EPA Questions the EPA

Lobbyists and special interest groups lead by the agri-business and pesticides companies are pressuring the EPA to approve the use of dangerous chemicals. EPA scientists and union reps are questioning the decisions...
Just another case of special interests running the show in Washington, even after the Jack Abramoff fiasco. Business always trumps the environment in Bush country.
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Protesters Call for Hurricane Center Director to Resign

If you've done any research, had your home damaged or destroyed, or taken a look at Al Gore's primer on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth", you probably see a connection between global warming and stronger, more frequent, tropical storms. Well it appears that some other people/groups have come to the same conclusion and would like some heads to roll. STORY

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Poison Ivy

We have finally uncovered the issue that will motivate America to stop burning fossil fuels...no not Al Gore's documentary, the real danger is that incidious fiend poison ivy. Increased production of CO2 in the atmosphere creates a more potent, itch inducing strain of poison ivy. I'm off to research poison oak, maybe there's a film here...
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Happy Memorial Day

Shout out to all the veterans out there. Planted a new rock garden, fed my fish and spread some Melorganite around as we reflected on our dads who served their country well!

Have a great memorial day!
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Sea Squirt Invasion

Another invasive foreigner has invaded our nation from the sea. The sea squirt is decribed as having no redeeming social or ecological value (I'm sure you have relatives that fit this description). The ugly "squirt" has been discovered in coastal waters off NY.
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An Inconvenient Truth

Caught a showing of "An Inconvenient Truth" this afternoon (audience was a combo of young and blue hairs) in NYC. Pretty effective presentation of the facts which hopefully, much of America will see. The movie appears to be in widespread release in June across much of the nation. Will it have an impact? Probably on an incremental scale. It's pleasantly shocking that it would get any theatrical release at all. A quick glance at the list of venues shows California and NY having the most screens (natch), 8 states with no showings at all (includes deep south like Mississippi and Alabama both bastions of scientific thought). All in all a nice film by Mr. Gore and not the borefest one might intitially anticipate. Al weaves in enough of his background and life story to give the whole schmear a nice context and emotional foundation. For a green film I give it 4 stars, as a documentary I would call it an eminently watchable 3.5.

For more check-out www.climatecrisis.net
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Check-out The Vegan Diet

We usually deal with more "big picture" green issues here at the "Gas" but our diet can often affect our view of things. With that in mind, check-out a great vegetarian diet blog, The Vegan Diet. Your metabolism will thank you.
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Al Gore

"An Inconvenient Truth" opens today and I'm going to check it out. Could the movie's release be the first wave of the "Gore for President" movement? We all know Gore's weaknesses as a public figure -- he's a stiff, programmed speaker, etc. But he is one of the only politicians on either side of the aisle to have a firm grasp on environmental issues (though he dropped the ball in the glare of the presidential campaign) and he's actually acting on his beliefs. Al may be relaxed and connecting with the public only because he's not running for office and his inbred political affinity for compromise and traditional political dishonesty are in his mind, not needed. We'll see. Fortunately, he puts forth a position on global warming and the environment that the American public needs to hear. So regardless of his political ambitions, I wish him well.
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Bush Gathers Info

George Bush doesn't plan on seeing "An Inconvenient Truth", Al Gore's global warming doc. Big surprise. Bush continues to gather global warming intelligence with the same precision in which he uncovered weapons of mass distruction dotting the Iraqui landscape. The "Decider" has decided that global warming is a non-issue. Bush has made noises about "alternative fuel sources" -- solely due to rising prices at the gas pump, and not any new-found awareness of the environmental imperitives facing the world. Unfortunately, if the oil companies and Arab oil producers wise-up and lower their artificially high prices at the pump, Americans will be once again lulled into a restful sleep in the backseats of their giant SUV's.
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Y2Y

Population growth, tourism and vehicular access all have negatively impacted wildlife populations and habitat. Y2Y is an organization that is endeavoring to maintain and restore the Yukon, Yellowstone corridor as a vibrant ecosystem, check out their website. www.y2y.net/

Low Carb Lifestyle

Carbon emissions greatly impact the quality of our lives. Take the carb-cutting challenge at coopamerica.org and learn how to reduce your carbon emissions -- to help reduce the environmental, health, economic, and security risks caused by the dependence on fossil fuels to power our country. For tips on transitioning to renewable sources of power like solar and wind, click here.

American Chestnut Tree

My late dad had a fascination with the American Chestnut tree. The chestnut once comprised 40% of the hardwood forest on the east coast of the U.S. and was a great source of food and hardwood for man and beast alike. The tree began disappearing from my dad's native Massachusett's forest in his boyhood in the 1920's. Years later,when we finally got a house in a wooded area, he would walk the woods in search of any remaining vestiges of the great trees. Occasionally we would discover a young tree only to watch it fall victim to the blight after only a few years. Looks like they may have found a stand in Georgia that has resisted the blight...Here's a link to The American Chestnut Foundation, and yes, that's a Chestnut tree in the photo at right.
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Ozone Hole May Disappear...

It's nice to post something positive on the environment once in a while. Some Japanese scientists have computed that the Antartic Ozone hole may close by 2050...

