Archive for the 'Conservation' Category

Unless you don’t follow politics, you know about the McCain/Clinton plan for a gas tax holiday. The basic idea is that to reduce the pain of the annual summer gas price hike these two candidates propose that federal gas taxes be suspended through the summer months. At first, this might seem like a good plan, but then you would talk to an economist or take a few seconds to think about it and realize that it isn’t a plan at all so much as a campaign talking point designed to play on an economically strained public.

I have mentioned my general distrust of economist in the past, so I am not going to spend a lot of time quoting them on why this is a bad idea. Suffice it to say that basically no economist will support the idea as a viable solution. You don’t need an economist to tell you why this is either an extremely poorly thought out policy or simple pandering. You see, gas prices go up in the summer because the refineries can not keep up with demand, which is the same reason that prices are high these days anyway. Gas prices rise and frivolous demand goes down and the available resources are distributed by necessity. Its the economics of scarcity, supply and demand and other sorts of voodoo.

It’s simple, if the 18 cent per gallon federal tax ‘goes on holiday’, the price of gasoline will simply rise to fill the difference. There is precedence for it and it will be done and to suggest otherwise is buffoonery.

This is pandering. The thing is that once again, we are not being asked to sacrifice and work together to find lasting solutions. Instead, we are being offered cheap gimmicks and feel good politics. Times are tough, but we need some perspective on this. The average Montanan uses about 544 gallons of gas per year, so lets assume that usage is distributed evenly throughout the year (I know that it is not), that means we go through about 45.33 gallons per month. At the current rate of $3.70 a gallon for mid grade, we spend around $167.72 a month. Even if the 18.4 cent gas tax holiday did lower the price, the average Montanan would save around $8.15 per month. That is the cost of two cups of coffee at Starbucks, four energy drinks, two packs of cigarettes or 2.2 gallons of gas. Even if it were to work, it really isn’t a lot of help at all.

Look back at that 2.2 gallons of gas though. All of the candidate’s ought to be asking us to sacrifice by dropping 2.2 gallons of gas from our monthly consumption. For the average Montanan, that is cutting 4% of their normal rate. That’s 61.6 miles of city driving in a Toyota Carolla or 26.4 miles in a Dodge Ram 1500. By lowering our consumption, we reduce demand which lowers the supposed purpose of rising prices. Additionally, consider the positive environmental impact. Sure, it might be a little uncomfortable. You might have to carpool, or pool your errands, but have we really come to the point where we are not willing to sacrifice a little? Are we that self focussed really?

We don’t need politicians who pander to us. We don’t need politicians who propose feel good legislation. We need leaders who will put forward lasting solutions to our very real issues. We have all acknowledged that we are facing real problems and as American’s, we should be willing to stand up and fight the good fight. We should be willing to make the sacrifices needed, not cozy up to politicians who promise they will fix everything for us. They can’t and nohing will ever get fixed that way.

Last week I wrote a post here about the Bush administration’s relaxation of mountain top mining. At the end, I left some contact links for Baucus, Tester and Rehberg. Well, I did my part and emailed all of them on the topic. I received a response from Jon Tester today and it had a couple of points that I wanted to share:

Dear Shane:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns about the Bush Administration’s efforts to sanction mountaintop strip mining.
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As you know, the federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Reclamation and Enforcement has proposed to exempt coal mining wastes from a 1983 regulation known as the Stream Buffer Zone Rule which prohibits coal mining activities from disturbing areas within 100 feet of streams. I have some real concerns with the implications of OSM’s proposal.
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This proposal from the Bush Administration would allow for mining operations that are similar to the proposed Cline Mine in British Columbia. I am concerned that the proposed Cline Mine would send toxic runoff into the Flathead Watershed. Coal mining is an important part of Montana’s and our nation’s economy. It keeps the lights on in American homes and businesses, but there are appropriate places and appropriate ways to mine. We must make every effort to minimize the environmental risks associated with mining. If the United States cannot set the example of responsible mining, it becomes harder for us to ask our neighbors to the north to refrain from polluting Montana’s Flathead River.
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Mountaintop strip mining, in the manner the Administration proposes, threatens wildlife habitat, sends toxic runoff into streams and rivers, and literally blows mountains to pieces. It may initially cost more to mine in an environmentally responsible way. However, the consequences associated with irresponsible mining practices have long term costs in cleanup, health and lost outdoor recreational opportunities.
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I appreciate the time that you have taken to be involved and informed about this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future if I can be of further assistance.
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Sincerely,
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Jon Tester
United States Senator

I appreciate that Senator Tester really seems to grasp and be concerned about the topic at hand. Seriously, I am. I think that he means what he says here and he is saying the right things, mostly.

However, I am a little disappointed that he only talks about ways to keep col mining going as cleanly as possible instead of more on the alternate fuels that we heard so much about during the campaign.

