just wondering if the zines were online yet?
hope everyone is having a great summer!
5.29.2007
5.23.2007
5.22.2007
Schwarzenegger accuses government on warming
"California, Connecticut and a host of like-minded states are proving that you can protect the environment and the economy simultaneously," Rell and Schwarzenegger wrote. "It's high time the federal government becomes our partner or gets out of the way."
5.21.2007
5.11.2007
5.10.2007
Food Fight: Chefs Fight to Save Wild Pacific Salmon
This is interesting. Chefs on a mission to save Salmons.
5.01.2007
Something to consider: Large families are good for the environment
From the blogger who maintains Starry Sky Ranch:
--
The last Earth Day celebration our family attended was in the mid '90s. I had several young homeschoolers and was expecting another baby. It was free and educational so hey, we were there! Before attending this event I was not familiar with the term "zero population". I wandered past the Sierra Club table and saw literature with that phrase displayed. I stopped and read, bewildered. Did it really suggest that the solution to our environmental problems was the elimination of babies? Indeed.
The man behind the table was pacing and silently counting heads. He looked at my children like they were sucking his air. As the message his organization was presenting sank in I said, "My goodness! We must be your worst nightmare then, huh?" He didn't say no. In fact what he did say, looking at my belly, was, "It's not to late to stop!" I try not to think of what he was implying.
His solution to our environmental problems reminds me of those who are 'eliminating' birth defects by eliminating handicapped babies in utero. That doesnt solve a problem. We can do better than that. Maureen's article has lots of food for thought. I am guessing our clan of 11 is easily more planet friendly than most families of four. We eat out maybe once a year. We make most of our food or buy it as ingredients rather than as packaged products. I drive an ancient van - twice a week. I buy all our clothing second hand and have furnished our home with about 75% thrifted treasures and refurbished hand me downs. We are raising animals suited to foraging in undesirable conditions. We tread lightly on the Earth. Tiptoes even. ; )
I admittedly have little tolerance for Hollywood figures jetting around the world dispensing environmental directives while they sip designer coffee in styrofoam cups, replacing their wardrobes every season, building oversized heated and cooled homes. My feeling is that environmentalism, like charity, begins at home. It begins small. It begins with selfdenial and thriftiness. It begins with phrases like:
Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Do without.
My best advice for saving the planet? Stay home. : ) You will use less, spend less, and want less.
--
What do you make of this? Certainly having a large family on a lower-middle- or middle-class, one-person income requires that the parents become creatively thrifty. I know my fiance's parents (who had seven children in 10 years) did it--my future mother-in-law still grows all of their vegetables and peels potatoes to make French fries rather than buying them frozen and pre-packaged. My fiance can count on his hands the number of times he ate fast food before he was on his own financially. They compost EVERYTHING, reuse EVERYTHING--clothing, toys, etc. It's certainly a contrast to my only-child, two-income upbringing that involves lots of gas-using vacations and daily trips back and forth to ballet class with pit stops at fast food restaurants and Wal-Mart and the consumption, consumption, consumption, spend, spend, spend lifestyle I'm trying to crawl out of now. And while he and his siblings aren't environmental activists, they're definitely better environmentalists than I am, simply by virtue of following their parents' example.
--
The last Earth Day celebration our family attended was in the mid '90s. I had several young homeschoolers and was expecting another baby. It was free and educational so hey, we were there! Before attending this event I was not familiar with the term "zero population". I wandered past the Sierra Club table and saw literature with that phrase displayed. I stopped and read, bewildered. Did it really suggest that the solution to our environmental problems was the elimination of babies? Indeed.
The man behind the table was pacing and silently counting heads. He looked at my children like they were sucking his air. As the message his organization was presenting sank in I said, "My goodness! We must be your worst nightmare then, huh?" He didn't say no. In fact what he did say, looking at my belly, was, "It's not to late to stop!" I try not to think of what he was implying.
His solution to our environmental problems reminds me of those who are 'eliminating' birth defects by eliminating handicapped babies in utero. That doesnt solve a problem. We can do better than that. Maureen's article has lots of food for thought. I am guessing our clan of 11 is easily more planet friendly than most families of four. We eat out maybe once a year. We make most of our food or buy it as ingredients rather than as packaged products. I drive an ancient van - twice a week. I buy all our clothing second hand and have furnished our home with about 75% thrifted treasures and refurbished hand me downs. We are raising animals suited to foraging in undesirable conditions. We tread lightly on the Earth. Tiptoes even. ; )
I admittedly have little tolerance for Hollywood figures jetting around the world dispensing environmental directives while they sip designer coffee in styrofoam cups, replacing their wardrobes every season, building oversized heated and cooled homes. My feeling is that environmentalism, like charity, begins at home. It begins small. It begins with selfdenial and thriftiness. It begins with phrases like:
Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Do without.
My best advice for saving the planet? Stay home. : ) You will use less, spend less, and want less.
--
What do you make of this? Certainly having a large family on a lower-middle- or middle-class, one-person income requires that the parents become creatively thrifty. I know my fiance's parents (who had seven children in 10 years) did it--my future mother-in-law still grows all of their vegetables and peels potatoes to make French fries rather than buying them frozen and pre-packaged. My fiance can count on his hands the number of times he ate fast food before he was on his own financially. They compost EVERYTHING, reuse EVERYTHING--clothing, toys, etc. It's certainly a contrast to my only-child, two-income upbringing that involves lots of gas-using vacations and daily trips back and forth to ballet class with pit stops at fast food restaurants and Wal-Mart and the consumption, consumption, consumption, spend, spend, spend lifestyle I'm trying to crawl out of now. And while he and his siblings aren't environmental activists, they're definitely better environmentalists than I am, simply by virtue of following their parents' example.
4.30.2007
4.25.2007
"You are what you grow"
Locavores: those who consume a diet of only local foods... interesting article on the benefits and challenges
New Earth-like planet
thought it was interesting and wanted to share...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18308956/site/newsweek/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18308956/site/newsweek/
4.18.2007
Stories related to our class monday/today
Read here about the water shortage and its impact on food...(or just google-news "water shortage" for other stories)
Also, on NPR this afternoon there was a story that I thought many of you would find interesting given our discussion of farmer suicides on Monday. See this for a little background info.
