Editor’s Note: Stranded Wind brings an intriguing voice, a passion, and interesting perspective to the discussion of the energy and environmental challenges before us. Working to foster innovative approaches, knitting together unusual teams, and bringing a nomad’s perspective to the table are among some of Strand Wind’s unusual and strong attributes. One initiative arena can be found at the website appropriately entitled StrandedWind. This essay is part Stranded Wind’s WalkAbout series.
Anyone who has the ability to have an internet access has a great many energyslaves at his or her disposal. Seriously, go take a look around your dwelling (you’re not surfing the at work, are you?). A vehicle of some sort, a furnace, an air conditioner, a hot water heater, an stove with oven, lights, entertainment equipment, a computer … starting to get the picture? I became peak oil aware almost a year ago and since then I’ve been mindful of what powers the various devices I use and I’ve made it a point to go into the great outdoors with as little as possible on me, staying a day at a time or more to get back in touch with what it means to live in a world made by hand.
I’ve been doing an extended, lower impact version of this in my time here at farmerchuck’s Revoluntionary War era farmhouse, where many of the modern conveniences simply aren’t present. We’ve been having a good bit of trouble both on the behavior front as well as the fuel supply front so I thought I’d delve into this area from the perspective of a rural smallholding.
Editor’s note: Here is a guess post from the always informative and insightful Patriot News ClearingHouse. This post makes the important point that there are multiple elements of human agency that have contributed to the extent of human (and otherwise) catastrophe from Cyclone Nargis. And, let us remember, that mangrove swamps/forests do far more than ’simply’ protect a coastline from storm surges. In any event, over to PDNC …
Given the number of deaths caused by the Burma cyclone, one question is what could have been done beforehand to better protect people. One answer is that we need to stop destroying our natural resources. Mangroves are natural buffers which decrease the severity of impacts from storms. The destruction of mangroves is a contributing factor to the death toll from the cyclone because people simply did not think of the environmental and human consequences of destroying the natural buffer. Contrary to WH spin, the mangroves may have provided better protection of human lives than even government warning systems.
Global Warming Deniers (and their extreme right-wing enablers) are showing their desperation. Rather than continue with simply confusing people with distortion of data (lies, damn lies, statistics, and statistics from Global Warming deniers), we have before us a case of deliberate doctoring of evidence to distort events. For too many in the American right wing, hatred of Al Gore exceeds any ability to or willingness to contemplate reality. Thus, the efforts for the creation of a new “reality” that is more acceptable to the deniers.
As well documented in the WonkRoom, the Business & Media Institutes has made waves with the right wing denial world with a distorted misrepresentation of an Al Gore interview on NPR. The distortion extended to splicing separation pieces of the interview together to create a sentence, comments that Gore never made. Of course, with this being the Right-Wing Sound Machine, the deception didn’t stop with BMI, but went to Drudge, Fox, and other venues. Keep reading →
Opening the newspaper, turning on the TV, going onto the web, it is hard to avoid the images and messages that $billions can buy. And, $billions are what the fossil fuel industries have available and $billions in profits are what they see as at risk. So, they are funding huge efforts to distort the debate and confuse Americans in ways that will undercut the potential to achieve an Energy Smart future.
“Not … achievable.” That claim is beyond ridicule and disgust. It is willful deceit. Achieving much stronger reductions that outlined in the CISA is achievable, it simply requires the will (political) to set serious targets and work toward them.
For several years now, various agencies of the US government have been sponsoring a monthly evening lecture series on energy issues: The Energy Conversation. Held in Crystal City, Virginia, these lectures (conversations?) bring together an eclectic mix of people who generally share a passion about one issue: concerns about the US approach to energy and a desire to see a shift toward more sensible approach toward energy within the United States (and globally).
This Monday’s talk, Gigawatt Renewables with a presentation by John Mizroch, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy.
Serious climate legislation had been in critical condition for some months. Doctors and family members finally pulled the plug this week, and the patient appeared to lose all vital signs. The coroner listed the cause of death as “apathy.”
While disagreeing with Joe about whether to call Lieberman-Warner serious or seriously dangerous, apathy in face of ever mounting evidence of the existing damage from Global Warming and looming threats of more damage to come is moving toward reckless endangerment of America’s and humanity’s future prospects.
What is truly sad, truly, is that so much of what is necessary can fall into a no regret strategy, with ‘win-win’ categories. We can ‘geo-engineer’ to a better planetary environment with biochar and white roofing, gaining other benefits at the same time, win-win-win paths. We can pursue greater energy efficiency, leading toward more comfortable lives while creating good jobs, reducing pollution, and spending less money on energy. With each day that passes, renewable energy is becoming more cost competitive with fossil fuel energy, even before we discuss making “external” costs internal to the calculation of energy prices. We can do so much good … even without considering the climate benefits.
Thus, one hand clapping: the Coal-Subsidy Act (fundamentally inadequate in face of the threat before us, before the US) seems unlikely to muster enough support to pass. The hand not clapping: that it won’t pass because Senators are engaged in reckless endangerment and acting as if it is too strong a measure.
If there reason for frustration with Democratic Party Senate leadership over messaging when it comes to energy issues, we should be beyond frustration about disastrous Republican substance when it comes to energy. When it comes to oil, the only solution: more supply, drill, drill, drill!!! Putting aside the question as to the sensibility of a supply-side answer in the face of Peak Oil, Global Warming, and rising global demand (can we increase fast enough), let us take a brief look at the linkage between drilling and oil prices.
Additional drilling doesn’t seem to drive lower gasoline prices, does it? Keep reading →
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Jeff Bingaman, Max Baucus, Charles Schumer, Byron Dorgan, Maria Cantwell and Bernie Sanders held a press conference today to unveil the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008, a bill that addresses the root causes of high gas prices. Seven years of the Bush Administration’s disastrous energy policies have enriched Big Oil and market speculators at the expense of American consumers. Democrats are committed to providing relief to consumers and strengthening our economic, energy and national security.
Anything jump out at you?
No.
Let’s highlight a few words:
A bill that addresses the root causes of high gas prices
At least from the material that I’ve seen, here are a few things that not addressed by this bill:
Rising demand from China, India, Saudi Arabia, etc
America’s McSUV and oil addiction habit
Peak Oil
Hmmm … these would seem to be some pretty serious root causes.
A short while ago, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Jeff Bingaman, Max Baucus, Charles Schumer, Byron Dorgan, Maria Cantwell and Bernie Sanders held a press conference today to unveil the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008.” Done with some fanfare, the language around the act and its substance suggests that this author is unlikely to be a fan.
This discussion will take a series of several posts. And, full disclosure: these comments are based on the summary material (fully quoted, commented on below) without having read the entire bill and all its analysis. With one exception, this post will focus solely on the six points and not address the language used to introduce it and surrounding it.
The exception. One commentator, quoted from the Senate leadership said: “This bill is a lifeline to families struggling with high fuel prices.” Think about these measures with that perspective in mind.
enablers) are showing their desperation. Rather than continue with simply confusing people with distortion of data (lies, damn lies, statistics, and statistics from Global Warming deniers), we have before us a case of deliberate doctoring of evidence to distort events. For too many in the American right wing, hatred of Al Gore exceeds any ability to or willingness to contemplate reality. Thus, the efforts for the creation of a new “reality” that is more acceptable to the deniers.
Senators Jeff Bingaman, Max Baucus, Charles Schumer, Byron Dorgan, Maria Cantwell and Bernie Sanders held a press conference today to unveil the 
