How goes your 2008 thus far? Hopefully it’s shaping up as planned. I know it’s only January 14 but I’ve worked out more in 2008 than I did in the last two months of 2007. Where are all the gift baskets when you’ve earned some chocolate and cheese spread?!

Agriculture | Family farming in Ladue | “According to decades of farm lobby propaganda, farm subsidies preserve the struggling family farm. So it’s remarkable to find so many subsidized farmers toiling away in the Central West End, Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, and other tony urban neighborhoods where the major harvest is lawn grass and the livestock are named Pookie and Rover. It’s even more surprising to find more than 500 supposed farmers on the isle of Manhattan. Roof gardeners, we suppose . . . The biggest checks go not to families about to lose the ol’ homestead, but to wealthy people who know how to work the system. You don’t have to get up at 5 a.m. and milk the cows to get a check. You can hire other people to do the work while you milk the taxpayers.” | St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I really wish you could see the maps associated with this editorial in the print version of the newspaper. But since you can’t, I’ll do you one better and point you here, to the Environmental Working Group’s Farm Bill 2007 website. Search away and see all the people receiving subsidies from the U.S. government for farming. Sadly, some of the people receiving the biggest checks have never worked a day on a farm in their lives. Where do I sign up?

Animal Cruelty | Greenpeace see of Japan whalers | “The environmental group Greenpeace says its activists have chased Japan’s whaling fleet away from hunting grounds near Antarctica. Greenpeace said its ship, the Esperanza, had successfully stopped whaling in the Southern ocean after intercepting the fleet’s main ship, the Nisshin Maru, over the weekend and chasing it away.” | Al Jazeera

While I don’t also agree with Greenpeace’s tactics I usually agree with their position. I’m glad they were able to chase off the whalers here but I’m not sure on the legality of what they’re doing. Japan had banned whaling for some time (yeah!) but then legalized it again (boo!). Of course, if the whales are far enough off the coast, in international waters, do these rules apply? Anywho, keep up the good work.

Government | The Comeback Continent | “Why should Americans care about Europe’s economy? Well, for one thing, it’s big. The G.D.P. of the European Union is roughly comparable to that of the United States; the euro is almost as important a global currency as the dollar; and the governance of the world financial system is, for practical purposes, equally shared by the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve.” | Paul Krugman, The New York Times

Krugman makes some very good points in this piece. He takes the position of a realist and both compliments and criticizes European governments and economy. The takeaway is that American politicians on both sides publicly deride a system that has benefits, and of late, has been performing better than its American counterpart.

Recycling | The afterlife of cell phones | “This so-called e-waste is the fastest-growing part of the municipal waste stream and, depending on your outlook, either an enormous problem or a bonanza. E-waste generally contains substances that, though safely sequestered during each product’s use, can become hazardous if not handled properly when disposed. Those products also hold bits of precious metals like silver, copper, platinum and gold.” | Jon Mooallem, The New York Times

Sorry, two articles from The New York Times. You’ll live. For one of them I provided the link to a different site so as to throw you off the scent. Of course admitting that I did that defeats the purpose.  So . . . the above article is actually very fascinating, and definitely the most comprehensive of all the readings provided today. It’s worth a complete read though. It’s filled with history, science, money, heaven and hell. Seriously.

Transportation | University, Enterprise Rent-A-Car offer car-sharing program | “Washington University Parking & Transportation Services and Enterprise Rent-A-Car have partnered to bring WeCar, a car-sharing program, to the Danforth Campus. The program, the first of its kind in the St. Louis area, allows WUSTL students, faculty, staff and employees of qualified service providers over age 18 to rent vehicles at an hourly rate. The vehicles will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members can sign up online beginning Monday, Jan. 14. Registration is free.” | Jessica Daues, Washington University in St. Louis Record

This is spectacular news. I don’t know if other universities are doing this but every freakin’ one of them should. Parking is expensive and an utter nightmare on and around most college campuses. Plus, students usually only need their automobiles to run errands and the like. Car sharing is growing in popularity in major urban areas for sure, but the density of college campuses makes them perfect for a similar program.