The questions I pose to you, the loyal reader, are: Are we so dependent on coal that we are not likely to transition off of it anytime soon? Is it so entrenched in our economy and minds in Montana that we aren’t taking alternatives seriously? While I do appreciate the Jon has worked hard on the alternate fuels, does a successful politician have to support coal in this state?

Our own PJFinn made a pretty important post over at Buzztail recently where he talked about Mr Bush’s plan to open up mountain top mining in light of the recent mining tragedy in Utah. My thoughts are that this is a topic that bears discussion.

As this NYTimes article points out, this would be a ‘ruling’ that would not require congressional approval. It was expected to come down Friday, so it is extremely eminent. If you don’t want this, we need to act now. I have prepared a visual representation of the Mission Mountain Range, before and after. Enjoy.

Don’t think it will be like this? Well, it wont. It will be much uglier. The part of the mountain that is left would be a stripped scabland. My photoshopping skills aren’t good enough to make it look as bad as it really would.

You see, I am from Appalachia. I have seen first hand what mountain top mining does to a mountain. It is not pretty. Here are a few examples:

As PJ points out, there is still some room for public input. I suggest that each of you who cares contact Baucus, Tester and Rehberg.

You know, I’ve been leery of biofuels all along. It sounds good in theory — burn renewable plant-based fuels rather than carbon-based fuels to reduce CO2 emissions. The only problem is that they would likely make things worse.

Scientists who have been studying the differences are saying that it would be far better in the short-term — say the next century or so — to continue the use of fossil fuels and to do some serious work in re-forestation projects rather than to pin our hopes on biofuels. They say that it would take from 50 to 100 years to offset the carbon emissions that would result from switching the land over to plant-based fuels. At the same time re-forestation would sequester from 2 to 9 times more carbon dioxide than biofuels would eliminate over the next thirty years. That’s a very important time-frame. The next thirty years are going to be crucial.

Does this mean we can relax and continue to burn fossil fuels like we’ve grown accustomed to doing? No. Not at all. We need to practice aggressive conservation practices while we still have the time. We need to raise fuel efficiency standards to where they will actually do some good, and let the car makers whine. We need serious funding and research into things like solar energy and light rail for public transit and a commitment to improving the railroads in general for both shipping and travel. Above all we need to seriously look at the way we live our lives, come to grips with the fact that we’re going to have to make some major changes over the next few decades and get to work on them, and quit looking for quick pie-in-the-sky fixes that might just make things worse.

Sometimes it occurs to me that between the fear and loathing in Helena and the fear and loathing in Washington DC, I forget that there are a lot of other things going on that we are ignoring. A readers letter this week pointed out one of those things; our national parks. You see, these are our treasures. They are our showcases, our history and our heritage. Just like all things of great value, once they are lost they can not be replaced.

The reader’s letter pointed out to me that it might be worth taking a look into how they are doing, particularly our own Big Hole National Park. It did not take too long to find out that there might be some problems in our National Park Service in general.

In 2004 the National Parks Service was instructed to begin cutting services at parks throughout the country. Though the parks budget had actually increased over the years, it was not increasing at the rate of expenses. In short, they were falling behind.

Facing what some people warn is a “crippling” budget shortfall, many national park superintendents are being asked to consider cutting their ranger staffs, services, and visitor center hours—and possibly even closing down completely on certain days.

Several advocacy groups now charge that the entire National Park System is menaced by a hidden crisis, and that Park Service officials are trying to cover it up.

This is a very bad thing people, but at least we found out about it early enough to correct the problems, right? Sure we had. Did we actually do anything? Not a chance.

We see that today park police staffing is at a 20 year low, even as park visitation increases and problems are compounding. President Bush has proposed a 3 billion dollar infusion over the next 10 years called the Centennial Initiative. While this sounds like a great idea, there are always string attached. In this piece, Ann Whisnant points out that Bush’s plan relies on an infusion of private dollars. She see the problem as

giving the administration another privatization wedge is a dubious proposition. No one knows what the quid pro quo will be. Private control of yet another area of public policy? Private interests, rather than public needs, dictating Centennial Initiative priorities? Routine park maintenance neglected in favor of glossier (and more fundable) specialty projects? Parks or park features named for corporations? The Google Grand Canyon, perhaps? Disney’s Dinosaur National Monument? Harrah’s Blue Ridge Parkway?

Far-fetched as these sound, an inescapable lesson of recent years is that things can (and will) get worse than we can possibly imagine in advance.

Read her whole piece for a real historic perspective on why the Centennial Initiative is simply not enough.

