susandelaney5: May 2012

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sir Ian McKellen is patron of Step Forward. He has been an advocate for gay rights since he came out in 1988, and co-founded Stonewall, the UK charity that lobbies for gay equality.

Charities & foundations supported

Ian McKellen has supported the following charities:

Read more about Ian McKellen's charity work and events.

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Source: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/454-ian-mckellen

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Monday, May 28, 2012

Expanding the Shareable Economy to the Neighbors' Dirty Laundry

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French laundromats, attention! The peer-to-peer community is coming for you. A new online project called La Machine du Voisin (French for "the neighbor's machine") aims to eliminate trips to that dreaded destination, where hours are wasted waiting around under bad lighting. But the alternative proposed—while creative—is definitely not for everyone.

Much like other sharing platforms that have turned parked cars, stowed power tools, and temporarily vacant bedrooms into valuable commodities that can be rented out for cash, La Machine du Voisin transforms a home's washing machine and dryer. Like an online marketplace for laundry, machine owners put a price per wash on a washer-dryer cycle—the going rate is between 3 and 5 Euros. Those with dirty clothes who lack their own laundry machines can search for one nearby with the best rate.

The project was started by a group of students in Lille, France, a city of 230,000 that doesn't have enough laundromats, according to the project's website. Prompted by an innovation challenge by the local business school SKEMA and frustrated by the lack of places to do laundry, the resulting solution was the La Machine du Voisin.

The service seems to push the comfort zone of advocates for sharing or renting everyday items. It's one thing to borrow a neighbor's lawnmower, rent out a car, or even crash at a stranger's pad when traveling abroad. It may be an entirely different situation to show up at a stranger's place with stained shirts and soiled linens. But there's clearly an appetite: The website already has hundreds of machine owner using the service in cities around France.

Image via (cc) Flickr user runran. Via Springwise.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/good/lbvp/~3/8cLSGwp_cW8/

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Sikkim to host sustainable mountain development summit

Sikkim is set to host the second Sustainable Mountain Development Summit here from May 25.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2Eth0Zp2xo2Pb/story01.htm

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Let's Stop Comparing Education to the Civil Rights Movement

little.rock
This week, Mitt Romney said that fixing education "is the civil rights issue of our era. It's the great challenge of our time." The statement implies that students are being purposefully and systematically denied an education, and calls to mind the infamous photo of one of the Little Rock Nine, Elizabeth Eckford, as she attempted to enter Little Rock High School and was turned away by the National Guard as Hazel Massery, one of her white peers, screamed at her. This comparison may make for a moving stump speech across political lines, but these flawed platitudes need to stop.

We've spent the last decade hearing similar statements from a bipartisan cast of political players. President Obama explicitly invoked Brown v. Board of Education and the Little Rock Nine in his speech to the 2009 NAACP convention. "There's a reason the story of the civil rights movement was written in our schools," Obama told the crowd. "It's because there is no stronger weapon against inequality and no better path to opportunity than an education that can unlock a child's God-given potential."

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has also made the reference innumerable times over the past four years. He took to the pages of The Daily Princetonian, Princeton University's campus paper, to tell students they should take a noble path of service and become teachers because education “has the unique power to transcend differences of class, race, sex and ZIP code" before repeating that common refrain: "education is the civil rights issue of our generation."

Back in 2009, President Obama and Secretary Duncan even teamed up with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Rev. Al Sharpton to declare that education reform is the "civil rights issue of the 21st century." And let's not forget four years ago in August 2008, when John McCain sat down with pastor Rick Warren at his Saddleback Church Civil Forum for the Presidency and waxed poetic about his support for charter schools, home schooling, and vouchers. "I won’t go any further," McCain said of his plans for education, "but the point is…it is the civil rights issue of the 21st century."

So, who is the architect of this school of thought? We might be able to lay the blame on President George W. Bush, architect of the disastrous No Child Left Behind Act. In 2002, on the Saturday before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Bush referred to education as "the great civil rights issue of our time.” The rest is history.

There’s no denying that our schools need to improve and that closing the achievement gap is a necessary goal, but we're living in a time when the prison industrial complex has resulted in more black men being incarcerated today than there were slaves in 1850, when black people still have to “whiten” their names on their resumes, and when an innocent 17-year-old black teen can be shot to death for seeming suspicious. Is the quest for racial justice for black people in America really so over that we need a new civil rights issue?

Not according to prominent education historian Diane Ravitch. In 2009, when the education-civil rights comparisons started to proliferate, Ravitch wrote in her Education Week column that such statements are "a publicity campaign, not a civil rights campaign, nor even a campaign for better education." She continued:

The civil rights movement was about dignity, justice, and equality—not just in schooling, but in every realm of life. It was about opening the doors that were shut by law and that blocked access to almost every aspect of public life. It was about securing equality of access to education, but also to jobs, health care, housing, public transit, public facilities of all kinds, and a decent life. It was about equality before the law and the right to vote.

Plus, if politicians seriously believed the connection between education and civil rights, said Ravitch, they'd "have a plan to do something about de facto segregation; they would launch a program to make sure that every child had access to good health care and started school ready to learn; they would coordinate between the schools and other government agencies to make sure that families had access to job training programs and social services and the basic necessities of life." They’d also make sure that class sizes were "reasonable," support teachers instead of bashing them, stop acting like poverty doesn’t matter, and "actually have a civil rights agenda other than raising test scores."