Also, on NPR this afternoon there was a story that I thought many of you would find interesting given our discussion of farmer suicides on Monday. See this for a little background info.
4.16.2007
ECO raises awareness about environment
Story on LSU Earth Day past Friday
What surprises me is that Reveille considers this story as an "Entertainment" news. Sad.
Waiting for Abby's reply.
What surprises me is that Reveille considers this story as an "Entertainment" news. Sad.
Waiting for Abby's reply.
4.10.2007
the baton rouge green zine: adult version
i figured i'd post the google doc here, for easier access. you can't edit it here like you can on google docs, but following that link will let you view the most recent doc with no problem.
...1.5 more weeks!
...1.5 more weeks!
4.09.2007
Previous week's Time magazine
As a subscriber to Time magazine, I found this edition very special. Check this article(little bit different from the print edition) about "51 Things We Can Do to Save the Environment:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/
CNN "Green" News Clips
CNN's Jim Acosta reports on environment-friendly vehicles featured at the New York Auto Show
Electric taxis are appearing in New York as an alternative to the usual gas guzzlers
CNN's Joshua Levs takes a look at the current state of debate over global warming
Leading scientists deliver their most grim global warming predictions yet. CNN's Reba Hollingsworth reports
Electric taxis are appearing in New York as an alternative to the usual gas guzzlers
CNN's Joshua Levs takes a look at the current state of debate over global warming
Leading scientists deliver their most grim global warming predictions yet. CNN's Reba Hollingsworth reports
4.01.2007
Think Baton Rouge could do this?
Yay for Sydney, AUS....it's one step towards awareness...
Who wants to contact Kip Holden?!
Who wants to contact Kip Holden?!
3.31.2007
3.30.2007
3.27.2007
3.23.2007
Rat Poison found in Pet Food
ALBANY, New York (AP) -- Rat poison has been found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Agriculture and Markets said Friday.
The toxin was identified as aminopterin, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said in a statement. Aminopterin is used to kill rats in some countries but is not registered for that use in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The officials did not say how they believed it got into the pet food. (Watch why devastated pet owners are suing )
The substance was found at a level of at least 40 parts per million in tested cat food samples, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of
malignant cells and suppresses the immune system.
The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focusing on wheat gluten in the food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated by heavy metals or mold toxins, the FDA said.
State and FBI officials said they knew of no criminal investigations in the case.
The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Menu Foods last week recalled "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.
Menu Foods is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.
The company's chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.
Menu Foods planned a media teleconference for later Friday, a spokesman said.
A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case.
"I don't know where we'll go from here," he said.
A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The toxin was identified as aminopterin, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said in a statement. Aminopterin is used to kill rats in some countries but is not registered for that use in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The officials did not say how they believed it got into the pet food. (Watch why devastated pet owners are suing )
The substance was found at a level of at least 40 parts per million in tested cat food samples, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of
malignant cells and suppresses the immune system.
The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focusing on wheat gluten in the food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated by heavy metals or mold toxins, the FDA said.
State and FBI officials said they knew of no criminal investigations in the case.
The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Menu Foods last week recalled "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.
Menu Foods is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.
The company's chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.
Menu Foods planned a media teleconference for later Friday, a spokesman said.
A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case.
"I don't know where we'll go from here," he said.
A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
3.20.2007
Abrupt Environmental Change Sparks Violent Conflicts
A strong link between droughts and violent civil conflicts in the developing world bodes ill for an increasingly thirsty world, say scientists, who warn that drought-related conflicts are expected to multiply with advancing climate change.......
3.19.2007
What footprint do you leave on the earth?
The above links to a quiz that analyzes the "footprint" you leave on the Earth--your use of resources, etc. in several areas. It can, I think, also measure a given community's, region's, or even a country's use of natural resources.
Part II National Geographic
Okay here is the second part to the article...
Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy
<< Back to Page 1 Page 2 of 2
What's caused the uproar is the mixing of human stem cells with embryonic animals to create new species.
Biotechnology activist Jeremy Rifkin is opposed to crossing species boundaries, because he believes animals have the right to exist without being tampered with or crossed with another species.
Email to a Friend
RELATED
Modified Mice Stay Super-Fit—Without Exercise
Fluorescent Mice Herald Gene-Transfer Breakthrough
Mice Used as Sperm Factories for Pigs, Goats
Cloned Pigs Modified for Use in Human Transplants
Scientific Pitfalls Complicate Cloning Debate
Anti-Aging Drug for Humans Hinted at by Worm Study
He concedes that these studies would lead to some medical breakthroughs. Still, they should not be done.
"There are other ways to advance medicine and human health besides going out into the strange, brave new world of chimeric animals," Rifkin said, adding that sophisticated computer models can substitute for experimentation on live animals.
"One doesn't have to be religious or into animal rights to think this doesn't make sense," he continued. "It's the scientists who want to do this. They've now gone over the edge into the pathological domain."
David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics at Stanford University, believes the real worry is whether or not chimeras will be put to uses that are problematic, risky, or dangerous.
Human Born to Mice Parents?
For example, an experiment that would raise concerns, he said, is genetically engineering mice to produce human sperm and eggs, then doing in vitro fertilization to produce a child whose parents are a pair of mice.
"Most people would find that problematic," Magnus said, "but those uses are bizarre and not, to the best of my knowledge, anything that anybody is remotely contemplating. Most uses of chimeras are actually much more relevant to practical concerns."
Last year Canada passed the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, which bans chimeras. Specifically, it prohibits transferring a nonhuman cell into a human embryo and putting human cells into a nonhuman embryo.
Cynthia Cohen is a member of Canada's Stem Cell Oversight Committee, which oversees research protocols to ensure they are in accordance with the new guidelines.
She believes a ban should also be put into place in the U.S.
Creating chimeras, she said, by mixing human and animal gametes (sperms and eggs) or transferring reproductive cells, diminishes human dignity.
