Monday, March 30, 2015

Monsanto Lobbyist Runs Away When Asked To Drink ‘Harmless’ Pesticide

Friday, March 27, 2015

Senate Mocks Fla. Official Because He Can’t Say Climate Change During Hearing (VIDEO)

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/22/mock-cant-say-climate-change/
"Florida was once again the laughing stock of the United Sates recently due to Florida agencies being banned from the words “climate change”. The absurdity of the situation was made clear at a Senate subcommittee hearing last Thursday."

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Lobbyist Fails His Own Pesticide Challenge On Camera

Lobbyist Fails His Own Pesticide Challenge On Camera

"Today's lesson is brought to you by Dr. Patrick Moore, who has worked for pesticide manufacturers like Monsanto, refusing to drink Monsanto's product just seconds after claiming it's safe to do so"

Monday, March 23, 2015

There's A Dead Cat At The Bottom Of Fukushima Unit 1

There's A Dead Cat At The Bottom Of Fukushima Unit 1

"First of all, it's not an "accident." TEPCO cut corners to save money, and this is the predictable result.

And who are they kidding? The containment vessel melted, too. They didn't scan the containment area because they don't want us to know that. That fuel is out there. And we can probably assume the same about Unit 2."

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Brutal Winter That Wasn’t

Aggressive steps to fight climate change

Up Next on the GOP's To-Do List: Selling US National Forests

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/29763-up-next-on-the-gop-s-to-do-list-selling-us-national-forests
"Several parties have drawn up a proposal for the House GOP budget resolution that calls for the seizure and sale of US national forests and public land."

The Movie Climate Science Deniers Don’t Want You To See

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/19/3635437/merchants-of-doubt/
"The now-classic book “Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming” has been made into a must-see documentary."

'Ignorance is deadly' about climate change

GOP's Corporate Lackies Block Climate Change Science At Every Turn

GOP's Corporate Lackies Block Climate Change Science At Every Turn

"Republicans are the original party of "see no evil." Like toddlers, they think if they close their eyes, "You can't see me!" Can't wait to see how that philosophy works out!"

The Only Place It Was Cold This Winter Was The East Coast Of The United States

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/18/3635560/noaa-hottest-winter/
"Now entering its fourth year, the drought in California is so bad that NASA senior water scientist Jay Famiglietti warned that “the state has only about one year of water supply left in its reservoirs, and our strategic backup supply, groundwater, is rapidly disappearing.” Global warming-driven record heat has made this the worst California drought in 1200 years, as scientists explained in December.
The Earth keeps setting the record for the hottest 12 months in the surface temperature record, as we reported Saturday. NOAA’s global data show we’ve started this year at a record pace — and early indications are that March will be warm globally — so we are on track for what is likely to be the hottest calendar year on record."

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

How ALEC's Latest Actions Are Harming Our Planet

West Virginia Passes Bill Rolling Back Regulations On Chemical Storage Tanks

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/17/3634033/west-virginia-storage-tank-bill-passage/
"The West Virginia legislature has passed a bill that scales back regulations meant to protect state waterways from storage tank spills, a piece of legislation that some worry could leave the state’s water more vulnerable to the kind of spill that contaminated the water of 300,000 state residents last year."

What Will the World Look Like When Humans Go Extinct? | Alternet

What Will the World Look Like When Humans Go Extinct? | Alternet

"The sixth mass extinction is nearly upon us. Species on Earth are dying out at a rate one thousand times greater than they were before humans began altering the environment. By the end of this century, scientists warn, anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the species on Earth could be lost forever.

And among those who might not make it out the other side, says science writer Michael Tennesen, are humans."

San Diego Sues Monsanto for Polluting Bay With Banned Carcinogenic Chemicals

San Diego Sues Monsanto for Polluting Bay With Banned Carcinogenic Chemicals

"San Diego authorities filed a lawsuit on Monday against the agrochemical giant Monsanto, accusing the corporation of polluting the city's Bay with carcinogenic chemicals that are so dangerous to human health they were banned in the U.S. more than 30 years ago."

California drought reaches critical point

Fukushima Radiation Found in Sample of Green Tea from Japan

Fukushima Radiation Found in Sample of Green Tea from Japan

"Four years after the multiple explosions and melt-downs at Fukushima, it seems the scary stories have only just begun to surface."

Monday, March 16, 2015

Near record-breaking number of sea lion pups washing up on California beaches

Near record-breaking number of sea lion pups washing up on California beaches

"Over 1,450 emaciated sea lion pups have washed ashore in California in 2015, sparking concern among conservationists and putting a strain on nearby animal rescue centers. While some sea lions are found on beaches every year, this year, the number is already five times higher than it was in 2013, the worst season in recent history."

Scott Walker Is the Worst Candidate for the Environment

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/03/scott-walker-environment-climate-change-2016
"Koch Industries gave $43,000 to Walker's 2010 election campaign, and just after he took office, the Kochs doubled their lobbying force in Madison. In 2011 and 2012, David Koch and Americans for Prosperity spent $11 million backing Walker's agenda and his successful effort to avoid being recalled."

Koch Industries refuses to comply with US senators' climate investigation

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/13/koch-industries-refuses-senators-climate-investigation
"The Koch brothers’ conglomerate Koch Industries has refused to comply with an investigation by three Senate Democrats into whether the company has funded groups or researchers who deny or cast doubt on climate change."

What Would Happen If Wind Power Got The Same Tax Breaks As The Fossil Fuel Industry

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/13/3632999/wind-can-grow-but-it-probably-wont/
"America could get 10 percent of its power from wind by 2020; 20 percent by 2030; and 35 percent by 2050, the report said."

Fukushima …Yet Another Radioactive Leak!

Four Years Since Fukushima, Calls Grow for Nuclear-Free World

Four Years Since Fukushima, Calls Grow for Nuclear-Free World

"Four years since disaster struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 11, 2011—with nightmare yet to abate—the call for a future beyond nuclear power also continues."

In Republicans’ ‘War On Nature,’ California Gets A Big Win

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/14/3633852/california-gets-major-new-marine-haven/
"Described as the “blue Serengeti” by scientists for their nutrient-rich areas, the sanctuaries support a diverse array of marine life, including 25 endangered or threatened species, 36 marine mammals, and more than a quarter million breeding seabirds, the largest colony of seabirds in the U.S. While the broadening of these wildlife havens had near unanimous local support in the Bay Area, previous attempts in Congress to pass their expansion had failed due to oil and gas industry opposition."

NASA: Earth Tops Hottest 12 Months On Record Again, Thanks To Warm February

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/15/3630404/nasa-hottest-12-months-record/
"There had never been as hot a 12-month period in NASA’s database as February 2014–January 2015. But that turned out to be a very short-lived record.
NASA reported this weekend that last month was the second-hottest February on record, which now makes March 2014–February 2015 the hottest 12 months on record."

The Economic Fallout of the Freeze on Ohio’s Clean Energy Sector

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/report/2015/03/10/108251/the-economic-fallout-of-the-freeze-on-ohios-clean-energy-sector/
"Passed in 2008 with overwhelming bipartisan support, Ohio’s renewable energy and energy-efficiency standards proved unambiguously successful in spurring economic progress in the state. Among their benefits were increased in-state investment and energy development, new jobs for Ohioans, and decreased electricity bills.
Despite broad public support for these standards, the Ohio legislature passed S.B. 310 in May 2014, which froze the state’s ramp-up schedules for renewable energy and energy efficiency. It subsequently passed H.B. 483, which dramatically increased the setback requirements for wind turbines. Gov. John Kasich (R) signed both bills into law in June 2014."

The Quiet Plan To Sell Off America’s National Forests

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/16/3633814/gop-budget-public-lands/
"Despite these concerns — and despite the fact that these proposals are extremely expensive, unpopular, and most importantly, unconstitutional — there is a strong likelihood that Rep. Bishop’s request will be included in the House GOP’s budget, thanks to intensive lobbying efforts by a handful of right wing politicians and special interest groups."

Are California's Starving Sea Lions Latest Victims of Climate Catastrophe?

Are California's Starving Sea Lions Latest Victims of Climate Catastrophe?

"Unusually warm waters off the California coast are causing the highest number of sea lion pup strandings over the past decade, scientists say, raising concerns about the long-term effects of climate change and rising ocean temperatures on the species' survival."

Senator Whitehouse Exposes ALEC Climate Change Denial

Senator Whitehouse Exposes ALEC Climate Change Denial

"Sponsorship opportunities at ALEC conferences, held three times annually, are offered at several different levels. Its “President” level during its annual meeting comes with a $100,000 price tag, which Chevron, BP and Shell have all paid for in the past and its “Chairman” level at $50,000, which ExxonMobil has forked over.

The conferences, which bring together state legislators and corporate lobbyists, include “policy workshops,” that are also paid for by corporations at $40,000 for a session during ALEC’s annual meeting."

The Ugly Truth Behind Chris Christie's Sweetheart Deal with Exxon | Alternet

The Ugly Truth Behind Chris Christie's Sweetheart Deal with Exxon | Alternet

"Last week, Republican Gov. Chris Christie's administration settled New Jersey's long-standing environmental lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp. for pennies on the dollar. For a decade, the state had been seeking $8.9 billion in damages for pollution at two refineries in the northern part of the state, and yet Christie's top officials abruptly proposed closing the case for just $225 million."

How the Media Fails to Explain the Basic Science that Proves Climate Change | Alternet

How the Media Fails to Explain the Basic Science that Proves Climate Change | Alternet

"In the great media universe, it would be great to have at least a few instances of dealing with the science."

California Will Soon Be Home To The Country’s Largest Floating Solar Array

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/12/3633029/floating-solar-in-california/
"Sonoma Clean Power in California’s wine country has announced that it will be building the largest floating solar array in the U.S., a project that’s scheduled to be completed in 2016 and will create enough energy to power 3,000 houses. The array will span six wastewater ponds filled with treated sewage."

Florida Bans The Phrases 'Climate Change' And 'Global Warming'

Saturday, March 14, 2015

California only has one year’s worth of its water supply left, NASA scientist warns

California only has one year’s worth of its water supply left, NASA scientist warns

"Plagued by prolonged drought, California now has only enough water to get it through the next year, according to NASA.

In an op-ed published Thursday by the Los Angeles Times, Jay Famiglietti, a senior water scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, painted a dire picture of the state's water crisis. California, he writes, has lost around 12 million acre-feet of stored water every year since 2011. In the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins, the combined water sources of snow, rivers, reservoirs, soil water and groundwater amounted to a volume that was 34 million acre-feet below normal levels in 2014. And there is no relief in sight."

Report: Solar Will Dominate World Energy Supply in Just 15 Years | Alternet

Report: Solar Will Dominate World Energy Supply in Just 15 Years | Alternet

"Deutsche Bank has produced a 175 page report that will have the Koch bros and their bought and paid for minions as well as every oil, coal and natural gas company weeping in their Chevas Regal or Glenfiddich.

The report suggests that solar generated energy will be the dominant source of energy worldwide within the next 15 years. Not only that, but the solar industry will generate $5 trillion in revenue in that time while displacing fossil fuels."

Take a lesson, climate deniers and Fox News know-nothings

Take a lesson, climate deniers and Fox News know-nothings

"Here's a history of knowledge and science that far too many Tea Partyers need to grapple with now"

At Least Four States Are Pushing Koch-Backed Legislation To Ban Funding EPA’s Climate Rule

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/13/3633452/state-resolutions-ban-epa-climate-rule/
"All four of those groups are active in promoting anti-climate and anti-clean energy policies. AFP and ALEC do so particularly through model legislation, which provides states with templates for bills and resoltuions. ALEC, for example, encourages state legislatures to limit renewable energy, oppose the EPA, and teach climate denial in schools."

Our Rising Oceans: VICE on HBO Season 3 (Episode 1)

40 Corporate Polluters Exposed In Report – Citizens Demand Feds Investigate Koch-Scott-Bush Deal

http://samuel-warde.com/2015/03/40-corporate-polluters-exposed/
"It’s also time for the Department of Justice to listen to the citizens. A petition has been created requesting a federal criminal investigation involving Governor Rick Scott and the board of trustees of Florida’s public lands for allowing Georgia-Pacific to discharge up to 60 million gallons of toxic waste per day into the St. Johns River, smothering the bottom with tons of solids and making the water unfit for humans/animals."

Republicans' new climate strategy: just ban the words 'climate change'

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/11/republican-new-climate-change-strategy-ban-words-climate-change?CMP=ema_565
"Making the science invisible is a much better plan than the current Republican strategy of foregoing all policy decisions by pretending to be too stupid to understand science. Scott already tried the “I’m not a scientist!” excuse anyway, and for his troubles had to entertain a clutch of scientists in Tallahassee trying to explain climate change to him. He gave them a 30-minute limit, spent nearly half of it on chit-chat, stonefaced through the remainder and then bolted.
Claiming that you’re not a scientist trips you up when you do other science-based things with the same tools. For instance: Scott’s environmental policies read like a textbook version of regulatory capture, slashing budgets while staffing agencies with developers and their lawyers. Environmental regulation enforcement dropped by two-thirds while DEP staffers were given bonuses for accelerating permitting for development. Meanwhile, Scott capped environmental penalties for Big Sugar and fought the federal government on clean-water standards"."

Florida Banned Use of ‘Climate Change’ Because Florida is F*cking Stupid

http://thedailybanter.com/2015/03/florida-banned-use-climate-change-florida-fcking-stupid/
"The climate change that is apparently ‘not a true fact’ is in fact, a true fact if you take the almost unanimous scientific consensus seriously. But then what do pesky scientists know about things like actual science? Surely complex climatic patterns and the precise study of atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide should be left to the experts, like former lawyers and billionaire venture capitalists with no formal science training.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Bans Officials From Using the Terms ‘Climate Change’ and ‘Global Warming’

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Bans Officials From Using the Terms ‘Climate Change’ and ‘Global Warming’

"This whole thing reminded me of an incident that happened a couple of years ago when former Texas Governor Rick Perry censored a report on climate change because it didn’t fall in line with the right-wing propaganda that “climate change is a hoax.” Many Republicans are literally ignoring overwhelmingly accepted scientific facts because they don’t support what they want to be real and what these big oil companies are essentially paying them to say."

Florida’s anti-climate crusade is an Orwellian nightmare

Florida’s anti-climate crusade is an Orwellian nightmare

"The extreme, Orwellian nature of the ban certainly struck a nerve. It’s rare, after all, to see climate denial take such a literal form. The news also reveals just how thoroughly Florida’s leader has rejected science — and how far the state is falling behind in preparing for the threats already lapping at its shores."

Climate Change Now Banned in Florida?

Thursday, March 5, 2015

We're Now Destroying the Lungs of our Planet

Fracking Flowback From California Oil Wells Contains High Levels Of Carcinogenic Chemicals | Alternet

Fracking Flowback From California Oil Wells Contains High Levels Of Carcinogenic Chemicals | Alternet

"Adding to the already lengthy list of reasons to be concerned about the disposal of oil industry wastewater in California, the Center for Biological Diversity says it has found dangerous levels of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals such as benzene and toluene in fracking flowback."

Ocean Acidification Threatens Oysters, Clams and Scallops | Alternet

Ocean Acidification Threatens Oysters, Clams and Scallops | Alternet

"As oceans become more acidic, the US shellfish business is facing “high economic risk” in 15 out of 23 coastal states, according to a study published Monday in the Nature Climate Change journal. Massachusetts tops the list of states facing the highest risk, the study concluded."

Christie challenged on ExxonMobil pollution settlement

Everglades To Be Killed This October by Florida's Own Koch Brothers | Alternet

Everglades To Be Killed This October by Florida's Own Koch Brothers | Alternet

"Most Floridians don't even know who they are.  I wish I didn't.  You probably haven't heard of them.

But you are paying them.

TIME magazine has called them the "First Family of Corporate Welfare"

John Ellis Bush (JEB), Rick Scott, and other GOP politicians kowtow to this family like no other.  They were a top donor for W. And they are almost singlehandedly destroying our Everglades.

Welcome to Keeping up with the Fanjul family of Palm Beach.  The Fanjul family is synonymous with the term "Big Sugar" here in Florida.  They control 1/3 of our nation's raw sugar.

This family collects over 60 million a year in Federal subsidies.  As a result, you pay an artificially high price for raw sugar, but of course that's not all.  You not only support their hedonistic lifestyle (such as Casa De Campo, their 7000 acre multimillion resort), horrible labor practices, and right-wing politics: you support the killing of our Everglades National Park."

Canadian Government Orders Old-Fashioned Book Burning Of Scientific Knowledge

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/24/canada-destroys-books/
"When the government of Stephen Harper shut down seven of Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)’s nine research libraries in 2013, it came as a bit of a shock. But rather than digitizing the content, as promised, for approximately 80% of the material, primarily one-off unique research material sources, were destroyed. Landfills, dumpsters, and even old-fashioned book burnings of scientific material, all led by the Harper government’s mandate, a mandate driven by the ideology fed to the Prime Minister from the nameless oligarchs who have given him millions."

New signs of man-made climate change