Despite everyone claiming that education is a civil rights issue, those changes have yet to take place in America. Yet, our politicians pull the “civil rights issue” card out of their back pockets and use the emotionally-charged language of the movement because it’s a good soundbite that makes them seem like they’re getting serious about fixing schools. Unless they're willing to truly make a commitment to real reforms that will make a difference for all children, they should stop.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/good/lbvp/~3/pNMjPlcuM3c/

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Genetics’ random truths | Gene Expression

Update: Please do not take the labels below (e.g., “Baloch”) as literal ancestral elements. The most informative way to read them is that they indicate populations where this element is common, and, the relationship of proportions can tell us something. The literal proportion does not usually tell us much.

End Update

I was browsing the Harappa results, and two new things jumped out at me. Zack now has enough St. Thomas Christian samples from Kerala that I think we need to accept as the likely model that this community does not derive from the Brahmins of Kerala, as some of them claim. Their genetic profile is rather like many non-Brahmin South Indians, except the Nair, who have a peculiar attested history with the Brahmins of their region.

But that’s not the really interesting finding. Below is a table I constructed from Zack’s data.

Ethnicity Language S.Indian Baloch Caucasian NE.Euro Karnataka Brahmin Dravidian 47% 38% 4% 6% Karnataka Hebbar Iyengar Brahmin Dravidian 49% 36% 5% 5% Karnataka Iyengar Dravidian 48% 39% 3% 5% Karnataka Iyengar Brahmin Dravidian 48% 37% 3% 7% Karnataka Kannada Brahmin Dravidian 51% 35% 3% 5% Karnataka Konkani Brahmin Dravidian 47% 37% 2% 6% Kerala Brahmin Dravidian 43% 39% 4% 6% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 46% 40% 3% 6% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 47% 40% 3% 5% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 48% 39% 9% 4% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 47% 38% 6% 4% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 48% 37% 6% 5% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 48% 37% 3% 5% Tamil Brahmin Dravidian 48% 35% 5% 6% Tamil Brahmin Iyengar Dravidian 47% 38% 6% 4% Tamil Brahmin Iyengar Dravidian 47% 35% 6% 6% Tamil Brahmin Iyengar Dravidian 50% 35% 2% 8% Tamil Brahmin iyer/iyengar Dravidian 48% 38% 2% 5% Tamil Brahmin iyer/iyengar Dravidian 48% 38% 4% 5% Tamil Brahmin iyer/iyengar Dravidian 47% 37% 2% 5% Tamil Brahmin iyer/iyengar Dravidian 47% 37% 6% 8% Bengali Brahmin IE 43% 35% 4% 10% Bengali Brahmin IE 45% 35% 2% 11% Bengali Brahmin IE 44% 35% 5% 11% Bihari Brahmin IE 39% 38% 5% 11% Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh Saraswat Brahmin IE 47% 39% 1% 6% Mahrashtrian Desastha Brahmin IE 46% 38% 8% 5% Oriya Brahmin IE 47% 36% 0% 9% Punjabi Brahmin IE 33% 41% 13% 10% Punjabi Brahmin IE 35% 40% 8% 11% Rajasthani Brahmin IE 32% 38% 9% 15% Sindhi Pushtikar/Pushkarna Brahmin IE 31% 36% 12% 10% UP Brahmin IE 37% 38% 2% 14% UP Brahmin IE 41% 37% 7% 11%

I was curious about the distribution of the ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverMag/~3/EOdwBIKoDcY/

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Sunday, May 27, 2012

EDF puts planned Somerset nuclear plant on hold

Uncertainty over nuclear power renaissance grows as French energy firm delays decision on Hinkley Point

The award of a £1.2bn civil engineering contract for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset has been put on ice by EDF Energy, triggering more uncertainty over the nuclear renaissance.

Two consortiums led by Balfour Beatty and Laing O'Rourke were hoping to have heard about the huge deal in recent days but now expect no decision until 2013 at the earliest. The move is a blow to employment prospects in the area and comes weeks after £100m worth of site preparation was postponed.

The soonest a new reactor will be built in Somerset could now be 2021, around four years later than originally hoped. EDF declined to comment on the latest setback, with a spokesman for the 83% state-owned French power company saying: "I am afraid it is not our practice to comment on open tenders."

The group insisted that its wider plans remained intact and it aimed to start work on the £100m contract, which was awarded last year to construction partner Kier Bam, "as soon as practicable, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that work can start in good time".

EDF says it still plans to go ahead with new reactors in Britain but industry experts say uncertainty over the government's planned support mechanism through "contracts for difference" and the election of President François Hollande, who is sceptical about nuclear power, have encouraged EDF to slam on the brakes.

John Stanion, chief executive and chairman of construction firm Vinci, a partner to Balfour Beatty, told the industry newspaper Construction News that the £1.2bn contract was unlikely to be awarded until next year. "I think EDF is totally committed to Hinkley Point subject to them having a clear investment case, but I don't think it is in a position to make a decision until [the contracts are] legally brought into force, so some time next year will be the earliest they will commit."

The use of contracts for difference to ensure investment in low-carbon technology through guaranteeing a certain power price was confirmed in the energy bill published by the government last week.

But energy companies have made clear they will need to see the exact scale of the financial support before they can commit themselves to new plants, especially nuclear ones. Other power companies such as E.ON, RWE and SSE have already dropped plans for new reactors in Britain.

There has already been speculation that EDF's original price of building new stations has risen from £4bn to £7bn. The French company will not confirm that.

EDF said it was making "good progress" on site preparation at Hinkley Point after winning approval from West Somerset council in February. Meanwhile, investment in wind and other renewable energy is also stuttering. Spending during the first quarter of the year dropped to its lowest since 2009, according to Ernst & Young's latest quarterly global renewable energy Country Attractiveness Indices report.

