CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
Ojibwe prophecies speak of a time when we will have a choice between two paths. The first path is
well-worn and scorched. The second path is new and green.
It is our choice as communities and as individuals how we will proceed. We’ve already raised the average temperature of the globe one degree. The question is whether we can stop it from rising much more: this is at the core of our survival.
It is essential for us to look at the world’s economic and environmental realities in order to make critical decisions about our future. That means we must address issues such as climate change, peak oil and food insecurity.
We must decide whether we want to determine our own future or lease it out for royalties.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Kenya Passes New Constitution
HUMAN RIGHTS STORY
8/12/2010
Tristan McConnell, GlobalPost
"Kenyans voted overwhelmingly for a new constitution that could signal a fresh start for the country's historically damaged and divisive politics. Two-thirds of the country's 12.4 million voters cast their ballot in favor of a constitution that promises to limit the president's powers, reform land ownership, devolve more power to the county level. The new constitution would also introduce a bill of rights for the first time in the country's history."
8/12/2010
Tristan McConnell, GlobalPost
"Kenyans voted overwhelmingly for a new constitution that could signal a fresh start for the country's historically damaged and divisive politics. Two-thirds of the country's 12.4 million voters cast their ballot in favor of a constitution that promises to limit the president's powers, reform land ownership, devolve more power to the county level. The new constitution would also introduce a bill of rights for the first time in the country's history."
Drilling Industry and Gubernatorial Candidates Move to Weaken Some State Regulations--Propublica
by Sabrina Shankman
Aug. 5, 1:08 p.m.
As the federal government focuses on strengthening regulations for deepwater drilling, the gas and oil industry is quietly trying to weaken state regulations for drilling on land.
The industry's current targets are regulations passed by New Mexico and Colorado in 2008 and 2009. The New Mexico regulations mandate that the industry use thick industrial liners in the pits that hold its toxic waste. The Colorado regulations tighten controls on just about every aspect of the industry, from the waste pits to air quality.
The industry is challenging the regulations in court and through administrative appeals, arguing that the regulations are unreasonably expensive and are forcing companies to move to states with looser regulations. That argument has also surfaced in the New Mexico and Colorado gubernatorial races, where candidates from both parties have promised to repeal, or at least re-evaluate, the rules....continued....
Aug. 5, 1:08 p.m.
As the federal government focuses on strengthening regulations for deepwater drilling, the gas and oil industry is quietly trying to weaken state regulations for drilling on land.
The industry's current targets are regulations passed by New Mexico and Colorado in 2008 and 2009. The New Mexico regulations mandate that the industry use thick industrial liners in the pits that hold its toxic waste. The Colorado regulations tighten controls on just about every aspect of the industry, from the waste pits to air quality.
The industry is challenging the regulations in court and through administrative appeals, arguing that the regulations are unreasonably expensive and are forcing companies to move to states with looser regulations. That argument has also surfaced in the New Mexico and Colorado gubernatorial races, where candidates from both parties have promised to repeal, or at least re-evaluate, the rules....continued....
Pennsylvania broke law on natgas water use
By Jon Hurdle
PHILADELPHIA | Mon Aug 9, 2010
(Reuters) - Pennsylvania regulators are illegally allowing natural gas
companies to withdraw water from rivers and streams for use in the
Marcellus Shale drilling boom, an environmental group claims.
The Allegheny Defense Project says the state's Department of Environmental
Protection has no legal right to permit drillers, as it does, to take
millions of gallons of water from rivers in the western part of the state.
That right belongs to owners of riparian land -- that which borders
waterways -- but DEP has ignored the law in facilitating the industry's
demands, the group said in a letter sent to DEP Secretary John Hanger in
late July....continued...
PHILADELPHIA | Mon Aug 9, 2010
(Reuters) - Pennsylvania regulators are illegally allowing natural gas
companies to withdraw water from rivers and streams for use in the
Marcellus Shale drilling boom, an environmental group claims.