‘sup? [speaker makes obligatory head bob] Quite a variety of information today, and as always, really good stuff.

Climate Change | The Playbook for Bali | “My guess is that we still don’t emerge with a solid funding mechanism to deal with this huge opportunity — just including deforestation in the existing “clean development mechanism” won’t begin to do the job. We need some serious global commitment to ending the illegal timber trade and paying all rainforest nations annual rent for the carbon they are storing for the rest of us. But getting the issues on the table will tee them up for a post-Bush world in which, if public pressure continues to build, we will finally see climate chaos for what Stern calls it — the greatest market failure in human history, but one we can fix through intelligent redesign of the global energy economy.” | Carl Pope, Sierra Club

This is a bold piece by Pope, and I recommend reading it in its entirety. Emissions is always the number one topic when environmental progress is discussed but irresponsible deforestation is a big problem also, and fewer trees makes negating the ill effects of humanity’s collective flatulence even harder that it already is. You may not be able to stop massive clear cutting individually but print double-sided at work and join organizations (like GreenDimes) who plant trees.

Energy | Peabody to help develop near-zero emissions coal plant | “Peabody Energy announced Tuesday it is an equity partner in China’s $1 billion “GreenGen,” the first near-zero emissions coal-fueled power plant with carbon capture and storage which is currently under development. The GreenGen project will use coal-based technologies to generate electricity for Chinese families and businesses. It will be capable of hydrogen production and will advance carbon dioxide capture and storage, providing a clean energy prototype to address carbon dioxide concerns, the company said in a release.” | St. Louis Business Journal

Why in China of all freakin’ places? Why not in the U.S.? Grrrr. Of course I’m still skeptical of clean coal but if these guys can make it work, more power to them. China’s pollution is raging, so a project like this, if it delivers as promised, will help. According to the article, Peabody is the only non-Chinese equity investor in the project. I’m cautiously optimistic that it will succeed. I’m confidently pessimistic the technology will make it’s way into the U.S. in the near future. Of course, if all new coal plants are banned altogether in the U.S. we won’t need to invest in this technology.

Government| Britain wants wind farms to power all its homes | “Britain unveiled plans to generate enough electricity through offshore wind farms to power every home in the country by 2020, increasing production more than 60-fold and changing the look of its coastlines. Britain’s wind-swept coasts and shallow waters are ideal for offshore turbines, but wind generated power currently accounts for less than 2 percent of its energy generation.” | Satter, Raphael G., AP

I suppose this article could have been filed under “Energy” like the last one but what stuck out to me was the commitment from Britain’s government to make this a reality – something we haven’t come close to seeing in the U.S.  This initiative is truly form following function, as the island is well poised to benefit from its geography. At least a few states are spitting in the face of the federal government and exploring initiatives like this.

Technology | AMD Releases Study Detailing Datacenter Energy Use in Five Regions across Globe; Calls on Industry Partners to Hasten Efficiency Efforts | “AMD today released a study revealing shifting patterns in worldwide datacenter energy use at regional levels. The study, which was conducted by Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D., using data from industry analyst firm IDC, documents energy use across five regions: the United States, Western Europe, Japan, Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) and the rest of the world. This new study forecasts datacenter energy consumption, estimating that by 2010 U.S. consumption will decline relative to consumption worldwide.” | TMCnet

Technology uses a tremendous amount of energy, and while going digital saves paper it requires more fuel, which is usually of the dirty variety. That a company is studying the energy use of worldwide datacenters is encouraging. For once, the U.S. is actually declining in relative contribution to the world’s problems, but only because certain areas of the world are growing so rapidly. Pope talked about the lack of participation from China and India in regards to carbonization of the planet in his article (above), and they should be looked to in this arena for leadership as well.

Transportation | Public transportation ridership continues to grow | ‘The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) today announced that Americans took nearly 50 million more trips on public transportation during the third quarter of 2007, compared to the third quarter of 2006, representing a 2 percent increase in ridership. Noting that more and more Americans are choosing to ride public transportation as gas prices remain high and traffic congestion remains a problem, APTA President William W. Millar said, “The greater use of public transit in the third quarter of 2007 demonstrates the importance of a community having a good public transportation system to help its residents save time and money.”’ | APTA

The release also said bus used dropped slightly across the country, but I for one used the St. Louis bus system for the first time since my move into the city - I used to commute downtown via bus when I lived out in the ‘burbs. The website did note: “Bus ridership throughout the country showed a slight increase of 0.1%, although in communities with a population below 100,000, bus ridership showed a 7.5% increase.” Go small town America! An email I received from Citizens for Modern Transit noted the St. Louis transit system, called MetroLink “is averaging about 82,000 rides each weekday. This compares to Denver with 60,000 rides, Baltimore with 27,000, Minneapolis 29,500, Portland 108,000, Dallas 62,000 and Houston 41,000.” Not too shabby.

This may be my only post this week. I’ll be at an offsite for work for the next couple of days . . . eh, maybe I’ll be able to get one in on Friday. You’ll just have to wait and see!

Agriculture | An Agricultural Crime Against Humanity | “It doesn’t get madder than this. Swaziland is in the grip of a famine and receiving emergency food aid. Forty per cent of its people are facing acute food shortages. So what has the government decided to export? Biofuel made from one of its staple crops, cassava(1). The government has allocated several thousand hectares of farmland to ethanol production in the county of Lavumisa, which happens to be the place worst hit by drought(2). It would surely be quicker and more humane to refine the Swazi people and put them in our tanks. Doubtless a team of development consultants is already doing the sums.” | George Monbiot, Monbiot.com

At least George has a sense of humor about this, albeit a dark one. The thing about oil, besides it leading to pollution and murder, is that it can’t be used for food. Producing biofuels in America, where farmers are paid not to grow food, makes a little sense. But we Americans are stupid and make biofuels (ethanol) out of corn, which has little nutritional value and does more harm than good when used in fuel production. The people who go hungry in the U.S. do so not for the lack of food, but because of economics, and Republicans. For a country to take crops that are already is short supply, and turn them into fuel for people who have nothing in which to put the fuel, makes no sense to me. Actually it makes the same amount of sense as using corn for ethanol. The irony is that the crops in these countries is often times cellulosic, and actually a good source of ethanol. But, I think if the hungry were allowed to vote, they’d probably choose to eat the food instead of pour it into the gas tanks of their invisible sports cars. Conclusion: stupidity is much more prevalant than I originally anticipated.

Capitalism | Gore joins venture capital company | ”Al Gore said Monday he’s joining Silicon Valley’s most prestigious venture capital firm to help the private sector take on global warming, and perhaps make himself some money. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former vice president joins Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers as it and dozens of other venture firms headquartered in Silicon Valley expand beyond software, computer hardware, the Internet and biotechnology to so-called “clean-tech” investments worldwide.” | Rachel Konrad, The Associated Press

So, a Nobel Prize wasn’t enough. Bastard. I’m sure Gore’s getting a pretty penny from Kleiner but he’ll probably make even more from the great companies he’s able to get started. Gore has the star power to get ideas noticed – ideas that wouldn’t otherwise get off the group. Hopefully he can lend some social consciousness to the very mechanical venture capital industry. Ideally, he’ll be able to get some great ideas with so-so financials off the ground and turn them into gold mines.

Education | The Top 10 Greenest Colleges and Universities in the U.S. | “Many young people see environmental problems — especially global warming — as the challenge of their generation, and 400 college and university presidents have responded by signing a pledge to make their institutions carbon neutral. Students at almost 600 U.S. and Canadian schools are organizing around clean-energy solutions as part of the Campus Climate Challenge, a two-year-old campaign initiated by youth environmental groups (including the Sierra Student Coalition) that has added sass and sex appeal to a somber topic.” | Jennifer Hattam, Sierra Magazine 

Education at these institutions is becoming less of a scam! Now students can absorb bits of green knowledge through passive experiences and slowly change their behavior for the better. Within a few decades, these small changes in action will have a positive impact on the world. Unfortunately, these students still won’t possess life skills. At least they’ll have 20 credit hours in non-core courses, which will do barely nothing more than keep the revenue coming. Oh yeah, and provide a small bit of enlightenment in an effort make America’s future well-rounded. In all honesty . . . well, that was the honest part. In all . . . hopefulness (?), as colleges become green, so too will the students, and that can only be good. Hey US News, make “greenosity” a category in your next rankings!