"It would deny that there is something distinctive and valuable about human beings that ought to be honored and protected," said Cohen, who is also the senior research fellow at Georgetown University's Kennedy Institute of Ethics in Washington, D.C.
But, she noted, the wording on such a ban needs to be developed carefully. It shouldn't outlaw ethical and legitimate experiments—such as transferring a limited number of adult human stem cells into animal embryos in order to learn how they proliferate and grow during the prenatal period.
Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California, is against a ban in the United States.
"Anybody who puts their own moral guidance in the way of this biomedical science, where they want to impose their will—not just be part of an argument—if that leads to a ban or moratorium. … they are stopping research that would save human lives," he said.
Mice With Human Brains
Weissman has already created mice with brains that are about one percent human.
Later this year he may conduct another experiment where the mice have 100 percent human brains. This would be done, he said, by injecting human neurons into the brains of embryonic mice.
Before being born, the mice would be killed and dissected to see if the architecture of a human brain had formed. If it did, he'd look for traces of human cognitive behavior.
Weissman said he's not a mad scientist trying to create a human in an animal body. He hopes the experiment leads to a better understanding of how the brain works, which would be useful in treating diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
The test has not yet begun. Weissman is waiting to read the National Academy's report, due out in March.
William Cheshire, associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville, Florida, branch, feels that combining human and animal neurons is problematic.
"This is unexplored biologic territory," he said. "Whatever moral threshold of human neural development we might choose to set as the limit for such an experiment, there would be a considerable risk of exceeding that limit before it could be recognized."
Cheshire supports research that combines human and animal cells to study cellular function. As an undergraduate he participated in research that fused human and mouse cells.
But where he draws the ethical line is on research that would destroy a human embryo to obtain cells, or research that would create an organism that is partly human and partly animal.
"We must be cautious not to violate the integrity of humanity or of animal life over which we have a stewardship responsibility," said Cheshire, a member of Christian Medical and Dental Associations. "Research projects that create human-animal chimeras risk disturbing fragile ecosystems, endanger health, and affront species integrity."
Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy
<< Back to Page 1 Page 2 of 2
What's caused the uproar is the mixing of human stem cells with embryonic animals to create new species.
Biotechnology activist Jeremy Rifkin is opposed to crossing species boundaries, because he believes animals have the right to exist without being tampered with or crossed with another species.
Email to a Friend
RELATED
Modified Mice Stay Super-Fit—Without Exercise
Fluorescent Mice Herald Gene-Transfer Breakthrough
Mice Used as Sperm Factories for Pigs, Goats
Cloned Pigs Modified for Use in Human Transplants
Scientific Pitfalls Complicate Cloning Debate
Anti-Aging Drug for Humans Hinted at by Worm Study
He concedes that these studies would lead to some medical breakthroughs. Still, they should not be done.
"There are other ways to advance medicine and human health besides going out into the strange, brave new world of chimeric animals," Rifkin said, adding that sophisticated computer models can substitute for experimentation on live animals.
"One doesn't have to be religious or into animal rights to think this doesn't make sense," he continued. "It's the scientists who want to do this. They've now gone over the edge into the pathological domain."
David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics at Stanford University, believes the real worry is whether or not chimeras will be put to uses that are problematic, risky, or dangerous.
Human Born to Mice Parents?
For example, an experiment that would raise concerns, he said, is genetically engineering mice to produce human sperm and eggs, then doing in vitro fertilization to produce a child whose parents are a pair of mice.
"Most people would find that problematic," Magnus said, "but those uses are bizarre and not, to the best of my knowledge, anything that anybody is remotely contemplating. Most uses of chimeras are actually much more relevant to practical concerns."
Last year Canada passed the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, which bans chimeras. Specifically, it prohibits transferring a nonhuman cell into a human embryo and putting human cells into a nonhuman embryo.
Cynthia Cohen is a member of Canada's Stem Cell Oversight Committee, which oversees research protocols to ensure they are in accordance with the new guidelines.
She believes a ban should also be put into place in the U.S.
Creating chimeras, she said, by mixing human and animal gametes (sperms and eggs) or transferring reproductive cells, diminishes human dignity.
"It would deny that there is something distinctive and valuable about human beings that ought to be honored and protected," said Cohen, who is also the senior research fellow at Georgetown University's Kennedy Institute of Ethics in Washington, D.C.
But, she noted, the wording on such a ban needs to be developed carefully. It shouldn't outlaw ethical and legitimate experiments—such as transferring a limited number of adult human stem cells into animal embryos in order to learn how they proliferate and grow during the prenatal period.
Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California, is against a ban in the United States.
"Anybody who puts their own moral guidance in the way of this biomedical science, where they want to impose their will—not just be part of an argument—if that leads to a ban or moratorium. … they are stopping research that would save human lives," he said.
Mice With Human Brains
Weissman has already created mice with brains that are about one percent human.
Later this year he may conduct another experiment where the mice have 100 percent human brains. This would be done, he said, by injecting human neurons into the brains of embryonic mice.
Before being born, the mice would be killed and dissected to see if the architecture of a human brain had formed. If it did, he'd look for traces of human cognitive behavior.
Weissman said he's not a mad scientist trying to create a human in an animal body. He hopes the experiment leads to a better understanding of how the brain works, which would be useful in treating diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
The test has not yet begun. Weissman is waiting to read the National Academy's report, due out in March.
William Cheshire, associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville, Florida, branch, feels that combining human and animal neurons is problematic.
"This is unexplored biologic territory," he said. "Whatever moral threshold of human neural development we might choose to set as the limit for such an experiment, there would be a considerable risk of exceeding that limit before it could be recognized."
Cheshire supports research that combines human and animal cells to study cellular function. As an undergraduate he participated in research that fused human and mouse cells.
But where he draws the ethical line is on research that would destroy a human embryo to obtain cells, or research that would create an organism that is partly human and partly animal.
"We must be cautious not to violate the integrity of humanity or of animal life over which we have a stewardship responsibility," said Cheshire, a member of Christian Medical and Dental Associations. "Research projects that create human-animal chimeras risk disturbing fragile ecosystems, endanger health, and affront species integrity."
