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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 4th, 2008 Cleantech Forums® are the world’s premier cleantech investment platforms, providing unparalleled definition, analysis, networking, deal flow and thought-leadership for the rapidly emerging cleantech industry. Cleantech’s commitment is to ensure that these forums remain the industry standard for all pursuing activities related to clean technology ventures. It is this commitment that makes Cleantech Forums® a “must attend” event for most active investors in the clean technology venture space. With each consecutive Forum we build on the success of the prior event and consistently command the largest gathering of investors interested in clean technology investment opportunities. We hope to see those interested in this compelling new category at one of our upcoming events. Cleantech Forum® XVIII Cleantech Forum® XIX Cleantech Forum® XX Cleantech Forum® XXI Permalink | ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 29th, 2008 As per e-mail and Conference website at http://www.aspo-usa.org/aspousa4/
—————– Agenda Spotlight: Sunday afternoon, Sept. 21 On Sunday you will be able to choose from the following concurrent sessions: - Reporting the Peak Oil Story
- Scenarios Planning for State and Local Government
————— Two Full Days of Plenary Sessions, on Monday, Sept. 22 and Tuesday, Sept. 23 Monday, Sept. 22 Demand, Meet Supply Our luncheon presentation will feature Jim Buckee on “Big Oil & Resource Nationalism”, and a surprise evening presentation (Hint: The words “Exponential” and “growth” will be mentioned.) Tuesday, Sept. 23 Where Now? Choices for the Long Haul
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 29th, 2008 Op-Ed Columnist, The New York Times Just a few months ago, the consensus view was that Barack Obama would need to choose a hard-core national-security type as his vice presidential running mate to compensate for his lack of foreign policy experience and that John McCain would need a running mate who was young and sprightly to compensate for his age. Come August, though, I predict both men will be looking for a financial wizard as their running mates to help them steer America out of what could become a serious economic tailspin. I do not believe nation-building in Iraq is going to be the issue come November — whether things get better there or worse. If they get better, we’ll ignore Iraq more; if they get worse, the next president will be under pressure to get out quicker.
Up to now, the economic crisis we’ve been in has been largely a credit crisis in the capital markets, while consumer spending has kept reasonably steady, as have manufacturing and exports. But with banks still reluctant to lend even to healthy businesses, fuel and food prices soaring and home prices declining, this is starting to affect consumers, shrinking their wallets and crimping spending. Unemployment is already creeping up and manufacturing creeping down. The straws in the wind are hard to ignore: If you visit any car dealership in America today you will see row after row of unsold S.U.V.’s. And if you own a gas guzzler already, good luck. On Thursday, The Palm Beach Post ran an article on your S.U.V. options: “Continue to spend upward of $100 for a fill-up. Sell or trade in the vehicle for a fraction of the original cost. Or hold out and park the truck in the driveway for occasional use in hopes the market will turn around.” Just be glad you don’t own a bus. Montgomery County, Md., where I live, just announced that more children were going to have to walk to school next year to save money on bus fuel.
I continue to be appalled at the gap between what is clearly going to be the next great global industry — renewable energy and clean power — and the inability of Congress and the administration to put in place the bold policies we need to ensure that America leads that industry. “America and its political leaders, after two decades of failing to come together to solve big problems, seem to have lost faith in their ability to do so,” Wall Street Journal columnist Gerald Seib noted last week. “A political system that expects failure doesn’t try very hard to produce anything else.” We used to try harder and do better. After Sputnik, we came together as a nation and responded with a technology, infrastructure and education surge, notes Robert Hormats, vice chairman of Goldman Sachs International. After the 1973 oil crisis, we came together and made dramatic improvements in energy efficiency. After Social Security became imperiled in the early 1980s, we came together and fixed it for that moment. “But today,” added Hormats, “the political system seems incapable of producing a critical mass to support any kind of serious long-term reform.” If the old saying — that “as General Motors goes, so goes America” — is true, then folks, we’re in a lot of trouble. General Motors’s stock-market value now stands at just $6.47 billion, compared with Toyota’s $162.6 billion. On top of it, G.M. shares sank to a 34-year low last week.
