Hindu Environmental Groups? I know that there are Indian Environmental Groups

Posted on March 31, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

But what about specific HINDU Environmental Groups?

First a note of clarification, Energy Tough Love (ETL) has been suffering from what our Web Diva calls bad code. ETL is more of an accumulator or an aggregator than an original poster. There is so much Energy/Environmental stuff out there that I just pick what interests me at the moment OR occassionally what is the hot topic of the day. We do original blogs on local issues but even then we usually “borrow” from our local newspaper – most notably Tim Landis – who does some of the best writing in the Springfield area and the AP. I have never had any problems with this approach from a production stand point in the 7 months that CES had issued this blog. We can debate the ethics of it over a beer…but besides sizing problems, the nuts and bolts of it has been fairly straight forward. That is until I got to this series on Religious based Environmental Groups…Right – go figure. One of the Muslim/Islam and one of the Jewish Websites had viruses embedded in them!!! Yah and I loaded them up to the blog.

It has taken Web Diva and me the last 5 days to get all of the yuck cleaned out and I am now studying each blog post by the coded line to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

On to the Hindu Environmental groups. Harvard is turning out to pretty much have cornered the market on Religion and The Environment…Why am I not suprised by that?

http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/hinduism/projects/spirit_nature.html

and the requisite pretty pictures:

Hindu Engaged Projects

Spirit in Nature (SpIN) Interfaith Path Sanctuary

pirit in Nature (SpIN) Interfaith Path Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that brings together people of diverse religious traditions to promote reverence and care for the earth. Through education, dialogue, and spiritual reflection in nature, SpIN seeks to awaken people to environmental problems, promote environmental action that is spiritually or religiously rooted, and provide a replicable model for engaging diverse religious traditions in caring for the Earth. Seeking to create an opportunity for people of diverse traditions to meet, meditate, walk, and worship in a setting that is conducive to spiritual reflection on nature, SpIN established a network of eleven “faith paths” in the foothills of the Green Mountains, near Ripton, Vermont. Nine of the paths represent different religions (Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Quaker, and Unitarian Universalist), while the other two, including the children’s path, are inter-religious. The paths meet at a sacred circle, highlighting the interconnections between different religious traditions and between humans and the environment. SpIN encourages reflective walking along the paths, which are marked with “nature notes” indicating special points of interest in the natural surroundings. The paths have benches and quotes from each religious tradition about connecting with the earth. Located on seventy acres of land, the Vermont path center now has six to eight miles of paths with more than 6,000 feet of river and brook frontage. In addition to maintaining the paths, SpIN sponsors public events geared toward stimulating dialogue and action on behalf of the earth, such as its Bread and Soup Speaker Series, Earth Day Fair, discussion groups, guided walks and experiential activities at the path center. Each year SpIN publicly recognizes a person who has contributed to the connection of religion and ecology with its annual Eco-Spirit Award. “Spreading the Seeds” workshops are available for people interested in starting SpIN path centers at other locations, and the quarterly Spirit in Nature newsletter keeps readers informed about events, activities, and political issues related to religion and the environment. The Spirit in Nature Handbook, which contains information about SpIN and the Vermont path center, is available in print and on-line. At present, SpIN has more than 270 members nationwide, about one third of whom are not affiliated with any particular religious organization. New SpIN groups are forming in Boston and western Massachusetts; Norwich, Vermont; and Saratoga Springs, New York.

There is this Blogger:

http://kalyan98.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/setu-violation-of-environmental-protection-norms-and-coastal-peoples-livelihood/

Who sites this newspaper article:

http://www.livemint.com/sethusamudram.htm

Which cites this group:

COASTAL ACTION NETWORK

Contact Addresses

Jesu Rethinam, 546, Selva Prabha Complex, Public Office Road, Velippalayam, Nagapattinam – 611 001.

Ph: 04365 – 248674, Tele / Fax: 04365 – 248907; E-mail: coastalactionnetwork@rediffmail.com

Ossie Fernandes, No. 10, Thomas Nagar, Little Mount, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015.Ph : 044 – 223 53 503, Fax : 044 – 223 55 905,

E-mail – hrf@xlweb.com,

hrf@md3.vsnl.net.in

Then there is this site if you want to get into the hardcore stuff

https://www.himalayanacademy.com/taka/past/2003/June/June_04_2003/

“To the Hindu the ground is sacred. The rivers are sacred. The sky is sacred. The sun is sacred. His wife is a Goddess. Her husband is a God. Their children are devas. Their home is a shrine. Life is a pilgrimage to liberation from rebirth, and no violence can be carried to the higher reaches of that ascent. While nonviolence speaks only to the most extreme forms of wrongdoing, ahimsa, which includes not killing, goes much deeper to prohibit the subtle abuse and the simple hurt. Rishi Patanjali described ahimsa as the great vow and foremost spiritual discipline which Truth-seekers must follow strictly and without fail. This extends to harm of all kinds caused by one’s thoughts, words and deeds–including injury to the natural environment. Even the intent to injure, even violence committed in a dream, is a violation of ahimsa. Vedic rishis who revealed dharma proclaimed ahimsa as the way to achieve harmony with our environment, peace between peoples and compassion within ourselves. The Vedic edict is: “Ahimsa is not causing pain to any living being at any time through the actions of one’s mind, speech or body.” Aum Namah Sivaya.”

