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October 21, 2013
Poachers kill 300 elephants with cyanide in 'worst massacre in southern Africa for 25 years'
http://www.treehugger.com/endangered-species/poachers-kill-300-elephants-cyanide-worst-massacre-southern-africa-25-years.html
Poachers kill 300 elephants with cyanide in 'worst massacre in southern Africa for 25 years'
Michael Graham Richard
October 21, 2013
Last month, we reported that poachers were killing elephants using cyanide in Zimbabwe's 5,660-square mile Hwange National Park, killing at least 41. Sadly, as terrible as that was, it wasn't nearly the whole extent of the horror: Since then, legit hunters have brought new information about the carnage, providing evidence from wide aerial surveys showing that more than 300 elephants were poisoned by poachers.
Conservationists have called this the "worst single (animal) massacre in southern Africa for 25 years".
The poachers lace the waterholes where elephant go drink with cyanide, as well as salt licks that attract the animals during the dry season.
Cyanide being a poison, the elephants were not the only victims, directly or indirectly. The elephant carcasses of course became magnets for all kinds of animals...
In 2011, at least 17,000 African elephants were killed for their tusks according to Cites, the international body that focuses on endangered species.
Poachers kill 300 elephants with cyanide in 'worst massacre in southern Africa for 25 years'
Michael Graham Richard
October 21, 2013
Last month, we reported that poachers were killing elephants using cyanide in Zimbabwe's 5,660-square mile Hwange National Park, killing at least 41. Sadly, as terrible as that was, it wasn't nearly the whole extent of the horror: Since then, legit hunters have brought new information about the carnage, providing evidence from wide aerial surveys showing that more than 300 elephants were poisoned by poachers.
Parts of the national park, whose more accessible areas are visited by thousands of tourists each year, can be seen from the air to be littered with the deflated corpses of elephants, often with their young calves dead beside them, as well as those of other animals. There is now deep concern that the use of cyanide – first revealed in July, but on a scale that has only now emerged – represents a new and particularly damaging technique in the already soaring poaching trade. (source)
Conservationists have called this the "worst single (animal) massacre in southern Africa for 25 years".
The poachers lace the waterholes where elephant go drink with cyanide, as well as salt licks that attract the animals during the dry season.
Cyanide being a poison, the elephants were not the only victims, directly or indirectly. The elephant carcasses of course became magnets for all kinds of animals...
After the elephants died, often collapsing just a few yards from the source, lions, hyenas and vultures which fed on their carcasses were also struck down, as were other animals such as kudu and buffalo that shared the same waterholes.
In 2011, at least 17,000 African elephants were killed for their tusks according to Cites, the international body that focuses on endangered species.
October 21, 2013
Fracking linked to rape, meth addiction, and STDs
http://grist.org/living/fracking-linked-to-rape-meth-addiction-and-stds/
Fracking linked to rape, meth addiction, and STDs
By Holly Richmond
Yet another reason to hate fracking: It’s connected with an increase in STDs, car crashes, drug-related crimes, and sexual assault in areas where the oil and gas industry sets up shop. Or in Vice-speak, fracking workers have “an insatiable appetite for raw sex and hard drugs.” Writes Peter Rugh on Vice:
Yikes. You can “correlation doesn’t equal causation” all day, but Rugh is persuasive: Fracking workers are overworked, undertrained, and seven times more likely to die on the job than the rest of us. (On a rig, 12-hour shifts are the new normal.) So workers are under an unbelievable amount of stress — and it’s yielding antisocial results. Food and Water Watch certainly agrees:
Then again, one retired drill worker told Vice that FWW is smearing fracking because Big Coal is lining its pockets. (FWW program director Emily Wurth, of course, denied this.)
But no matter how you slice it, the correlation between fracking towns and meth-fueled crime, auto accidents, rape, and gonorrhea is hella scary. The easy reaction is “Fracking suxx!” A more nuanced response might be, “Let’s get more clean energy jobs, training for those jobs, consent-based sex ed, oil spill condoms widely available contraception, drug treatment programs, and eight-hour shifts.”
That’s not very catchy, though.
Fracking linked to rape, meth addiction, and STDs
By Holly Richmond
Yet another reason to hate fracking: It’s connected with an increase in STDs, car crashes, drug-related crimes, and sexual assault in areas where the oil and gas industry sets up shop. Or in Vice-speak, fracking workers have “an insatiable appetite for raw sex and hard drugs.” Writes Peter Rugh on Vice:
Critics of fracking have compared it to raping the Earth, but where drilling has spread, literal rape has followed. Violence against woman in fracking boomtowns in North Dakota and Montana has increased so sharply that the Department of Justice (DoJ) announced in June that it plans to spend half a million dollars investigating the correlation…The DoJ speculated that “oil industry camps may be impacting domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the direct and surrounding communities in which they reside.”
Yikes. You can “correlation doesn’t equal causation” all day, but Rugh is persuasive: Fracking workers are overworked, undertrained, and seven times more likely to die on the job than the rest of us. (On a rig, 12-hour shifts are the new normal.) So workers are under an unbelievable amount of stress — and it’s yielding antisocial results. Food and Water Watch certainly agrees:
“We’ve found that fracking brought a host of social costs to communities where drilling has begun,” said FWW’s Program Director Emily Wurth. “These are the real costs of fracking that are never discussed.”
Then again, one retired drill worker told Vice that FWW is smearing fracking because Big Coal is lining its pockets. (FWW program director Emily Wurth, of course, denied this.)
But no matter how you slice it, the correlation between fracking towns and meth-fueled crime, auto accidents, rape, and gonorrhea is hella scary. The easy reaction is “Fracking suxx!” A more nuanced response might be, “Let’s get more clean energy jobs, training for those jobs, consent-based sex ed, oil spill condoms widely available contraception, drug treatment programs, and eight-hour shifts.”
That’s not very catchy, though.
October 21, 2013
Maybe they should delay it until after the spent fuel rods are safely moved to dry casks, otherwise they might have to evacuate them all over again.
Japan Delaying Cleanup of Towns Near Nuclear Plant
Source: Associated Press
Radiation cleanup in some of the most contaminated towns around Fukushima's nuclear power plant is behind schedule, so some residents will have to wait a few more years before returning, Japanese officials said Monday.
Environment Ministry officials said they are revising the cleanup schedule for six of 11 municipalities in an exclusion zone from which residents were evacuated after three reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant went into meltdown following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The original plan called for completing all decontamination by next March.
Nobody has been allowed to live in the zone again yet, though the government has allowed day visits to homes and businesses in some places after initial decontamination, said Shigeyoshi Sato, an Environment Ministry official in charge of decontamination.
"We will have to extend the cleanup process, by one year, two years or three years, we haven't exactly decided yet," he said.
<snip>
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japan-delaying-cleanup-towns-nuclear-plant-20630619
Maybe they should delay it until after the spent fuel rods are safely moved to dry casks, otherwise they might have to evacuate them all over again.
October 20, 2013
30-minute video interview.
Apple’s Lisa Jackson Discusses Company’s Quest for 100 Percent Renewable Energy
http://ecowatch.com/2013/10/18/apples-lisa-jackson-discusses-companys-quest-for-100-percent-renewable-energy/
Apple’s Lisa Jackson Discusses Company’s Quest for 100 Percent Renewable Energy
Brandon Baker |October 18, 2013
Though Apple says its data centers and corporate offices are mostly powered by renewable energy, the tech titan looks to become even more sustainable with the hire of Lisa Jackson as its vice president of environmental initiatives.
Jackson spent 25 years in the public sector, most recently as the administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before joining Apple in May. While at the EPA, she strived to bring businesses and EPA together to help companies become more sustainable. Now, Jackson is a central figure in Apple’s mission to become completely powered by renewable energy.
“I wasn’t going to go anywhere that didn’t espouse those values,” Jackson told a crowd at GreenBiz.com’s VERGE conference in San Francisco earlier this week.
The three-day VERGE conference brought innovators, entrepreneurs and public officials together to discuss efficiencies that could be created through technological advancements in energy, green building and transportation.
Apple’s Lisa Jackson Discusses Company’s Quest for 100 Percent Renewable Energy
Brandon Baker |October 18, 2013
Though Apple says its data centers and corporate offices are mostly powered by renewable energy, the tech titan looks to become even more sustainable with the hire of Lisa Jackson as its vice president of environmental initiatives.
Jackson spent 25 years in the public sector, most recently as the administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before joining Apple in May. While at the EPA, she strived to bring businesses and EPA together to help companies become more sustainable. Now, Jackson is a central figure in Apple’s mission to become completely powered by renewable energy.
“I wasn’t going to go anywhere that didn’t espouse those values,” Jackson told a crowd at GreenBiz.com’s VERGE conference in San Francisco earlier this week.
