The Iraq government is poised to sign oil extraction agreements with BP and China's CNPC. This would open up the largest oil field in Iraq to a foreign company.
While the peak oil theory is gaining traction, more oil is being discovered all the time. The most upheld aspect of the peak oil theory is that oil is becoming more expensive to extract and refine, but it is still being discovered. Check out recent discoveries from OilVoice.
Ecology.com published an article called, "The Secret World of Energy
The Evolution and Use of the World's Energy Systems."
Another oil spill, this time in San Francisco Bay!
Oil Change International has a campaign called "Separate Oil and State." They want our politicians to stop accepting money from oil companies and their employees, thus making our Congress one of the people instead of one of business. Business surely should have a voice in the legislation process but their dominance of it is unwanted.
The White House is trying to upgrade its building to LEED Standards, read about it. And, read about what is LEED from the US Green Building Council.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Climate Change- Coppenhagen and the US Congress
The UN believes that the upcoming Climate Change talks in Copenhagen will not produce a Treaty. And Obama quietly takes himself off of the attendee list. Democrats in the Senate still push for a Climate Change bill. Without a UN agreement we are in for quite a surprise.
Politics unfold with the people in the background mobilizing themselves to show the politicians that representation means legislation. And support for Cap and Trade in America wanes as polluting industries weigh in to change Climate Change legislation into something close to business as usual.
If politicians are not going to do it for us, we must do it for ourselves. Science Journal shows some numbers that empower average citizens to change their lives to change the world.
The American Petroleum Institute weighs in on the Climate Change bill and how it will hurt Americans. What hurts Americans is the oligopoly (oiligopoly) of the oil market, controlled by 5 companies, that raises prices needlessly while reaping the highest profits in world history during a recession.
Solar power is starting to become economical to utilize.
Politics unfold with the people in the background mobilizing themselves to show the politicians that representation means legislation. And support for Cap and Trade in America wanes as polluting industries weigh in to change Climate Change legislation into something close to business as usual.
If politicians are not going to do it for us, we must do it for ourselves. Science Journal shows some numbers that empower average citizens to change their lives to change the world.
The American Petroleum Institute weighs in on the Climate Change bill and how it will hurt Americans. What hurts Americans is the oligopoly (oiligopoly) of the oil market, controlled by 5 companies, that raises prices needlessly while reaping the highest profits in world history during a recession.
Solar power is starting to become economical to utilize.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Africa
I stumbled upon a list of environmental websites focused on Africa and thought I might share some of the stories from the sites with you.
AFROL news gives a thorough background to deforestation in Africa. Under 10% of primary forests are left and many stands are left unhealthy from selective logging. Poverty and foreign demand are large threats to the forests while local management through sustainable agriculture could be the savior.
Nigeria has been heavily impacted by the oil industry, in the Rivers State 80% of the area is classified as being heavily impacted by environmental pollution. Shell and Chevron are the main oil companies in Nigeria and find constant opposition to their destruction of livelihoods and environments. This link is an overview of Nigeria, its people and the history of oil. This is an overview of Chevron in Nigeria. And this is an overview of Shell's world wide operations, partially focusing on Ken Saro-Wiwa who was killed by the Nigerian government at the request of Shell due to his direct non-violent opposition to Shell.
Earthlife Africa gives a climate change report for 2009, much to learn.
Global Forest Watch has a great feature on its website that lets you generate maps on forest cover and deforestation around the world.
This is a review of UN climate change agreements and its use of the term 'sustainable forest management' that has been manipulated into allowing forest practices that degrade the environment. I am always surprised that companies that degrade the environment almost always have the ability to water down regulation that affects their business. It is called regulation and it is supposed to be crafted so that it does not ruin a business but too often business ruins us.
AFROL news gives a thorough background to deforestation in Africa. Under 10% of primary forests are left and many stands are left unhealthy from selective logging. Poverty and foreign demand are large threats to the forests while local management through sustainable agriculture could be the savior.
Nigeria has been heavily impacted by the oil industry, in the Rivers State 80% of the area is classified as being heavily impacted by environmental pollution. Shell and Chevron are the main oil companies in Nigeria and find constant opposition to their destruction of livelihoods and environments. This link is an overview of Nigeria, its people and the history of oil. This is an overview of Chevron in Nigeria. And this is an overview of Shell's world wide operations, partially focusing on Ken Saro-Wiwa who was killed by the Nigerian government at the request of Shell due to his direct non-violent opposition to Shell.
Earthlife Africa gives a climate change report for 2009, much to learn.
Global Forest Watch has a great feature on its website that lets you generate maps on forest cover and deforestation around the world.