Gurudeva

Then there is this report:

http://www.foe.org.au/media-releases/2002-media-releases/mr_25_11_02.htm

November 25, 2002

US Corportions fund Right-Wing

Indian Hindu Groups

Hindutva, the Hindu supremacist ideology that has under girded much of the communal violence in India over the last several decades, has seen tremendous growth outside India over the last two decades. This report focuses on one US based organization–the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), which has systematically funded Hindutva operations in India. “The Foreign Exchange of Hate” establishes that the IDRF is not a secular and non-sectarian organization as it claims to be, but is, on the contrary, a major conduit of funds for Hindutva organizations in India

And if you want to CHAT it up well:

http://www.hindunet.com/forum/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=environmentalism

Sanatana Dharma

Weird Bird Friday – or TGI(WB)F as we say at Tough Love

Posted on March 28, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

http://www.perfectgreeting.com/index.cfm?action=view&id=11823

I could have got this picture at the above greeting card site…..But I Didn’t.. I really hate it when I can not attribute a photo so if you see this on the web let me know. It was forwarded to me by Harry Haynes a buddy in Madison so I will probably ask him where he got it.

I know its late but Easter came so early! It is just now getting to the point where the weather feels like Easter:

This as alway is a tribute to John and Susan who Blog about all things Denver
at their blog linked above. Few people know that they are life long Chicken Breeders who specialize in the rarer breeds of Asturian Painted Hens. They have raised several national champions. They report that they are good layers, too.

Christian Environmentalism – I had not posted on this before because I can’t tell how long the movement will last.

Posted on March 24, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

The fact that Christians are finally awaking to their moral duties to the planet in large numbers is great…important…superb, BUT would it last? I think the answer is yes. So I thought I would post some sites that seem to be representative. One even has links and you know how I like links. I may even add some to the blogroll. The first is in honor of my father who grew up in the Episcopal Church.

http://episcopal-life.org/1829_62397_ENG_HTM.htm

The environmental movement within the Episcopal Church is deepening its roots and branching out. From grassroots “green building” projects to international conferences, Episcopalians are seeking ways to integrate their faith with care for the environment. Interest is growing, as are efforts to link members and organizations within the environmental movement with each other and with other faith groups, leaders say.“There’s definitely a growing interest,” says the Rev. Fletcher Harper, convener of the Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN), adding, “It’s still very much a movement in its infancy.” The movement is more than environmental activism.“There’s a theological component as well as an environmental,” says Joyce Wilding, Province IV environmental ministry leader. “It’s not the Sierra Club of the Episcopal Church. It is grounded and rooted in our deep Episcopal tradition.” That’s been true since the beginning, says the Rev. Franklin “Skip” Vilas, founder of EpEN and Partners for Environmental Quality (now GreenFaith) in New Jersey.
“Our commitment does not come out of what you could call traditional environmentalism. It really comes out of a new look at the earth as a gift from God,” he says.“All of our commitments came out of a spiritual commitment, and we made it very clear to everybody — both in the churches and also in the environmental community — that our position would always be in a centrist position. That is, we would try to confer with both the business community as well as the environmental community, because they were all in our congregations.”

	The Committee on Science, Technology and Faith
	The Episcopal Ecological Network
	Earth Ministry
	Eco-Justice Ministries
	Enter Now the Reflection, Education, Action Treatise
	Peace and Justice Ministries Office, Environmental Stewardship
	Forum on Religion and Ecology
	GreenFaith
	Interfaith Climate Change Network
	Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission
	National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group
	NCC programs
	The National Religious Partnership for the Environment
	The Regeneration Project
	TransFair USA
	The U.S. Green Building Council

http://www.cnaturenet.org/

Churches Encouraged to Connect Children with Nature

Church Executive – March 01, 2008
By Rachel Beach

Many of us first began to grasp the idea of a world much larger than ourselves as youngsters. We wandered in the woods, stuck our noses into rose blossoms, and gazed at the stars in wonderment. Hundreds of studies have shown that discovering the beauty of nature is necessary for a child’s healthy development.

