Clipmarks | Climate change Clips

The cold amongst the warm years...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:14:33 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: There are cycles, one need not be confounded by that. It still up to us to amend damages that are inflicted on the environment by us.

Clip Source: www.climateark.org

This Year So Far Coolest For at Least 5 Years - WMO

The first half of 2008 was the coolest for at least five years, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Wednesday.

Global temperatures vary annually according to natural cycles. For example, they are driven by shifting ocean currents, and dips do not undermine the case that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are causing long-term global warming, climate scientists say.

Chillier weather this year is partly because of a global weather pattern called La Nina that follows a periodic warming effect called El Nino.

"Up to July 2008, this year has been cooler than the previous five years at least. It still looks like it's warmer than average," added Baddour.

The global mean temperature to end-July was 0.28 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average, the UK-based MetOffice Hadley Centre for climate change research said on Wednesday. That would make the first half of 2008 the coolest since 2000.

decade ending in 2007 was the hottest

Tags: environment, global warming, cool

'MetaModel Manager' could save threatened species

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:41:28 GMT

clipped by: A53GG4

Clip Source: blogs.usatoday.com

'MetaModel Manager' could save threatened species

A new computer model predicts the fate of endangered species, says the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS).

The model, which took two years to create, is the work of Robert Lacy, Ph.D., a population geneticist and conservation biologist at CZS since 1985, and a team of colleagues. It's called MetaModel Manager.

The program lets researchers understand how a variety of forces interact potentially to lead to the extinction of certain threatened species. Researchers input a variety of environmental, demographic, and genetic data -- such as climate change, emerging diseases, habitat changes, and human social factors -- which the program analyzes to predict and estimate species extinctions. The program studies across species that interact, not just individual groups. It also recommends ways to avoid such die-offs.

Dr. Lacy said the model changes the way scientists traditionally work.

Tags: animals

Water Wars

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:10:38 GMT

clipped by: octaviomedina

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Spain sweats amid 'water wars'

Spain is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years. Climate experts warn that the country is suffering badly from the impact of climate change and that the Sahara is slowly creeping north - into the Spanish mainland.

Yet in Spain itself there is little consensus about what is to be done. Indeed, such is the disagreement that journalists and politicians alike are calling it "water wars".

A farmer and politician, Angel Carcia Udon, said: "Water arouses passions because it can be used as a weapon, a political weapon, just as oil is a political weapon".

And water in Spain has set region against region, north against south and government against opposition.

Tags: agua, desertificación

Magnificent Renewable Energy Failures

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:55:54 GMT

clipped by: CohoctonWindWatch

Clip Source: ecoworldly.com

Despite British government commitments to generate 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, proposals for wind turbine installations tend to run aground pretty quickly once local opposition is voiced.

Two thirds of the UK Government’s climate change targets have been missed, and it’s renewable energy targets look set to join that list. People want digital TV recorders, plug-in hybrid vehicles, wide-screen TV’s and a multitude of other devices which contribute towards increasing energy demands. Unfortunately they don’t want nuclear power, dirty coal fired power stations, wind turbines, off-shore tidal barrages, or any other form of energy production - unless it is situated somewhere else.

Tags: alternative energy, environment, industrial wind

Wal-Mart Warns of Democratic Win

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:36:03 GMT

clipped by: raisins4peace

Clip Source: online.wsj.com

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies -- including Wal-Mart.

In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.

The actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership. That could lead to higher payroll and health costs for companies already being hurt by rising fuel and commodities costs and the tough economic climate.

make it clear that voting for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama would be tantamount to inviting unions in,

Energy Recovery Inc.500

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:46:02 GMT

clipped by: energyrecovery
clipper's remarks: ERI, a Cleant Technology company makes it into Inc. 500

Clip Source: www.inc.com

Year	2007
Industry	Environmental Services
Founded	1992
Growth	396.4%
2003 Revenue	$4.0 million
2006 Revenue	$20.1 million
Employees	45
Website	www.energy-recovery.com

Ranked No. 11 in the Top Companies in Environmental Services
Ranked No. 47 in the Top Companies in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

What it does: Makes an energy recovery device that derives energy from desalination seawater plants.

