Global Warming Update:
Curbing CO2 Emissions Becomes Environmental 'New World Order'

An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore's Emmy Award winning climate change documentary, made him a prophet in his own time. With the release of Part 2 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report this April, the international scientific community has reaffirmed Gore's claims.

The world's scientists say there's a 90+% chance that humans are causing global warming, and we're already starting to feel the heat. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, largely from the burning of fossil fuels, are melting the polar caps, raising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, spreading drought, and contributing to mass species extinction. Although some of the damage is irreversible, we may be able to slow the acceleration. But we must act now, before reaching a "tipping point" where climate change spirals out of control. It is this generation's "moral imperative," according to Gore, to preserve the planet for our children's children.

While there are still some climate skeptics, their ranks are thinning and their criticisms are ringing hollow. Conservative columnist George Will only embarrassed himself in a recent Newsweek column (2/12/2007) by saying don't worry—a warmer climate once was good for Viking farmers. A New York Times article (3/13/2007) cited scientists who criticized Gore for "exaggeration" while still praising him for "getting the message out." These are toothless attacks from knee-jerk reactionaries.

Even some Christian evangelicals are going green. On August 3, 2006 on the 700 Club, Rev. Pat Robertson declared himself "a convert" on global warming. He implored, "It is getting hotter and the ice caps are melting and there is a build up of carbon dioxide in the air.... We really need to do something on fossil fuels." However, when Rev. Richard Cizik, policy director for the National Association of Evangelicals, expressed similar sentiments, a group of conservative Christian leaders wrote a letter urging the NAE board to shut Cizik up or fire him. Many environmentalists now compare hardline global warming skeptics to "holocaust deniers."

To be sure, the debate over global warming has shifted. It's no longer a question of whether man is causing climate change, but what we're going to do about it. Curbing CO2 emissions could well become the central organizing principle of industrial society. This would mandate a transition away from fossil fuels (oil and coal) to other forms of energy, including solar, wind, water, and arguably, nuclear fission. (Hydrogen, while highly touted, is made from one of the above, and is thus derivative.) The sooner we make this transition, the less expensive and disruptive it will be in the long run.

Nuclear engineer and San Francisco KGO Radio talkshow host Bill Wattenburg, who as recently as last year doubted that human activity contributed to global warming, is now using current evidence to make his case for promoting—you guessed it—nuclear power. Ironically, he also blames Al Gore and other environmentalists for having caused global warming in the first place by opposing nuclear power. Shoot the messenger? Funny, Dr. Bill, but the satirical newspaper The Onion has you one better. They accused an attention-starved Al Gore of causing global warming on purpose by idling his SUV with the air-conditioner on full blast.

Expect the debate over the merits of nuclear fission to heat up as temperatures rise. While most environmentalists remain skeptical of nuclear safety, others—most notably Patrick Moore originally of Greenpeace, and James Lovelock of "Gaia Hypothesis" fame—are major proponents. They argue that the burning of fossil fuels is so damaging that the risks from waste disposal, terrorism, and even another Chernobyl meltdown, are petty by comparison.

The international debate over the Kyoto Protocols was about who should reduce CO2 emissions most and how quickly. The United States alone is responsible for one-quarter of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide and uses one-quarter of the world's crude oil. As the world's largest single greenhouse gas polluter, it's been argued that the U.S. has a moral obligation to reduce most. The Bush administration has countered that reductions should be much more gradual, that U.S. citizens should not have to sacrifice their economy or way of life. Must we preserve the dream of a Hummer in every three-car garage? And to be fair, China's massive new construction of dirty coal plants could be just as problematic. Then there's newly industrialized India. As Gore noted, "On one side of the equation is money. On the other side is the earth. But if you ruin the earth...."

A leaked draft of a U.S. government report shows that officials expect greenhouse-gas emissions to keep climbing under President Bush's watch, albeit at a slightly slower rate due to the president's newfound sensitivity to global warming issues. Too little too late, claim environmentalists. Said David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council, "If you set the hurdle one inch above the ground you can't fail to clear it." We have to do better.

We must end the "throwaway culture" mentality because there simply is no "away" on spaceship earth. Despite the misgivings of business, developing new energy technologies and energy efficient products could create more new jobs than it eliminates. If the U.S. transitioned to hybrid cars and LED bulbs, insulated our buildings and recycled to the max, we could probably halve CO2 emissions within 10 to 20 years—mostly with current, off-the-shelf technology. Idealistic? Sure, why not?