Spending time outdoors often means taking risks such as climbing trees or walking near a cliff, and in turn encourages children to practice good judgment and be alert to their surroundings. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines for playground safety, “A risk is a challenge we are willing to do.” Unstructured play helps develop a child’s cognitive thinking skills, the ability to learn, and stimulate one’s imagination.

Unfortunately, statistics show that outdoor play has decreased by 75 percent since 1900. But now, some childcare specialists have called upon churches and faith-based organizations to “reclaim nature as a part of the spiritual development of children.” Reconnecting children with the outdoors leads to them becoming good stewards of the environment.

A parable example

Consider the parable of the talents. We have a responsibility to improve the world that was given to us and to pass it on in better condition to our children, who will grow up to be the next generation of stewards. Some responsibility lies on the church’s shoulders to communicate appreciation for and protection of the beautiful world God has given us.

http://www.kidsoutside.info/
I have always wanted to say this…More About God Tomorrow.
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Some Of My Favorite Energy Blogs Are Going Silent

Posted on March 22, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

Where the Rubber meets the Road
>

What Some of My Favorite Blogs are Thinking Today

thefraserdomain.typepad.com/

The Energy Blog

The following are the posts that define The Energy Revolution. They describe the causes and solutions as I envision them. I hope that you will find them useful in providing a background for your journeys in exploring The Energy Revolution.

Consumer technology

March 18, 2008

FYI: GE Demonstrates World’s First ”Roll-to-Roll” Manufactured Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs

Press release – GE Global Research and GE Consumer & Industrial in conjunction with ECD announced the successful demonstration of the world’s first roll-to-roll manufactured organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lighting devices. This demonstration is a key step toward making OLEDs and other high performance organic electronics products at dramatically lower costs than what is possible today. . . .OLEDs have the potential to deliver dramatically improved levels of efficiency and environmental performance when compared to traditional products.

GE researchers provided the organic electronics technology and were responsible for developing the roll-to-roll processes, while ECD provided its unique roll-to-roll equipment-building expertise to build the machine that manufactures the OLED devices.

When commercialized this technology will make possible low cost high, efficieny lighting. Lighting currently comsumes about 22% of the total electricity generated in the U.S. and about 25% of the average homes electric bill.

Thanks to Tyler at Clean Break for the tip.

Sadly one of the only true commenters on CES’ blog has not up date his blog since August. So disappointing to see a commenter to go quiet.

alt-e.blogspot.com

Then there is the ever present and all encompassing:

www.energyblogs.com

1-20 of 348 items listed
	Most Commented and Most Viewed 03/21/2008 at 05:03 PM \| Jose Antonio Vanderhorst-Silverio – Electricity Without Price Controls Blog This is a take of a snapshot of today’s EnergyBlogs stat. Most Commented (7 EWPC articles) Response to Professor Banks (46) I…

	Missing From Gridwise 03/21/2008 at 04:30 PM \| Jose Antonio Vanderhorst-Silverio – Electricity Without Price Controls Blog Missing from the GridWise approach is the need to restructure as soon as possible the power industry to eliminate the barriers imposed by “the …

	MON DIEU – FRENCH HYPOCRISY 03/21/2008 at 06:48 AM \| Martin Rosenberg – From the Editor’s Desk Blog With the world shrinking and all, I have made it a policy of keeping an eye on what goes on in Europe. Some of if is fascinating. New technologies are…

Again sadness, another one has not been updated since December 2007, but I missed it so here it is:

www.energyplanet.info/blog

Central Florida Homebuilder Goes Solar

Sebring Builders, a privately owned Builder/Developer is hoping to become a trendsetter. In 2006, Sebring Builders started planning to build Stone Ridge, a private, gated community in the small central Florida town of Sebring. With single family homes starting just under $200,000, they thought this development had everything to offer, great location, clubhouse with many amenities, maintenance fee that included lawn care, wireless internet and cable TV, etc. Then, in early 2007, Florida Solar Innovators contacted owners, Rick Bennett and Randy Bean, about using one of the model homes in Stone Ridge to install a Photovoltaic System and possibly offering this as an option to home buyers. Read more…

December 12th, 2007

Last one for today:

curtrosengren.typepad.com/alternative_energy

Support from an unlikely source. This place hasn’t been up dated since February. Maybe I need to get some new best friends.

T. Boone Pickens voices alternative energy support

In another indication of the momentum building behind alternative energy development, T. Boone Pickens, a man who made his billions in the oil biz, recently voiced his support for alternative energy.

…Pickens, who heads the $4 billion BP Capital Management hedge fund, also voiced some support for alternative energy development, saying a half-trillion dollars a year is leaving the United States economy to buy oil.