The Allegheny Defense Project says the state's Department of Environmental
Protection has no legal right to permit drillers, as it does, to take
millions of gallons of water from rivers in the western part of the state.
That right belongs to owners of riparian land -- that which borders
waterways -- but DEP has ignored the law in facilitating the industry's
demands, the group said in a letter sent to DEP Secretary John Hanger in
late July....continued...
Bean Day Wagon Mound Centenial
Join the Village of Wagon Mound Celebrate their 100th Bean Day celebration this Labor Day Weekend in Wagon Mound.
Guadalupita in Mora County is being considered for nomination of an historical and cultural site--SF NM
August 02, 2010 - 7/31/10
Preserving state's hidden gems
More than 8,000 acres north of Mora, which is described as one of New Mexico's most unchanged areas, has been nominated as a "cultural and agricultural landscape" for the State Register of Cultural Properties.
Malcolm Ebright, who wrote the nomination for the Guadalupita/Coyote Historic District, said the area historically "was kind of an end of the line. ...
"We just have to hope it doesn't get too much recognition," he said. "We want it to be preserved and keep it a secret a little bit."
The Cultural Properties Review Committee is to decide whether to list the district on the state register this month.
Tom Drake, a spokesman for the state Historic Preservation Division, said the State Register of Cultural Properties lists nearly 2,000 properties, both buildings and districts....continued...
Avoiding America's next drilling disaster
By Robert Casey and Diana DeGette
8-3-2010
While our nation copes with the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the
multiple failures of offshore drilling regulation that led to it, another
potential fossil-fuel crisis lurks onshore.
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," injects tens of thousands of
gallons of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into underground rock
formations to release natural gas. The injected fracking fluids are known to
include a variety of harmful chemicals, such as diesel fuel, benzene, methanol, and formaldehyde. Even low concentrations of these chemicals can have severe health and environmental consequences, and they are being used near drinking water supplies....continued...
8-3-2010
While our nation copes with the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the
multiple failures of offshore drilling regulation that led to it, another
potential fossil-fuel crisis lurks onshore.
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," injects tens of thousands of
gallons of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into underground rock
formations to release natural gas. The injected fracking fluids are known to
include a variety of harmful chemicals, such as diesel fuel, benzene, methanol, and formaldehyde. Even low concentrations of these chemicals can have severe health and environmental consequences, and they are being used near drinking water supplies....continued...
New BP Boss: Time to Scale Back Part of Oil Cleanup--AOL News
COMMENT: BP has filed for a 9.9 billion dollar tax credit, which means that the cleanup will cost them nothing but will simply defer their income.
Lauren Frayer Contributor
July 30 2010
BP's incoming CEO told Gulf Coast residents today that it's time to begin scaling back parts of the oil spill cleanup.
Bob Dudley, who doesn't officially take over until Oct. 1, met with residents and government officials in Biloxi, Miss., to discuss the company's long-term plans for dealing with the nation's worst-ever environmental disaster.
His comments came more than two weeks after the ruptured well was capped and with crude disappearing from the surface of the gulf....continued...
Lauren Frayer Contributor
July 30 2010
BP's incoming CEO told Gulf Coast residents today that it's time to begin scaling back parts of the oil spill cleanup.
Bob Dudley, who doesn't officially take over until Oct. 1, met with residents and government officials in Biloxi, Miss., to discuss the company's long-term plans for dealing with the nation's worst-ever environmental disaster.
His comments came more than two weeks after the ruptured well was capped and with crude disappearing from the surface of the gulf....continued...
United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
BY STEVE MCCONNELL
Scranton Times-Tibune
A natural gas drilling company has filed a federal lawsuit against Damascus Twp. in Wayne County, just days after township officials issued a "cease-and-desist" work order on one of the company's exploratory wells because it didn't obtain a permit.
