A Snip in Time Saves Nine... Billion humans from occupying Earth simultaneously, is the point behind World Vasectomy Day, reports Caroline Winter et al at ABC News Australia. Doctors worldwide went for a performance record of 1,000 vasectomies. Dr. Doug Stein spearheads a campaign for men to help bring world populations to sustainable levels, via a 15-minute, safe and painless technique: vasectomy. Featured in The Vasectomist, recently premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival, Stein says a vasectomy is a win-win for a man's family and the planet. Ultimately, fewer people mean less climate change and a healthier future, folks - it's that simple.
"Now these are MY kind of action heroes!"
- if you want to help them, go here.
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WHO: Fossil Fueled Air Pollution Causes Cancer says the World Health Organization, reports Sarah Boseley at Mongabay. Outdoor air pollution has been officially classified a carcinogen by WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Air pollution from traffic and industrial fumes is a definite cause of lung cancer and linked to bladder cancer. The strong verdict from IARC, a cautious body that pronounces only when the evidence is strong, will pressure governments to take action. One hopes.
US, World Are Making BIG Strides In Energy Efficiency says a new IEA study, reports Jeff Spross at Climate Progress. Between 2005 and 2010, advances in energy efficiency saved the US and ten advanced western nations from burning $420 BILLION worth of oil. And without those advances, the total energy consumption of those countries would have been 65 percent higher in 2010. Yazooo, way to go!
Notes: TFC = total final consumption. The 11 countries are Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, UK and US. Credit: International Energy Agency.
US Landowners Sue Fossil Fuel Companies Over Wasted Natural Gas reports Andrew Breiner at Climate Progress. Nearly 30 percent of North Dakota's drilled natural gas is intentionally burned off resulting in a roughly $1 billion loss, and releasing greenhouse gases equivalent to nearly one million new cars on the road. In the good ole tradition of US capitalism, North Dakota land and mineral owners, on whose property this flaring is occurring, are suing their fossil fuel customers for the lost revenue, past and future. Yes, fossil fuel companies should definitely pay for this... and so much more...
Global Warming Will Increase Intensity Of Weather-Altering El Nino Cycle says a new study, reports Matt McGrath at the BBC. Although El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) occurs in the Pacific Ocean it plays an important part in the world's climate, driving dry and wet weather seasons. The study indicates that under continued global warming, expect even more extreme droughts and floods from El Nino.
Mystery graphic from the BBC story above. The caption reads: "How the impact of El Nino is felt on sea height across the world" but it doesn't tell you who created it, or which colors signify what height.... Great for Halloween, though!
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Quote of the week comes from NPR's Living on Earth:
" I'd be embarrassed if aliens came and landed here and said, ..."Oh, the universe is full of energy. Where are you getting your energy source from?"
"Oh, we're fighting wars to pull it out from the ground from under where people live." I would just be embarrassed..."
OO Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium, New York. October 19, 2013 on Living On Earth.
☼☼☼ On the Bright Side ☼☼☼
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(>(>(> People Speak Out
OO Washington, DC: 7000+ Converge At Anti-Fracking, Climate Power-Shift Gathering - mostly 20 somethings and younger, the generation that will face worsening climate change.
OO Washington DC: Canadian Greens Blast Oilsands in US
OO Environmentalists Sue EPA Over Ocean Acidification
OO Ohio:Veterans Stand Up To Corporate Attack On State Renewable Energy Standard
OO Nebraska: Utility Criticized For Not Buying More Wind Power
OO Canada: First Nation Fracking Protesters Clash Violently With Police
Credit: Wildscreens photograph of David Attenborough at ARKives launch in Bristol, England. May 2003. Copyrighted. via wikimedia commons.
OO UK: David Attenborough: David Attenborough: Whoever Believes In Infinite Growth Is 'Either A Madman Or An Economist'
OO Romania: Chevron Convoy Turned Away by Anti-Fracking Villagers
OO Australia: Villagers Protest Resumption Of Dirty Fossil Fuel Mining
OO Australian Landowners 'Lock the Gate' to Fracking
OO America's Greatest Hidden Energy Asset is Energy Efficiency
OO 1973 Oil Embaro Legacy: Fuel Efficiency Standards Live On
OO Obama Plans To Renew Climate Change Efforts
☼☼☼ Microgrid Mania ☼☼☼
OO Independent Energy Sources Favored During Times of Dramatic Energy Changes
OO The Advantages of Independent Microgrids Over Traditional National Grid Utilities
A local microgrid in Japan. Credit: Unkown, public commons via wikimedia.
