A duck-tailed dabbler, a mallard drake (
Anas platyrhynchos), hunts for lunch. See Polly Syllabic's
post.
Many environmentally related posts appearing at Daily Kos each week don't attract the attention they deserve. To help get more eyeballs, Spotlight on Green News & Views (previously known as the Green Diary Rescue) normally appears twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The most recent Wednesday Spotlight can be seen here. More than
22,335 environmentally oriented diaries have been rescued for inclusion in this weekly collection since 2006. Inclusion of a diary in the Spotlight does not necessarily indicate my agreement with or endorsement of it.
Politico: "Oh Dear, Should Obama Politicize The Everglades?"—by
Dartagnan: "Sometimes an article is so indicative of the sorry-assed state of American journalism that you have to step outside and catch your breath. Such is the case with Michael Grunwald's latest article in Politico, in which he agonizes over whether the great 'bipartisan success story' of the Everglades might be threatened by the President's visit today ... which could 'politicize' it and thus prompt Florida lunatics in the Tea Party to oppose restoring or (by implication) even protecting the Everglades at all. That's right. Grunwald worries that for the President to articulate the consensus of 99.9% of all scientists that climate change presents a clear and present danger might offend Republican sensibilities and do more harm than good. Because Black President. Or something. [...] Grunwald has written about the Everglades and the political battles to save them, so he knows the history. What he apparently doesn't understand is that the modern Republican Party is not made up of the same kind of people anymore."
Emails: How Obama Administration Secretly Approved Expanding Piece of Enbridge's "Keystone XL Clone"—by
Steve Horn: "DeSmogBlog has obtained dozens of emails that lend an inside view of how the U.S. State Department secretly handed Enbridge a permit to expand the capacity of its U.S.-Canada border-crossing Alberta Clipper pipeline, which carries tar sands diluted bitumen (“dilbit”) from Alberta to midwest markets. The State Department submitted the emails into the record in the ongoing case filed against the Department by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Collectively, the emails show that upper-level State Department officials hastened the review process on behalf of Enbridge for its proposed Alberta Clipper expansion plan, now rebranded Line 67, and did not inform the public about it until it published its final approval decision in the Federal Register in August 2014. According to a March 17, 2014 memo initially marked 'confidential,' Enbridge's legal counsel at Steptoe & Johnson, David Coburn, began regular communications with the State Department on what the environmental groups have dubbed an 'illegal scheme' beginning in at least January 2014."
You can find more rescued green diaries below the orange garden layout.
Earth Day 2015
Happy Earth Day from the Heartland Institute—by Mark Sumner: "The ever reliable voodoo economists and psuedoscientists of the Heartland Institute want to extend to you their thoughts on Earth Day. Because, Earth. We hates it, we do. Earth Day is all but a symbol of evil, managed by those who care not at all for humans and in fact do no good for nature or the animal world. Most activities are vile recriminations staged by those who wish to keep the poor just where they are: poor. — Jay Lehr, Science Director, The Heartland Institute. Note to self: add more recriminations into today's celebration. Make sure extremely vile. Oh, and poor people. I am deliberately withholding the pollution that would enrich your life. Wha ha ha ha. Ha."
50,000 Endangered Species Condoms Given Away for Earth Day! Way to Celebrate!—by VL Baker: "Today is Earth Day 2015. What better way to celebrate than with this press release from the awesomeness of Center for Biological Diversity: More than 500 volunteers will give away 50,000 free Endangered Species Condoms from the Center for Biological Diversity in time for Earth Day on Wednesday. The condoms will be given away at Earth Day events and on campuses across the country, as well as in venues from tea shops to tattoo parlors. 'Nothing sparks a conversation like handing someone a condom, especially when it comes with a slogan like "Before it gets hotter … remember the sea otter",' said Stephanie Feldstein, population and sustainability director at the Center."
For Earth Day, fight global warming denial that hurts women—by Barbara Lee: "On March 25 I introduced legislation that would recognize the disparate impact that global warming will have on women. Specifically, I cited women with limited socioeconomic resources who might be forced into sex work when their normal sources of food and income are disrupted. Immediately, right-wing bloggers and talking heads began misrepresenting the resolution, calling it 'crazy' and 'stupid.' In honor of Earth Day, I’d like to give you some actual facts. They tell a much different story. Right now, women make up 70 percent of people worldwide who live below the poverty line. According to UN statistics, the amount of people worldwide who live in extreme poverty will increase by 3 million over the next 30 years due to increased environmental disasters that will make farming impossible in certain regions. Women's economic options are usually limited in developing countries, and most sustain themselves and their families with subsistence farming or domestic chores. Currently, female farmers grow 60-80 percent of developing countries’ food. What will these women do when they can no longer farm?"
45 "Earth Days"? Are you serious?—by don mikulecky: "Tokenism is part of our culture. The religious among us have 'days' or 'seasons' to do theirs. The suicidal path we are on is really something that mocks anyone who would celebrate an 'Earth Day.' Yet this is the 45th? I have been struggling with what it is about our species that directs our intelligence towards destruction. It is hard to understand. We can do so many clever things yet we engage in bad theater when it comes to politics or other activities that have to do with our well being. [...] I think there could be a value in taking what I am saying seriously and using this charade to call off all further charades. I see no other real opportunities today. 45 times we did this? OMG."
