Environment

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    • Junk Mail Keeps the Post Office Alive

      Posted by Jeff from Newsweek

      The Postal Service lost $1.1 billion in its latest quarter. That number would be even larger if it weren't for direct mailings, which now constitute 52 percent of mail volume, up from 38 percent in 1990. Revenue from direct mail "is the financial underpinning of the Postal Service-it could not survive without it," says Michael Coughlin, former deputy postmaster. But 89 percent of consumers say in polls that they'd prefer not to receive direct-marketing mail; 44 percent of it is never opened.

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    • Orcas and Salmon say: A building ban near rivers?

      Posted by Jeff from Seattle Post-Intelligencer

      In a potentially far-reaching decision for more than 270 municipalities, the National Marine Fisheries Service said the federal flood insurance program that protects homes and businesses built in flood plains is illegal. The reasoning: Flood insurance allows development that harms salmon and, consequently, the orcas that eat salmon. Both are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

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    • Green the Bailout

      Posted by Shemuses from New York Times

      Many things make me weep about the current economic crisis, but none more than this brief economic history: In the 19th century, America had a railroad boom, bubble and bust. Some people made money; many lost money. But even when that bubble burst, it left America with an infrastructure of railroads that made transcontinental travel and shipping dramatically easier and cheaper.

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      Voters in Ecuador Approve Constitution and Rights of Nature

      Posted by Jeff from Washington Post

      In a country rich with ecological treasures, including the Galapagos Islands and part of the Amazon rain forest, the constitution also calls on government to avoid measures that would destroy ecosystems or drive species to extinction -- the first such measure of its kind, according to Ecuadoran officials. The constitution would allow civil unions for gay couples.

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    • In Memoriam: Phil Clapp, Environmental Champion and Climate Leader

      Posted by Shemuses

      Phil Clapp, 54, deputy managing director of the Pew Environment Group, died yesterday in Amsterdam of complications from pneumonia, which he contracted while on vacation. Obituaries of this gentle, humorous man who was one of the environmental movement's most effective Washington insiders are running today in both the New York Times and the Washington Post.

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      Environmentalism is Still Dead

      Posted by Shemuses

      We can no longer trust greens to save the planet. Their track record and anti-pragmatic approach demonstrates one thing above all else: environmentalism is still dead. It's time to lead or leave, and until greens are ready to grow up, we shouldn't take their marching orders. The moment is simply too urgent. Since 2004, greens have risen slowly but surely from "The Death of Environmentalism" pronounced by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus. "An Inconvenient Truth," a new Democratic Congress, the green marketing frenzy - it seemed that greens had risen from the grave throwing punches, and it was only a matter of time before the final "tipping point" on global warming action was reached.

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  1. thumbnail

    oneohone comments on:

    Experts: Half of mammals in decline - World environment- msnbc.com

    That would be tragic if it happens.

    Reply »

    5:59 pm 10/06/08
  2. thumbnail

    Jeff comments on:

    David Letterman's Global Warming Rant

    This was pretty amazing.

    Reply »

    4:36 pm 10/01/08
  3. thumbnail

    Jeff comments on:

    Voters in Ecuador Approve Constitution and Rights of Nature

    Read more here:

    "Ecuador is now the first country in the world to codify a new system of environmental protection based on rights," stated Thomas Linzey, Executive Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund.

    "With this vote, the people of Ecuador are leading the way for countries around the world to fundamentally change how we protect nature," added Mari Margil, Associate Director of the Legal Defense Fund.

    Article 1 of the new "Rights for Nature" chapter of the Ecuador constitution reads:  "Nature or Pachamama, where life is reproduced and exists, has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution.  Every person, people, community or nationality, will be able to demand the recognitions of rights for nature before the public bodies."
     

    Reply »

    9:53 am 9/29/08
  4. thumbnail

    thaimat comments on:

    We've Got One Week Left to Stop One of Bush's Worst Environmental Attacks

    http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/battle-of-endangered-species-act-changes-heats-up-2008-09-08.html

    Reply »

    7:04 pm 9/14/08
  5. thumbnail

    nathalie comments on:

    David Letterman's Global Warming Rant

    You can’t be serious! Or do you not read serious journalists or watch Lehrer or C-Span, but only watch the 6 o’clock news? Obviously Letterman reads . . .

    Reply »

    7:12 am 9/14/08
  6. thumbnail

    koroth comments on:

    Bush to gut endangered species laws

    "No species will be harmed by global climate change.  Are you kidding me?" Nope, not kidding. There is no catasptrophic change happening (or that is going to happen.) It’s a natural cyclic system and as I said above, GCC is has happened many times thorughout the history of this planet and every species on this planet has lived through it, multiple times.

    "Looks like another degradation of the planet to this observer.  Thank God Bush’s reign is nearly over before he bankrupts our grandkids as well as our kids."

    I see you’re not an Obama supporter. That’s cool. He makes Bush look like quite the miserly, reasonable fellow. Actually, I’d vote for Bush again over either available candiate.

    I understand what the Species act does. I do want real scientists makeing sure that it’s used for real good reasons. Property rights need to be respected, as well. So if the scientists find the extremely rare Whateveritisium Tinyificus living on your 40 acre bacx lot then it can pay you fair market value for the 40 acres and set it aside forever.

    Or atl east until the next ice age paves it over with 40 yards of gravel.

     

    Reply »

    7:10 pm 8/30/08
  7. thumbnail

    soaringfalcon1 comments on:

    Bush to gut endangered species laws

    No species will be harmed by global climate change.  Are you kidding me?

    One of the most important ways the Endangered Species Act successfully protects endangered and threatened plants and animals is by requiring federal agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) before approving a project that may harm those species. Very few projects are actually stopped by the Endangered Species Act; however the changes made to these projects are vital to ensuring that endangered species receive adequate protection.

    The proposed changes in the rules unacceptably narrow the circumstances under which federal agencies are required to consult with the FWS or NMFS before approving projects such as permitting new oil and gas drilling or constructing federal highways.

    If you want some hard science behind the Endangered Species Act, why wouldn’t you want the FWS and the NMFS checking to make sure the industrial "big guns" don’t just do whatever they want with our resources?

    Looks like another degradation of the planet to this observer.  Thank God Bush’s reign is nearly over before he bankrupts our grandkids as well as our kids.

     

    Reply »

    4:02 pm 8/30/08
  • Just Said
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  1. thumbnail

    Shemuses

    Member since Oct 2008

    Jodie lives, plays, and blogs in Vancouver, BC. Her day job at ONE/Northwest puts her talents to work supporting social change strategies for greening our world.

    Vancouver


  2. thumbnail

    angliss

    Member since Oct 2008

    No city


  3. thumbnail

    Jeff

    Member since Oct 2008

    Jeff is the founder of NewsCloud. He is also a freelance writer and blogs at Idealog.

    Seattle


  4. thumbnail

    aknight

    Member since Oct 2008

    Seattle-based media, tech and finance consultant. But don't hold that against me!

    Seattle