The suit, filed July 6 by a subsidiary of Houston-based Newfield Exploration Co., claims that on July 2 township officials "took administrative action to stop the drilling project" by issuing a stop-work order. It further states the township does not have any regulatory authority to do so through its zoning ordinance.
The suit alleges that state law, in particular the state Oil and Gas Act, which is enforced by the state Department of Environmental Protection, supercedes all local authority to regulate or require any special provisions upon natural gas exploration and development.
Scranton Times-Tibune
A natural gas drilling company has filed a federal lawsuit against Damascus Twp. in Wayne County, just days after township officials issued a "cease-and-desist" work order on one of the company's exploratory wells because it didn't obtain a permit.
The suit, filed July 6 by a subsidiary of Houston-based Newfield Exploration Co., claims that on July 2 township officials "took administrative action to stop the drilling project" by issuing a stop-work order. It further states the township does not have any regulatory authority to do so through its zoning ordinance.
The suit alleges that state law, in particular the state Oil and Gas Act, which is enforced by the state Department of Environmental Protection, supercedes all local authority to regulate or require any special provisions upon natural gas exploration and development.
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge oil spill
Train derails on refuge, spills fuel oil
Written by T.S. Last
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:00
While the eyes of the nation have been focused on the Gulf oil spill, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge now has to contend with its own oil spill and environmental disaster. A Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad train derailed about an hour after
sunrise Tuesday morning (July 27) at the southern end of the refuge, when a trestle collapsed. Although no injuries were reported, some environmental damage inevitably occurred.....continued...
Written by T.S. Last
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:00
While the eyes of the nation have been focused on the Gulf oil spill, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge now has to contend with its own oil spill and environmental disaster. A Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad train derailed about an hour after
sunrise Tuesday morning (July 27) at the southern end of the refuge, when a trestle collapsed. Although no injuries were reported, some environmental damage inevitably occurred.....continued...
Brazil's congress Cleaning Up a Campaign Against Corruption
Jul 8th 2010 | SÃo Paulo
ORGANISED crime takes several forms in Brazil. One is politics—a lucrative trade. Of the 513 members of the lower house of Congress, 147 face criminal charges in the supreme court or are under investigation, and the same goes for 21 of the 81 senators, according to Congresso em Foco, a website that acts as a watchdog. Some—nobody knows quite how many—have already been convicted in lower courts. Most of the crimes involve either violating campaign-finance laws or stealing public money.....continued....
ORGANISED crime takes several forms in Brazil. One is politics—a lucrative trade. Of the 513 members of the lower house of Congress, 147 face criminal charges in the supreme court or are under investigation, and the same goes for 21 of the 81 senators, according to Congresso em Foco, a website that acts as a watchdog. Some—nobody knows quite how many—have already been convicted in lower courts. Most of the crimes involve either violating campaign-finance laws or stealing public money.....continued....
Not So Fast Natural Gas:Why Accelerating Risky Drilling Threatens America's Water
Protect drinking water from natural gas drilling and contamination!
Some energy analysts are predicting that natural gas will be the fuel of the future if advances in drilling technology allow drillers to tap into domestic shale rock formations on a large scale. But because of the impacts that the technology can have on water, natural gas could become our next energy disaster.
Although the industry argues that fracking is safe, there have been numerous documented cases of water contamination near drilling sites.
In order to extract gas from shale, drillers use a method called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” for short. This means injecting millions of gallons of hydraulic fluids—a mix of water, chemicals and sand—into a well to create pressure that cracks open the rocks under the ground, allowing the gas to escape and flow into wells.
Some energy analysts are predicting that natural gas will be the fuel of the future if advances in drilling technology allow drillers to tap into domestic shale rock formations on a large scale. But because of the impacts that the technology can have on water, natural gas could become our next energy disaster.
Although the industry argues that fracking is safe, there have been numerous documented cases of water contamination near drilling sites.
