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Editor’s note: Here is a guess post from the always informative and insightful Patriot News ClearingHouse. This post makes the important point that there are multiple elements of human agency that have contributed to the extent of human (and otherwise) catastrophe from Cyclone Nargis. And, let us remember, that mangrove swamps/forests do far more than […]

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Global Warming Deniers (and their extreme right-wing enablers) are showing their desperation. Rather than continue with simply confusing people with distortion of data (lies, damn lies, statistics, and statistics from Global Warming deniers), we have before us a case of deliberate doctoring of evidence to distort events. For too many in the American right wing, […]

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Opening the newspaper, turning on the TV, going onto the web, it is hard to avoid the images and messages that $billions can buy. And, $billions are what the fossil fuel industries have available and $billions in profits are what they see as at risk. So, they are funding huge efforts to distort the debate […]

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues its deceptive campaign tour to fight any meaningful efforts to deal with Global Warming. Last week, the USCOC joined up with Senator George Voinovich in Columbus, Ohio, for the session deceptively entitled “Comprehensive Approach to Energy and Climate Change“. From the speech by USCOC President Thomas J. Donohue, he […]

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For several years now, various agencies of the US government have been sponsoring a monthly evening lecture series on energy issues: The Energy Conversation. Held in Crystal City, Virginia, these lectures (conversations?) bring together an eclectic mix of people who generally share a passion about one issue: concerns about the US approach to energy and […]

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The latest news suggests that the Lieberman-Warner Coal Subsidy Act (the Climate InSecurity Act, CISA) has moved from critical condition to the morgue.  As it will require 60 votes to get past any threatened filibuster (not that the Senate Democratic Party leadership could force a filibuster on anyone other than their own Senators fighting for […]

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If there reason for frustration with Democratic Party Senate leadership over messaging when it comes to energy issues, we should be beyond frustration about disastrous Republican substance when it comes to energy. When it comes to oil, the only solution: more supply, drill, drill, drill!!! Putting aside the question as to the sensibility of a […]

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Putting aside any questions about the value of the substance of the Consumer-First Energy Act, let us take a few moments to examine the language and framing of its release. The opening paragraph of the press release: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Jeff Bingaman, Max Baucus, Charles Schumer, Byron Dorgan, Maria Cantwell and […]

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A short while ago, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Jeff Bingaman, Max Baucus, Charles Schumer, Byron Dorgan, Maria Cantwell and Bernie Sanders held a press conference today to unveil the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008.” Done with some fanfare, the language around the act and its substance suggests that this author is unlikely […]

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Not everything is the Bush White House’s fault. Not everything.  In this case, not fully their fault, but the contrast is too striking to go without comment. The White House sent Laura Bush to speak on the disastrous cyclone in Myanmar. She gave a prepared statement. And, then she took questions. And, the press had their […]

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