Glen Dean over at his eponymous blog has pointed out an article that takes the Toyota Prius - the gas-electric hybrid that supposedly gets up to 60 mpg - has a downside. The article makes the unlikely claim that the Hummer is more environmentally-sound than the Prius!
They actually make a pretty good case, check it out:
Building a Toyota Prius causes more environmental damage than a Hummer
that is on the road for three times longer than a Prius. As already
noted, the Prius is partly driven by a battery which contains nickel.
The nickel is mined and smelted at a plant in Sudbury, Ontario. This
plant has caused so much environmental damage to the surrounding
environment that NASA has used the ‘dead zone’ around the plant to test
moon rovers. The area around the plant is devoid of any life for miles.
The plant is the source of all the nickel found in a Prius’ battery and
Toyota purchases 1,000 tons annually. Dubbed the Superstack, the
plague-factory has spread sulfur dioxide across northern Ontario,
becoming every environmentalist’s nightmare.
“The acid rain around Sudbury was so bad it destroyed all the plants
and the soil slid down off the hillside,” said Canadian Greenpeace
energy-coordinator David Martin during an interview with Mail, a
British-based newspaper.
======
Read the full article here - this particular source is a college report, but I've read the same thing multiple places.
The problem is, the sources have been blogs (likely rightwing, but not exclusively). Anyone have more info from a more reliable source?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Be Afraid, Be Verrry Afraid...
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Where do things stand with New Hampshire Democrats since the Democratic presidential candidates debated in Manchester June 3?
The CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader debate did exactly what it was supposed to do. It helped the New Hampshire voters sort out the candidates.
In early April, New Hampshire Democrats were all over the place. The front-runners -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York; Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois; and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina -- were closely matched. Clinton was at 27 percent, Edwards was at 21 percent and Obama was at 20 percent. It was essentially a jump ball.
Who jumped highest after the debate? Clinton. According to a new CNN/WMUR poll of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters released Monday, the New York senator has surged into the lead, with 36 percent support. Obama has held fairly steady at 22 percent, while Edwards has lost support. He's now at 12 percent.
======
Just give the Dems a gun and let them shoot themselves in the foot now... You give them a broken Republican Party and the Dems are STILL trying to mess up what should be a shoo-in.
Well, at least the Dems are being even-handed. Sure, they'd win in a landslide if they offer just about anyone but Hillary, but where'd the challenge be in that? I reckon they're trying to make it a closer race. Makes for better TV.
Still, it's early...
The CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader debate did exactly what it was supposed to do. It helped the New Hampshire voters sort out the candidates.
In early April, New Hampshire Democrats were all over the place. The front-runners -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York; Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois; and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina -- were closely matched. Clinton was at 27 percent, Edwards was at 21 percent and Obama was at 20 percent. It was essentially a jump ball.
Who jumped highest after the debate? Clinton. According to a new CNN/WMUR poll of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters released Monday, the New York senator has surged into the lead, with 36 percent support. Obama has held fairly steady at 22 percent, while Edwards has lost support. He's now at 12 percent.
======
Just give the Dems a gun and let them shoot themselves in the foot now... You give them a broken Republican Party and the Dems are STILL trying to mess up what should be a shoo-in.
Well, at least the Dems are being even-handed. Sure, they'd win in a landslide if they offer just about anyone but Hillary, but where'd the challenge be in that? I reckon they're trying to make it a closer race. Makes for better TV.
Still, it's early...
Saturday, June 9, 2007
The Bible and Economics...
I've begun occasional postings of biblical passages that talk about economics, poverty and/or wealth. Despite the reality that we don't discuss personal economics much in most churches, the topic is dealt with extensively in the Bible (over 2000 times, according to some sources such as this one).
And, as I believe we shall see as we continue bringing up these passages, they are exceedingly on the side of the poor and fraught with warnings for the wealthy.
Hear now what the LORD is saying,
"Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
"Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD,
And you enduring foundations of the earth,
Because the LORD has a case against God’s people;
Even with Israel God will dispute…”
God has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
[God says] “…Is there yet a man in the wicked house,
Along with treasures of wickedness
And a short measure that is cursed?
“Can I justify wicked scales
And a bag of deceptive weights?
“For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
Her residents speak lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth…”
Micah 6:1-2, 8, 10-12
One thing we see in many passages such as this one is the tying of violence and oppression to the wealthy in their actions against the poor.
Thoughts?
And, as I believe we shall see as we continue bringing up these passages, they are exceedingly on the side of the poor and fraught with warnings for the wealthy.
Hear now what the LORD is saying,
"Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
"Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD,
And you enduring foundations of the earth,
Because the LORD has a case against God’s people;
Even with Israel God will dispute…”
God has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
[God says] “…Is there yet a man in the wicked house,
Along with treasures of wickedness
And a short measure that is cursed?
“Can I justify wicked scales
And a bag of deceptive weights?
“For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
Her residents speak lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth…”
Micah 6:1-2, 8, 10-12
One thing we see in many passages such as this one is the tying of violence and oppression to the wealthy in their actions against the poor.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Good Life, cont'd...
I began here and continued here a discussion of the Scott and Helen Nearing book, Living the Good Life. The Nearings attempted to live a more simple, sustainable life back mid-century. The story (which I'm just finishing) is extremely compelling and one I recommend - whether or not you have any intention of simplifying your life (but who amongst us doesn't dream of doing that these days?).
Another excerpt from their chapter on Livelihood:
Our practice was almost the exact opposite of the current one. Our consumer necessaries came mostly from the place, on a use basis. Comforts and conveniences came from outside the farm and had to be procured by barter or through cash outlays…
We endeavored to do as Robert Louis Stevenson advised in his Christmas sermon, “earn a little and spend a little less.” Food from the garden and wood from the forest were the product of our own time and labor. We paid no rent. Taxes were reasonable. We bought no candy, pastries, meat, soft drinks, alcohol, tea, coffee or tobacco. These seemingly minor items mount up and occupy a large place in the ordinary family’s budget. We spent little on clothes and knick-knacks. We lighted for fifteen years with kerosene and candles. We never had a telephone or radio. Most of our furniture was built in and hand made. We did our trading in town not more than twice in a month and then our purchases were scanty.
“Civilization,” said Mark Twain, “is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessaries.” A market economy seeks by ballyhoo to bamboozle consumers into buying things they neither need nor want, thus compelling them to sell their labor power as a means of paying for their purchases. Since our aim was liberation from the exploitation accompanying the sale of labor power, we were as wary of market lures as a wise mouse is wary of other traps.
So, does their simplicity strike you as beautifully appealing or appallingly spartan? Would you replace TV at night with storytelling, music-playing and/or dancing? Would you trade nearly all your stuff for just a bit more simplicity?
Another excerpt from their chapter on Livelihood:
Our practice was almost the exact opposite of the current one. Our consumer necessaries came mostly from the place, on a use basis. Comforts and conveniences came from outside the farm and had to be procured by barter or through cash outlays…
We endeavored to do as Robert Louis Stevenson advised in his Christmas sermon, “earn a little and spend a little less.” Food from the garden and wood from the forest were the product of our own time and labor. We paid no rent. Taxes were reasonable. We bought no candy, pastries, meat, soft drinks, alcohol, tea, coffee or tobacco. These seemingly minor items mount up and occupy a large place in the ordinary family’s budget. We spent little on clothes and knick-knacks. We lighted for fifteen years with kerosene and candles. We never had a telephone or radio. Most of our furniture was built in and hand made. We did our trading in town not more than twice in a month and then our purchases were scanty.
“Civilization,” said Mark Twain, “is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessaries.” A market economy seeks by ballyhoo to bamboozle consumers into buying things they neither need nor want, thus compelling them to sell their labor power as a means of paying for their purchases. Since our aim was liberation from the exploitation accompanying the sale of labor power, we were as wary of market lures as a wise mouse is wary of other traps.
So, does their simplicity strike you as beautifully appealing or appallingly spartan? Would you replace TV at night with storytelling, music-playing and/or dancing? Would you trade nearly all your stuff for just a bit more simplicity?
Friday, June 1, 2007
Happy Anniversary
Sometimes our life reminds me
of a forest in which there is a graceful clearing
and in that opening a house,
an orchard and garden,
comfortable shades, and flowers
red and yellow in the sun, a pattern
made in the light for the light to return to.
The forest is mostly dark, its ways
to be made anew day after day, the dark
richer than the light and more blessed,
provided we stay brave
enough to keep on going in...
I give you what is unbounded, passing from dark to dark,
containing darkness: a night of rain, an early morning.
I give you the life I have let live for the love of you:
a clump of orange-blooming weeds beside the road,
the young orchard waiting in the snow, our own life
that we have planted in the ground...
Excerpted from Wendell Berry's The Country of Marriage
Happy Anniversary, Donna.
of a forest in which there is a graceful clearing
and in that opening a house,
an orchard and garden,
comfortable shades, and flowers
red and yellow in the sun, a pattern
made in the light for the light to return to.
The forest is mostly dark, its ways
to be made anew day after day, the dark
richer than the light and more blessed,
provided we stay brave
enough to keep on going in...
I give you what is unbounded, passing from dark to dark,
containing darkness: a night of rain, an early morning.
I give you the life I have let live for the love of you:
a clump of orange-blooming weeds beside the road,
the young orchard waiting in the snow, our own life
that we have planted in the ground...
Excerpted from Wendell Berry's The Country of Marriage
Happy Anniversary, Donna.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
If I had a Hammer...
From the NY Times:
When former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton took a family vacation in January 2002 to Acapulco, Mexico, one of their longtime supporters, Vinod Gupta, provided his company’s private jet to fly them there.
The company, infoUSA, one of the nation’s largest brokers of information on consumers, paid $146,866 to ferry the Clintons, Mr. Gupta and others to Acapulco and back, court records show. During the next four years, infoUSA paid Mr. Clinton more than $2 million for consulting services, and spent almost $900,000 to fly him around the world for his presidential foundation work and to fly Mrs. Clinton to campaign events...
The Clintons are facing a bit of heat over their connection to this company who brokers information and have been investigated by authorities in Iowa who "found that infoUSA sold consumer data several years ago to telemarketing criminals who used it to steal money from elderly Americans."
Yuck.
It's for reasons like this that we desperately need campaign and political reform. These people - even if they're legitimate companies - have been paying big money to well-connected people in an effort to influence policy and it just stinks. Even if a company is NOT wanting favors or to influence policy, the very appearance of favoritism is a detriment to our Republic.
Money is not "free speech." And Big Money is even less so.
When former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton took a family vacation in January 2002 to Acapulco, Mexico, one of their longtime supporters, Vinod Gupta, provided his company’s private jet to fly them there.
The company, infoUSA, one of the nation’s largest brokers of information on consumers, paid $146,866 to ferry the Clintons, Mr. Gupta and others to Acapulco and back, court records show. During the next four years, infoUSA paid Mr. Clinton more than $2 million for consulting services, and spent almost $900,000 to fly him around the world for his presidential foundation work and to fly Mrs. Clinton to campaign events...
The Clintons are facing a bit of heat over their connection to this company who brokers information and have been investigated by authorities in Iowa who "found that infoUSA sold consumer data several years ago to telemarketing criminals who used it to steal money from elderly Americans."
Yuck.
It's for reasons like this that we desperately need campaign and political reform. These people - even if they're legitimate companies - have been paying big money to well-connected people in an effort to influence policy and it just stinks. Even if a company is NOT wanting favors or to influence policy, the very appearance of favoritism is a detriment to our Republic.
Money is not "free speech." And Big Money is even less so.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Those Clowns Running for President...
We of course have no way of knowing this early on in the presidential race, but my early hunch says Obama will be our next president. This, mainly because of the latest polls.
From
Zogby:
Obama Leads All Republicans in General Election Head to Head Contests
Obama would defeat all Republican opponents, including John McCain of Arizona, Rudy Giuliani of New York City, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and Fred Thompson of Tennessee in prospective presidential contests, the poll shows.
I point this out with the note that Obama is not my first choice - that would be Kucinich. I'm just saying this is my early hunch of how things will turn out.
Anyone else wanting to go out on the limb with early predictions?
From
Zogby:
Obama Leads All Republicans in General Election Head to Head Contests
Obama would defeat all Republican opponents, including John McCain of Arizona, Rudy Giuliani of New York City, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and Fred Thompson of Tennessee in prospective presidential contests, the poll shows.
I point this out with the note that Obama is not my first choice - that would be Kucinich. I'm just saying this is my early hunch of how things will turn out.
Anyone else wanting to go out on the limb with early predictions?
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Living the Good Life, cont'd...
As both of my regular readers know (Hi, mom!) I've been reading and commenting on the Scott and Helen Nearing book, Living the Good Life, a book on simple and sustainable living written in the middle of last century. My first comment on the book can be found here.
I highly recommend the book and want to offer another quote for your reading pleasure and discussion if you so choose.
In Chapter 6, they discuss Livelihood - what we do with our time and how we make our living. They suggest seven procedures to maximize sustainability and security of livelihood. I suppose these are rules that they would suggest apply at the community as well as the individual level. They are:
1. Regulating the sources of livelihood in such a manner that all able-bodied adults will render a service in exchange for income, thus eliminating the social divisions which develop when a part of the community lives on unearned income while the remainder exchanges labor power for its livelihood.
2. Avoid gross and glaring inequalities in livelihood status.
3. Budget and plan community economy.
4. Keep community books, and open the accounts to public inspection.
5. Pay as you go, either in labor or materials, thus avoiding inflation.
6. Practice economy, conserving resources, producing and consuming as little as necessary rather than as much as possible.
7. Provide a wide range of social services based upon specialization and cooperation.
======
Well, there's a little something there to make most of us uncomfortable. What say ye?
I highly recommend the book and want to offer another quote for your reading pleasure and discussion if you so choose.
In Chapter 6, they discuss Livelihood - what we do with our time and how we make our living. They suggest seven procedures to maximize sustainability and security of livelihood. I suppose these are rules that they would suggest apply at the community as well as the individual level. They are:
1. Regulating the sources of livelihood in such a manner that all able-bodied adults will render a service in exchange for income, thus eliminating the social divisions which develop when a part of the community lives on unearned income while the remainder exchanges labor power for its livelihood.
2. Avoid gross and glaring inequalities in livelihood status.
3. Budget and plan community economy.
4. Keep community books, and open the accounts to public inspection.
5. Pay as you go, either in labor or materials, thus avoiding inflation.
6. Practice economy, conserving resources, producing and consuming as little as necessary rather than as much as possible.
7. Provide a wide range of social services based upon specialization and cooperation.
======
Well, there's a little something there to make most of us uncomfortable. What say ye?
Friday, May 25, 2007
My Dream Girl
From an AP story:
Motorists pulled in to Harvey Pollack's gas station, honked and gave him a thumbs-up -- because he wasn't selling any fuel.
The owner of Towne Market Mobil in this suburb north of Milwaukee shut down his pumps for 24 hours, hoping to start a movement aimed at convincing oil companies to lower their prices.
"Somebody out there is making money at these prices, but not me," said Pollack, 57. "So I just thought: What can I do to help the consumer?"
...Pollack and station general manager John Schwartz agreed to experiment with a pump shutdown after an Internet-based push for a one-day gas boycott went largely unheeded last week.
"Somebody's got to be the first to try this," Schwartz said...
Pollack said he has virtually no control over the price he charges for gas. The company usually makes 8 to 12 cents per gallon after suppliers' prices and credit card fees. On Wednesday -- the day before the protest -- that added up to $3.49 for a gallon of unleaded gas.
Schwartz called that "outrageous" and said even he can't fill up his SUV at that price [whoosh! Irony flying over his head...dt].
"If it keeps going like this, my kids will never be able to afford to drive," said Schwartz, who has an 18-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.
=======
And there it is. The Truth, spoken in frustration and without realizing the irony of the statement.
You reckon your children will be driving SUVs? Autos of any sort?
Or will they be cursing us for using up the available fossil fuel resources in one brilliant 100 year burst of consumption?
Motorists pulled in to Harvey Pollack's gas station, honked and gave him a thumbs-up -- because he wasn't selling any fuel.
The owner of Towne Market Mobil in this suburb north of Milwaukee shut down his pumps for 24 hours, hoping to start a movement aimed at convincing oil companies to lower their prices.
"Somebody out there is making money at these prices, but not me," said Pollack, 57. "So I just thought: What can I do to help the consumer?"
...Pollack and station general manager John Schwartz agreed to experiment with a pump shutdown after an Internet-based push for a one-day gas boycott went largely unheeded last week.
"Somebody's got to be the first to try this," Schwartz said...
Pollack said he has virtually no control over the price he charges for gas. The company usually makes 8 to 12 cents per gallon after suppliers' prices and credit card fees. On Wednesday -- the day before the protest -- that added up to $3.49 for a gallon of unleaded gas.
Schwartz called that "outrageous" and said even he can't fill up his SUV at that price [whoosh! Irony flying over his head...dt].
"If it keeps going like this, my kids will never be able to afford to drive," said Schwartz, who has an 18-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.
=======
And there it is. The Truth, spoken in frustration and without realizing the irony of the statement.
You reckon your children will be driving SUVs? Autos of any sort?
Or will they be cursing us for using up the available fossil fuel resources in one brilliant 100 year burst of consumption?
Monday, May 21, 2007
Earth Day 2007
Yesterday, my church - Jeff St - celebrated our annual Earth Day service. I know, Earth Day was last month, but we always celebrate in May. The better to increase the likelihood of good weather so that the service may be held outside.
It was a beautiful day.
We had two storytellers do an excellent job of telling the Easter Island story. The first story was Easter Island's story as it appeared to have happened (they collapsed under their own overconsumption). The second story was a more hopeful What Might Have Been vision.
What might have happened with the people of Easter Island if they had only learned to live with Enough?
Additionally, we had a blessing for a group within our church that is in the process of establishing a community on a farm just across the river from us.
More photos and the blessing can be found at the Jeff St blog.
It was a beautiful day.
We had two storytellers do an excellent job of telling the Easter Island story. The first story was Easter Island's story as it appeared to have happened (they collapsed under their own overconsumption). The second story was a more hopeful What Might Have Been vision.
What might have happened with the people of Easter Island if they had only learned to live with Enough?
Additionally, we had a blessing for a group within our church that is in the process of establishing a community on a farm just across the river from us.
More photos and the blessing can be found at the Jeff St blog.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Political Compass Chart
I found this link over to ER's site and thought it interesting.
If you go here, you'll find the Political Compass website, where you can choose to take a survey to find out where they place you on a political compass.
The interesting thing there is that they measure not just Left and Right (as in More Communist or More Neo-Liberal/Capitalist or Libertarian) on the economic side of things, but also how you measure on a social side of things - more Authoritarian or more Libertarian (more State-Controlled or More Individual Freedom).
My score was:
Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.05
Or to the Left of Gandhi economically and more libertarian socially.
As is always the case with this survey, there are problems with the questions. For instance, "A mother can have a job but her primary role should be home-maker"
The statement repulses the feminist in me and I would strongly disagree, but then, in reality, I think ALL of our primary role ought to be home-makers. That is what people should be about - making a home and a community.
So, strictly honestly-speaking, I would answer a Strong Yes, but instead - because of the oppressive/sexist sound of the question - I answered a Soft No.
Still, an interesting test. Give it a try.
If you go here, you'll find the Political Compass website, where you can choose to take a survey to find out where they place you on a political compass.
The interesting thing there is that they measure not just Left and Right (as in More Communist or More Neo-Liberal/Capitalist or Libertarian) on the economic side of things, but also how you measure on a social side of things - more Authoritarian or more Libertarian (more State-Controlled or More Individual Freedom).
My score was:
Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.05
Or to the Left of Gandhi economically and more libertarian socially.
As is always the case with this survey, there are problems with the questions. For instance, "A mother can have a job but her primary role should be home-maker"
The statement repulses the feminist in me and I would strongly disagree, but then, in reality, I think ALL of our primary role ought to be home-makers. That is what people should be about - making a home and a community.
So, strictly honestly-speaking, I would answer a Strong Yes, but instead - because of the oppressive/sexist sound of the question - I answered a Soft No.
Still, an interesting test. Give it a try.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The Bible and Economics
I thought I'd begin a new thing today. I will occasionally post a passage, verse or verses from the Bible on matters of economics. Since I've begun watching for it, I've been surprised at how persistent economic messages are within the Bible.
Eventually, I'll create a link page so that all of these Bible Economics quotes can be accessed from one page. I think it will be an interesting experiment. Feel free to give your thoughts on these passages.
“The songs of the palace will turn to wailing in that day,” declares the Lord GOD “Many will be the corpses; in every place they will cast them forth in silence.”
Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, saying,
“When will the new moon be over,
So that we may sell grain,
And the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market,
To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger,
And to cheat with dishonest scales,
So as to buy the helpless for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals,
And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?”
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob,
“Indeed, I will never forget any of their deeds...”
“It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord GOD,
“That I will make the sun go down at noon
And make the earth dark in broad daylight…
“Then I will turn your festivals into mourning
And all your songs into lamentation…”
~Amos 8: 3-10
Eventually, I'll create a link page so that all of these Bible Economics quotes can be accessed from one page. I think it will be an interesting experiment. Feel free to give your thoughts on these passages.
“The songs of the palace will turn to wailing in that day,” declares the Lord GOD “Many will be the corpses; in every place they will cast them forth in silence.”
Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, saying,
“When will the new moon be over,
So that we may sell grain,
And the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market,
To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger,
And to cheat with dishonest scales,
So as to buy the helpless for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals,
And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?”
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob,
“Indeed, I will never forget any of their deeds...”
“It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord GOD,
“That I will make the sun go down at noon
And make the earth dark in broad daylight…
“Then I will turn your festivals into mourning
And all your songs into lamentation…”
~Amos 8: 3-10
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