OO EBay to Oracle Embrace Microgrids in Threat to Utilities
OO Utilities Electricity Monopoly to Disappear Soon with Rise of Clean Energy
OO Colorado, Germany: Communities Want Their Own Grids - for energy independence, and as a local market for locally sourced clean energy.
For more news on clean energy, click here.
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OO Forget Solyndra. Clean Energy is Hot Again
OO History Shows: Limiting Carbon Emissions Will Likely Help Economy - the past shows that once enacted, environmental regulations are likely to cost far less, and deliver far more positives for the economy.
OO Citizen Science: How Facebook Games Can Help Tackle Climate Change
Players of the Facebook game Fraxinus help scientists find the solution to ash dieback at Citizen Science. Via Climate Progress
OO Solar And Wind Innovation Reflected In Booming Patents
OO Rooftop Solar To Drop To $0.35/W
OO Spreading Solar: Training CPAs & Insurance Agents to Sell Solar - reducing the cost of customer acquisition is the name of the game in residential solar.
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OO 5 Creative Strategies Used to Acquire Residential Solar Customers
OO A New Tool for More Efficient Solar Financing
OO US Company Invests Half a Billion Dollars Into Residential Solar Power
Credit:19562 Dennis Schroeder/NREL
OO Walmart is Top U.S. Solar Company in New Ranking
OO Wal-Mart, Apple and Other Top US Companies Accelerate Solar Adoption
OO Putting Robots to Work in Solar Energy
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OO Arizona: Utility Tries Storing Solar Energy for Use in the Dark
OO Colorado: 3 New Community-Funded Solar Projects Go On-Line
OO California: First-In-Nation Energy To Adopt Energy Storage Plan
*****Ready to Invest Your Bucks in Solar? Check out Mosaic opportunities here!
☼☼☼ California Dreamin' Green ☼☼☼
OO California Is Fighting Fossil Fuels by Forcing Utilities to Store Green Energy
OO California: 4 Major New Laws Will Boost Solar Power & Energy Storage
OO California: Sacramento's Path to Battery-Backed Solar Homes
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OO Wind Power 'Is Effective Carbon Saver' - Study
http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2013/10/wind-carbon-savings
OO Wind Power in Poor Regions May Increase US Access to Financing
OO Midwest: Four Wind Farms Approved
Credit Dennis Schroeder/NREL
OO Texas to Wrap Up $7B Effort to Spread Wind Power Across State
OO Tomorrow's Electric Cars Could Store Energy In Their Body Panels
OO Next-Generation Biofuels Are Inching Towards Reality
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OO Colorado: Voters In 4 Cities May Call Timeout On Fracking
OO Washington DC: FirstFuel Helping Increase Energy Efficiency There
OO Costa Rica: Nature Tours As An Economic Alternative To Palm Oil
The Resplendent Quetzal resides in Costa Rican forests. Credit: Frank Vassen
OO China Offers Rewards To Six Regions To Fight Air Pollution
OO China to Increase Short-Distance Solar-Power Distribution
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OO Solar Energy to Undercut Coal in South Africa
OO Germany: Solar & Wind Energy Produced Record 60% of Its Electricity Recently
OO UK Solar Installations Head for Record
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The flag flies, May 21, 2013.
At Moore, OK, the day after a huge tornado demolished it.
Credit Major Jon Quinlan/defenseimagery.mil
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***** US Climate Change News *****
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OO The Real Danger Remains A Climate Shutdown
OO Cheap Fracking Gas Lures Investment Away From Clean Energy
OO No Long-Term Climate Benefit From Shale Gas Revolution says a major study.
More abundant, cheaper shale gas (dark blue) has little impact on annual growth in U.S. CO2 emissions through 2050 compared to low shale gas case (light blue). This is true for all six energy-economy models featured here. Deep cuts in CO2 require a rising carbon price (green). Via Climate Progress
OO Low Natural Gas Price To Hamper US Energy Efficiency says the International Energy Agency.