We can judge the health of our parks system by looking at our own Big Hole and how it is doing. I remember growing up and reading stories of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce as they fought all across the west, seeking freedom from the government’s reservations. Against great odds, they fought the good fight. The image of Joseph and their stand at Big Hole and the travesty that followed has long been burned into my mind. The phrase “I will fight no more forever” is a part of our national conscience, we all know exactly what it means and what part of the soul it comes from. This is a piece of American heritage, honoring a group that typified the American spirit in a monumental quest for freedom. As a reminder of this spirit, I have pasted Joseph’s speech below the fold.

According to a report by the National Park Conservation Association, Big Hole is having problems. The park only received ‘fair’ ratings and is declining overall. It would be another travesty to let go of this piece of our history. The natural resources of this park are not being minded in the way that we would expect such an important piece of American heritage to be minded and I will remind you, once this is done it can not be undone.

I appreciate the President’s attempt to revamp our parks, but I come at it from another angle. In real dollar terms, 3 billion is simply not enough and it’s reliance on private contributions is bothersome. To be sure, I think that this is a bi-partisan issue if ever there was one and I would like to see a real effort made on both side of the aisle to come up with a working long term solution.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a great discovery, a new big cat! A rare newly discovered
Leopard! To think, these cats have been on earth for thousands of years, and we just found it. Wonder what other cool animals there is yet find?

Seems that a CAT can change its spots. I think you’ll find the following story from Reuter’s interesting. One other rather interesting fact is that with the clearing of the forests this probably will be argued and brought into political views on the practice of defoliation of our forests. The piece begins by saying:

GENEVA (Reuters) - Scientists have identified a leopard found on the South-East Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra as a new species of great cat, the global nature protection body WWF reported on Thursday.

Genetic and skin tests on the creature, now dubbed the Bornean clouded leopard, or Neofelis diardi, have shown that it is almost as different from clouded leopards found on the Asian mainland as lions are from tigers, the Swiss-based WWF said…….

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070315/sc_nm/environment_leopard_dc

Honestly, is this what one should expect from one of our nations foremost environmental crusaders? (H/T Fark).

UPDATE:

Saturday’s headline was a teaser for today’s story, and I think it appropriate to expand a bit now that we have more information. First, let it be noted that the mine in question has a good record for generally not exceeding environmental regulations. Still:

Even Gore noted in his letter that, according to Scorecard, “pollution releases from the mine in 2002 placed it among the ‘dirtiest/worst facilities’ in the U.S.”

The letter was sent to the mining operation requesting that they work with an environmental group to ensure “that the mine becomes a global example of environmental best practices” a week after “The Tennessean’s Washington bureau posed questions to the former vice president about his involvement with the mine.” This is all well and good, especially for the new employees of the soon to be re-opened mine. I’m still left wondering about his willful involvement in the thing, as he could have sold it at any time (voiding the lease apparently would have involved legal action, and the Gore’s refused to comment on whether that was an avenue they pursued).

All this new information, however, does not change the gist of my original question.  Take a look at the pictures from the newspaper and tell me this is setting an environmental example.  I don’t believe it is, and considering his breathless proclamations over the years, you’d think he’d have fought a little harder for his so-called beliefs.

Well OK I was not gone long but I did get out to see the sights in Washington DC and attend the Microsoft Re furbisher’s summit held at the Holiday Inn on the Hill. Considering I had not been in DC for some 20+ years I have to admit to seeing a lot of new things.

What did not surprise me was all the traffic and people of course but I guess that goes with the territory. I spent most of my days there at the meetings which were being held in DC for us “geeks” but I missed the Thursday “meet your congressman” which I really did want to attend but due to flight problems I missed that.

We (Computer 4 Kids) were fortunate though in that we were asked to make a presentation on our operations from the non-profit side of things for a bunch who had MILLIONS of dollars more than we’ll ever see. At the end of the presentation a gentleman rose and addressed the people in the room and said that he wanted to nominate C4K for the Presidential Award which in our corner of the world is HUGE not to mention an honor. And to think a little pow-dunk operation could even tread water among them amazed me. Who was this gentleman in the suit and tie? Only the Director of the Peace Corps whose offices are in Washington DC.

In the next few days I expect to have a run-down of all that went on in DC and will no doubt put it over on my site at www.citizen4change.org (and a link here) as there were a lot of political things happening with such things as environmental issues and where Montana sits in all of that. In simple terms we are guilty of throwing a LOT of things in our dumps that we should not be doing. In the bigger picture, we should be thinking of how this really affects us and our planet.

All in all we had a GREAT time and learned a ton. So for now I’m off to get some much needed SLEEP.

Back on December 18, 2006 I addressed Rep. Rehberg’s hypocritical criticism (in the form of a Missoulian editorial that was never on-line) of Sen. Max Baucus’ step towards saving the Rocky Mountain Front from exploratory drilling. That piece appeared here.

