The New Civility Courtesy Wisconsin Teachers
New Tone: Democrats Protest Wisconsin Governor With Hateful Rhetoric [here]
The historical illiteracy of Wisconsin teachers; Update: Crosshairs, “Reload” [here]
Photos: WI protesters call Gov. Walker a dictator, put crosshairs on his face [here]
Wisconsin Union Protestors Have Governor Walker In Their Crosshairs – Leave Grounds Littered [here]
Woo Woo Wu
Another Oregon elected official makes national news. We can really pick ‘em.
Oregon Live: U.S. Rep. David Wu loses staffers, political team amid complaints of public behavior [here]
Willamette Week: Documents Show Congressman David Wu’s Staff “Threatened to Shut Down His Campaign” [here]
Oregon Live: Rep. David Wu’s staff confronted him over concerns about his mental health [here]
David Wu on the issues [here]
House votes to block EPA’s global warming power
AP, Feb 18, 2011 [here]
The Republican-controlled House has voted to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases that [some] scientists say cause global warming.
The 249-177 vote added the regulation ban to a sweeping spending bill that would fund the government through Sept. 30. The restriction is opposed by the Obama administration, which is using its regulatory powers to curb greenhouse gases after global warming legislation collapsed last year. … [more]
Note: In addition, the vote eliminated the US Government’s $1.3 million annual contribution to funding the United Nations’ controversial Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
And the US House voted 240-185, to halt federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
And the US House voted to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from using funds to carry out so-called “net neutrality” regulations created last December. Those regulations would have subjected the Internet to government controls and censorship.
And the US House voted to block spending any federal funds on Obama’s nine czars, or “special presidential advisers” who have never been confirmed by Congress (another of Obama’s attempted end runs around the U.S. Constitution).
Montana House votes to nullify Endangered Species Act
By MATT GOURAS, AP, Capital Press, February 19, 2011 [here]
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republicans enthused by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s recent tough talk on wolves are getting closer to using an ancient “nullification” doctrine to disregard the federal law protecting endangered and threatened species — a plan the governor quickly dismissed as “off base.”
Excited tea party politics in the Legislature have spawned increasing belief in Thomas Jefferson’s late 18th-century “nullification” idea that aims to give states the ultimate say in constitutional matters and let them ban certain federal laws in their borders. Conservatives stoking anti-federal government sentiment are not dissuaded by the legal scholars who say the notion runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution that considers federal law “the supreme law of the land.”
Republicans running the Montana House used their big majority Saturday to endorse nullification of the federal Endangered Species Act in Montana with a 61-39 vote — even though dispatching with the act would cost Montana roughly $1 billion in federal funds that comes with strings attached.
Schweitzer, a Democrat, quickly warned the lawmakers he doesn’t like their idea — even though just days earlier he encouraged ranchers in northern Montana to shoot wolves that harass their livestock and defiantly said state agents may kill packs of endangered wolves. … [more]
See also MT Governor Notifies Interior of New Wolf Management Directives [here]
USDA Requests Public Comment on the Development of Tools and Guidance for Estimating Greenhouse Gases
USDA News Release No. 0075.11, February 18, 2011 [here]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on a new effort to provide tools that will help farmers, ranchers and forest land owners to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of their operations.
The project will bring together scientific experts from across USDA, other Federal agencies, and U.S. research institutions in order to develop consistent metrics for estimating changes in GHG emissions and carbon sequestration for farm, ranch and forest operations. The goal is that the new tools will provide a comprehensive, transparent approach to calculating changes in GHG emissions across all management activities within a farm, ranch or forest operation. The guidance will include ways to estimate the GHG benefit of new technologies, such as methane digesters and nitrification inhibitors (which help fertilizer stay within the root zone).
USDA has been a leader in conducting regional and national GHG inventories; and its scientists have a history of collaborative research with universities to advance the scientific understanding of agriculture’s role in helping to mitigate climate change. The current effort aims to capture the state of the science and to provide user friendly tools and guidance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who are interested in quantifying the GHG benefits of management changes within their operation. The guidance and tools will also be useful to USDA in assessing the ecosystem services benefits of current and future conservation programs and initiatives.
USDA’s announcement today also tracks provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill. Section 2709 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 states that: USDA shall prepare technical guidelines that outline science-based methods to measure carbon benefits from conservation and land management activities. The Federal Register notice can be found online [here]. Responses to the notice should be submitted by April 19, 2011.
Mexico loses 80-100% of crops to freeze, US prices to skyrocket
by Lynn Herrmann, Digital Journal, Feb 11, 2011 [here]
Houston - The cold weather experienced across much of the US in early February made its way deep into Mexico and early reports estimate 80-100 percent crop losses which are having an immediate impact on prices at US grocery stores with more volatility to come.
Wholesale food suppliers have already sent notices to supermarket retailers describing the produce losses in Mexico and the impact shoppers can expect. Sysco sent out a release(pdf) this week stating the early February freeze reached as far south as Los Mochis and south of Culiacan, both located in the state of Sinaloa, along the Gulf of California. The freezing temperatures were the worst the region has seen since 1957.