Britain dropped from fifth to sixth place in the global rankings due to new uncertainties surrounding government policies.

Terry Macalister

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/27/edf-nuclear-delay

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U.S. arms Bahrain, despite human rights concerns

Source: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/05/16/8887/us-arms-bahrain-despite-human-rights-concerns?utm_source=iwatchnews&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=rss

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Country diary: Cambrian Mountains:

Cambrian Mountains: Glimpses of restless rusty carmine from among the oak leaves revealed the presence of one of the best mimics and loveliest of our summer visitors

Through the open window came what my sleep-befuddled mind took to be the song of a willow warbler. A couple of prolonged and surprising notes, pure as those of a nightingale, were thrown into the mix and grasped my attention. Glimpses of restless rusty carmine from among lemon-inflected hues of the new oak leaves revealed the presence of one of the best mimics and loveliest of our summer visitors. The cock redstart was back, and singing for a mate.

Within the week she arrived, silent, more subdued in her plumage but still with a bright bobbing flash of russet tail as she sought out a habitual nesting hole in the dry-stone wall of the barn and busied herself to and fro with moss plucked from field dykes, wool shed by the ewes. Great tits and pied flycatchers vied noisily for nesting boxes in a high ash tree. The hen redstart merely carried on with ceaseless gathering activity, the cock chorusing her along with little bursts of song. They nest early in the Welsh hills, hatch their broods and are away south for Africa before August arrives.

I love the brief season they spend with us, am always sent back to compare notes with John Buxton's 1950 monograph, The Redstart, published from observations made during the years that the Oxford literature don spent in Bavarian PoW camps between 1940 and 1945. The exact and scrupulous observation of "his" birds, for the most part tolerated by his captors, is a model of what writing on nature should be: authentic, personally knowledgable, scientifically rigorous, wondering, patient.

Redstarts were his freedom, living "only in the moment, without foresight and with memory only of things of immediate practical concern to them". He could scarcely have found a happier subject than this amiable, elusive, sweet-voiced and beautiful little thrush.

Jim Perrin

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/25/cambrian-mountains-cock-redstart-back

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Pressure to meet inspection goals

Source: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/05/21/8914/pressure-meet-inspection-goals?utm_source=iwatchnews&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=rss

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Davies heads to Indonesia on Fulbright Fellowship

COLLEGE STATION — Dr. Fred Davies has received a Senior Fulbright Fellowship to Indonesia, where he will be teaching at Bogor Agricultural University. Davies is a Regents Professor and Texas AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow in the horticultural sciences department at Texas A&M University in College Station. He was selected by the J. William Fulbright Foreign [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AgrilifeToday/~3/FFGFaIdbcCw/

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Egypt: No, the Revolution is Not Over

On May 23 and 24, the eyes of the whole world were once again on Egypt as the country held its first presidential election after the huge popular uprising that brought down Hosni Mubarak a year and a half ago.

Source: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/05/26/egypt-no-the-revolution-is-not-over/

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The House and Senate are debating transportation today. What will they decide?

Right now, a small group of House and Senate leaders are negotiating their proposed transportation bills, and plan to bring a final bill before Congress in the coming weeks. Their decisions today have the potential to shape our communities for decades to come. Can you take a moment to call your Senators and Representative? Let them know you want the conference committee to preserve the strong, bipartisan provisions contained in the Senate’s transportation bill MAP-21.

Source: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2012/05/23/the-house-and-senate-are-debating-transportation-today-what-will-they-decide/

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Zimbabwe: On “Look East Policy”

Rumbdidzai Dube discusses “Look East Policy” in Zimbabwe: “I am told the “Look-East Policy” is a lucrative alternative to the West, it is supposed to be about fighting neo-colonialism and resisting Western Hegemony over our sovereign affairs and welfare as a society.” Written by Ndesanjo Macha · comments (0) Share:...

Source: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/05/26/zimbabwe-on-look-east-policy/

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on Student Loan Interest Rate Votes in the Senate

With only 37 days left to stop student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1, Senate Republicans still have not proven that they’re serious about resolving this problem. For the second time this month, they voted to ask millions of students to pay an average of $1,000 each rather than close a loophole that allows the very wealthy to avoid paying their fair share. Now is not the time to refight old political battles, and certainly not the time to cut preventive health care measures. With only a few days left until student loan interest rates double, it’s time to get this done so hard working students get a fair shot at an affordable education.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/24/statement-press-secretary-student-loan-interest-rate-votes-senate

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National Memorial Day Concert To Feature Big Stars

On the eve of Memorial Day, a star-studded line-up will grace the stage for one of PBS’s highest-rated programs, the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT.

The multi award-winning television event honors the service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, their families at home and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The concert will feature riveting performances from some of the world’s biggest stars. In addition, acclaimed actors will present personal stories of love and sacrifice submitted by viewers through the concert’s Virtual Wall of Remembrance.

The program is co-hosted by Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS) and Gary Sinise (CSI: NEW YORK), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran’s causes and supporting our troops. The all-star line-up includes: distinguished American leader Colin Powell USA (Ret.); AMERICAN IDOL finalist Jessica Sanchez; the multi-platinum rock band Daughtry; nine-time Grammy award-winner, singer and songwriter Natalie Cole; country music superstar Trace Adkins; Emmy, Oscar and Tony award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn; Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor and Vietnam veteran, Dennis Franz; celebrated film and television actress Selma Blair; world renowned tenor Russell Watson; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.