Pickens said solar power technology is “almost there,” and there could be “corridors” of wind power developed from Texas through the Great Plains and west to California.

India Is Becoming One Of The Largest Polluters In The World

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

But within India there are the seeds of a conservation movement that may yet save our one and only planet.

http://www.communityconservation.org/india.htm

The forests of the Manas Biosphere Reserve in western Assam, India have been threatened by illegal logging since the early 1990s. In the last 10 years approximately one third to one half of the three Reserve Forests, Ripu, Chirrang, and Manas, encompassing 350,000 acres, have been deforested. These Reserve Forests and the Royal Manas Sanctuary of Bhutan that borders to the north are the main range of the golden langur ( Trachypithecus geei ) , a leaf-eating primate species occurring only in Assam and Bhutan. In Assam, the species also inhabits a number of “island” fragments south of the main range such as the Kakoijana Reserve Forest (RF), Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary (WS) and Nadangiri Reserve Forest.

or this group:

http://www.massfoundation.org/

FUTURE PLANS

	MASS believes in our Founder Mr. Rajeev Kumar thoughts – “The Faith, Motto and the Strength of our MASS is to enhance and improve the quality of Human Development, Human Right, Human Values, Human Behavior and be the part of our Mother Nature, always………………………………..Forever” More….
	Movement and Action for Social Services (MASS ) will shortly open an Educational channel with International perspectives like Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani. Also MASS have complete blueprint to print a Monthly, bilingual National news paper and Magazine.
	MASS 1^st Secondary School will Shortly be opened in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
	MASS is committed to run a Training centre for women (For Self employment like Computer, Sewing etc.) MASS will affiliate its centres to National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) or United Nations ( UN )
	Currently MASS is associated with many national and International, Governmental and Non-Governmental agencies and Organizations. MASS will present the real and right concept of One Earth-One Being without discriminate to caste, Religion, Sex, Race, Age, color etc.
	One award will be given by MASS to topper student in the name of Shri RAM DASS AWARD which will include one shawl, one certificate and Rs.11,000.

Above mentioned points are Future Plans of MASS , MASS will frame out these points after the approval of relevant agencies or organizations

And this organization too. But its slow work…will they get there in time?

http://www.indiatogether.org/2007/jun/env-ccas.htm

COMMUNITY ACTION
At last, some good news on conservation
India’s community conservation areas (CCAs) are nowhere near prosaic; they are instead heartening and remarkable pools of ecological and biodiversity rejuvenation in a country beset with environmental degradation in its bid to industrialise. Keya Acharya identifies the silver lining.

21 June 2007 – If you use the acronym ‘CCA’, it sounds like yet another dry file on a matter or discussion in, say a climate change conference or a development debate. But community conservation areas (CCAs) are nowhere near prosaic; they are instead heartening and remarkable pools of ecological and biodiversity rejuvenation in a country beset with environmental degradation in its bid to industrialise.

CCAs are forests, grasslands, wetlands or marine areas of various types, small and large, either specific ones set up for conservation, or for cultural and spiritual reasons with some having been around for centuries. They involve village-level efforts at conservation of a varied range of natural resources from wildlife nesting, feeding or roosting sites, threatened wildlife species to water catchment reservoirs and resource reserves.

“Even though some are disappearing and inspite of the difficulties involved in conservation of natural resources for a varied number of reasons, CCAs still remain in the hundreds of thousands countrywide,” says Ashish Kothari, founder-member of environmental NGO Kalpavriksh, who together with Neema Pathak and others at Kalpavriksh has spent years searching for and documenting some of these initiatives countrywide. Kalpavriksh is now in the process of publishing a directory of such community-conservation areas.

Seven Deadly Sins Revised – Beyond Oil is pretty funny

Posted on March 17, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

This was not what I had planned for today’s Post. But when I saw it on Peak Oil it just kinda reached out and grabbed me (abracadabra):

http://www.princeton.edu/hubbert/current-events.html

And Reposted Here:

http://www.theoildrum.com/

So Baby makes three:

Thou shalt not drive an SUV at 70 miles per hour on the freeway, with the air-conditioner running, just to pick up a half gallon of milk at the grocery store.
Thou shalt not waste energy and water by enjoying long hot showers.
Thou shalt not vote for a presidential candidate who does not speak up about peak oil.
Thou shalt not read the writings of Michael Lynch, Daniel Yergin, Jed Mouawad, or ExxonMobil. Pray that they may soon recognize the Truth.
Thou shalt not oppose sainthood for M. King Hubbert. He’ll be St. Marion.
Thou shalt not have more than four grandchildren. Blessed are they that leave no more than two grandchildren. (The Vatican has yet to approve this one.)
Thou shalt not grant priority to those who preach about climate change. Their hearts are in the right place, but their minds are focused on a lesser issue. Change is where it’s at.

