June 10, 2009 archive

The question which begged to be asked!

1. The Guardian reports China launches green power revolution to catch up on the West by 2020. China has set the goal of producing 20 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources in 11 years.

   “We are now formulating a plan for development of renewable energy. We can be sure we will exceed the 15% target. We will at least reach 18%. Personally I think we could reach the target of having renewables provide 20% of total energy consumption,” said Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of China’s national development and reform commission.

   China makes renewable power play to be world’s first green superpower, adds The Guardian.

   A game-changing moment could be upon us… This is no short-term economic boost or sop for climate change negotiations; it is a long-term investment aimed at making China a dominant force in the global low-carbon economy for decades to come. Power plays do not come much bigger.

   The size of the energy stimulus has not yet been revealed, but reports in the domestic media and from foreign diplomats suggest between 1.4 trillion (US$200 bn) and 4.5 trillion yuan (US$600bn) will be invested over the next ten years in nuclear power plants, solar and wind farms, hydroelectric dams, “green transport”, “clean coal” and super efficient electric grids.

   The consequences will be staggering. If the bigger figure proves correct, China will be spending the equivalent of its 2009 military budget on “new energy” for each of the next ten years.

   Imagine what the U.S. could have done if it had spent the money it wasted on wars of choice in Iraq and Afghanistan on moving to green energy? Imagine what $607 billion that the U.S. spent on the military in 2008 could do to move the nation to renewable energy.

2. Meanwhile, McClatchy reports Scientists state Global warming has already changed oceans. U.S. Senators were told by scientists that earth’s oceans “are already changing because of global warming” in a hearing of the oceans subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee. Oysters in Washington state have stop reproducing. Shrimp are migrating away from the Gulf of Mexico. The economic toll will be enormous.

   The extent of ocean acidification and oxygen-depleted dead zones are alarming. “Federal studies also found acidity levels in the North Pacific and off Alaska are unusually high compared to other ocean regions. The high acidity is already taking a toll of such tiny species as pteropods, which are an important food for salmon and other fish.”

   “We must start to realize that there can be no standalone policies, especially as they relate to our water resources,” Alexandra Cousteau said. “Energy, transportation, climate change, infrastructure, agriculture, urban development: this is where our ocean policy must begin. It is all interconnected.”

Four at Four continues with lawsuits forcing torture transparency, Uighurs to Palau, and amphibians in Oregon and around the world are dying off.

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) is warning people to avoid genetically modified foods.

This is scary stuff.  

They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”

Love Hotels and Religion

A religious corporation that operates “love hotels” concealed 1.4 billion yen in income over seven years through February 2008 as tax-exempt donations from amorous couples, sources said.

The Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Taxation Bureau has ordered Uchu Shinri Gakkai (Space truth academic society) to pay 300 million yen in back taxes and penalties.

Uchu Shinri Gakkai, based in Tadotsu, Kagawa Prefecture, has filed an objection to the order.

“We actually send money to needy children in the country. We’ll fight the tax authorities,” said the 46-year-old president of a company in Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture, that processes and sells mushrooms and vegetables.

The love hotels are apparently run by a 71-year-old former president of the company.

Love, Sex and Religion. What’s a Good Rightwing Republican Religious Crazy To Do?

We Fought The Law

Tens of thousands Tens of thousands were expected to join a massive rally yesterday at Seoul Plaza marking the 22nd anniversary of the June 10 pro-democracy movement despite the disapproval of police and Seoul City.

Defining it as illegal, the police vowed to deal sternly with the rally and crack down on any illicit protests. They planned to dispatch more than 12,000 police officers around Seoul Plaza, the popular assembly site in central Seoul where the 1987 movement took place.

The police and the Seoul Metropolitan Government rejected the plan for the rally, saying the Korea Freedom League, a conservative civic group, filed its request to use the plaza earlier for a separate civil campaign.

Scuffles erupted between the police and those preparing for the event when five trucks tried to enter the plaza to unload equipment and materials that will be used during the rally. During the scuffles, Rep. Lee Jung-hee of the Democratic Labor Party fainted and was taken to a nearby hospital.

And Nobody Won. They Were To Busy fighting

Emily Post Hello

As all visitors to India’s capital discover, despite Delhi’s rickshaws and the traditional black and yellow taxis offering an economical ride, there can also be plenty of drawbacks.

Cleanliness of both vehicle and driver are often uncertain, safety often comes with a question mark and at the end of their journey passengers may often conclude they’ve been well and truly ripped off.

Now, in an effort to boost the image of the “taxiwallahs” and to improve the service they offer, drivers are to receive lessons in road safety, basic English and common courtesy. What’s more, they’re going to get paid to take them.

The lessons are part of a scheme that has been drawn up by the India Tourism Development Corporation in conjunction with the government before next year’s Commonwealth Games. India’s tourism industry draws 3.3 million foreign visitors a year, but the games are expected to bring tens of thousands of new visitors and officials are determined that they leave with a positive image of the country.

Hey You You Call Those Manners

This is awesome, as is usual for Russ.

 When you go to  Feingold's Senate Site you will see 2 different ways he is letting layman citizens and lawyers/academics give their opinions about this nominee – via his listening sessions and via a special web page set aside for the purpose.

I don't remember him doing this with other nominees, not the web page thing, anyway.  I think one good thing that has come about with Obama is it has caused other pols to ramp up their use of the net – of course, as we already know, Russ was pretty net friendly to begin with, but I can see where his net outreach has improved.  This is a great thing.

So, if y'all got kudos/complaints about Sotomayer, let Russ know.  I don't know enough to say much about her one way or the other with any certainty, but I have a nagging feeling she is not really liberal enough to counteract the RATS.  

Don’t Leave Town

The shear amount of information uncovered is staggering. Hopefully it will keep your interest.

Let me warm up here with a couple of interesting quotes.

“Gold was not selected arbitrarily by governments to be the monetary standard. Gold had developed for many centuries on the free market as the best money; as the commodity providing the most stable and desirable monetary medium.”

Murray N. Rothbard

Why Gold and Why Now?

“If you don’t trust gold, do you trust the logic of taking a beautiful pine tree, worth about $4,000 – $5,000, cutting it up, turning it into pulp and then paper, putting some ink on it and then calling it one billion dollars?”

Kenneth J. Gerbino

Ever wonder why banks and governments like a paper currency system? Why they fully embraced the Keynesian theory of deficit spending?

“Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the ‘hidden’ confiscation of wealth. Gold stands in the way of this insidious process. It stands as a protector of property rights.”

Alan Greenspan

That one is a classic considering the source.