National Geographic
I thought this was a pretty interesting article. It for some reason reminded me a lot about " Buffalo Gals". Maybe you can make the connection. Well here's the Article. I hope you enjoy!!
Amy Triche
Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy
Maryann Mott
National Geographic News
January 25, 2005
Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal.
Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created. They were allowed to develop for several days in a laboratory dish before the scientists destroyed the embryos to harvest their stem cells.
Email to a Friend
RELATED
Modified Mice Stay Super-Fit—Without Exercise
Fluorescent Mice Herald Gene-Transfer Breakthrough
Mice Used as Sperm Factories for Pigs, Goats
Cloned Pigs Modified for Use in Human Transplants
Scientific Pitfalls Complicate Cloning Debate
Anti-Aging Drug for Humans Hinted at by Worm Study
In Minnesota last year researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies.
And at Stanford University in California an experiment might be done later this year to create mice with human brains.
Scientists feel that, the more humanlike the animal, the better research model it makes for testing drugs or possibly growing "spare parts," such as livers, to transplant into humans.
Watching how human cells mature and interact in a living creature may also lead to the discoveries of new medical treatments.
But creating human-animal chimeras—named after a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail—has raised troubling questions: What new subhuman combination should be produced and for what purpose? At what point would it be considered human? And what rights, if any, should it have?
There are currently no U.S. federal laws that address these issues.
Ethical Guidelines
The National Academy of Sciences, which advises the U.S. government, has been studying the issue. In March it plans to present voluntary ethical guidelines for researchers.
A chimera is a mixture of two or more species in one body. Not all are considered troubling, though.
For example, faulty human heart valves are routinely replaced with ones taken from cows and pigs. The surgery—which makes the recipient a human-animal chimera—is widely accepted. And for years scientists have added human genes to bacteria and farm anima
Amy Triche
Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy
Maryann Mott
National Geographic News
January 25, 2005
Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal.
Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created. They were allowed to develop for several days in a laboratory dish before the scientists destroyed the embryos to harvest their stem cells.
Email to a Friend
RELATED
Modified Mice Stay Super-Fit—Without Exercise
Fluorescent Mice Herald Gene-Transfer Breakthrough
Mice Used as Sperm Factories for Pigs, Goats
Cloned Pigs Modified for Use in Human Transplants
Scientific Pitfalls Complicate Cloning Debate
Anti-Aging Drug for Humans Hinted at by Worm Study
In Minnesota last year researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies.
And at Stanford University in California an experiment might be done later this year to create mice with human brains.
Scientists feel that, the more humanlike the animal, the better research model it makes for testing drugs or possibly growing "spare parts," such as livers, to transplant into humans.
Watching how human cells mature and interact in a living creature may also lead to the discoveries of new medical treatments.
But creating human-animal chimeras—named after a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail—has raised troubling questions: What new subhuman combination should be produced and for what purpose? At what point would it be considered human? And what rights, if any, should it have?
There are currently no U.S. federal laws that address these issues.
Ethical Guidelines
The National Academy of Sciences, which advises the U.S. government, has been studying the issue. In March it plans to present voluntary ethical guidelines for researchers.
A chimera is a mixture of two or more species in one body. Not all are considered troubling, though.
For example, faulty human heart valves are routinely replaced with ones taken from cows and pigs. The surgery—which makes the recipient a human-animal chimera—is widely accepted. And for years scientists have added human genes to bacteria and farm anima
Buffalo Gals Mix
1. Ohmna - People Get Lost
2. Karen Overton - Your Loving Arms
3. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (Topher Jones & Blake Jarrell Remix)
4. Andain – Beautiful Things
5. Above & Beyond – Can’t Sleep
6. Above & Beyond – Good For Me
7. Danjo And Styles - What Lies Ahead (Estuera Remix)
8. Kuffdam & Plant feat. Terry Ferminal – The Ones We Loved
Download : http://www.dailytigers.com/download/Buffalo-Gals.mp3 [83.41 mb]
2. Karen Overton - Your Loving Arms
3. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (Topher Jones & Blake Jarrell Remix)
4. Andain – Beautiful Things
5. Above & Beyond – Can’t Sleep
6. Above & Beyond – Good For Me
7. Danjo And Styles - What Lies Ahead (Estuera Remix)
8. Kuffdam & Plant feat. Terry Ferminal – The Ones We Loved
Download : http://www.dailytigers.com/download/Buffalo-Gals.mp3 [83.41 mb]
3.17.2007
3.16.2007
Sheryl Crow @ LSU
Nobody posted anything about her tour on "Stop Global Warming"
Here's the LSU link : Click
Wednesday, April 11 Union Theater, 7 p.m.
One free ticket per LSU student with LSU ID. Tickets are available now at the Union Box Office.
Here's the LSU link : Click
Wednesday, April 11 Union Theater, 7 p.m.
One free ticket per LSU student with LSU ID. Tickets are available now at the Union Box Office.
Man to Tiger?
I saw an episode of Ripley's Believe It or Not a few months ago, and this guy was on it. This is an article from The Seattle Times about him... pretty interesting!
3.15.2007
Celebrity Heather Mills Breaks Into Pig Farm At Night
Heather Mills has revealed she entered an industrial pig farm at the dead of night as part of a campaign to highlight alleged animal cruelty.
She led a team from the vegetarian group Viva! in a raid on a Somerset farm two weeks ago.
Video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d1b_1173964767
If you don't know who she is, she's Paul McCartney's (from Beatles) ex-wife.
She led a team from the vegetarian group Viva! in a raid on a Somerset farm two weeks ago.
Video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d1b_1173964767
If you don't know who she is, she's Paul McCartney's (from Beatles) ex-wife.
3.13.2007
Consumer critic : Food in America
New UK student in the States:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPz_794o2O4
Video replies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beb4asr4DDY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLi6z6t-Is8
Might be little off-topic, but do you see a link to what we have studied so far?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPz_794o2O4
Video replies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beb4asr4DDY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLi6z6t-Is8
Might be little off-topic, but do you see a link to what we have studied so far?
