Attention myopia sufferers, Jonathan Foley, a climate scientist and director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of the Minnesota, boldly goes where others just can’t. At least where inconvenient truths are concerned. “Learning from the research my colleagues and I have done over the past decade, I fear we are neglecting another, equally inconvenient truth: that we now face a global crisis in land use and agriculture that could undermine the health, security, and sustainability of our civilization.”

Not content to tout the heroics of owning a Prius, Foley says it’s time to “address the massive environmental impacts of our current agricultural practices, which new evidence indicates rival the impacts of climate change.”

And as he points out, “The list of environmental impacts from agricultural land use goes on and on — and clearly threatens human well-being and the health of the biosphere as much as global warming.”

ReadJust the article on the Environmental News Network. Then think about how much tofu it’ll take to feed 9 billion Homo erecus asphaltus.

Weather’s great in sunny New Mexico. Wish U was here.

posted by Mudd
Santa Fe.

“It is not the writer’s task to answer questions but to question answers. To be impertinent, insolent, and, if necessary, subversive.” Edward Abbey (Vox Clamantis in Deserto)

posted by Mudd
Santa Fe, NM

Holy Neptune! Jumping on the green bandwagon like a beached whale, the boating industry has come up with a dazzling “24-foot Endeavour Green Electric Hybrid.” The damn thing runs like a barracuda on “an electric charge that costs only 11 cents and generates no emissions, kicking into a small diesel generator only if the boat’s eight batteries are depleted.”

At least that’s what the Christian Science Monitor reports in their Environment section (Oct 14, 2009)

Not to be outdone, the 25-foot Frauscher hybrid is a speedy $155,000 Austrian-built pleasure boat [combining] an electric engine with a 256 horsepower Steyr diesel motor to allow for emissions-free harbor cruising or high-octane speeding across open water.

How green can you get? Aqua marine, that is. And all you need is an extra $155,000 to seal the deal.

Hoist the Jolly Neo-Green flag – we’re off to sea the wizard!

posted by Mudd

Always on the lookout for green ways to save the planet, many of America’s utilities have decided to switch to renewable sources of combustibles. And, of course, that means wood.

USA Today reports that “Many plants now burn bark, twigs and other waste wood. If wood power grows as expected, whole trees will have to be cut down to fuel the plants, says Pete Stewart of Forest2Market, a forest-industry analysis firm.”

Did he say whole trees? “Plants have promised to use waste wood, but ‘as soon as they get their permit and see how much it’s going to cost to do that, they change their tune,'” Stewart says.

In a nod to the few conservationists who still think about these things, USA Today notes that “Some environmentalists fear that the rise of wood power could devastate forests.”

Not to worry – “Bob Cleaves of the Biomass Power Association, an industry group, says that current laws and policies are sufficient to protect the environment.”

You bet! America’s forests stand proud and tall, veritable beacons of deep ecology as chain saws whir like maniacal hummingbirds, feeding our insatiable hunger for cheap stereo cabinets and green energy.

Calling Smokey the Bear!

posted by Mudd

Hand it to the Wall Street Journal – they figured out the Wild West is drier than a proverbial bone.

Traditional suburbs take an awful lot of water in a place as arid as the interior West. Monthly household water use is estimated at nearly 23,000 gallons in Nevada, nearly 20,000 gallons in Utah, and about 16,000 gallons in both Arizona and Colorado. That is considerably higher than the national average of about 12,000 gallons per month, according to Western Resource Advocates, an environmental group.

Of course, that hasn’t slowed down developers in Colorado, just the way they operate. As in – Neo-Green. “Permits are still pending but plans envision 12,000 homes, many priced at about $350,000, aimed at young families and empty nesters. All homes will use low-flow toilets, faucets and showers, which cut water use on average 20% to 30%.”

Hot damn, low flow toilets! Never mind those pesky wildlife critters that tend to call open landscapes home.

