The United States is under a lot of pressure to lower its carbon emissions during the Copenhagen summit this week. But the oil-rich Uniated Arab Emirates has an even worse environmental impact, relative to its population. With little public transport, few recycling options, and almost all food and general goods flown into the region, the Gulf nation is under pressure to improve its environmental sustainability. Dan Nolan reports from Dubai.
The chemtrail conspiracy theory holds that some contrails are actually toxic chemicals or biological agents deliberately sprayed at high altitude for a purpose undisclosed to the general public. Versions of the conspiracy theory circulating on the internet and on some radio talk shows theorize that this activity is directed by government officials, and they have received thousands of complaints from people who have demanded an explanation. The existence of chemtrails has been repeatedly denied by Government agencies and scientists. Anyone living near a major metropolitan airport has gazed up at the sky and seen them: patchworks of crisscrossing contrails left by passing jetliners. Most of us don’t give a second thought to this common sight of a scratched-up sky. If we do, it’s likely to reflect on the explosion in air traffic and its growing contribution to air pollution. Do hanging contrails represent something much more sinister than increased carbon emissions? Since the late 1990s, a flourishing conspiracy theory subculture has been ringing the alarm that many of these contrails aren’t normal vapor-and-exhaust contrails at all. Rather, they are chemtrails, mysterious and menacing chemical evidence of secret government programs to modify the weather and depopulate the planet.
Barack Obama, the US president, has reached a non-binding agreement with four other nations on limiting future carbon emissions. The accord has been angrily criticised by developing nations, who say that it is not enough to prevent environmental catastrophe due to global warming. The US president will also have a tough time selling the climate agreement back home. With the country’s economy sluggish and unemployment in double digits, energy companies say it isn’t the time for new regulations. As Sebastian Walker reports from Texas, those firms say tougher rules would cut into their bottom line and keep them from creating new jobs.
An animation about why we need to put a price on carbon emissions (ie a cap and trade system or a carbon tax). If you agree with the message, let your politicians know it! Animated by Andy Lubershane Check out more cartoons at: www.earthlycomics.com
Global Work Party event called for Oct 10, 2010. Bill mckibben spoke in Freeport Maine March 6, 2010. He reviewed the Oct 24,2009 international day of climate action where more than 5200 events took place in 181 countries when people came together behind the idea of limiting carbon in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million. mckibben encourages people to act locally, nationally, and internationally. the 10/10/10 event is asking people around the world to have a day of work to reduce carbon emissions. 350 promotes decentralization, encourages people to be creative and to contribute in their own way at what they are best at.
I’m like “It’s a world WIDE web!” and then I go on to talk solely about Australia and New Zealand. Still, it’s applicable to YOU because (to the best of my knowledge) most countries have not set their new emissions targets yet, so Australia and New Zealand are probably going to set the trend. “DON’T TAKE MY PAVLOVA BRO!”: www.youtube.com Music is “Take out the Trash” by Brad Sucks, used under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike: www.bradsucks.net Links to the news stories: Wong defiant as Senate rejects carbon trade laws: www.abc.net.au NZ announces emissions targets: www.abc.net.au Quake Brings New Zealand Closer to Australia: www.livescience.com Alright so that’s all from me. I’ll see you next week!
Acterra launched Green@Home, a project to help Palo Alto citizens lower their energy use and their carbon emissions. Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto kindly opened her home for a test run of the event. April 2007, Palo Alto, CA.
Climate change and the future of talks on the issue will be one of the biggest political issues facing the world in 2010. At the Copenhagen summit earlier this month, more than a 100 heads of state brokered a watered down deal on cutting carbon emissions, a move one delegate described as a “suicide pact for Africa”. Emma Hayward reports.