3.12.2007
Entergy and Green Power
Check this out...I'm curious to hear what you think about this...specifically what does the webpage leave out? What info might you want to know? Nevertheless, I'm happy for the progress...
3.07.2007
simple shoes
Hi guys,
I know Jessica might have mentioned this site in class, but here is the link again. I know we're always posing the question, "How can we be better ecologists?" Well here it is. I think this company is doing an amazing thing, and I know you'll find it very interesting as well.
I also know that Bayou Birkenstock on Lee Drive sells this brand, so if you want to order a pair and can't get them online, you can go there. It's only about 2 minutes from Campus in the first shopping center to the left when you turn from Highland onto Lee from Campus.
www.simpleshoes.com
I know Jessica might have mentioned this site in class, but here is the link again. I know we're always posing the question, "How can we be better ecologists?" Well here it is. I think this company is doing an amazing thing, and I know you'll find it very interesting as well.
I also know that Bayou Birkenstock on Lee Drive sells this brand, so if you want to order a pair and can't get them online, you can go there. It's only about 2 minutes from Campus in the first shopping center to the left when you turn from Highland onto Lee from Campus.
www.simpleshoes.com
2.28.2007
An Early Environmentalist, Embracing New ‘Heresies’ [NYT]
"Stewart Brand has become a heretic to environmentalism, a movement he helped found, but he doesn’t plan to be isolated for long. He expects that environmentalists will soon share his affection for nuclear power. They’ll lose their fear of population growth and start appreciating sprawling megacities. They’ll stop worrying about “frankenfoods” and embrace genetic engineering..."
Interesting...
Interesting...
2.27.2007
Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming
Its just that interesting. Posting in full.
Here is a list of 50 simple things that everyone can do in order to fight against and reduce the Global Warming phenomenon: some of them are at no cost, some other require a little investment but can help you save a lot of money, in the middle-long term!
-
Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. -
Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill. -
Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has more tips for saving energy on heating and cooling. -
Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. -
Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most efficient models available. -
Do not leave appliances on standby
Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself. A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode. -
Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by setting the thermostat no higher than 50°C. -
Move your fridge and freezer
Placing them next to the cooker or boiler consumes much more energy than if they were standing on their own. For example, if you put them in a hot cellar room where the room temperature is 30-35ºC, energy use is almost double and causes an extra 160kg of CO2 emissions for fridges per year and 320kg for freezers. -
Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly
Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors. -
Don't let heat escape from your house over a long period
When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissions. -
Replace your old single-glazed windows with double-glazing
This requires a bit of upfront investment, but will halve the energy lost through windows and pay off in the long term. If you go for the best the market has to offer (wooden-framed double-glazed units with low-emission glass and filled with argon gas), you can even save more than 70% of the energy lost. -
Get a home energy audit
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist. -
Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%! -
Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full
If you need to use it when it is half full, then use the half-load or economy setting. There is also no need to set the temperatures high. Nowadays detergents are so efficient that they get your clothes and dishes clean at low temperatures. -
Take a shower instead of a bath
A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximise the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow showerheads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort. -
Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year) instead of hot. -
Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year. -
Insulate and weatherize your home
Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Caulking and weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds per year. Energy Efficient has more information on how to better insulate your home. -
Be sure you’re recycling at home
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. Earth 911 can help you find recycling resources in your area. -
Recycle your organic waste
Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane is released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul. -
Buy intelligently
One bottle of 1.5l requires less energy and produces less waste than three bottles of 0.5l. As well, buy recycled paper products: it takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide. -
Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can
You will also cut down on waste production and energy use! -
Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil. -
Reduce waste
Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes. -
Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership. -
Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. The Green Power Network is a good place to start to figure out what’s available in your area. -
Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community. -
Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce. -
Seek out and support local farmers markets
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. You can find a farmer’s market in your area at the USDA website. -
Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere! -
Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath. -
Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Look for transit options in your area. -
Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.com runs a free national service connecting commuters and travelers. -
Don't leave an empty roof rack on your car
This can increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10% due to wind resistance and the extra weight - removing it is a better idea. -
Keep your car tuned up
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere. -
Drive carefully and do not waste fuel
You can reduce CO2 emissions by readjusting your driving style. Choose proper gears, do not abuse the gas pedal, use the engine brake instead of the pedal brake when possible and turn off your engine when your vehicle is motionless for more than one minute. By readjusting your driving style you can save money on both fuel and car mantainance. -
Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated
Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference! -
When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid! You can find information on fuel efficiency on FuelEconomy and on GreenCars websites. -
Try car sharing
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. Many companies – such as Flexcar - offer low emission or hybrid cars too! Also, see ZipCar. -
Try telecommuting from home
Telecommuting can help you drastically reduce the number of miles you drive every week. For more information, check out the Telework Coalition. -
Fly less
Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also offset your air travel by investing in renewable energy projects. -
Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions
You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging other to take action. -
Join the virtual march
The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-political effort to bring people concerned about global warming together in one place. Add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of other people urging action on this issue. -
Encourage the switch to renewable energy
Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are regulatory barriers impeding them. Take action to break down those barriers with Vote Solar. -
Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critial role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on forests and global warming. -
Consider the impact of your investments
If you invest your money, you should consider the impact that your investments and savings will have on global warming. Check out SocialInvest and Ceres to can learn more about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change. -
Make your city cool
Cities and states around the country have taken action to stop global warming by passing innovative transportation and energy saving legislation. 194 cities nationwide representing over 40 million people have made this pledge as part of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Find out how to make your city a cool city. -
Tell Congress to act
The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act would set a firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and then use free market incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and spur innovation. Tell your representative to support it. -
Make sure your voice is heard!
Americans must have a stronger commitment from their government in order to stop global warming and implement solutions and such a commitment won’t come without a dramatic increase in citizen lobbying for new laws with teeth. Get the facts about U.S. politicians and candidates at Project Vote Smart and The League of Conservation Voters. Make sure your voice is heard by voting! -
Share this list!
Send this page via e-mail to your buddies, digg it, add it to your favourite bookmark site (like reddit); and if you're a blogger, blog it: the more people you will manage to enlighten, the greater YOUR help to save the planet will be (but please take action on first person too)!
