Archive for the 'Environment' Category
For Frack’s Sake: U.S. Wants Natural Gas as Major Auto Fuel Option
February 29th, 2012Via: Network World: Natural gas has never been much of an option for US car drivers and its going to take a lot of effort by the government and auto manufactures to make it a viable alternative to gas. But that’s just what a $10 million program from the Department of Energy’s advanced project development […]
Judge Dismisses Organic Farmers’ Case Against Monsanto
February 29th, 2012Via: NPR: A New York federal court today dismissed a lawsuit against agribusiness giant Monsanto brought by thousands of certified organic farmers. The farmers hoped the suit would protect them against infringing on the company’s crop patents in the future. The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association and several other growers and organizations do not […]
White House Refuses to Release Email From Monsanto-Linked Lobbyist
February 27th, 2012Via: TruthOut: The White House is withholding documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by an environmental group that suspects the Obama administration of working with Monsanto-linked lobbyists to defend the planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops in wildlife refuges across the country.
France Asks EU to Suspend GM Crop Authorisation
February 22nd, 2012Does anyone know what the French government means by, “Significant risks for the environment”? Via: AFP: France’s ecology ministry said Monday it had asked European regulators to suspend authorisation for the use of genetically modified MON 810 maize crops from US company Monsanto based on new studies. The request is “based on the latest scientific […]
Now Glyphosate (Roundup) Found in People’s Urine
February 22nd, 2012Via: GM Watch: According to an article in German in the Ithaca journal, a German university study has found significant concentrations of glyphosate in the urine samples of city dwellers. The analysis of the urine samples apparently found that all had concentrations of glyphosate at 5 to 20-fold the limit for drinking water. As well […]
China: Electric Cars Could Cause Worse Pollution Than Conventional Cars
February 19th, 2012While it might be obvious to you and me that burning coal to charge electric vehicles makes about as much sense as pissing into the wind, my guess is that this would be news to many. Via: io9: The electric (or even hybrid) car has been heralded as a way to help limit the amount […]
China: Cans of New Zealand Made Infant Formula Sell for NZ$92 in Shanghai
February 11th, 2012One guess as to the nationality of “offshore buyers” of the land mentioned below… Via: New Zealand Farmers Weekly: Canterbury dairy producer and processor Synlait is negotiating to sell up to 70% of its holding in Synlait Farms, with potential for the near 5000 hectares of prime irrigated Canterbury dairy farmland to be sold to […]
Bill Gates Backs Climate Scientists Lobbying for Large-Scale Geoengineering
February 6th, 2012Via: Guardian: A small group of leading climate scientists, financially supported by billionaires including Bill Gates, are lobbying governments and international bodies to back experiments into manipulating the climate on a global scale to avoid catastrophic climate change. The scientists, who advocate geoengineering methods such as spraying millions of tonnes of reflective particles of sulphur […]
John Key at Waitangi: Making Friends and Influencing People
February 5th, 2012Via: New Zealand Herald: Prime Minister John Key and fellow politicians were verbally abused by protesters during ugly scenes at Waitangi this morning. Protester Wi Popata heckled prominent Maori MPs at Te Tii Marae, calling Dr Pita Sharples, Te Ururoa Flavell and Hekia Parata “John Key’s niggers.” “The Treaty’s not for sale,” chanted others. “You […]
UC San Diego: Artificial Cell Membranes
January 31st, 2012“Specifically, robots, engineered organisms, and nanobots share a dangerous amplifying factor: They can self-replicate. A bomb is blown up only once – but one bot can become many, and quickly get out of control.” —Bill Joy, Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us Via: UCSD: Chemists have taken an important step in making artificial life forms […]
