Global Warming: Arctic map "will have to be redrawn"

"Scientists in the Arctic have just carried out the first research on a huge iceberg the size of Manhattan."

"For 3,000 years, this colossal block of ice was securely fixed to the coast as part of the Ayles Ice Shelf - but now it is drifting free."

"Climate scientists predict that the Arctic will continue to warm - so the expectation is that the five remaining ice shelves here could also break away. The effect already is that the map of the Arctic will have to be redrawn."

"with the current rate of warming, those ice shelves are likely never to be reconstituted."

"according to Dr Copland, the fact that such thick ice could split apart in less than an hour - as it did back in August 2005 - illustrates a more alarming point.

"This shows how climate change can trigger very sudden changes even on a massive scale - when the ice shelf broke away, the rupture registered with the force of a small earthquake," he said."

BBC: Science team lands on Ice Island

Chemicals used on car seats 'toxic' to children, study warns

"A new study suggests that "toxic" chemicals used in the materials to make car seats can put children in danger of developing health problems if ingested or inhaled.

The study, released Wednesday by the Michigan-based environmental group Ecology Center, provides analysis of more than 60 different car seat models for chemicals including bromine, chlorine and lead.

"These chemicals can be associated with developmental disorders, learning impairment, liver disease, cancer, as well as other allergic type diseases," said Jeff Gearhart, lead author of the report."

CBC Story

You know, every time I hear some right winger yipping about how we don't need government regulation and oversight, or hear them say things like "occupational health and safety and other red tape gets in the way of business" (a quote from Brad Wall, leader of the right wing Saskatchewan Party) it makes me mad. I remember one guy I used to know saying "...business would never do anything that would hurt their customers - it would be bad for business. It would drive their customers away. And if they did they would be out of business - that's the discipline of the market."

So what was it that stopped the tobacco industry? The fact that it's bad for business to kill your customers? The above example of toxic chemicals in children's carseats is another example of the profit motive overriding common sense and basic safety. I remember how long the office furniture and carpet industries tried to deny the effects of formaldahyde and other chemicals leaching from their products in offices.

The news article does say that the manufacturer Graco is taking the study seriously and is examing the report and its methodology. Kudos to them if their effort is more than a whitewash or denial attmpt. As for other manufacturers:

"The company Britax, whose Marathon Platinum seat was found to have the highest levels of chemicals in the convertible car seat category, did not return calls."

On a side note: I wonder when corporations will be held to the same standards of accountability, availablity, and transparency of government? You always hear about business leaders beaking on the subject of accountable government, how about accountable business?

TILMA and North American Integration

I want to refer people over to Larry Hubich's blog. Larry has a piece from Lou Dobbs that shows how the intention of the integration of North America is proceeding. As Lou Dobbs says this is "not some wild conspiracy theory."

CNN- Lou Dobbs Outs Those Involved in N. American Union

Canada has the resources, the US has the industry, and Mexico has cheap labour and an untapped market ready to buy stuff. From a big industry standpoint - what could be better?

When you see the lists of people involved and you see who is pushing things like North American Free Trade and TILMA - you will see it is the same players. Canada can be absorbed - is being absorbed. Understand that. Make a choice. Don't just ignore it.

Either take action against that absorbtion, or make a conscious choice to allow it to happen.

I am not in favour of becoming like the U.S. I will be taking action against integration.

South Pacific to stop bottom-trawling

"A quarter of the world's oceans will be protected from fishing boats which drag heavy nets across the sea floor, South Pacific nations have agreed.

The landmark deal will restrict bottom-trawling, which experts say destroys coral reefs and stirs up clouds of sediment that suffocate marine life."

"Last November, leading scientists warned there would be no sea fish left in 50 years if current practices continued. "

BBC Story

I have never understood why anyone would allow, or frankly, would even engage in the practice of bottom-trawling. The very idea is appalling. I have been upset about bottom dragging since i was a small child.

The fishers take a heavy net and steel plates and they drag it all along the ocean floor with nets above. These nets and lines are up to a mile wide. Think about if that were on surface land. They are dragging and scouring a mile wide swath. This is not just harvesting off the top, this digs in the mud/ocean floor. If you dragged a forest a a depth of 6 inches to 1 foot, what would happen to that forest? Ocean bottom is as rich in life as a forest.

I am so happy that at least this has stopped. Hopefully this is the first step in a rapid shutdown of the entire practice.

When was the last time you got a rebate from your auto insurance company?

Not only do consumers in Saskatchewan get the cheapest bundle of utilities in Canada - including either the lowest, or second lowest auto insurance rates, but now Saskatchewanians get money back from their insurer - an average rebate of about $180.

People in Saskatchewan get their basic auto insurance from SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance). That insurance can be thousands of dollars less in a year than other provinces. For example: In Saskatchewan the average premium in 2003 was $904, while the average consumer in Alberta pays $1,853. A consumer in Lloydminster, Alberta could pay up to $8,980 more annually for auto insurance than if they lived literally across the street in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Auto insurance premiums when compared with Saskatchewan cost twice as much in Alberta and almost three times more in Newfoundland or Ontario.