This is a review of UN climate change agreements and its use of the term 'sustainable forest management' that has been manipulated into allowing forest practices that degrade the environment. I am always surprised that companies that degrade the environment almost always have the ability to water down regulation that affects their business. It is called regulation and it is supposed to be crafted so that it does not ruin a business but too often business ruins us.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Stumbling Foreword
An alternative annual report for Chevron was drafted. It highlights the human and environmental cost of Chevron's activities around the world and shines light on why we want a different system of procuring energy. Check out the site and the report.
With Obama in the whitehouse new coal fired power plants were supposed to not be built again, but the administration is rescinding and now in the Markey-Waxman bill new coal plants will be allowed to be built under certain conditions due to the coal industry's new lobbying effort that touts "clean coal" as the way of the future. The real gem behind "clean coal" is not an effort to protect the health of humans and our environment but is a desperate grasp at the remaining coal reserves that are large enough to power the US and China for the next 350 years. Clean Coal is a sham.
Check out this "off grid" home, it costs over $500,000 to make but it is more environmental than your home. It is shocking to me that people are so willing to spend money on luxury items, many people have homes worth over 1/2 million dollars so why not demand low emissions with your luxury goods? A note about the article: hydrogen power is a technology that is not developing quickly and it emits water vapor, many people do not know that water vapor is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2.
Check this funny thing out, the video is gross but helps your imagination become more active about the wide-reaching changes that Climate Change will bring. Apparently mucus blobs occur in the ocean and with recent changes these blobs are becoming more popular; they house dangerous bacteria and viruses and suffocate sea-life.
Climate Change Science needs to be as accurate as possible to help non-believers alter their beliefs. This article from Science reveals a recent study finding that CO2 emissions have been increasing for thousands of years due to natural processes, the earth is naturally heating up as it arises out of an ice age and we are speeding up that process making earth inhospitable to us.
To our knowledge Earth has been through 5 mass extinction periods, this is the 6th. The loss of habitat is the greatest threat, World Resources Institute provides some commentary, figures and facts.
Companies and scientists are trying to harvest hydrocarbons from algea, it would mean oil forever! This article follows a recent college graduate that tried to get a job with one of these projects and was unable. The promises from algae seem to be inflated and the government is throwing millions at it, and like hydrogen battery cells commercial viability is so far off we might be better off focusing on more promising technologies.
The developing world is spending its energy on growing their economy out of poverty, they have been demanding money from the industrialized countries to little avail. These countries will increase emissions greatly for the next several decades with or without our help. We can give them the tools to develop environmentally or we can leave them to act like poor people; poor people do what is necessary for survival today, not tomorrow. If I was in their position I would do no different.
River Delta's are sinking and Science reveals some new studies about it.
With Obama in the whitehouse new coal fired power plants were supposed to not be built again, but the administration is rescinding and now in the Markey-Waxman bill new coal plants will be allowed to be built under certain conditions due to the coal industry's new lobbying effort that touts "clean coal" as the way of the future. The real gem behind "clean coal" is not an effort to protect the health of humans and our environment but is a desperate grasp at the remaining coal reserves that are large enough to power the US and China for the next 350 years. Clean Coal is a sham.
Check out this "off grid" home, it costs over $500,000 to make but it is more environmental than your home. It is shocking to me that people are so willing to spend money on luxury items, many people have homes worth over 1/2 million dollars so why not demand low emissions with your luxury goods? A note about the article: hydrogen power is a technology that is not developing quickly and it emits water vapor, many people do not know that water vapor is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2.
Check this funny thing out, the video is gross but helps your imagination become more active about the wide-reaching changes that Climate Change will bring. Apparently mucus blobs occur in the ocean and with recent changes these blobs are becoming more popular; they house dangerous bacteria and viruses and suffocate sea-life.
Climate Change Science needs to be as accurate as possible to help non-believers alter their beliefs. This article from Science reveals a recent study finding that CO2 emissions have been increasing for thousands of years due to natural processes, the earth is naturally heating up as it arises out of an ice age and we are speeding up that process making earth inhospitable to us.
To our knowledge Earth has been through 5 mass extinction periods, this is the 6th. The loss of habitat is the greatest threat, World Resources Institute provides some commentary, figures and facts.
Companies and scientists are trying to harvest hydrocarbons from algea, it would mean oil forever! This article follows a recent college graduate that tried to get a job with one of these projects and was unable. The promises from algae seem to be inflated and the government is throwing millions at it, and like hydrogen battery cells commercial viability is so far off we might be better off focusing on more promising technologies.
The developing world is spending its energy on growing their economy out of poverty, they have been demanding money from the industrialized countries to little avail. These countries will increase emissions greatly for the next several decades with or without our help. We can give them the tools to develop environmentally or we can leave them to act like poor people; poor people do what is necessary for survival today, not tomorrow. If I was in their position I would do no different.
River Delta's are sinking and Science reveals some new studies about it.
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