Biofuels – Jan 28
Mexico grapples with soaring prices for corn – and tortillas
US corn exports may fall as ethanol use rises
As corn price rises, so could food bills
Biofuel trade disadvantages poor nations
Transport – Jan 28
The electric wheel- breakthrough in car efficiency
The soul of a pedicab chauffeur
Get ready, tram haters: Locals want more
Portland’s classy new tram
10 vanishing wonders – fly to see them?
Geopolitics – Jan 28
Saudi officials seek to temper the price of oil
“Toughness” against Russia on gas – stupid
Russia’s managed democracy
U.S. moves to regain leverage over Iran
Report challenges Blair’s views on Iran
Climate – Jan 28
TOD: Greenland, or why you might care about ice physics
New IPCC report – the sugarcoated version?
Experts split over climate danger to Antarctica
Bush’s climate remarks weighed for policy shift
Food & agriculture – Jan 28
UK Soil Assn: Preparing for a post-peak oil food and farming future (Podcasts)
Soil Assn considers sanctions on air freight
Michael Pollard essay: “Unhappy Meals”
Biofuels – 28 Jan
Brazils president urges US to invest in biofuels in poorer countries
Understanding the corn ethanol EROI divide
US corn exports to fall as ethanol use rises
As corn price rises, so could food bills
Expanded Biofuel Production Expected to Drive Up Food Prices
Nuclear – Jan 28
Nuclear waste containers will not work, say scientists
With apologies, nuclear power gets a second look
Does nuclear power now make financial sense?
Attack on Iran would be ‘catastrophic’, IAEA says
Why life after oil will be better
The UK’s Soil Association conference, titled “One Planet Agriculture: Preparing for a post-peak oil food and farming future,” aimed to kick-start the discussion on what practical measures farmers, consumers and local communities can take to become less energy reliant. The conference was the most over-subscribed in its history.
The greatest challenge
For decades, many prophets’ words have been lost in the winds of exuberant growth of human presence in this biosphere. But now, the reality of the finite energy and material resources may finally be creeping into the public consciousness. (Sermon)
Energy sources – Jan 27
Cambodia’s coming energy bonanza
Future of
NG from the Western Canada sedimentary basin
Long Beach LNG project halted
Years of flaws have killed Yucca Mtn nuclear repository, NRC member says
Climate – Jan 27
Bill McKibben: Step it up!
US answer to global warming: smoke and giant space mirrors
We’re ruining Earth, scientists warn (IPCC)
UN’s vast report ends the scientific argument, but will the world act?
Davos – not united on global warming
Unlearning helplessness
Helplessness:
“the exaggerated feeling of lack of control, of enormous danger, of inability to respond to danger, that comes from repeated exposure to actual or apparent threats.”
Rx:
1) get our facts straight.
2) become less helpless
3) learn how the world really works