The event will feature:

A heartfelt welcome home to our troops who have been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan;
The poignant story of a young widow who lost her husband in Afghanistan;
A segment profiling the heroic and brave efforts of veterans from all wars; and
A closer look at the plight of homeless American veterans

“Each year on the eve of Memorial Day, we gather at the U.S. Capitol to share the real stories of fallen and wounded heroes, their families, and their combat buddies as a way to remember, to grieve and begin to heal,” said concert co-host Joe Mantegna. “Every one of your stories of remembrance is important to us. We are honored to be able to share these moving tributes from our loyal viewers as we remember the sacrifices made by so many to preserve our freedoms.”

The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will air live on PBS Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.

LA City Council Votes on Banning Plastic Bags

UPDATE: Just in, the ban has been approved! The ban was passed by a 13-1 vote and will go into effect later this year. “Paper or plastic?” may soon be a thing of the past in Los Angeles. The Los … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.ema-online.org/2012/05/23/la-city-council-votes-on-banning-plastic-bags/

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Smart Growth Stories: Mayor John Engen on Missoula, Montana’s sense of place

Since taking office in 2005 as the 50th Mayor of Missoula, Montana, John Engen has emphasized the importance of economic development, community building and affordable housing. His goal? "When I'm done, I hope folks will say, 'We worked to keep Missoula a place,'" Engen says. For Missoula to achieve economic success and to remain a close-knit community in Montana's picturesque mountains, Engen believes his administration should do everything it can to ensure the city is appealing to families and investors. That means having a thriving ‘Main Street’ downtown; amenities catering to young professionals and college students; access to transportation and housing options; and protection of natural land assets. "We don't have much going for us if we don't have a decent place to live,” Engen says, noting that over the past several decades, Missoula has been forced to transition from a town with a resource-intensive economy (chiefly timber) to a services economy with ties to recent graduates and more experienced professionals who want to live in a small, rural town but still travel/telecommute to work in larger cities. As mayor, Engen recognized early on that for this new type of economy to be successful, Missoula would have to seek community feedback about anticipated growth and plan for the future in a more coordinated way. He also understood that economic development is not separate from neighborhood development; investments in how a town looks and in how residents move around and interact with each other are intimately related to a town’s financial wellbeing. When more people have quality jobs and access to affordable housing, fewer people have to make the kinds of difficult choices – such as a decision between food and shelter – that hold back community growth, Engen says. If the quality of life for most Missoulians increases as a result of efforts to reinvigorate downtown business corridors and to take advantage of the city’s unique assets, more Missoulians will be able to engage in community projects, schools, family programs, and local politics.

Source: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2012/05/22/smart-growth-stories-mayor-john-engen-on-missoula-montanas-sense-of-place/

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

The Vital Chain: Connecting The Ecosystems of Land and Sea

A new study from a Pacific atoll reveals the links between native trees, bird guano, and the giant manta rays that live off the coast. In unraveling this intricate web, the researchers point to the often little-understood interconnectedness between terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
BY CARL ZIMMER

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/_mg8rMFtOCY/

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Standard EV Charging System Adopted by U.S., German Automakers

Eight U.S. and German automakers have agreed on a standardized technology system for electric-vehicle charging, a coordinated approach they say will allow drivers to rapidly re-charge their vehicles at most charging stations regardless of power source. The announcement is an important breakthrough for the electric vehicle industry, introducing a common technology that could foster the spread of a recharging infrastructure at gas stations, malls, office buildings, and other locations — a critical step if consumers are to adopt electric vehicle technology. The integrated single-port system — which will be utilized by Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche, and Volkswagen — allows drivers to use numerous charging technologies, including AC- and DC-charging, with one vehicle inlet. The system, which will be unveiled at the Electric Vehicle Symposium 26 in Los Angeles, will reportedly be able to recharge an electric vehicle in 15 to 20 minutes.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/6DprcxgdHVw/

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“Heads, I win; tails, you lose” is no way to run a country

"To me, Mitt Romney takes from the poor and the middle class and gives to the rich," says Rayburn. "He's just the opposite of Robin Hood."

Last week we introduced you to Romney economics: making millions in profit while loading companies up with debt, driving them into bankruptcy, and putting thousands out of work without pensions or health care. Mitt Romney spent nearly two decades in the private sector doing just that, and today, he considers it his top qualification for the presidency.

That idea—that 20 years of putting profit over people somehow makes you qualified to lead the country—is a slap in the face to workers in Marion, Indiana, who watched their jobs and livelihoods disappear when Romney and his Bain Capital partners took over their paper plant. And today, those workers are speaking out. Valerie Bruton, a former employee, says, "I really feel in my heart, people need to know what Mitt Romney did to Marion, Indiana, in 1994."

The SCM paper plant Bruton worked at provided good-paying jobs with good benefits. The work was hard, but it instilled a sense of pride in the plant employees, who made file folders, index cards, and other office supplies. Another former employee, Randy Johnson, says, "We had good jobs that you could raise a family on. It was a lot of work, but you really felt like you'd accomplished something."

In 1994, Bain Capital–owned Ampad bought SCM. Armed guards showed up at the front doors, and employees received this memo: "As of 3:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, July 5, 1994, your employment with SCM Office Supplies Inc. will end. Health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana will continue through the end of the week." Those who were re-hired as Ampad employees found their wages sharply reduced and benefits like retirement funds taken away.

"This was the worst day of my life," says Bruton.

"I understand if you've gotta cut back, layoffs, that's part of the business; we've accepted that over the years when we were there," says former employee Jerry Rayburn. "But you don't come in and take everything everybody's got and destroy a business. I mean, that's what they did."

