Global warming terrorism will see more exploding trees

What's summer without a bushfire or two? Indeed, some of our plant life has evolved to germinate as a result of bushfire, but bushfires all year round would be an entirely different thing.Overseas readers may not know this, but the eucalyptus tree has a such a high oil content that they virtually explode in the path of an approaching bushfire that has reached such an intensity it is crowning.

Take out a global warming denialist

If you seriously want to take the global warming sceptic to task, here is your ammunition. And why shouldn't you? The sooner they are extinct, the sooner the rest of us can concentrate on our survival.h/t Fallenmonk clipped from fallenmonk.blogspot.comNewScientist.com has done a great job in compiling a list of the

Costa Rica to be carbon neutral by 2030

In the early 1893 New Zealand was the first nation in the world to enfranchise women. Look at the revolution this started. Can you conceive that women shouldn't have the vote?Nobody can take that away from the Kiwis (Even though the Aussies came a close second in 1901). If Costa Rica does achieve their ambition to become the first carbon neutral country, nobody will be able take that from them

US to sink G8 Summit climate change deal, not CO2

What to make of the Luddite-like obstructionism the US is deploying into the proposed G8 Summit climate change deal mooted for next month in Germany? The deal is wanted by G7 of the other G8 countries, and being pushed very hard by the hosts. :::[Suburban Guerilla]The US has rejected any prospect of a deal on climate change at the G8 summit in Germany next month, according to a leaked

100 things YOU can do to save the environment

clipped from www.seql.orgConserve EnergyReduce ToxicityIf you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms. Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket. Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods. Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for

Climate change will bring menu change

Please, not lamb or chicken! clipped from www.smh.com.auDietary guidelines should take into account the levels of nutrients needed for optimal health while maintaining the natural environmental systems required to produce our food, according to expert advice. The recent findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on

Are recent zoo breakouts a climate change warning?

After last week's gorilla escape from a Northern European zoo, we see listed next to BBC News Video reports on the harbingers of climate change, more primates breaking out of zoos.Given that animal instinct is far more alert to impending natural disaster than ours is, could the recent behaviour also be a harbinger? A forewarning? Perhaps not as dramatic as the dolphins leaving the planet after

Manhattan ice island found 50 kms offshore

The first major ice-shelf calving in 25 years, in 2005, from the Ayles Ice Shelf in the Arctic, is slightly thicker than anticipated; Between 42-45m (138-148ft) - the equivalent of the height of a 10-storey building.That's the good news. clipped from news.bbc.co.ukScientists in the Arctic have just carried out the

Low flow for $10 billion Murray-Darling river rescue

'twas a plan hatched on back of the envelope that crossed no squinting Treasury eyes, so why shouldn't the States look askance at the Federal Government's Murray-Darling River offer? Today's water allocation is tomorrow's pork barrel, if yesterday is any guide. clipped from www.smh.com.auThe Federal Government will

David Hicks converts to new green religion

I can just imagine the headline of opinion writers like Andrew Bolt, "Hicks rejects Islam for environmentalism", or "Hicks trained in Greenpeace tactics - is nine months enough?" "Trrrist or Envirmntallist, what's the difference?". The glee with which they will wield that tarred brush will be unrestrained.Hicks was described as the "worst-of-the-worst" during times of high political sensitivity,

One billion climate refugees in our lifetimes

But, don't worry, Howard's proven Pacific solution will deter them from coming to Australia. clipped from www.smh.com.auA BILLION people - one in seven people on Earth today - could be forced to leave their homes over the next 50 years as the effects of climate change worsen an already serious migration crisis, a

Washington wishes world would fry

Still panting after undermining the Kyoto Agreement, the American Government is now attacking the draft agreement of next month's G8 summit, watering down clauses agreeing to keep temperature rises under 2C this century.As anyone who has been following global warming knows, when the world average temperature tips over 2 degrees Celsius from what it is today, we engage runaway climate change.

Climate tipping out faster than forecast

Like the failing kidneys of an alcoholic , global warming may be reducing the capacity to plants and soils to absorb carbon dioxide. This is an anticipated tipping point, the next stage is runaway climate change, and we have a predicted ten years to stop it. clipped from www.smh.com.auCLIMATE change may have

Aboriginal weathermen say drought breaking soon

There is so much we can learn about surviving this vast, dry, continent from the Aboriginal people, especially now that the climate has taken a turn for the worse.For example, I understand that in the north they have two seasons, and up to seven distinct seasons as you travel south. Makes sense if you have experienced both locales for at least a year or so, and it brings home the awkwardness of

Coal industry pledges "clean-coal" research dollars

Whenever I hear of "clean-coal", I think of safe-sex . Unless you and your partner are 100% 'healthy', and monogamous, there is no such thing as safe-sex, only safer-sex. Risks remain.Anyhoo, there is more money for cleaner-coal research. This time coming from the industry itself: clipped from au.news.yahoo.com

Where have all the global warming denialists gone?