Make Earth Day Count—by Michael Brune: "On its special day, what do you give the planet that has everything? How about some really good news? Last month, the International Energy Agencyannounced that "global emissions of carbon dioxide from the energy sector stalled in 2014, marking the first time in 40 years in which there was a halt or reduction in emissions of the greenhouse gas that was not tied to an economic downturn.' The next time someone tries to tell you that we can't really do anything about climate disruption, you can inform them that we already are. We (and by 'we,' I mean people all over the planet) are replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy at a record pace. Ever since 2013, the planet has been adding more renewable energy than any other kind, and this good news about global emissions is a result. If we keep it up, this can be the turning point in limiting global warming and climate disruption."
NBC Report from Earth Day 1970—by greenman3610: "Interesting sociological note—the cautionary notes about this then-wildly popular political initiative seem to come mostly from the left—in concerns that our worries about pollution will overtake drives for social justice, and against poverty, etc."
Earth Day (Over)Fish Story—by
thefarleftside: "The Orange Roughy can live to be 150 years old. It becomes sexually mature at age 20. The Acadian redfish can live as long as 50 years and begins breeding at about age ten. The Atlantic halibut can live to be 50 but doesn't have offspring until it's at least ten years old. The Blue Fin tuna. Slow growing and late-maturing. As a result of overfishing, disruption of the reproduction cycle, and the heinous offense of indiscriminate trawling by industrial fishing fleets these species and many others, like the Atlantic cod, could go extinct in our lifetimes. Along with rising acidification of ocean waters, due to man-made climate change, the oceans may someday be home only to species like the jellyfish. No joke. As for farmed fish, salmon cannot grow on a vegetable-based diet. They have to be fed other fish, so while you may think you're eating responsibly by ordering it for lunch you're just kicking the problem one species down the ladder."
Forests, Wilderness & Public Lands
Park Service suggests doubling Santa Monica Mtns. Recreation Area—by occams hatchet: "A draft study recently released by the National Park Service recommends enlarging the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by 270 square miles, an addition that would more than double the size of the NPS unit that abuts and runs through the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. An online public meeting regarding the proposal is in progress as this diary is being written. Other meetings will be held In Real Life in May and June."
Navy War Games over Olympic National Park and Forest—by conniegallant: "The US Navy plans to permanently use and periodically close large swathes of the Olympic National Forest, along with airspace over it and the Olympic National Park as well as the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, for electromagnetic warfare testing and training. They are also ramping up their use of explosives and sonar and training activities in the waters surrounding the Olympic Peninsula. Their stated goal is to turn the western portion of Washington's Olympic Peninsula and surrounding waters into an Electromagnetic Warfare Range. The area encompasses a world heritage site and one of our national treasures: the Olympic National Park. An unknown number of Growler jets will engage in electronic warfare testing and training over the Olympic Peninsula, by flying 8 to 16 hours per day for 260 days per year. The Navy's stated intent is to turn the area into an Electronic Warfare range. The public is worried about jet noise, pollution, electromagnetic radiation, stress, loss of our tourism-based economy, decline in property values, and a number of other issues."
Advocacy Works!—by hannah: "That's the hopeful conclusion of Pierre Howard, former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, in response to the news that a petition by Sea Island Acquisitions to park catamarans and other toys in the dunes was finally denied. Actually, we thought the matter was settled back in February when the application was withdrawn and Dr. Fred Marland showed up at the hearing for naught. But, being a professional, he didn't miss an opportunity to make a point to an organization of which he'd once been the head."
Climate Chaos
Shedding Light on Darkened Ice—by ClimateDenierRoundup : "There's a new study out on the Greenland Ice Sheet that finds the ice sheet's albedo, or ability to reflect solar energy, has dropped significantly since the mid-nineties, a period that coincides with Greenland's rise in temperature. The research team, lead by Marco Tedesco, identified the three primary causes, all a result of warming-induced melting. First, newer ice crystals with a high albedo are undergoing a process of melting and re-freezing as it warms, causing them to spread out, darken, and reflect less energy. Additionally, as more snow melts overall, older (and less reflective) ice is exposed. And finally, as the surface snow melts, it leaves dark (unreflective) particles of dust and soot, which accumulate as year after years' worth of ice layers melt. This creates what's known as a positive feedback loop: as the temperature rises and causes more ice to melt, the ice sheet's albedo is reduced, which reinforces further melt. Somehow ignoring or misunderstanding this fairly basic set of feedbacks, [Anthony] Watts has one of his usual posts. He calls the study's claim 'ridiculous' and insults Tedesco as 'either incompetent, blind, an activist or all three.' Watts' main criticism is that the study does not cite evidence showing that an increase in wildfires is responsible for more black particles. Of course, the study does discuss dark particles as one of the three components reducing albedo, but Watts dismisses the study's explanation, seeming not to have even read it."
Curry's Mythical Listicle—by ClimateDenierRoundup: "The Daily Caller's Michael Bastasch has a new piece on Judith Curry's April 15 testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. According to Bastasch, Curry 'completely dismantled criticisms from a Democratic congressman that her testimony was full of errors when it came to the seriousness of global warming.' The congressman, Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, apparently listed off the errors in Curry's testimony saying, '[the testimony is] in almost total conflict with anything I've read over the last 15 years.' So how did Curry 'completely dismantle' Beyer's criticisms? With a list of long-debunked denier talking points, including: the climate is always changing, we don't know what's ahead, the climate's been warming since the 1700s so it can't all be blamed on human industry, and currently proposed actions won't do anything. It's as if she went down the list of Skeptical Science's most used climate myths, confusing the myths with reality and creating a sort of listicle that even Buzzfeed would be ashamed to publish."