Greenpeace, KFC and the Amazon

I don't always agree with Greenpeace's methods but they do take action and in the case of the deforestation of the Amazon, action is indeed necessary. It appears some major fast food purveyors in the U.S. are using soy products harvested on farms built on deforested land in the Amazon. Greenpeace is protesting and some locals certainly are not embracing their efforts, though public opinion may be turning. The environmental problems in developing nations are complex. Economic imperatives often overshadow environmental concerns when an undereducated and impoverished population has to choose between making some quick cash and saving a tree. The same issues arise in the U.S. as groups clash over endangered species and uses of Federal lands. It's analogous to the Bush foreign policy which often ignores the root causes of issues while dealing with the symptoms, until we find a way to make ecology an important issue to indigent populations through education and economic alternatives the clash of green ecological issues against green economic realities will likely be a losing battle.
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Ivory Billed Woodpecker

The much sought after, Ivory Billed Woodpecker, has left the building...

Arkansas can sleep a little easier, (and maybe see a jump in tourism $$), as scientists are recommending opening up the Ivory Billed's potential habitat, swampland, to the public, including some highly motivated birders. STORY

Sick Streams

America's streams are in trouble, especially on the east coast. Unplanned, overcrowded development, deforestation and a general disregard for anything but a nice view has lead our streams on path of destruction. This article on emagazine.com runs down some of the EPA's numbers on the condition of our waterways.

From personal experience I know that the banks of many trout streams in Massachusetts and New York have been deforested to the point where native trout no longer spawn and stocked hatchery trout are only a seasonal phenomenon. Erosion, silt build-up and a vast array of pollution sources have contributed to the problem. Adirondack streams are in bad shape too, where acid rain is an additional problem.
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Japanese Nuke Plant Radiation Leak

When public figures support the use of nuclear power as a clean, safe and economical option for generating electriciy they should check out stories like this from Japan.

Japan got lucky.

Here in NYC we have the lovely Indian Point power plant a short boat trip up the river from Manhattan and a threat to over 20 million residents. The Riverkeeper organization has been a longtime proponent of closing the plant. Indian Point is both a health risk and a terrorist target (it is protected by a nice chain link fence).
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Cool/Hot Climate Change Slide Show

Visual aids and graphics are often the most persuasive items in changing opinion or illustrating a point. Seeing is believing. With that in mind check out this little slide show, not that you need any more convincing or anything...

I'm heading out to work on my tan.
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Canned Oxygen Freshens Japan

Need a lift, or just facing a local shortage of clean, oxygenated air...Now you can just grab a can of Oxygen at your local Seven-Eleven...if you're in Japan...

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Sandia Labs Studies Alternative Fuel Sources

My dad was a great inventor, hobbyist and subscriber to Popular Mechanics. I just came upon this article on fascinating new alternative fuel technologies in my dad's old-school mag.
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Winsome Gunning Art

Visit the Gas's new tenant, Winsome Gunning Art. Everyone can use more art in their lives... and see more of her work (or buy something) at her Yahoo store, Winsome Gunning Studio.
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Google Trends - Solar Power vs. Wind Power

Checked out the new feature on Google, Google Trends. Hate to give more traffic to the monolithic Big Brother of the internet but I had to do at least one comparison.

Solar vs. Wind Power

Ethanol or not....

Ethanol might not be the answer to our energy consumption gluttony. It takes a lot of energy to produce, it may produce more not less greenhouse gas than traditional gasoline and tariffs keep domestic prices high protecting the investment of the powerful corn lobby...ouch. Checkout this article. LINK

Hybrid Bear

The first documented hybrid bear has been shot (of course) in Alaska. It is unclear whether the grizzly - polar bear mix or "grizolar" got improved gas mileage and fuel efficiency. Tests are on-going.
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$10M Prize for Hydrogen Fuel Tech

If you love Lotto you'll really embrace the solution to our energy needs now being promoted in a contest funded by Congress.

TEVA Mountain Games

May 31-June 4, 2006
Vail, Colorado....Street parties, live concerts, filmmakers shootout, kayaking, mountain biking, fly fishing and a whole lot more. Check it out at tevamountaingames.com

Finnish Cogeneration Power Plant

Being of partial Finnish decent I have a facination with all things Finnish. I stumbled onto this PDF outlining the design and benefits of a cogeneration powerplant in Finland. They use peat and wood waste to fire the plant in lieu of fossil fuels and supply both the heat and power generated to the local community. Indigenous fuels used in an efficient plant for local use...hmmmm.
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Butterfies Fall Victim to Global Warming

Long-term changes in weather patterns linked to global warming and the destruction of habitat are major suspects in the decline in the numbers of migrating butterflies in California.

Solar Power

As the Bush administration waffles, trying to determine how to make noises about alternative energy production while not falling out of bed with big oil, two solar power companies and the state of New Mexico combine efforts to create the worlds largest solar farm.

Wind Shift and Global Warming

We're just starting to understand some of the climate changes caused by global warming. If you liked the "El Nino" effect get prepared for more of the same. LINK

House to Vote on Energy Price Gouging...

The sabre rattling and posturing continues in Washington as Congressional reps scramble to appease angry constituents. LINK

Republican Tax Retreat

Senate Republicans hurriedly dropped a broad tax proposal opposed by big oil and business and ridiculed by taxpayers...another knee jerk solution bites the dust..
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