Author Archives: Norm Benson

Hello rainforest, it’s me, organic

I like local produce: local pears, local wines, and ripe local tomatoes. I like buying from the folks who produced them. Maybe it can even put me in touch with the seasons. Those are good things, but buying local food does not imbue such commerce with environmental greenness. And buying organic, may be less green.Continue reading “Hello rainforest, it’s me, organic”

The Week’s Environmental News Roundup

EPA sued over E15 ethanol waiver A number of trade associations have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for its decision to allow the amount of corn-based ethanol injected into gasoline to be raised from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. The groups say the EPA’s decision will adversely affect food prices forContinue reading “The Week’s Environmental News Roundup”

CAL Fire seasonal firefighter applications (2011)

The filing period for the 2011 season is November 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011. Fire Fighter I is a seasonal, temporary classification used by CAL FIRE. The Fire Fighter I application period usually occurs between November and January and hiring usually occurs between April and June, depending upon the year’s fire and weather conditions.Continue reading “CAL Fire seasonal firefighter applications (2011)”

This Week’s Environmental News Roundup

One Million Trees Planned to be Planted in Africa’s Mt Elgon Region (Pictured) Women walking down from Mt. Elgon national park with firewood. Cutting down of trees has led to massive deforestation of Mt. Elgon range in eastern Uganda. Photo: © Charles Akena/IRIN A three-year project to increase forest cover and help local communities inContinue reading “This Week’s Environmental News Roundup”

Are biotechnology and sustainable agriculture complementary or contradictory?

The Economist is hosting an online debate. At issue, biotechnology. The statement is: “This house believes that biotechnology and sustainable agriculture are complementary, not contradictory.” Defending the motion is Pamela Ronald, a professor of plant pathology, University of California, Davis. The number of people on Earth is expected to increase from the current 6.7 billionContinue reading “Are biotechnology and sustainable agriculture complementary or contradictory?”

Deforestation changes climate not the other way around

3-year Project for One Million Trees to be Planted in Africa’s Mt Elgon Region Begun A three-year project to increase forest cover and help local communities in eastern Uganda reverse the effects of deforestation has begun. While the project is billed as one to help reverse the effects of climate change (A UK Department forContinue reading “Deforestation changes climate not the other way around”

Global warming video provides a partial list of threats

So far global warming will cause (or might cause) over 800 threats. This A-Z video just skims the surface And while we’re reviewing anthropogenic global warming, over at Climate, Etc  Judith Curry reflects on how we all came to where we are. [T]he policy cart was put before the scientific horse, justified by the precautionaryContinue reading “Global warming video provides a partial list of threats”

A pox on humanity…and just in time for the holidays too!

The Fate of the World rests in your chip-laden hands. The holidays have arrived and you still don’t know what to get that dystopian gamer in the family, do you? You know the one: the moody, militant, and misanthropic neo-Malthusian who says that SimCity is for pussies. He’s sure that humanity is sucking down theContinue reading “A pox on humanity…and just in time for the holidays too!”