Wednesday, January 7, 2015

President Obama will veto Keystone

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Kochs and Walmart Clan Wage Dirty War to Stop You From Putting Solar Panels on Your Home | Alternet

Kochs and Walmart Clan Wage Dirty War to Stop You From Putting Solar Panels on Your Home | Alternet

"ALEC, which has long been an opponent of renewable energy and the Obama administration’s effort to reduce carbon emissions, is working with conservative activists and corporate interests to fight homeowners who are installing solar panels on their roofs."

Sunday, January 4, 2015

'Do-Nothing' Republicans refuse to act on climate change

Why Cutting the Rainforests Will Be a Bigger Disaster

The 11 Dumbest Things Conservative Media Said About Climate Change in 2014

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/12/30/the-11-dumbest-things-conservative-media-said-a/201964
"Yet despite the fact that more Americans than ever support action on climate change, conservative media went to ridiculous lengths to cast doubt on the scientific consensus behind global warming, citing everything from free market economics to witchcraft, touting conspiracy theories and predictions of an "ice age," and even fulfilling Godwin's law."

Fox host: We don’t need smog rules because ‘whatever happened with acid rain?’ (Spoiler: Laws worked)

Fox host: We don’t need smog rules because ‘whatever happened with acid rain?’ (Spoiler: Laws worked)

"the reason Morris can’t remember “whatever happened to acid rain” is because regulations worked.

Beginning in 1980, Congress began passing laws like the Acid Deposition Act, President George H. W. Bush amended the Clean Air Act during his term, and the EPA issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) under President George W. Bush.

More than 20 years after the government began regulating acid rain, the EPA estimated that 2009 sulfur dioxide levels were cut to about one-third of what they were in 1990. But the EPA has also said that further reductions are still needed to recover from the effects of acid rain."

How Fox News Covered Pope Francis' Action On Climate Change

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/02/how-fox-news-covered-pope-francis-action-on-cli/201994
"acting on climate change already has widespread support among Catholics. The pope's move comes after senior bishops from around the globe called on the world's governments to phase out fossil fuels completely"

The Koch Brothers Launch A Surrogate War Against Pope Francis

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/02/koch-brothers-surrogate-war-pope-francis.html
"The Cornwall Alliance was quick to lash out at the Pope this week when he announced he would be issuing a “rare encyclical on the environment and climate change” early this year, as well as convene a summit of the world’s religious leaders to address climate change. Pope Francis will also address the United Nations General Assembly with a view toward influencing the upcoming U.N. meeting on climate change in Paris this year.
The Pope’s announcement drew a harsh rebuke from the religious right’s Cornwall Alliance, whose spokesman, Calvin Beisner, said that regardless of his position as Pope, or intent to help mankind, “Francis will be opposed by the powerful US evangelical movement.” The Koch-funded “Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation” had previously issued a biblical declaration labeling the American environmental movement a dirty false religion and “unbiblical.” There is nothing whatsoever in any version of the Christian bible that refers to the American environmental movement as a religion, false or otherwise, or contrary to biblical principles. But American evangelicals cannot be expected to know the contents of an alleged holy book they refuse to read much less follow."

Radical Right Are Losing Their Sh** Over Pope’s Encyclical On Climate Change (TWEETS)

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/12/30/radical-right-are-losing-their-sht-over-popes-encyclical-on-climate-change-tweets/
"In 2015, Pope Francis will publish an encyclical on climate change. An encyclical is a rarely issued edict addressing matters the Pope deems serious. The Pontiff will urge all 1.2 billion Catholics, on both moral and scientific grounds, to take action on climate change."

The Pope Thinks Climate Change Is a Major Threat. So Do American Catholics.

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/pope-francis-climate-change
"The pope's climate plans follow a call by prominent Catholic bishops to end the use of fossil fuels and secure a global agreement to fight climate change."

This Is Why It’s Time to Abandon Nuclear Power

Saturday, January 3, 2015

13 Species We Might Have To Say Goodbye To In 2015

13 Species We Might Have To Say Goodbye To In 2015

"In fact, the world is losing dozens of species every day in what experts are calling the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history. As many as 30 to 50 percent of all species are moving toward extinction by mid-century — and the blame sits squarely on our shoulders."

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

New Jersey Poised to Pass Legislation That Would Speed Water Privatization

New Jersey Poised to Pass Legislation That Would Speed Water Privatization

"The Herald reports that sales of municipal water systems to private entities would be fast-tracked because the bill would eliminate "a mandatory public vote on such deals and reduc[e] oversight of the sale price by the state Board of Public Utilities"."

Republicans still deny climate change

This Is the Stupidest Anti-Science Bull**** of 2014

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/worst-science-denial-2014
"2014 had its fair share of landmark scientific accomplishments: dramatic cuts to the cost of sequencing a genome; sweeping investigations of climate change impacts in the US; advances in private-sector space travel, and plenty more. But there was also no shortage of high-profile figures eager to publicly and shamelessly denounce well-established science—sometimes with serious consequences for public policy."

The Republicans' greatest hoax?

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

FBI Files Charges Against President Of Company Behind West Virginia Chemical Spill

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/12/09/3601157/gary-southern-arrested-west-virginia-freedom-industries/
"The former president of the company that contaminated drinking water for 300,000 West Virginians this past January has been arrested on criminal fraud charges, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation complaint unsealed Monday.
Former Freedom Industries president Gary Southern was charged with bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud, and lying under oath during the company’s bankruptcy proceedings following the massive spill — a 10,000 gallon dump of a coal-cleaning chemical called crude MCHM into the Elk River. FBI Special Agent James F. Lafferty said in a sworn affidavit that Southern, in an attempt to protect his personal fortune of nearly $8 million and shield himself from lawsuits, developed a scheme to distance himself from the company and “deflect blame” to other parties."

Friday, December 5, 2014

These Newspapers Are Helping The Oil Industry's Campaign Against Wind Energy

http://mediamatters.org/research/2014/12/02/these-newspapers-are-helping-the-oil-industrys/201743
"Newspapers across the country have been publishing misleading op-eds attacking the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy without disclosing the authors' oil-industry funding. The op-eds, which attack the wind energy policy as "corporate welfare" and "government handouts," ignore the fact that the oil and gas industry currently receives far greater government subsidies and that the PTC brings great economic benefits."

Monday, November 24, 2014

3 Republican Lies About Keystone XL

http://samuel-warde.com/2014/11/3-republican-lies-keystone-xl/
"No matter who you are, no matter what your political persuasion, it is important that you understand the ramifications of the Keystone XL. It will not produce any lasting jobs. It will not make us more energy independent. It will not lower fuel prices. It will put our environment, our economy and our security at risk."

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Here are Some Facts About the Keystone XL Pipeline Republicans Really Don’t Want Americans to See

Here are Some Facts About the Keystone XL Pipeline Republicans Really Don’t Want Americans to See

"when all is said and done, the Keystone XL pipeline will only sustain about 50 full-time jobs. That’s it. And let’s just look at a glaring reality that millions of Americans seem to not understand: This is not American oil nor is the Keystone XL an American pipeline. This pipeline will take Canadian oil down to the Gulf of Mexico to be shipped out and sold on the global market at whatever price oil is going for at that particular time.

Let me reiterate this again: The Keystone XL pipeline has nothing to do with American oil, helping America’s energy independence or anything at all to do with anything remotely related to the United States as it relates to satisfying our energy needs and demands. This is a pipeline that will cut straight through the heart of the United States so that TransCanada can sell their oil at the going global market rate… with most of it probably ending up in China. And what will the United States ultimately end up with? About 50 jobs and a massive pipeline over 1,000 miles long that will almost assuredly be responsible for some kind of catastrophic oil spill sometime in the future."

Friday, November 14, 2014

GOPers Wrong Again: Solyndra-Type Loans Made Billions

GOPers Wrong Again: Solyndra-Type Loans Made Billions

"The much-maligned government program that funded the failed solar tech company Solyndra is expected to make taxpayers a $5 to $6 billion return, Bloomberg Businessweek reported on Wednesday.The loan program is run out of the Department of Energy (DOE), and covers a large umbrella of investments to encourage green energy and low-carbon technologies.

According to Businessweek, the expected positive returns on those investments are detailed in a new report DOE will be releasing, perhaps as early as Thursday, on the loan program’s performance — the first such estimate the agency has made of the fruits of its efforts."

CEO of Coal Mine Where 29 Workers Died Is Indicted

http://www.alternet.org/ceo-coal-mine-where-29-workers-died-indicted
"Don Blankenship, the CEO of the Massey Energy coal mine that exploded and killed 29 workers in 2010 has been indicted on charges that he conspired to violate federal mine safety and health standards.
The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in Charleston, West Virginia, says that Blankenship hid safety violations at the West Virginia mine between January 2008 and April 2010, when the disaster took place. The suppressing of the safety violations impeded a federal mine safety investigation following the blast, the indictment alleges.
Blankenship can face 31 years in prison if convicted."

Thanks To ALEC, Arizona To Roll Back Efficiency Standards

Thanks To ALEC, Arizona To Roll Back Efficiency Standards

"The Koch brothers strike again! Model legislation written by ALEC is calling a halt to the remarkable progress in energy efficiency made by the state of Arizona and replacing it with "free market principles" -- i.e. Kochs buying legislators in order to increase their personal fortunes."

Republican Admits She Doesn’t Care About Democracy, Plans to Ignore Fracking Ban Approved by Voters

Republican Admits She Doesn’t Care About Democracy, Plans to Ignore Fracking Ban Approved by Voters

"the Republican love for big government is now playing out in Denton, Texas where citizens recently voted 59-41 percent to ban fracking, yet Texas Railroad Commission Chairwoman Christi Craddick (a Republican) has pretty much said she doesn’t care what voters want, she’s going to continue to issue permits for fracking anyway."

Finally a Member of the Oligarchy Is Indicted for Culpability in Worker Deaths: 29 Coal Miners Killed

http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/finally-a-member-of-the-oligarchy-is-indicted-for-culpability-in-the-death-of-workers-29-coal-miners-killed
"Blankenship is a nasty piece of work, even in the pitiless exploitative business of coal mining, but his outlook on profits before lives is not uncommon in the extraction industry and in corporations in general."

Massey Energy CEO Indicted In Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster

Massey Energy CEO Indicted In Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster

"Don Blankenship, the longtime chief executive of Massey Energy, was indicted today on charges that he violated federal mine safety laws at the company’s Upper Big Branch Mine prior to an April 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners."

Deadly mine explosion leads to indictment of Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Fox News Host Embarrassed After Blatant Lie About Keystone XL Pipeline Gets Debunked

Fox News Host Embarrassed After Blatant Lie About Keystone XL Pipeline Gets Debunked

"The reality of the Keystone XL pipeline and job creation is that when all is said and done, it’ll create somewhere between 35-50 permanent jobs. Yeah, that’s the “big job creator” Republicans have been harping on about for years. Heck, you could create more permanent jobs than that by just opening one Applebees. As we all know, this isn’t about creating jobs, it’s about the GOP kissing up to big oil just like they always do. But being that Republicans are masters at propaganda, they’ve somehow convinced tens of millions of conservatives that Canadian oil will help America become more energy independent and a single pipeline will somehow magically create tens of thousands of jobs – even though the reason why oil companies build these pipelines is because they don’t require many people to operate them. It’s a good thing for Republicans that conservatives are often so gullible, because it takes a truly naive person to believe the total nonsense they’ve been pushing about this pipeline these last few years."

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Texas Oil Regulator Says It Will Not Honor Town’s Vote To Ban Fracking

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/11/10/3590690/texas-fracking-ban-denton/
"On Tuesday, the town of Denton, Texas, voted by a wide margin to ban fracking within the city limits. Two days later, the chairwoman of Texas’ oil and gas regulator said she would not honor the ban."

Koch Party Wins Big, Planet in Peril

Koch Party Wins Big, Planet in Peril

"The Koch's Americans for Prosperity, a nonprofit dark money group that does not disclose its donors, is reported to have spent some $77 million on competitive Senate and House races, says a spokesman. The Koch's new Freedom Partners Action Fund, a super PAC that discloses some of its donors, spent some $25 million. Not all Koch candidates won their races, but the Koch were ranked big winners in the Sunlight Foundations post-election "return on investment" analysis.

This $100 million does not count all the Koch-tied groups, their personal contributions or all contributions of the Koch network of funders which may top the $300 million Washington Post estimate. As a point of comparison, the DNC and the RNC combined spent $300 million this election cycle."

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Mitch McConnell feels a “deep responsibility” to block climate action

Mitch McConnell feels a “deep responsibility” to block climate action

"Mitch McConnell is drawing his battle lines, and as feared, it’s bad news for the planet."

Here Comes the Sun: America's Solar Boom, in Charts

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/11/solar-energy-power-boom-charts
"Last week, an energy analyst at Deutsche Bank came to a startling conclusion: By 2016, solar power will be as cheap or cheaper than electricity from the conventional grid in every state except three. That's without any changes to existing policy."

Saturday, November 8, 2014

The top Republican climate change denier just got a whole lot more powerful

GOP’s frightening plan to melt the planet: Koch $, burning fossil fuel, and junk science

GOP’s frightening plan to melt the planet: Koch $, burning fossil fuel, and junk science

"The voters in Tuesday’s election were – as midterm races usually are — comparatively old, with 37% of voters older than 60, according to an NBC exit poll. Those voters won’t be around when the full effect of the policies the Republicans are about to implement will be felt.

But make no mistake. This Republican congressional majority will kill our planet."

The MidTerms Were all About the Keystone Pipeline

The Koch brothers’ underhanded attack on wind energy

The Koch brothers’ underhanded attack on wind energy

"Well that took absolutely no time at all. A coalition of conservative groups lead by the Koch-affiliated American Energy Alliance (and including the Koch-affiliated Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-affiliated Competitive Enterprise Institute, among others) are showing up in force against renewable energy, urging congressional Republicans to allow a key wind energy tax credit to expire."

Americans Are Voting For Fracking Bans Because They Don’t Trust The Oil And Gas Industry

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/11/05/3589429/fracking-bans-trust-oil-industry/
"In California, Ohio, and Texas, citizens in four localities voted to ban hydraulic fracturing and other activities associated with unconventional oil and gas drilling, challenging the balance of power between state officials in charge of regulating drilling and local communities concerned about the potential risks. The bans in California and Texas, in particular, could have ripple effects in neighboring counties and portend future battles between localities skeptical of oil and gas drilling and state governments that support new development."

Election Divides GOP On Whether To Seize And Sell America’s Public Lands

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/11/07/3590195/election-divides-gop-public-lands/
"In the run-up to Tuesday’s elections, each week seemed to bring a new Republican candidate for federal and state office advocating for America’s national forests, wildlife areas and other public lands to be seized by the states or auctioned off to the highest bidder. Even the Republican National Committee (RNC) passed a resolution endorsing these extreme proposals earlier this year."

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Payback: A First Look at the Fossil-Fuel and Anti-Environment Agenda of the Next Congress

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2014/11/05/100549/payback-a-first-look-at-the-fossil-fuel-and-anti-environment-agenda-of-the-next-congress/
"the new Republican-led Congress is expected to aggressively pursue a number of other individual special-interest giveaways. With control of both chambers, Republican leaders will likely push, for example, to mandate the construction of a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, which taxpayer advocates say is a massive waste of government money; clear the way for the Resolution Copper mine in Arizona and the Pebble Mine in Alaska; and allow logging of old growth forest in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska."

This man is about to become one of America’s most powerful climate villains

This man is about to become one of America’s most powerful climate villains

"Be afraid: James Inhofe, one of the Senate's most fervent climate deniers, is set to lead its environment committee"

Anti-Science Republicans To Run The Science Committee & Even Grimmer Results

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Direct Democracy Tackles Fracking, GMOs, Pesticides on Election Day

Direct Democracy Tackles Fracking, GMOs, Pesticides on Election Day

"Voters in cities and states across the United States will vote on a number of ballot propositions affecting the environment on Tuesday, November 4."

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

How Cheap Wind Energy Threatens To Upend The Kansas Governor’s Race And Upset The Koch Brothers

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/10/27/3582322/kansas-wind-governors-race-koch/
"Kansas is not only home to plentiful wind resources, it is also home to the ultraconservative Kochs, whose affiliated groups have spearheaded many of the attacks on clean energy across the country."

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Obama Launches Solar Energy Job Program For 50,000 Veterans

http://samuel-warde.com/2014/10/obama-launches-solar-energy-program/
"Cue the howling from the right. They won’t take this lying down. You can expect to see a lot of Koch funded ads spreading the lie that renewable energy will be the death knell for our economy. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the truth is that the age of fossil fuels is on the way out and the age of renewable, sustainable energy is on the way in. It’s get on board or get out of the way because this train ain’t stopping for the Koch brothers and their paid minions."

Politico & BP Blatantly Conspire To Hide BP's Devastating Oil Spill

Friday, October 17, 2014

Monsanto Spends Millions in Bid to Defeat Local GMO Labeling Initiative

Monsanto Spends Millions in Bid to Defeat Local GMO Labeling Initiative

"Monsanto, the largest genetically-modified seed corporation in the world, has so far spent over $4 million in a bid to crush an Oregon initiative, up for vote in November, to mandate the labeling of genetically engineered food."

Purchase of Election by Chevron Shows We Have 'Oligarchy, Not Democracy': Sanders

Purchase of Election by Chevron Shows We Have 'Oligarchy, Not Democracy': Sanders

"The Independent U.S. Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders was in the city of Richmond, California on Thursday and said local elections in the city have become prime examples of how U.S. politics, at all levels, have become corrupted by the unlimited amount of money wealthy corporations and individuals can spend on campaigns."