eKos: Return of the Dust Bowl

by FishOutofWater

Dust Storm, Texas Panhandle

Photo:Library of Congress Source: Red River Historian Desperation Road

In 2004 NASA's Siegfried Schubert discovered how ocean temperature anomalies caused the dust bowl drought in the Great Depression.

The study found cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean surface temperatures combined with warmer tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures to create conditions in the atmosphere that turned America’s breadbasket into a dust bowl from 1931 to 1939. ...

These changes in sea surface temperatures created shifts in the large-scale weather patterns and low level winds that reduced the normal supply of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and inhibited rainfall throughout the Great Plains.

The sea surface temperature anomaly patterns that caused the dust bowl drought have returned.

continued at Daily Kos....

Energy and the Election, Part 2: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

by NRDCActionFund

Congress is considering clean energy legislation that would increase our security by cutting dependence on oil, reduce pollution that contributes to global warming, and create millions of new jobs. Yet this legislation, passed by the House and supported by President Obama, is stalled in the Senate. How can this be in an election year when once again, “It’s the economy, stupid”?

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Stupid Goes Viral: "the John Birch Society was extreme, too."

by RLMiller

They prowl the tea party rallies of America's heartland, moaning for caaasshh.

Their stupid has gone viral.

Their supporters: "Some people say I’m extreme, but they said the John Birch Society was extreme, too."

And if they win, humanity loses.

I'm tracking Climate Zombies: every Republican candidate for House, Senate, and Governor who doubts, denies, or derides the science of climate change. Today, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia, with a highlight from Indiana's Ninth District.

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Virginians want clean energy and politicians who will make it happen

by Heather TaylorMiesle NRDC Action Fund

According to a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and released this week by the NRDC Action Fund, voters across the country by a wide margin are more likely to vote for someone who supports clean energy legislation -- Virginians are no exception.

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Does Koch have the Courage to debate a citizen?

by A Siegel

The multi-billionaire libertarian Koch brothers are bankrolling efforts across American to undermine the basic principles of American Democracy.  Thanks to the Roberts-led SCOTUS and Citizens United, it is clear that their billions, of course, have more merit than your one vote.

One of their efforts: massive bankrolling of Proposition 23 in California designed to turn back the clock from 21st century climate action to 19th century polluting fossil foolish ways.

California citizen and Marine-Corps veteran Joel Francis has had enough. His message to Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch to a debate on Proposition 23.

I challenge you to a public debate.

You pick the terms.

And, I'll meet you.

Anytime.

Anywhere ...

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Flood or Drought? Pick yer poison

by LaughingPlanet

You've heard the term Feast or Famine?

It's time for a new version-

Drown or dehydrate.

Not quite as catchy, but scary relevant.

Have you noticed how many times we hear the term "100-year flood" these days? More often than once per hundred years, I'd wager.

Maybe you recall that the tragic mega-floods in Pakistan.

This is but the latest.

Thai Flooding Worst in Decades

Devastating floods spreading from northeastern Thailand  have left 17 people dead over the past two weeks as heavy rainfall has put entire villages underwater, destroyed crops and disrupted transportation and commerce.

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The Aftermath of the TVA Coal Ash Disaster

by Bruce Nilles

Tennessee's Emory River has long been treasured for its natural beauty.

In 1867, when a young man by the name of John Muir decided to walk from his home in Indiana, all the way to Florida, he crossed the Emory River. Its beauty struck him, and he wrote the following in his journal (which became his famed book "A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf"):

"There is nothing more eloquent in Nature than a mountain stream, and this is the first I ever saw. Its banks are luxuriantly peopled with rare and lovely flowers and overarching trees, making one of Nature's coolest and most hospitable places. Every tree, every flower, every ripple and eddy of this lovely stream seemed solemnly to feel the presence of the great Creator. Lingered in this sanctuary a long time thanking the Lord with all my heart for his goodness in allowing me to enter and enjoy it."

Unfortunately, 141 years later, the Emory River would inspire sorrow.