Energy | Opec confident global oil addiction will grow | “Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, Ali Al-Naimi, told the world that its dependence on crude will increase and that the race to develop alternative energies will not dim demand for fossil fuel. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s official start to the Opec oil producers’ summit, Mr Al-Naimi mounted a strong “defence” of oil, criticising experts who say crude is in decline or that green energy is a viable alternative. The minister, whose country is by far the most powerful nation in Opec’s 12-strong group, said that Saudi was as keen as any country to see development of alternative sources of energy. But he warned that consuming nations – particularly in the West – should be under no illusion that more environmentally-friendly sources of power would reduce carbon emissions.” | Russell Hotten, The Daily Telegraph

Dude’s got a point, or at least half of one. But remember, perception is reality. Part of making “green” mainstream is to convince people the movement is bigger than it really is. Adoption will make perception reality in the future. It’s the same strategy used to market crappy movies. And since statistics are nothing more than damn lies, professing that crude oil demand is dropping isn’t so bad. Surely everyone’s intentions aren’t selfless in marketing green energy, but it is a viable alternative – maybe not today, but with more research and development solar, wind and biofuel resources will replace fossil fuels as the primary provider of the world’s power needs. 

Environment | World’s smallest bear faces extinction | “The world’s smallest bear species faces extinction because of deforestation and poaching in its Southeast Asian home, a conservation group said Monday. The sun bear, whose habitat stretches from India to Indonesia, has been classified as vulnerable by the World Conservation Union . . . The bear, which weighs between 90 and 130 pounds, is hunted for its bitter, green bile, which has long been used by Chinese traditional medicine practitioners to treat eye, liver and other ailments. Bear paws are also consumed as a delicacy.” | Eliane Engeler, Associated Press

Where am I going to get my bile drops and bear paws after these guys die off? This article highlights the delicate balance between living “naturally” and succumbing to Big Pharm. I suppose all of the drug companies would love to get lucrative deals with these governments to be overpaid to supply eye drops and very simple vaccinations and medication to these populations. That would obviously open the flood gate . . . but then again, should healing and dining tradition be allowed to continue at the expense of an entire species? Why can’t people just use the bile and paws of conservatives? They don’t seem to be having extinction problems . . .

Great stuff today. Mostly uplifting, always educational. Enjoy. 

Energy | A Nation Called Tomorrow | “Senator Hillary Clinton this morning staked her place out in the debate over a new energy policy and global warming, and did so definitively, referring to “the climate crisis,” and offering a policy package that is at least as strong as that of any candidate in the race to date. Senator Clinton explicitly endorsed an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050, with 100 percent auction of all emission permits. She called for 55-mpg fuel-economy standards for cars, trucks, and SUVs by 2030; demanded that we put efficiency first, and that before we build new coal-fired power plants, state PUCs be required to make sure that there are not cost-effective efficiency alternatives; promised to reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent through a series of efficiency measures; and urged the creation of five million new jobs as part of the package, which would reduce imports of oil by two thirds.” | Carl Pope, The Huffington Post

Pope’s pieces usually have more of a negative slant, and not because he’s a negative guy, but because the world isn’t in the greatest of states these days. This article was different, and a little uplifting. The goals outlined by Clinton, on a national level, as well as those outlined by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, on a local level, are ambitious but attainable. With victories against coal in our pockets and those against mining companies looming, the tables do seem to be turning. While the pieces are falling into place for a brighter energy future, the battle is far from over. The little things to matter, so keep greening yourself, and encouraging others to do the same.