The three-day VERGE conference brought innovators, entrepreneurs and public officials together to discuss efficiencies that could be created through technological advancements in energy, green building and transportation.
30-minute video interview.
October 19, 2013
Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre #CSDSO
Live Saturday October 19, 1-5 pm
Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre #CSDSO
Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre #CSDSO
Live Saturday October 19, 1-5 pm
October 19, 2013
Is the US Yielding Spaceflight Leadership to China? (Leroy Chiao, former commander of ISS)
http://www.space.com/23206-is-the-us-passing-the-spaceflight-baton-to-china.html
Is the US Yielding Spaceflight Leadership to China? (Op-Ed)
Leroy Chiao, former commander, International Space Station | October 15, 2013 10:47am ET
Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station. During his 15-year flying career, he performed six spacewalks. Chiao is the special adviser for human spaceflight to the Space Foundation, and he holds appointments at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. Chiao contributed this Op-Ed to SPACE.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed and Insights.
Slow and steady wins the race, the old adage goes, and China's human spaceflight program is on exactly that track. Ten years ago today (Oct. 15), China became only the third nation to launch astronauts into space. Since then, China has launched only five crewed space missions, but each one accomplished specific objectives to further the nation's capabilities.
<snip>
China has plans for a second crew-tended space laboratory in 2015, and will launch the core module of a Mir-class space station in 2018, with orbital construction of the station slated to be completed by 2020. China is also developing a cargo version of the Shenzhou spacecraft to support the space station. In short, China is steadily expanding its space program.
<snip>
China is inviting international partners to work with them on their space station. They want international research, and they want to fly international astronauts. Many of the United States' ISS partners (at least eight space agencies have talked to the Chinese about partnering and cooperation) are finding a more attractive alternative with China, or at least hedging their bets. Who can blame them? Working with China would be much less expensive than continuing with ISS.
This sets up the perfect baton pass. America, already on the decline after the retirement of the space shuttle (now only Russia and China can launch astronauts into space), will on the way down hand over the leadership position of human spaceflight to the Chinese.
What can Americans do to stop this? Invite China to the table. America can, and should, lead the international coalition to explore space, both in low-Earth orbit and beyond. China publicly asked to join the ISS program in 2003, only to be rebuffed by the United States. Over the years, they have made repeated calls for joining NASA and the International partners. The Russians, Europeans and even the Canadians have called for bringing China into the partnership. There are political and technical reasons that having China as a partner could be a win-win-win for all. However, certain members of the U.S. Congress are dedicated to keeping China out, dooming the United States to continue its decline in human spaceflight.
<snip>
Is the US Yielding Spaceflight Leadership to China? (Op-Ed)
Leroy Chiao, former commander, International Space Station | October 15, 2013 10:47am ET
Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station. During his 15-year flying career, he performed six spacewalks. Chiao is the special adviser for human spaceflight to the Space Foundation, and he holds appointments at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. Chiao contributed this Op-Ed to SPACE.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed and Insights.
Slow and steady wins the race, the old adage goes, and China's human spaceflight program is on exactly that track. Ten years ago today (Oct. 15), China became only the third nation to launch astronauts into space. Since then, China has launched only five crewed space missions, but each one accomplished specific objectives to further the nation's capabilities.
<snip>
China has plans for a second crew-tended space laboratory in 2015, and will launch the core module of a Mir-class space station in 2018, with orbital construction of the station slated to be completed by 2020. China is also developing a cargo version of the Shenzhou spacecraft to support the space station. In short, China is steadily expanding its space program.
<snip>
China is inviting international partners to work with them on their space station. They want international research, and they want to fly international astronauts. Many of the United States' ISS partners (at least eight space agencies have talked to the Chinese about partnering and cooperation) are finding a more attractive alternative with China, or at least hedging their bets. Who can blame them? Working with China would be much less expensive than continuing with ISS.
This sets up the perfect baton pass. America, already on the decline after the retirement of the space shuttle (now only Russia and China can launch astronauts into space), will on the way down hand over the leadership position of human spaceflight to the Chinese.
What can Americans do to stop this? Invite China to the table. America can, and should, lead the international coalition to explore space, both in low-Earth orbit and beyond. China publicly asked to join the ISS program in 2003, only to be rebuffed by the United States. Over the years, they have made repeated calls for joining NASA and the International partners. The Russians, Europeans and even the Canadians have called for bringing China into the partnership. There are political and technical reasons that having China as a partner could be a win-win-win for all. However, certain members of the U.S. Congress are dedicated to keeping China out, dooming the United States to continue its decline in human spaceflight.
<snip>
October 19, 2013
Raw: Ancient Rock Toppled in Utah
Associated Press
Utah authorities are mulling whether to press charges against a Boy Scouts leader who purposely knocked over an ancient Utah desert rock formation and the two men who cheered him on after they posted video of the incident online. (Oct. 18)
Utah authorities are mulling whether to press charges against a Boy Scouts leader who purposely knocked over an ancient Utah desert rock formation and the two men who cheered him on after they posted video of the incident online. (Oct. 18)
October 19, 2013
US Scout leaders topple ancient rock formation, trigger outrage
Source: Reuters
An online video of two Boy Scouts of America leaders knocking over a 170-million-year-old rock formation in a Utah State Park has touched off worldwide outrage, state officials said on Friday, and the two men may face charges.
The video was posted on YouTube showing scout leader Glenn Taylor dislodging the massive rock free from its tiny perch in Goblin Valley State Park as Dave Hall films him while singing and laughing.
"We, we have now modified Goblin Valley!" Hall shouts into the camera. "A new Goblin Valley exists with this boulder down here at the bottom!"
The rock formation, known as a "goblin," dates to the late Jurassic era and is one of many that give the desert park a surreal appearance that draws visitors from around the world.
<snip>
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-utah-rock-20131018,0,6795012.story
October 19, 2013
News Conference on Decommissioning San Onofre - this Saturday Oct 19
http://decommission.sanonofre.com/2013/10/news-conference-decommission-san-onofre.html
News Conference on Decommissioning San Onofre
In June, environmental activists won a big victory when the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant ceased operations permanently. The current dispute over defective technology between Edison and Mitsubishi confirms how necessary this outcome was.
Environmental and citizen groups had only a short time to celebrate averting the risk posed by continued operation of the plant. Almost immediately it became clear that this site, wedged between Interstate 5 and the Pacific shoreline, poses a huge challenge of radioactive nuclear waste stored at the plant.
The issues are multiple. Much of the waste is a higher radioactive form of spent fuel known as “high burnup fuel,” stored in densities far higher than original design specifications and more unstable than “original” fuel. Learn why the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not approved transport casks for this waste and why they will not approve more than 20 year of dry cask storage.
“San Onofre’s use of enriched uranium high burnup fuel puts us at greater risk for a nuclear disaster. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not approved a transport method for this waste and says there is insufficient data to support storing it in dry casks for more than 20 years.” Donna Gilmore San Onofre Safety
Large uncertainties persist about where the waste will ultimately be stored and for how long. Billions of dollars of expense will be required to resolve these uncertainties. The issues involved in “decommissioning” San Onofre were secondary during the shutdown debate but now they loom large.
This Saturday, October 19, 1:30 – 5:30 pm in San Clemente, the Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre will feature nationally regarded authorities addressing these concerns:
Co-sponsors of the symposium include Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Peace Resource Center of San Diego, San Clemente Green, Women's Occupy, Citizens Oversight Project, and San Onofre Safety, Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE), & SanOnofre.com
The immediate goal of the symposium is to assure that "best practices" are applied to make the decommissioning of San Onofre as safe as possible and minimize the long-term risk to area residents.
The ultimate goal of the symposium is to rejuvenate the national dialog about how the U.S. manages nuclear waste, including the safest on-site storage and options for remote storage.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
News Conference 1 p.m. October 19, 2013.
Symposium starts at 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
1201 Puerta del Sol, 1st floor San Clemente, CA 92673
"Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre and the Ongoing Dangers of Nuclear Waste"
“We are safer since San Onofre shut down – but we are not safe.” Gene Stone, Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE)
PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #CSDSO
Press Contacts:
Gene Stone, ROSE,
genston AT sbcglobal DOT net
(949) 233-7724
George Watland Conservation Coordinator
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
George.watland AT sierraclub DOT org
(213) 387-4287 ext 210
Carol Jahnkow Peace Resource Center of S.D.
caroljahnkow AT gmail DOT com
(760) 390-0775
Click here for directions: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=1201+Puerta+Del+Sol,+San+Clemente,+CA+92673&aq=0&oq=1201+Puerta+del+Sol,+San+Clemente,+CA+92673&sll=37.269174,-119.306607&sspn=15.523616,28.54248&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1201+Puerta+Del+Sol,+San+Clemente,+California+92673&ll=33.45837,-117.591305&spn=0.034372,0.054932&z=14&iwloc=A
News Conference on Decommissioning San Onofre
In June, environmental activists won a big victory when the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant ceased operations permanently. The current dispute over defective technology between Edison and Mitsubishi confirms how necessary this outcome was.
Environmental and citizen groups had only a short time to celebrate averting the risk posed by continued operation of the plant. Almost immediately it became clear that this site, wedged between Interstate 5 and the Pacific shoreline, poses a huge challenge of radioactive nuclear waste stored at the plant.
The issues are multiple. Much of the waste is a higher radioactive form of spent fuel known as “high burnup fuel,” stored in densities far higher than original design specifications and more unstable than “original” fuel. Learn why the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not approved transport casks for this waste and why they will not approve more than 20 year of dry cask storage.
“San Onofre’s use of enriched uranium high burnup fuel puts us at greater risk for a nuclear disaster. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not approved a transport method for this waste and says there is insufficient data to support storing it in dry casks for more than 20 years.” Donna Gilmore San Onofre Safety
Large uncertainties persist about where the waste will ultimately be stored and for how long. Billions of dollars of expense will be required to resolve these uncertainties. The issues involved in “decommissioning” San Onofre were secondary during the shutdown debate but now they loom large.
This Saturday, October 19, 1:30 – 5:30 pm in San Clemente, the Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre will feature nationally regarded authorities addressing these concerns:
- Dr. Arjun Makhijani, expert on Hardened On Site Storage of nuclear waste and long-term management of high-level waste. Dr. Makhijana is President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.
- Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, advisor to government, industry and environmental groups on nuclear waste management issues. Dr. Resnikoff is Senior Associate at Radioactive Waste Management Associates.
- Dr. Donald Mosier, expert on the public health effects of radiation. Dr. Mosier is a member of the Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, and City Council member, Del Mar, California.
Co-sponsors of the symposium include Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Peace Resource Center of San Diego, San Clemente Green, Women's Occupy, Citizens Oversight Project, and San Onofre Safety, Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE), & SanOnofre.com
The immediate goal of the symposium is to assure that "best practices" are applied to make the decommissioning of San Onofre as safe as possible and minimize the long-term risk to area residents.
The ultimate goal of the symposium is to rejuvenate the national dialog about how the U.S. manages nuclear waste, including the safest on-site storage and options for remote storage.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
News Conference 1 p.m. October 19, 2013.
Symposium starts at 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
1201 Puerta del Sol, 1st floor San Clemente, CA 92673
"Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre and the Ongoing Dangers of Nuclear Waste"
“We are safer since San Onofre shut down – but we are not safe.” Gene Stone, Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE)
PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #CSDSO
Press Contacts:
Gene Stone, ROSE,
genston AT sbcglobal DOT net
(949) 233-7724
George Watland Conservation Coordinator
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
George.watland AT sierraclub DOT org
(213) 387-4287 ext 210
Carol Jahnkow Peace Resource Center of S.D.
caroljahnkow AT gmail DOT com
(760) 390-0775
Click here for directions: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=1201+Puerta+Del+Sol,+San+Clemente,+CA+92673&aq=0&oq=1201+Puerta+del+Sol,+San+Clemente,+CA+92673&sll=37.269174,-119.306607&sspn=15.523616,28.54248&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1201+Puerta+Del+Sol,+San+Clemente,+California+92673&ll=33.45837,-117.591305&spn=0.034372,0.054932&z=14&iwloc=A
October 19, 2013
Scientists raise concerns over $60-billion nuclear weapons plan
Source: Los Angeles Times
The Energy Department's plan to modernize its aging nuclear weapons complex and update the seven hydrogen bomb designs in the nation's arsenal would require massive investments at a time of severe budget pressure.
As a result, the plan is getting a tough assessment by outside groups, who say congressional Republicans and Democrats are not fully on board with what the Obama administration has proposed over the last year: a $60-billion effort that would transform industrial arms sites across the nation and fundamentally reconfigure existing weapon designs.
A report this week by the Union of Concerned Scientists raises new objections that the plan would require construction of unnecessary facilities and introduce untested combinations of parts inside the bombs — which could erode confidence in their reliability and safety.
<snip>
Among the authors of the report was Philip Coyle, who at one time ran the nation's nuclear testing program in Nevada, later was deputy director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and until 2011 served as associate director for national security and international affairs in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Coyle said the current plan essentially violates the Obama administration's pledge against developing new nuclear weapons.
<snip>
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-nuclear-scientists-20131019,0,6506542.story
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