By 2000, Ampad was so saddled with debt that it had to declare bankruptcy, and 1,500 people lost their jobs. Romney and his partners, however, walked away with more than $100 million in profit.

"To me, Mitt Romney takes from the poor and the middle class and gives to the rich," says Rayburn. "He's just the opposite of Robin Hood." And it offends Rayburn to his core to see Romney on television claiming to be a job creator: "It makes me sick to my stomach when I sit there and watch Mitt Romney tell the American people about how he creates all these jobs."

The point here is not to challenge the merits of private equity or even Romney's right to run his business as he saw fit. But stories like these prove how fundamentally dishonest it is to style yourself as a job creator when your business model was to run companies and livelihoods into the ground while turning a profit for yourself. These former Ampad employees know that. Even Romney's former business partners at Bain acknowledge that Romney is not fit to call himself a job creator.

The Romney economics philosophy of "heads, I win; tails, you lose" is no way to run a country. What Romney did in the private sector has implications for what he'd do as president. "Mitt Romney's philosophy for doing business is to take over companies just to get some money from them, dump the business no matter what," says Johnson. "If that's his approach to the American economy, I can't imagine it being very pretty for the workers."

Source: http://www.democrats.org/news/blog/heads_i_win_tails_you_lose_is_no_way_to_run_a_country

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Massachusetts workers killed, injured at facilities touted as 'Model Workplaces'

Source: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/05/18/8896/massachusetts-workers-killed-injured-facilities-touted-model-workplaces?utm_source=iwatchnews&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=rss

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Study Calls Selective Logging the Most Realistic Conservation Strategy

A new study says that well-managed selective logging may be the only realistic solution to conserving tropical forests in the face of a rapacious global demand for timber resources. In an analysis of more than 100 studies, researchers at the University of Florida found that while even selective logging has a significant impact on biodiversity in tropical forests and carbon storage capacity, those impacts are “survivable and reversible to a degree” if the forests are given time to recover. In fact, the researchers found that, on average, 85 to 100 percent of animal and plant species present before initial logging were still around after selective logging and that forests retained about 75 percent of their carbon after initial harvest. By contrast, the researchers say, forest loss for the planting of rubber or palm oil plantations is permanent. “We’re not advocates for logging,” said Jack Putz, a professor of biology and lead author of the study published in Conservation Letters. “We’re just acknowledging that it is a reality — and that within that reality, there is a way forward.”

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/TDGmCienkD0/

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Scientists Warn of Low-Dose Risks of Chemical Exposure

A new study finds that even low doses of hormone-disrupting chemicals — used in everything from plastics to pesticides – can have serious effects on human health. These findings, the researchers say, point to the need for basic changes in how chemical safety testing is conducted.
BY ELIZABETH GROSSMAN

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/S8-ArHZ6pWU/

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Italy earthquake hits parmesan production

Cheese producers near quake's epicentre fear for 300,000 parmesan wheels that crashed to the ground in warehouses

The magnitude 6 earthquake that hit northern Italy at the weekend, killing seven people and toppling historic churches, castles and clock towers, has also taken a huge toll on the country's culinary culture.

Parmesan cheese producers near the quake's epicentre in flat farmland north of Bologna said 300,000 massive wheels of the cheese that were ageing on tall shelves in warehouses crashed to the ground.

"All the shelving toppled over like huge dominoes and only 20 to 30% of my wheels survived unscathed," said Ivano Chezzi, the manager of one facility where 90,000 wheels were aging.

After ageing for 12 to 24 months, three million 40kg parmesan wheels worth almost €2bn (£1.6bn) are sold each year from the region. Two-thirds of the output stays in Italy, and the rest – about 40,000 tonnes – is exported.

"The wheels that fell represent 10% of annual production," said a spokesman for the Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Consortium. Half of them might now be lost, he added, costing the business €80m, including the cost of repairing storage warehouses.

The wheels, which measure 40cm across, are stacked 22 wheels high on shelves standing up to 10m. Staff at the 10 storage sites hit by Sunday's quake were urgently picking through toppled shelves and smashed cheeses, looking for undamaged wheels and seeking spare storage with the correct temperature and humidity where they can continue to age.

One producer said it would take 20 days to fish out all the wheels. "If the cheeses have broken open they may go mouldy," said Leo Bertozzi, the director of the consortium. Wheels that have suffered minor damage may be sold at a discount for industrial use or grating, he added. "Seeing all those wheels everywhere really hit me in the stomach," he said.

To be considered genuine parmesan, the cheese must be aged in the area, and producers are now seeking an exception to the rule as they rebuild their warehouses. The wheels, which sell for up to €420 when fully matured for 24 months, are considered so valuable that a local bank offers to hold them as collateral on loans for producers. The loss of the wheels does not necessarily mean parmesan's price will rise, said Chezzi, due to a recent increase in production.

Producers of Grana Padano, a cheese similar to parmesan that is also grated on pasta dishes, reportedly lost up to 130,000 wheels during the earthquake. In a region known for the production of prosciutto ham, one farm lost more than 100 pigs when buildings collapsed.

Amid heavy rain and falling temperatures on Tuesday, about 5,000 residents unable or afraid to return to their homes continued to sleep in tents, temporary accommodation or cars as aftershocks continued to rattle the region.

The Italian prime minister, Mario Monti, was heckled as he visited the area after cutting short his appearance at the Nato summit in Chicago. The government declared a state of emergency for the region, with Monti promising swift help for stricken businesses, especially small farms and factories.

