Take a look at this article from Bloomberg.com. In my opinon one of the more interesting priovisions included in the America Recovery and Reinvestmnet Act was the idea of "Buying American". The theory behind it that as our nation recovers from the worst recession in decades, businesses and the like should be using products that are actually made in America.
In theory the idea makes a lot of sense.
In practice, it unfortunately exposes just how much manufacturing the United States does not do. The projects that are ready to roll have to be slowed down because of waiver requests. The waivers are necessary because in certain instances the peice of equipment or part needed is only made in a country outside of the United States.
This of course creates a backlog (temporary as it might be) and of course frustration with our government. I cannot blame folks if they get upset because of these types of delays, for they are ridiculous.
Patience is a true virtue...
The Obama-Biden administration has the power to make sure that everyone has good, clean food. Change This stewardship agreement!
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648084de39
"Technology/stewardship agreements required for the purchase of genetically modified seed explicitly prohibit research. These agreements inhibit public scientists from pursuing their mandated role on behalf of the public good unless the research is approved by industry. As a result of restricted access, no truly independent research can be legally conducted on many critical questions regarding the technology, its performance, its management implications, IRM, and its interactions with insect biology. Consequently, data flowing to an EPA Scientific Advisory Panel from the public sector is unduly limited."
also see
"Rising Rhetoric on Genetically Modified Crops"in PR Watch, Volume 10, No. 1, 1st Quarter 2003.
"Their level of desperation appears to be increasing," says Michael Hansen, a scientist with Consumers Union in the US, who monitors the activities of the biotech industry as it lobbies for acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods. Hansen has watched with increasing alarm as the pro-GM lobby escalates its vitriolic attacks on critics.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rising_Rhetoric_on_Genetically_Modified_Crops
I can do without broadband internet access. It is not a necessity. However, good clean water is a necessity. Why not provide states and local governments money to expand access to water and sewer in rural areas. The area I live in isn't even that rural but I still can't get county water service. We have a well and our water has a lot of problems, so I have to spend a lot of money on bottled water for drinking. We still have to shower, clean, and cook with our well water and I have no idea how bad it is for us. I've done simple home tests on the water and there is not bacteria in the water but a comprehensive water test by a lab is too expensive. So I just don't drink the water and hope whatever is in it isn't too bad for me and my family. I sure would love to have county or city water service though. I wouldn't even mind paying the bill. Between the water I buy now, the repairs we've had to do to our well and plumbing, and annual testing for bacteria and nitrates, the water bill would be cheap!
For more information please contact Rick Cantrell (865) 376-1040 or RECThe1@aol.com
I’ve also posted this blog entry on my blog: http://www.theparadigmshiftshere.com
I'm sure you're all familiar with the sensational 'war' declared by the wealthy and the mighty on the pirates (mostly) from 'Somalia'...if you're not, view THIS article for the big 'spin' served to you courtesy of massive sponsorship by some very wealthy 'special-interest' groups...
Now for 'a' truth about the matter...
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.
Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when
Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
Food and Water Watch is encouraging concerned citizens to contact President-elect and his transition team to develop solid policies and programs for food, water and fish.
This is the link to send a message: http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5915/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=392
Here's an article I penned in August with climatologist William Patzert of JPL. It appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 19.
The article makes the case that water conservatin is a California necessity, but of course it is also a national and international necessity.
There is an increased focus in Europe on the centrality of water in dealing with climate change as reported by this article from EurActive.com
Corruption in the water sector is the "root cause" of the current global water crisis and is undermining efforts to develop a global response to climate change and the food crisis, according to a report published yesterday (25 June) by Transparency International.
The report , compiled by over twenty experts, highlights the importance of good governance in the water sector. It notably reveals how corruption has had a knock-on effect on the consequences of climate change by thwarting resettlement programmes and hindering water-sharing pacts.
- Reprinted from EurActive.com
AFRICA is such a Big Continent, Imagine 680000000 people, The Biggest Market of the world unexploited
Build AFRICA Should be the theme of the Entire world, The Developed world should concentrate on AFRICA for its growth in the Future.
Major Requirements for AFRICA
1. WATER - Desalination plants are the key, with Water they can be self reliable, Technology can help it use less water and culitvate more.
2. POWER - Solar Power Plants, Geo Thermal, Wind Mills, Energy from Oceans - This Energy can be used for Industrial Revolution in the drier regions.
3. SECURITY - All the Developed nations have to take care of this, Once there are jobs, Rebellions will be oblivion.
When AFRICA Prospers, Imagine the Market we have, Entire 14% of the world Population.
Please comment.
By Stuart Fox Posted on Popsci.com
After a year of winnowing down questions from 38,000 scientists and citizens, Science Debate 2008 sent 14 covering health, research, the environment and science to the presidential candidates. Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama answered the questions, and their answers can be read here. However, it’s easy for a politician to make promises, so PopSci investigated both senator’s voting records to see if their history matched up with their promises for the future. Each day for the next two weeks we'll present an analysis of the candidate’s voting records as compared with their answers to the ScienceDebate2008 questions. You can follow the entire series at popsci.com/election, where you can also sign up for an RSS feed.
Climate protection and development aid
A great change is required- not only in Washington- but for the world.
Eighty percent of the global waste water is being led unclearified into rivers and pollutes drinking water reservoirs.
This is a mayor problem, causing a variety of negative consequences for humanity and its enviroment. Literally thousends of kids die off like flies on a daily basis by deceases emerged from polluted water. In addition the sea´s pollution is a threat to the fundamentals of nutrition.
Now there is a bunch of well working and easy to handle options to approach these dangers. Even more importend these days: they are cheap!
As a main issue we promote the knowledge-transfer of these up-to-date methods providing shelter for the tired, the homeless and the poor.
So if you are excited about getting to know these methods, watch the projects by german engineer B. Schreiner on www.wasserunderde.info
If you are interrested in saving the world, watch the web side too, and join us on our projects.
Premiere California water activist Dorothy Green's plea for a reformed water policy appeared in the Los Angeles Times on October 8th, a week before her death.
Heal the Bay's founder lays out her vision for a clean and sustainable state supply.
by Dorothy Green October 8, 2008
To everything there is a season; but water is eternal. Or it was, until we started disturbing its natural rhythms. We penned it behind dams and diverted it to aqueducts, starving the life out of rivers and creating an unsupportable addiction to using more water than we need to live. Despite the looming crisis in water, we have enough to live on, but not enough to waste. And waste it we have, with great enthusiasm for lush green lawns in a desert and a penchant for backroom deals with agribusiness. These deals end up as sweetheart ones for the moneyed corporate farmers, providing them with essentially a bountiful private water supply, which they sell off at a profit, while the rest of us are carefully metered and potentially rationed.
John McCain has responded to the issue of water scarcity posed by Science Debate 2008. His complete response is found below.
A side-by-side comparison of his comments and Barack Obama's on this and other scientific issues can be found at: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=42
An online vote comparing the responses of the two presidential candidates, grading Obama's as substantially superior is located here: http://sciencedebate2008.com/vote/?cat=14
Pithy comments comparing the responses of the two presidential candidates can be found at: http://sciencedebate2008.com/vote/?p=39#comments
A group of scientists, engineers and other concerned citizens have formed Science Debate 2008 to ensure that important science topics are dealt with in the 2008 Campaign. One of the fourteen questions submitted to the candidates was regarding water scarcity.
Barack Obama has responded to the issue by promoting close collaboration to develop greater water efficiency and eliminate waste. His complete response is found below:
