Oceans 2016 Program | Biodiversity for a Livable Climate

https://bio4climate.org/conferences/oceans-2016-program/

Trump Picks Rick Perry for Energy Secretary

Wall Street Journal

Published on Dec 13, 2016

Donald Trump tapped former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to head the Department of Energy. WSJ’s Amy Harder and Lunch Break’s Tanya Rivero discuss how Perry was a critic of Trump’s during the 2016 campaign and how his energy beliefs are not in line with all Republicans. Photo: AP

Rick Perry, Trump’s Energy Secretary Pick, is Close Ally to Oil Industry & Dakota Access Pipeline

Democracy Now!

Published on Dec 14, 2016

http://democracynow.org – Donald Trump has chosen former Texas Governor Rick Perry to be energy secretary. Governor Perry famously attempted to propose to abolish the Energy Department—but then couldn’t even remember the agency during a live televised debate in 2011, when Perry was running for president. Perry has deep ties to the fossil fuel industry, including serving on the corporate boards of both Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics, two companies behind the Dakota Access pipeline. Both companies are owned by Texas billionaire Kelcy Warren. Perry joined the board of Energy Transfer Partners in February 2015, only two weeks after he left office. That year, he received $365,000 from Warren’s companies. We speak to Forrest Wilder, editor-in-chief of The Texas Observer, and Kiah Collier, energy and environment reporter for The Texas Tribune.

Rising sea levels could displace millions of Americans by 2100

BI Science

Published on Jun 22, 2016

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change projects that over 4 million residents of the continental US could be affected if sea levels rise 3 feet by the end of the century.

The researchers calculated the number of at-risk residents by looking at coastal areas expected to be inundated by sea-level rise and estimating the population of those regions in 2100 using population-trend data.

China: Trump’s One China comments ‘risk Taiwan peace’ – BBC News

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-38313839

Beijing has warned the incoming US administration that any attempt to challenge the “One China” policy could affect peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Interference may also damage developing US-China relations, a spokesman said.

Under the “One China” policy, the US has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province.

However, US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed doubts about continuing to abide by the policy.

Mr Trump had already angered China by taking a phone call from Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, and then tweeting about it.

On Monday, China said it was “seriously concerned” by Mr Trump’s comments, and urged sensitivity around the issue.

But An Fengshan, a spokesman for China’s policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, went further on Wednesday, warning of more serious consequences.

‘Ready to confront’

“Upholding the “One China” principle is the political basis of developing China-US relations, and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

“If this basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy, stable development of China-US relations is out of the question, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be seriously impacted,” he added.

Monsanto Shareowners Approve Merger With Bayer | Successful Farming

http://www.agriculture.com/news/crops/monsanto-shareowners-approve-merger-with-bayer
Hurdles still remain, but the merger is one step closer to fruition.

By Gil Gullickson 12/13/2016

Monsanto shareholders today approved a merger of the St. Louis firm with Bayer Aktiengesellschaft. According to press releases sent out by both companies, Monsanto shareowners will receive $128 per share in cash at the closing of the merger.

It’s important to note that hurdles remain before this merger becomes reality. Regulators in the U.S. and European Union, for example, are scrutinizing the merger, and divestitures could result. Still, this represents one step closer to Monsanto and Bayer becoming one firm.

“We are pleased we received such strong support from our shareowners,” says Hugh Grant, Monsanto chairman and chief executive officer, in a press release. “This is an important milestone as we work to combine our two complementary companies and deliver on our shared vision for the future of agriculture. By bringing together our expertise and our resources to drive this shared vision, we can do even more together to benefit growers around the world and to help address broad global challenges like climate change and food scarcity.”

…(read more).

Food-Matters

Why we self-silence when it comes to climate change

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/article120085918.html

December 9, 2016 9:33 PM

By Roger Van Scyoc rvanscyocUNIVERSITY PARK

As human beings, we care about what others think — especially when it concerns ourselves. Research says there is a biological reason for this insofar as the reward centers in our brain light up when others agree with us.

When it comes to climate change, that perception, or fear of it, can keep us in the dark, according to a study by a pair of Penn State researchers.

“There has been previous research suggesting that people tend to underestimate the number of other people concerned about climate change,” said Nathan Geiger, who authored the study with Janet Swim, a professor of psychology. “We’re looking at the consequences of that misperception.”

…(read more).

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/article120085918.html#storylink=cpy