Tom Kington

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/22/italy-earthquake-hits-parmesan-cheese-production

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How Fingerprinting Food Stamp Recipients Hurts Everyone

Every year, thousands of New Yorkers must report to state offices for government fingerprinting. These residents aren’t criminals. They’re applying to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps.

New York is one of two states that require stamp recipients to ink their fingertips to eat. That’s about to change: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans last week for New York to eliminate mandatory fingerprinting for food stamps in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with applying for government assistance. While most of New York state did away with mandatory fingerprinting back in 2007, New York City continues to enforce the rule. “We shouldn’t treat the poor or the hungry as criminals,” Cuomo said at a recent news conference. “That’s what we’ve been doing and that’s what’s going to stop.”

Cuomo’s new food stamp policy may seem like a necessary move to correct a longstanding injustice. But it’s sparked opposition from some who believe that mandatory fingerprinting is a necessary measure to protect against food stamp recipients abusing the system. In other words, we must treat people like criminals to ensure they don’t become criminals.

Mandatory fingerprinting started popping up in food assistance programs around the country a decade ago in an effort to prevent food stamp fraud. Today, New York and Arizona are the only states to continue the practice. New York City officials claim that the policy has saved the metropolis more than $35 million in fraudulent food stamp payments over the past 10 years and helped catch 1,900 cases of food stamp fraud in 2011 alone—including incidents of recipients using two names to collect double benefits. Many people, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, argue that without checks-and-balances like mandatory fingerprinting, applicants can get more than their fair share.

But that logic is not only unfair, it’s flawed. There are plenty of other ways to prevent fraud that don’t involve making poor people feel like criminals. New York and other states have instituted computerized application systems to store food stamp applicants’ birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Food stamps can now be issued via EBT cards—which work similarly to debit cards—so funds can easily be monitored electronically. Digital monitoring deters fraud, no prejudicial policy required.

Besides, cutting back on SNAP fraud isn’t the only consideration affecting the bottom line. In reality, making sure all food stamp-eligible people are able to access benefits actually stimulates the economy. As Gothamist recently reported, a 2010 USDA study found that "$5 in new food stamp benefits can generate $9 in total community spending, and every additional dollar’s worth of food stamp benefits generates 17 to 47 cents of new spending on food."

The data also shows that many people who are eligible to receive food stamps never bother to collect them. About 1.8 million New Yorkers currently receive SNAP benefits, but that’s only about 70 percent of the total number of people that could receive benefits if they chose to apply. Similar gaps pop up in states across the U.S.

The reasons for this deficit are many and complex—a confusing application process, lack of understanding of the qualifying process, pride. But mandatory fingerprinting is a particularly conspicuous and unnecessary barrier blocking food stamp usage. People who are forced to be fingerprinted often must travel to state aid offices, a problem for those who work during the day, or for parents with young children at home. And stigma can be an even bigger disincentive than logistics. According to the New York City Council, about 30,000 people were deterred from applying for food stamps last year by the mandatory fingerprinting policy.

The vast majority of the 46 million Americans on food stamps don't sign up because they want a handout or are looking to cheat the system. They receive benefits because times are hard, groceries are increasingly expensive, and they’re desperately trying to feed their families. We need to fight policies that put up insurmountable food access barriers, not encourage them. Outlawing mandatory fingerprinting is a good first step towards ensuring that all hungry people have a way to feed their families. New York is poised to end the system. Next up: Arizona.

Photo via (cc) Flickr user Wonderlane

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/good/lbvp/~3/ogBX-Nbj30E/

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

World living way beyond its resources: WWF

Unless the world addresses the problem, by 2030 even two planet Earths would not be enough to sustain human activity, WWF said.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2Eth0ZcLIk2NH/story01.htm

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5 Easy Ways to Be Green at Work

It’s not always easy to control our surroundings in order to make them more eco-friendly. Luckily, there are little things we can do at work to be more sustainable both as individuals and as an office. We’ve put together a … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.ema-online.org/2012/05/22/5-easy-ways-to-be-green-at-work/

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Super PAC cash plays big role in Nebraska Senate race

Source: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/05/15/8886/super-pac-cash-plays-big-role-nebraska-senate-race?utm_source=iwatchnews&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=rss

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Earth Observation Satellites Threatened by Budget Shortfalls in U.S.

Budget shortfalls, launch failures, and mission changes have caused a decline in U.S. earth observation satellites over the last five years, a trend that could undermine the nation’s ability to forecast weather and monitor natural disasters and climate change, according to a new report. The report, published by the National Research Council (NRC), said that a lack of satellite-based earth monitoring technologies “will have profound consequences on science and society.” One factor slowing progress is a shortage of reliable medium-class launchers to send satellites into space, the NRC said. The report said that NASA is making up for some of the shortfalls in earth observation systems by increasing sub-orbital missions and jet flights, and by cooperating on missions with other countries that have launched earth observation satellites. “It’s likely our capabilities will decline fairly precipitously at just the time they’re most needed,” Dennis Hartmann, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington and chair of the committee that wrote the report, told the New York Times.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/qFpGmYsnncM/

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Monday, May 21, 2012

SpaceX launch aborted; next attempt Tuesday | Bad Astronomy

The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 this morning was aborted at literally the last second — the sensors detected too high a pressure in a combustion chamber in one of the engines. Apparently this didn’t put the rocket in any danger, but it was outside the limits for an allowable launch so the computer shut things down.

[UPDATE: SpaceX is reporting a faulty valve caused the issue, and it's being replaced. They should be ready for the Tuesday launch window.]

Here’s video of the last few seconds of the countdown.

