RSS Feed
Archive for March 18th, 2011
A Moment of Silence for Dying Millions on World Water Day
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 18th, 2011
Inter Press Service: When the international community commemorates World Water Day next week, perhaps it should ponder the words of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who once remarked he does not expect people the world over to stop what they are doing and observe a moment of silence, come Mar. 22. "But maybe they should," he added, considering the fact that every 20 seconds, a child dies from diseases associated with lack of clean water. "That adds up to an unconscionable 1.5 million young lives cut short each year,"...
Posted in 
Weekly green agenda: World Water Day and Earth Hour raise awareness, smart tech at CTIA
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 18th, 2011
Independent: Coming up this week: humanitarian and environmental actions mark the beginning and end of this week's events with World Water Day on March 22 and Earth Hour on March 26. In between these two events the latest smart, energy-saving technology will be on display at CTIA Wireless. After Earth Hour on March 26 environmentalists will look ahead to the Green Awards in Ireland on April 18 which honor sustainable businesses practices.
World Water Day
March 22
International
World Water Day began...
Senate Ally Defends Obama on Gas Prices
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 18th, 2011
New York Times: In recent weeks, President Obama`s foes in Congress and industry have sought to pin the blame for rising gasoline prices -- now averaging above $3.50 a gallon -- on his administration`s energy policies.
Specifically, his adversaries claim that the administration`s move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, combined with the slow pace of permitting deep-sea drilling in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, are responsible for Americans` pain at the pump.
"At gas stations all across America,...
Battle Over Alaska Mining Project Heads to Washington
Posted by Greenwire: Manuel Quinones on March 18th, 2011
Greenwire: A large mining project proposed for southwest Alaska has sparked a lobbying battle between some area residents who say it would help the region's economy and others who fear environmental degradation to nearby Bristol Bay and its major salmon run.
The Pebble Project, located about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, is believed to contain large quantities of gold, copper and molybdenum, an element used as an alloying agent in cast iron and steel.
The Pebble Partnership, an alliance between London-based...
Nuclear power report: 14 ‘near misses’ at US plants due to ‘lax oversight’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 18th, 2011
Christian Science Monitor: Nuclear plants in the United States last year experienced at least 14 "near misses," serious failures in which safety was jeopardized, at least in part, due to lapses in oversight and enforcement by US nuclear safety regulators, says a new report.
While none of the safety problems harmed plant employees or the public, they occurred with alarming frequency – more than once a month – which is high for a mature industry, said the study of nuclear plant safety performance in 2010 by the Union of Concerned...
Brick-Making Industry Confronts Its Climate Impacts
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 18th, 2011
Inter Press Service: Wearing rolled up trousers and a spattered shirt, Carlos Frías mixes mud, water and manure to prepare a row of red bricks.
When the mixture is ready, the Mexican brickmaker, or "tabiquero," kneads it and pours it into a mould. His hands quickly adjust the mixture in place, and then he sprays it down with water to give it the right consistency.
The rows of moulds sit in the sun undisturbed for four days until they are dry, then the pieces are placed in an oven, which has a base with an opening...
Intervention offers ‘best chance’ to save species endangered by climate change
Posted by Science Centric: None Given on March 18th, 2011
Science Centric: A University of York scientist is proposing a radical programme of 'assisted colonisation' to save species endangered by climate change.
Chris Thomas, Professor of Conservation Biology, says the strategy is applicable across the world, and he suggests Britain as a potential haven for species such as the Iberian lynx, the Spanish Imperial Eagle, the Pyrenean Desman and the Provence Chalkhill Blue butterfly.
In an opinion paper in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Professor Thomas, of the University's...
The Perfect Eco-Technical Storm in Japan
Posted by Huffington Post: Jim Garrison: on March 18th, 2011
Huffington Post: Japan has experienced the perfect eco-technical storm -- the worst earthquake and tsunami in its history and now the most nightmarish of nuclear meltdowns of not just one but three nuclear reactors plus the explosion in the fuel pond where the spent fuel rods from the reactors are kept. Ecology has assaulted technology. In the face of overwhelming natural forces, the arrogance of nuclear technology is being laid bare for the entire world to see.
If there is any country in the world that should...
Australia: Climate change impact report leaked
Posted by Coffs Coast Advocate: Matt Deans on March 18th, 2011
Coffs Coast Advocate: THE much-anticipated report into the impact of climate change on the Coffs Coast has been leaked.
Before residents in the areas identified as likely inundation zones had been contacted, the 204-page report has been posted on a website published by the Northern Beaches Alliance.
"This is very disappointing,' said Coffs Harbour City Council mayor Keith Rhoades.
"The final stage of the report was to make contact with homeowners whose properties were identified as potentially impacted by coastal...
Veolia accelerates green start-up support programme
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 18th, 2011
Business Green: Veolia Environnement, the world's largest environmental services company, this week for the first time revealed five of the 200 start-up companies selected for its accelerator programme at the Clean Tech Forum in San Francisco.
The Veolia Innovation Accelerator (VIA) programme, which was debuted at the same event this time last year, selected clean tech start-ups that align with Veolia's businesses in water, waste, environmental, energy and transport sectors.
No hold up for Stagecoach's eco-driving...