Ed: While we’re at it, we can offer an 11th commandment. It’s called the Spitzer Amendment, “Don’t get caught.”

CES Is Getting Really Impressed With The Personal Wind Turbine

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

And here is where you can learn how to build one for yourself.

http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/

Thanks for dropping by and Welcome!!!

As a dedicated “do it yourselfer” I put this site up for all those who share similar DIYS skills and convictions.

I hope what I have here helps you in your endeavors in some way, big or small.

This site is maintained using windpower only. My entire office is powered by the wind. Also part of my house now… ! Email me at elenz(at)windstuffnow.com But… you must include something specific to the site in the subject line. Any email that has a blank subject line will be deleted and therefore not answered.

<There are great design ideas at this site if you are good with your hands. There is even a design for a very effect bladed turbine turbine. But my favorite part is the LINKS:

Here are a couple of great links to start with… There will be more added as time goes on.

www.otherpower.com They sell magnets and lots of other goodies we like to play with. Also their site offers a world of information. They also have another site where they sell their magnets and other trinkets to play with at www.wondermagnet.com

www.homepower.com Magazine dedicated to us DIYS’ers of home brewed power

www.ScoraigWind.co.uk I learned a lot from Hugh Piggott, and would strongly recommend his books to anyone getting involved with wind power.

http://www.green-trust.org has a wealth of information on just about any kind of Renewable energy you can think of. Expect to spend some time on this site…

www.utterpower.com . slow speed engines, generators, and more”… Lots of cool stuff we like to play with…

www.freewebs.com/acselectronics lots of DIY projects, information and links.

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/klemen

This site has information about small manufactured wind turbines as well as other information about wind power http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/klemen This site has information about small manufactured wind turbines as well as other information about wind power

http://www.dsgnspec.com –Rob has some great stuff for us experimentors… lots of electonic gizmos we all gott’a have. This is where the star/delta switch I used in my downwind turbine project came from and it works flawlessly! Also !!! If your looking for a small hand held tach, the non-contact type you gotta’ check out the “Tach JR” Perfect little tach at the right price!!! Dont miss out!!!

http://www.learnonline.com-

Great place to learn about renewable energy for young and old. A new and interesting way of learning.http://www.learnonline.com-Great place to learn about renewable energy for young and old. A new and interesting way of learning.

http://disposalmovie.tripod.com -Off topic but a great movie to experience. Plus you can help support a young upcomming movie maker. A must see!

www.dragonflypower.com – lots of good information on wind power as well as a nicely built windturbine using an auto alternator.

http://www.ecs-solar.com – The Solar Industry’s Water Heater Bible
” Hot Water Systems: Lessons Learned 1977 to Today ” Solar Hot Water and Pool Heating Design / High Performance Low Maintenance Systems / Reality Checks Using Current Technology…a definitive how-to book for installing and maintaining high-performance and low-maintenance solar hot water systems — written by one of the leaders in solar contracting today.

www.yourgreendream.com – another nice site for the DIY wind / solar and more! check it out.

www.thebackshed.com – Great DIY site with lots of fun projects we all like to see and build – cool stuff!

http://www.builditsolar.com/ – Tons of DIY projects – plan to spend some time here, I still haven’t been through all the cool stuff !

www.nextenergysolar.com Bay Area Solar Company, serving San Francisco Bay and Northern California specializing in residential solar power installations.

http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/wind_turbines.html – Discover how a home wind turbine could save money on your electricity bill. We also offer many environmental articles relating to solar, wind and geothermal power, and this includes a section on deciding if a wind turbine can be efficient in your area.

www.energyplanet.info – Lots of information in many many catagories of renewable and alternative energies. Plan to spend some time here … tons of info

Dan Piraro Likes Me! (Think: heh mikey, he likes it)

Posted on March 12, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

Like in the old Commercials. Anyway Dan periodically gives me permission to post his elegant visual social commentaries (other wise know as editorial cartoons) here at Energy Tough Love. So I try to return the favor and Publish ‘stuff” he thinks is important. To that end:

<
<

Hey, friends of Bizarro,

I’m part of a very cool comedy show in New York City in a couple of weeks. Come out if you can make it, it’s for a good cause and will be funny funny and more funny.

