And that marks Democrats’ first job in this new era: We will stand up to bigotry. There is no compromise here. In all its forms, we will fight back against attacks on Latinos, African Americans, women, Muslims, immigrants, disabled Americans — on anyone. Whether Donald Trump sits in a glass tower or sits in the White House, we will not give an inch on this, not now, not ever.
www.elizabethwarren.com
ReBlogged from Lack of Environment: http://lackofenvironment.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/my-final-word-on-fracking/#respond
Professor Iain Stewart
***
Letter written to Professor Stewart by Lack of Environment, author Martin Lack: http://lackofenvironment.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/my-final-word-on-fracking/#respond
Herewith appended below is an email I sent today to Professor Iain Stewart (and copied to all those named in it).
Dear Professor Stewart,
I wanted to express my appreciation for the sensitive way in which you handled the issues in last night’s Horizon programme and for all the facts, figures and research findings it contained. I was particularly interested in the evidence that shale gas has escaped from poorly-constructed wells in the USA. Even if the UK can improve on the 6 to 7% failure rate in the USA, 100% success (i.e. no failures) is highly improbable. Therefore, if fracking must be pursued (for whatever reason), this would make it imperative that the BGS establish baseline monitoring for methane as soon as possible. Would it be possible to get a copy of the transcript of the programme (or a list of References)?
Given my geological background and my MA in Environmental Politics, I have written a great deal about Fracking and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) on my blog. However, having started out very much opposed to both Fracking and CCS, my position has evolved as a consequence of ‘exchanges of views’ I had last year with Professor Peter Styles (Keele) and with Professor Robert Mair (Cambridge/Royal Society). As a result of these exchanges – summarised or linked to here on my blog – I would agree with Peter that we probably need shale gas. However, I believe Peter also agrees with me that we probably cannot afford it*. I also understand that the remit of the Royal Society specifically excluded the long-term sustainability implications of pursuing fracking.
Nevertheless, this leaves me wondering whether you could encourage the BBC to do a second programme to address the consequences of humans burning all the Earth’s fossil fuels simply because they are there; and/or the need for ‘Western’ per capita energy consumption to be drastically reduced? Having read David MacKay’s book, Sustainable Energy: Without The Hot Air, I think our biggest problem is that most people do not think holistically about the problems we face or, even worse, they seem to think concepts such as ‘ecological carrying capacity’ are just eco-Marxist propaganda. However, although it would seem that CCS is now going to be essential in order to minimise anthropogenic climate disruption (ACD), I think it is also the biggest obstacle to getting politicians to take decisive action to decarbonise our power generation systems.
Even if such a second Horizon programme is not likely, I remain very appreciative of all you have done – and are doing – to raise the profile of ACD as an Earth Science issue that should be of concern to all.
Kind regards, [etc]
ReBlogged from Lack of Environment: http://lackofenvironment.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/my-final-word-on-fracking/#respond
* If fracking becomes the new energy boom, it is very hard to see how CCS will ever be able to be rolled-out on a global scale to keep pace with unabated CO2 emissions.
Baby Boomers: We are the new 60, how do we own it?
***
What is important?
Where do we cross the line from self-absorption,
to what we can contribute to society and the planet?
I’m looking for a global view of healing vs. destruction.
What have the last 60 years meant for humanity,
how have we transformed our values,
across world cultures, or within our family?
***
What are we going to pass on to our children;
does anyone matter beyond ourselves?
Is there any hope of making a real difference?
How would this look like?
Is there anyone doing what needs to be done?
***
Visionary artist’s, prophet’s, and scientist’s reveal where we are going.
What appears from artist’s brushes, poet’s words,
or the prophet’s speech is a mystery.
The shaman heals, the philosopher writes, and we have no understanding.
Matters are pressing, time is short, careers are built, fortunes made,
fortunes lost,
poverty extends to future generations.
Where is the mystery in your life?
What do we value?
***
Is there any meaning for our life? Was there ever?
Has the earth just been our playground, our battlefield for
our life dramas, the setting,
the stage, for the brief flash of our lives?
Or, is it our chance to shine, reflect the stars, love as best we can,
be kind, share, and play nicely.
***
How do I relate this to turning 60? These might be questions
we want to ask ourselves.
If we can consider being open, if for even a moment,
consider a different way of viewing our life,
however uncomfortable this makes us,
a clear moment of understanding might change the course of our life.