Evidence of Climate Change Impacts, per the 2014 IPCC Report—by jamess.
The Lomborg bonanza (Or, how could Australia better spend $4 million?)—by A Siegel: "The Australian government has given The Smiling Dane, Bjorn Lomborg, a major reason to smile. It seems that Bjorn won't have to headquarter out of a post office box any more. While imposing draconian cuts on higher education, the climate-change denial dominated Australian government has given Lomborg $4 million (Australian $) to set up a variation on the 'lies, damned lies, and statistics' Copenhagen Consensus Center. What does the Center say its about? research that analyzes the optimal ways to combat the biggest problems facing the world. We promote the use of sound economic science—especially the principle of prioritization—to make sure that with limited resources, we achieve the most ‘good’ for people and the planet. In series of deceptive piece after piece after piece after piece after ..., Lomborg and proponents have leveraged effectively half-truths to support misleading conclusions and dangerous recommendations."
Researchers Say: Permafrost Feedback Loop will Walk, not Run-away—by jamess: "Chalk this one up for some 'good news' in the overwhelming task of slowing-down and reversing, the anticipated 'worse effects' of Climate Change. Recent data show that the accelerated release of the super-charged green-house gas Methane from the melting permafrost, will likely be more 'slow and steady'—instead of hopelessly 'explosive'. Permafrost 'carbon bomb' unlikely, but worries over northern thaw persist. Cross one thing off the long list of possible apocalyptic climate-change scenarios: A new scientific analysis concludes that a 'carbon bomb' of greenhouse gases emitted from thawing terrestrial permafrost is not likely."
Get in their heads: The psychology of denial—by climatedenierroundup: "Those interested in diving deep into the psychology of climate science denial will be thrilled to hear about a free new 'Massive Open Online Course' that starts April 28th. (That's right, you still have time to sign up!) The class is titled, 'Making Sense of Climate Science Denial,' and is a seven-week program created by John Cook, so you know it will be good. (Cook, you may recall, is the creator of Skeptical Science and is the lead author of the 97% consensus paper.) The course looks promising, featuring interviews with an impressive number of experts (75 in all), from renowned climate scientists like Katharine Hayhoe and Mike Mann to the legendary Sir David Attenborough. Hosted by the University of Queensland, but available anywhere with internet, the course will teach students about the consensus gap between scientists and the public, the psychological and social factors that lead some to reject the consensus, and how denial has clouded public perception of and attitudes toward climate change. Bottom line, if you've ever wondered what's going through the mind of a denier, this may be your best chance!"
On April Fool's, I let the climate change deniers hoist themselves by their own petard.—by Risen Tree.
40 percent of conservative Republicans think global warming will never happen. And they're in charge—by Meteor Blades: "As can be seen in the answers to the Gallup Poll question above, majorities of political party/ideology groups think global warming will happen in their lifetimes, according to a new Gallup Poll published just in time for Earth Day. Only a plurality (40 percent) of one group, conservative Republicans, think it will never happen. That ought to be a good thing. But in most states and in Congress conservative Republicans are running things. And they are determined to throw a wrench into even the mildest efforts to ameliorate the impacts of global warming that are already evident, never mind those that are on the way. Moderate and liberal Republicans—a dwindling breed—don't stand in their way nor do they typically vote in a manner that reflects their view that global warming is happening."
Extreme Weather & Natural Phenomena
Breaking: Wildfire Raging in Southern Ca Where Fire Season is Now Year Round—by Doctor Jazz: "I went out on my front porch just about fifteen minutes ago to sit in the shade and do some grading but the air was so smoky I had to retreat back inside. I live in Claremont, about 25 miles north of the Norco/Corona area where a wildfire is raging out of control. Earlier I went for a run and the air had been clear. Yesterday evening I was at Mount San Antonio College watching my daughter run in a track meet and could see the distinctive brownish-greyish smoke rising in the distance. I was born and raised in California and we are used to wildfires, but what used to be a fire season that began in late September and October, and would last for a few months when enough rain had fallen to mitigate the danger, is now a never ending, year round phenomenon. In a September 2014 interview, Ken Pimlott, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director, spoke with The Washington Post. Pimlott said his agency has fought almost 5,000 fires this year, a thousand more than the five-year average. Over the last five years, CalFire has battled an average of 3,951 fires between Jan. 1 and Sept. 20. This year, the agency has fought 4,974 fires throughout the state.
