Sarawak in Borneo Deforested 90%

Here Shock and sadness. I visited Sarawak in the late 80s. As densely, gorgeously forested and ruggedly healthy as anyplace imaginable. Teeming with biodiversity. Sacred and magical. Now 90% deforested. The climate implications notwithstanding, this is rape of the spirit of our planet, in the name of greed essentially, and includes genocide.
Our species has to do better. There must be good and smart people in the villages of Sarawak and our planet helping to avert this kind of large scale destruction. We all have to help, and use less and get outraged when we see things like this large and small. Do you know about palm oil? Have you been avoiding it or demanding only sustainably-grown, fair-trade palm oil products? (I have for a couple of years now. I also seek and buy FSC lumber when I need wood, if recycled or second hand is not good enough. I use recycled printer paper, napkins, plates and frequently toilet paper, among other recycled products I use. And I do try to use less, and consume less in the first place. Not because anyone asks, or even that I would tell you or anyone about this necessarily, it's just the right thing to do).

This image and situation in Sarawak is disgusting and almost discourages trying. Which we cannot do.
"What products do you use? Use recycled paper instead of fresh-fiber paper. Try to avoid palm oil, and make sure that the timber you're buying is Forest Stewardship Council-certified and sustainably produced."

Finally, and RIGHT: Bob McDonnell gets two years in corruption case — Obama issues Keystone veto threat — 114th Congress sworn in - Pro Report - POLITICO.com

Bob McDonnell gets two years in corruption case — Obama issues Keystone veto threat — 114th Congress sworn in - Pro Report - POLITICO.com 

Other good political news: these crooks need to spend time in jail. Good on the sentencing judge.

What a tool. See pics and some verbiage below. The PG&E and CPUC execs around when the San Bruno explosion and natural gas plants being forced onto the state grid (unnecessarily) should be next. Happy 2015.

Sept. 14, 2014: "Wow!!! Did the guy from the cover of the Evil Empire album grow up or
what?! Just had to share the resemblance. Ex-Governor Republican Bob
McDonnell just found guilty of >>11 corruption charges<<.
And his wife of >>9<<. Bob was a member of the executive
committee of Republican Governors, and was ranked second most likely
Republican for vice presidential picks for GOP nominee Mitt Romney. (Not
too surprising I guess.) You know mid-term elections are coming up in
November. Don’t be fooled by marketing an old brand -- these are those
guys. Not totally surprised, but wow. These are those guys, and right
here one from the front of the album. http://abcnews.go.com/…/jury-virginia-gov-bob-mcdonn…/story…"

White House Issues Veto Threat on Keystone XL Pipeline Bill - NYTimes.com

White House Issues Veto Threat on Keystone XL Pipeline Bill - NYTimes.com 

This is solid. He's a good man. He's standing up for his children's future, and ours, and standing up against a few dirty, polluting special interest owners.

It's the right thing to do. Thank you sir.

You can thank him here:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments 

Pope Francis to Lead on Climate Change Issue in 2015

Here He's inspired. I like him more and more, and more.

Democracy Now!: "Should Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & CIA Officials Be Tried for Torture? War Crimes Case Filed in Germany"

Here Yes.

Restored Forests Breathe Life Into Efforts Against Climate Change - New York Times

Here Nice, gives one some hope about natural long-term carbon sequestration. Makes me want to move to Brazil on the Atlantic Coast and help with re-forestation.

Large Carnivore Species Doing Well in Europe

Here groovy news -- bodes well for our survival as well. Maybe we can all get along as Rodney King once speculated.

The Colbert Show Will Be Missed

Here Great article in the show. Some heavy quotes, "But the rise of Colbert reflects a distinct and disturbing cultural trend: our own regression from citizens capable of reforming our broken institutions to passive consumers who choose to regard civic decay as a source of entertainment."

"In his prophetic book, Postman warns that our growing dependence on TV has created a society whose standard of value is “whether or not something can grab and then hold the public’s attention. It is a society in which those things that do not conform — for example, serious literature, serious political debate, serious ideas, serious anything — are more likely to be compromised or marginalized than ever before.”

One could choose to become more engaged and active.

More on Colbert here

Perhaps considering doing this or this

Electric Cars Are the Way to Go

Here Funny how the headline contradicts the study. Shill writer.

Some good comments,

"Mark Renburke  Alfonso • 19 hours ago

How's this quote, direct from the study: "electric vehicles (EVs) powered by electricity from natural gas or wind, water, or solar power are best for improving air quality..." For more detailed info, read the latest blog post by Dr. David Reichmuth at the Union of Concerned Scientists website."

"OppChg  Leslie SC • a day ago

The report does not conclude at all what the headline says, rather it concludes electric cars are the BEST choice as they can reduce harmful pollution 50 to 70% over gasoline only vehicles. PNAS dot org and is titled "Life cycle air quality impacts of conventional and alternative light-duty transportation in the United States"

"progressive_beast  freewill.IS.liberty • a day ago

Unfortunately you are trying to convince narrow minded, inflexible fools about issues that are abundantly clear to most people. The research results and data on climate change show clearly and conclusively that greenhouse gases and global temperature are at record high levels for the past 800,000 and rising rapidly, with most of the rise in the last 100-200 years. There is absolutely no doubt about this any longer. But you have a small but vocal group of deniers that manipulate or outright falsify data to try to justify their absurd point of view. It is time to disconnect from these fools and focus on doing what is right for our country and our planet. Let the knuckle-draggers stay in their bunkers and keep believing that the earth is flat."

And my comment, "The headline should read "Powering Anything with Coal is the Worst Thing You Can Do: We've Got to Decrease Its Use Wherever We Can. In Some Regions It Can Even Make Electric Cars Less Green." 

That would be most accurate.