2.26.2007
2.25.2007
Selling Homeowners a Solar Dream [Wired]
Energy startup The Citizenrē Corporation's haikulike Google ad says it all. "Solar for free," it headlines. "No initial investment needed. Just monthly payments for power."
Instead of making you spring for $25,000 or more in gear, Citizenrē says it will loan you a complete rooftop solar power system, install it for free and sell you back the power it generates at a fixed rate below what your utility charges. The company hopes to make back its investment with those monthly payments, augmented by federal tax credits and rebates.
Bush Administration Moves to Sell National Forest Land
The Bush administration will unveil a proposal Friday to sell up to 200,000 acres of national forest land in "isolated parcels" ranging from a quarter of an acre to 200 acres, much of it in California.
The sale is part of a National Forest Service plan to raise $800 million over the next five years to pay for rural schools in 41 states, offsetting shrinking revenues from sale of timber from national forests. The Bureau of Land Management also plans to sell federal lands to raise an estimated $182 million over five years.
The sale is part of a National Forest Service plan to raise $800 million over the next five years to pay for rural schools in 41 states, offsetting shrinking revenues from sale of timber from national forests. The Bureau of Land Management also plans to sell federal lands to raise an estimated $182 million over five years.
Environmentalists charge that the short-term gain would be more than offset by the loss of public land. Congress would have to approve the land sales, but it has rejected similar recent proposals.
2.13.2007
Faux News : "Number-crunching scientists are cashing in on Global Warming"
“Billions of dollars of grant money is flowing into the pockets of those on the man-made global warming bandwagon … Nothing wrong with making money at all. But when money becomes the motivation for a scientific conclusion, then we have a problem."
Read more...
Read more...
2.08.2007
1 liter Bottled Water uses 26 Liters Water + 1 Kg Fossil Fuel + 1 Pound CO2
What is the cost of a Bottled water that is made in an island and transported to the US? That is what Pablo Päster, an MBA graduate and Sustainability Engineer at Triple Pundit, went to find out and did a exhaustive study of the cost of a litre of Fiji Water to America. The bottles are manufactured in China an taken to Fiji Islands for bottling and found out that the process takes more water to make the bottled water it holds. Once the bottling is done is shipped to the US via a ship and he calculated the amount of fossil fuel and Carbon emissions and came up with the above figure.
Read more....
Read more....
2.01.2007
Voluntary Human Extinction
This is a really interesting movement calling for a voluntary human extinction to save the biosphere.
It's a pretty extreme view, but all the while it's an issue within the scope of the class to think about.
It's a pretty extreme view, but all the while it's an issue within the scope of the class to think about.
1.30.2007
Melting of glaciers 'speeds up' [BBC]
Mountain glaciers are shrinking three times faster than they were in the 1980s, scientists have announced!
We will enter conditions which we have not seen in the past 10,000 years, and perhaps conditions which mankind has never experienced 
Wilfried Haeberli, WGMS
Chairman: Bush officials misled public on global warming [CNN]
Survey: Scientists pressured to downplay threat
The groups presented a survey that shows two in five of the 279 climate scientists who responded to a questionnaire complained that some of their scientific papers had been edited in a way that changed their meaning. Nearly half of the 279 said in response to another question that at some point they had been told to delete reference to "global warming" or "climate change" from a report.
The questionnaire was sent by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a private advocacy group. The report also was based on "firsthand experiences" described in interviews with the Government Accountability Project, which helps government whistle blowers, lawmakers were told.
1.29.2007
UN dossier 'ends all climate-change doubt' [Scotsman, UK]
Brace Yourselves
The report predicts:
• Temperatures are likely to rise by between 2C and 4.5C above pre-industrial levels if concentrations are kept at 550 parts per million in the atmosphere, as against about 380 now. The "best estimate" for the rise is about 3C.
• The warming is unlikely to be less than 1.5C.
• It is "very likely" that extremes such as heatwaves and heavy rains will become more frequent. Arctic sea ice could disappear in summer by the latter part of the 21st century in some projections. Warming is expected to be greatest over land and at high northern latitudes and least over the Southern Ocean and North Atlantic.
• Antarctica is likely to stay too cold for wide surface melting and is expected to gain in mass due to a rise in snowfall.
• A system of Atlantic currents including the Gulf Stream, bringing warm waters northwards, are likely to slow by 2100, but an overall warming will more than offset any cooling effect.
The report predicts:
• Temperatures are likely to rise by between 2C and 4.5C above pre-industrial levels if concentrations are kept at 550 parts per million in the atmosphere, as against about 380 now. The "best estimate" for the rise is about 3C.
• The warming is unlikely to be less than 1.5C.
• It is "very likely" that extremes such as heatwaves and heavy rains will become more frequent. Arctic sea ice could disappear in summer by the latter part of the 21st century in some projections. Warming is expected to be greatest over land and at high northern latitudes and least over the Southern Ocean and North Atlantic.
• Antarctica is likely to stay too cold for wide surface melting and is expected to gain in mass due to a rise in snowfall.
• A system of Atlantic currents including the Gulf Stream, bringing warm waters northwards, are likely to slow by 2100, but an overall warming will more than offset any cooling effect.
1.28.2007
Last warning: 10 years to save world [Times, UK]
About half the 24 billion tons of carbon dioxide generated by human activities each year are absorbed by forests and oceans — a process without which the world might already be several degrees warmer.
But as CO2 levels rise and soils dry, microbes can start breaking down accumulated organic matter, so forests become net producers of greenhouse gases. The sea’s power to absorb CO2 also falls sharply as it warms.
The latest research suggests the threshold for such disastrous changes will come when CO2 levels reach 550 parts per million (ppm), roughly double their natural levels. This is predicted to happen around 2040-50.
1.26.2007
1.24.2007
MIT study: Get more energy from Earth's heat
From the article:
"Now that energy concerns have resurfaced (Really?Now? Where is my LOL emoticons!), an opportunity exists for the U.S. to pursue the enhanced geothermal system option aggressively to meet long-term national needs," said panel head Jefferson Tester, a chemical engineer at MIT.
