Thursday, 05 Jul 2007
Brit's Eye View
What can Gordon Brown do for you? Find out the eco-dirt on Tony Blair's replacement, in Gristmill.
Real World: Havana
Cuban conference addresses climate and development
This week, an international conference of 800 brains is addressing climate change, environmental education, sustainable development, and other green topics -- in Cuba. Yes, offering further proof that the commies have the right idea, Cuba got credit from U.N. Environment Program Director Achim Steiner for solving its energy crisis while committing to clean energy. Steiner, who delivered a "master lecture" at the conference yesterday, spoke to the press in Havana, praising his host country's efforts to develop wind power, solar power, and sugar-cane ethanol. After blackouts plagued the island three years ago, the government overhauled its energy grid and pushed conservation, even going door to door to upgrade incandescent bulbs with more-efficient options. "Cuba can look proudly at having solved a short-term crisis with a long-term commitment toward cleaner energy," Steiner said. The conference, which ends tomorrow, has also seen researchers detail the possible local effects of climate change.
What can Gordon Brown do for you? Find out the eco-dirt on Tony Blair's replacement, in Gristmill.
Real World: Havana
Cuban conference addresses climate and development
This week, an international conference of 800 brains is addressing climate change, environmental education, sustainable development, and other green topics -- in Cuba. Yes, offering further proof that the commies have the right idea, Cuba got credit from U.N. Environment Program Director Achim Steiner for solving its energy crisis while committing to clean energy. Steiner, who delivered a "master lecture" at the conference yesterday, spoke to the press in Havana, praising his host country's efforts to develop wind power, solar power, and sugar-cane ethanol. After blackouts plagued the island three years ago, the government overhauled its energy grid and pushed conservation, even going door to door to upgrade incandescent bulbs with more-efficient options. "Cuba can look proudly at having solved a short-term crisis with a long-term commitment toward cleaner energy," Steiner said. The conference, which ends tomorrow, has also seen researchers detail the possible local effects of climate change.
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straight to the source: The Washington Post, Associated Press, Will Weissert, 04 Jul 2007
straight to the source: Prensa Latina, 04 Jul 2007
straight to the source: Granma International, Lilliam Riera, 02 Jul 2007
see also, in Grist: What the West's only communist nation has done right
That's a Mighty Full Circular File
Faced with rampant pollution, China reports increase in citizen protests
The sorry state of air and water quality in China has led to rising public protests, says a top environment agent there -- and citizens and officials alike are urging the country to crack down on polluters. In the first five months of 2007, the State Environmental Protection Administration received 1,814 citizen petitions demanding a cleaner environment, an 8 percent increase over the same time period last year. And there's plenty of room for improvement: last year, more than a quarter of the length of China's seven main river systems was deemed unfit for human contact, and in a recent survey of 75 wastewater treatment plants, half didn't work right -- or at all. The central government talks tough on pollution, but local leaders are said to cater to industry; SEPA officials now say flagrant polluters will be denied bank loans. "Environmental protection offices and enforcement staff must stand up when the time demands," says SEPA's Zhou Shengxian. "Dare to struggle against polluting behavior."
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straight to the source: Reuters, Chris Buckley, 05 Jul 2007
straight to the source: BusinessWeek, Associated Press, 05 Jul 2007
Look, We Made a Book!
Grist hawks its first book, Wake Up and Smell the Planet
Attention Grist fans: we're pleased to announce that we're making our first foray into fiber-space. This fall, your favorite bits of Grist -- including sage green-living advice, creative ideas from readers, and all manner of educational and entertaining prose -- will be printed in one handy volume. (And yes, we're using recycled paper and soy inks.) Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day makes a great addition to your library, a not-too-obnoxious gift, and even a handy doorstop. If you order your copy now, you can get 32 percent off. Be the first on your block to get Grist in the flesh! [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
read all about it: Wake Up and Smell the Planet
Also, Could You Paint Tom Sawyer's Fence?
South Korea ships oil to North Korea in nuke-shutdown deal
South Korea will ship oil to North Korea next week as part of a six-nation agreement reached in February that trades energy aid for a shutdown of the North's main nuclear facility. Funny story, though: North Korea hasn't shut down the reactor. But it totally will! It promises! In talks on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said that "all the parties should implement the initial actions" of the agreement. But then he asked for 5,500 to 11,000 tons of the promised 55,000 tons of oil in advance. "Good faith is going to be met in turn by good faith," said Sean McCormack of the U.S. State Department. Japan, on the other hand? Not feeling the faith. "While North Korea demands to be given aid beforehand, the proper way is to carry [the pledges] out simultaneously," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki. "We cannot allow one to come before the other unless it is clear that the activities at the Yongbyon facility have been suspended and sealed for certain." What, they don't trust Kim?
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straight to the source: Taipei Times, Associated Press, 05 Jul 2007
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Reuters, 05 Jul 2007
straight to the source: Reuters, Jon Herskovitz, 04 Jul 2007
Stick It Where the Sun Do Shine
Groovy new battery could change the way energy is stored
A type of battery created by Ford Motor Co. in the 1960s for use in electric cars could help utilities around the world. Sodium-sulfur batteries provide efficient energy storage, and could reduce the need for new transmission lines, substations, and power plants. The new generation of room-sized, $2.5 million batteries has been in limited use in Japan since the 1990s, and is getting a test run in the U.S.: American Electric Power installed one in West Virginia, and a group of utilities on Long Island, N.Y., will try one this summer. "If you've got these batteries distributed in the neighborhood, you have, in a sense, lots of little power plants," says Stow Walker of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. Because the batteries can be a source of backup power, they reduce the chances of blackouts, proponents say, and could make an irregular source like wind energy more practical. "We'd like to see storage ubiquitous," says Imre Gyuk of the U.S. Department of Energy. "Stick it any place you can stick it."
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