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Dare to dream

Is Pombo in trouble?

Roosters, meat, and biodiversity

I ran across this article looking for information on avian flu. South Carolina is the capital of the poultry industry, but even there, nobody wants to live next to a commercial chicken house. Thomas Brickle, who owns three egg houses in the area, made one comment I found particularly inspiring:

"We have flies," he said. "We had flies before we had chicken houses, and we probably had flies before we had chickens."

OK, so, what has no fur, struts around on two legs, thinks he is good looking (but isn't), and likes the sound of his own voice?

This little light of Pete’s

In Congressional Quarterly, via reader SCB:

Light it up, and don't fret about the electric bill. When House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., flips the switch tomorrow to light the Capitol Christmas tree, "significantly less energy will be used thanks to the first-time addition of Light Emitting Diode (LED) holiday lights." So says Senate Energy Chairman Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M., whose home state not only produced this year's giant tree but also is home to Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, a leading center of research and development for LED lighting. Domenici said the bulbs use about 90 percent less electricity than traditional holiday lights and last 20,000 hours (the equivalent of more than 100 holiday seasons). Guess someone had better take them off carefully after New Year's and stuff them away for next year.

Thanks, Pete! That energy bill? Forgiven!

In other CQ news, the cover story this week is called "Getting a Grip on Carbon." Sadly, I can't read it, since I'm not a subscriber.

Charity gift certificates

All you folks worried about rampant materialism this holiday season should check out charity gift certificates. It's just what it sounds like: You buy a GC and the recipient goes to the website to choose what charity they'd like to donate to.

Here's the environment section.

Another one falls for AP6

A surprisingly non-wacky column on Tech Central Station about the developments in Montreal, by Ronald Bailey (via H&R).

It's non-wacky, but I also think it makes a mistake -- a mistake made all too often over the last five years -- namely: Believing in the Bush administration's good intentions when they say something that flatters your ideological preconceptions. (See: liberal war hawk.)

Specifically, Bailey notes that several participants in the Montreal meetings are pushing the notion that economic development and environmental protection can go hand in hand. For instance:

Umbra on LED holiday lights

Dear Umbra, Suppose I replace all my many old, tangled, not-so-efficient holiday lights with the newer LED lights. These are supposed to be better for the environment. What is the best way to dispose of my old lights? R-MOttawa, Canada Dearest R-M, The LED lights are indeed better for the environment, and, since I’m frankly […]

Catch Him if You Can

Leonardo DiCaprio to produce documentary about global warming Eco-minded actor Leonardo DiCaprio — who tools around L.A. in a Prius and has been outspoken about issues like worldwide access to potable water — is now bringing a tree-hugging message to film. According to spokesdude Ken “Walkin’ on” Sunshine (we made that middle part up), DiCaprio […]

Holey Moly

Antarctic ozone hole may persist 20 years longer than expected Remember that hole in the ozone over Antarctica? The one we fixed? Big environmental success story? Turns out it may take roughly two decades longer than expected for it to fully heal — until around 2065, instead of 2040 to 2050 — because sizable amounts […]

Painting the Town Red-Green

Red-green political party makes headway in Montreal city elections Not everything going on in Montreal is as depressing as the climate summit. In recent citywide elections, Projet Montreal — a municipal political party devoted to dense urban development, public transit, and social justice — picked up two city-council seats and took a big step toward […]

The Summit of Our Discontent

U.S. continues to stomp mightily on Montreal climate summit Poor Canada got it from both sides this week at the Montreal climate summit. On Tuesday, it suggested that the 189 nations party to the original 1992 U.N. climate convention meet formally over the next two years to discuss post-Kyoto strategies for greenhouse-gas reduction. The Bush […]