Critters & the Great Outdoors
The Daily Bucket--Voracious Invaders—by
6412093: "The Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges kept the Pacific Northwest isolated for millennia from the rest of North America. So our critters often evolved uniquely almost as if we were on an island. As the first picture shows, our frogs are often petite and prettily colored, with dainty faces. The rest of you all were stuck much of the time with olive drab, portly bullfrogs. [...] I mentally picture miles of bullfrogs lined up on the Nebraska plains every summer thousands of years ago, sending out frog armies in an effort to push their territory west of the Rockies, advancing with the pomp of the Roman armies in any Cecil DeMille movie, only to flounder each time on the mountains' rocky, dry, and cold slopes, with little frog bugles sounding and frog banners waving, You may know that an odd version of the chytrid fungus, termed "BD," has been killing frogs worldwide. Bullfrogs can and do carry BD, but it doesn't seem to harm them. However worldwide trade in BD-carrying bullfrogs for human consumption may be one reason why BD has spread so far around the world. I am trying to create habitat in my own back yard for native frogs, including stocking of native frog tadpoles in a fish-free pond."
Dawn Chorus - Bolinas Springtime, er... Lunchtime—by lineatus: "I took a one-day workshop from Peter Pyle on molt and ID last Sunday. Rather than try to see as many species as possible, we focussed on just a few and really got to know them better. In addition to plumage, we also watched behavior. One little scene played out in front of us and provided a few learning opportunities. A Western Gull found a morsel ... a big one. A dungeness crab. The gull banged it around pretty well and was enjoying its meal while fending off all the challengers who wanted to pirate it—other gulls (adult and juvenile) and crows. They made some pretty close passes but it held on to its prize."
Red Mangrove propagules
The Daily Bucket: Wild Florida--The Mangrove—by
Lenny Flank: "The mangrove trees are an important part of Florida's ecosystem--they provide habitat for many fish and other marine life, they form natural breakwaters which protect inland areas from winds and flooding during storms, and they colonize offshore areas to form new islands and new coastline. Worldwide, there are about 100 species known as "mangroves". Biologically, these are not a single evolutionary group--trees from at least 20 different unrelated families, ranging from palms to hibiscus species, are known as 'mangroves,' though the name is most properly applied to the trees of the family Rhizophoraceae, the 'true mangroves,' with about 60 species. Through convergent evolution, all of the various versions of mangroves have developed the ability to live in the shallow coastal tropical marine environment, a place where few other trees can survive. These unique habitats are known as mangrove forests, and are found along much of the world's tropical coastlines."
More than 250 native elk died in Northern California, drought and business the likely suspects—by Walter Einenkel: "The National Park Service acknowledged that 250+ Tule Elk, native to California, died over the last two years. A likely culprit is the ongoing Californian drought. However, it is not simply an unfortunate circumstance: While nearly half the elk inside the fenced area died, free-roaming Point Reyes elk herds with access to water increased by nearly a third during the same period. The news comes as the Park Service considers a ranch management plan to either remove or fence in some of the free-roaming elk herds, while extending park cattle grazing leases for up to 20 years. 'Tule elk need room to roam, and native wildlife in our national park should not be fenced in or prevented from finding water and food,' said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological Diversity. 'The loss of nearly half the Pierce Point elk herd highlights how important it is that the Park Service not cave to commercial ranchers who want free-roaming Point Reyes elk fenced in."
The Daily Bucket - bottoms up!—by Polly Syllabic: "Unlike diving ducks, the dabbling ducks naturally invite blatant, buoyant butt jokes. Tipping or dipping forward to feed on aquatic vegetation, crustaceans and invertebrates dabblers deliver the perfect punchline. Members of the genus Anas, dabblers include mallards, teals, gadwalls, wigeons, pintails and shovelers. Dabblers have large wings relative to body weight and fly slowly, which enables them to drop down onto small areas with precision. Divers, on the other hand, have small wings relative to body weight and fly faster, but must remain in open water with sufficient runway space because they lack the ability to land on a dime and must run along the water surface to become airborne. I love watching the dabblers explode upward, springing off the water into flight. The divers can't do that."
Detroit Zoo investing in technology to turn waste into energy—by Walter Einenkel: "The Detroit Zoo is investing $1.1 million into a biodigester that would convert the yearly 400-500 tons of manure (and other organic waste) the zoo creates into methane heavy gas. The power would be used to run the Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex. The Health Complex is an animal hospital space. The biodigester will also produce compost for the animal habitats, gardens and public spaces on the zoo's 125 acres, saving it $70,000-$80,000 in energy costs and another $30,000-$40,000 in waste disposal fees."
A new species of frog has been discovered and it's Kermit!—by Walter Einenkel: "The Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center's Facebook page posted an announcement of a brand new species of glass frog back in February. Brian Kubicki said the tiny, semi-translucent glass-frog specimen, which he named Hyalinobatrachium dianae, is very delicate and its presence 'is a good indicator of the general health of the eco-system.' The new species was named in honor of Brian Kubicki's mother, Janet Diane Kubicki. It's less-than-scientific-name is Diane's bare-hearted glass frog. This makes the total number of known glass frogs in Costa Rica 14."
2015 Backyard Science Yardbird Race Tally #4—by bwren: "The Daily Kos Backyard Science Yardbird Race is a birding competition where, over the course of one year, participants strive to identify the most bird species—by sight and/or by sound—from the confines of their yards. Everyone is welcome—new birders, experienced birders, and anyone in between. We're a very supportive group and will help as much as we can. If you're not sure about an ID, just do your best to give us a good written description. Images, even mediocre ones, can be a great help, too. There are a number of categories, so that people who live in urban centers don't have to compete against others who have a lot of open space or waterfront views."
