Blub, blub, wimper…
If you have any Polar Bear friends, better give them a hug, quick. Despite what many would say is overwhelming evidence that global warming poses a threat to the animal’s habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service says it needs more time to study the issue before granting endangered species status, according to Nature. What […]
$2500 ‘people’s car’
Intended for India’s market, the Tata ‘people’s car’ will likely be the first car for many in India’s emerging middle class. The car’s 600cc engine will sip fuel relative to Western SUVs and other cars, but vast numbers of these vehicles will create demand for oil that will push prices and political wrangling over […]
A case of black & white
Listening to the morning news (while doing my ‘hard Heidi’ exercises), I note how upbeat evacuees are about the services available to them at Qualcomm Park - water, blankets, diapers, hot breakfast et al.
I can’t help but compare this experience to that of the Katrina victims in New Orleans 2 years ago. Two major disasters, […]
News from Africa
The Most Rev. Njongonkula Ndungane, the Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of Southern Africa was the featured speaker at a Town Hall meeting at Trinity Episcopal Church (our parish) last night. We felt honored that we were one of four Bay Area parishes that Bishop Ndungane chose to visit.
Archbishop Ndungane is most disinterested in […]
‘The Gore Derangement Syndrome’
An amusing - and correct, IMHO - take on the right wing’s attempt to smear Al Gore while simultaneously elevating GW Bush. For all their efforts, Gore seems to be able to rise above the crud…
Venter creates ‘first new artificial life form on Earth’
Described as a “chassis on which you could build almost anything. It could be a contribution to humanity such as new drugs or a huge threat to humanity such as bio-weapons,” an announcement describing Venter’s new work could come as soon as Monday according to the Guardian. Ruh, roh…
New law requires Pentagon to plan for climate change
From GovernmentExecutive.com:
“The Defense authorization bill approved by the Senate this week would require the Pentagon to consider the effects of climate change on military capabilities, facilities and missions.
“The House version of the bill (H.R. 1585) contains similar language, which means the provision likely will become law.
“The measure requires military planners to assess the risks of […]
Climate change a more serious threat than religious fundamentalism
A telephone survey of more than 1,000 people released today showed that 40 percent of Australians thought that global warming was a greater threat to security than Islamic fundamentalism. Only 20 percent thought it was less serious.
“It is very interesting to see how climate change has moved from the environmental field to the security sphere,†[…]
Climate change triggers bloodshed
Discover Magazine Newsletter links to this article about a study conducted by Hong Kong University Earth scientist David Zhang and colleagues. Zhang’s study of more than 900 years of conflict in eastern China has tested the hypothesis that cold spells fuel the social instability that leads to war.
They consulted a multivolume compendium, The Tabulation of […]
Water and Ethanol
The front page of The New York Times has an AFP photo that sums up an intersection of issues and technologies that are going to drive the world’s affairs in the months and years to come, IMHO.
The photo shows Somalis, displaced by fighting that is in part caused by the migration of populations displaced […]