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It’s all about oil

Yesterday we pointed to a story about China's alliance-making with global bad actors, part of its efforts to quench its growing thirst for oil. In today's Washington Post, Robin Wright follows up, focusing on Iran. Readers of James Fallows' seminal article on Iran in the new Atlantic Monthly know that our options around that country's nuclear ambitions are already few and grim -- an alliance with China is certainly not going to help that situation.

Hope springs delusional

On Monday we wrote about Oregon voters' rather ... what's the word? ... shortsighted approval of Measure 37, which many folks felt would eviscerate the state's largely successful (if slightly bloated and overly complex) land-use planning rules.  Today, Ore. Gov. Ted Kulongoski said that voters didn't actually mean to eviscerate the program, and that he would pay out Measure 37 claims to landowners rather than abandon the rules.  

Good luck with that, Ted.

David Hunnicutt, head of the property-rights group that pushed the measure, promptly replied: "Ninety-nine out of a hundred people who've had their rights taken from them don't want a check. They just want the ability to use their land the way they could when they purchased it." Why, it's almost like he did want to eviscerate the rules!

Not wanting to commit political suicide, Kulongoski rushed to assure voters that he wouldn't do anything crazy, like raising taxes.  Instead, he'd pay out the claims by taking money from other programs -- say, "health programs, programs for senior citizens, and help for low-income children and families." Lovely.

Arnold. Dude.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (I can't believe I know how to spell that name from memory now) continues to cause cognitive dissonance in the enviro mind, coming out in support of Bush's plan to gut the Roadless Rule.

UPDATE: Wyoming Gov. Dave Freduenthal (D), however, thinks the plan sucks. But then, he doesn't think much of Clinton's original Roadless Rule either.

Isn’t it ironic

Mark W. Anderson reflects on the irony that global warming may soon melt the arctic enough to allow for additional oil and gas exploration there.

Green Bay Backers

The New York Times editorial page today waded into the mucky controversy over pollution of Indonesia's Buyat Bay by the Colorado-based Newmont Mining Corp., the world's biggest plunderer -- oops, I mean producer -- of gold. The Times' Jane Perlez has covered this saga -- which has involved, among other exciting bits, jail time for mining execs, high-stakes lawsuits, dueling scientific reports, and birth deformities -- more comprehensively than any other reporters, to my knowledge (see here and here).  

The Barbarian Invasions

Despite vocal opposition, SUVs invade Europe European politicians spare no rhetorical flourish in demonstrating their contempt for SUVs and their owners. “I don’t want to be like Freud, but SUVs are a projection, a compensating thing,” said Rome’s transportation commissioner, Mario Di Carlo. Paris Deputy Mayor Denis Baupin called the SUV “a caricature of a […]

The Rat Pack

EPA laxity leaves kids at risk from rat poison, enviros charge The U.S. EPA seems more concerned with protecting rat-poison manufacturers than protecting kids, two enviro groups are charging. Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council and West Harlem Environmental Action filed suit against the EPA, criticizing the agency for harming children by revoking safety […]

Shark Tale

U.S. proposes international rules to curb shark killing Those Americans who despair in thinking their country a laggard on so many international environmental issues can take heart — at least the U.S. is firmly against shark finning. Yesterday, at a conservation meeting being hosted in New Orleans, the U.S. government proposed sweeping international measures to […]

Hot Oil Treatment

China’s wide-ranging quest for oil may bring about clashes with U.S. China is desperate for oil to fuel its booming economy, and it’s got plenty of cash to pay for it and few of the humanitarian scruples that still (occasionally) restrain the U.S. Some analysts worry that these circumstances will lead to conflict between the […]

The McCain Mutiny

McCain criticizes Bush admin over climate change — again Though Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) backed President Bush’s reelection campaign, yesterday he reiterated his charge that the Bush administration is in the wrong on the issue of climate change, calling its stance “terribly disappointing.” Today, McCain will convene a Senate hearing on rapid warming in the […]