National Snow and Ice Data Center: August 2010 ice

by billlaurelMD

This is the next in a series of diaries on the state of Arctic sea ice (and other topics as warranted) in memory of Johnny Rook, who passed away in early 2009. He was the author of the Climaticide Chronicles.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has issued its report on [http://nsidc.org/ August 2010 arctic sea ice condition. If you've been following my diaries, you can probably guess at its gist. Headlines from the report:

1. August 2010 had the second-lowest Arctic sea ice extent since satellite records began in 1979.

Sea level pressure anomalies resembled the pattern that results in quickly vanishing Arctic sea ice; low pressure over Siberia and high pressure over the Arctic western hemisphere.

Arctic sea ice volume at 31 August was about 9,400 km³ below normal.

Much of the sea ice remaining is slushy and easily moved and melted.

More below.

continued at Daily Kos....

Eco White Privilege

by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse

Thanks to the Fossil Fuel Privilege, everyone pays a Fossil Fuel Tax when we pay the external costs (e.g., health care, quality of life) as corporate welfare for the fossil fuel industry. But poor/minority communities pay far more for a "separate but equal" life of living in areas of the industrial dumping grounds where a number of contaminated sites and industries pollute air, water and land. Society wants the goods and services produced as long as the polluting industries are NIMBY.

Multiple studies document that polluting industries are more likely to be located in minority neighborhoods. For years, our government has acknowledged the disparate treatment with the adverse impacts on health, education and quality of life. Yet, instead of a law to prohibit this racism, our government provides the remedy of an unenforced policy.

continued at Daily Kos....

An election about science?

by A Siegel

When it comes to the November 2010 elections, few people identify science as the core issue. Economic concerns (JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!), fossil-foolish fueled anger at government, passions over the role of government, and otherwise are among the many reasons why the current vogue is to predict a Republican wave come November.  A hidden element of the election, for most Americans, is that this election is fundamentally about science.

Very simply, while most Americans continue to hold science and scientists in high regard, an increasingly large share of the Republican Party's elite, office holders, candidates, and mouth pieces are taking seriously anti-science positions.

continued at Daily Kos....

Making Room for Wildlife to Improve Livelihoods

by NourishingthePlanet

Crossposted from the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet.

This is the second part in a two-part interview with Steve Osofsky, Director of Wildlife Health Policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In this first part of the interview, Osofsky explains Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and how small-scale farmers can benefit from the conservation of wildlife. To read the first part of this interview see: Finding Common Ground to Improve Livelihoods and Conserve Wildlife.

continued at Daily Kos....

BP Catastrophe Liveblog Mothership: 108

by Gulf Watchers

The current ROV DIARY: Daily Kos Gulf Watchers ROV #370 - BP's Gulf Catastrophe - Lorinda Pike

The digest of diaries is here

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....