James Towner | 
04 9th, 2008| 
Al Gore updated his famous slide show and presented it recently at TED, this new one is quite a bit shorter. I thought it was an interesting view, check it out.
Apr
9
Apr
8
Very interesting article over at the guardian.co.uk about the global food price crisis and how one of the factors causing it is the switch from food crops to biofuel crops.
tens of thousands of farmers have switched from food to fuel production to reduce US dependence on foreign oil. Spurred by generous subsidies and an EU commitment to increase the use of biofuels to counter climate change, at least 8m hectares (20m acres) of maize, wheat, soya and other crops which once provided animal feed and food have been taken out of production in the US.
In addition, large areas of Brazil, Argentina, Canada and eastern Europe are diverting sugar cane, palm oil and soybean crops to biofuels. The result, exacerbated by energy price rises, speculation and shortages because of severe weather, has been big increases of all global food commodity prices.
Cameroon At least 24 people killed and 1,600 people arrested in February. Taxes slashed on food imports and public sector wages increased by 15%.
Indonesia 10,000 demonstrated outside the presidential palace in Jakarta after soya bean prices rose more than 50% in a month and more than 125% over the past year.
Egypt Seven people have died in fights or of exhaustion queuing for subsidised bread. Dairy products are up 20%, oil 40%.
Burkina Faso Riots in three towns after the government promised to control the price of food but failed.
Guinea Five anti-government riots over cost of living in past 18 months.
Pakistan Thousands of troops have been deployed to guard trucks carrying wheat and flour. [Read More]
Here’s some alternative biofuels to consider; these Arizona groups make biodiesel from waste vegetable oil.
Related Post: Biowar I: Why Battles over Food and Fuel Lead to World Hunger
Apr
4
This building is in my own back yard, and within walking distance of my house. It’s great to see that the water company that serves Maricopa is making an effort to be more sustainable.
The new Global Water Center is the first LEED certified utility facility in Pinal County. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-efficiency green buildings. LEED promotes environmentally conscious building by recognizing six key categories:
- sustainable sites
- energy and atmosphere
- water efficiency
- indoor environmental quality
- materials and resources
- innovation in design
“The Global Water Center uses a high percentage of recycled water, recycled building materials, and takes advantage of natural light and high-efficiency heating and AC, so it uses only two thirds of the electricity and one sixth the water of an average comparable traditionally constructed commercial structure. We are extremely proud of this achievement and are committed to taking a leadership role in green practices.” says Trevor Hill, President & CEO of Global Water Resources.
Apr
3
Interesting article over at Fox News about how the U.S. Armed forces are moving to alternative clean energies. Thanks to RKTowner for sending the link in for this.
Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada is powered by the largest solar-power array in the Americas — saving the government an estimated $1 million a year.
Dyess, Minot, and Fairchild Air Force bases purchase 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources of energy.
Airmen and their families have been using biomass fuel at Hill Air Force Base in Utah since 2004, thanks to a 1.3 megawatt landfill gas project. In other words, they are creating gas from the air base’s trash. Complete story at foxnews.com.
Mar
31
Funding is being sought for supporting and training what will be the workforce of tomorrow’s green economy. Along with cleaning up the environment what is particularly interesting about this movement is making climate change relevant to youth who were otherwise marginalized in the conversation of climate change. With the proper perspective and emphasis on job-generation, better health, career opportunities, along with improving the environment an often disadvantaged or at least disinterested youth can be engaged in this conversation while reintroducing the pride and respect that is due to those laborers who get things done in this economy.
GREEN JOBS: What is a green job? And how much is the U.S. government willing to spend to create them? We speak with attorney and social activist Van Jones, who jump started a training program to teach inner-city youth in the San Francisco area how to install solar panels. Last year he persuaded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to sign onto a plan to authorize $125 million dollars to train up to 30,000 people for green jobs. From NPR’s Here and Now
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