OO World Bank Support For China Solar & Wind Power May Have Cost US Jobs
OO US Shale Gas to Take Longer to Develop Than Expected, Says Shell CEO
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OO What Happened After Congress Passed A Climate Change Law? Very Little.
OO Shutdown's Effect On Science Could Last Years
OO Climate Change: Here And Now At National Parks
Will Yosemite always look so beautiful? Yosemite Park, Credit: US Interior Department
OO Arizona: A Battle Over Price Of Solar Power
OO California: Another Dry Winter Could Mean More Water Cutbacks
OO California: Climate Change Has Vintners Eyeing Land Where Redwoods Grow
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OO California: South LA Complains of Noxious Fumes from Oil Field
OO Colorado: Fossil Fuel Industry Gives $600K to Fight Fracking Bans on Ballots
OO Illinois: First Detroit -- Now Kochs' Canadian Coke Coats Chicago
- now you know why no one in the US should want the Keystone pipeline... this is just a wild guess on my part, but I don't think any of the Koch family lives near their coke stash in Chicago...
☼☼☼Acting Like You Care: The XL Keystone pipeline will make possible far more climate change, but President Obama might okay it anyway. Credo, 350.org and others are asking people to stand up and be counted as nonviolent resisters or help in other ways. I did. If you ever wanted to do something big for your future, now's your chance - here. 
Parts of Miami could well look like this someday under continued sea rise. Credit Associated Press
OO Florida: How Rising Sea Levels Are Eating Away Miami - with the human frogs there not even mentioning climate change as they record how high tides are now starting to regularly flood certain sections, without storm surges. As one meteorologist noted to me and others, "The forecast calls for a dwindling number of climate deniers in Miami"
OO Florida: Story On Miami's Worsening Coastal Flooding Never Mentions Global Warming
OO Iowa Scientists: Climate Change Affecting Farming
For more, click here.
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OO As Midwest Cities Mull Congestion Pricing, Sweden Already Sold &Successful
OO North Dakota: Competition for Scarce Water Pits Wheat Vs. Fracking
OO North Dakota's Delay In Reporting Oil Spill Raises Questions
The life of a farm worker is difficult enough with global warming. Credit Ansel Adams via wikimedia commons.
OO Oregon: Climate Change Sickening Outdoor Farm Labor
OO Texas: Fracking's Geothermal Energy Is Wasted Due to Lack of Funds
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OO Texas: Debate Shows Power Of Cities To Limit Reach Of Drilling
OO Wisconsin GOP Bill Would Limit Local Regulation of Fracking Sand Mines
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Via the University of East Anglia Climate Change webpage
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<<<< Climate Change Round the World >>>>
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OO Business Urged To Do More To Save Oceans: World Bank Study
http://planetark.org/wen/70082
OO Over 90 Percent in Europe's Cities Breath Dangerous Air
<><>
** OO Behind Russia vs. Greenpeace Furor, Unreported Oil Pollution of the Arctic
OO Extreme Weather Can Leave More People In Poverty
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OO EU Lawmakers Will Not Cap Crop Fuels, Raising Spectre Of Rising Grain Prices
OO European Commission Proposes Airline Carbon Charge For EU Airspace
OO Germany: Chancellor Merkel Signals Support For Lifting Carbon Prices
A prolonged drought in Kenya has turned poverty into catastrophe. Credit Peter Trimming, via wikimedia commons
OO Kenya, Africa: When Climate Change Pushes Poverty Into Catastrophe
OO Canada: Moving Shale Oil Across Melting Tundra Has Huge, Potential Risks
OO Canada: Arctic Council Work Takes On New Significance
Credit USGS at flickr via Mother Jones
OO Canada: Climate Change Concerns Loom At Arctic Conference
OO Asia: No Sign Of Coal's Demise As Demand Rises
OO Asia Pacific Nations Will Consume More Than Half the World's Energy by 2035
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OO Asia Wants a Piece of US Shale Gas Boom
Smog in China reached unusually hazardous levels recently. Credit Jeffrey Beggerly via wikimedia
OO India Battles Dengue Fever Outbreak Due to Monsoonal Change
OO Japan: 17 Dead, 50 Missing After Deadly Typhoon
OO Philippines: 12 Dead, Millions Without Power As Typhoon Hits
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OO Australian Wineries Financially Hit By Coldest Spring Frost Ever
OO Indigenous Australians 'Face Disproportionate Harm' from Climate Change
OO Raging Australian Wildfires Raise Questions About Climate Change
Australia is once again experiencing many wildfires flourishing under very hot, dry conditions. Credit: 80 trading24viawikimedia commons.
OO Nightmare Start to Australia's Bushfire Season
OO Australian Scientists Plan to Relocate Wildlife Threatened by Climate Change
OO Indonesia: June Fires In Peatlands, Burned 1,500 Sq Km - releasing many tons of greenhouse gases and causing international haze.
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Ten Global Warming Indicators. Credit NOAA
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(((((((( Seeking the Science ))))))))
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OO Season of Smoke: Changing Climate Leads To Bigger, Smokier Wildfires
OO Hotter Summers Mean More Health Risks In Urban Heat Islands
OO Climate Change Will Affect Almost Every Corner of Ocean
Credit Dan Norton.
OO Toxic Algal Blooms And Warming Waters: The Climate Connection
OO Rising Temps Mean Move for Aussie Species
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OO Nature CLOUD Study Author: 'The Climate May Be More Sensitive Than Previously Thought'
OO Out of Sync Bird Migrations
OO Climate Change Threatens One Of The World's Great Migrations
Credit Mary Ellen Harte
OO Foliage Season Under Fire From Climate Change as season starts later and later.
OO Southern Flying Squirrels Land In Canada
OO Discovery: Agriculture Helps Form Clouds, Could Change Assessment Of Global Warming
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OO Australia: Climate Change Moves Nemo Current South
OO Climate Change Silencing Sounds Of Nature - as species vanish or move away.
OO Australia: 9000+ Future Climate Change Deaths Annually predicts IPCC report.
Credit: Hagerty Ryn, US Fish and Wildlife Service.
OO Moose Die-Off Alarms Scientists - and likely at least partly due to climate change, enabling parasites to proliferate, among other factors.
OO Mangrove Map Pinpoints Carbon Riches
OO Australia: Climate Change Threat To $1.8 Billion Snow Industry
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@@@ Climate Change in the Media @@@
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Via Climate Nexus
@@ Video: Last Hours - Must-See!! an incredible, penetrating look at how we don't need "runaway" warming to destroy human civilization... just a few more degrees warming than that which is already being predicted by scientists... who needs Halloween flicks with reality shorts like this?
@@ Youtuber: The World in 2 Minutes
ashes to ashes, stardust to stardust...
@@ Youtuber on current Tipping Points TV Series Saturdays, 9 PM EST on the Weather Channel
@@ What Climate Change Will Likely Destroy: Amazon Rainforest Wildlife Documentary
created by an extraordinary 22 yr old
These incredible butterflies live in the Amazon rainforest.
Credit: Steven G. Johnson via wikimedia.
OO @@ WEEKLY CLIMATE CHANGE VIDEO SERIES!! @@ Entitled "In Case You Missed It" via the good folks at Climate Nexus on Vimeo - select headlines delivered in less than 90 seconds with good graphics. Cool watching -- spread the word!!
!!!! Want to Save Energy & Help the Planet? Check out these helpful EPA Climate Change youtubers here! !!!!
@@ At Last, a Green Radio Show to counter the Lush Bimbaugh wasteland. Check out On the Green Front with Betsy Rosenberg at Progressive Radio Network to keep updated on climate change, and other green topics.
@@ Video: America's Dangerous Pipelines - the title says it all; compelling ....
To help you understand just what science does and does NOT do, check this out!
Every day is Earth Day, folks, as I was reminded by these subalpine fireweeds I photographed in late summer. Making the U.S. a global clean energy leader will ensure a heck of a lot more jobs, and a clean, safe future. If you'd like to join the increasing numbers of people who want to TELL Congress that they will vote for clean energy candidates you can do so here. It's our way of letting Congress know there's a strong clean energy voting bloc out there. For more detailed summaries of the above and other climate change items, audio podcasts and texts are freely available.
