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27 Oct 2010 11:04

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World: New study: Eco-conservation efforts not helping enough

  • 20 the number of years since a bunch of nations offered to step up conservation efforts
  • 1:5 of the world’s vertebrate species are reportedly in danger of extinction today, despite this
  • 18% the magnitude worse that things would be if not for in-place conservation efforts source
  • » Why is this a big deal, anyway? Well, one thing to keep in mind is that having a rich environment has its own economic benefits. So-called “ecosystem services,” which provide such things as clean drinking water and pest control, are worth $33 trillion a year, according to Birdlife International ornithologist Stuart Butchart. He says that ignoring the environment could be the equivalent of losing seven percent of the global GDP. Wow.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2010 11:13

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World: Holy carp: The UN says oceans could run out of fish in 40 years

  • If the various estimates we have received… come true, then we are in the situation where 40 years down the line we, effectively, are out of fish.
  • United Nations Environment Program leader Pavan Sukhdev • Regarding the possibility of the oceans running out of fish. The UN says that the problem can be prevented if subsidies to fishing fleets are cut, and fish are given safe zones where commercial fishing can’t take place. If not, we hope you like avocado rolls, because there may not be enough fish for your sushi if the UN is right. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 May 2010 23:27

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Culture: The White Pages starting to look as outdated as the 8-track

  • 1/9 of New York households use the white pages; the rest aren’t time-travelers
  • 9,000 tons of paper could be saved yearly if the White Pages went away source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Apr 2010 09:24

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U.S.: Why the oil spill is bad news for the Obama administration

  • march The president suggests a major
    initiative to expand offshore drilling to the East Coast – a move which
    drew criticism from some
    environmentalists.
  • april In the wake of the oil spill,
    Obama plans to block any new drilling until after an investigation – a paper tiger because new drilling won’t happen for years. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Apr 2010 21:57

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Culture: Hugh Hefner helps save the “Hollywood” sign, ’cause he’s awesome

The Playboy publisher donated the last $900,000 needed to help conserve the Tinseltown landmark. He calls the sign “Hollywood’s Eiffel Tower.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Mar 2010 09:56

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Biz: Dear sushi fans: Your insatiable appetite making bluefin tuna extinct

The bluefin tuna, prized by the Japanese for sushi purposes, is down in population more than 80 percent. They don’t want to limit its export, though. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Oct 2009 10:50

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Politics: They’re Republicans. They fear climate change. They’re hunters.

  • An unexpected GOP offshoot is pushing for a climate bill. While Republicans in Congress are largely angling for big businesses in the climate change debate, a number of groups that don’t traditionally line up with liberal causes are pushing for changes that protect the environment. The National Wildlife Federation’s senior vice president for conservation, Jeremy Symons, noted that climate change was affecting their sport. “If you go out and hunt at the same time in the same season and the same place every year, then you understand the changes that are happening,” he said. In other words, they’re Teddy Roosevelt Republicans. (Those still exist, apparently.) source
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