DK GreenRoots

Inhofe views global warming as the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" because anthropogenic global warming is not threatening. Now, Inhofe wants an investigation of climate science after the hacking and posting online of some email correspondence among a few climate scientists.

If global warming is a hoax, then just from the news this weekend, there must be 5 countries, our military and polar bears involved in a conspiracy to perpetuate this fraud on the world.

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Limbaugh announced the GOP game plan: Make sure Obama's policies fail by any means necessary, such as lying to confuse and mislead the public into believing that global warming is a myth. Take every opportunity to question climate change science. After all, if the science does not prove the existence and gravity of climate change, then legislation is not needed. And, if the public does not support climate change legislation, then lawmakers may run from the bill either literally or figuratively with provisions that will dilute the success of substantive measures.

Nevermind that climate change sceptics and lobbyists put our world at risk:

Those that have opposed a deal on climate, which would include elements of the fossil fuel industry, have clearly made making a 2C target much, much harder, if not impossible. They've clearly put the world at risk of far more adverse effects of climate change.

The GOP has a two-pronged message: The climate science is so bogus that no legislation or measures are needed, but, if a bill will be passed, Plan B is to depict the measure as a "monstrosity" that needs a few wackadoodle reforms.

So, the GOP attack the proposed bill while also pushing for more concessions for their fossil fuel buddies in hopes of sabotaging any ultimate climate change bill so that Obama's policy will be a failure whether it is enacted into law or not. Then, all fingers point to the Democrats.

Note: The following video was originally posted here, with additional photographs and more details.

What is permaculture?

Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order.

Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.

The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.

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There are many forms of climate change obstructionism, including denial of the science to confuse and mislead the public to reduce support for reform, boycotts and Congressional parliamentary tactics to delay a domestic law and global treaty, and interference with national policy to ensure failure blamed on Obama and the Democrats.

Texas, the top U.S. producer of wind power, now plans to become the "Coal Star State" with 12 new coal-fired power plants. (larger graphic here.)

While the nation and the world are working to move from fossil fuel to alternative energies, Texas is pushing new coal-fired power plants.

Coal's comeback in Texas comes as the rest of the United States moves in the opposite direction. At least 107 proposed coal plants have been scrapped nationwide since 2002. Recently, high-profile battles in Idaho, Georgia, Kansas, Iowa and Nevada doomed proposed coal-fired plants.

The EPA has completed a comprehensive analysis of toxicity in U.S. lakes and reservoirs. Fish tissue samples were collected from 500 lakes and reservoirs in 47 mainland states, and every sample contained levels of mercury and PCBs. Of those samples, nearly half contained mercury levels in excess of the EPA's "safe" limit.

In the EPA's press release, there are a couple of areas which present interesting language.

In Sayerville, NJ, the doors of the Center for Lifelong Learning recently opened. It's a school that can serve up to 175 students with autism and related disorders, providing education and training for many life skills which are taken for granted by neurotypicals.

Here's the kicker.

The facility, designed by USA Architects, is one of the first public school buildings in the state to be built according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, and could become the first to be certified LEED Platinum. This is due largely to its all-natural building materials and its use of green power.

About 94 percent of the materials used to build the facility are recyclable, and all the materials were purchased within a 500-mile radius, many of which were harvested specifically for the project, according to MRESC Superintendent Mark Finkelstein. There are also geothermal wells under the building that catch nearly 75 percent of the rainfall to be recycled and reused.

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Next weekend President Obama meets with Chinese leaders, who may now be more willing to discuss measures to combat climate change due to vanishing glaciers shocking China into reality of global warming.

AS an expedition from Chinese state television worked its way across the remote Tibetan plateau earlier this year, the explorers were amazed by what they found.

The plateau has been called the world’s third largest ice store after the North and South Poles. Yet according to Chinese scientists, the “third pole” is warming up faster than anywhere else on earth.

The TV team found bare rock where glaciers had retreated. Lakes had dried up. Lush grassland had turned to desert. The livestock was dead, the farmers impoverished.

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Today, a Senate committee approved the Kerry/Boxer climate change bill, which signals to the world U.S. commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before international negotiations next month in Copenhagen.

An interesting turn of events is what role will the U.S. Chamber of Commerce play in climate change legislation? The Chamber has maintained global warming is beneficial, and advocated a "Scopes monkey trial" on climate change science. Now, the Chamber says it supports legislation but it's unclear whether its "changing its tune, or just its tone?" This is important because Senators Kerry, Graham and Lieberman have commenced a process to broaden support for climate change legislation in which the Chamber's views are essential but the details will not be publicly aired.

The MSM headlines stated the obvious: Republicans move to delay climate bill progress. The headlines should read: "Icky Inhofe Whiny Express Meets Leader Boxer."

Last week, Inhofe cried boycott of the climate change legislation markup scheduled to commence tomorrow. We have seen this scene before when a GOP whines and the Democrats cave, leaving us with a legislative measure not desired. Inhofe did not see it coming, but Boxer stood tall, placing Democrats in a position for an actual negotiation with some give and take. Whatever the ultimate outcome, at least Boxer is fighting for us, people around the world and our environment.

My walkscore is a meager 15 out of 100, but it was 98 not too long ago. However, this doesn't paint a complete picture and personally leaves me with mixed fellings. A major reason I chose my current location was for significant upgrades in climate and air quality.

I also tend to walk more than the average bear, and the average bears in my city drive everywhere. In SUVs and monster trucks. And if there's one thing average bears in monster trucks love more than honey, it's drive-through service.