According to Sysco’s notice sent out this week:
“The early reports are still coming in but most are showing losses of crops in the range of 80 to 100%. Even shade house product was hit by the extremely cold temps. It will take 7-10 days to have a clearer picture from growers and field supervisors, but these growing regions haven’t had cold like this in over half a century.”
At this time of year, Mexico is a major supplier to the US and Canada for green beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, asparagus, peppers and round and Roma tomatoes. Compounding the problem is the freezing cold that hit Florida in December and January. … [more]
Trillions for biomass projects fruitless
Kyodo News, Japan Times, Feb. 15, 2011 [here]
None of the government’s 214 biomass promotion projects — with public funding coming to ¥6.55 trillion — over the past six years has produced effective results in the struggle against global warming, according to an official report released Tuesday.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, which evaluates public works projects, urged the agriculture and five other ministries conducting biomass projects using sewage sludge, garbage and wood, to take corrective action.
The Administrative Evaluation Bureau found in a study of biomass projects through March 2009 that the cumulative budget totaled about ¥6.55 trillion.
The six ministries taking part in such projects, however, have yet to confirm the financial results for 92, or 44 percent, of the 214 projects, with one bureau official saying: “The figures tell everything. The ministries need to produce certain results because they are using taxpayers’ money.”
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry spent about ¥1.6 billion on a project to produce livestock feedstuff from unsold boxed lunches from convenience stores. The project was abandoned after its management firm collapsed, the report says. … [more]
Latest Climate News Too Ludicrous For Words Tramps and Thieves
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Northern New Brunswick wind turbines frozen solid
by Greg Weston, Telegraph-Journal, February 15, 2011 [here]
FREDERICTON — A $200-million wind farm in northern New Brunswick is frozen solid, cutting off a potential supply of renewable energy for NB Power.
The 25-kilometre stretch of wind turbines, located 70 kilometres northwest of Bathurst, N.B. has been completely shutdown for several weeks due to heavy ice covering the blades.
GDF SUEZ Energy, the company that owns and operates the site, is working to return the windmills to working order, a spokeswoman says.
“We can’t control the weather,” Julie Vitek said in an interview from company headquarters in Houston, Texas. …
Wintery conditions also temporarily shutdown the site last winter, just months after its completion. Some or all of the turbines were offline for several days, with “particularly severe icing” blamed.
The accumulated ice alters the aerodynamics of the blades, rendering them ineffective as airfoils. The added weight further immobilizes the structures.
Vitek says workers are trying to find a way to prevent ice buildup from occurring again in the future. The shutdown has not had any effect on employment at the site, which provides 12 permanent jobs. …
Despite running into problems in consecutive winters, Morton says NB Power doesn’t have concerns about the reliability of the supply from the Caribou Mountain site. … [more]
Note: this article is not a spoof; it just appears to be one.
Secretary Salazar joins Canadian Ambassador Doer in Celebrating Agreement to Protect Transboundary Flathead River Basin
DOI News Release, February 15, 2011 [here]
Washington, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today joined Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer in a ceremony at the Woodrow Wilson Center celebrating an agreement to protect the transboundary Flathead River Basin. The agreement reached today by British Columbia and The Nature Conservancy-U.S. and The Nature Conservancy Canada will protect the Canadian portion of the Flathead River Basin from oil, gas and minerals development.
“Our conservation challenges don’t stop at the border so it is important that our nations join together to protect our world’s natural resources and treasures, including the Flathead River Basin with its pristine lakes and alpine scenery,” said Secretary Salazar. “Completion of the agreement to protect the Basin from mining and energy development is not only an historic event, but also a wonderful celebration for the many people who are dedicated to coordinated, sustainable protection of this important watershed.”
To support the international conservation efforts, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell announced that he will introduce legislation to permanently ban oil, gas and minerals development in the Canadian Flathead basin.
Also joining the celebration were Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana; Mark Tercek, President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy; and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Rhea Suh, whom Salazar credited with leading Interior’s “productive dialogue for months with our counterparts regarding cooperation on shared conservation priorities.” … [more]
See also: Debt for Nature — Financing American Endangered Species on Foreign Soil [here]
Washington livestock group files suit over wolves
By Brian Danner, KOZE-AM Lewiston ID, February 16, 2011 [here]
A Washington state cattle group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force the agency to review federal protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies.
Attorneys for the Washington Cattlemen’s Association say the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in eastern Washington. The cattle association is represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a conservative law firm based in Sacramento, Calif.
Foundation spokesman Harold Johnson says the government has not met its mandate to periodically review if wolves should be listed as an endangered species.
An estimated 1,700 wolves roam the Northern Rockies, including at least one breeding pack in eastern Washington. A federal judge in Montana reversed two attempts by the Fish and Wildlife Service to lift protections for the species in the last several years. (AP)
Suit seeks review of gray wolf’s status, as required by law and sound science
Pacific Legal Foundation, February 16, 2011 [here]
Attorneys with Pacific Legal Foundation today filed a federal lawsuit to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct the legally mandated five-year status review of the gray wolf, to determine whether the species continues to warrant listing as “endangered.”
