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Monday
Sustainable Building Apprenticeship Program For Women
Thursday
Only 150 Hawaiian False Killer Whales Remain in the Wild
Officials Propose Adding Unique Marine Mammal to Endangered Species List
Only 150 Hawaiian False Killer Whales Remain in the Wild
LOS ANGELES (November 17, 2010) – In a move to save the dwindling population of the Pseudorca crassidens—better known as the insular Hawaiian false killer whale—the Obama Administration today proposed classifying the population as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
“The whales are losing their food, getting hooked on fishing lines and accumulating toxins at a rate that threatens their survival,” said Michael Jasny, Senior Policy Analyst of NRDC’s Marine Mammal Project. “Protecting them will go a long way towards protecting the extraordinary marin
e environment of the Hawaiian Islands.”
Video of the Hawaiian false killer whales are available here:
The Hawaiian false killer whale is a small and ecologically unique population that has suffered a significant decline over the last 25 years and, according to recent analysis by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), only 150 of the animals may be left. Last month the NMFS released a 230-page report concluding that the population stands “at a high risk of extinction.”
“Today’s announcement recognizes the serious situation the Hawaiian false killer whales face due to a series of manmade threats,” said Sylvia Fallon, wildlife biologist with NRDC. “Toxic chemicals, reduced food sources and interactions with fishing vessels continue to harm this unique mammal. Endangered species status will give the population a chance to recover.”
This decision comes one year after NR
DC submitted a formal scientific petition to list the population. Should the administration follow through on its proposal, the Hawaiian false killer whale would become only the fourth U.S. whale or dolphin population to appear on the endangered species list since 1970.
Under the endangered species listing, the government would have to identify critical habitat for the population, ensure that activities do not jeopardize its survival, and prepare a “recovery plan” to bring it back from the brink.
Background on the Hawaiian False Killer Whale
Hawaiian false killer whales are large members of the dolphin family. Females can grow up to 15 feet and males can reach 20 feet. In adulthood, false killer whales can weigh up to 1,500 pounds. They are pelagic animals that tend to prefer deep, open water, and the Hawaiian inshore population is the only one of its entire species known to make its home near land. This indicates not only the uniqueness of the population, but also the biological importance of Hawaiian waters as an oasis for marine mammals.
Research shows that Hawaiian false killer whales establish long-term bonds within their species, sometimes mating for up to 20 years. They also display unique feeding habits that promote trust among members of their pod by passing prey back and forth with fellow hunting partners before consuming the catch.
The population faces a number of threats including interactions with local fisheries, reduced food sources and exposure to toxic chemicals. It is likely that the whales are affected by both long-line and unregulated near-shore and “short” long-line fisheries. A recent study showed that disfigurement from fishing gear in this population was four times higher than for other
dolphin and toothed whale species around the islands, suggesting high rates of interactions with fisheries. These fisheries may also be contributing to a decline in the size and number of the primary food source for false killer whales: large, deep-water fish including mahi mahi and yellowfin tuna.
The cumulative effects of these risks combined with the population’s dangerously small size qualify it for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. NRDC petitioned to list the Hawaiian false killer whale as an endangered species in September 2009. Granting of endangered species status would extend a special level of protection to the whales and their habitat in order to help the population rebound.
Recent population surveys of the insular population of Hawaiian false killer whales shows a precipitous decline in size over the past 10-20 years. In 1989, more than 300 individuals were seen in aerial surveys compared to more recent population estimates of 150 individuals.
The National Marine Fisheries Service will have one year from today’s proposed rule to issue a final rule designating the Hawaiian false killer whale as a federally protected endangered species.
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Tuesday
COOL IT opens LA on 11/12/10
“Cool It blasts through the polarizing logjam of the climate change debate to bring a solid plan for solutions” – director Ondi Timoner
Roadside Attractions presents
“COOL IT”
In theaters nationwide on Nov. 12, 2010
Feature documentary plays in Los Angeles
at the Laemmle Monica 4-Plex & in Orange County
*additional theaters TBA
Climate catastrophe? The end of civilization as we know it? COOL IT is based upon the book of the same name and lectures by Bjorn Lomborg, the controversial author of The Skeptical Environmentalist. Award-winning filmmaker Ondi Timoner travels the world with Lomborg exploring the real facts and true science of global warming and its impact. Lomborg is the founder and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, a globally respected think tank that brings together the world’s leading economists to prioritize major global problems -- among them malaria, the lack of potable water and HIV/AIDS -- based upon a cost/benefit analysis of available solutions. Amidst the strong and polarized opinions within the global warming debate, COOL IT follows Lomborg on his mission to bring the smartest solutions to climate change, environmental pollution, and other major problems in the world.
