Great news! The Earth will survive climate change!

by shpilk

Brilliant Nobel Prize winner Robert B. Laughlin

What the Earth Knows

Understanding the concept of geologic time and some basic science can give a new perspective on climate change and the energy future

http://www.theamericanscholar.org/...

"The earth didn’t replace the dinosaurs after they died, notwithstanding the improved weather conditions and 20,000 ages of Moses to make repairs. It just moved on and became something different than it had been before."

So don't worry. Be happy. The Earth will survive. Laughlin seems to think that one need only sell the shorefront property one owns, and move to 'handle the changes'. Hey, if you won the Nobel Prize, you probably could afford to move, too.

continued at Daily Kos...

Environmental security: Gulf drill ban to end early? Action alert!

by RLMiller

The Obama administration has a moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico through the end of November.  The moratorium has turned into a rallying cry for Republicans and some Gulf area Democrats.  The director of the agency-formerly-known-as-MMesS has embarked on a "listening tour," and today told reporters today that he's looking for information to help him lift the moratorium.  

Tomorrow, New Orleans, LA.
August 10, Mobile, AL.
August 11, Pensacola, FL.

But will he hear from residents who care about the environmental security of the region, or will he hear only from those who want to return to short term profit?

continued at Daily Kos...

The blindness of conventional wisdom

by A Siegel

Sadly, the conventional wisdom seems to be that action on climate change is a political loser. According to the Washington Post, Rust Belt House Democrats who voted for the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) bill that passed in 2009 feel abandoned by the White House's inability (or unwillingness) to force Senate action. And, many Democratic Representatives see this vote as a noose around their neck heading into the mid-terms like the Btu tax disaster was in 1994.

While there were (as this author would be glad to tell you in a different post) serious problems with ACES and it could have been (MUCH) better, this seems to be a case where the conventional wisdom is fostering a new reality rather reflecting reality.

continued at Daily Kos...

On the death of 17 chickens

by mwmwm

Last night, we got the call from our nearish neighbor, who has the specially modified nail gun that shoots blunt force trauma at 80 psi.

It was late afternoon -- "how about tonight?" she said.

We were planning an ethical multiple murder, and suddenly it was happening all too fast.

continued at Daily Kos...

Organic Agriculture and Genetic Engineering Work Together In Surprising Ways

by NourishingthePlanet

In the first post of this three-part interview, Pam Ronald and Raoul Adamchak, authors of the book, Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food, discuss why both organic agriculture and genetic engineering are important for the future of agriculture. You can read the rest of the series on Nourishing the Planet.

continued at Daily Kos...

UPDATE: Corexit and the Oil That's Left, the Worst is Yet to Come

by Ellinorianne

Please rec the BP Catastrophe Liveblog Mothership: 70

The headlines are piling up and the evidence is frightening to say the least even though the EPA is saying everything's fine, Citing Tests, E.P.A. Says It Was Wise to Use Oil Dispersant.

Spraying dispersants on oily water in the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t make the mixture any more toxic than the water was with Louisiana sweet crude alone, the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.

Paul Anastas, the agency’s assistant administrator for research and development, said that the toxicity of the mix of oil and dispersant sprayed to combat the gulf oil spill was generally in the range of moderate, comparable to the effects of the oil.

continued at Daily Kos...

BP Catastrophe/Static Kill Day Liveblog Mothership: 70x

by Gulf Watchers

The current ROV DIARY: Daily Kos Gulf Watchers ROV # 267 - Spill Kill, Part ?!? - BP's Gulf Catastrophe - bubbanomics

Rules of the Road

• We take volunteers for subsequent diaries in the sub diaries or ROV's as we have playfully coined them.
• Please rec this mothership diary, not the ROVs.
• Please be kind to fellow kossacks who may have limited bandwidth and refrain from posting images or videos.

PLEASE visit Pam LaPier's diary to find out how you can help the Gulf now and in the future. We don't have to be idle! And thanks to Crashing Vor and Pam LaPier for working on this!

continued at Daily Kos...