See below or go here:?http://woodstockfas.org/newsletter/mar2008.html

Your kooky pal,

Dan

P.S. Want off my small, private, never-to-be-shared list? Hit “reply” then put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

Louis CK was the star of HBO‘s series “Lucky Louie” and numerous HBO and Comedy Central specials		?
Janeane Garofalo has been a standup comedian since 1985 & has appeared in umpteen movies & shows.		?
Dave Attell has a scheduling conflict but hopes to make it. We’ll know for sure very soon.		?
Gary Gulman appeared on NBC‘s Last Comic Standing and recently his own Comedy Central special.		?
Will Franken shows “manic brilliance” according to The Daily News, and the Times accuses him of possessing an “erudite wit.”		?
Dan Piraro creator of the cartoon “Bizarro” and a standup comedian in his own right will emcee.		?

We’re seriously jazzed that Janeane Garofalo has joined the lineup for our KOMEDY FOR KARMA fundraiser.

Tickets are selling quickly: order yours now or regret it for the rest of your life.

WHEN: Monday, March 24th at 8pm sharp (doors 7:30)

WHERE: Gotham Comedy Club – 208 W 23rd b/w 7th & 8th Aves.

$50 General Admission

$100 VIP Reserved Seating

$60 General Admission at the door the day of the event

>BUY TICKETS HERE<

The ticket price is partially tax-deductible.

Mark your calendars

The farm visiting season begins April 5th and lasts through October.

Visit our “Visit” Page for some Visitorific info!

Join us on Facebook!

UPDATE ON OLIVIA
olivia

Thanks for all the kind notes about Olivia, the ailing goat we reported on in the last newsletter. The great news is that she has really made a turn for the better!

Diagnosed with lymphoma last spring, this 13-year-old became too weak to stand when the cold weather hit in January. Her friends and sponsors came over to say goodbye as the day we had all been dreading seemed to be upon us.

After bringing her into our house (that’s right, co-founders Jenny & Doug, Olivia, a blind chicken, 3 dogs and 3 cats are all living happily under one roof) and beginning a new regimen of treatments, Olivia is back to her old self again! A cancer-fighting herbal remedy, a daily tray of wheatgrass (a suggestion of juicing enthusiast Kris Carr of Crazy Sexy Cancer fame), and lots of love and care are helping our old girl get back on track.

Now she’s up and walking around with a voracious appetite for anything you put in front of her. She spends hours outside (with her coat on) visiting her friends around the farm but it’s still too cold for her old bones to sleep out in the barn overnight.

Olivia is a perfect example of why we so desperately need our Animal Hospice Center (a temperature-controlled environment for sick animals). Please help us meet our goal of raising the last $60K by May of this year.

Our friend, talented artist J.T. Yost is helping us meet that goal by donating half the profits of the sale of his incredible Olivia print which he made for our last art benefit. Check out his website for pet portraits here: You’ll find Olivia’s image amongst many other very cool prints.

IKNOW I KNOW I should resize the damn thing but you get the idea…Its a comedy show to raise money for an animal sanctuary…so go already. Also if you click on the link for Woodstock you can see the whole thing if you must. I mean look at the talent, geez.

AND if you like to see his new spiffy blog and get a schedule of his events (he has been gigging alot lately) and his latest witticisms (yes he actually has deep thoughts:<)

You crazy kids,

Just posted a new blog about my comedy shows in Californy and our kooky Elvis impersonator re-wedding in Las Vegas last week. Hope you likey. Lots of pics and a short video! Wow!

Dan

P.S. As always, I never sell or share my private email list. If you want off, though, hit “reply” and put “unsubscribe” in the subject line. (sniff)

If you don’t want to read my blog, don’t go here:

http://bizarrocomic.blogspot.com/

<After all that genuflecting here is the latest Bizarro “fair usage” from the great man…

Thanks Dan….

Energy News – Why CES’ does not do many original blogs

Posted on March 11, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

Just type in Energy News into any Search Engine like Yahoo, MSN or Google and you turn up thousands of pages. 5 entries off the first page are listed below:

http://www.forbes.com/energy/2006/11/27/china-india-energy-biz-energy-cx_pm_1127energy_slide.html

China and India are Asia’s two largest emerging economies. Both have large populations, industrializing economies and rising living standards and energy consumption. This slide show compares energy production, consumption and efficiency of both countries head-to-head and the environmental issues both are confronting as a result of their growing energy use. The numbers are drawn form official statistics, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Energy Agency and are the latest available full-year estimates. The energy intensity comparison is based on purchasing power parity conversion rates.

Forbes of course pointing out that China and Indian will pretty much kill off our species.

http://www.green-energy-news.com/arch/nrgs2008/20080016.html

February 22, 2008 – Vol.12 No. 48

A SOLAR POWERED WORLD?

