Author Archives: Norm Benson

Making money out of thin air

What do the South Seas Company and carbon exchanges have in common? A desire to make money from an idea.

200 countries, 200 years, 4 minutes

Do you wonder what the future will hold? Maybe the keys to the future reside in the past. Hans Rosling is a Swedish medical doctor who spent 20 years helping poor Africans get healthy. You might think after seeing famine firsthand he would be pessimistic. Dr Rosling defines himself as neither an optimist nor aContinue reading “200 countries, 200 years, 4 minutes”

Hottest year on record the quietest fire year in US since 1998

Image via Wikipedia This is interesting, don’t you think? The U.S. is on track for its quietest wildfire year since 1998 (3.3 million acres), and firefighter deaths (7 firefighters) are the lowest on record, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. USA Today reports, “The USA is on track for its quietest wildfire year sinceContinue reading “Hottest year on record the quietest fire year in US since 1998”

This week’s environmental story roundup

Supreme Court to Hear Climate Change Case As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision that many new or upgraded factories, power plants or other facilities will have to get a permit under the Clean Air Act to emit carbon dioxide, methane or other greenhouse gases (Source: NYContinue reading “This week’s environmental story roundup”

Dear commenters trapped by my spam catcher

My Askimet spam catcher harvested 36 possible spam comments over the past 24 hours. Since so many of you placed in spamagtory have asked the same questions and comments, I thought I would answer them with one post. First, thank you for saying how much you love the posts. Second, the Timberati blog uses theContinue reading “Dear commenters trapped by my spam catcher”

Escaping the climate energy trap

CFACT hosts tour of energy poor village of La Libertad at Cancun climate talks (Cancun, Mexico) Few things divide rich from poor like access to affordable energy.  Today, it’s estimated that 1 out of 5 people have never flicked a light switch while nearly half the world cooks with solid fuel, such as wood orContinue reading “Escaping the climate energy trap”

Climate security, no. Job security, yes we Cancún.

As we know equivocally from the website of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the cabaret in Cancún, Mexico (29 November to 10 December 2010), encompasses the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP),Continue reading “Climate security, no. Job security, yes we Cancún.”

African poverty is falling…much faster than you think

Back in April, in Happy 40th Earth Day Everyone! I noted the progress we had made worldwide. Specifically, I wrote that the percentage of the world population living on less than $1 a day (in PPP-adjusted 2000 dollars) had dropped [as in, didn’t go up] from 26.80% to 5.40% One commenter, Hapa, did not seeContinue reading “African poverty is falling…much faster than you think”

The Week’s Environmental Story Roundup

Stories of environmental interest this week:

International and National:

Monsanto appeals judge’s order to uproot genetically modified sugar beets; Obama administration reverses offshore oil-exploration plans; 4200 sq miles reclosed in gulf of Mexico following find of oil tainted shrimp; Walking to stores ‘damages planet more than going by car’; Waste-pickers demand first dibs on rubbish; When life gives you hydrocarbons, make energy, Kyoto CO2 limits not to be extended this year.

California News:

HSU professor scales redwoods for clues to global warming; Kettleman City toxic waste facility fined for violations; Jerry Brown’s Hobson’s choice; new study criticizes high-speed rail effort.