Will Our Democracy Survive the Right-Wing Takeover?

The Big Picture RT

Published on Mar 22, 2017

Big Picture Panel: Horace Cooper, National Center for Public Policy Research & Matt Demar, Conservative Commentator/Real Estate Developer & Musician. The campaign version of Donald Trump promised never to cut social security. Is the presidential version about to break that promise?

Harvard Scientists Moving Ahead on Plans for Atmospheric Geoengineering Experiments – MIT Technology Review

The climate researchers intend to launch a high-altitude balloon that would spray a small quantity of reflective particles into the stratosphere.

• by James Temple March 24, 2017

Harvard University professor David Keith

A pair of Harvard climate scientists are preparing small-scale atmospheric experiments that could offer insights into the feasibility and risks of deliberately altering the climate to ease global warming.

They would be among the earliest official geoengineering-related experiments conducted outside of a controlled laboratory or computer model, underscoring the growing sense of urgency among scientists to begin seriously studying the possibility as the threat of climate change mounts.

Sometime next year, Harvard professors David Keith and Frank Keutsch hope to launch a high-altitude balloon, tethered to a gondola equipped with propellers and sensors, from a site in Tucson, Arizona. After initial engineering tests, the “StratoCruiser” would spray a fine mist of materials such as sulfur dioxide, alumina, or calcium carbonate into the stratosphere. The sensors would then measure the reflectivity of the particles, the degree to which they disperse or coalesce, and the way they interact with other compounds in the atmosphere

…(read more)..

Trump Issues Keystone XL Pipeline Permit to TransCanada + Scientists Report New Record Low for Sea Ice in Winter

HeadlinesMar 24, 2017

In breaking news, the Trump administration has approved a permit allowing TransCanada to build the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada’s tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries in the United States. The pipeline was the subject of a years-long fight by environmental groups, who convinced the Obama administration to deny a permit following a long campaign of civil disobedience and mass protest.

Topics:

• Keystone XL
• Natural Gas & Oil Drilling
• Environment

Headlines Mar 24, 2017

Meanwhile, the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported Wednesday Arctic Ocean sea ice grew last winter to the lowest maximum extent ever recorded, in another sign that human-driven global warming is irrevocably changing the planet. The record low extent of the ice followed a number of record high temperatures in the Arctic over the winter, with measurements at the North Pole repeatedly climbing by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

Topics:

• Climate Change
• Global Warming

Hundreds of Migrants Feared Dead After Boats Capsize in Mediterranean

Headlines Mar 24, 2017

In the Mediterranean, a Spanish charity said Thursday at least 240 migrants are feared dead after their boats capsized off the coast of Libya. Members of the group said they pulled at least five bodies from the sea without finding any survivors. The disaster came amid a sharp spike in the number of migrants and refugees attempting the dangerous voyage from Libya to Italy. Aid groups say the increase followed last year’s agreement by Greece and Turkey to effectively seal the two countries’ border to migrants.

Soil Biologist Elaine Ingham Explains the Importance of Holistically Managed Grazing Livestock

Savory Institute

Published on Feb 16, 2016

Click here to see world-famous scientist Dr. Elaine Ingham endorse Holistic Management and praise Allan Savory for his work and perseverance to Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Land Management.

ESDD – Young People’s Burden: Requirement of Negative CO2 Emissions

Abstract. The rapid rise of global temperature that began about 1975 continues at a mean rate of about 0.18 °C/decade, with the current annual temperature exceeding +1.25 °C relative to 1880–1920.

Global temperature has just reached a level similar to the mean level in the prior interglacial (Eemian) period, when sea level was several meters higher than today, and, if it long remains at this level, slow amplifying feedbacks will lead to greater climate change and consequences. The growth rate of climate forcing due to human-caused greenhouse gases (GHGs) increased over 20 % in the past decade mainly due to resurging growth of atmospheric CH4, thus making it increasingly difficult to achieve targets such as limiting global warming to 1.5 °C or reducing atmospheric CO2 below 350 ppm. Such targets now require “negative emissions”, i.e., extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere.