Roadside Attractions will release COOL IT nationwide on November 12, 2010. The feature documentary will play in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica 4-Plex and in Orange County. Additional theaters TBA. COOL IT is a 1019 Entertainment Production in association with Interloper Films. An Ondi Timoner Film.
Rating: PG for thematic elements. Running Time: 87 minutes
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Thursday
World Whale And Dolphin Day - Celebrating Our Ocean Friends
On June 30th groups and citizens of United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, USA, and Croatia celebrated the World Whale and Dolphin Day in various ways.
Threats to dolphins and whales are huge and varied and have only increased with the recent Gulf Oil Disaster. Many threats are caused by fishing net entanglement, captivity, whaling, industrial pollution of the oceans and military use of intense sonar waves is known to harm and even kill cetaceans.
Today and every day, let's remember our ocean friends...
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Monday
My Greatest Hope...
By Leilani Munter
[Leilani, "Carbon Free Girl," is a Race Car Driver who competes at NASCAR]
After spending a week in Venice, Louisiana getting an up close view of the
BP gulf coast oil spill disaster, talking with locals whose livelihoods
are over, and seeing dead wildlife, I am trying my best to look at the
positive side. Keep in mind that I just got off the phone with one of my
boat captains in Louisiana and he told me he saw six dead dolphins and ten
dead turtles in the past few days. So the idea of looking on "the bright
side" is nearly impossible, and most days I fail, but I think it is human
nature to try to find something positive in the face of a catastrophe. The
only positive thing that can possibly come from this -- the largest
environmental disaster in American history -- is if it causes us to change
the way we are living on this Earth.
it devastated NASCAR. He was their biggest star and a hero to most of
their audience. The one positive thing that came from his death is that
racing took a good hard look at safety and they made some really big
changes. After his death, all drivers were required to wear full face
helmets (Earnhardt wore an open face helmet) as well as a HANS device, a
head and neck restraint system. SAFER barriers, or soft walls, were
installed in the speedways so that when we crashed, the racetrack wall
would help absorb some of the impact. It cost millions of dollars, but it
has also likely saved many lives. I have since had wrecks at nearly 200
mph (one impact was so intense it put a crack through my motor) and I have
walked away with nothing but bruises and a sore back. I don't know for
sure that I would have walked away from those crashes if many years
earlier, Earnhardt hadn't passed away and changed the safety rules of
racing. His death marked a permanent change to the way motor sports safety
was conducted, NASCAR drew a line in the sand and never looked back. That
fateful moment made racing safer for all drivers that have strapped
themselves into a race car since, including myself.Perhaps one day we will look back at this oil spill and think "If the Gulf
Coast oil spill hadn't happened, we wouldn't have kick started our clean
energy economy back in 2010. We wouldn't have made such great strides with
solar pv and thermal technology, geothermal energy, wind and tidal
turbines, green buildings, hydrogen fuel cell and electric cars,
alternative fuels like cellulosic ethanol and algae based biodiesel, and
we might not have passed the American Power Act." Perhaps we would look
back and incredulously say "Imagine if the gulf coast oil spill hadn't
happened, we might actually still be running our country on dirty fossil
fuels and spending billions of dollars buying oil from foreign countries!
Wouldn't that be awful?!"Charles Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest of the species that
survives. Nor is it the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that
is most adaptable to change."And so our time has come -- this is the 11th hour. We either change the
way we are living on the planet or relegate ourselves to eventually having
our planet covered with oily water, polluted air, dead coral reefs, and
cattle pastures where there were once rain forests. I hope that this
disaster will wake us up and make those in charge realize that now is the
time for us to turn over a new leaf. To check ourselves into rehab to get
off our addiction to fossil fuels and start a new sober life with clean,
renewable energy.I am a race car driver; my career is currently based around an internal
combustion engine, and yet even I can see the importance of energy
independence and the move towards the use of clean, renewable energy. We
are at a crossroads and I hope we take the right turn -- or maybe it's a
left? Let's take a step -- or even better, a leap -- in the right
direction. Let's pass the American Power Act and start putting a real
effort into capturing clean energy from the wind, the sun, and the ocean.
Let's put Americans to work building our new green energy economy. We've
been talking about it for years, the technology is already here -- all we
have to do now is to make it happen.What in the world are we waiting for? Millions of gallons of oil to spill
into the Gulf of Mexico?My greatest hope in the wake of this ongoing tragedy is that this is our
clean energy wake up call. My biggest fear? That we won't answer.
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Thursday
Green Innovation Institute Rocks The Cradle2Cradle Crowd
(Mountain View, CA.,) "California is the perfect birthplace for this Institute, but ultimately its reach is global, and it has been our long-held wish to see the principles of Cradle to Cradle applied globally," said William McDonough, co-founder of the Green Products Innovation Institute.