In order to extract gas from shale, drillers use a method called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” for short. This means injecting millions of gallons of hydraulic fluids—a mix of water, chemicals and sand—into a well to create pressure that cracks open the rocks under the ground, allowing the gas to escape and flow into wells.
E.P.A. Considers Risks of Gas Extraction--The New York Times
By TOM ZELLER Jr.
Published: July 23, 2010
CANONSBURG, Pa. — The streams of people came to the public meeting here armed with stories of yellowed and foul-smelling well water, deformed livestock, poisoned fish and itchy skin. One resident invoked the 1968 zombie thriller “Night of the Living Dead,” which, as it happens, was filmed just an hour away from this southwestern corner of Pennsylvania.
A residents say hydraulic fracturing is polluting water.
Terry Greenwood, a farmer in Daisytown, Pa., at a hearing with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The culprit, these people argued, was hydraulic fracturing, a method of extracting natural gas that involves blasting underground rock with a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals....continued....
Published: July 23, 2010
CANONSBURG, Pa. — The streams of people came to the public meeting here armed with stories of yellowed and foul-smelling well water, deformed livestock, poisoned fish and itchy skin. One resident invoked the 1968 zombie thriller “Night of the Living Dead,” which, as it happens, was filmed just an hour away from this southwestern corner of Pennsylvania.
A residents say hydraulic fracturing is polluting water.
Terry Greenwood, a farmer in Daisytown, Pa., at a hearing with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The culprit, these people argued, was hydraulic fracturing, a method of extracting natural gas that involves blasting underground rock with a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals....continued....
800,000 Gal of oil Flowing Into The Kalamazoo River
Michigan Oil Spill Among Largest In Midwest History: Kalamazoo Spill SOAKS Wildlife
The Huffington Post July 29, 2010
As the Gulf Coast deals with the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, the Midwest is now facing an oil spill of its own.
A state of emergency has been declared in southwest Michigan's Kalamazoo County as more than 800,000 gallons of oil released into a creek began making its way downstream in the Kalamazoo River, the Kalamazoo Gazette reports.
The trouble began Monday at 9:45 a.m., when an oil pipeline owned by Enbridge Liquids Pipelines sprung a leak in Marshall Township. Enbridge Energy is a subsidiary of Calgary, Canada based Enbridge Inc., the Detroit Free Press reports. According to the company, it is the largest transporter of oil from western Canada....continued...
The Huffington Post July 29, 2010
As the Gulf Coast deals with the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, the Midwest is now facing an oil spill of its own.
A state of emergency has been declared in southwest Michigan's Kalamazoo County as more than 800,000 gallons of oil released into a creek began making its way downstream in the Kalamazoo River, the Kalamazoo Gazette reports.
The trouble began Monday at 9:45 a.m., when an oil pipeline owned by Enbridge Liquids Pipelines sprung a leak in Marshall Township. Enbridge Energy is a subsidiary of Calgary, Canada based Enbridge Inc., the Detroit Free Press reports. According to the company, it is the largest transporter of oil from western Canada....continued...
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
July 29, 2010
BP Has Paid $256 Million in Claims
BP estimated July 28 that it would pay at least $60 million in advance payments in August to claimants throughout the Gulf States region for lost income or business profits. BP said it had paid $256 million to date for claims, including $30 million in the last week. Darryl Willis, a member of the BP claims team, said Kenneth R. Feinberg, administrator of the $20 billion compensation fund, would take over the operation in "the next several weeks."
'Static Kill' May Begin August 2
BP still expects to permanently shut the well as soon as August 2. "It is possible that as early as Monday or Tuesday this well might be killed," Robert Dudley, the company's new chief executive, said on National Public Radio. "There's no precision; there's nothing guaranteed. I'm hopeful, and I do believe we've seen the end of oil flowing into the gulf."....continued....
July 29, 2010
BP Has Paid $256 Million in Claims
BP estimated July 28 that it would pay at least $60 million in advance payments in August to claimants throughout the Gulf States region for lost income or business profits. BP said it had paid $256 million to date for claims, including $30 million in the last week. Darryl Willis, a member of the BP claims team, said Kenneth R. Feinberg, administrator of the $20 billion compensation fund, would take over the operation in "the next several weeks."
'Static Kill' May Begin August 2
BP still expects to permanently shut the well as soon as August 2. "It is possible that as early as Monday or Tuesday this well might be killed," Robert Dudley, the company's new chief executive, said on National Public Radio. "There's no precision; there's nothing guaranteed. I'm hopeful, and I do believe we've seen the end of oil flowing into the gulf."....continued....
UN Resolution on the "RIGHT TO WATER" Passes Overwhelmingly
HUMAN RIGHTS!
UN resolution on right to water passes overwhelmingly. 124 yes, 42 abstentions, 0 no!
On July 28, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly agreed to a resolution declaring the human right to “safe and clean drinking water and sanitation.” The resolution, presented by the Bolivian government, had 124 countries vote in its favour, while 42 countries – including Canada – abstained.
For more than a decade the water justice movement, including the Council of Canadians' Blue Planet Project, has been calling for UN leadership on this critical issue. Right now nearly 2billion people live in water-stressed areas of the world and 3 billion have no running water within a kilometre of their homes. Every eight seconds, a child dies of water-borne disease – deaths that would be easily preventable with access to clean, safe water....continued
Department Of Environmental Protection Unlawfully permitting Water Withdrawal
July 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Department of Environmental Protection Unlawfully Permitting Water
Withdrawals For Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling in Western Pennsylvania
Only riparian owners can make use of water in streams and rivers
Natural gas companies have descended on Pennsylvania's forests and
farmlands to drill into the Marcellus Shale. Each Marcellus Shale gas
well requires millions of gallons of water for the drilling process.
That water is taken from Pennsylvania's streams and rivers under the
alleged authority of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP). The DEP, however, does not have the authority to
permit water withdrawals in Pennsylvania.
In central and eastern Pennsylvania, water withdrawals are managed by
the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and Delaware River Basin
Commission.
Congress created the two commissions as federal-interstate compacts with
the authority to permit water withdrawals within their respective
basins.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Department of Environmental Protection Unlawfully Permitting Water
Withdrawals For Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling in Western Pennsylvania
Only riparian owners can make use of water in streams and rivers
Natural gas companies have descended on Pennsylvania's forests and
farmlands to drill into the Marcellus Shale. Each Marcellus Shale gas
well requires millions of gallons of water for the drilling process.
That water is taken from Pennsylvania's streams and rivers under the
alleged authority of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP). The DEP, however, does not have the authority to
permit water withdrawals in Pennsylvania.
In central and eastern Pennsylvania, water withdrawals are managed by
the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and Delaware River Basin
Commission.
Congress created the two commissions as federal-interstate compacts with
the authority to permit water withdrawals within their respective
basins.
A Fracking War: Industry Tries and Fails to Debunk "GasLand" Documentary
Thursday 22 July 2010
by: Mike Ludwig
The information war over the natural gas drilling practice commonly called "fracking" is heating up as filmmaker Josh Fox responds to an industry attempt to debunk his hit film "Gasland."
"Gasland" won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and gave new life to a national controversy after airing on HBO. The film exposes the environmental and health dangers associated with largely unregulated hydraulic fracturing practices - or "fracking" - and includes interviews with residents across the county who say their air and drinking water has been contaminated by nearby gas wells....continued....
by: Mike Ludwig
The information war over the natural gas drilling practice commonly called "fracking" is heating up as filmmaker Josh Fox responds to an industry attempt to debunk his hit film "Gasland."
"Gasland" won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and gave new life to a national controversy after airing on HBO. The film exposes the environmental and health dangers associated with largely unregulated hydraulic fracturing practices - or "fracking" - and includes interviews with residents across the county who say their air and drinking water has been contaminated by nearby gas wells....continued....
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