Great Lakes Gain Funding, Lose Important Advocate – February 23, 2010

The Great Lakes, which hold 20 percent of the freshwater in the world, have been a catalyst for the Midwest’s economic development during the past century. If they’ve given much, they have also been thoughtlessly exploited. Today, the Lakes’ waters are glutted with toxic waste, agricultural pesticides, and invasive species; and their filtering wetlands are increasingly engulfed by development. On Sunday, the Obama administration announced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, with a budget of $2 billion.

One aspect of the preservation project is prevention of further degradation—a strategy… more

by: Kit Duane

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Hummer Cool in Japan? – February 18, 2010

How can this be? Americans who wince at the sight of the “luxury-tank,” the Hummer, muscling down their streets, probably imagine that the Japanese wouldn’t be caught dead with such an environmentally un-cool vehicle. But now they’ll have an economic incentive to buy it. Japanese who buy the Hummer H3, which gets 16 mph in city traffic, will receive a $2,779 subsidy from their government for purchasing – here’s the punch line – a “fuel-efficient vehicle.” What made this all happen? Pressure from American trade representatives who felt the countries existing subsidies and incentives for fuel-efficient cars unfairly excluded gas-guzzling American models, especially given that… more

by: Kit Duane

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Shipping News – February 18, 2010

Maersk, the giant Danish shipping company has halved its container ships’ top cruising speeds over the past few years, because at slower speeds ships use less fuel and save the company money. A hopeful side effect: a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.  In yesterday's New York Times, Maersk pointed out that by cutting speeds slightly ships, planes, and cars could cut C02 emissions up to 20 percent, without the need for new technology.

This “slower is better” effect, dovetails nicely with the Drive 55 movement on US… more

by: Kit Duane

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