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 28th, 2008 It was an amazing C-Span session, this Saturday, June 28, 2008 - but it was recorded actually seemingly already on March 17, 2008. The Middle East Institute, Washington DC, is was founded in 1946 by George Camp Keiser and former Secretary of State Christian Herter and since then “has been an important conduit of information between Middle Eastern nations and American policymakers, organizations and the public.” Their website goes on to note that they “publish quarterly one of the most prestigious journals on the Middle East, The Middle East Journal. The PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE is made up of Chevron Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Raytheon, Saudi Aramco, and Shell. Ambassador Wendy J. Chamberlin is currently MEI’s President and she chaired the meeting with Mr. Screuer. She is a former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan - in effect she is the lady that was charged by President Bush to ask General Musharaf if he is with the US or against it - then she was blamed for the outcome. She also seems not to be thankful to the Administration for how she was treated. Michael F. Scheuer is a former CIA employee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sch… In his 22-year career, he served as the Chief of the Bin Laden Issue Station (aka “Alec Station”), from 1996 to 1999, the Osama bin Laden tracking unit at the Counter-terrorist Center. He then worked again as Special Advisor to the Chief of the bin Laden unit from September 2001 to November 2004. Scheuer is now known to be the anonymous author of both Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror and the earlier anonymous work, Through Our Enemies’ Eyes: Osama bin Laden, Radical Islam, and the Future of America. Osama bin Laden stated in his September 7, 2007 message: “If you want to understand what’s going on and if you would like to get to know some of the reasons for your losing the war against us, then read the book of Michael Scheuer.” Scheuer’s latest book, Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq was released on February 12, 2008. In the 9/11 Commission Report, Scheuer is featured in Chapter 4, where his name is given only as “Mike”. He is portrayed as being occasionally frustrated with his superiors’ failure to aggressively target bin Laden. He seems to be on the right and unhappy for the fact how the US and his geographical area of experteze was dealt with. The Jamestown Foundation is a Conservative think tank claiming to report about events and nations strategically important to the United States. www.jamestown.org We went to the length to understand this source because we were quite astonished with what we heard on C-Span as follows: In the Sunni world the Al-Qaeda liberation is in fashion, and in their eyes we are on the right side of history. Bin Laden is extremely talented and he has identified issues in US politics. In the US - no politician will come out and say that we are supporting dictators in the Arab World because we needed the oil. So he knows our weakness and knows we serve his cause that is the cause of Arab liberation. As an example, Scheuer brings up how the extraordinary problem that we pushed Obama to go on TV and say - I will never be a Muslim. Scheuer says flatly - “I would better be inclined to kill Bin Laden then talk to him.” Scheuer advocates a US disengagement from the Middle East, and says “if it was not for the oil, why should we care what they do when we leave?”… “Iran is in effect more of a participatory democracy then any of our allies in the Middle East.” Scheuer’s main point is that if we did not care for their oil we really have no reason to care about them, and the US Republic has no business in spreading democracy. The US is in business to do what is good for its people - fighting for oil, and being dependent on oil, is not good for the American people. We pay with blood for this dependence. The Administration could have saved as a lot of problems in the last years with one bullet to Saddam’s head. “EXTRICATE OURSELVES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND PUT OUR RESOURCES IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY” he said. Scheuer wants the Restoration of our ability to decide when to fight and when not to fight. In that case we would not invest ourselves in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. So, let us say bravo Michael Scheuer - we always thought that real conservatives will want to see US independence of oil. And here is very important to note that Scheuer does not send us to drill in the Arctic or in the off-shore waters. The realist he is he knows that all that talk is hog-wash. He kept repeating INVEST IN ALTERNATIVES TO OIL. he never said just Middle East oil because he knows oil is fungible and as long as we remain dependent on oil we will remain dependent on Middle East oil. Further, mind please that he said this at an institute that is frequented by the oil industry - that in Washington is part of the overpowering oil lobby. Ambassador Chamberlin was obviously compelled to note that any idea expressed at the meeting is personal and not institutional. But then let us note that the Jamestown Foundation has also political power when it comes to US Presidential preferences. We know where Obama stands on