: Climate change impact on stream flow varies by location
Posted by Corvallis Gazette Times: Canda Fuqua on February 19th, 2013
Corvallis Gazette Times: The South Santiam River in southeastern Linn County dwindles to a knee-deep channel of water by late August, while the Willamette River maintains a steady and abundant flow through the summer.
In 50 to 100 years, however, warmer climate temperatures likely will have little effect on the summer flows of rivers like the South Santiam, but will impact larger, slower-draining systems such as the Willamette, according to a recent study co-authored by researchers from Oregon State University and the...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Study: Climate change impact on stream flow varies by locationWhy the world isn’t running out of oil
Posted by Telegraph: Brian Viner on February 19th, 2013
Telegraph: On the evening of April 18 1977, President Jimmy Carter invited television cameras into the Oval Office and portentously announced to the American people that "tonight I want to have an unpleasant talk with you about a problem unprecedented in our history. With the exception of preventing war, this is the greatest challenge our country will face during our lifetimes.'
The unprecedented problem was energy. Or rather, the lack of it. "We simply must balance our demand for energy with our rapidly...
Canada: Government Hones Oil Sands Message with Focus Groups
Posted by CBC: None Given on February 19th, 2013
CBC: Focus-group testing on what the Harper government calls its Responsible Resource Development campaign found the advertising to be light on facts but uplifting and patriotic, according to a government-commissioned study.
The fruits of that taxpayer-funded labour will again be on display this spring as a second wave of ads -- designed to persuade Canadians of "the importance and impact of Canada's energy sector" -- hits the air.
Natural Resources Canada has budgeted $9 million in the current...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Canada: Government Hones Oil Sands Message with Focus GroupsIllinois Fracking Rules Could Be Strictest in the Nation
Posted by Midwest Energy News: None Given on February 19th, 2013
Midwest Energy News: Illinois legislators are expected to introduce a bill in coming days or weeks that would regulate hydraulic fracturing in the state.
Known as Democratic Rep. John Bradley’s bill, it is expected to be shaped by months of discussions that have taken place among environmental and industry leaders and legislators. Last year, legislation that started with support from both environmental and industry groups died after undergoing various permutations, including the addition of a two-year fracking moratorium....
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Illinois Fracking Rules Could Be Strictest in the NationOil Sands Monitoring Program Stalled as Ottawa, Alberta Debate Details
Posted by Canadian Press: Heather Scoffield on February 19th, 2013
Canadian Press: The revamping of environmental monitoring of the oil sands was supposed to be the federal government's defence against suspicions of widespread damage.
Now, a full year after Alberta and Ottawa unveiled a three-year plan to set aside their differences and keep a closer watch on the air, water and habitat in northern Alberta, there are still no formal results.
The Conservatives are striving to shore up their environmental credentials in the wake of a public chiding from the federal environmental...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Oil Sands Monitoring Program Stalled as Ottawa, Alberta Debate DetailsIs There Room for Varied Approaches to Energy and Climate Progress?
Posted by New York Times: Andrew C. Revkin on February 19th, 2013
New York Times: Is there room for more than one approach to pursuing energy and climate progress? I`d like to think so.
On various choices related to America`s, and the world`s, energy and climate future, I have a different view from those of many good friends and relations. A longtime bandmate pushes hard to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in New York; I seek responsible oversight of gas drilling as an important step down the carbon ladder away from coal.
But we still play together.
My wife and...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Is There Room for Varied Approaches to Energy and Climate Progress?