If rapid phasedown of fossil fuel emissions begins soon, most of the necessary CO2 extraction can take place via improved agricultural and forestry practices, including reforestation and steps to improve soil fertility and increase its carbon content. In this case, the magnitude and duration of global temperature excursion above the natural range of the current interglacial (Holocene) could be limited and irreversible climate impacts could be minimized. In contrast, continued high fossil fuel emissions by the current generation would place a burden on young people to undertake massive technological CO2 extraction, if they are to limit climate change.

Proposed methods of extraction such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or air capture of CO2 imply minimal estimated costs of 104–570 trillion dollars this century, with large risks and uncertain feasibility. Continued high fossil fuel emissions unarguably sentences young people to either a massive, possibly implausible cleanup or growing deleterious climate impacts or both, scenarios that should provide both incentive and obligation for governments to alter energy policies without further delay.

doi:10.5194/esd-2016-42
http://www.earth-syst-dynam-discuss.net/esd-2016-42/

Why Sustainable Farming Matters: Dean Carlson at TEDxPhoenixville

TEDx Talks

Published on Jan 4, 2013

Dean is a 1994 graduate of the University of Chicago with an AB in Economics. After being a floor based derivative market maker for a few years, he moved to Philadelphia and then Dublin to trade convertible bond securities. Always bothered by the assumption of infinite growth in the field of economics, Dean became interested in how this assumption affects agriculture. After discovering the concept of sustainable agriculture, Dean changed careers and became a full time farmer. He purchased the 350+ acre Wyebrook Farm in Northern Chester County and set out to farm it sustainably. He raises 100% grass fed beef, heritage breed pigs in the woods and poultry out on pasture. Dean and his team sell hand-butchered meats in a fully restored 18th century stone barn on the property. Dean believes that it is important for people to have a real connection with their food and that buying food from the place it originated is a satisfying way to do this.

http://wyebrookfarm.com

Cows, Carbon and Climate | Joel Salatin | TEDxCharlottesville

TEDx Talks

Published on Jan 14, 2016

Joel Salatin, an organic farmer located in the Shanendoah Valley in Virginia, loves his grass – and so do his cows. In this talk Salatin outlines the role that this often unsung hero of the plant world plays in sustainable farming, and the effects that its efficient utilization can have on the world around us.

Joel Salatin is a third generation beyond organic farmer and author whose family owns and operates Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The farm produces salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, forage-based rabbits and direct markets everything to 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, and 10 retail outlets. A prolific author, Salatin’s nine books to date include both how-to and big picture themes. The farm features prominently in Michael Pollan’s NYT bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and the award-winning documentary, Food Inc.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Soil carbon — Putting carbon back where it belongs — In the Earth | Tony Lovell | TEDxDubbo

TEDx Talks

Uploaded on Sep 9, 2011

Tony Lovell will explain the reasoning behind how more green growing plants means more captured carbon dioxide — more water — more production — more biodiversity — more profit. Did you know that a 1% change in soil organic matter across just one-quarter of the World’s land area could sequester 300 billion tonnes of physical CO2.

TEDxDubbo focused attention on what we call FACETS — Food, Agriculture, Climate, Energy, Topsoil and Sustainability. These FACETS are actually potent ideas shared by everyday people with an interest in these disciplines. In many of these topics there is an awareness campaign; the aim of bringing our community together united against catastrophic failures in our food-chain, environment and health. It is worth mentioning that we are also indebted to our natural systems for our economic wealth. Failures in Food, Agriculture, Climate, Energy, Topsoil and Sustainability are not just a local issue — they are a global concern. http://tedxdubbo.com/

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Reversing global warming with livestock?: Seth Itzkan at TEDxSomerville

TEDx Talks

Published on May 24, 2012

Global warming may be mitigated by the most unlikely of sources, cattle. How is this possible? How can this vilified creature be an ally in the fight against climate change? Seth Itzkan shows us how.

Seth is President of Planet-TECH Associates, a consultancy that investigates innovations for a regenerative future. He has consulted on trends and innovations for The Boston Foundation, The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and The US Census Bureau. Seth is a graduate of Tufts University College of Engineering and the University of Houston-Clear Lake Masters Program in Studies of Future. He works in Somerville, and recently spent six weeks at the Africa Center for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe.