Image by Marine Corps News via Flickrhttp://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20002062-1.html?tag=mncol
50 Excellent Science Blogs Anyone Can Appreciate
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2010/04/06/50-excellent-science-blogs/
Getting Behind the Fraud in Afghanistan
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/conn-hallinan/behind-the-afghan-fraud_b_530876.html
All frauds have a purpose, mostly to relieve the unwary of their wealth,
Mountaintop Removal Bill Stalled by Adjournment Vote
http://wpln.org/?p=16246
An attempt to restrict coal miners from blowing the top off of Tennessee mountains was shut down today in a subcommittee of the state House of Representatives.
The bill would have regulated “mountain top removal,” the controversial practice of blasting on mountaintops to expose the coal underneath.
Mountain Top Mining Guideline Stricter, EPA
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32619
Mountaintop Mining
High Resolution Mountaintop Removal Pictures
http://www.ohvec.org/galleries/mountaintop_removal/007
U.S. Coal Mining Outlook 2010: Fewer Jobs, Fewer Mountains
http://ecopolitology.org/2010/04/08/u-s-coal-mining-outlook-2010-fewer-jobs-fewer-mountains/comment-page-1
One of the principal arguments coming from the coal industry is that moving away from coal as a fuel source would crush the economies of states like West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. And while that may have been the case 75, 50 or even 25 years ago, it is no longer the case today.
Mountaintop Removal Mining: Why There’s No Such Thing as ‘Clean Coal’
http://ecopolitology.org/2010/02/18/mountaintop-removal-mining-why-theres-no-such-thing-as-clean-coal
We’re changing the landscape, literally, just to keep pulling coal out of the ground. The devastation isn’t even the end of what’s so awful about mountaintop removal mining. It disrupts the surrounding ecosystems, pollutes waterways, and displaces wildlife. Scientists across the U.S. have called for a ban on the practice.
The Sierra Club put together a really informative video, giving a first-hand look at mountaintop removal mining and its effects:
To see even more on the negative side effects of mountaintop removal mining, check out these videos that Zachary posted over on CleanTechnica.
A forest epidemic turns into energy opportunity
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20001950-54.html?tag=mncol;title
Fuel start-up Cobalt Technologies has figured out a way to use trees poisoned and killed by pine beetles to make biobutanol, the company announced Wednesday.
Cobalt develops biofuels that can be mixed with gas, diesel, or jet fuel, as well as used to make plastics. Up until now, the company has used forestry byproducts that originated from healthy trees to make its n-butanol. The result is a gasoline blend made up of 12 percent biobutanol, which the company has claimed can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85 percent when compared to conventional gasoline. It's been touting the fuel as an alternative to ethanol, and in January launched a California plant with the support of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
( I have mixed feelings on this. Flex-fuel is an underutilized capacity that is practically a dodge for EPA efficiency ratings for fleets. That's 15% ethanol. Regular cars can use 10% ! And in conditions where condensate builds up in fuel, even 5% solves drivability problems and enhances fuel economy. It's just....the Governator has a record of supporting dysfunctional crap. )
The Fallacy Of Clean Coal
http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/clean-coal-myth/807
( That sequestration unproven technology takes a stable compound that is plant food and locks it up underground : 2 parts oxygen to 1 carbon. While it was part of Engineer-Poet's epic Sustainability, energy independence and agricultural policy, that was only as an idea : and one that subtracts oxygen from the air.)
Under Pressure from Green Activists, Britain May Block World Bank Funding for South African Coal Power Plant
( Interestingly, IRIN had a story 'All Fired Up Over Coal' which is not resolving on Search at this time. Related searches pointed to rampant cancer stats associated with old coal burning generating plants and air pollution.
And I was thinking about whether I should feature ecopolitology - politics of energy and the environment when I noticed
Leading Climate Change Scientist Cleared of Another Distracting, Baseless Attack
By Zachary Shahan on April 4, 2010
IPCC Chair Dr. Rajendra Pachauri cleared of claims that he had provided consultation to major international companies for private gain, which brings a more serious concern to our attention — maybe its time to stop giving the microphone to climate science disinformers.
Um. Excuse me for noting bias from the get-go in discussion where all points of view must be at least accessible. You don't get debunking - or scientific review - by denying the necessity. Pointing out that as corporate mindwashing strategy doesn't make it a virtue worth emulating : but rather paints oneself with the same brush. )
Indians Try to Keep Cases Away From High Court
The National Law Journal
Tribal Supreme Court Project
"We view this Court as not favorable on our issues," explained Richard Guest, senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund.
Last term, recalled Guest, the justices granted review in three Indian law cases. "We had prevailed in the lower courts in all three and then lost all three in the Supreme Court," he said. "We did a little bit better than some folks -- environmentalists lost five cases which they had won in the lower courts -- but we are all batting zero."
The Tribal Supreme Court Project is part of the Tribal Sovereignty Protection Initiative and was formed in 2001 in response to a series of negative decisions affecting tribal sovereignty in the mid-1990s, according to Guest.
"We had a winning percentage from 2001 to 2005 but now we're back to a situation where we are zero for five," he said.
There is a concern that certain justices have an agenda in Indian law cases, he added, noting that Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. has been quoted as asking what is so special about Indian tribes and their relationship to the United States.
China Is Eager to Bring High-Speed Rail Expertise to the U.S.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/business/global/08rail.html?ref=us
The Chinese government has signed cooperation agreements with the State of California and General Electric to help build such lines. The agreements, both of which are preliminary, show China’s desire to become a big exporter and licensor of bullet trains traveling 215 miles an hour, an environmentally friendly technology in which China has raced past the United States in the last few years.
As Greek Bond Rates Soar, Bankruptcy Looms
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/business/global/09drachma.html?src=me&ref=business
There are unmistakable signs that individuals and corporations are withdrawing funds from Greek banks, although the sums involved do not yet constitute a bank run.
Still, weakened Greek banks, increasingly shut out of the capital markets, have become largely dependent on the European Central Bank and have turned to the Greek government to release more money from a previously established rescue fund.
The Greek government is coming close to giving up on private investors as well. While Athens said it would go ahead with its short-term borrowing auctions this week, the planned fund-raising trip this month by Greece’s finance minister, George Papaconstantinou, to tap Wall Street investors is unlikely to happen as long as Greek borrowing costs remain high, said a person who was briefed on his plans.
United Is in Merger Talks With US Airways
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/business/08air.html?src=me&ref=business
It is the third time in a decade that they have tried to make a deal. Analysts have said that despite the steep cuts in capacity by all the airlines in the last couple of years, there are still too many airlines chasing too few travelers. A combination of United and US Airways could help both return to profit faster than they could going it alone.
But mergers in the airline industry have been difficult to pull off, in part because complex labor contracts can offset the promised cost savings.
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