Tag Archives: Global warming

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Defending science at the EPA


Union of Concerned Scientists

Defending Science at the EPA

During the Bush administration, the White House worked to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from protecting us from formaldehyde pollution, smog, and global warming. In fact, White House officials secretly manipulated or suppressed EPA scientific analysis on each of these issues and many others.

And we all suffered for it.

Now, the EPA is drafting a scientific integrity policy that could keep politics out of EPA science. But the agency’s first draft still gives the White House the opportunity to censor or suppress scientific research from the agency—and the public would never be the wiser.

www.ucsusa.org

Take Action Today
Sincerely,
MichaelHalpern_jpg
Michael Halpern
National Field Organizer
UCS Scientific Integrity Program

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Help Protect Scientists from Political Interference …Union of Concerned Scientists


How can you protect science and government scientists from political interference? By filing a public comment by asking the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to strengthen its draft scientific integrity policy.   

   www.ucsusa.org

In the past, NOAA scientists were censored and told to change their research on issues from global warming to endangered species. While the draft policy would address some of these problems, it needs to be further strengthened to better protect those who report the abuse of science, give the public more information about who is meeting with NOAA officials, and allow us to hold agency officials accountable if they transgress.

It is critical that NOAA scientists can continue to provide national weather forecasting, manage coastal and deep ocean resources, and research global climate patterns without interference.

Help NOAA improve its scientific integrity policy by submitting a comment today —the deadline is August 20.      www.ucsusa.org

Sincerely,
MichaelHalpern_jpg
Michael Halpern
National Field Organizer

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Hunt for climate impacts, win a trip to Brazil


Imagine this situation: You’re stuck at the airport for who knows how long because your plane’s been grounded, you’re covered in the itchiest poison ivy you’ve ever had, and the airport bar is out of your favorite Cabernet.
 
What is going on?
 

 Check out the new UCS Climate Hot Map. Travel the world to learn where global warming is already having an impact and you could win a trip for two to help find answers to the challenges of climate change in the Rio Cachoeira Natural Reserve in Brazil!

This is climate change. Many people don’t realize it, but global warming is already affecting our lives and it’s causing trouble in surprising places—like in North Carolina where climate change has caused poison ivy to become more potent.
 
And unfortunately, itchy, thirsty, and impatient are only the beginning—there are dozens of ways global warming is already affecting the world and could be affecting you!
 
Today, the Union of Concerned Scientists introduces a new, interactive way to learn about the local consequences of global warming and the solutions available to meet the climate challenge. The Climate Hot Map allows you to travel the world and explore the places (or “hot spots”) where scientists have gathered evidence of climate changes that are already under way.
 
Check out some of the highlights from the Climate Hot Map by taking our Climate Hot Map Scavenger Hunt today.By joining the hunt for hot spots, you’ll be entered to win our grand prize: an Earthwatch Institute trip for two to assess the impacts of climate change on the Rio Cachoeira Natural Reserve in Brazil! You’ll get additional entries for every correct Hot Spot you identify and for sharing the Climate Hot Map Scavenger Hunt with friends and family members. Five runners-up will receive a Solio Mono Hybrid Solar Charger—great for traveling or at home to charge your cell phone or MP3 player using the power of the sun.
 
So what are you waiting for? Travel the world, win cool prizes, learn about the local impacts of global warming today, and find out what communities around the world are doing to reduce global warming emissions. Start the Scavenger Hunt now.

 Sincerely,

Brenda Ekwurzel, Ph.D.
Climate Scientist

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Take a Stand against Polluters


True or false: The coal industry has been pumping toxic air pollution, virtually unchecked, into our atmosphere for decades — pollution that has been linked to cancer and countless other health issues.

This is true, but if a new standard proposed by the EPA becomes a reality, it won’t be for much longer. The rule will significantly reduce the amount of mercury and other toxins that coal-fired power plants release into the air.

Making this rule the law of the land won’t be easy. We’ll face strong opposition from the same forces that stand in the way of solving the climate crisis. That’s why we need your help.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8e2e/6fdeebac/1a2b6a55/19ba7529/557510131/VEsE/

Tell the EPA that you support this rule. Take a stand against big polluters by submitting a comment here.

Mercury can cause birth defects, neurological damage and countless other health problems. Some of the pollutants that this rule restricts have been linked to cancer, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis.

While industry might complain about the cost of the rule, annual compliance costs are estimated to be far less than what we pay now to address the health impacts of mercury and other pollution.

Use our simple tool to submit a comment to the EPA today.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8e2e/6fdeebac/1a2b6a55/19ba7529/557510131/VEsE/

Thanks,

Kevin S. Curtis

Program Director

Repower America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Call today: Stop the Senate from giving nuclear power a blank check


The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is poised to create a so-called clean energy bank that would funnel billions of dollars in loan guarantees to the nuclear and coal industries instead of supporting truly clean and less risky renewable energy technologies that will reduce global warming emissions at the lowest cost.

This Thursday, May 26, senators will vote on legislation that would create a huge new government loan program called the Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA). As drafted, CEDA would put taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars in loans to established industries that are too risky for the private sector to finance while doing little to finance clean energy technologies.

Although CEDA is intended to support the commercialization of innovative clean energy technologies like renewable energy and energy efficiency, the nuclear industry sees it as a permanent financing mechanism for conventional nuclear reactors. CEDA would disproportionately favor large, costly projects over many other cost-effective, low-carbon options, thus giving large-scale conventional energy technologies an advantage at the expense of truly clean innovative alternatives.

The Senate vote on this risky loan program will happen this Thursday. Please call IMMEDIATELY and urge your senator not to support a CEDA that can give out unlimited loan guarantees and does not have strong congressional oversight.

Please Call –  http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=5SoGsDDgou0iXy0q3NOhEQ..  

Sincerely,

Megan Rising

National Field Organizer

UCS Climate and Energy Program