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Archive for January 25th, 2011
Era of low-cost food is over, study warns
Posted by Financial Times: Clive Cookson on January 25th, 2011
Financial Times: The era of cheap food is at an end, with the real prices of key crops set to rise 50-100 per cent during the next 40 years, according to a UK government report. If supplies are to increase sufficiently to prevent widespread starvation as the global population heads towards 9bn, an “agricultural revolution” is needed, says the report produced by the Foresight think-tank. The term “sustainable intensification” is used to describe the method of enlisting all technologies, including genetic modification,...
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Climate benefits of natural gas may be overstated
Posted by ProPublica: Abrahm Lustgarten on January 25th, 2011
ProPublica: The United States is poised to bet its energy future on natural gas as a clean, plentiful fuel that can supplant coal and oil. But new research by the Environmental Protection Agency--and a growing understanding of the pollution associated with the full "life cycle" of gas production--is casting doubt on the assumption that gas offers a quick and easy solution to climate change. Advocates for natural gas routinely assert that it produces 50 percent less greenhouse gases than coal and is a significant...
Chromium-6 and clean water
Posted by Guardian: Rebecca Sutton on January 25th, 2011
Guardian: The Environmental Working Group welcomes informed scrutiny of our recent study on hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) in tap water. We detected this probable human carcinogen in the water of 31 of 35 American cities tested.
We now know that chromium-6 exposure is not limited to communities like Hinkley and Kettleman City, California, victims of extreme industrial pollution and corporate malfeasance. Our results show that communities across the United States, and probably around the world, may be...
Western Canadian province sees major spring floods
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 25th, 2011
Reuters: The western Canadian province of Manitoba, a key producer of wheat and canola, will see major spring flooding if weather conditions continue as expected, the provincial government said on Monday.
The province gave its earliest outlook for spring flooding in recent memory -- one month ahead of usual -- out of concern about already-saturated soil conditions, heavy snowfall and expectations of a cooler and wetter than normal spring.
The flat southern Manitoba Prairie around the Red River is prone...
‘We need to stop this culture before it kills the planet’ – A conversation with Derrick Jensen
Posted by Food Freedom: None Given on January 25th, 2011
Food Freedom: As you begin reading this interview, take a look at the nearest clock. Now, dig this: Since yesterday at the same exact time, 200,000 acres of rainforest have been destroyed, over 100 plant and animal species have gone extinct, 13 million tons of toxic chemicals were released across the globe, and 29,158 children under the age of five died from preventable causes. Worst of all, there`s nothing unique about the past 24 hours. It`s business as usual, a daily reality--and no amount of CFL bulbs, recycled...
Tree species greatly at risk from climate change
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 25th, 2011
Asian News International: Scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have indicated that many tree species might become extinct due to climate change if no action is taken in time.
Their study suggested that trees that disperse their seeds by wind, such as pines and maples, will be unable to spread at a pace that can cope with expected climate changes.
The research, which focused on the ecological consequences of expected changes in the climate and the environment on tree spread, was conducted by Prof. Ran Nathan...
Climate change report goes to Iowa legislature
Posted by Quad City Times: None Given on January 25th, 2011
Quad City Times: More frequent heavy rainfall is increasing flood damage and soil
erosion.
Warmer nighttime temperatures during the growing season are hurting corn yields.
More frequent catastrophic events are forcing the insurance industry to reassess its coverage and pricing to retain profitability.
These are three of the numerous and complex effects that climate change is having on Iowa, as described in a report forwarded earlier this month to the governor and Iowa legislature.
The 33-page report...
Youth forum calls for early education on environment
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 25th, 2011
Jakarta Post: Young environmental activists exchanged ideas on how to preserve the environment at the 2011 Indonesian Youth Mini Conference on Saturday.
Muhammad Ridwan, presenting one of 10 selected papers at the conference, highlighted the environmental importance of the Giam Siak Kecil peatlands in Riau Province.
The peatland area, which includes a sustainable timber production industry and two wildlife reserves, is one of seven Indonesian biospheres internationally recognized by United Nations Educational,...
Atlantic Weather May Be Key Culprit In Fish Decline
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 25th, 2011
National Public Radio: The striped bass is in trouble again. During the 1980s, wildlife managers said these big, full-bodied fish "” favorites of anglers along the East Coast "” were overfished. So they laid down severe catch limits. The population recovered, and fishing resumed in what is considered one of conservation's great success stories. But now catches are down again, and some biologists say the problem may not be overfishing this time: It could be the weather. Brad Burns, who started fishing for striped bass...
Amnesty slams Shell over oil spills in Nigeria
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 25th, 2011
Agence France-Presse: Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth Tuesday said they had filed an official complaint against Ango-Dutch firm Shell for shirking responsibility for oil spills in Nigeria and wreaking havoc on the environment.
A joint statement said Shell's operations in the southern oil-rich Niger Delta breached the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s guidelines for responsible business.
"The organisations claim that Shell?s use of discredited and misleading information...