We know that dozens of billions of US dollars go to imported oil every month (nearly $1 billion a day). We know that some of that must go to unstable, unsafe countries.

A new report by the Center for American Progress titled “Oil Dependence is a Dangerous Habit” shows exactly how much oil we are getting from several such countries, and the results leave you wondering how safe we actually are and how serious we are about fighting terrorism and hostile political regimes.

The ironic thing to me, is that the companies so gung-ho about being patriotic and so critical of almost all clean energy efforts are the same companies who are giving so much money (see the graphs below) to these unstable countries.

Ten of the countries who we import a lot of oil from are also on the State Department’s Travel Warning list: Algeria, Chad, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.

Some leading importers may not be on the prestigious Travel Warning list, but show very anti-American foreign and energy policies as well.

Venezuela, one of our top five oil providers, is quite anti-American, if this Washington Post article is any indications of how the country thinks of us.

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Rev. Billy and the Church of Life after Shopping Choir enthusiastically protest at the 2nd Annual Carbon Trading Summit in Manhattan yesterday.

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Not only that, but it would also give a monthly refund of about $100 to a family of four, refunding approximately 75% of all revenue to US residents.

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There is so much complexity in the politics of climate change right now, but as the Copenhagen climate negotiations heat up, I think there are a few simple childhood lessons to review or keep in mind.

Of course, action to stop climate change is not only about the politicians and international treaties. It is also largely about the individual actions, needs and demands of each person these politicians represent.

So, given that you are not likely to be directly involved in the discussions in Copenhagen, these are also for you on an individual level, in all of your individual decisions and purchases. Of course, you can send messages to your politicians asking them to stop climate change, too!

Read more of this story »

Fear. It is a simple emotion. It is a feeling. But it can also create something complicated — in what it makes us think and do. Fear drives many decisions in the world, and may often cause us to make the wrong decision.

The important thing is realizing the difference between thoughtful awareness of negative ramifications and the actual feeling of fear.

On the following pages, I delve into the relationship between fear and the climate change decisions we are making everyday on individual and larger systematic levels. Additionally, I delve a little more into the issue of fear itself.

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Emma explains that it’s like a small environmentally-friendly version of eBay. Yet the merchandise is strictly apparel with three categories of men, women, kids. Love the tailored coat offering pictured.

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However, is it changing its stance out of international moral pressure or a major financial incentive (recent deal) in the US? And who is to benefit the most from this shift?

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Climate change? Not so much. If Jon Stewart is snoozing, we know that the rest of America – a goodly percentage of which is far across the spectrum from Stewart and outwardly hostile to climate change arguments – is tuned all the way out. That is partly because climate change, energy and the environment still are considered Birkenstock and granola issues. The Obama operatives that are still engaged on climate change have finally started to tweak the message in a way that might help sell a bill even to science skeptics and the generally apathetic.

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Six businessmen from Tanzania were charged today for smuggling 11 tons of elephant ivory worth $600,000 into the Philippines and Vietnam.

The men were charged under 11 counts of conspiracy, unlawful hunting, exporting concealed and undeclared items as well as making false documents. It’s likely that the intricate smuggling job was conducted between October 2008 and March this year.

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Alarmed with the almost daily reporting of rapidly declining tiger numbers and the inaction that follows, school children and several civil society groups in the Indian capital city of New Delhi are coming together to demand the basic right of the tiger–a Right to Survival. And in that, ensuring the survival of the entire human race. The Rally that follows a tiger consultation will also be a shift from all that has been done to all that needs to be done. As an organizer of the rally, comments like these are both inspiring and thought provoking.

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In order to cut harmful emissions from maritime vessels, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the next steps of its coordinated effort on Wednesday. The steps include creating a rule under the Clean Air Act that would establish tough engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships. The proposed rule would harmonize with international standards and lead to improved air quality throughout the country.

