What follows is a long, thoughtful, detail-packed excerpt from Jared Diamond’s epochal "Collapse." This particular excerpt concerns the actions of a Chevron subsidiary in a Papua New Guinea, a part of the world close to Diamond’s heart, since he worked there as an ornithologist decades ago. In a nutshell, Diamond suggests that–at least in thisContinue reading “Chevron Walks the Talk — in New Guinea”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
33,000 Dead — Thanks to Rove?
In September 2002, California officials confirmed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates of 33,000 fish killed in the Klamath River by diseases caused by low water flows mandated by Federal officials. Thanks to the scandal now slowly enveloping Karl Rove, we now have a pretty fair idea why (LA TImes — registration required). In earlyContinue reading “33,000 Dead — Thanks to Rove?”
Not El Nino, Not La Nina — La Nada
Southern California had a strangely wet winter this year. Even the experts are scratching their heads about it. Usually heavy rains correspond to the ocean current pattern known as El Nino. Not this year, as the irrepressible Bill Patzert of JPL explains: "This season was what I call ‘La Nada,’ " Patzert said. "El NiñoContinue reading “Not El Nino, Not La Nina — La Nada”
Dangerous Curves
About a quarter-century ago, fueled by a great deal of blather from the White House, this nation became aware of an economic concept known as the Laffer curve. This impressive-sounding concept became famous, though its usefulness turned out to be political, not practical. David Stockman, the White House budget director at the time, explained itContinue reading “Dangerous Curves”
The Business-as-Usual Scenario…for the UK
From "The Scotsman," a worst-case climate change scenario for the UK, in which most of the islands are under water. Of course, this scenario assumes we do nothing to slow the changing of the global climate, and that the Antarctic ice sheet melts. Probably we as a species will have enough sense to avoid thatContinue reading “The Business-as-Usual Scenario…for the UK”
Line of the Week
"Occupations always fail." …from Tim Robbins’ character in "War of the Worlds"…
The Green Alps Theory
A young Swiss scientist named Ulrich Joerin and his colleagues at Institute for Geological Science at the University of Bern have been making news in climate circles with an exciting new theory. (See the well-written article from Der Spiegel: highly recommended.) Essentially, the idea is that during the last few thousand years, glaciers have comeContinue reading “The Green Alps Theory”
On Thimerosal, Says The New York Times, We Can Trust Our Doctors
A flood of lawsuits from parents of autistic children and a potent piece by Robert F. Kennedy arguing that the recent upsurge in autism is linked to vaccines using a form of mercury called thimerosal (published in Salon last week, and referenced below here and in many other blogs) as a preservative has prompted aContinue reading “On Thimerosal, Says The New York Times, We Can Trust Our Doctors”
Battle of the Grandpas
Three of this country’s best-known grandfathers are at odds on the issue that may well turn out to be the biggest news story of our time. Here’s the perspective of Vice-President Dick Cheney. Sean Hannity of Fox News asked him about global warming at the end of a flattering conversation last week. (To call itContinue reading “Battle of the Grandpas”
Why Can’t We Believe Our Doctors?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week posted an important story in Salon about the dangers of a common vaccine that included a form of mercury called thimerosal. It’s well-written and well-researched and anyone with kids — and especially anyone concerned about the astounding rise in autism and related disorders in recent years — should readContinue reading “Why Can’t We Believe Our Doctors?”
Kit Stolz 