Despite government intransigence, big business is way ahead of Washington on climate action. As reported in the environmental magazine Grist, Shell is expanding into hydrogen and other energy alternatives. Alcoa is setting ambitious goals for aluminum recycling. Whirlpool is building more energy-efficient appliances. DuPont is betting big on biofuels. More than 60 corporations with net revenues of roughly $1.5 trillion have voluntarily set reduction targets for their greenhouse-gas emissions. Beyond this, Gore and others recommend that government mandate overall emissions caps but allow for "carbon trading" so that no industry is unduly affected. It's business—unusual.

Even while the United States is dragging its feet, the 27 member states of the European Union have agreed on an ambitious green-energy goal. Their plan—to use 20% renewable energy by 2020—will "establish us as a world pioneer," says German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who brokered the deal. Two major concessions made cranky countries happy: the 20% will be an E.U. average, allowing national goals to vary (and providing poorer countries with a wee loophole); and the deal gives a nod to the potential benefits of nuclear, which already supplies 70% of France's power. Coupled with a pledge to cut emissions 20% by 2020, this is "the most ambitious package ever agreed to by any commission or any group of countries on energy security and climate protection," says European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Indeed, renewables could satisfy half the world's energy demand by 2050, says a new report by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council. But—and there's always a but—only if world governments encourage efficiency and crack down on fossil fuel use.

The ever-optimistic "Energy Revolution" report is a road map of sorts, demonstrating how nations might encourage a huge jump in the use of wind, solar, hydro, tidal power, and biomass from their current 13.2% of world energy supply to 50% or more. If governments put a price on carbon, encourage efficiency, and strong-arm polluters, worldwide energy demand could even fall 6% by 2050, says the report, as noted in Grist.

To borrow a phrase from President Bush I, we are entering an environmental "New World Order," and now we have a choice of alternative futures. Do we want to become increasingly dependent on centralized power? Or should we decentralize with a divergent mix of energy sources based on local availability—solar where it's sunny; wind where it's windy; tidal at the coasts, etc.? In the national bestseller The Weather Makers, Tim Flannery elaborates:

"So what might life be like if we choose one over the other? In the hydrogen and nuclear economies, the production of power is likely to be centralized, which would mean the survival of the big power corporations. Pursuing wind and solar technologies, on the other hand, opens the possibility that people will generate most of their own power, transport fuel, and even water (by condensing it from the air.)

"If we follow this second path, we will have opened a door to a world [where] fuel will be generated not by large corporations, but by every one of us."

Beyond sustainability, the second path also offers diversity, a world where democratic values could again thrive.

Report by Bart Brodsky

SOURCES:
www.grist.org, 1/26/2007, 2/1/2007, 3/5/2007, 3/9/2007
New York Times, 3/13/2007; Reuters, 2/3/2007
The Weather Makers, Tim Flannery, Grove Press, 2005

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Report From New Orleans
With Habitat For Humanity

While many college students "go wild" during Spring break, Audrey Geis and twelve of her peers at Boston's Emerson College got serious. This past March they traveled to New Orleans and donated their time to Jimmy Carter's Habitat for Humanity, helping to build houses in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Yes, after nearly two years, communities are still in ruin and people are hurting. It's vital that Louisiana levees are strengthened or much of their work and that of others could be washed away by the next Katrina.

	Student volunteers with Habitat For Humanity help build a house in an area of New Orleans devastated by Katrina almost two years ago.

Audrey reports, "While Hurricane Katrina has disappeared from the national headlines, more than a year and a half later, it still engulfs all the local news. While the nation may want us to believe otherwise, the South has not recovered from the disaster.

"Habitat is a non-profit organization that works with homeowners to provide affordable new homes; it does not provide free houses. It costs a buyer $75,000 to purchase a Habitat house. Even though all the labor is done by volunteers, the materials still have to be paid for.

"My group worked on a series of houses throughout a few block area in New Orleans East. Next to the bright new houses that we worked on were homes completely abandoned by their occupants, some of which still contained a lifetime of ruined belongings.

"While many residents thanked us and blessed us for our hard work, there were just as many who gave us dirty scowls and did not return our waves. What about the people who don't fit the Habitat criteria for a new home?

