Another Green Monday
"Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, ism ism ism
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance"
- John Lennon
Friday morning's Nobel Peace Prize wake-up call followed by a dose of insensitivity, irrationality, hate, and racism, sure did solidify the scary times we are living in. Not only have financial woes put a stress on the nation, but this sort of counterproductive behavior is making it downright impossible to envision any sort of collaborative recovery and progression. So Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize, having not cured cancer, ending wars in the Middle East, or reconciling Jon and Kate - worse things have happened (think an unqualified egomaniac winning two terms to serve as President of the most powerful country in the world). However, there is something scarier than the ever widening gap between ideologies, and that's the thought that the gap will become unbridgeable, wounds will be too deep to recover, and progression will be stunted.
Daniel Lyons of Newsweek wrote a piece last week about how America's top scientists of alternative energy are in danger of falling behind the eight ball so to speak. "The United States, which for decades has been the world leader in science and technology, will soon be eclipsed by China and other countries. Alternative energy is the next tidal wave in tech innovation. If we miss it, we will not only weaken our economy and harm our national security—we will turn ourselves into a second-rate nation. It's not because our scientists aren't brilliant. They are. But look at what they're up against: a noisy babble of morons and Luddites, the "Drill, baby, drill" crowd, the birthers, and tea-party kooks who have done their best to derail health-care reform and will do the same to any kind of energy policy."
Follow past the jump to see some stories you might have missed last week.
Idaho's tought energy efficiency codes. A story last week in the Idaho Statesman explored Idaho's energy-efficiency standards in regards to new home construction, and what is being done to make sure those standards are met. "In the Treasure Valley, local governments including Boise, Nampa and Ada County inspect plans and buildings before they are occupied to make sure they meet the international code adopted by the state, officials say," said the article. For something so obviously effective and smart, we're surprised that there are so many states out there without efficiency standards - such as Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Amory Lovins, founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and one of the country's leading voices on energy-efficiency, estimated that if every state had a building code as tough as California's, energy consumption in a typical new home could be cut as much as 75 percent. Read more about what Idaho is doing HERE.
Steelhead survival rate cooling down as water temps heat up. A recent study by the University of Idaho fisheries research group shows that steelhead populations are being negatively effected by warming waters as they are forced to find cool water sites called "thermal refugia" during their migration upstream. Sometimes they hold in these cooler waters for weeks and up to months to relieve the stress of high water temperatures. "Anglers have discovered this behavior and take advantage of the tremendous fishing opportunity created by so many fish concentrated at the refugia sites," said Matthew Keefer, College of Natural Resources fisheries scientist. Read more about this HERE.
Washington state's top ecology man moves on. Since 2005, Jay Manning has held the post as director of the Department of Ecology for the state of Washington. Starting next Monday, he will be Governor Chris Gregoire's Chief of Staff. This is not the first former Ecology director to fill such role in what many believe is one of the "greenest" states in the country, as former Ecology director Tom Fitzsimmons was chief of staff for both Governor Gary Locke and Gregoire for some time. Before becoming governor, Gregoire herself worked at ecology. DTE sincerely hopes that Manning is able to leverage his position in Olympia for stricter energy regulations, more efficient transportation plans, a serious commitment to carbon emission reduction, and better resources protection and conservation. Read Governor Gregoire's press release HERE.
Accuracy watch. A debate regarding Proposition 4 and Spokane River pollution raised eyebrows this weekend at DTE over just how troubled our river is. Envision Spokane brought up a 2004 report when it received an endangered river designation from the American River Association. “The river is dying,” said an Envision Spokane coordinator. Critics cried foul: “That was years ago!” After all, they said, American Rivers said it was a “success story” in 2005. Truth is, river health isn't better for reasons like phosphorous, PCB’s, stormwater runoff, and The City Of Post Falls to name a few. The improved designation for fixing the problem is misleading since efforts on phosphorous discharges have been delayed. Plus, American Rivers doesn’t put rivers on its list several years in a row unless new problems or threats arise. So the Spokane River at least has that going for it. Full story HERE and check DTE’s list on where pollution comes from.
Talladega Nights. NASCAR racing is not known as a friend to environmentalists. Grist has a well-written report by Amanda Little who goes to great lengths to sudy this relationship: “As I surveyed the sea of campers and Winnebagos in Field C, I wondered what would happen to this scene if oil stopped flowing tomorrow. The answer, simply, is that NASCAR would go with it, along with a piece of the American identity and a slice of the American dream.” Full story HERE. 