The new proposal follows a proposal made between the United States and Canada in March that would set aside thousands of miles of coast between the two countries as an Emission Control Area (ECA). The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, will begin review of the ECA plan this month. The passage of the ECA plan would result in the enforcement of stringent standards placed on large ships that operate within 200 nautical miles of U.S. or Canadian coasts.

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June 29, 2009 – For the first time, the World Trade Organization (WTO) teamed up with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to release a report outlining the relationship between trade and climate change. The report describes the multitude of ways in which climate change and trade intersect.

Using current scientific knowledge as well as current literature and a survey of national policies, the two organizations worked together to create a report that summarizes concerns regarding existing and projected climate change, impacts of climate change, and on possible responses, through adaptation and mitigation, to the challenges posed by climate change.

The report states that climate change is “unequivocal.” The evidence, gathered through a review of thousands of scientific publications, is compelling, and describes that human activities are “very likely” the cause of such global warming.

The biggest concern that the report denotes is that; barring major changes in policy, law, action, and attitude, global greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase over the coming decades, with emissions increasing anywhere from 25 to 90 percent by 2030. It is also anticipated that a greater proportion of greenhouse gases will be emitted from developing countries.

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On March 13, the European Union will impose a counter-subsidy tax on U.S. biodiesel producers for “dumping” biodiesel on the European market.

European producers have been complaining about cheap imported biodiesel for quite a while, and it looks like a key European trade panel finally took action. The tax will be specific to each biodiesel producer:

• ArcherDaniels Midland: 86 cents per gallon; 
• Cargill: 90 cents; 
• Imperium Renewables: 96 cents; 
• Green Earth Energy Fuels: 93 cents; 
• World Energy Alternatives: 96 cents; 
• Peter Cremer North America and remaining biodiesel producers will pay $1.36 per gallon.

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  ]]> http://gas2.org/2009/03/05/eu-slaps-anti-subsidy-biodiesel-tax-on-us-producers/feed/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/02/trade-and-climate-policies-must-be-linked-in-post-kyoto-world/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/02/trade-and-climate-policies-must-be-linked-in-post-kyoto-world/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:07:04 +0000 Joshua S Hill http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/02/trade-and-climate-policies-must-be-linked-in-post-kyoto-world/ An article over at SciDev.net today has caught my attention, as it should yours. Written by Glen Peters, a senior research fellow at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, Norway, the article focuses on the idea that in a post-Kyoto Protocol world, trade and climate policies must be linked.

  Peters’ main example was, rightfully so, China, and the mixed responsibilities in ensuring that their export and trade industry does not single-handedly doom the planet to a carbon ridden future.

  Read more of this story »

  ]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/02/trade-and-climate-policies-must-be-linked-in-post-kyoto-world/feed/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/16/ending-global-poverty-seriously/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/16/ending-global-poverty-seriously/#comments Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:11:04 +0000 Puspa Sharma http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/16/ending-global-poverty-seriously/ Ensuring food safety and protecting health is one of the prime duties of every government, whether in a developed country or in a developing one. Accordingly, the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) has conferred upon every sovereign member of the WTO the right to set its own standards in the import of animal and plant products. However, the Agreement has stipulated that “the regulations should be based on science and should not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between countries where identical or similar conditions prevail.” But there are apprehensions that countries have been increasingly using these measures for trade protection by setting standards for imports that are higher than the international standards.

  Read more of this story »

  ]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/16/ending-global-poverty-seriously/feed/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/05/agriculture-subsidies-and-rising-food-prices-2/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/05/agriculture-subsidies-and-rising-food-prices-2/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:49:14 +0000 Puspa Sharma http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/05/agriculture-subsidies-and-rising-food-prices-2/ This is a guest post by Puspa Sharma, MA Candidate in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver.

  Exponential increases in food prices in recent times have created enormous challenges to governments, national and international organizations, and aid agencies everywhere in the world. The World Bank has estimated that the rising food prices could push an additional 100 million people into poverty, thereby undermining the current efforts geared towards poverty reduction.