the issue, but what will McCains final stand be on the issue? If he does not express clear - No Oil - Thank You - ideas, these Conservatives might find former Congressman Barr much more to the point. So, was this the thank you note from Ralph Nader to the 2008 elections? This Nader spells Barr. Permalink | ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 27th, 2008 ITALY, June 25, 2008, The Interanational Organization for Migration (IOM) – Memorial to Migrants Perished at Sea - A memorial dedicated to the thousands of migrants who have died at sea trying to reach Italy will be unveiled tomorrow on Lampedusa island. The project initiated by the Italian NGOs Alternativa Giovani Onlus, Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori and Associazione Amani is supported by IOM, the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the regions of Sicily and Puglia, the municipality of Milan and UNHCR. Designed by Italian sculptor Mimmo Paladino, the five-meter high monument, built in the shape of a door facing the sea, representing the gateway to Europe, commemorates the men, women and children who lost their lives in search of a better life. “In the first six months of 2008 more than 7,000 migrants reached Lampedusa – double the number who arrived in 2007. But while the number of migrants who made it safely increased, we believe that the number of deaths also increased,” said IOM Regional Representative for the Western Mediterranean Peter Schatzer. “IOM has provided information and legal advice to more than 30,000 migrants arriving in Lampedusa and Sicily since 2006. We hope that this monument will focus attention on the human suffering taking place in the Mediterranean every day and make us think about why people are prepared to take such risks,” he added. The memorial has also been welcomed by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who sent a letter of appreciation to the organizers. A number of leading Italian artists will also attend tomorrow’s unveiling. For further information, please contact Flavio Di Giacomo at IOM Rome. Tel: +39 06 44 186 207. Email: fdigiacomo at iom.int Permalink | ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 25th, 2008 Eat Shit and Die: Contaminated Veggies Are the Meat Industry’s Fault: The latest salmonella scare shows that even vegetarians are still at the mercy of the meat industry. Despite being one of the most grotesquely overfed populations in recent memory, Americans remain preoccupied only with the quantity, not the quality, of their food. They don’t mind if scientists inject their french fries with high-fructose corn syrup as long as McDonald’s super-sizes their order for a nickel. Yet, the attitude toward vegetarianism is changing in the United States. While it’s difficult to quantify how many vegetarians live within our borders, it’s easier to observe the attitude toward vegetarians. Twenty years ago, “What’re you, a Commie?” was a typical response to a confession of veggie brotherhood. Nowadays, despite the occasional stink eye, meat eaters at least understand that vegetarianism is healthy, if not a lifestyle particularly suited for them. Even though the United States is more veggie-friendly these days, it’s still difficult to avoid crappy food, even if one chooses to become a vegan, as I did six years ago. Despite my decision, I found myself projectile vomiting into my toilet last week. Diagnosis: food poisoning. Suspect: tomatoes. Unfortunately, becoming a vegetarian or a vegan doesn’t ensure healthiness. Sure, vegetarians enjoy many health perks (low rates of: heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, etc.) but we’re still at the mercy of the meat industry in many ways. For starters, the meat industry poisons the environment. A 2006 United Nations report described the devastation caused by the meat industry as “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.” Aside from global warming, meat production is a large factor in deforestation, wasted land, and air and water contamination. Water contamination may play a large part in increasing reports of vegetable and fruit contamination. In 2007, a California produce company recalled bagged fresh spinach after a sample tested positive for salmonella. Nearly a year before, an outbreak of E. coli in fresh spinach killed three people and sickened 200. The recent tomato salmonella outbreak has affected at least 145 people, resulting in 23 hospitalizations, and many believe water contamination is the cause of the affected tomatoes.
But in a realer, more concrete sense, frenzied production lines coupled with lax management have resulted in a dramatic increase in food poisoning. The shitty (literally) food is so prevalent that it’s affecting non-meat-eaters. While salmonella prefers fleshy fruit like tomatoes, our friend E. coli prefers leafy greens like spinach. The problem is prevalent. A recent census of produce outbreaks between 1996 and 2007 counted no fewer than 33 epidemics from salmonella-contaminated fruits and vegetables. Some scientists claim the cure for salmonella and E. coli contamination isn’t scrubbing clean the fruits and vegetables because doing so could remove the good bacteria humans rely upon for survival. The solution will come from the government and outraged citizens demanding that the meat industry clean up its practices so fresh produce doesn’t suffer.