Ouch. My thoughts on this are pretty clear: it’s a bummer, but then again that’s all it is. Not a disaster, not a failure, just a setback. These are complicated, complex machines, and delays are inevitable.

The good news is there’s a backup launch date of Tuesday, May 22, at 07:44 UTC (03:44 Eastern US time), and another the next day, May 23, at 07:22 UTC. Hopefully, this glitch can be fixed and the rocket launched on one of those dates.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverMag/~3/yVd5vm4ffaY/

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China’s Ma Jun on the Fight To Clean Up Beijing’s Dirty Air

Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun played an important role in a recent successful effort to force the government to more strictly monitor air pollution in Beijing. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, he talks about the daunting challenges of China’s anti-pollution battle and how social media is helping lead the fight to improve the nation’s air.
BY CHRISTINA LARSON

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/VwGy-vUrsq0/

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New Interactive Website Maps Distribution of Global Species

U.S. scientists this week unveiled a new online resource that maps the distribution of species worldwide and will ultimately allow users to update or add species data. The so-called “Map of Life” project — which draws on

Map of Life

The “Map of Life”

millions of known locations of various species, expert range maps, World Wildlife Fund data, and the databases of individual scientists — allows users to view distribution records for any terrestrial vertebrate species or fish worldwide, and generate a listing of all species within a 50- to 1,000-kilometer range. An updated version of the site, expected later this year, will include data on plants, trees, and selected invertebrate groups. Ultimately, users will be able to flag and edit data, update their own data sets, and provide feedback on the data. The project, which is funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is described online in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/NHNcdtSQx8s/

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Mustard gas scare hits Scottish RAF base

RAF Kinloss in Moray, already at centre of radiation investigation, could also be contaminated with sulphur mustard

A potentially unstable chemical weapon could be buried beneath an airbase that will shortly become home to more than 900 army personnel.

RAF Kinloss in Moray is already the focus of an investigation into radioactive contamination, and a report has emerged suggesting the site could also be contaminated with mustard gas.

Officially known as sulphur mustard, the colourless, oily liquid can cause severe burns and cancer when released.

A land-quality assessment uncovered by BBC Scotland identified potential sulphur mustard contamination in 2004 before construction work began on a pipeline for a water treatment project.

The report states: "Sulphur mustard is not a persistent chemical and under most conditions will readily break down. Under damp conditions (such as within soil) the action of hydrolysis can form an unreactive protective barrier around globules of active sulphur mustard. These globules can exist within the soil matrix and any disturbance to such a soil may puncture the globule and release the active sulphur mustard."

RAF Kinloss stopped functioning as an operational airbase last year after 72 years of service, as part of the government's strategic defence and security review.

About 930 personnel from 39 engineer regiment (air support) are due to move from Waterbeach, Cambridge, to Kinloss in July, where they will provide engineer support to the Royal Air Force and the army.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Our investigations to date suggest there is no indication of significant risk to public health or the environment associated with the past storage or disposal of chemical weapon agents in the UK. Work undertaken indicates the sites are suitable for their current use, provided that any management systems, restrictions or procedures remain in place.

"We consider protection of human health and the environment to be very important, and if we identify threats to either we inform the regulatory authorities and public as soon as possible ensuring the necessary management measures are put in place."

Thomas Docherty MP, a member of the Commons defence select committee, said he had called on the government to make an urgent statement on the matter.

He told the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland: "The MoD has had a culture over seven decades of not sharing information. There's an arrogance about the MoD that is not new, but it has to be tackled once and for all."

He added: "We need an urgent statement from the UK government that spells out exactly who knew what when, that says what is the actual independent scientific risk, when did they inform the Scottish regulators, when did they inform the local authorities, and when did they inform Scottish ministers? And that needs to be done as soon as practicable."

The Scottish environment secretary, Richard Lochhead, said: "I am deeply concerned by media reports that the MoD may have sold land contaminated with radioactive material to communities around RAF Kinloss. I understand that the MoD is conducting investigations into possible contamination at the site.

"The secretary of state for defence must ensure that this work is comprehensive, transparent and completed as soon as practically possible. Should the presence of radioactive contamination be confirmed I will press the MoD to work with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and start remediation work as a matter of urgency."

He continued: "Understandably, these reports will cause anxiety in communities around RAF Kinloss. It is imperative the Ministry of Defence does all it can to reassure the public in Moray and across the rest of Scotland that any further relevant information will be disclosed in full."

The SNP's Westminster defence spokesman, Angus Robertson, MP for Moray, has called for a meeting with the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, to discuss reports of waste at the Kinloss base.

Robertson said: "Recent reports raise questions relating to potential dangers at the Kinloss base. Given reports of radioactive material at Dalgety Bay, it is important that we understand the situation at Kinloss. This is why I'm requesting a meeting with the defence secretary Philip Hammond. It is important that there is as much transparency as possible from the Ministry of Defence."

The Moray-based convenor of the Scottish Green party's Highlands and Islands branch, Fabio Villani, said: "The MoD should come clean and disclose its records about the disposal of potentially harmful materials at Kinloss, Balnageith and at other former airbases elsewhere in Scotland. This would pave the way for contaminated land to be managed to avoid risks to human and environmental health, and for uncontaminated land to be brought safely back into productive use."

