"Can clean energy save the gorillas of Virunga National Park?" -- CNN

Here Beautiful story. Beautiful pictures. Such an endangered, beautiful brother species.

Obama Urges Climate Deal as UN Summit Opens in Tense Paris

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/11/30/climate-talks-kick-off-france/76551062/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/us/politics/paris-climate-talks.html?_r=0

"If the talks fail — as they did in two previous attempts to achieve such a deal — then nations will continue on a trajectory that scientists say LOCKS THE PLANET INTO a future of rising sea levels, more frequent floods, worsening droughts, food and water shortages, destructive hurricanes and other catastrophic events."

Sign a petition here to tell world leaders in Paris to pass a meaningful, adequate plan. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-urges-world-action-on-climate-change-hour-is-almost-upon-us/2015/11/30/2765bac4-975c-11e5-8917-653b65c809eb_story.html 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-partner-in-climate-change-talks-says-us/article7930177.ece 

"In an e-mailed statement to The Hindu, a State Department spokesperson said: “We are partnering with India on responsible energy development. India is a strategic partner that has one of the largest economies in the world, and it recognizes the critical importance of increasing energy security, reducing emissions, and improving resilience in the face of climate change.”

Fashion in So Cal, 2015: Comfort is King

How clothes in the USA have changed, for the better I think.

Washington Post article here 

Here in Venice, California I can attest it's pretty casual! Flip-flops and shorts can be worn pretty much all year (with a sweat or warm removable upper layer). And the high 80-degree temperature days in October and November (!) are pretty much necessitating that even if it wasn't a look of choice.

That women worse dresses and men suits -- at home, work and school -- almost exclusively up until the 1920s and 30s really is something. Sounds pretty repressed and formal, and uncomfortable. (See temperature reference above. Suit and tie gentlemen?)

Egalitarian

Currently most if not many people are wearing a lot of jeans, sandals (Sanuks), tee shirts and tennis shoes (sneakers, running shoes, etc). Women can wear anything, yoga pants, shorts, skirts, jeans, tee shirts, dresses, as desired.

Better, it's hard to tell someone's socioeconomic class from their clothes in Venice. That guy with a scroungy beard, jeans and sandals can be a CEO for a tech company or a neo-homeless itinerant surfer from Europe with no job. Or one of your friend's friends. That's kind of cool. It takes out the heirs of feigning wealth, as the article alludes to for the 'formal' styles of the past.

Comfort is king, as it should be in my mind. If one needs to express themselves and or flaunt some money etc. with their wardrobe I suppose they can, but that seems out of date at the upper range, again which I think is nice.

The hip techsters who arrived in Venice a few years ago we're wearing a lot of black: like they do in San Francisco. Black boots, jeans, black sweaters and black-rimmed glasses. Looked horrible and out of place in Venice; thanks fully they've gravitated toward comfort over the last few years and this is not seen nearly as much.

My old boss in Emeryville (at a tech company in the Bay Area) work jeans, north face or soft cotton tee-shirts and nice running/hiking shoes. Everyone was free to dress in comfort.

This is cool. 2015. I'll try to take a picture and post it, but you'll see it everywhere in So Cal. Nice.

AP Interview: UN chief wants climate target review by 2020

https://news.google.com/#pcid=ncl-dU5upfhZOXu-yxMuO7xJxphj73clM&pt=FRONTPAGE

COP21: Paris climate deal 'more likely' after terror attacks

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34950442
While many leaders including Presidents Obama and Xi Jinping were always set to attend this conference, the recent violent attacks in Paris have encouraged others to come in an expression of solidarity with the French people.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-26/india-s-modi-poised-to-make-or-break-climate-talks-in-paris 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/paris-climate-change-conference/11991964/Paris-climate-change-conference-Everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-UN-summit.html

As France mourns, it also looks ahead to securing major climate conference - The Washington Post

As France mourns, it also looks ahead to securing major climate conference - The Washington Post 

A peace conference at heart, bringing nations together. For a common goal, under one sky.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/paris-climate-change-conference/11991964/Paris-climate-change-conference-Everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-UN-summit.html

Stop Monsanto’s plan to Kill GMO Labeling! | Food Democracy Now

Stop Monsanto’s plan to Kill GMO Labeling! | Food Democracy Now 



Sign at the link.