Energy
How Much Radioactivity Are We Exposed to While Sampling Seawater for Fukushima Radioisotopes?—by MarineChemist: "The purpose of this diary is to introduce a brief, informal movie made while using a Geiger Counter in the laboratory today. This diary is part of an ongoing effort to communicate what the scientific community is learning about the impact of the Fukushima disaster on environmental and public health. A Geiger Counter was used to examine ionizing radiation counts per minute in the laboratory owing to background radioactivity, the concentrated natural and man made isotopes in 20 liters of seawater collected by InFORM citizen scientist volunteers, the uranium oxide glaze on a Fiestaware dinner platter and Uraninite ore mined from New Hampshire. This simple demonstration supports more sensitive measurements indicating our citizen scientists are exposed to no more ionizing radiation than is typical of background when collecting seawater samples."
Japan's PM Not Amused By Radioactive Drone—by Joieau: "One of those fun 4-propeller remote control drones was found Wednesday morning on the roof of the Prime Minister's residence and administrative office complex in central Tokyo. It was discovered by a worker giving a tour of the building and it is not known how long it's been up there without being noticed. Attached to the drone were a small camera and a plastic container bearing a radiation warning symbol. Police say they were able to detect 'minute levels' of radiation from the vial and suspect the substance to be cesium. Which isn't difficult to come by in Japan since the mass meltdown and explosions at Fukushima's Daiichi nuclear facility in 2011."
Fracking
frack Texas anywhere, US & global rig counts, and more busted pipelines—by rjsigmund: "the fracking related story that received the most media coverage this week was out of Texas, where their House passed HB 40, the so-called "frack anywhere" bill, by an overwhelming vote of 122-18, which would give the state the exclusive right to promote the oil and gas industry and ban any local ordinances or zoning laws that would encumber it...the Senate still has to take up the measure before it goes to the governor, who has stayed out of the debate...assuming a veto proof bill emerges, it will leave Texas the second state in the nation, after Ohio, where local laws on fracking are trumped by the state, while New York and Maryland have banned fracking completely ...however, note that key US House and Senate leaders have agreed this week on fast track legislation for the international trade deals we've often mentioned, which will render all those state and local regulations moot...these deals will change everything we know about all environmental regulations, so you might want to review what i wrote about ‘fracking and the TPP’ three weeks ago..."
New study connects Texas quakes to fracking waste water disposal—by Walter Einenkel: "A study published yesterday in Nature Communications is linking a series of small earthquakes in Texas to the waste processing involved with natural gas drilling. In November 2013, a series of earthquakes began along a mapped ancient fault system near Azle, Texas. Here we assess whether it is plausible that human activity caused these earthquakes. Analysis of both lake and groundwater variations near Azle shows that no significant stress changes were associated with the shallow water table before or during the earthquake sequence. In contrast, pore-pressure models demonstrate that a combination of brine production and wastewater injection near the fault generated subsurface pressures sufficient to induce earthquakes on near-critically stressed faults. On the basis of modelling results and the absence of historical earthquakes near Azle, brine production combined with wastewater disposal represent the most likely cause of recent seismicity near Azle. For assessing the earthquake cause, our research underscores the necessity of monitoring subsurface wastewater formation pressures and monitoring earthquakes having magnitudes of ~M2 and greater. Currently, monitoring at these levels is not standard across Texas or the United States."
Gas Industry Caused Earthquakes—by Bar2a: "At my home in Reno, Texas 76020 I felt 40 earthquakes in less than 3 months, although the SMU scientist stated that 'at times the data has shown swarms of up to 1,000.' SMU (Southern Methodist University just released a study they did in our area stating that the Waste Water Injection Wells and Fracking WERE THE CAUSE OF THESE EARTHQUAKES!!!"
DC, State & Local Eco-Politics
Clinton calls climate change 'a real threat,' also wants to overturn Citizens United—by Kerry Eleveld: "On a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton talked to state lawmakers about how to get people more invested in the issue of climate change and strategies for reining in money in campaigns. Alex Seitz-Wald reports: 'I give Obama and the EPA enormous credit for going as far as he can go as a president using executive and regulatory action,' she said, according to pool reporter Annie Karni of Politico. 'We have to actually convince more Americans that this is in their interest. You know, whatever it takes. I happen to think it’s a real threat. I think the science is pretty clear. The deniers, Lord knows, some day people are going to read about them and wonder, who were these people? And how did they say this?'"
New anti-Hillary book relies on hoax to back up Keystone XL accusations—by Laura Clawson: "Peter Schweizer, the Republican operative who authored the forthcoming hit piece Clinton Cash and became the New York Times and Washington Post's new buddy, has a serious record of screw-ups—or things he got wrong on purpose to smear Democrats, figuring the retraction would get less attention than the allegation. That's why billionaire Republican donors fund people like him. So it's no big surprise that, before Clinton Cash has even been released to the general public, ThinkProgress has already identified a major mistake. Schweizer's book claims that foreign governments, companies, and individuals bought influence with Hillary Clinton in her role as secretary of state through their donations to the Clinton Foundation and through speaking fees to former President Bill Clinton. [Schweizer] links the timing of the State Department’s generally positive report on the Keystone XL Pipeline with a slew of Clinton speeches paid for by TD Bank, a major shareholder in the project. As proof of how crucial Clinton’s support for the pipeline was to the bank, Schweizer quotes a press release that claimed TD Bank would 'begin selling its $1.6 billion worth of shares in the massive but potentially still-born Keystone XL crude pipeline project' after Clinton left office. The press release was quickly revealed to be fake in 2013. Yet Schweizer, apparently unaware of the hoax, remarks, 'Too bad for TD Bank. But the Clintons got paid regardless.'"