Our generation is facing a new reality.
Greed has destroyed industrialized nations, also the unpaid wars
we have been fighting for the last 10 years, have come due.
Our good ol’e USA greed has just pulled socialized Europe
and the Euro down.
We should look toward what countries are becoming,
traditional Muslim countries,
oppressed by their leaders are rising up, freedom fighters,
inspired youth, actually initializing real change.
***
This is how I see 60.
I see us holding on; trying to maintain our lives against reality.
The wealthy want more wealth, yet are faced with dwindling income.
The poor are struggling as always, and are moving aside (or down)
to make room for the ‘new poor’.
The ‘old poor’ know how to live within their means, they have had no choice.
But the 60+’s in the middle class have had it good for so long,
we have no idea how to be poor.
The vast majority of us are overfed, out of shape, uninspired,
unprepared for reality, and turning grey from the inside out.
(ouch!)
What happened Baby Boomers? What are our inner voices saying?
You know the voice that over speaks our spirit, dictation of self-justification,
eating the mantra of the same stories, explanations, excuses,
talking to our superficial selves.
***
I am asking us to break into that old conversation,
interrupt it for an important message, as our spirit awaits.
***
Our circular, redundant thinking is getting us nowhere,
self-justification is self-negation.
I am asking that we wake up to reality.
Just look around with new eyes. Do one positive thing, Help one person.
Our parents, children of the ‘Great Depression’ and the Great World War II,
are exiting the planet.
That leaves us to carry the torch of humanity.
***
60: Baby Boomers Guide for Healing our planet.
Claiming responsibility, not denial. Let’s fix it now!
***
World in 1950’s: The world that our grandparent’s gave us as children.
World in 2013: The world that we are giving our grandchildren.
***
Four generations of change, what did we do to help ourselves with our dealt hand?
Did we look to profit, or prophet to help us?
Our spirit says, save our planet. A direct command, save it or lose it.
***
Let us each choose one solution: Pick one cure for the toxic earth.
Be leaders, from the level that we are on.
No corporations need apply, unless they are ready for a change.
Let’s do one small thing, make a recommendation,
find a solution, talk with others.
Choose life.
***
Let us save our planet now. Do not count on anyone else.
Save our planet now.
It is up to us to fix this mess that we all have contributed to.
Industrialized nations have ‘messed’ our planet up.
Let’s get out the broom, sweep it clean NOW!
Let us rise up, rebel against mediocrity to help pull us up
from our downward spiral.
This is the time, as no other.
We the people, in order to make a more perfect world……
“Take a stand, for the earth or against it”.
“Get off your duff, and get to work”.
What are we going to do about:
War
Hungry children
Conflict
Famine
Terror
Economic disruption
Polluted air
Polluted lakes
Polluted rivers
Polluted water
Polluted ocean
Acid rain
Nuclear waste
*
The over Harvested Destruction of Land:
Over fished
Over mining
Toxic waste
Oil spills
Polluted tap water
Sewage in streams & rivers
Floating waste (ocean)
Species at risk of extinction in land, air and sea
Disappearing habitat of all other species
Melting icecap
Signs of global warming
***
People at Risk:
Aids, starvation, drought
Human trafficking
Homeless
Sex slaves, women and children
Crimes against women
Slaughter houses
Pollution from harvest ships
Coal mining
GMO (genetically modified crops & patented seed)
Natural destruction
***
***
WORLD NEWS
The world we were born into:
January 7
January 14
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 30
February 1
February 6
February 19
February 21
February 26
March 1
March 3
March 10
March 16
March 18
March 20
March 21
March 24
March 27
April 1
April 9
April 15
April 21
April 22
April 23
April 28
May 1
May 2
May 3
May 5
May 8
May 13
May 18
May 28
June 29
July 15
July 22
July 23
July 25
July 29
August 11
September 11
September 15
October 1
October 3
October 23
October 24
November 1
November 4
November 29
December 2
December 3
December 4
December 6
December 8
December 14
December 15
December 25
December 29
December 30
HIROSHIMA, Japan, Nov. 18 (Agence France-Presse) — Hiroshima authorities said this week they will conduct studies for the first time on the children of the surviving victims of the atomic bomb dropped on the city on August 6, 1945.
***
Breaking News….
1952: British radar engineer Geoffrey Dummer introduces the concept of the integrated circuit at a tech conference in the United States. The world is about to change.
