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Entries from September 2013

MMfA: Media Mattered for Australia

September 24th, 2013 · 2 Comments

The recent Australian elections represent a significant set-back for climate sanity within Australia and represent a serious step backward when it comes to climate change issues in the Anglophone world.  Now, two major Commonwealth nations (Canada, Australia) are governed by political parties that are lock-step with fossil fuel extraction industries and the Australian government seems […]

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Tags: Energy

Coal’s war on humanity …

September 20th, 2013 · 7 Comments

As even the most casual student of history knows, yesterday’s friends can be tomorrow’s enemies and vice versa.  Germany and Japan as America’s most mortal allies transformed, post World War II, into two close allies.   It is worth keeping this in mind to consider the overheated rhetoric about a supposed “war on coal”. Coal […]

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Tags: Energy

Illegitimate Legitimate Oversight: Climate Change edition

September 18th, 2013 · 1 Comment

While the Constitution of the United States enumerates responsibilities for the three branches of government, some of the most critical roles that have evolved through our centuries of democratic governance are implied rather than explicitly enumerated.  One of the most important ‘implied’ roles is Congressional (Legislative) oversight of the Executive Branch.  While the Judicial Branch […]

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Tags: climate change · Congress · Energy

Listen to the Hummingbird: Ashamnu – we have transgressed with climate silence

September 13th, 2013 · 1 Comment

Arev Yom Kippur … The eve of the Day of Atonement. After the period of reflection and engagement with others between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, this is a moment to turn to internal considerations and the relationship between the individual and G-d. As part of the prayers for the Day of Atonement, the Vidui, […]

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Tags: climate change

Energy COOL: Triple Bottom Line Opportunity for the 99%?

September 12th, 2013 · Comments Off on Energy COOL: Triple Bottom Line Opportunity for the 99%?

Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies. Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times. And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are truly Energy COOL. While most of these are technology, some are more about […]

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Tags: Energy

Energy COOL: Turning gurgling into clean electricity

September 11th, 2013 · 1 Comment

Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies. Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times. And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are trulyEnergy COOL. The fifth annual DC Renewable Technology conference provided multiple opportunities […]

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Tags: alternative energy · Energy · energy cool · renewable energy

Weather, climate, patterns, how our lying eyes deceive us. Soccer dad version …

September 9th, 2013 · Comments Off on Weather, climate, patterns, how our lying eyes deceive us. Soccer dad version …

It is all too easy for our lying eyes to deceive us as large-scale patterns, trends, and otherwise are difficult to recognize in the face of the immediate.  And, individual memory can be such a difficult thing. The Washington, DC, area has had an unusually cool past several months.  As a ‘native’, I refer to […]

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Tags: Energy

Thinking past stovepipes: Solar Electricity on Roof and Classroom

September 3rd, 2013 · 3 Comments

Solar panels cover my rooftop and generate about 80% of my household’s electricity use.  My house, of course, has numerous other “energy cool” elements (solar light tubes, high-efficiency fireplace insert, insulated whole-house fan, efficient appliances, etc …) but those solar panels generate 99% of the initial questioning about the house and my home’s energy issues. […]

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Tags: Energy

The Social Cost of Carbon For A Chicken Rescue

September 2nd, 2013 · Comments Off on The Social Cost of Carbon For A Chicken Rescue

Mother Jones has a series of graphics highlighting how chickens are taking over the world sparked by a ‘chicken rescue’. the Northern California animal sanctuary Animal Place will airlift—yes, you read that right: airlift—1,150 elderly laying hens from Hayward, California, to Elmira, New York, in an Embraer 120 turbo-prop. The price? $50,000. And, that is the […]

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Tags: Energy

Oceans Acidifying at Fastest Rate in 300,000,000 years. Don’t Worry, Be Happy?

September 2nd, 2013 · Comments Off on Oceans Acidifying at Fastest Rate in 300,000,000 years. Don’t Worry, Be Happy?

This is a guest post from a scientist who feels like FishOutOfWater when looking at America’s discourse over science issues, most notably climate change … We may be slipping into one of the greatest mass extinctions in the history of the earth, but just how worried should we be? The world’s oceans are turning acidic […]

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Tags: climate change · environmental · Global Warming · guest post · Washington Post