Still, all of this isn’t cause for concern. Unless, of course, citizens are worried about the expanding legion of rotund American children who despise vegetables, binge on bagged chips and walk only if the landscape slopes downhill. The obesity rate is so wildly out of control that Americans collectively celebrated this year — not when the child population began to lose weight, but when they ceased to get fatter and obesity rates finally plateaued for the first time in 20 years. Unfortunately, Americans can’t fix their unhealthy eating until supposedly “healthy” food is clean of bacteria originating in diseased cows. Of course, the crazy practices of the meat industry shouldn’t concern citizens … unless they’re worried about global warming. The Environmental Defense Fund reports that if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted it with vegetarian foods, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads. In fact, the crazy practices of the meat industry probably won’t rock citizens at all until they find themselves knelt over their toilets, hurling. Right about then, they’ll understand how cow shit affects them all. Permalink | ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 24th, 2008 From: goldmanklein at gmail.com PRESS RELEASE: 06/24/2008 Ellen O. Tauscher, Member of Congress, will host a seminar on July 8, 2008 featuring government contracting experts who will explain how to sell products to the armed forces and federal government. America was built on the efforts of the small businessman and businesswoman. Goldman & Klein is here to help the small businessman succeed. If you have space, a line or two in your newspaper or publication with our contact information would be appreciated. See the details of Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher’s contracting seminars on our website. Medical Clinics, Hospitals, Schools & Research Institutions Aircraft Parts & Services Call 858.842.2437 or e-mail us at goldmanklein at gmail.com. We are online at www.goldmanklein.com. Ellen O. Tauscher is Democrat from California’s 10th District: Washington D.C. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Antioch, CA 94509 Biography: Tauscher was born in Newark, New Jersey, moved to California in 1989. Tauscher was educated at Seton Hall University and was an investment banker and member of the New York Stock Exchange. Tauscher was active in Democratic circles as a fundraiser before challenging 10th District Congressman Bill Baker in 1996. Tauscher charged that Baker was too conservative for the district (particularly in his anti-environmental statements) and won a razor-thin victory. Tauscher won solid victories in 1998 and 2000 against vigorous Republican opposition. While the 10th was widely considered the most Republican of the Bay Area districts, Bay Area Republicans tend to be somewhat more moderate than their counterparts in the rest of California. Tauscher usually won by getting support from moderate Republican women. In 2000, redistricting made Tauscher much safer when some of the more Republican parts of her district were cut out as part of state-wide redistricting. They were replaced with some more Democratic territory near Sacramento. She has since won reelection three more times without serious opposition. Tauscher is a leading moderate Democrat. She is Chairwoman of the New Democrat Coalition, the caucus of centrist/moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives. She became a target of liberal activists after the Democrats took back control of the House of Representatives in 2006. However, she is strongly supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. She is chairwoman of the House Strategic Forces subcommittee. ————— We decided to post this thanks to our own experience in past years. The US Department of Defense was traditionally much less permeated by the influence of the oil industry then the US Department of Energy that was nothing less then the outpost of Big Oil. With the Washington based CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) we were able to get in the 1980s DOD to establish experimental fleets of motor-vehicles running on ethanol, methanol or CNG, while it was still extremely difficult to get DOE to do this. The argument was that for National Security reasons it is important to diversify the US military fuel system - this in case there is a scarcity in traditional fuels. We have no doubt that a National Security reason could be found for DOD, and the Goverment at large to get involved in this age of consciousness in recognition of the effects of climate change - Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels Makes for Better National Security. Permalink | ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 18th, 2008 From: mweldon at civic-exchange.org Hong Kong-based public policy think tank Civic Exchange has released a new report - A full copy of the report can be downloaded from the Civic Exchange website: A copy of the presentation can also be found on the website at : Related reports Marine Emission Reduction Options for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Region A Price too High: Health Impacts of Air Pollution in South China Lessons for Hong Kong: Air Quality Management in London and Los Angeles Apologies for cross posting Civic Exchange is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Hong Kong that helps to improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. If you would like or further information on Civic Exchange’s ongoing and planned research programmes, please do not hesitate to contact our new Environmental Programme Manger Mike Kilburn ( mkilburn at civic-exchange.org) or visit our website at www.civic-exchange.org. |