In a synopsis, among other things, Rep. Rehberg criticized not only the loss of the Front to drilling, but whined about Washington failing to address “the heart of the problem : America’s lack of reliable domestic energy supplies.” He went on call for a “comprehensive energy plan that embraces traditional and alternative energy,” and said that we “should be making investments here at home, not lining the coffers of foreign governments, many of which are anti-American.”

His cynicism went further:

It’s possible that in 30 years, when our kids and grandkids are supporting their own families, they’ll thank us for not allowing the Front, or these other American avenues of energy, to be tapped for exploration. Maybe they’ll be happy they didn’t have the opportunity to get a good job in the energy industry.”

Well, apparently his hypocrisy knows no bounds.

On January 18 2007 Rep. Rehberg voted against the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (HR 6), otherwise known as CLEAN Energy Act of 2007.

HR 6 (which passed 264-163) doesn’t completely solve our reliance on foreign oil – Lord knows that can’t be done overnight - but what it does do is eliminate tax subsidies to domestic producers of oil (previously producers were permitted a deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, natural gas, or their related primary products). HR 6 also required the holders of current leases in the Gulf to be up-to-date on their lease payments and requires them, before obtaining any new leases, to renegotiate those leases so that the payments are current with newer lease payment requirements.

Further – and these changes relate directly towards investing in alternative energy sources for the U.S.- it creates a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve that utilizes funds from newly imposed Conservation of Resources Fees, which will be collected any time oil is above $34.73 a barrel or gas is above $4.34 per million BTU. The Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve lists three purposes:

(1) to accelerate the use of clean domestic renewable energy resources and alternative fuels;

(2) to promote the utilization of energy-efficient products and practices and conservation; and

(3) to increase research, development, and deployment of clean renewable energy and efficiency technologies.

…..

So, where does Denny get the lion’s share of campaign money? Big Oil & Gas.

I guess a bill eliminating tax deductions to oil producers already weeble-wobbly fat from subsidy would have hit him too hard in the billfold. And having America investing towards reliance of clean domestic renewable energy was just plain not profitable to either him or his lobbyist buddies.

I’m disgusted. Are you?

When I first got back to Montana, after living “abroad” for 10 years, the first organization that I got involved with was S.A.V.E (Student Advocates for Valuing the Environment).

Well they are having a 3 year celebration/ film showing this Thursday evening at the Myrna Loy Center here in Helena. The party gets started at 6 pm, the film starts at 7 pm, and the suggested donation (you can always give more) is $10.00. Find the details here: http://www.savemobile.org/homeland.html .

“Nearly all Indian lands in the U.S. face grave environmental threats – toxic waste, strip mining,
oil drilling and nuclear contamination. But a handful of activists are fighting back.

Filmed against some of America’s most spectacular backdrops, from Alaska to Maine and Montana to New Mexico, Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action profiles the against-all-odds struggles of Native American leaders who are taking on powerful energy companies and government agencies to protect the environment for all Americans. A moving tribute to the power of grassroots organizing, Homeland is also a call-to-action against the current dismantling of thirty years of environmental laws.”

Hope to see you there!

If so, I thought I’d pass along some pertinent information regarding dogs and mountain hiking. I received this in an email today, and figured some folks may be interested. I sure wouldn’t know what to do in this situation.

Hi friends,

Join us for a free Pet Emergency Workshop on November 18, 2006, from 1 to 3 p.m., in the Weaver Room of the Emerson Center,
111 South Grand Avenue, Bozeman.

Lethal traps set for wildlife increasingly pose a threat for companion animals.
If your dog got caught in a trap, would you know how to rescue your furry friend? Learn how to at the Pet Emergency Workshop, sponsored by Predator Conservation Alliance (Bozeman), Humane Society of the United States Regional Office (Billings), and The Animal Ethics Coalition (Missoula).

Dave Pauli, of the MT regional office of the Humane Society of the United States, will demonstrate trap release methods. Veterinarian Dr. Patti Prado from Missoula will show emergency first aid techniques for an injured pet.

Be aware of traps. Know how to help your pet! Come to the workshop!

Let’s see if I can open up some old wounds here. The ‘hunting season’ on Bison as they leave Yellowstone Park heading to winter grounds begins Wednesday. According to the Helena IR, the number of Bison to be hunted increases this year to 150. You will remember that the main reason behind the hunt was to control brucellosis and keep it from spreading to domestic cattle. As I recall there are no documented cases of this happening. Despite this former argument, a new one seems to be making the rounds now. This from Shane Colton of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission:

‘‘There is more to this hunt that just tipping over big bulls for trophies,’’ he told The Billings Gazette. The hunt is a step toward having bison treated as wildlife ‘‘as opposed to a nuisance animal,’’ he said.

While I am a strong supporter of hunting rights and public access, I was never convinced that a bison population of 3500 is one that needs thinning.