Extreme and oddball weather events are
becoming the norm worldwide |
Good News:
- A new study shows that Xmas shoppers are showing signs of choosing products that are ecologically-friendly. Not only that, but shoppers are paying attention to the countries of origin. Yes, Virginia, there really is a growing social consciousness.
- The US is getting serious about energy efficiency, at least in new government building codes. The US Department of Energy announced a 30 percent increase in energy efficiency in all new buildings starting January 3, including federal low-rise residential buildings.
- Brazil's President da Silva has signed a decree banning the sale of all farm products coming from areas illegally deforested in the Amazon in an effort to crack down on the increasing encroachment on the World's largest rainforest.
- Nanosolar have produced and sold their much anticipated first shipment of low-cost ultra-thin solar panels.
- Landslides in Indonesia have killed almost eighty people. This may or may not have to do with deforestation, but any way you look at it, it is bad news.
- Marine mammals are dying off in larger numbers due to the melting of the Arctic, in what's being described as a "death spiral." All measures to save the animals, including walruses, seals, and of course, the polar bear, will be for naught, if the ice keeps melting.
- A new study has concluded that "urban sprawl" is not decreasing, but rather increasing, and farther away from city centers. Also, the average "yard" is getting bigger, which isn't helping matters.
- The Associated Press broke the news that 2007 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record. Not really a surprise, considering many were predicting that last January.
- There's something about China. China has pledged to continue using coal for its energy needs, but in the same "white paper", the Chinese Government also pledged to develop renewable energy sources.
- But then again, the Chinese have also announced that Beijing will be switching to cleaner gas and fuel in efforts to clean up the skies for the Olympics.
- Also, just last week, Chinese researchers announced that China's glaciers are melting, due to increased temperatures in the Western part of the country, in addition to releasing news that China is suffering from a severe drought, due to global warming.
- With the help of Google Earth, the US Environmental Protection Agency offers a new "pollution" locator tool. Maybe some things are better left unknown, depending on where you live.
- Grassolean.com posted a new item this week. A San Francisco-area school bus company just received its first shipment of recycled french fry oil, from what is the first batch of oil recovered from San Francisco restaurants. This is part of SF's Greasecycle program.
- Climate Progress decides to pick on poor Senator Inhofe, and a NY times reporter that doesn't seem to be doing his job.