Now that Rupert Murdoch drives a hybrid and has announced an intention that News Corp. become carbon neutral within three years, strange, strange things are happening on Fox: Global Warning Climate Change Energy

Methane damns green hydro-electricity claims

Deutsche Welle Radio presents recent research from scientists in the Brazilian Amazon that is showing that many hydroelectric dams cause the release of more greenhouse gas for theequivalent amounts of electricity created, that would be released if that electricity was created by burning fossil-fuels. (Audio link to DW Radio's program, Living Planet - the piece on the methane dams is a little

Revenge is best served old

The Queen had Bush for toast, when she stirred him about his gaff exaggerating her already impressive durability. She also displayed how contemporary she is, by offsetting the carbon emissions caused by her visit. clipped from www.truthdig.comQueen Elizabeth began a toast on Tuesday by teasing the president: “I

Myth busted: Cheap-coal powered electoral-cycles

The Liberal Government budget 2007 has been described as clever politics, but we live in a time that demands clever policies based on sound climate science. Not the clever politics of election year electoral largess.Admittedly, the government can afford the splurge; Costello has provided good economic management, and all credit to him. But John Howard still hasn't communicated that he understands

Greenpeace's aggressive tactics not winning Mac users over

Apple is the tactical low-hanging fruit in Greenpeace's campaign to reduce toxicity in electronics, such as arsenic and PVC, and to encourage waste recycling. But is it wise to push Mac users, veterans of the PC wars, to pull their wagons into a laager?H/t Mark Lawrence who provides this take on the Steve Jobs – Greenpeace stoush from online/email Mac magazine TidBITS.clipped from www.smh.com.auThe Federal Government will spend nearly $20 billion over thenext five years on environmental measures, according to theAustralian Greens. The Greens claimed they have been leaked details of the budgetin what would be a sensational breach of security of

World Wolfowitz Bank almost solves climate change - for big fossil-fuel

A pro fossil-fuel agenda has been smuggled into the World Bank by another controversy-causing Wolfowitz Human Resources placed candidate. This time it's the former conservative finance minister from El Salvador, and strong Iraq war advocate, Mr Juan José Daboub, who is raising the hackles of senior staff.The outcome of his intentions would have been to make developing countries completely

Catastrophe reinsurance buffeted by hurricanes, global warming

Warren Buffett's AGM is described as "Woodstock for capitalists" by NPR.org. In a neat, closed economy, his investors have the opportunity to buy the products of the thousands of companies Berkshire Hathaway invest in. The guy knows how to make money, so his words on future reinsurance rates are worth hearing. As are those of his vice chairman, Charlie Munger, on counter-productive

Could Spanish cities run on tower power?

Holy Toledo Batman (well actually Seville), check out the solar tower: clipped from www.engadget.comJust last month we witnessed a gigantic skyscraper / solar tower hybrid that generates a whopping 390-kilowatts of energy, but even that looks like child's play compared to the 40-story solar power plant that

Global warming to change time as we know it.

Jochem Marotzke and research partners at the Max Planck Institute in Germany has published one of the most surprising effects anticipated by global warming in the March 28 issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters.This adds to LiveScience's Top Ten Surprising Things About Global Warming... making it a Top Eleven, I guess.clipped from www.climateark.orgAll of the predicted catastrophic consequences

How to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions

The explosive popularity of Wikipedia shows the wiki concept to be of value. Here is a how-to wiki on everything that you can do that reduces your greenhouse gas emissions. clipped from www.wikihow.comWikihow: How to Reduce Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions More and more people are wondering how

Computers can't keep up with melting Arctic

Out of an exercise mapping real-world observations to computer climate models comes news that global warming is more accelerated than the scientific consensus holds.Ted Scambos of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado co-authored the latest study of Arctic ice melt, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, with other scientists from NSIDC and

What Is Denialism?

Five general tactics are used by denialists and the modern-breed of global warming skeptics to sow confusion. They are:conspiracy; selectivity or cherry-picking; fake experts; impossible expectations or moving goalposts; and, general fallacies of logic. clipped from scienceblogs.comDenialism is the employment of

Global warming skeptic backs himself by $6000 over 20 years

Global warming skeptics ready to put up or shut up, that's what I like to see. You have to give it to David Evans, a few professional denialists have refused to take bets to back their positions (Lord Gilbert Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley comes to mind). Evans, formerly with the Australian Greenhouse Office, has, but he will lose a lot more than $6,000 in 20 years, if he loses.He

Solar breakthrough: households can power grid

Australia's future energy may be secured by a grid of good, old fashioned, trusty nuclear. Nuclear families, that is, and the roofs over their heads linked into a giant electranet, if the following breakthrough in photovoltaic cells holds true to its market promise. clipped from www.theage.com.auResearchers at the

The relationship of truth to science

Seed Magazine explores an interesting topic in their latest edition. clipped from www.seedmagazine.com Seed editor-in-chief Adam Bly on truth in science.by Adam Bly Posted April 30, 2007 10:17 AMWe are living in a moment where our traditional sources of truth—legacy news outlets, heads of state, community