And, in a final word of wisdom – “Douglas King, a consultant with the U.S. Green Building Council, says ….. that 95% of homeowners and builders seeking to boost sustainability go for energy-efficient fixtures — while only 60% reduce the size of their grass lawn. ‘That’s a big thing to give up,’ he says.” (Wall Street Journal)

Absolutely – The American Dream includes grass lawns, come hell or low water. Even in the nation’s driest climates. So go low with the flow and don’t forget your carbon footprint as the ink dries on the new McMansion’s mortgage.

pass the hose.

posted by Mudd

And now, ladies and gents, let me introduce you to “The car that uses urine to save the planet”!

Seriously. We’re talking about the latest in Neo-Green techno-wizardry, designed to keep you on the long and winding road (in 4 wheel drive no less) with less guilt and more fun. That is what it’s all about, eh?

An online Aussie rag called The Age reports – “The Mazda CX-7 uses a special man-made liquid similar to human urine to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The compound, called AdBlue, is a mixture of roughly one-third pure urea and two-thirds demineralised water.”

pass the bedpan.

posted by Mudd

In a shocking revelation, it has been learned that ecological concerns besides sustainable energy still exist out there in the global village. Take this news from the BBC for example –

Food production will have to increase by 70% over the next 40 years to feed the world’s growing population, the United Nations food agency predicts. The Food and Agricultural Organisation says if more land is not used for food production now, 370 million people could be facing famine by 2050.

And with humanoid population expected to increase to 9 billion by mid-century, you have to wonder how farmers expect to keep up with the Jones’ calorie needs. Last I heard, land wasn’t being manufactured any more (except in Dubai – another story).

Meanwhile, experts agree that crop production requires water, among other things, in order to do what plants do – grow. Yet, in a cruel twist of Fate, the supply of available water is in the proverbial tank as well.

In fact, the BBC has reported that “Growing world population will cause a “perfect storm” of food, energy and water shortages by 2030, the UK government chief scientist has warned.”

What we have here is a voodoo snafu in the making. And the one common denominator for every input to the “perfect storm” is…… growing human population. Same as it ever was.

Since we’re discussing farming, why not get the root of the problem?

Pass the tofu.

posted by Mudd

Ever wonder what Ralph Nader does in his spare time? A conscientous blogger has to take stock of the goings on of the Green Gurus, Nader among them. So, in case you were camping in Borneo when the news broke, let me introduce you to Monsieur Nader’s latest gambit: Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!

Mr. Nader’s new venture roams the political-socio-cultural landscape via a work of fiction. Sort of. As his press blurb says, “bestselling author Ralph Nader puts seventeen billionaires together in one room to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.” Hot damn, we’re saved!

Now if Ralph would devote some free time to the realities of human induced ecological meltdown, maybe he’d come up with a sequel – “Only the super freaks can dance naked with drunk polar bears.”

Where’s Charles Dickens when you need him?

posted by Mudd

In an effort to assist the Park Service manage Yellowstone’s wolf population, technology giant Canon is providing camera equipment to assist in tracking and monitoring the canines. So far Canon has donated half a million bucks to the Eyes on Yellowstone project. Of course, a more efficient way to help wolves would be for Canon to lobby for Y2Y. Dream on.

A nifty video on Canon’s work can be seen on MSNBC’s ironically named People, Planet and Profit Report. Here’s a link to their video page. Look for the icon of Wally the Wolf.

posted by Mudd

Most folks have figured out by now that environmental impact is directly related to a population’s affluence and technological usage. In other words – the more fat cats there are in any one ecosystem, the more crap ends up in the nearest landfill. Even in lovely China, home of kung fu and Peking dumplings.

According to MSNBC, “As more Chinese ride the nation’s economic boom, a torrent of garbage is one result. Cities are bursting at the seams, and their officials struggle to cope.” Surprise!

But let’s not rag on our Chinese pals, yet. “Americans are still way ahead of China in garbage; a population less than a quarter the size of China’s 1.3 billion generated 254 million tons of garbage in 2007, a third of which is recycled or composted,” according to the U.S. EPA.

Is the fat lady singing yet?

posted by Mudd