Walker Chooses Earth Day to Fire Half of DNR Scientists—by Jud Lounsbury: "In 2011, Scott Walker famously declared, "We're broke," and used that as cover to make the biggest cut to education in state history and make historic cuts to everything else—including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Now, here we are, four years later, and Wisconsin has an almost identical budget deficit as when he came into office. We're broke ... Again! Accept, this time Wisconsin's budget deficit isn't because of a Great Recession brought on by Walker's banker friends. Nope, this time it's 100% Walker's fault. [...] So, here we are again. This time, Walker is using it as an excuse to fire half of the scientists at the Department of Natural Resources... on Earth Day, no less."
President Obama speaks about climate change and Everglades trip before Earth Day—by Earth Accounting: "Climate change should not be a political issue except for the fossil fuel industry money playing a corrosive role in American politics. After all, according to many, it was none other than Margaret Thatcher (not a liberal except outside the US where the word changes meaning to the opposite) who started speaking about climate change back in 1988. The central subject of Thatcher’s 20-minute speech to the Royal Society was the environment, in particular the greenhouse effect and climatic change. Whilst praising the enterprise of UK science, Thatcher warned of 'a global heat trap which could lead to climatic instability' and raised the possibility that “we have unwittingly begun a massive experiment with the system of this planet itself.' By drawing out 'the wider implications for policy' of these scientific insights, Mrs Thatcher was deliberately claiming that climate change and its human dimensions was a matter for political attention. She was the first senior world leader to turn human interference with the climate system into a major national and international policy issue."
Agriculture, Food & Gardening
For every burger skipped, you save enough water to shower with for the next 3.5 weeks!—by
VL Baker: "Earth Day is Wednesday April 22. The best way to celebrate our beautiful planet is to do no more harm; to reduce our carbon footprint so that we become a part of the solution to climate change rather than the problem. There is no easier or more effective way to reduce our carbon footprint than to reduce our consumption of meat and dairy as livestock production is one of the greatest contributors to climate change and resource depletion and degradation. Not only do you reduce your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change but you also can find no more effective or easier way to reduce your water footprint. So California, it's time to start talking about the best way for everyone to conserve water. Maybe if we skip some burgers we could have a shower once in awhile."
Spring photos! Backyard flowers and wildlife—by
Mike Kahlow: "Not all is politics and work here in the land of beer and cheese. The storm windows are down and stored, the screens are up, the house is open and the sun is shining. Spring has come, and it's time to celebrate it. [...] One of my best investments was my 100mm macro lens. Many of the pictures I'm showing here were taken with that. It's a beast, and it's slow to focus, but it's a lot of fun! Especially when you start looking at the wildflowers, like the violets."
Transportation & Infrastructure
Morning Open Thread - Flying around the world using only energy from the sun—by Joy of Fishes: "Solar Impulse 2 is powered only by the sun, and it is currently on a journey around the world. Starting at Abu Dhabi and now over China, it will then fly to Hawaii and on to Phoenix, have a stop at a location TBD in the mid US, another at New York, and then across the Atlantic back to Abu Dhabi. For live reporting on the flight, visit here.
Sunday Train: A Steel Interstate for the Keystone West Corridor—by BruceMcF: "In the last Sunday Train, I talked about the study on Keystone West improvements commissioned by the PennDOT. This study finds that upgrades are expensive, and benefits are modest, in terms of allowing for one or two additional services per day, but at a substantially higher subsidy per passenger mile. However, this study had a quite peculiar 'hole' in the range of options: even though the Keystone East is a Rapid Passenger Rail corridor, electrified and upgraded to 110 mph to allow the successful upgrade in frequency and transit speed of the Keystone service between Harrisburg and NYC via Philadelphia ... Rapid Passenger Rail was completely ignored as an option. This meant that the only speed upgrade that was considered was an Express HSR corridor that was 'designed to fail' under the designated criteria, since it would be on a different alignment, and so not pass through the communities between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh currently served by the Keystone West."
Japan just broke its own high speed rail record—US isn't even in the conversation—by Walter Einenkel: "The Japanese maglev trains are fast. They run over 300 mph pretty easily. Japan also holds the existing speed record for a train at 361 mph. Last week they broke that record. The train reportedly carried 29 engineers during its run. Unfortunately, the record is only expected to last until next Tuesday when JR Central hopes to spur the magnetically-propelled commuter train past 372 mph (600 kph). Also unfortunate is the fact that normal passengers will likely never be able to experience these exhilarating speeds—unless something goes horribly wrong. The rail company plans to limit the trains to a pokey 313 mph for regular service when they come online in 2027. But even at these speeds, commuters could make it from Tokyo to Nagoya in about 40 minutes (less than half the time today's fastest bullet trains require). The company even has aspirations to export this technology to America—specifically as a high-speed rail line running between New York City and Washington DC. Only 313 mph? I want my money back! The United States is still stuck in made up boondoggles to catch up with futuristic countries like China and Mexico."
Sustainability & Extinction
Mass Extinctions (Part 1): Yes, The Climate is Always Changing.—by GregWright: "When the climate is changed abruptly all bets are off from an evolutionary standpoint. Rapid changes in climate don’t afford species the necessary time to adjust to changes. If some event caused our distant relatives’ food supply to disappear in say under a year rather than over generations, they would have starved to death before gradually adapting to walking upright. Survival at this point is largely luck. There have been five counts of global climate change events that were shocking enough to drastically wipe out life on Earth. These events are called mass-extinctions. We know they happened because of evidence provided by fossils records; there are dinosaur fossils in Utah but no dinosaurs walking through Utah or anywhere else."
Eco-Essays, Eco-Philosophy & Eco-Interviews
The "Heavenly City" of the Republican Right—by billofrights : "The major fault lines on the left are between those who want to pursue a green New Deal by democratically capturing state governments, and hopefully Washington, despite all the well-known impediments to populist left citizen movements, which Yanis Varoufakis has written so well about and is facing directly as I write; and those who want even more substantial changes in the very nature of our economic institutions, which will evolve slowly out of time and often out of sight, being built from the ground up in a hoped for green, co-operative very de-centralized manner. Some say they are not mutually incompatible visions, but I have my doubts that the slower more decentralized direction, which has many merits, can engage the mass of hurting American citizens in time for the next crisis, which may not be very far away, and could be economic, or ecological, or both at the same time."
Changing the Conversation: Climate Change to Climate Recovery—by occupystephanie: "Climate news gets worse every day. The eye slides away; the heart falters. There seems little hope when we consider that if the world could, by some political miracle, reduce carbon emissions to zero, the Earth’s temperature will continue to rise into dangerous zones for the next thirty years. Last Thursday evening that changed for a roomful of people who had come to hear Kristin Ohlson, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestseller author of The Soil Will Save Us: How Scientists, Farmers and Foodies are Healing the Soil to Save the Planet, speak about the promise of soil as our agent for climate recovery. Einstein has said that we can never hope to solve a problem with the same thinking that caused that problem. It was a chance conversation with a chef, who cared deeply about how the food he prepared was grown, which sparked Ms. Ohlson’s curiosity about soil management and led her across three continents to gather innovative ideas from farmers, soil scientists, ranchers, landscapers and foodies. Treading the crossroads between science, farming, food and environmentalism, she brought us the new kind of thinking—what she calls our 'great green hope'—that Einstein meant when he spoke of what is needed to solve our problems and change the conversation from one of inevitable climate catastrophe to one of climate recovery."
Earth Day: A Contrarian Perspective—by Berrylium: "Are we fiddling while Rome burns; engaging in mere frivolity? Perhaps it depends on whether or not we pass by another Earth Day without asking ourselves some serious questions. What can I do that might really make a difference? Am I keeping well informed about the issues raised by environmental consciousness? Do I write legislators about relevant issues and challenge them if I get an unacceptable response? Do I act to get the big money out of politics that skews the equation in favor of what Teddy Roosevelt called 'malefactors of great wealth'? If the answer to these questions is no, then yes, this is self-indulgent frivolity."
Oceans, Water & Drought
Tunnels-Only BDCP: Gov. Abandons Pretext of Saving Fisheries—by Dan Bacher: "Restore the Delta (RTD), opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build massive underground water tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom sustainable farms, salmon and other Pacific fisheries, today announced a news teleconference on Monday, April 20, to address the abandonment of habitat restoration in BDCP tunnels. 'You cannot have successful habitat or restore fisheries while draining the Delta of its water,' said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, RTD executive director. 'The governor has now abandoned that as a co-equal goal of building the tunnels. BDCP is now a naked ‘tunnels-only’ water grab for the unsustainable mega-farms in Westlands and Kern.'"
Resnick increases almond acreage as city dwellers forced to slash water use—by Dan Bacher: "A coalition of environmentalists today blasted Beverly Hills billionaire Stewart Resnick and other corporate agribusiness interests for continuing to plant thousands of acres of new almond trees during the drought while Governor Jerry Brown is mandating that urban families slash water usage by 25 percent. Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla. Executive Director of Restore the Delta, said Resnick, the owner of Paramount Farms in Kern County, uses as much water for his almonds as the amount of water 38 million Californians are now required to conserve. 'While farmers make their own decisions on what to plant, the public is paying the price for poor decisions made by greedy mega-growers, who plant permanent crops where there is no water,' Barrigan-Parrilla told reporters in a news conference today about the 'tunnels only' version of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) that Governor Jerry Brown is now pushing. 'That is not sustainable and the tunnels would subsidize unsustainable agriculture.'"
Trash, Pollution & Hazardous Waste
Around 75% of wells around Duke Energy ash ponds contaminated by Duke Energy ash ponds—by Walter Einenkel: "A total of 117 water well test results were mailed to the neighbors of Duke Energy's coal ash ponds, and 87 of those test results say that the well water is contaminated. In nearly all cases, DENR said, the well water would still meet federal standards for municipal water supplies. But health warnings included with many of the results advised that the water not be used for drinking or cooking. The result: More uncertainty about whether the contaminants came from coal ash or occurred naturally. And confusion, environmental advocates say, about how to interpret the test results. Advising someone not to drink or cook with water means something about that water, doesn't it? If you want to refresh yourself on Duke Energy's environmental achievements, look no further than the Dan River spill. However, Duke is quick to point out that just because the water is contaminated doesn't mean that they have anything to do with it."
This Was Not a Spill—by Michael Brune: "Today is the anniversary of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history: the explosion of Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. I don't like to call it a spill, because spills are accidents. What happened that day was not an accident; it was a crime. BP, the giant oil company most responsible for the disaster, pleaded guilty in 2012 to 11 felony counts related to the deaths of 11 workers. Last year, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ruled that "BP committed a series of negligent acts or omissions that ... together amount to gross negligence and willful misconduct under the Clean Water Act.' (The operator of the Deepwater rig and contractors like Halliburton also share some of the blame, although they were found 'negligent' rather than 'grossly negligent.') BP, meanwhile, attempted to minimize its financial liability by, for instance, claiming that 'only' 2.5 million barrels worth of oil (more than a hundred million gallons) were dumped in the Gulf. (The amount of the fine BP must pay under the Clean Water Act is based on the number of barrels discharged. The actual number was north of 4 million barrels)."
Today is the 5th anniversary of the BP oil spill: Where did the oil go?—by VL Baker: "The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, 2010, which makes today the 1,825 day of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. There are many questions yet to be answered about one of the largest environmental disasters in US history. This beautiful video tries to illustrate the disaster and answer some of the answers: Where Did The Oil Go? Amazing to see that five years after the oil spill, BP is telling people not to worry about tar balls still being found on beaches and in the water. [...] Immediately after the spill evidence was visible of the tragedy as sea animals floated to the water surface and washed up on beaches covered and suffocated by the heavy oil. 48,000 workers tried to clean up the oil spill and now those workers are showing up with health issues including adverse respiratory aliments."
Control—by hannah: "'Pollution control' has long been problematic because, as time passed, it became obvious that pollution, the flow of mostly man-made toxins into the environment, was not even lessened, never mind eliminated by what boiled down to little more than keeping records. So, it looked like the word 'control' was deployed as a palliative to assuage the concerns of people who don't know any better than to object to the 'necessary' discomforts of modern existence. That is, if the air is to be 'conditioned' in summer and winter, some people (asthmatics) are going to find breathing harder. More recently, the growing popularity of other kinds of control (animal control, pest control, population control, even birth control) suggests the word has morphed and is now a euphemism for elimination or extermination. It's almost as if a strategy that wasn't effective in one venue (the elimination of pollutants) is being hijacked for other venues where it might be effected with greater ease. Or is it because, as it turns out, targeting visible organisms is more satisfying/gratifying than dealing with molecules?"
Man gets tired seeing trash on riverbank during his morning commute—does something about it—by Walter Einenkel: "Tommy Kleyn is an artist from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Every morning on his bike to work, he would pass a section of the Rotterdam riverway where trash had collected at the banks. He decided to spend a half hour every day filling one garbage bag full of trash. After he posted the images on Facebook, he even got some help from his friends. All it took was filling up one garbage bag at a time until the work was done! The support from people has turned into a small movement on social media. Kleyn has set up a Facebook page called ShoneShie."
Miscellany
#EarthDay: Mother Jones Validates Koch Industries Connected Outlet—by DSWright: "Despite a longstanding criticism of the Koch Brothers for their largely successful attempts to thwart policies to deal with climate change, progressive magazine Mother Jones validated a publication closely tied to the brothers and their business interests—the Washington Free Beacon. In an article written by Nick Baumann labeling the outlet "kind of good," Mother Jones informs readers that the Free Beacon is a journalistically credible ideologically driven news outlet that was formed to offer opposition to liberal partisan outlets such as Talking Points Memo and Think Progress. The origin story of the Free Beacon told in the article is an interesting though thoroughly incomplete one. Left out of the story is that the Free Beacon was setup as the communications arm of the Center for American Freedom (CAF) not solely to tell conservative stories but serve clients of Orion Strategies where Free Beacon publisher Michael Goldfarb was a partner at the time."
Xeni Gwet’in Mining Activist Wins Goldman Environmental Prize—by EARTHWORKS: "We are thrilled to join the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world's largest award for grassroots environmental activism, in honoring Xeni Gwet’in leader Marilyn Baptiste of British Columbia, Canada for her work to stop Taseko Mines' proposed Prosperity gold and copper mine. Marilyn overcame great odds to spearhead a successful campaign to protect her community from the Prosperity mine proposal. The mining project was a poster child for the worst kind of mining—destroying First Nations’ lands, a pristine wilderness and rainbow trout-laden Fish Lake, or Teztan Biny. Had it been approved, the Prosperity mine could have served as a catalyst for similar projects in a province whose government has a track record of placing mining industry needs above indigenous rights and environmental protection."
The Good of Offshore Oil Drilling—by ban nock: "A little known but vitally important benefit of offshore drilling is being debated in Washington DC right now and I'd be obliged if you would call your representative about it, especially if they are Republican. It's called the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the money comes entirely from offshore oil and gas drilling. It's free money for conservation. $900,000,000, that's nine hundred million with an M. Two problems, the mandate has run out and even when the fund is in effect congress regularly steals money from the project. House Bill 1814 would make the fund permanent. When you call your representative about 1814 two things are important to say. Make the Land and Water Conservation Fund permanent, and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund."