Lady Liberty Set Free

To quote the folk hero himself, the answer is blowin' in the wind...
LINK

Singing its Praises

Prediction - the sky may be falling, but Eco-conscious music may become a whole genre. Aside from Joni Mitchell's "You don't know what you've got til it's gone. They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot" lyrics from the 70's, REM's the fall and a nod to U-2 for being the watchdogs of earth, I was hard pressed to think of other mainstream musicians who sing with earth's plight on their mind. Gristmill thread provides a handful of songs and lyrics for what could become the seeds of something loud and popular
LINK

Spring Forward

The 36th Annual Celebration of Earth Day is April 22...for a green-wash free experience -- take a hike, ride a bike, go for a swim, kayak, get back to nature.
For trail tips
LINK


Or see what all the stink is about
renewable energy
LINK
sick of or from fast food
LINK
rock your world
LINK
natural foods
LINK
industrial pollution?
LINK
or get the big picture at earthday.com
LINK

Moth Talk

There's more to moths than one might initially think. My family has held discussions, much like a Charlie Rose PBS roundtable, about moths that my wife has derisedly called, Moth Talk. With spring in the air, as well as these fluttering curiosities, a focus on the differences between moths and butterflies seems timely.
LINK
From a site that has close to 600 pix of butterflies, here's a closeup of one of my personal faves, the elusive Pipevine Swallowtail
LINK
Not to be outshined by the ever popular Royal Walnut Moth
LINK

Mr Pitt Does PBS

Living smart, eco-consciously, and with an eye on the bottom line, that's what this important, new tv series is about. Tune in -- when Brad talks, people listen.
Here's a taste
LINK

Global Warming is Hot

This is such a hot topic, it's almost bizarre. Time's cover story and Al Gore's film, yadayadayada...puleeeeeze...where has everybody been? If you want to figure out what you can do, here's the Environmental Defense Fund's site, dedicated to the fight against global warming.
LINK

Polar Ice Melt = Rising Tide

Scientists speculate that a 4 degree temperature rise in the next 100 to 150 years may result in melting ice caps that could raise sea level one to three feet, Medium Melt, and another, more dampening study, Big Melt, shows posssible rises of 20 feet or more, a prediction which would make my 4th floor apartment waterfront.
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Solar Industry Tries to Cut Costs

One of the biggest obstacles to more prevalent use of solar energy is cost per kilowatt. The solar industry is looking for solutions.
Solar on the Cheap
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Rain Forest and Poverty

The on-going struggle to preserve the remaining Amazon rainforest is the ulimate battle between economice interest and environmental preservation. The U.S. fights many of the same battles on a far different scale and with a better won/lost record. We have our Federal, State and local environmental guidelines which, though constantly under attack from those interests looking for quick economic benefit over long term environmental safety, help keep things in check. Even here economics dictate that the environment will lose some of those battles right here in the old US of A, to logging , local eminent domain seizures and "practical" emissions and water quality variances, but many will be won also. In the Amazon the rush to destroy and the forces that drive it are much more powerful and have deep ties to government. Abject and widespread poverty provide fertile ground for curruption and environmental destruction just as much of the USA's natural beauty was destroyed in the 19th century with economic and population expansion. It's very hard for outside countries and organizations to slow or control the consumption and avarice of countries in the process of tremendous growth. I fear we will lose more of those battles in the Amazon than we will win, at least in the short term.
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Smog Bad for Sperm

I know I felt less than amorous wandering around NYC on a hot, smoggy, July night, sweat dripping down my forhead, blurring my vision as I stumbled into the path of an oncoming 1-800 Mattress Truck....now I know why.
Reuters Link
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Dirtiest Air on the Coasts

Now let me figure this out....California and NY have the most polluted air and highest risk of skin cancer.
Red state Republicans oppose controls on greenhouse gas emissions (can you say - midwestern coal burning power plants?), Red State Republicans live in red states. I live in NYC. Break out the tanning butter!
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GM to Build More Giant SUV's