People who don't know how Geothermal power works:
Geothermal plants essentially mine heat by using wells at times a mile or more deep. These wells tap into hot rock and connect them with flowing water, producing large amounts of steam and super-hot water that can drive turbines and run electricity generators at the surface.
"Now that energy concerns have resurfaced (Really?Now? Where is my LOL emoticons!), an opportunity exists for the U.S. to pursue the enhanced geothermal system option aggressively to meet long-term national needs," said panel head Jefferson Tester, a chemical engineer at MIT.
People who don't know how Geothermal power works:
Geothermal plants essentially mine heat by using wells at times a mile or more deep. These wells tap into hot rock and connect them with flowing water, producing large amounts of steam and super-hot water that can drive turbines and run electricity generators at the surface.
Sustainable housing
http://www.salahomes.com.au/
If you dig through the linked website, you'll see examples of sustainable housing being produced and sold in Australia.
http://www.salahomes.com.au/gallery.html
That's where you'll find the pictures.
[If you, like I was, are wondering what a sustainable house is/does, here's a short list:
harvests rainwater
treats sewerage
generates its own power
use resources and materials that are renewable and/or recyclable
avoids the use of toxic chemicals and poisonous substances
offers improved security
is safe
is adaptable to you as you mature
is affordable]
If you dig through the linked website, you'll see examples of sustainable housing being produced and sold in Australia.
http://www.salahomes.com.au/gallery.html
That's where you'll find the pictures.
[If you, like I was, are wondering what a sustainable house is/does, here's a short list:
harvests rainwater
treats sewerage
generates its own power
use resources and materials that are renewable and/or recyclable
avoids the use of toxic chemicals and poisonous substances
offers improved security
is safe
is adaptable to you as you mature
is affordable]
1.23.2007
Has global warming become a religion?
The blogger goes :
"My concern is that global warming has become on par with religious dogma. When anyone, including legitimate scientists, dares to present contradictory data or a different interpretation of current data, they are attacked and harassed. It is assumed that they have evil intentions or are shills for the oil industry. Anyone who does not toe the global warming party line is considered akin to Holocaust deniers. Any data that deviates from the established doctrine is dismissed as biased or not worth looking at.
This is a problem. Science should not be politicized. A particular interpretation of the data should not be taken as the gospel from on high. Our knowledge of science evolves over time. Just a few decades ago, scientists were concerned about the catastrophic effects of global cooling and the coming Ice Age. Going even further back, to the 1630s, Galileo was convicted of heresy by the Church for supporting the radical Copernican theory that the Earth revolves around the sun, rather than the other way around. We should not be subjecting scientists to another Inquisition because they do not agree with commonly accepted ideas. Science does not advance without people who are willing to challenge the dominant paradigm.
"
read more..
"My concern is that global warming has become on par with religious dogma. When anyone, including legitimate scientists, dares to present contradictory data or a different interpretation of current data, they are attacked and harassed. It is assumed that they have evil intentions or are shills for the oil industry. Anyone who does not toe the global warming party line is considered akin to Holocaust deniers. Any data that deviates from the established doctrine is dismissed as biased or not worth looking at.
This is a problem. Science should not be politicized. A particular interpretation of the data should not be taken as the gospel from on high. Our knowledge of science evolves over time. Just a few decades ago, scientists were concerned about the catastrophic effects of global cooling and the coming Ice Age. Going even further back, to the 1630s, Galileo was convicted of heresy by the Church for supporting the radical Copernican theory that the Earth revolves around the sun, rather than the other way around. We should not be subjecting scientists to another Inquisition because they do not agree with commonly accepted ideas. Science does not advance without people who are willing to challenge the dominant paradigm.
"
read more..
1.22.2007
Terms in "The Social Construction of Nature"
To help you with the reading in case you're unfamiliar with all the fancy-schmancy theoretical jargon (which English majors will learn if/when you take 3084):
Dialogic
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogic
"The dialogic work carries on a continual dialogue with other works of literature and other authors. It does not merely answer, correct, silence, or extend a previous work, but informs and is continually informed by the previous work. Dialogic literature is in communication with multiple works. This is not merely a matter of influence, for the dialogue extends in both directions, and the previous work of literature is as altered by the dialogue as the present one is."
"The term 'dialogic', however, does not just apply to literature. For Bakhtin, all language - indeed, all thought - appeared dialogic. This means that everything anybody ever says always exists in response to things that have been said before and in anticipation of things that will be said in response. We never, in other words, speak in a vacuum. As a result, all language (and the ideas which language contains and communicates) is dynamic, relational and engaged in a process of endless redescriptions of the world."
[Speaking of Wikipedia, it in itself is a "dialogic phenomenon," and it refers to itself as such in this article.]
Poststructuralism
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poststructuralism
"Post-structuralists hold that the concept of "self" as a singular and coherent entity is a fictional construct. Instead, an individual comprises conflicting tensions and knowledge claims (e.g. gender, class, profession, etc.). Therefore, to properly study a text the reader must understand how the work is related to his own personal concept of self. This self-perception plays a critical role in one's interpretation of meaning."
"In the post-structuralist approach to textual analysis, the reader replaces the author as the primary subject of inquiry. This displacement is often referred to as the "destabilizing" or "decentering" of the author, though it has its greatest effect on the text itself. Without a central fixation on the author, and disregarding an essentialist reading of the content, post-structuralists examine other sources for meaning (e.g. readers, cultural norms, other literature, etc.). These alternative sources are never authoritative, and promise no consistency."
Semiology
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics
"Semiotics, or semiology, is the study of signs and symbols, both individually and grouped in sign systems. It includes the study of how meaning is constructed and understood. Semioticians also sometimes examine how organisms make predictions about and adapt to their semiotic niche in the world (see semiosis). Semiotics theorises at a general level about signs, while the study of the communication of information in living organisms is covered in biosemiotics or zoosemiosis."
Grand narrative
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_narrative
"In critical theory, and particularly postmodernism, a metanarrative (sometimes master- or grand narrative) "is a global or totalizing cultural narrative schema which orders and explains knowledge and experience".[1] The prefix meta means "beyond" and is here used to mean "about", and a narrative is a story. Therefore, a metanarrative is a story about a story.