  Increasing demand, decreasing supply, and the rising oil prices, which are in turn affected by numerous other factors, have been some reasons for the rise in food prices. Demand for cereal grains has been rising not only as a result of population growth, but also because of the growing middle class population in countries like China and India. Growing incomes have resulted in more demand for cereal grains directly and also more meat and dairy, which in turn has raised the demand for more grains as feed for the livestock. Another more important reason for the rise in demand for food crops is the development of bio-fuels, which have attracted a great deal of attention in recent times.

  On the supply front, according to a publication by the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), droughts in Australia and Turkey and bad weather in Ukraine and parts of North America have resulted in less agricultural production which has caused food prices to rise. A more important, but often overlooked reason for the decrease in the supply of farm commodities against rising demand is that the subsidies that the developed countries have been providing to their agriculture sector have dampened world prices of those products and made the products of developing countries uncompetitive. This has had a tremendous impact in agricultural production in developing countries. In the absence of competitiveness and any other gains to be derived from agriculture, the developing countries have had less incentive to invest in agricultural infrastructure, agricultural research and development, and the like. As a result, agriculture production in these countries continually declined disrupting supply.

  Then, who should take the blame of rising food prices? If we look at the demand side, we see that the demand has been rising in one part because of rising incomes in few developing countries, and on the other, because of the development of bio-fuels by the developed countries. On the supply side, drought and bad weather conditions are not something which are under human control, but less supply resulting from less production in developing countries owing to the agricultural policies of the developed countries definitely deserves attention.

  Read more of this story »

  ]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/09/05/agriculture-subsidies-and-rising-food-prices-2/feed/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/23/energy-independence-is-idiocy-inanityjust-plain-senseless-proclaims-john-stossel/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/23/energy-independence-is-idiocy-inanityjust-plain-senseless-proclaims-john-stossel/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:41:51 +0000 Heidi Suydam http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/23/energy-independence-is-idiocy-inanityjust-plain-senseless-proclaims-john-stossel/ In an August 20th article for Real Clear Politics and an August 21st editorial written for the New York Sun, John Stossel heralds the “idiocy” or “inanity” of energy independence. Mr. Stossel explains, in his opinion, this goal is not worthy because he believes American energy independence includes the end of American energy trade in the global market. He expounds on this idea with details of backlash that could occur as the result of only relying on ourselves for energy, food and security. Why am I bringing these articles to your attention?
  
  John Stossel is a prominent figure in American media. A well established, tenured journalist writing for several publications, and the co-host of ABC News’s 20/20. His role in the media undoubtedly influences people. Respectfully considering his broad knowledge of American politics, policy and media influence on these matters, this extreme view of an energy independent America is concerning and thought provoking.

  Does energy independence for America mean that we have to extinguish all trade and global relationships? Or can energy independence for America consist of developing our technologies and resources to the point that we have the ability to sustain ourselves while still choosing to participate in the global market?

  Ron Bengston, in his essay The Cost of American Energy Independence states:

  How much will energy independence cost the American people? Before the answer can be given and understood, the definition of energy independence needs to be clarified. It is important to first understand that independence does not mean closed borders or isolation. The dictionary definition of independence is: “freedom from outside interference and the right to self-government.” Energy Independence means energy sovereignty; a concept that should be thought of much like we think of national independence. For example, the USA has interdependent relationships with other countries, both economically and militarily — however, if America’s economic or military “interdependence” becomes “dependence” to the point of undermining national sovereignty, there will be a public outcry… much like we see today regarding America’s oil dependence.

  Clearly defining energy independence is a critical step in this process. As we hear politicians speaking and media outlets reporting on this topic, we need to understand how they define energy independence. What we learn here is that John Stossel views an energy independent America as extreme isolation from global markets with untold negative results. Ron Bengston views an energy independent America as a strong sovereign nation with a place in the global market. How do you define energy independence?