Arizona Public Service (APS) has announced plans to build a 280-megawatt concentrating solar power plant in the desert 70 miles southwest of Phoenix. The Solana Generating Station, if it were operating today, would be the single largest solar power plant on the planet. Solana, with its thermal energy storage, will be able to operate 24/7 providing power for 70,000 homes.

As big and impressive as it sounds it’s only a tiny fraction of what’s possible: According to the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC), the energy potential from sunlight striking the world’s deserts is 700 times that of the world’s primary energy demand today. Further, solar power generated in the world’s deserts could reach 90 percent of the world’s population. Australia, Asia, Africa, North and South America all have expansive deserts. By satellite measurement there are 13,500,000 square miles (35 million square kilometers) of hot, dry, sunlit desert on the planet.

Like the APS project, solar thermal power generation is the best option for the world’s deserts. Not only is it a time-tested technology that can provide low cost power, cooling water from the plants can be used for desalinization of sea water. (Energy from clean sources is a major global need right now. So is fresh water.)

Further, made of glass and steel there are no supply constraints to solar thermal power generation equipment as with purified silicon needed for photovoltaics.

The TREC concept, known as DESERTEC, is to build solar power plants in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and build power lines – a Euro-Supergrid – connecting the plants to Europe.

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/

Let’s see that would be Africa getting ripped off by Europe AGAIN!

Alternative Energy News

The Most Efficient Washing Machines Of 2008

March 10th, 2008 · 1 Comment

At MetaEfficient, I evaluate appliances based on a number of factors, namely: energy efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, and price. This holds true for washing machines, because all of these factors need to be considered and weighed against each other (I’d also like to include lifecycle analysis, but there’s no information available for washers). For raw efficiency data, one can turn to the Energy Star ratings, to work out which machines use the least amount of energy and water overall. Based on the Energy Star data, the most efficient washing machines for 2008 are made by LG Electronics and Kenmore.

Three LG washers received the best Energy Star ratings, and four Kenmore washers followed very close behind the LG machines. These ratings are based on the Modified Energy Factor (MEF) which is a way to compare the relative efficiency of different units of clothes washers (higher is better). The second factor is the Water Factor which is the number of gallons per cycle per cubic foot that a washing machine uses (lower is better). Here is a listing of the highest rated washing machines according the February 2008 update:

This site has a real cool video on its home page, but I could not get it to load up on our Blog. The article is from a sidebar. Please look at the video though.

http://energy.sourceguides.com/news.shtml

Environment: THE ENERGY CRUNCH AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Rising fuel costs mean lost growth for some

Asterio Takesy

Few places have been hard hit by the recent rise in energy costs as the Pacific islands countries (PICs). While the impacts are felt around the world, islands societies are already on a financial razor’s edge—rising fuel costs being more than many can bear.Making matters worse is that an estimated 90 percent of total electricity generation and the fuel for the entire sea, land and air transport in our region comes directly from fossil fuels. In many of our members, fossil fuels represent a full 100 percent across the board.It is estimated that for every $10 increase in the price of a barrel of crude oil, national incomes for the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati reduce by over 4% and by at least 2% in Tonga, Tuvalu, Palau and the Solomon Islands. Considering the price of oil has increased by approximately $45 a barrel since 2002, this translates into at least five years of lost growth for some islands countries.Consider also the impact on the balance of trade. It is estimated that fuel imports are now triple the value of merchandise exports in Kiribati, Samoa and Federated States of Micronesia. In the case of Fiji, its combined export earnings in 2006 from three of the country’s major industries, gold, sugar and textiles, only accounted for two-thirds of the country’s total fuel import bill.

All this points to the continuing need for the development of renewable energy resources throughout the Pacific region (and the world). PICs have the highest renewable energy potential per capita in the world.

We are in the midst of the largest ocean on earth with its unlimited wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy. The tropical wind is always blowing and we are along the Pacific “Rim of Fire” with its potential for geothermal power generation. So why hasn’t adoption of renewables happened more quickly?

Let’s see the Islands of the Pacific have not moved ahead with renewables and alternative generation BECAUSE they are in the stranglehold of the Energy Corporation. Man what a surprise

Again, the above is a side from:http://www.islandsbusiness.com

And finally (wipes brow, takes long drink of water and fans face):

http://www.newenergytimes.com/news/2008/NET27.htm#FROMED

EDITORIALS AND OPINION

1. Editorial: Will India Surprise the U.S. (Again)?

By Steven B. Krivit

A recent lecture tour by Michael McKubre of SRI International, Mahadeva Srinivasan, former associate director of the physics group at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on low energy nuclear reaction research, and me found an interested and receptive audience at the center and other science institutions in India.