...for a safer and healthier world for ALL children of ALL species...
"Even before Michael and I wrote Cradle to Cradle in 2002, we have wished and worked for a safer and healthier world for ALL children of ALL species. That world is not just a wish anymore-it is here now, thanks to Gov. Schwarzenegger, the donors and supporters of the Green Products Innovation Institute, and the people of California," continued McDonough.
GPII will work to advance the framework outlined in the book "Cradle to Cradle," authored by architect and designer William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart, co-founders of GPII.
Governor Schwarzenegger announcing first-in-the-nation Green Products Innovation Institute. From left to right: Schmidt Family Foundation President Wendy Schmidt, YouTube Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Chad Hurley, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry Co-Founder William McDonough.
Photo Credit: Justin Short
GPII will help transform how companies design, manufacture and use chemicals - driving a new era in research, innovation, economic growth and competition in the green chemistry sector.
"This Institute will revolutionize the way we design products and serve as a benchmark for those who aspire to set new standards of environmental and human health and safety for all products sold in California," said the Governor of California.
In More Breaking Environmental News Today:
West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health
The Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington today released eight issue-specific work plans to improve and sustain the health of the three states' shared coastal and ocean resources and the communities that depend on them.
More On GPII: The Institute will help implement this framework by working with industries to create cleaner water and eliminate the concept of waste while creating healthy products.
"California has the most comprehensive Green Chemistry program in the world, and our leadership in ensuring the products we use every day are safe for our families and environment has resulted in the Green Products Innovation Institute choosing to headquarter here in California," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
Nationally-renown design consultancy firm, MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), has given the certification mark along with the Cradle to Cradle ® protocols to the Institute, which will now be responsible for certifying products. Companies from a wide range of industries have already demonstrated the viability and benefits of designing products according to the Cradle to Cradle framework, such as Herman Miller, Shaw Industries, Ford Motor Company, Aveda and Method Laundry. To date, more than 300 products and 90 companies have engaged in the Cradle to Cradle certification (CM) process.
Governor Schwarzenegger has made California a leader in green chemistry and in 2008 signed legislation to establish the first green chemistry program in the United States.
Speakers at this morning's event included California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; William McDonough, Co-Founder of the Institute; Michael Volkema, Chairman, Herman Miller; Chad Hurley, co-founder and CEO, YouTube; Vance Bell, CEO, Shaw Inc.; Matt Petersen, Executive Director, Global Green; Professor Martin Fischer, Stanford University : www.gpinnovation.org.
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Wednesday
Greening Los Angeles: Ports Of LA Demonstrate Vision
Sustainability Award Given by Senator Fran Pavley to Vision Motorcorp.
"Zero Emissions Vehicles for the 21st Century"
 Vision COO & Chairman Lawrence Weisdorn |
Each month Sen. Pavley recognizes a business in her district that is dedicated to preserving our environment by living and working responsibly. This month she's "proud to announce that I presented an Environmental Sustainability Award to Vision Industries in Santa Monica."
Vision Industries has created a zero-emission engine for cars and trucks. They have dedicated themselves to being in the forefront of eco-friendly technology by developing a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric truck. This has proven beneficial to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and the state of California in their goal to be national leaders in the use of eco-friendly technology. Vision's efforts in reducing the amount of air pollution created in this state are truly admirable and help set the standards for other businesses.
- Sen. Pavley March Newsletter
Can't See THE VIDEO? CLICK HERE
Due to the ports of Los Angles and Long Beach's Clean Truck Program that offers cash incentives for the replacement of older dirty diesel trucks and the proximity and availability of low cost hydrogen, Vision is targeting truck fleet operators that haul goods from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for the initial sales of their zero emission trucks.
SAN PEDRO, Calif. - January 15, 2010 - Expanding its commitment to bringing cutting-edge, zero-emission solutions to port operations, the Port of Los Angeles is entering into negotiations with Los Angeles-based Vision Industries for the purchase and evaluation of Visions hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric trucks >> >>> >>> Read MORE
Thursday
Avatar Director James Cameron Talks Greening Hollywood On Global Green USA's 2010 Pre-Oscar Bash Green Carpet
Wednesday
Johnny Weir Says Vancouver Green And Clean
Vancouver is a great host city for the Olympics, said Johnny Weir at a press conference this afternoon. "Vancouver is so green and clean. Everyone is in love with this city and the fact that the games are here."
The Olympic contender for Men's Figure Skating called the press conference in response to the media frenzy fomenting around the derogatory comments a couple of on-air reporters made about Johnny regarding his sexual orientation while he was in the middle of his competitions.