How The Paris Attacks Make A Global Climate Deal More Likely

Here

Leading causes of death in the US: What’s changed since 1969?

Here there are some good health advances. And decreasing the use of fossil fuels, like coal, helps too.

"Los Angeles currently gets roughly 40 percent of our electricity from dirty coal-fired power, which produces incredibly dangerous and expensive pollution like mercury, soot, smog and arsenic. According to a recent report by Physicians for Social Responsibility, "Coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems and contribute to four of the five leading causes of (death) in the U.S." A new report by the National Academy of Science found the national cost of treating the health effects from coal pollution to be $62 billion each year." Here Study Here

"Viewed in this way, the totality of coal's impact on health becomes clear. Coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems and contribute to four of the five leading causes of mortality in the U.S.:  heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases."

‘The Attacks Will Be Spectacular’ An exclusive look at how the Bush administration ignored this warning from the CIA months before 9/11, along with others that were far more detailed than previously revealed. By Chris Whipple November 12, 2015 Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/11/cia-directors-documentary-911-bush-213353#ixzz3ruZNThBV

Wow ‘The Attacks Will Be Spectacular’ An exclusive look at how the Bush administration ignored this warning from the CIA months before 9/11, along with others that were far more detailed than previously revealed. By Chris Whipple November 12, 2015   Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/11/cia-directors-documentary-911-bush-213353#ixzz3ruZNThBV

Paris Reductions Only a Third of What's Needed

UNEPLive 



Announced National GHG emission reductions
fall far short of
that needed to keep temperatures below 2°C rise.... Now looking like
+3ºC++.

Throw Them into the Sea: Record response: CPUC hit hard on net metering - SmartGridNews

Record response: CPUC hit hard on net metering - SmartGridNews 

The CPUC can't cave entirely to industry. The public is about to throw them into the sea like tea in the Boston Tea Party.

Last week, "wheelbarrows full of signed postcards and petitions being pushed
(literally) toward the offices of the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) in support of net metering... more than 130,000 signatures in support of net metering."

Sierra Club Urges Us to Move Past Natural Gas, Fracking

Natural Gas: The Sierra Club opposes new electric generating units powered by natural gas, including peaking and combined cycle units.  Consistent with the Board’s goal of eliminating all fossil fuels from the electric sector no later than 2030, it is critical that the US avoid further high-capital investments in new natural gas plants and related infrastructure. 

The Sierra Club opposes the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).To limit the damage from fracking until it can be ended entirely, the Club calls for prompt closure of loopholes that effectively exempt fracking from important aspects of major national environmental laws.

Bill Nye demolishes climate deniers: “The single most important thing we can do now is talk about climate change.”

Here
Bill Nye will release a new book titled “Unstoppable.”....to explain the science behind climate change, debunks popular myths, and asks readers to take action in their own lives to create a sustainable future. The book is shot through with optimism, but Nye has no illusions about what lies ahead. 
The message is simple: 
Climate change is real; 
humans are causing it; and 
we have no choice but to build a better and cleaner world. 

http://www.salon.com/2015/11/06/bill_nye_demolishes_climate_deniers_im_not_a_scientist_therefore_im_not_going_to_use_my_brain/ 

Exxon, Keystone, and the Turn Against Fossil Fuels - The New Yorker

Exxon, Keystone, and the Turn Against Fossil Fuels - The New Yorker 

It's called progress, and evolution.

Obama Denies Keystone XL

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/11/07/us/obama-expected-to-reject-construction-of-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline.html?_r=0&referer=https://news.google.com/

Good news, overdue. Such a filty, dirty unnecessary thing that threatened US sovereignty.

New York's Attorney General Is Investigating Exxon | ThinkProgress

New York's Attorney General Is Investigating Exxon | ThinkProgress 

Exxon Mobil lying about climate change needs another post at least. And their paying for disinformation hacks to muddy the waters? Wow, fucking reprehensible. Hope the AG puts the screws to Exxon to the full extent of the law, and then some. Our planet's climate, potentially ruined with full awareness by the planet's most profitable company in the world. It doesn't get any uglier than this. Pitch black.

Scientists: Warming ocean factor in collapse of cod fishery

Here

Exxon Mobil Investigated in New York Over Possible Lies on Climate - The New York Times

Exxon Mobil Investigated in New York Over Possible Lies on Climate - The New York Times 

Just like the tobacco industry -- 'trust us!' UNbelievable. Fines and jail time needed here. Them knowingly perpetuating lies, at the cost of our ecosystem?

Asbestos became the biggest TORT case in history--who is going to pay for the reparation of these damages? The climate will change for hundreds of years whether we emit another ounce of CO2 tomorrow or not. Who will make up for this, and the time lost combating it?

Jeff Sessions: Kill The ‘Anti-Democratic’ Trans-Pacific Partnership In The Crib, Repeal Fast-Track Authority Now - Breitbart

Jeff Sessions: Kill The ‘Anti-Democratic’ Trans-Pacific Partnership In The Crib, Repeal Fast-Track Authority Now - Breitbart 



Yes, let's.

Fracking hurts Californians, Governor Brown. Come see for yourself. - 350

Fracking hurts Californians, Governor Brown. Come see for yourself. - 350 



Sing petition here:  http://act.350.org/sign/KernCounty



Too damaging, too water intensive, too polluting. #Keepitintheground

350.org – “Keep It In the Ground Act” Sets the New Bar for Climate Leadership

350.org – “Keep It In the Ground Act” Sets the New Bar for Climate Leadership 



The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

“Keep It In the Ground Act” Sets the New Bar for Climate Leadership

Washington, DC — 350.org
co-founder Bill McKibben and grassroots leaders joined Senator Jeff
Merkley (D-OR) and Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at the Capitol this
afternoon to introduce a bold new piece of climate legislation, the
“Keep It In the Ground Act.”

Love My Volt: Chevy Volt sales surge with 2016 model, Nissan Leaf continues Autumn fall

Chevy Volt sales surge with 2016 model, Nissan Leaf continues Autumn fall 



This is great news. Love my 2014 Volt. 40 miles all-electric, most days I burn no gas at all. After that 30-35 mpg on the gas tank can get me to any longer route. Made in the USA, it's fast, solid fit and finish. Love my Volt.

Iran Nuclear Deal: Centrifuge Decommissioning Begins (BBC)

I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it:

Iran nuclear deal: Centrifuge decommissioning 'begins'

Iran begins to decommission uranium enrichment centrifuges as part of a nuclear deal agreed with world powers in July, its nuclear chief announces.

Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.

"Mr Salehi was quoted by Japan's Kyodo news agency as saying that work had begun on reducing the number of active centrifuge machines."

EPA: VW cheated on Audi, Porsche diesel SUVs, too

EPA: VW cheated on Audi, Porsche diesel SUVs, too 



Wow, yikes. I've owned Audis in the past. Loved the Quattro suspension and ride.

Now I have a VOLT that is made in the USA and uses only electricity most days.

Neil deGrasse Tyson lets the science deniers have it: “The beginning of the end of an informed democracy”

Here

Planned Emissions Cuts Not Enough to Save Climate, U.N. Says

Here Planned Emissions Cuts Not Enough to Save Climate, U.N. Says.

Hottest October On Record This Year in SoCal -- by 4 Degrees

Here Wow. We couldn't even find any fans or portable air conditioners -- not one. Climate change hits home. My central AC will cost 4-6 thousand dollars to replace. Never really needed it more than a couple days a year. Would open windows and get nice breeze. Now with all the windows open it was 80 dredges or above nights until about 11pm. Wow.