But what’s happening in the U.S. and other more developed nations with LENR research? Rumors reaching New Energy Times suggest that people in the U.S. government are taking notice – but quietly. A few of them now have active LENR research programs.

Only one U.S. government group, the Navy’s SPAWAR San Diego (a different entity from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.), has published LENR papers (19) and does research openly. Some of the other government groups recently received internal funding to begin research, but they have been told not to publish.

Is this a good thing for science? For the U.S.? Probably not. On the other hand, the science community in India has come to terms with the fact that it missed out on 14 years of research on LENR. Will science leaders in the U.S. and other nations take notice of India’s newfound interest?

Glowing articles about the LENR revival in India have been published in Nature India and New Energy Times. However, no journal papers from India have been published recently.

In 1974, researchers at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Trombay, India, not-so-quietly unveiled a not-so-little secret: They had developed nuclear weapons technology. U.S. intelligence and the rest of the world was caught by surprise. Will India surprise the U.S. again with LENR?

The U.S. may take a wait-and-see attitude with LENR research. The rest of the Western World also may wait. India is not likely to wait. Its people cannot afford to take precious food and burn it in their cars. Their hydro power is maxxed out. Their coal, while plentiful and providing 67 percent of India’s total electrical power, is low-grade and dirty.

Think pollution is bad in Los Angeles? You ain’t seen nothin’ if you haven’t been to a major city in India. They don’t have enough uranium for their current-generation fission reactors, and according to Rajagopala Chidambaram, principal scientific adviser to the government of India, it will take at least another 20 years to bring the next-generation reactors online to take advantage of India’s thorium reserves

Smart people in India understand science, technology, and innovation. And they have ambition and necessity, key ingredients for technological growth.

For those of you who had the patience to read this far Low Energy Nuclear Research has been know as Cold Fusion in the past.

The Pope Say That Pollution Is A Sin – What shall we call it? Degradation

Posted on March 10, 2008 by Doug Nicodemus

The Pope made it official, all Catholics must immendiately trade in their SUV’s for Hybrids.

http://green.yahoo.com/news/nm/20080310/hl_nm/pope_sins_dc.html

Vatican lists “new sins”,

including pollution

By Philip Pullella Posted Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:00am PDT

A faithful holds the cross during a mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Changzhi, Shanxi province December 23, 2007. The Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of ‘new’ sins such as causing environmental blight. (Stringer/Reuters)

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of “new” sins such as causing environmental blight.

The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican’s number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils.

Girotti, in an interview headlined “New Forms of Social Sin,” also listed “ecological” offences as modern evils.

In recent months, Pope Benedict has made several strong appeals for the protection of the environment, saying issues such as climate change had become gravely important for the entire human race.

Under Benedict and his predecessor John Paul, the Vatican has become progressively “green.”

It has installed photovoltaic cells on buildings to produce electricity and hosted a scientific conference to discuss the ramifications of global warming and climate change, widely blamed on human use of fossil fuels

Lamborghini is probably not amused.

http://www.lamborghini.com/

But when you think about, how important is sinning anyway in the Judao/Christian/Muslim cacophony of what we must do and what we must not do? First their are the 10 COMANDMENTS (Think NRA President Chuck Heston):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments

Text of the Ten Commandments

The lists which are commonly known as the Ten Commandments are given in passages in two books of the Bible: Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. These passages are provided in English below, using the New Revised Standard Version translation and formatting. Various religions and denominations group the commandments differently; see the Division of the commandments section for a detailed accounting.

Exodus 20:2–17	Deuteronomy 5:6–21
2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;3 Do not have any other gods before Me.4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.8 Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.9 For six days you shall labour and do all your work.10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 17 You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.	6 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;7 you shall have no other gods before me.8 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me,10 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.11 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.12 Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.13 For six days you shall labour and do all your work.14 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. 15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. 16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 17 You shall not murder. 18 Neither shall you commit adultery. 19 Neither shall you steal. 20 Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbour. 21 Neither shall you covet your neighbour’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbour’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

OK so its more like 11 depending ON WHO YOU BELIEVE. No it can be…. And then there are the Seven Deadly Sins:

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/index.htm

Yes its true, a topic so important it has its own website.

Pride is excessive belief in one’s own abilities, that interferes with the individual’s recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.

Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.

Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.

Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.

Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.

Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.

Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

MAN THAT’S A LOT OF WORK…..

MEMO to Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey: You need to remake your own movie. But it would be called Eight. The plot would change slightly. hahahahaha Do you really think Brad would kill Kevin because he cut off the head of Franklin Thomas, the Leading Director of the Board of Directors for Alcoa, Inc. one of the leading polluters of the world.

http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/about_alcoa/corp_gov/directors/Thomas_FA.asp?leadDirect=true

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