AUTO INSURANCE RATE COMPARISON STUDY - Consumers Association of Canada (2003)

"Saskatchewan’s auto insurance rates are currently the lowest in Canada based on a comparison of vehicle insurance costs for Saskatchewan’s 34 most popular vehicles based on similar coverages."

Saskatchewan Auto Fund Proposal for Rate Adjustment January 2007

"The rebate applies to both privately-owned and commercial vehicles and will be calculated on a customer’s vehicle insurance premium, prior to any discounts or surcharges earned through the Safe Driver Recognition or Business Recognition programs. Rebate cheques will be mailed to customers in mid-April, with an average rebate of about $180.

SGI has also applied to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel to generally reduce rates by five per cent with rate rebalancing, which would mean about 448,000 Saskatchewan vehicles (53 per cent) would see a reduction in their rates. The average decrease would be $68.

“Saskatchewan motorists already enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates in the country, and now SGI is applying to reduce them further,”"

Saskatchewan Government Insurance news release

Blue Cheese Dressing as environmental hazard

""There was blue cheese - a lot of it," said Robert Becker, fire apparatus engineer and hazardous materials specialist for Riverside County Fire Department."

"Emergency personnel worked through the night to right dozens of toppled railcars and clean up a flood of salad dressing after a train derailed Tuesday afternoon near North Shore."

The Desert Sun

CBC

San Jose Mercury

Chávez alcohol ban outrages Venezuelans

"This is not the first time Chávez, 52, has tried to focus Venezuelans on recreational activities that do not revolve around drinking.

Before last year's presidential election in December, Chávez, describing beer trucks as a "degeneration of society," ordered the National Guard to prevent the delivery vehicles from selling beer on the streets of poor neighborhoods. He has since imposed a 35 percent import duty on imported whiskey, a favorite lunchtime drink of many people here."

"Chávez, a teetotaler, appears to have touched a nerve with the ban on alcohol sales, which initially confused many people and caught them off guard.

His pronouncement on politics and the direction of what he describes as a "Bolivarian revolution" are generally taken in stride; policies that immediately affect the rituals of daily life are another matter."

International Herald Tribune articel

Chavez should be careful with revolutionary decrees like this. He should have probably been more incremental than this. I cite Nicolo Machiavelli in The Prince

"And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them. Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them."

Solar boat makes Atlantic history

"The crew of four academics and one full-time sailor said they were trying to promote the "great potential" of solar power to combat climate change.

A similar-sized boat would have used about 72 litres of diesel every 24 hours on the same voyage."

"During the day, the 48 solar panels on its roof gather energy from the sun. The power is stored in batteries, which allow it to sail through the night."

Solar power has been mocked by the "big iron" engineers that dominate power utilities and engineering schools. Successive right wing governments around the world have cut funding for solar research and solar projects. Experiments like this one prove the functionality of solar, and it's utility in helping solve the global climate crisis.

BBC: Solar boat makes Atlantic history

Canada's largest wireless Internet network free-of-charge in Saskatchewan

"Residents and visitors to the downtown business districts and post-secondary institutions of Saskatchewan’s four largest centres will soon be able to access the country’s largest wireless Internet network, free-of-charge. The Saskatchewan! Connected initiative will offer users basic Internet service in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Regina, and Moose Jaw via a wireless Wi-Fi network to be operated by the government Information Technology Office, SaskTel and other partners. The service will also be available in select business districts in close proximity to downtown Saskatoon and Regina."

NDP Caucus - announcement of free wireless internet

Saskatchewan! Connected website (warning: annoying autoplay music when you go there)

U.S. Humane Society complaint on fur garment mislabelling - dog fur used

The Humane Society of the United States says dog fur is being used on winter coats.

"March 14, 2007 — Today, the Federal Trade Commission is considering a petition from the Humane Society of the United States that asks for fines or even criminal charges against major designers that mislabel their clothing.

Last month, "Good Morning America" reported on a Humane Society investigation that had found dog fur used on winter coats advertised as faux fur or labeled "raccoon fur."

It is illegal to import dog or cat fur, yet the Humane Society of the United States says it found top designers and stores doing just that.

The controversial fur is used as trim around the collars and on hoods of popular winter coats." - ABC News

Read the whole story here

UK pays off World War Two debt 61 years later

"Britain has cleared the payment of loans lent by the US and Canada during World War Two some 61 years ago.

The British Treasury sent its 50th and last repayments of Pnds 42.4 million (Dlrs 80 m) to the US and Pnds 9.8 m to Canada via electronic payment on December 29" 2006.

"In contrast, loans issued by and to Britain during the first world war were never resolved until a deal was struck in 1931 to wipe them out and give countries a chance to rebuild during the years of the Great Depression." (IRNA)

There are some interesting historical tidbits to be found in the three following stories:

The Independent story

London Free Press story

Islamic Republic News Agency story

33 Senators Say They Were Wrong To Vote For War In Iraq

What more can be said? ABC asked, and a solid majority of Senators publicly say they were wrong.

Think Progress story