Why it's growing: Increasing demand for fresh water driven by diminishing fresh water resources, global warming and climate change as well as the increased affordability of desalinated water, driven largely by he new economics of energy efficiency introduced by ERI's PX technology.

What's noteworthy: They plan to open a new office in Dubai.

Tags: energy recovery, desalination, clean technology, desalinization, pressure exchanger, water resources

Google to Invest in Geothermal

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:03:22 GMT

clipped by: dewitte

Clip Source: dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com

Google.org, the public-spirited division of Google.com, charged with addressing “climate change, poverty and emerging disease,” is using the backdrop of the National Clean Energy Summit here in Las Vegas to announce a new round of clean energy financing.

In a nutshell, the company is investing an arguably modest sum — a little over $10 million — in the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS. The technology differs from “traditional” geothermal in that rather than exploiting existing wells of earthbound steam and hot water, EGS drills deep — miles down — to access layers of heated granite that exist underfoot everywhere on the planet. Water can be circulated downward for heating, and then upward to drive turbines and generate electricity.

Tags: google, geothermal, green

plant a tree links

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:57:03 GMT

clipped by: kajakaja

Clip Source: home.howstuffworks.com

Hungry Oceans - hungry for carbon

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:05:19 GMT

clipped by: bsykora
clipper's remarks: From Discovery Project Earth

Clip Source: dsc.discovery.com

Hungry Oceans
Premieres Friday, Sept. 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Oceans cover 70 percent of our planet and are one of the most important carbon sinks we have, but the phytoplankton that convertcarbon dioxide into living matter are declining – and many scientists believe that Climate Change is the culprit. Dr. Brian von Herzen of The Climate Foundation join forces with Marine Biologists at the University of Hawaii and Oregon State University to deploy three wave powered pumps. They head into the huge swells of the North Pacific in an attempt to restore this critical natural mixing effect.

Tags: global warming, ocean, fuel, discovery

War on Terror boardgame branded criminal by police

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:47:38 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: Idiotic police. Sounds like a great game.

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

It may not be fun for all the family – well, not in the same way as Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit or Mousetrap, say. The themes of empire building and terrorist-style attacks on opponents would probably provoke an outbreak of spluttering over the Christmas sherry.

It is rare, however, for a board game to be seized by the police. This week that distinction befell War on Terror: The Boardgame; a set was confiscated from climate protesters in Kent.

Following a series of raids on the climate change camp near Kingsnorth power station, officers displayed an array of supposed weapons snatched from demonstrators: knives, chisels, bolt cutters, a throwing star – and a copy of the satirical game, which lampoons Washington's "war on terror".

For the game's creators, Andrew Sheerin and Andy Tompkins, web designers from Cambridge, the inclusion of their toy was a shock.

Tags: uk, police, idiots, war on terror, boardgame, fun for the whole family

Flat Earth

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:56:47 GMT

clipped by: Fast T friend
clipper's remarks: I'm not a strong fan but I thought the map was cool

Clip Source: starphoenixbase.com

I had some fun yesterday writing about people who believe in a flat Earth and how their ideas compare with climate change deniers. As I reread my essay this morning I was reminded of the fact that one of my favorite authors, Terry Pratchett, has made a career writing about a fictional flat planet. His Discworld fantasy-humor novels are set on just such a planet as Flat Earthers may envision for the Earth. Here is an illustration of the Discworld:

Remember, this is fantasy, not reality. Do not plan trips for business or pleasure, especially ocean cruises, or attempt to follow world events by referring to this map. Discworld is a magical planet. Its Sun is about the size of a basketball and revolves around the flat planet. And, yes, the oceans flow off the edge into space in a continuous cascade. The fact that Discworld’s oceans never dry out is obviously due to magic rather than conventional physics.