Environment | Clean green NZ battles climate change threat to trade, tourism | “New Zealand is famous for its clean air and pristine environment but finds itself fighting for the future of its top export moneyspinners because of global climate change fears. It may seem strange that a country the size of Britain with a population of only 4.1 million and few industrial smokestacks is facing accusations that its food and tourism industries are helping destroy the global environment.” | David Brooks, Yahoo! News

This piece addresses the balance of distance and environmentalism. Can an environmentalist justify flying across the globe for vacation when air travel is terribly polluting? Should Americans and Europeans be buying fruit and meat (never!) from far away places when similar products are available locally, or at least from within the same country? These aren’t easy questions to answer, and while some environmentalists swear by the concept of “food miles”, others think it’s “superficial and flawed”.

Health | Lack Of Sleep May Lead To Fatter Kids | “Now there’s another reason to get children to bed early: More sleep might lower their risk of becoming obese. Researchers have found that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child’s chances of being obese in sixth grade by 40 percent. Third graders are usually around 8 or 9 years old; sixth graders are around 11 or 12. The less sleep they got, the more likely the children were to be obese in sixth grade, no matter what the child’s weight was in third grade, said Dr. Julie Lumeng of the University of Michigan, who led the research. | CBS News

The study referenced in this article isn’t the most thorough ever conducted, but it does make you think. With children constantly wired to the Internet or video games during the evening, or trying to tackle ever-growing mounds of homework, bedtimes are surely creeping later and later. And, studies have showed that stimulating the eyes with an isolated light source in the evening makes it harder to fall asleep (think a reading light, TV or computer monitor in a dark room). All of this is contributing to children and adults sleeping less, and therefore needing more energy (food) to make it through the day. It’s a slippery slope, and getting a few more z’s surely can’t hurt.

Sustainability | Lessons Learned on Display at Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Summit | “Last month’s Live Better Sustainability Summit, held just outside of Bentonville, Arkansas, was yet another in what seems to be an accelerating series of “whoda thunk” moments. Bentonville, of course, is hometown to Wal-Mart, which sponsored the event, a daylong conclave that brought together more than a thousand people to a nearby convention center. It was all part of Wal-Mart’s latest crusade: to “drive profitable product innovation” into its supply chain . . . What was the point? Wal-Mart, it seems, is discovering what a growing number of companies have learned. Being a greener business isn’t just about being more efficient or increasing sales. It can be an engine for innovation in products and packaging, even delivery systems. And it wants to help its tens of thousands of suppliers move in that direction.” | Joel Makower, Greener World Media

In this case, the end justifies the means. Wal-Mart’s motives are purely economical. Part of me finds it hard to fault them, from a purely capitalistic sense. The rest of me thinks it still suck, just a little less. But, I’m heartened by the fact that Wal-Mart’s actions will spur “good” behavior among its suppliers. After years of manhandling them, it’s the least they could do. The double-edged sword in “greening” the plant is efficiency. Doing things more efficiently can mean more pollution and negative externalities but it can also mean less waste and more beneficiaries.

Technology | Solar Power Technology Claims Misleading | “A new type of solar cell has recently gained attention as a possible cost-effective way to turn sunlight into electricity. Made from organic materials, the cells are cheaper and more flexible than currently used silicon-based solar cells. But new information suggests organic solar cells may not work as well as advertised.” | Michael Schirber, LiveScience

Apparently organic solar cells convert sunlight into energy at a rate of 3%, half of the advertised rate of 6%. And compared to silicon solar cells, which operate at about 12% efficiency, organic solar cells are basically not competitive from a technological standpoint. But, economically, organic solar cells are much cheaper to produce than silicon cells. Unfortunately, solar energy is currently about three times more expensive than traditionally-sourced power. Experts estimate that unless organic solar technology can achieve 10% efficiency, it can not be competitive. We’ll get there. I hope to see a day where every single-family home (on small lots!) is powered entirely by the sunlight that hits its roof.