"I grew my beard out today to show that I am a man, at the end of the day," said the 25 year old USA competitor. He told the assembled press that he's still in Vancouver preparing for the World Championships and training with his coaches who are all still up in Vancouver, B.C.
"I look forward to performing all around the world this year. I hope I can skate to Lady Gaga very soon," said Weir, referring to the song, "Poker Face."
Weir opened the press conference by thanking his fans for their outpouring of love and support. He also said that when he heard the derogatory comments made by the two reporters, he felt "pissed off" and defiant. He admitted to feeling that way because the criticisms were directed at him personally and not at him as an athlete and Olympic contender.
He said he chose to speak out about this issue not because he wants an apology, he believes, he said, in freedom of speech and that people have the right to voice their opinions, but he said that he felt it was important to set a strong example for the boys and girls who will follow.
"No one should be made to feel like a freak or a weirdo," he said. "I just hope that more boys and girls have parents like me who allow their children to be an individual. It's definitely the time for freedom. Time to be unique and to believe in themselves," he said expressing that this is the message he feels is most important to impart to the younger generations.
As for his thoughts on the quad? He said that he is "so excited that Evan won [Olympic Gold Medal] without doing a quad." Weir conceded that the judging in figure skating has always been suspect. "And when you're on the receiving end of it, it can be not nice, to lose to people who fall down, who make glaring mistakes, he said.
At attending member of the press from Canada's Quebec Province asked Johnny Weir if he was aware of the tremendous outpouring of support for him that has come from that province, where two radio announcers originally made the offensive comments. Weir said that a good friend of his from Montreal has already told him as such.
He said he has plans to pursue a career in fashion design at some point.
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Saturday
Public Swimming Pools Get 30% Solar Tax Credit
- » See also: New Carbon Footprint Calculation Accounts For Country of Consumption
- » Get CleanTechnica by RSS or sign up by email.
My estimate for an Apricus system for Santana Row came in at $227,790, and $1, 256,373 money saved over 25 years (not spent on gas, which if its average annual cost rise -of 9% a year till this year- were to continue over the next 25 years would have been an estimated $2,473,605.)
The greenhouse gases saved over the twenty five years came to 90,000 tons of carbon.
Although the apartment complex was eligible for a utility rebate in my utility district (PG&E) based on the (in this case) 13,045 therms saved in the first year, they were not eligible for any other incentives, (although Southern California was looking into expanding solar thermal incentives at that time).
This is the kind of money and greenhouse gas emissions that apartment complexes are literally pouring into pools, for heating that evaporates into the cool night air every night. It is probably one of the biggest energy waster we have. I am sure that it is costing community swimming pools a similar amount.
Commercial pools at hotels and motels, health clubs, municipal pools and school pools would all be covered. Approximately 189,000 commercial pools nationwide use fossil fuel or electricity to heat an estimated 27.25 billion gallons of water nationwide. If the heating systems were replaced with solar water heating systems, 1.23 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions avoided annually.
Senator Feinstein’s measure [with Sen. Merkley D-Ore.] would extend the 30% solar tax credit which is set to expire in 2010, and expand it to include solar thermal for commercial and community swimming pools, and also would expand it to include manufacturing equipment needed to manufacture solar water heating systems.
Tuesday
Greening Copenhagen: A Climactic Fairytale
Governor Schwarzenegger:
"...the world's governments alone cannot make progress, the kind of progress that is needed on global climate change. They alone cannot do it. They need everyone coming together, everyone working together. They need the cities, they need the states, they need the provinces and the regions. They need the corporations, the activists, the scientists and the universities. They need the individuals whose vision and determination create movements. They need everybody out there.
So ladies and gentlemen, let us regain our momentum, let us regain our purpose, let us regain our hope by liberating the transformative power beneath the national level.
That can be the great contribution of Copenhagen -- that could be the great contribution of Copenhagen.
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Thursday
Greening Hollywood: Green With Music
By Paige Donner
Green With Music, the first-ever, all-green gifting retreat held in honor of the Grammy nominees to help promote the ongoing awareness of the environment was housed at The South Collection, Los Angeles' first and only sustainably-built high-rise community. The Collection's Eleven building is currently the only LEED Gold Certified building in Los Angeles and offers eco-conscious design, greenspaces and on-site retail. The South Collection is just steps from LA Live and the Staples Center, home to the Grammys Award show, and have been created in concert to further the identity and aesthetics of the Green Renaissance promoting intelligent building sprouting up in Downtown Los Angeles.
Take a look at the video here to meet some of this year's Grammy nominated Rock'n'Rollers who use music and their lifestyle to promote healthy, eco-conscious living.
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