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Village Green: Walking to School Is a No-No in Laguna Beach

by Kaid at NRDC

I gave a presentation about sustainable communities on October 6, which happened to be International Walk to School Day.  In my talk, I mentioned that, in 1973, sixty percent of American kids walked to school; by 2006, that portion had dropped to a paltry 13 percent.  I’ve written before about school sprawl and how the location and design of some schools seems explicitly designed to prevent or discourage access by foot or bicycle.

To counter this, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has sponsored a number of programs, including Walk to School Day (or, as some places called it, "Walk and Roll to School Day").

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My Shovel Ready HUD Housing Goes Solar

by SmileySam

This week the Housing Authority where I moved into a few months ago is holding info meetings to inform all the tenants we are going Solar. I live Close to Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 50 miles north of Santa Barbara, in Lompoc, Ca.
The HUD staff told us they were converting about 100 units locally. Using Stimulus money amounting to around 14 Million dollars HUD will be buying locally made panels, brackets, and using Local Labor.

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Charles Koch Challenged To Debate Prop 23 By California Student Leader Joel Francis

by bdemelle

Joel Francis, a Marine Corps veteran and senior at Cal State Los Angeles, has issued a debate challenge to Koch Industries' billionaire CEO Charles Koch on his support for the disastrous Prop 23 attack on California's climate and clean energy progress.

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What's So Funny About a Little More Sanity?

by Michael Brune

Maybe you've heard: Comedy Central's Jon Stewart is holding a "Rally to Restore Sanity" next week. His fellow satirist, Stephen Colbert, will be there, too, leading his "March to Keep Fear Alive." This is all going down on the day before Halloween, right on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Jon Stewart's not a politician (yet), but I suspect he'll get more people -- especially young people -- thinking about how politics work (or don't work) in this country than any elected official could. Stewart says the goal of his rally is to "take it down a notch for America." Sounds reasonable. Of course, with Colbert around, you can be sure things won't get too reasonable. This is the guy, after all, who once serenaded my predecessor, Carl Pope, with a suicidal black bear hand puppet.

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ACTION ALERT: Pacific NW Residents - Stop the Navy's Coastal Weapons Testing

by Carol Van Strum

Pacific Northwest residents have a last chance to stop the U.S. Navy from expanding deadly weapons and sonar operations off the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts. After widespread and intense opposition to its plans in 2009, the Navy has ignored or dismissed some 1,000 pages of critical comments in issuing its final environmental impact statement for this program. By the end of October, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is scheduled to authorize it.

Only the U.S. Congress can stop this carnage now. And only intense pressure from constitutuents and coastal governments will goad Congress into acting.

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Tea Partiers Unclear on Meaning of "Elite," Content of Bible

by TheGreenMiles

The NYTimes today reports on how the Tea Party is being spoon-fed climate denial by big polluters like Koch Industries, conveniently laundered by conservative media mouthpieces:

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Climate Change and Risky Business

by Steven D

Seriously deranged people (or bought and paid for shills) attack the scientific consensus opinion that climate change is occurring at an ever accelerating rate as a result of greenhouse gas emissions (especially carbon dioxide).  However, no one has ever accused Price Waterhouse Coopers, the second largest professional services firm in the world, of a lack of seriousness when it comes to analysing the risks of investments.

So when Price Waterhouse releases a study that suggests municipal bond rating companies are not taking into account the long term consequences of one of the effects of climate change, water scarcity, thus putting at risk the investments of municipal bond purchasers, I, for one, take note:

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League of Conservation Voters Dirty Dozen for 2010: Part 2--Four Filthy Senators

by Neon Vincent

Earlier this week, I profiled three candidates on the the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Dirty Dozen list who are running for the House of Representatives.  As I wrote then, "[t]hese candidates consistently vote (or promise to vote) against clean energy and natural resource conservation.

Join me over the fold for part 2, in which I profile the first four GOTeaP senate candidates on the LCV's list, along with action items for their Democratic opponents.

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