  It is imperative that we stay informed and active in this process. “Energy Independence” has become a buzz word, a common phrase we hear from politicians, commercials, and news reports. To be informed citizens and voters we must define the issues for ourselves and then understand the perspective of those to whom we are listening.

  As we approach November this year it is vital to understand Barack Obama and John McCain both have plans to pursue and energy independent America. Which plan fits what you see as the best pursuit for our country?

  Related Posts:

  • Consumer-First Energy Act 2008 Lacks Support
  • First Sustainable Ethanol to Mass Market?
  • BLM Applying NEPA to Large Scale Solar Energy on Public Lands

  Photo Credit: Riah’s Photography via Flickr with permission

  Climate Change and Fear

  First of all, I have been wondering, ‘What causes so many people to still believe that climate change is not happening despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that it is and that it is primarily manmade?’. Of course, there is unbalanced media coverage that makes it look as though there isn’t scientific consensus on the issue. But there is more to it, for sure.

  One factor that really stands out that I think is prevalent in the minds of most individuals is this:

  Fear that ‘I am causing the biggest world disaster in the history of humankind’ makes people cling to the hope that climate change is not actually happening. We know that driving, using fossil fuel-based electricity, and eating animals are leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions now. And we can all change our lifestyle if we have enough will, but we are not yet doing it! So, in order to avoid that feeling and that fear (that we are causing this disaster), many people want to believe that climate change is not confirmed scientifically yet.

  (I think it is more of a testament to people’s good will — not wanting to cause such destruction — than any inherent evil in them.)

  The problem with this is that the longer we wait to admit it, the less we can do to prevent it. And thus, the more it is likely to come true.

  

  I was at a climate conference a couple years ago where something really surprised me. I expected doom and gloom faces at the conference, but I found a ton of positivity instead. I realized, people were more positive there because they weren’t fighting to push that fear into the back of their minds. They realized the negative ramifications, they accepted the fear, but they were acting on their hope that they could do something positive about the issue — it brought them happiness to be doing something other than fighting their fear.

  I think overcoming this fear is a key to overcoming the climate change challenge. But not overcoming it by fighting its existence, overcoming it by understanding it, realizing its proper place in the situation and then living a life based on hope for the future, a life sprouting forth from positive practice not denial.

  Climate Change Legislation and Fear

  On the other side of the fence from climate change denial is the environmental controversy between two groups of environmentalists (and economists) about the best way to handle climate change economically and politically right now — there are some environmentalists who want the climate bill that is in Congress to pass and, similarly, want international cap and trade legislation to pass, and there are other environmentalists who do not support these items as they are being proposed.

  What is the controversy?

  

  Some think that proposed cap and trade legislation (in the US and internationally) is the only hope for preventing climate change. Others think it is a non-green option that will do more harm than good. For a rather good debate around this issue, read the comments that follow the recent Grist article “Annie Leonard misses the mark in her new video, ‘The Story of Cap and Trade’” (as well as the article itself and the video by Annie Leanord — “The Story of Cap and Trade“).

  Again, an issue here driving at least some of the positions on this topic is simply the feeling of fear. It is not the logic of one option being better than others in some cases, but the pure logic of fear, which is not actually logic.

  The cap and trade legislation that is proposed is a sound political compromise to some, but to others it is simply an act of fear. Similarly, to some, dropping the cap and trade idea is the best option, and to others that is only an act of fear. Which is the best option? I think it is not clear to a lot of people.

  I think things would clear up a lot, though, if people dropped the fear component and only looked at the issues for what they actually are. However, that would be asking for serious personal effort and introspection. Everyone can do that for themself only.

  Overcoming Fear in Social Movement History

  If you look at some of the huge social movement successes of the last century, you can see that they went far beyond fear to achieve their goals. Civil rights activists went beyond the fear of murder, being beaten, having their houses burnt down, and so on to make progress in civil rights for all. Gay rights activists went through similar situations to achieve some of their ends. And how many nations went through similar fears to achieve their freedom?

  If we environmentalists are to achieve our aims — a safe and healthy environment for all — we also have to be willing to overcome such fears and different ones as well. This is an internal issue first, though.

  Related Stories:
  1) What is a Global Citizen? Are You One?
  2) Personal Happiness and the Environment: A Sustainability Connection
  3) The Story of Cap and Trade

  Image Credit 1: Claudio.Ar via flickr under a Creative Commons license
  Image Credit 2: play4smee via flickr under a Creative Commons license
  Image Credit 3: tabrandt via flickr under a Creative Commons license
  Image Credit 4: gorditojaramillo via flickr under a Creative Commons license

  ]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/23/energy-independence-is-idiocy-inanityjust-plain-senseless-proclaims-john-stossel/feed/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/08/06/zaproot-features-ecoworldly-story-on-chinas-importation-of-african-ivory/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/08/06/zaproot-features-ecoworldly-story-on-chinas-importation-of-african-ivory/#comments Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:21:45 +0000 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://ecoworldly.com/2008/08/06/zaproot-features-ecoworldly-story-on-chinas-importation-of-african-ivory/ This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

  Many thanks to our friends at ZapRoot for featuring Sam Aola Ooko’s post on Chinese importation of African ivory on their latest show (above). We’re big fans… no one does indepth coverage with a healthy dose of humor better. Keep an eye out for more from ZapRoot on Thursdays: we’re going to start featuring them regularly on the GO Media blog network.

  Climate Change and Fear

  First of all, I have been wondering, ‘What causes so many people to still believe that climate change is not happening despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that it is and that it is primarily manmade?’. Of course, there is unbalanced media coverage that makes it look as though there isn’t scientific consensus on the issue. But there is more to it, for sure.

  One factor that really stands out that I think is prevalent in the minds of most individuals is this:

  Fear that ‘I am causing the biggest world disaster in the history of humankind’ makes people cling to the hope that climate change is not actually happening. We know that driving, using fossil fuel-based electricity, and eating animals are leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions now. And we can all change our lifestyle if we have enough will, but we are not yet doing it! So, in order to avoid that feeling and that fear (that we are causing this disaster), many people want to believe that climate change is not confirmed scientifically yet.

  (I think it is more of a testament to people’s good will — not wanting to cause such destruction — than any inherent evil in them.)

  The problem with this is that the longer we wait to admit it, the less we can do to prevent it. And thus, the more it is likely to come true.

  

  I was at a climate conference a couple years ago where something really surprised me. I expected doom and gloom faces at the conference, but I found a ton of positivity instead. I realized, people were more positive there because they weren’t fighting to push that fear into the back of their minds. They realized the negative ramifications, they accepted the fear, but they were acting on their hope that they could do something positive about the issue — it brought them happiness to be doing something other than fighting their fear.

  I think overcoming this fear is a key to overcoming the climate change challenge. But not overcoming it by fighting its existence, overcoming it by understanding it, realizing its proper place in the situation and then living a life based on hope for the future, a life sprouting forth from positive practice not denial.

  Climate Change Legislation and Fear

  On the other side of the fence from climate change denial is the environmental controversy between two groups of environmentalists (and economists) about the best way to handle climate change economically and politically right now — there are some environmentalists who want the climate bill that is in Congress to pass and, similarly, want international cap and trade legislation to pass, and there are other environmentalists who do not support these items as they are being proposed.

  What is the controversy?

  

  Some think that proposed cap and trade legislation (in the US and internationally) is the only hope for preventing climate change. Others think it is a non-green option that will do more harm than good. For a rather good debate around this issue, read the comments that follow the recent Grist article “Annie Leonard misses the mark in her new video, ‘The Story of Cap and Trade’” (as well as the article itself and the video by Annie Leanord — “The Story of Cap and Trade“).

