Photo by Fernando de Sousa.
This week my email box was jammed with press releases as well as interesting reads. I have no idea what is in the air but it seemed as if the green chatter was so much louder this week. Kind of like the amount of ladybugs I have clinging to my windows screaming “let me in…” Did anyone else feel that way?
So let’s kick off this week’s green speed link week with Newsweek.
The Dark Side of Green. Gaming the global-warming fight. via Newsweek. Interesting article about how governmental subsidies are hurting more then helping to reduce the cost of renewable energy. The author sums up his argument as follows:
“But of the 10 most cost-effective and measurable ways for the world to cut emissions, for example, subsidies for renewables don’t even make it onto the list. Much more effective is putting a price on emissions, or finding other ways to mandate reductions and letting the market decide which technologies are the best. Here’s hoping governments take the point soon.”
Where do dust bunnies come from? Finally an Answer via Environmental Leader. So, you thought it was safe to ignore those dust bunnies in the corner? Think again. They may contain lead, arsenic or other chemicals. Remember, I am constantly telling you to take off your shoes before you come into the house. Don’t make me say I told you so.
Passivhaus: The Top 5 Barriers to Growth In The US via The Green Economy Post:
According to the Article, “[t]he Passivhaus movement is an exciting building design concept that offers tremendous energy savings due to reliance on passive heating systems. Europe is embracing the concept with between ten and fifteen thousand houses already built and governmental support of mandating the standard.” So, why hasn’t this concept caught on here?
Geothermal Energy Gets Big Boost from Government via The Green Economy Post: It is about time that the government see the light of day with regards to geothermal technology. Solar is not the only bad boy around. Many of my loyal readers know that I am a geothermal aficionado having one in my house as well. (See here and here.) According to the article,
“Steven Chu, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary has announced up to $338 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields as well as for research into advanced geothermal technologies.”
Check out which projects are getting the money.
USGBC FOREST CERTIFICATION BENCHMARKS: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR ALL BUILDING MATERIALS via Dovetail Partners Inc.
According to the report, in September, 2009, the USGBC Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group released the second draft of a Forest Certification Benchmark. The authors of this report feel that the second draft needs substantial revisions. They further state,
“We believe they bring further complication to a process that was already too much so, lack sufficient clarity to allow consistent auditing, and are not likely to provide an incentive for more responsible forest management. These are problems that we believe must be addressed. But despite these problems we do see a significant opportunity for the USGBC – an opportunity to address an obvious and longstanding need for a certification standard for all materials used in building construction. The current draft, as we outline herein,provides an excellent starting point for this more substantial green building improvement.”
Don’t you think it is time for a universal green standard?
Where have all the Bluefin Tuna gone? According to a Greenpeace PR release I received,
“This scientific evidence clearly indicates that northern Bluefin tuna are severely depleted and a ban on international trade is not only justified, but critically needed to stop the Bluefin tuna’s downward spiral towards extinction,” said Phil Kline, a senior oceans campaigner with Greenpeace and former commercial fisherman. “Not only does the fate of this magnificent species hang in the balance but so does the future of our commercial and recreational fisheries.”
For more information about the Bluefin Tuna, see here. The WWF encourages restaurants, chefs, retailors, and consumers to stop buying, serving, or eating the endangered Bluefin tuna until it shows signs of recovery.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) announced its Growing Green Awards 2010. Nominations are due December 4, 2009.
“Through this national award, NRDC will recognize extraordinary contributions that advance ecologically integrated farming practices, climate stewardship, water stewardship, farmland preservation, and social responsibility from farm to fork.
A Growing Green Award will be given to an outstanding individual in each of four categories, including Food Producer, Business Leader, Thought Leader, and Water Steward. A $10,000 cash prize will be awarded in the Food Producer category and all winners will be widely celebrated through outreach to media and NRDC’s networks.”
Nominate yourself or someone who deserves this award.
Urgent Warning about Gardsill via The Health and Science Institute. This is not the first time I have reported about issues surrounding Gardsill. Now, it appears according to the HSI that the FDA has approved the administration of Gardsill to boys ages 9 to 26 to prevent genital warts.
The HSI further states:
“Never mind that the FDA has received more than 15,000 adverse event reports for Gardasil use among girls. Those reports include more than 1,000 severe reactions and 27 confirmed deaths.”
You would have thought the FDA would learn from their prior mistakes. Now, they want to administer to our boys. Big Pharma at its best.
And the last one for the week…..
350 Reasons why Carbon Trading Will not Work, an online video project of Rising Tide North America, Carbon Trade Watch, the Camp for Climate Action, the Mobilization for Climate Justice West. According to the press release,
“Domestic and international climate policy arenas are failing to protect people and planet by opting for carbon trading schemes proposed by major industrial polluters. Instead of taking scientific, tangible and democratic measures to reduce industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and many of the wealthiest countries in the world are instead choosing to mitigate impacts to corporate profits and carbon-intensive industrial growth through the marketing and offsetting of emissions.”
Very powerful. So, is cap and trade just pay to play?
Readers, have any green news to share? What’s your thoughts about any of the above articles?
cat says
Thanks for the article, very interesting.
P.S. nice frog on the picture
Jon LEED AP says
I like your comment about Geothermal. Teh only problem as far as the public is concerned is that geothermal is not as sexy and easy to show off as solar is. People can see solar on the roof but you’d have to take them on a tour of your basement to show them the pump system.
Just a thought, Jon
Green Talk says
Jon, so true. Anna