Tags: flat, earth, disc, world, map

Summit targets world water issues

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:36:14 GMT

clipped by: spirithiker
clipper's remarks: The U.S. is sending millions every year to developing countries in food and medical supplies. It seems it would be more beneficial to build wastewater treatment plants to produce water for farming.

Currently 85% of of cities in developing nations discharge water without any treatment and many people are using this water to grow food crops.

The situation is getting worse as more and more people move to urban areas. This creates a higher demand for farmers to produce more food and with clean water becoming more scarce the problem just becomes more compounded.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

While global attention has recently focused on energy and food, a global summit this week in Stockholm, Sweden, will tackle the key issue of water.

The World Water Week meeting starts on Sunday and will hear renewed calls to solve growing challenges of sanitation, climate change and drinkable supplies.

The organisers say lack of adequate sanitation is a scandal that costs the lives of 1.4m children every year.

Investing in this area, say scientists, is the most cost effective health intervention the world could make.

While global concerns about energy and food are real, experts say that tackling key water issues is more fundamental to the world and long-term sustained action is needed urgently.

By 2025, 1.8bn people will be living in regions with absolute water scarcity.

Any discussion on water issues will also have to address climate change.

Tags: water, world health, environment

The oxygen crisis

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:53:06 GMT

clipped by: JICWyllie

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Compared to prehistoric times, the level of oxygen in the earth's atmosphere has declined by over a third and in polluted cities the decline may be more than 50%. This change in the makeup of the air we breathe has potentially serious implications for our health. Indeed, it could ultimately threaten the survival of human life on earth, according to Roddy Newman, who is drafting a new book, The Oxygen Crisis.

the planet's forest cover was at least twice what it is today, which means that forests are now emitting only half the amount of oxygen.

Desertification and deforestation are rapidly accelerating this long-term loss of oxygen sources.

The story at sea is much the same. Nasa reports that in the north Pacific ocean oxygen-producing phytoplankton concentrations are 30% lower today, compared to the 1980s. This is a huge drop in just three decades.

This oxygen starvation is reducing regional fish stocks and diminishing the food supplies of populations that are dependent on fishing.

Tags: environment, oxygen, i-climate change, i-decrease

Ancient tree helps birds survive

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:03:51 GMT

clipped by: valann 47

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

An ancient species of tree is helping Britain's birds survive the effects of climate change, scientists have found.

Frequent early spring weather means blue tits and great tits have been laying eggs ahead of schedule, making it difficult for them to find food.

However ecologists say birds have been feeding on gall wasps, which make their homes in Turkey oak trees, rather than the usual young caterpillars.

The discovery was made during a study by the University of Edinburgh.

The Turkey oak was reintroduced to Britain three centuries ago

It had been feared that the Turkey oak, reintroduced to Britain three centuries ago after an absence of thousands of years, may pose a threat to native plants and animals.

But now it appears to be providing the country's birds with a food source.

Tags: birds, survival, trees, turkey oak

Bucking your party

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:53:48 GMT

clipped by: sillysam

Clip Source: article.nationalreview.com

McCain bested Obama again when Warren asked for an example of a time in which he “went against party loyalty and maybe even against your own best interest for the good of America.”

Clip Source: article.nationalreview.com

When McCain got the question, everyone in the room thought he would bring up campaign-finance reform, the issue on which he has alienated the Republican base for years. But he didn’t. “Climate change, out-of-control spending, torture,” he said. “The list goes on.” McCain’s prime example, though, was his story of opposing Ronald Reagan’s decision to send a contingent of Marines to Lebanon as a peacekeeping force. “My knowledge and my background told me that a few hundred Marines in a situation like that could not successfully carry out any kind of peacekeeping mission, and I thought they were going into harm’s way,” McCain said

McCain answered the whole question without touching on campaign finance; he had so much more life experience to draw on that he could swamp Obama without using everything he had.