***
The United States emerged from World War II as one of the foremost economic, political, and military powers in the world. Wartime production pulled the economy out of depression and propelled it to great profits. In the interest of avoiding another global war, for the first time the United States began to use economic assistance as a strategic element of its foreign policy and offered significant assistance to countries in Europe and Asia struggling to rebuild their shattered economies.
***
Fiftieth anniversary of the conquest of Everest:
“Geneva – Everest 1952 – 2002”
On the trail of the Genevan expedition of 1952
Geneva, March 18th, 2002 – Exactly fifty years ago, for the first time in history, Raymond Lambert and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, two members of an expedition composed entirely of Genevan (Swiss) alpinists, climbed to within 200 meters/660 feet of the summit of Mount Everest without the aid of oxygen. One year later, in 1953, an English expedition led by John Hunt, with Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay once again, reached the roof of the world following the famous South Col route discovered by the team from Geneva. Upon their return, they met with world acclaim, they sent this message to the Genevan team: “A good half of the glory goes to you.”
***
NEW WORLD ORDER PLAN TO PATROL THE WORLD
In 1952, in London, the Illuminati sponsored a meeting to re-draw the world into military regions after the One-World Government had been established. In the early 1920’s, Russian Communist leaders learned a very valuable lesson: they learned that ethnic troops could not be depended upon to be brutal to their own people . Therefore, Russian Communists devised a plan whereby Muslim Russian troops would be stationed in non-Muslim areas, and vice versa. Therefore, troops would have no difficulty oppressing, jailing, and murdering people not their own. As you will shortly see, this plan applies these lessons worldwide. We have much to fear, as you will see in just a few moments.
In 1952, the World Association of Parliamentarians for World Government decided which areas of the world would be occupied and patrolled by which troops. These worldwide forces would be commanded by a World Director, who would have an organization of 8 zone directors and 51 regional directors. No regional director would ever be responsible for his own country, and no military troops would ever be stationed within his own country. [This information taken from the National Economic Council of New York City, 1962]
***
In August 1952 the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) was founded. At that moment organized modern humanism already had a tradition of at least a hundred years, including other international federations that are reckoned among the humanist tradition. One can discern four ‘generations’ of modern humanism, originating around 1850, 1890, 1918 and 1945, three of which came together in IHEU in 1952.
***
The Soviet Union returned to the Olympic fold in 1952 after a 40-year absence, a period of time that included a revolution and two world wars. Ironically, the Soviets chose to make their comeback in Finland, a country they had invaded twice during World War II.
This time it was the United States that was surprised by the Soviets, and the USA had to scramble on the last day of competition to hold off the USSR’s assault on first place in the overall standings. It was the beginning of an all-consuming 36-year Cold War rivalry.
***
1952 Washington D.C. Sightings
During the dawn of Ufology in the United States, unidentified flying objects made themselves known to the leaders of the free world in 1952, buzzing over the White House, the Capitol building, and the Pentagon. Seemingly the unknown objects were defying the very governmental agencies sworn to protect the United States from foreign powers.
***
A team of GM scientists and engineers developed the mechanical heart pump that made possible the world’s first open heart surgery. The device was developed and donated by GM at no cost to the heart surgery team at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Like perhaps no other single technology, the jet engine revolutionized air travel around the world. Unlike the old propeller-driven planes that were powered by piston engines, jet planes could fly at tremendous speeds, thus cutting down travel time. Jet-equipped airplanes also could climb faster and fly higher. Both the U.S. Air Force and civil aircraft builders found these capabilities attractive in the years after World War II when international contacts stretched across the globe. There were, however, major concerns about transferring jet engine technology to the commercial aviation sector. Airline executives in the postwar era were aware that, although jet engines were simpler than the old piston engines, they also had high operating temperatures that required very expensive metal alloy components that ultimately would affect an aircraft’s longevity and reliability. Moreover, jet engines used far greater amounts of fuel. The initially low takeoff speed would also require longer runways. All of this added up to increased costs. As a result, U.S. passenger air carriers did not support the building of jet airliners in the immediate postwar years, and adopted a “wait-and-see” approach before embarking on this risky path.