The term is best known for its use by Jean-François Lyotard in the following quotation: "Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives".[2] By this, Lyotard meant that the postmodern condition is characterized by an increasingly widespread skepticism toward metanarratives, such as the unique status of the individual, the boundedness of information, and the march of progress, that are thought to have given order and meaning to Western thought during modernity."
"A metanarrative can include any grand, all-encompassing story, classic text, or archetypal account of the historical record. They can also provide a framework upon which an individual's own experiences and thoughts may be ordered. These grand, all-encompassing stories are typically characterised by some form of 'transcendent and universal truth' in addition to an evolutionary tale of human existence (a story with a beginning, middle and an end)."
Examples of metanarratives associated with systems of belief or ideologies (paraphrased from Wikipedia article):
-Christian belief in the innately sinful nature of the human condition and the redemption and eternal life offered by the Crucifixion, which becomes humanity's teleological end.
-Enlightenment belief that rational thought coupled with scientific reasoning leads to moral conclusions.
-Freudian belief that human history is a narrative of the repression of sexual urges (libido).
-Meritocrats' (Republicans?) belief that all who work hard will succeed.
[p.s. anyone know how i can make the font smaller???]
Dialogic
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogic
"The dialogic work carries on a continual dialogue with other works of literature and other authors. It does not merely answer, correct, silence, or extend a previous work, but informs and is continually informed by the previous work. Dialogic literature is in communication with multiple works. This is not merely a matter of influence, for the dialogue extends in both directions, and the previous work of literature is as altered by the dialogue as the present one is."
"The term 'dialogic', however, does not just apply to literature. For Bakhtin, all language - indeed, all thought - appeared dialogic. This means that everything anybody ever says always exists in response to things that have been said before and in anticipation of things that will be said in response. We never, in other words, speak in a vacuum. As a result, all language (and the ideas which language contains and communicates) is dynamic, relational and engaged in a process of endless redescriptions of the world."
[Speaking of Wikipedia, it in itself is a "dialogic phenomenon," and it refers to itself as such in this article.]
Poststructuralism
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poststructuralism
"Post-structuralists hold that the concept of "self" as a singular and coherent entity is a fictional construct. Instead, an individual comprises conflicting tensions and knowledge claims (e.g. gender, class, profession, etc.). Therefore, to properly study a text the reader must understand how the work is related to his own personal concept of self. This self-perception plays a critical role in one's interpretation of meaning."
"In the post-structuralist approach to textual analysis, the reader replaces the author as the primary subject of inquiry. This displacement is often referred to as the "destabilizing" or "decentering" of the author, though it has its greatest effect on the text itself. Without a central fixation on the author, and disregarding an essentialist reading of the content, post-structuralists examine other sources for meaning (e.g. readers, cultural norms, other literature, etc.). These alternative sources are never authoritative, and promise no consistency."
Semiology
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics
"Semiotics, or semiology, is the study of signs and symbols, both individually and grouped in sign systems. It includes the study of how meaning is constructed and understood. Semioticians also sometimes examine how organisms make predictions about and adapt to their semiotic niche in the world (see semiosis). Semiotics theorises at a general level about signs, while the study of the communication of information in living organisms is covered in biosemiotics or zoosemiosis."
Grand narrative
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_narrative
"In critical theory, and particularly postmodernism, a metanarrative (sometimes master- or grand narrative) "is a global or totalizing cultural narrative schema which orders and explains knowledge and experience".[1] The prefix meta means "beyond" and is here used to mean "about", and a narrative is a story. Therefore, a metanarrative is a story about a story.
The term is best known for its use by Jean-François Lyotard in the following quotation: "Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives".[2] By this, Lyotard meant that the postmodern condition is characterized by an increasingly widespread skepticism toward metanarratives, such as the unique status of the individual, the boundedness of information, and the march of progress, that are thought to have given order and meaning to Western thought during modernity."
"A metanarrative can include any grand, all-encompassing story, classic text, or archetypal account of the historical record. They can also provide a framework upon which an individual's own experiences and thoughts may be ordered. These grand, all-encompassing stories are typically characterised by some form of 'transcendent and universal truth' in addition to an evolutionary tale of human existence (a story with a beginning, middle and an end)."
Examples of metanarratives associated with systems of belief or ideologies (paraphrased from Wikipedia article):
-Christian belief in the innately sinful nature of the human condition and the redemption and eternal life offered by the Crucifixion, which becomes humanity's teleological end.
-Enlightenment belief that rational thought coupled with scientific reasoning leads to moral conclusions.
-Freudian belief that human history is a narrative of the repression of sexual urges (libido).
-Meritocrats' (Republicans?) belief that all who work hard will succeed.
[p.s. anyone know how i can make the font smaller???]
1.21.2007
Airlines set to net billions under greenhouse gas plan [Nature]
The world's airlines, including many firms who have lobbied aggressively against climate-change legislation, could make billions of euros from a planned emissions-reduction scheme, say economists studying the situation. ...............
Climate resets 'Doomsday Clock' [BBC]
Interesting read that gives insights into the "future" of our environment - thanks to the vagaries of childish International politics.
Link
Link
1.18.2007
Reading for Monday 1/22
For Monday, please read The Environmental Ethic by Edward O. Wilson and The Social Construction of Nature by Terry Gifford (both found on blackboard in pdf format).
There's also an interesting post over at Grist that I'd like you to read.
There's also an interesting post over at Grist that I'd like you to read.
1.16.2007
Welcome
Welcome to the blog for EcoTexts: English 2123. The conversations and texts for this class will include critiques of hyperindustrialization, literary portrayals of activists, images of animals in literature, investigations into language, women, and nature, and discussions of the corporate ownership of food.
Though I'll serve as moderator, everyone is encouraged to start new discussions, post relevant links, etc.
I'll also be posting reading schedules etc. here so check it frequently.
Jessica
Though I'll serve as moderator, everyone is encouraged to start new discussions, post relevant links, etc.
I'll also be posting reading schedules etc. here so check it frequently.
Jessica
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