In yet another masterful ploy by a floundering American industrial giant, General Motors has embarked on a plan to increase the production of full-size SUV's while cutting production of smaller ones as people switch to more fuel efficient vehicles. This brilliant and strategic move proves once again that GM has it's finger on the pulse of the American consumer, the same marketplace savvy that led to a 10 billion dollar loss in 2005.
Fill'er up.
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Global Warming Slow Down Proposed

California Senator Diane Feinstein is the latest Democratic politician to make a proposal to address global warming. The language of her bill echos that of theorists who have been searching for ways to cut greenhouse gas releases while still addressing the economic realities of the task. Primary opposition to reducing the production of greenhouse gas always comes down to economics.
Rival forces in the discussion of this issue will pit Conservative (Republicans-with the exception being John McCain) against Liberal (Democrats-many), treehuggers against blind-eyed red-state realists. The answer lies somewhere in between the Bush view (nature's cycle), that this is just one of natures little climate cycles and Greenpeace, which would like to switch to alternative energy sources yesterday. The answer for America will probably require more than a change in the man at the top and a Democratic congress. The ball will only start rolling slowly, given that even politicians that recognize the problem are still only politicians, this may take some time...time we may not have.
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Ski Resorts Go Green To Survive

A logical effect of global warming is the melting of things frozen, glaciers, ice caps, snow...mountains of snow...Link
So slap on the Rossi's and get out there while you can!
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Plant Enzyme Could Fight Global Warming

I hope this isn't like having liposuction while continuing to eat like a pig...
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Source: Emory University Health Sciences Center

Increasing Plant Enzyme Efficiency May Hold Key To Global Warming

Global warming just may have met its match. In research recently completed at Emory University School of Medicine, scientists have discovered a mutant enzyme that could enable plants to use and convert carbon dioxide more quickly, effectively removing more greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.
CONTINUED

African Malaria Outbreak

Reasearch suggests that a small rise in temperature may be contributing to the spread of malaria in the African highlands...Continued
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Greenish Art From Japan

Check this animation out. Link
You can add your own rings by clicking on the image...cool.
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Humans Cause Worst Extinction Pattern Since Dinosaurs

I know we kinda knew this already but it's nice to see the U.N. quantify things, "worst in 65 million years", sorta has a ring to it.
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Hummer

Seems a bunch of indie rock bands have taken an anti-Modby/Sting stand by turning down lucrative deals to sell the rights to their tunes for use in a Hummer commercial. Bands and performers have historically amped up sales and exposure of their music (brand) by selling rights to songs for use in big ugly commercials. Looks like the "sellout" trend has created a "green" ethical backlash...check the article out
LINK
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Water Crisis

We in America take our clean drinking water for granted, but to 1.1 billion people worldwide it can be a life and death struggle to acquire enough clean H2O each day to survive. Link
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Environmental Hazard...Kids

Kids are so plugged in today that I beleive they are not fulfilling their traditional roles in modern-day society. They are too busy playing video games and constantly IMing each other to provide cheap labor, play sports with dad, or present the traditional, time killing, disciplinary challenge that parents need. Let's go to the Link.
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Tropical Cyclone Hits Australia

A tropical cyclone with winds approaching 180 mph has hit northern Australia. Link
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Warmer Oceans May = More Hurricanes

Statistical analysis seems to indicate that as ocean surface temperatures rise so does the frequency of hurricanes. Is the rise in ocean surface temps directly attributable to global warming, or as skeptics prostelitize, is it just another natural cycle?
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Distilled Water Hmmmm......

Just went to the store and bought a bunch of organic produce etc., then made a stop to pick up a couple of gallons of distilled H2O which got me thinking. A while back some well meaning rural American mentioned to someone (I was lurking nearby) that distilled water removes natural minerals and vitamins from you body and is thus harmful to consume. Now I considered the source of this information and filed it away in my "could be misinformation" file, but requiring future examination. So today I've begun some research to look into the issue and I have come up with some more substantiated info. Seems that it does leach some minerals but they are stuff that cells and the body has already rejected. To be continued...
Off to hydrate,
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Maple Syrup Meets Science

I would love to be an official taster in this University of Vermont maple syrup analysis program. Let the tasting begin!
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China Adds Metallic Shine to Recycling