  Again, an issue here driving at least some of the positions on this topic is simply the feeling of fear. It is not the logic of one option being better than others in some cases, but the pure logic of fear, which is not actually logic.

  The cap and trade legislation that is proposed is a sound political compromise to some, but to others it is simply an act of fear. Similarly, to some, dropping the cap and trade idea is the best option, and to others that is only an act of fear. Which is the best option? I think it is not clear to a lot of people.

  I think things would clear up a lot, though, if people dropped the fear component and only looked at the issues for what they actually are. However, that would be asking for serious personal effort and introspection. Everyone can do that for themself only.

  Overcoming Fear in Social Movement History

  If you look at some of the huge social movement successes of the last century, you can see that they went far beyond fear to achieve their goals. Civil rights activists went beyond the fear of murder, being beaten, having their houses burnt down, and so on to make progress in civil rights for all. Gay rights activists went through similar situations to achieve some of their ends. And how many nations went through similar fears to achieve their freedom?

  If we environmentalists are to achieve our aims — a safe and healthy environment for all — we also have to be willing to overcome such fears and different ones as well. This is an internal issue first, though.

  Related Stories:
  1) What is a Global Citizen? Are You One?
  2) Personal Happiness and the Environment: A Sustainability Connection
  3) The Story of Cap and Trade

  Image Credit 1: Claudio.Ar via flickr under a Creative Commons license
  Image Credit 2: play4smee via flickr under a Creative Commons license
  Image Credit 3: tabrandt via flickr under a Creative Commons license
  Image Credit 4: gorditojaramillo via flickr under a Creative Commons license

  ]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2008/08/06/zaproot-features-ecoworldly-story-on-chinas-importation-of-african-ivory/feed/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/06/16/museveni-african-president-who-laughs-off-global-food-crisis-with-open-arms/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/06/16/museveni-african-president-who-laughs-off-global-food-crisis-with-open-arms/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:31:49 +0000 Sam Aola Ooko http://ecoworldly.com/2008/06/16/museveni-african-president-who-laughs-off-global-food-crisis-with-open-arms/ “Khotso, pula, nala.”
  “Peace, rain, prosperity.”
  When there is peace and rain people live happier because they will not be fighting; they will plough their fields and will have food. – African proverb.

  Listening to Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni at any forum has never been boring. He can make his audiences jeer and laugh at the same time but not without drama at times. Museveni is both loved and hated by many because of his straight talking. But that is not to say he does so all the time.

  One such time was at a recent Commonwealth leaders meeting in London where he happily laughed off the current global food crisis.

  What seems good riddance for his small landlocked nation in east Africa has been boggling minds elsewhere and governments from Argentina to Senegal, from Egypt to South Africa, have grappled with riots of sorts over high prices of food. In Haiti, it cost the political life of a prime minister who had to vacate office for failing to soften the hunger pangs of his people.

  Read more of this story »

  ]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2008/06/16/museveni-african-president-who-laughs-off-global-food-crisis-with-open-arms/feed/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/12/hunger-and-anger-in-the-time-of-food-riots/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/12/hunger-and-anger-in-the-time-of-food-riots/#comments Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:06:49 +0000 Sam Aola Ooko http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/12/hunger-and-anger-in-the-time-of-food-riots/ Half the world is starving and many are becoming hungrier and angrier. Millions more are impoverished daily. Many of these are poor mothers and children in poor nations of Africa and other developing countries.

  The New Face of Hunger is not a stark picture of battered and malnourished children in Ethiopia. It is the rise of commodity prices and super inflation now biting all across the globe.

  The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation predicted in October 2007: “If prices continue to rise, it would not be surprising if we began to see food riots.” World food prices have risen 45 percent in the last nine months and there are serious shortages of rice, wheat and maize, according to FAO.

  Read more of this story »

  ]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/12/hunger-and-anger-in-the-time-of-food-riots/feed/