The British Overseas Aircraft Corporation (BOAC), the national British carrier, first introduced a commercial jet airliner into service. The 36-seat Comet 1, built by De Havilland, flew for the first time on July 27, 1949. BOAC inaugurated the world’s first commercial jet service on May 2, 1952. Initial flights took passengers from London to Johannesburg in South Africa, with stops in Rome, Beirut, Khartoum (in Sudan), Entebbe (in Kenya), and Livingstone, near Victoria Falls. At the time, the top cruising speed of the most well known piston-engine aircraft, the DC-3, was about 180 miles per hour (290 kilometers per hour). With the Comet, passengers could travel comfortably at 480 miles per hour (772 kilometers per hour), making it a revolutionary leap in air travel. The Comet also provided conditions that contrasted sharply to piston-engine planes: the planes were vibration-free and relatively quiet.
***
***
The first oral contraceptive!
***
***
| 1952 Polio Vaccine Invented A vaccine that prevented polio was developed in 1952 by Jonas Salk. |
***
This book is a record of the Congress Of The Peoples For Peace – Vienna December 12th-19th, 1952.
The Congress brought together people from 85 different countries.
My father Alexander Mckechnie was a member of the Congress presiding committee, alongside Jean-Paul Sartre, Paul Robeson, Pablo Neruda, Diego Rivera, Louis Aragon & others.
I was given the middle name Paul after Paul Robeson.
***
TROUBLE IN TUNISIA:
TUNIS – Tunisia in revolt! Martial law follows sabotage and riots in the French North African protectorate. Train is wrecked in desert by Arab extremists, as French troops battle to restore order in the trouble zone. Nationalistic feeling runs high as local revolutionizes seek greater autonomy from France.
***
First Nuclear Power Accident: 1952
33 serious incidents and accidents at nuclear power stations since
the first recorded one in 1952 at Chalk River in Ontario, Canada.
***
On this day [14th June 1952]: Nautilus the world’s first nuclear submarine was dedicated.
***
Kiichiro Toyoda, founder of the Toyota Motor Corporation, which in 2008 surpassed America’s General Motors as the world’s largest automaker, dies at the age of 57 in Japan on this day 1952.
***
Actors and actresses who were born in 1952 included: Maria Schneider (March 27 in Paris), Liam Neeson (June 7 in Ireland), Isabella Rossellini (June 18 in Rome), Robin Williams (July 21 in Chicago), Patrick Swayze (August 18 in Texas), Christopher Reeve (Sept. 25 in New York), Paul Rubens (a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman, August 27 in New York), Jeff Goldblum (Oct. 22 in Pittsburgh), Angelica Huston (in Ireland).
TV shows included: I’ve Got a Secret, The Lone Ranger, The Groucho Marx Show,
The Dinah Shore Show,
The Burns and Allen Show, Art Linkletter’s House Party,
The Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow, Arthur
Godfrey Time, Howdy Doody, Amos and Andy,
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Twenty Questions,
Dragnet, The Perry Como Show, The Wheel of Fortune, This Is Your Life.
***
In Washington, D.C., Senator Joseph McCarthy, Republican from Wisconsin,
continued his efforts to
expose communists in government, attempting to discredit the
Truman administration. A wave of anticommunism,
known as “McCarthyism,” swept the country.
***
Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man and the Sea, was published in 1952.
John Steinbeck’s novel,
East of Eden, was published in 1952.
In 1952, the Korean War continued. The U.S. launched bombing attacks against North Korea.
Evita Peron, wife of Argentine President Juan Peron, died.
Albert Schweitzer won the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize.
François Mauriac won the 1952 Nobel prize for Literature.
***
The 100th monkey: IMO – THE FIRST MONKEY
The behaviour of the Japanese monkey Macaco fuscata has been studied intensely for more than thirty years in a number of wild colonies. One of these is isolated on the island of Koshima just off the east coast of Kyushu, and it was here in 1952 that man provided the monkeys with the right sort of evolutionary nudge. Provision stations were established at selected sites in the range of the troop. Normally young monkeys learn feeding habits from their mothers who teach them by example what to eat and how to deal with it, and in these macaques the behaviour had grown to a complex tradition involving the buds, fruits, leaves, shoots and bark of well over a hundred species of plants. So they approached the new artificial food supplies equipped with a formidable array of behavioural predispositions, but nothing in their established repertoire enabled them to deal effectively with raw sweet potatoes covered with sand and grit.
***
The world in 1952, a good ‘Baby Boomer’ year.
A TIME MACHINE: http://www.centex.net/~elliott/1952.html
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