China is booming. And as with any industrial boom there is an urgent need for raw materials, in this case, metals...Story.
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Powerful Cyclone Threatens Australia

Tropical cyclone Larry bears down on northeastern Australia...more.
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Mars Rover Crisis

A balky right front wheel endangers Mars Rover link.
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Court Blocks EPA

Appeals panel: White House-backed change violates the Clean Air Act MORE.
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Ivory-Billed WoodPecker

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker controversy is more about tourism than bird watching, ornithology or the existence of a very large, formerly extinct, woodpecker. Just checkout this quote from the good Governor of Arkansas, "Some of the world's leading ornithologists have verified through sight and sound the existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker," Huckabee said. "The fact that these skeptics can't find it says more about their bird-hunting ability than the accuracy of the experts' opinions." I believe the Gov should have avoided using the phrase "bird-hunting ability" in this context unless he intends to invite Vice President Dick Cheney over for some "bird watching". Let's keep those bird loving freaks coming back to the swamp and spending their high-flying dollars "Looking for Ivory".

Mercedes Adds New Model to Gas Guzzler Hall of Infamy

The 2007 Mercedes Benz GL is the latest addition to the full-size, tricked-out, sport utility universe. Presumably the GL is marketed to consumers who have been weened on the Cadillac Esclade and need the little extra status a 15 mpg German built gas guzzler can provide...link.
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Environmental Elites Hurt Minorities

I recently stumbled onto this provocative take on the relationship between environmental groups and minorities. The source is the National Leadership Network of Conservative African-Americans, a distinct minority in itself, but they make some interesting points link.
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Green Beer

Some breweries are taking a fresh look at the definition of "green" beer link.
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Have a beer on me...color optional.
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Satellite Imaging Moves to the Next Level

Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth are just the first wave in satellite imaging advancement link.
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Move to Stop Drilling in Alaskan Refuge

Senate Democrats will try to remove oil drilling in the Alaskan Arctic Wildlife Refuge provisions from massive budget bill link .
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Bush Picks Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior

The Bush administration makes all the right noises about the environment but then does the exact opposite link .
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G8: use of nuclear power "inevitable"

The answer from Moscow came quickly.
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MOSCOW. March 16 (Interfax) - The meeting of energy ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized countries (G8) in Moscow on Thursday "came to the conclusion that the nuclear power industry is an inevitable prospect for some leading economies," Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said.

The meeting paid special attention to "the role of the nuclear power industry in the future of the world's energy balance," Khristenko told a briefing.

White House Proposes Lifting Wolf Protections

Thirty-eight hundred wolves in an area comprising nine states does not constitute a stable population.
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Wolf Protection

Corn Oil as Fuel (audio link)

A cleaner approach for the conversion of corn oil to fuel may provide an energy alternative, check out this radio story...
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Eco Friendly Fuel

California moves to protect marine ecosystem

Environmentalists and fishermen collaborated on a state panel that has proposed creating a chain of marine-protected areas along the California coast.
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Calif. Marine Protection

Canadian Seal Hunt

I guess it's that time of year again...
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Humane Seal Hunt

Russians Explore Lost World

Looks like the cold war still runs deep...
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Lake Vostok

Global Warming Gives God Sunburn

Looks like an interesting battle evolving over interpretation of the scriptures, science, politics and the treatment of God's Green Earth. Maybe G.W. will reconsider that Kyoto agreement after all...
Global Warming Hurts God

On a related note, Looks like the ice caps are melting right under our gas-guzzling noses. I think I can see the East River rising as I write...
Global Warming
Anyone say houseboat...
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Hybrids Heat Up

Couple of stories on BMW and Honda developing new hybrids. You know when they start making hybrid Bimmers that a trend is growing...when we see the hybrid Hummer we know the end is near...
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Cheap Honda Hybrid
BMW Hydrogen Car

Endangered Species Act Endangered

Nearly 6000 of the U.S.'s most influential biologists have signed on to a letter to Congress asking that the protections of the Endangered Species Act be preserved, as House Republican legislation moves to undermine the Act and pave the way for development.
Check out the Emagazine story below.
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Endangered Species Act