Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Throw Big Oil Off the Fiscal Cliff

Throw Big Oil Off the Fiscal Cliff 

Sign petition!

"If we eliminate these tax breaks and loopholes, it would save us more than $40 billion over the next 10 years. This would not only provide needed revenues, but it would be beneficial to public health, which is harmed by the pollution these fossil fuels create."....

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tens of Thousands Rally to Stop Keystone XL Pipeline & Urge Obama to Move "Forward on Climate"

Tens of Thousands Rally to Stop Keystone XL Pipeline & Urge Obama to Move "Forward on Climate" 

Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress, at the D.C. Rally, with some particularly heartfelt sentiments, "I want to say I am sorry to the workers in Canada and the workers in America who have to go home and look at their kids in the eye and know they’re damaging their future. And I want to say yes to jobs that allow Americans and Canadians to go home and look their kids in the eye and say, "I’m fighting for you. I am working for you." I'd add being able to look yourself in the mirror, honestly, and say and feel the same thing.

Colorado House passes gun-control measures | Reuters

Colorado House passes gun-control measures | Reuters 

Great start. And someplace for national legislation to start, to "... require background checks for all gun purchases - paid for by applicants - [and a] a ban on ammunition magazines with more than 15 rounds...."

Friday, February 15, 2013

!!!A Moment for Republican Pragmatists - James Fallows - The Atlantic

A Moment for Republican Pragmatists - James Fallows - The Atlantic 

Interesting moment, with Republican relevancy and obstruction in the spotlight.

Will they continue filibustering Hagel (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/a-moment-for-republican-pragmatists/273173/ )? Or allow a vote?

The GOP is moving forward, also known as center, on immigration, marijuana (http://swampland.time.com/2013/02/14/up-in-smoke-why-the-gops-views-on-pot-are-showing-signs-of-a-shift/ ), climate change (http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130213/update-2-white-house-wants-2-bln-give-cleaner-transport-boost ), and among others hopefully gun control too (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2013/0215/Obama-s-quiet-ally-Who-s-behind-gun-control-bill-no-one-is-talking-about ).

An interesting time: will the party begin representing the will of the people again, or fall way behind the upcoming generations?

In Australia, Wind Power Is Already Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels, And Solar Is Right Behind | ThinkProgress

In Australia, Wind Power Is Already Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels, And Solar Is Right Behind | ThinkProgress 

This is fantastic news. Some great data here, costs of new wind energy--with or without carbon emission penalties--now cheaper than new coal or new natural gas.
Progress!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Real Obama - NYTimes.com

The Real Obama - NYTimes.com

6 Game-Changing Ideas In The State Of The Union | ThinkProgress

6 Game-Changing Ideas In The State Of The Union | ThinkProgress 

Yep. We have to move forward, or the US moonwalks backward.

If Corporations Were Honest: How Exxon Feels About Our Children | MoveOn.Org

If Corporations Were Honest: How Exxon Feels About Our Children | MoveOn.Org

"Exxon Hates Your Children"

Support Civil Disobedience at the White House - February 13th, 2013 | 350.org

Support Civil Disobedience at the White House - February 13th, 2013 | 350.org 

"We really shouldn't have to be put in handcuffs to stop KXL--our nation's leading climate scientists have told us it's dangerous folly, and all the recent Nobel Peace Laureates have urged us to set a different kind of example for the world, so the choice should be obvious. But given the amount of money on the other side, we've had to spend our bodies, and we'll probably have to spend them again." - Bill McKibben

Support Civil Disobedience at the White House - February 13th, 2013 | 350.org

Support Civil Disobedience at the White House - February 13th, 2013 | 350.org 

"We really really shouldn't have to be put in handcuffs to stop XXL--our nation's leading climate scientists have told us it's dangerous folly, and all the recent Nobel

Monday, February 4, 2013

Manmade Carbon Pollution Has Already Put Us On Track For 69 Feet Of Sea Level Rise | ThinkProgress

Manmade Carbon Pollution Has Already Put Us On Track For 69 Feet Of Sea Level Rise | ThinkProgress 

HOLY FUCKING SHIT. Holy shit are we screwed, we are screwing this up. And this is at PRESENT CO2 LEVELS. This is shocking news, essentially reporting that coal and oil have already given coastal cities the death sentence. Fucking shocking. I don't know what to do. I need to get an electric car, and help clean energy power the grid as soon as possible. I can't imagine the planet without it's great coastal cities. Holy shit.

Just last year the National Science Foundation (NSF) reported on paleoclimate research that examined “rock and soil cores taken in Virginia, New Zealand and the Eniwetok Atoll in the north Pacific Ocean.” Lead author Kenneth Miller of Rutgers University said:
The natural state of the Earth with present carbon dioxide levels is one with sea levels about 70 feet higher than now.”
 Go read the whole article here
 Now read the first paragraph again, and my post on The Earth is Full, What Can I Do?

Friday, February 1, 2013

Award-winning photos showcase beauty in science | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News

Award-winning photos showcase beauty in science | Photo Gallery - Yahoo! News 

Love this stuff. Such great harmony, fascinating variety, and 'nature's' uber-artist's touch and imagination.

Anti-Keystone XL Protester Disrupts TransCanada Speech for Several Minutes

Anti-Keystone XL Protester Disrupts TransCanada Speech for Several Minutes 

Good.

"Ramsey Sprague: "Keystone XL will be a massive failure. Tar Sands Blockade has proof positive that the welds are false, we’ve been inside the pipe, light shining through at morning, with photographic and video evidence their welds are inadequate. That pipe went into the ground less than an hour later. This is an... "

"Ramsey Sprague: "I really apologize that TransCanada is a terrible actor stealing land from my friends in order to facilitate a toxic tar sands pipeline that is full of holes."
Sprague was finally escorted out of the conference and arrested. His action is part of a massive grassroots movement against the Keystone XL pipeline, which opponents say will devastate the environment and imperil the health of communities in its path. President Obama has delayed a decision on the project until the spring after initially putting it off until after the November election."

Mexico: Thousands Protest Bid by U.S. Firms to Plant GMO Corn

Mexico: Thousands Protest Bid by U.S. Firms to Plant GMO Corn 

Good. Native people on their own soil with native seeds takes precedence over greedy multi-national self-terminating seed companies every time. Period.

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here