Donor-supported PLF is the leading legal watchdog that litigates, pro bono, for limited government, property rights, and a balanced approach to environmental regulations. In this lawsuit, PLF attorneys represent the Washington Cattlemen’s Association.
The gray wolf is known to exist across the continent from Michigan in the Midwest, through to Washington State in the West.
The gray wolf has been listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act since 1978, but from that point to the present, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has never conducted a formal scientific review of its status to determine whether continued listing is appropriate.
FWS’ failure to conduct such reviews is in direct violation of the law. The ESA requires the agency to review, every five years, whether a listed species is doing better or worse, and whether it has recovered. … [more]
Gov Schweitzer says Montana will kill wolves preying on elk
AP, KBZI Bozeman, Feb 16, 2011 [here]
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer says the state will defy federal protections for gray wolves and kill packs that have been hurting elk herds.
Schweitzer also told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he is encouraging livestock owners north of Interstate 90 to shoot wolves that harass their animals. He says state game wardens would stop investigating wolf shootings in that part of the state.
Livestock owners in southern Montana already have authority to shoot wolves that harass their animals.
The Democratic governor says he is fed up with years of litigation that have kept wolves on the endangered species list even as their population has grown to more than 1,700 across the Northern Rockies.
Appeals court grants standing for challenges to impaired water listing
By David Smith, Siskiyou Daily News, Feb 11, 2011 [here]
California — The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has handed down a ruling that declares that landowners whose property values have been adversely impacted by the listing of impaired waters under the Clean Water Act can have standing to challenge those listings in court.
The ruling, filed Feb. 3, concerns the case (Barnum Timber Company v. United States Environmental Protection Agency), in which Barnum challenged the EPA’s listing of Redwood Creek as impaired.
According to the decision, the district court that originally heard the case denied Barnum’s suit, declaring that the company had lacked standing to bring the case against the EPA. …
By disagreeing with the lower court, the appeals court reversed the ruling and found that Barnum does have standing to challenge the EPA’s listing and ordered that the suit be heard by the district court. … [more]
Tree octopus exposes Internet illiteracy
by mludwig, My San Antonio, 02/01/2011 [here]
Is this creature capable of exposing shocking internet illiteracy?
Donald Leu, a researcher from the University of Connecticut, conducted a U.S. Department of Education-funded study of internet literacy among so-called “digital natives,” fabricating the tree octopus to test students’ ability to evaluate information they find on the internet.
Researchers asked students to find out information about the endangered Pacific Northwest tree octopus. Students had no problem locating a Web site dedicated to the cause [here], “but insisted on the existence of the made-up story, even after researchers explained the information on the website was completely fabricated,” according to a press release.
(Author’s note: You gotta check out this Web site, you can actually buy posters and T-shirts through Cafe Press.)
Most students “simply have very little in the way of critical evaluation skills,” Leu said. “They may tell you they don’t believe everything they read on the Internet, but they do.” … [more]
Danish Arctic research dates Ice Age
The result of a Danish ice drilling project has become the international standard for the termination of the last glacial period. It ended precisely 11,711 years ago.
Edited by Julian Isherwood, Dagbladet Politiken, 11. dec. 2008 [here]
A Danish ice drilling project has conclusively ended the discussion on the exact date of the end of the last ice age.
The extensive scientific study shows that it was precisely 11,711 years ago - and not the indeterminate figure of ‘some’ 11,000 years ago – that the ice withdrew, allowing humans and animals free reign.
According to the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) in Copenhagen, the very precise dating of the end of the last Ice Age has made Denmark the owner of the “Greenwich Mean Time” of the end of the last glacial period and beginning of the present climate – the so-called International Standard Reference.
It took several thousand years to warm up the earth and melt the kilometre thick ice caps that covered large parts of the northern hemisphere during the last glacial period and as a result the transition from Ice Age to the current period has lacked a clearly defined point in time.
The answer has now been found in the NordGrip drilling project in Greenland. … [more]
Note: The date above refers to the end of the Younger Dryas stadial. The Bretz Floods tore through and over the Columbia Plateau, Willamette Valley, and Puget Basin from 15.3-13 kya during the Bølling and Allerød oscillations immediately preceding and following the Older Dryas stadial.
Over 60 such monster floods (jokulhlaups) draining Glacial Lake Missoula, identified in layers of silt, occurred between 15.3 and 13 kya. Additional floods came from Glacial Lake Bonneville, estimated to have covered 10 times the area of the remnant Great Salt Lake, about 14.5 kya. Glacial Lake Bonneville catastrophically drained in jokulhlaups that flowed down the Snake River to the Columbia.
More evidence of cataclysmic jokulhlaups is found in Box Canyon of the Big Lost River in Idaho, also draining into the Snake River. Discharge rates there are estimated to have been 60,000 cubic meters per second. This would be some kind of record, except that the discharge rate of Glacial Lake Missoula is estimated to have been 17,000,000 cubic meters per second, and that wins the prize.