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/20/mustard-gas-kinloss-raf-base

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

U.S. Fossil Fuel Boom Dims Glow of Clean Energy

A surge in gas and oil drilling in the U.S. is helping drive the economic recovery and is enhancing energy security. But as the situation in Ohio shows, cheaper energy prices and the focus on fossil fuels has been bad news for the renewable energy industry.
BY KEITH SCHNEIDER

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/WRaIKzQQJt8/

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Groundwater Pumping Emerges As a Factor in Sea Level Rise, Study Says

The vast amounts of water pumped out of the ground for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial uses will increasingly contribute to global sea level rise in the coming decades, according to a new study. According to researchers at Utrecht University, humans pumped about 204 cubic kilometers (49 cubic miles) of groundwater in 2000, much of which evaporated into the atmosphere before ultimately entering rivers, canals and, eventually, the world’s oceans. While in earlier decades the rise in sea level caused by groundwater removal was canceled out by the construction of dams, that changed by the 1990s as humans pumped more groundwater and built fewer dams. By 2000, groundwater extraction resulted in a sea level rise of about 0.57 millimeters annually — compared with about 0.035 millimeters in 1990. According to the study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, by 2050 the pumping of groundwater worldwide could cause sea levels to rise about 0.8 millimeters annually.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/ExjKlHrguZw/

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ALEC exempted from lobbyist status in three separate states

Source: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/05/08/8828/alec-exempted-lobbyist-status-three-separate-states?utm_source=iwatchnews&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=rss

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Retreat of Columbia Glacier Vividly Captured in NASA Satellite Images

Two false-color thermal images taken by NASA satellites depict the rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier in Alaskaover the past 25 years. Since 1986, the

Click to enlarge

NASA

Alaska’s Columbia Glacier, 1986—2011

glacier’s end-point, or terminus, has retreated 12 miles up an inlet in Prince William Sound, and the glacier has lost about half its total thickness and volume. The top image, taken by a Landsat 5 satellite in 1986, shows two branches of the glacier joining together just north of Heather Island. By 2011, the terminus had retreated far up the inlet, and is identifiable in the bottom image. The blue in the water below the 2011 terminus is floating ice that has calved off the leading edge of the Columbia Glacier, which descends from a 10,000-foot ice field. By 2011, the two branches of the glacier had become separated. The turquoise in the images is snow, and it is more prevalent in 2011 because that image was taken in May, while the top image was shot in July.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/LRzKYmWC9Wo/

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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Stephanie Drapeau Talks Charity

Written by Misty Schwartz

LookToTheStars.org’s Misty Schwartz recently talked with actress/producer Stephanie Drapeau – writer of the 2011 short film Wish Wizard, featuring Ed Begley Jr and Morgan Freeman – about some of the charities and causes she supports.

Why did you choose to support the charities you work with such as Wish Wizard?

When the Make-A-Wish Foundation executive reached out to our company for help in fulfilling a movie wish, how on earth could we say no? For me, giving back isn’t necessarily a choice, it’s just a way of life, so I didn’t think twice about it. Actually, we spent the first half of our meeting discussing how to make the project bigger and more rewarding for the kids. At that time, I couldn’t have imagined how rewarding it would end up being for us as well though.

How long have you supported them?
I began supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation with Wish Wizard. Though I knew of the highly regarded reputation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, this was my first chance to work with them personally. They are truly an amazing organization.

Can you talk a little bit about some of the other causes that you support?

I have been involved with the Young Storytellers Foundation, which helps to develop literacy for kids through the art of storytelling and with the Boulevard Zen Foundation, which brings yoga to women and children residing in domestic violence shelters. I have also been working closely with the One World Foundation, which is currently heading up a project for Baan Unrak, which provides a loving home, food, medical care and education to 130 children in Thailand and Burma.

And how important do you think it is for celebrities to get involved in charity?

I believe that anyone who has an audience, albeit a celebrity, politician, or community leader, has an ethical responsibility to use that platform for good. It not only helps those organizations striving to improve our world, but it provides role models for anyone sitting in that audience looking for a new way of being.

I was so impressed by the number of celebrities that came to support Wish Wizard. When Morgan Freeman offered his time, along with Gary Marshall, Ed Begley Jr., David Koechner, Kathryn Joosten, and so many more.. I had to pinch myself. They all showed up from the goodness of their hearts and they definitely took the movie experience for these kids to an entirely new level! Celebrities can make a big difference and it was a great experience to see it in action.

What are your plans to make an impact on society this year?
This year, I am highly involved getting the Baan Unrak Weaving Center project off and running. Baan Unrak offers so much more than bare necessity to Burmese refugee children and their mothers; it offers education, medical care, jobs, life training and lots of love… and yet they struggle every month just to get by.

I am working with an amazing group of people who have created a Crowdrise fundraising campaign to revamp their weaving center and develop a clothing line for them to sustain a more reliable income. We will also be traveling there in June to create a documentary and brainstorm ways to improve our efforts within the community.

If you could create your own charity what would it be called and who would it benefit?
That is such a great question. There are so many incredible charities to support that I will definitely continue with those already serving our world.

But, my producing partner, Andre Gordon, and will also continue making movies under our Dream the Movies Foundation. Our foundation creates short films, like Wish Wizard, for children struggling with physical, emotional, societal or economic issues so they too can be given a platform to express themselves through the various facets of moviemaking.

What is the most annoying thing about people that don’t help and why?

I think that people who don’t have a natural sense to get involved with philanthropic causes have simply forgotten the roots of their humanity. It’s a tough world we live in and it is so easy to get caught up in the cyclone of being busy or of living in a vacuum of privilege. But, to me, that makes getting involved in charitable work all the more important. We can’t forget the one fundamental element we all have in common. Our humanity. Our hearts.

For those who don’t feel compelled to reach out their hand to others… they are missing the point. I think they need to be let in on a little secret… it makes you feel good to help someone else.