Additional Stories

Colombia Halts Hydrocarbon Exploration in World Heritage Area
BOGOTA, Colombia, March 5, 2012 (ENS) – Colombia’s Council of State has ordered a halt to exploration for oil and gas in the country’s Quindío region, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Coffee Cultural Landscape. The region produces some of the world’s highest quality coffee. Issued last week, the government decree requires …

Hawaii Taps the Ocean to Generate Carbon-Free Power

September 15, 2015, www.takepart.com | “The world’s most abundant source of energy is solar—the sun shines everywhere—and most of that potential power falls on the ocean. Now, a Hawaii-based company has built the world’s largest power plant to harvest that energy from the ocean and convert it into electricity. The 105-kilowatt ocean thermal energy conversion demonstration plant went online last month in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. It cost about $5 million to build and only generates enough electricity to power 120 homes. But the project is a big step toward a future where ocean thermal energy could replace carbon-spewing fossil fuel power plants.”

Oceanic heat exchange technology, different than wave power.
The ocean thermal technology heralds a new wave of renewable energy projects.
www.takepart.com
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The Leap Manifesto isn’t radical. It’s a way out of Canada’s head-in-the-sand politics

September 15, 2025, www.theguardian.com | “Every political class considers themselves inclusive, diverse, open-minded. But present ideas that stray outside the boundaries of sanctioned debate, imposed by power and a patrolling press, and watch how quickly they stoop to bullying. Consider the response to the Leap Manifesto, a declaration released this week by an unprecedented coalition of Canadian authors, artists, national leaders and activists in the midst of a federal election. It lays out a vision – bolder than anything on offer from political parties – to transition the country off fossil fuels while simultaneously improving the lives of most Canadians. Climate change is presented not just as an existential crisis but an opportunity – indeed, imperative – to make the political and economic system more just and fair.”

A PLAN THAT CAN SAVE THE EARTH !
The Leap Manifesto isn’t radical. It’s a way out of Canada’s head-in-the-sand politics | Martin…
A powerful movement in Canada, animated by a compelling and positive vision for the climate and economy, can force the hand of whichever government comes to…
theguardian.com|By Martin Lukacs
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4 undeniable signs we’re making progress on climate change

September 10, 2015 www.edf.org | “Seven months ago, I made a strong statement that may have left some people shaking their heads. I said that we can turn the corner on climate change – end the centuries-long rise in greenhouse gas emissions and see them peak and begin to decline – in just five short years.  As it turns out, 2015 is shaping up to be a year of giant steps toward that goal.”

Pamela Benda shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
The momentum is growing as top greenhouse gas emitters curb pollution, clean energy investments soar and world leaders demand change.
edf.org
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Ten Carbon Majors Support Global Climate Deal

oil rig

September 7, 2015, ens-newswire.com | “Ten of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers support an international deal at this year’s UN climate conference, COP21, in Paris that will limit climate warming to 2 degrees Celsius, according to the nonprofit Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP.”

Robert Brothers shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
Anglo American, BG Group, and BHP Billiton; as well as Italy’s Eni SpA, Russia’s Gazprom, Spain’s Repsol,…
ens-newswire.com
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The California Assembly Passed a Bill Wednesday that Prompts the State’s Public Employee Pension Funds to Divest From Coal

September 3, 2015 | “The California Assembly passed a bill Wednesday that prompts the state’s public employee pension funds to divest from coal. The bill passed the Assemby with a vote of 43 to 27, and will require the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) — which combined are responsible for $476 billion in assets — to remove all holdings in companies that get at least half of their revenue from coal mining. The divestment would have to be completed by July 2017. If signed into law, the measure would be the first of its kind in the United States.”

Good news for the Earth
If signed into law, the measure would be the first of its kind in the country.
thinkprogress.org
 COMMENTS:
Robert Brothers ~ “Yay California! ‘The California Assembly passed a bill Wednesday that prompts the state’s public employee pension funds to divest from coal.'”

End Mining Within 100 Feet of Streams

August 28, 2015, action.biologicaldiversity.org | “For decades legal loopholes have allowed coal companies to mine directly through streams, harming imperiled species like the Colorado pikeminnow and eastern hellbender salamander, and poisoning downstream waterways for people.  But at least the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has proposed a new Stream Buffer Zone Rule that would restrict all mining within 100 feet of streams.”

A court victory in 2014 against exceptions made by George Bush in 2008 requires that a new strict rule be adopted.
For decades legal loopholes have allowed coal companies to mine directly through streams, harming…
action.biologicaldiversity.org

First Nation builds spirited solar project in the heart of Canada’s oil sands

August 28, 2015, inhabitat.com | “One of Alberta’s biggest solar projects has been built in one of the most unlikely places—the heart of Canada’s Peace River oil sands. The Lubicon Lake Band aboriginal community launched the Piitapan Solar Project, a 20.8kW renewable energy installation in Little Buffalo, Alberta. The inspiring 80-panel solar project was developed in a bid to create more green jobs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. ”

Ami Linden shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
An aboriginal community in Alberta has turned to solar in their fight against tar sands oil development.
inhabitat.com
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Coal Is No Longer King in America, Says EIA Report

July 2, 2015, ecowatch.com | “Coal is no longer king in America. That’s the latest findings from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which provides independent statistics and analysis of the energy sector. Coal lost its number one spot as the nation’s top electricity source for the first time on record this April.”

The stock prices of our three biggest coal companies have dropped over 95% since January of 2010. But our use of coal dropped less than 10% in the same period. So a giant drop in stock value was precipitated by a modest drop in business volume. However…
The key take-away is that stock price is determined by investors’ perception about the future of the company’s product, not by the present business performance.
The investors fled from the industry in droves because they didn’t see a future in it. —Kent Minault, activist, Beyond Coal
U.S. Energy Information Administration reports coal lost its number one spot as the nation’s top electricity source for the first time on record this April
ecowatch.com
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Smith Headwaters Mining Withdrawal Filed

July 1, 2015, ijpr.org | “Southern Oregon and Northern California’s Smith River could be temporarily protected from mining by a maneuver proposed by the Bureau of Land Management.  BLM plans to withdraw roughly 100,000 acres of public land from mining in Curry and Josephine Counties, including land considered for a major nickel mine.”

Lou Gold shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
Southern Oregon and Northern California’s Smith River could be protected from mining by a maneuver proposed by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM plans to
ijpr.org|By Geoffrey Riley, Emily Cureton
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Teens ‘shocked’ to win lawsuit against government

July 1, 2015, www.king5.com | “A group of teenagers has convinced a King County superior court judge to order the Washington State Department of Ecology to consider statewide reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.  They say they’re shocked but also excited.”

Jay LiningerGoodNews FortheEarth
Local court affirms public trust in government responsibility to ensure general welfare. State response is subject to politics.
The King County judge has ordered the Washington Department of Ecology to consider statewide reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
king5.com
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