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Entries Tagged as 'pollution'

Science blows the top off mountaintop removal mining

January 8th, 2010 · 2 Comments

This cross-post from DWG provides an excellent perspective on the heavily peer-reviewed study, just published in Science magazine, that provides strong material about the serious health (environmental and human) implications of Mountain Top Removal (MTR).  For links to numerous other discussions, see here.

The rapacious polluters in the coal industry are celebrating. The approval of a [...]

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Tags: Energy · business practice · coal · environmental · government energy policy · pollution

The Power of No Regrets … a reprise …

December 11th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Occasionally, it seems worthwhile to resurrect earlier discussions, to try to bring attention to elements that should be part of our national dialogue but which, sadly, seem not ingrained in people’s thinking. No Regrets strategic thinking looks to satisficing — how would this pan out across multiple scenarios. Considering what a No Regrets Strategy would [...]

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Tags: Energy · Global Warming · clean emissions · climate change · energy smart · environmental · financial policy · politics · pollution

Christmas Lights … scrooge or savior? (an annual refrain …)

November 30th, 2009 · Comments Off

Do you love those displays of Christmas (or Hannukah or Kwanza or …) lights? Are you awed by those so impassioned that they string up 1000s of lights in awesome displays worthy of a city center? I once did, pausing on cold winter nights, white clouds issuing from my mouth, enjoying being in the [...]

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Tags: Energy · energy efficiency · environmental · green · lighting · political symbols · pollution

“Coal’s assault on human health”

November 25th, 2009 · Comments Off

While the denialosphere is shouting about “ClimateGate” and traditional media turn their attention to SwiftHack, the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) released a report that should be on the front page of every newspaper, discussed passionately on every talk show, and be heard about by every adult American. While aware of the impacts of [...]

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Tags: Energy · Global Warming · carbon dioxide · coal · environmental · pollution

Children lay out an A, B, C path re climate change

November 12th, 2009 · Comments Off

This is a powerful video from World Wildlife Fund. Take the moment to watch … and, as you wish, share. (And, if you wish, rate it at Youtube.)

This is a call for President Barack Obama to go to Copenhagen.
The “ABC” call?
A. Help developing countries and fragile ecosystems cope with climate impacts.
B. Guarantee access to [...]

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Tags: President Barack Obama · advertising · catastrophic climate change · climate change · politics · pollution

If you can stomach it … they couldn’t

October 20th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Courtesy of the camera and work of Chris Jordan, decaying Albatross chicks are sending a message from the Pacific gyre about the plastic footprint that humanity is leaving across the planet.  Chris’ introduction to this searing set of photos:
These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny [...]

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Tags: Energy · plastic · politics · pollution

Paying attention to “friends”

April 14th, 2009 · 2 Comments

To many in the climate ‘blogosphere’, myself not excepted, the siren’s call of tackling global warming denial, of deceitful astroturf “studies” distorting the situation, and of shoddy ‘faux and balanced’ reporting in the nation’s newspapers of record can eat up too much of our attention. We must pay attention to what is actually going on [...]

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Tags: Congress · Energy · Global Warming · carbon dioxide · democrats · electricity · emissions · energy efficiency · energy smart · environmental · government energy policy · politics · pollution

Heroes in the Global Warming Front: Or, What is it with Female Democratic Governors Anyway?

March 27th, 2009 · 2 Comments

In 2008, Kathleen Sebelius undertook a courageous battle against coal industry interests attempting to buy their way into perpetuating highly polluting coal-fired electricity plants. She stood up against fossil-foolish distortions. She stood up against industry lobby money. She stood up in a tough fight against Republican legislators who were active collaborators with [...]

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Tags: Energy · Global Warming · climate change · coal · environmental · government energy policy · politics · pollution · renewable energy

Another TVA Ash Spill, with another river spill …

January 9th, 2009 · No Comments

Amid all the hullaboo about Clean Coal, most focus on the issue of CO2 emissions. In fact, there is a partial truth about sort-of less dirty coal, ever-improving filtering of particulates is creating ever more fly ash. And, that fly ash either needs to be used (concrete, gypsum board, etc) or simply stored indefinitely. [...]

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Tags: Energy · coal · environmental · pollution

Summers not sunny when it comes to developmental concepts

November 6th, 2008 · Comments Off

Bloomberg is reporting that Larry Summers is on a very short list for nomination as Secretary of the Treasury. One doesn’t need to look at the global financial meltdown to recognize that this is a truly critical post but the impact and import of this post cannot be underestimated. With the need [...]

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Tags: Obama Administration · environmental · environmental justice · financial policy · pollution · world bank