Apathy.net - Environment

How Far Should Water Recycling Go?

john — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:20:13 -0500

In much of the western U.S., water demand vastly outstrips supply. Some municipalities are moving toward a greater use of recycled waste water as a means to stretch supply. It sounds good in theory, but how far should it go?

Bee Mystery Solved?

john — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:06:06 -0400

According to Mariano Higes, leader of a team of research scientists in Guadalajara, the mystery of the disappearing bees has been solved.

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Approved In Georgia

john — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:20:43 -0400

I am usually reticent to repeat a press release for mass consumption, but I consider this one to be very newsworthy. A company called Range Fuels has gotten approval to open an ethanol production plant where the ethanol is produced from cellulose rather than sugar.

Questionable Science On James Taranto's 'Best of the Web'

john — Sat, 7 Jul 2007 10:42:06 -0400

James Taranto, the extreme right-wing Wall Street Journal pundit responsible for the 'Best of the Web' column has a knack for being selective in his commentary if it helps him score quick points with his conservative readers. In an attack yesterday on Al Gore, Taranto made a significant slip-up in his rush to smear Gore's reputation.

Pollution Causes 500,000 Deaths A Year In China

john — Fri, 6 Jul 2007 09:39:17 -0400

A study conducted by China's environmental agency has concluded that pollution contributes to widespread unrest, riots, and over 500,000 deaths a year.

Going Green Becoming Big Business

john — Fri, 6 Jul 2007 09:20:41 -0400

As governments fiddle while the Earth burns, businesses have begun to set their minds to profiting from going green.

Motorists Hot Over Hot Fuel

john — Fri, 6 Jul 2007 09:17:50 -0400

Like all liquids, gasoline expands as the temperature gets hotter. Gas pumps in the U.S. measure a gallon of gas at 60 degrees F. When the temperature is over 60 degrees, you're not really getting a gallon of gas. This fact has prompted some motorists to take big oil to court.

Farmers Respond To Corn Demand

john — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 07:39:38 -0400

With corn being used as food, livestock feed and for Ethanol production, farmers are in a rush to increase the size of their corn crops. As a result, the U.S. Is on track to grow the largest crop of corn since 1944.

China Responds To CO2 Report

john — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:31:52 -0400

Earlier this week, as reported here, a Dutch Agency responsible for quantifying global greenhouse gas emissions identified China as the top emitter of CO2, passing the U.S. for the first time. China has come back with an official response.

U.S. Still Largest Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Emitter

john — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:10:21 -0400

"China Passes U.S. In Greenhouse Gas Emissions" is a headline you'll see in wide circulation today. It is a headline that will be used to deflect attention away from the need for the U.S. to do something about its carbon emissions. What the misleading headline doesn't tell you is that on a per capita basis, the U.S. is still just over four times that of China.

Gore Calls G8 Climate Deal A Disgrace

john — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:08:40 -0400

While praising the effort made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former vice president Al Gore called the watered down "deal" for further climate talks a disgrace.

Congress To Push Ethanol Production

john — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:00:23 -0400

A bill in congress, with bipartisan support, will look to increase Ethanol production in the U.S. to six times its current levels. This despite the fact that the diverting of corn into Ethanol production is already driving food prices higher at a rate faster than inflation.

Peak Oil Coming Soon?

john — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:55:49 -0400

A new report, created by BP, an oil company, released yesterday says that they believe there is enough oil to last 40 years at the current rate of consumption. The independent Oil Depletion Analysis Centre disagrees: They believe we could see peak production very soon.

Driver Fined $1,000 For Vegetable Oil

john — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:04:34 -0400

North Carolina has fined a driver $1,000 for using vegetable oil to power is 1981 Mercedes. Their reason: not paying taxes on motor fuel.

Smart Growth vs Suburban Sprawl

john — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:17:50 -0400

There is a growing battle for the future of development in the U.S. That battle is over whether suburban sprawl should continue ever onward into the sunset or should we consider what anti-sprawl advocates call "Smart Growth."

Bloomberg's Green Apple

john — Sat, 9 Jun 2007 22:21:43 -0400

In recent weeks, New York City's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has put forth some astoundingly progressive proposals seeking to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

G8 Leaders Agree To Work On Climate Issues

john — Thu, 7 Jun 2007 12:44:36 -0400

In place of the firm cuts sought this week by Germany, host of the G8 summit, the gathered leaders agreed to work collectively on a deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through "strong and early" action.

Congress Working To Block State Greenhouse Gas Regulations

john — Tue, 5 Jun 2007 16:16:17 -0400

Yes, you read that right. Rep Rick Boucher, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has introduced legislation making the EPA the sole decider on what the greenhouse gas emission regulations should be, if there will be any at all.

White House Makes False Greenhouse Gas Reduction Claims

john — Tue, 5 Jun 2007 09:15:24 -0400

In concert with the presidents calls for the leading industrialized nations to introduce voluntary curbs on greenhouse gas emissions, the White House claims that while the U.S. economy has grown 10% since 2001, greenhouse gas emissions have risen only 1.6%. They claim this is better than the 8%/5% seen in Europe. That is a false claim representing typically bad administration science.

China Rebukes Calls To Curb Greenhouse Gases

john — Mon, 4 Jun 2007 08:57:00 -0400

Claiming that industrialized nations are responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions, China has said that growing its economy with the goals of economic development and poverty eradication is more important. They did however commit to being 20% more energy efficient than 2005 by 2010.