environment

Ocean Acidity: Unprecedented, man-made trends: Univ. of Hawai'i Study

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on February 4, 2012 - 19:14

This study reflects a huge shift in ocean chemistry exacerbated by CO2 absorption. Higher acidity and changed chemistry in the oceans affects countless forms of life - including our own. Kevin

Researchers find unprecedented, man-made trends in oceans acidity
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Contact: Gisela E. Speidel, (808) 956-9252
Outreach Specialist, International Pacific Research Center
Tobias Friedrich, (808) 956-7385
Postdoctoral Fellow, International Pacific Research Center
Posted: Jan. 23, 2012

[Image] Simulated surface aragonite saturation (top) and atmospheric CO2 concentration in ppm (bottom)
[Image] Yellow tangs frolicking among corals. Courtesy D. Meadows, NOAA

Under Pressure, Monsanto withdraws GM Corn (Maize) from France

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 24, 2012 - 15:58

Monsanto says won't sell GMO maize in France in 2012

Under pressure, Monsanto has withdrawn its GMO corn MON810 from France, as beekeepers, activists and farmers protested and repeatedly sued - and won - in court.

This comes on the heels of Bayer, Syngenta and other manufacturers of neonicotinoid pesticides withdrawing their products for use on almonds in California. Although at first GMO and pesticides seem different, they are in fact tightly corrrelated: seeds now routinely are GMO, and are simultaneously treated with nicotine-based pesticides and fungicides. The full article is here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-gmo-france-monsanto-idUSTRE...

Global Simultaneous Die-Offs of Multiple Species

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 24, 2012 - 15:20

This great article in two parts, from Australia, details the mass die-offs around the world, of many species - including the beautiful Ladybird Beetle that is surprisingly important to the web of life: Original Articles at: Part One: http://hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/where-have-all-the-ladybirds-gone and Part Two: http://hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/where-have-all-the-ladybirds-gon...

Where have all the ladybirds gone? Part 1

By Marilyn Steiner and Stephen Goodwin

In this two-part article, the authors shine a spotlight on neonicotinoid pesticides against a backdrop of widespread use of this group and concerning reports of an alarming and increasing loss of biodiversity. While honey bees have been the focus of concern, other pollinators and invertebrates, birds and even the lowly earthworm are at risk.

South Florida Climate Change Master Plan

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 17, 2012 - 15:20

Wise planning.

Four major counties in Southeast Florida in the US, including the heavily-populated Miami-Dade County area, understand what municipalities across the planet have already learned:

Climate change is already here.

Responsible government officials must take prudent measures to reduce risk and plan for uncertainties.

This is good governance.

Cheers,
Kevin

Major Study: Multiple Routes of Pesticide Exposure for Honeybees Living Near Agricultural Fields

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 14, 2012 - 12:13

A major new study from Purdue University researchers highlights that honeybees face a long list of pesticide dangers near agriculture. Multiple toxic agents combined, via several simultaneous routes of exposure mean bees are in peril from many sources.

The complete article is open-access from PLos ONE, attached above (thanks PLos ONE and the authors for making this important article OPEN ACCESS!!!).

Toxic food.

I'm concerned that our food would be toxic in multiple ways simultaneously.

Good Government Investments in Renewable Energy - By Richard W. Caperton

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 12, 2012 - 19:34

A great paper about good energy policy as the key to progress in jobs, economic health, and energy security - Kevin

Good Government Investments in Renewable Energy

Fair, Effective, and Efficient Tax Policy Is Key for Driving Renewable Energy Growth

By Richard W. Caperton
Center for American Progress

Budget deficits drove the conversation in Washington in 2011 with the daily news dominated by government shutdown threats, the “super committee,” continuing resolutions, and arcane budgeting practices. Unfortunately, this left Americans convinced
that government investments in the future are off the table because of large federal
budget deficits that need to be reduced.

Americans were misled.

Pesticide Risk Increases Over Time

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on January 5, 2012 - 19:01

A very important shift may be occurring in our understanding of pesticides: risk may increase over time, rendering even very small amounts of pesticides such as some nicotine-based neonicotinoids much more toxic than previously realized.

Dutch researcher Dr. Henk Tennekes, with Dr. Francisco Sanchez-Bayo of Australia, have shown this in a new article in the Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology: "Time-Dependent Toxicity of Neonicotinoids and Other Toxicants: Implications for a New Approach to Risk Assessment" that is an open-access research article downloadable with the link shown above. I corresponded with Dr. Tennekes, who summarized his deep concerns:

"By Dr. Henk Tennekes

AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL

Teaching Gardens: Using Permaculture to Teach Kids Practical Lessons

Submitted by Kevin Hansen on December 3, 2011 - 10:18

A wonderful article describing organic permaculture teaching gardens used to help teach children via experiential means the lessons they need - in a practical garden setting:

Sowing the Seeds of Food Security

By FIONA MACKAY
Published: New York Times - November 27, 2011

CAPE TOWN — At primary schools in South Africa’s impoverished Cape Flats area, teachers are using organic vegetable gardens to help children learn science, geography and economics — and to unlearn hunger.

Schools Environmental Education and Development (SEED) is a nonprofit based in Cape Town that creates learning gardens as part of their Organic Classroom Program, in partnerships with schools in South Africa’s poorest communities.

Founded in 2002, SEED trains teachers to design, plant and nurture a garden according to permaculture principles, which encourage a sustainable approach to agriculture modeled on the ecosystem.

A Spring Without Bees

Michael Schacker's book A Spring Without Bees has influenced a large body of people around the world to help with the global honeybee situation - and the entire web of life for which it is a bellwether. This book was highly influential and helpful in our work producing our film Nicotine Bees.
 
For anyone interested in this subject, this is the best starting point - the product of enormous research effort. 
 

Syndicate content