August 9, 2012
McKibben's Thought for the day
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, global thinker and leader, and author of several books; including The End of Nature, and Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet, shares this call to action for what could not only be the biggest fight of our time, but of all time. The fossil fuel industry is quickly destroying the planet, and making the fight to protect our future increasingly challenging as industry lobbying, and unabated growth continues. We all need to come together and rally behind leaders like Bill McKibben, 350.org, and countless others, to save this planet. How? With passion, spirit, and creativity, and as Bill says, sometimes putting our bodies on the line. Will you join the fight?
August 8, 2012
Extreme Weather in the Northeast
A new report released by Environment America Research & Policy Center analyzed more than 80 million daily precipitation records across the United States from 1948 through 2011.
The following are highlights from the report:
- Extreme downpours – rainstorms and snow falls … are now happening 30 percent more often on average across the contiguous United States than in 1948.
- New England has experienced the greatest change with intense rainstorms now happening 85 percent more often than in 1948.
- Not only are extreme downpours more frequent, but they are more intense. The total amount of precipitation produced by the largest storm in each year at each station increase by 10 percent over the period of analysis, on average across the contiguous United States.
Electricity and Water
Every year, the United States consumes more than 3 trillion KWh of electricity. This power is generated by coal-fired power plants, nuclear plants, solar panels, hydroelectric damns, wind turbines, geothermal wells, and other sources and it requires water to produce.
As much as 41% of all water used in the United States goes to power plants to produce electricity, making them the single largest water consumer in the nation.
Climate Change is here - and worse than we thought
James Hansen's op-ed in the Washington Post
"When I testified before the Senate in the hot summer of 1988 , I warned of the kind of future that climate change would bring to us and our planet.
But I have a confession to make: I was too optimistic."
Read the rest of his op-ed here...
http://wapo.st/OKcLdd
Environmental News
Thousands of fish are dying in the Midwest as the hot, arid summer dries up rivers and causes water temperatures to climb in some spots to nearly 100 degrees. [Wall Street Journal]
About 40,000 shovelnose sturgeon were killed in Iowa last week as water temperatures reached 97 degrees. Nebraska fishery officials said they have seen thousands of dead sturgeon, catfish, carp and other species in the Lower Platte River, including the endangered pallid sturgeon.
Biologists in Illinois said the hot weather has killed tens of thousands of large- and smallmouth bass and channel catfish and is threatening the population of the greater redhorse fish, a state endangered species.
GOP lawmakers say this year's harsh weather that has produced devastating wildfires and the most widespread drought in 50 years has not changed their minds on climate change. [The Hill]
At least 18 wildfires raged in Oklahoma on Sunday as firefighters battled the consequences of a severe drought that shows no signs of letting up. [Los Angeles Times]
More quickly than any other place in the United States, the Alaskan Arctic is being transformed by global warming. The impacts of climate change are threatening a way of life. [Washington Post]
Ocean acidification caused by climate change is making it harder for creatures from clams to sea urchins to grow their shells, and the trend is likely to be felt most in polar regions, scientists said today. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Koch Brothers Study on Climate Change
A NY Times op-ed by Richard Muller, BEST's Founder and Scientific Director, has been published, "The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic."
CALL me a converted skeptic. Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I'm now going a step further: Humans are almost entirely the cause.
The Hidden Costs of Hamburgers
Americans love hamburgers — we each eat an average of three a week. But what are the hidden costs?
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