"Only a few blocks away from the lights and laughter of Bourbon St. there is a whole other world that is still in shambles. And this is not just New Orleans; the surrounding areas need help too.

"Government assistance isn't getting the job done. Many schools still remain closed, abandoned houses still outnumber inhabited ones, people still have not returned to their city. We can't keep ignoring this disaster...."

SOURCES:
Read Audrey Geis' full report here
www.habitat-nola.org
www.camphopeonline.com

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Natural Carpet Cleaning

Traditional commercial carpet-cleaning solutions contain a cocktail of noxious synthetic chemicals. Perchloroethylene, commonly called "perc" in the industry, is a notorious dry cleaning additive known to cause dizziness, fatigue and nausea if ingested or inhaled. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also links perc to kidney and liver damage. Naphthalene, a solvent manufactured from coal tar, is considered toxic to the human central nervous system and a possible carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

These and other harsh chemicals get into the air of a room when applied during cleaning, and can also be ingested by kids who play on the floor soon afterwards. Carpet cleaning chemicals can pollute local groundwater, too.

In response, a new breed of professional services has sprung up that eschews dangerous and polluting chemicals in favor of more natural solutions. Some of the newer and more green-friendly cleaning solutions used by professional services are plant instead of chemical based, and include such brand names as Bi-O-Kleen, Capture, AFM SafeChoice, NatureClean, SimpleGreen and Seventh Generation's Natural Citrus Carpet Cleaner.

Most carpet cleaning services are local businesses, and many have greened-up their processes in recent years. Call around and ask questions first. If a service doesn't know whether their cleaning solution is plant or chemical based, or if they don't have systems in place to treat or transport wastewater responsibly after cleaning, they should probably be avoided.

A few chains also stand out for their commitment to more natural operations. ChemDry, a division of Home Depot, uses carbonating cleaning bubbles instead of harsh chemicals.

The green living website, www.Eartheasy.com, suggests spot cleaning carpet stains with a homemade non-toxic solution consisting of equal parts white vinegar and water. The solution can be sprayed onto stains and then sponged up a few minutes later in combination with warm soapy water. Meanwhile, hardier stains might warrant an overnight treatment with a paste made from salt, borax and vinegar, which can be vacuumed up the next morning.

SOURCE:
E/The Environmental Magazine's "EarthTalk"
www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php

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More Friends = Better Health!

You have one less excuse to be lonely! As reported in Prevention, new research says that the more friends you have, the healthier you'll be. Carnegie Mellon doctors gave 83 college freshmen an influenza vaccine and found that those with larger social networks produced more flu-fighting antibodies than those who hung out in smaller groups. Students who reported feeling lonely produced fewer antibodies as well.

As we never tire of saying, check out the OPEN EXCHANGE calendar for a host of group events starting almost every night of the week. Make some new friends!

SOURCE: Prevention, November 2006

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Nuts & Heart Health

Despite their relatively high fat content, pecans, walnuts, cashews, and other mixed nuts each confer specific health benefits. The key is moderation---don't go nuts and overeat!

As reported in Psychology Today, researchers at Loma Linda University found that pecans raised vitamin E levels and reduced fat oxidation, which helps prevent atherosclerosis.

Other studies suggest that the potassium in almonds lowers blood pressure, the magnesium in peanuts regulates heart rhythm, the thiamine in hazelnuts protects against heart failure, and the zinc in cashews can lessen the risk of heart-disease.

Walnuts should be part of every heart healthy diet because of their high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Their consumption can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of inflammation and heart disease. This is backed up by studies at Harvard, Loma Linda University, Lipid Clinic in Barcelona, and many others. Walnuts improve artery function after a high fat meal and may be even more important in a Mediterranean-type diet than olive oil in promoting heart health.

A handful of walnuts, almonds, or mixed nuts each day is sufficient. Sprinkle them on your salads or use them in cooking for an extra flavor burst. Avoid unnecessary additional fat by consuming them raw. Roasted, canned nuts are usually loaded with unnecessary refined oils---and often too much salt.

SOURCES: Psychology Today, January/February 2007
http://cholesterol.about.com/od/treatments/a/walnut.htm
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/hliving/walchol.html

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Chemicals That Make You Fat

Just in case you need yet another reason to go organic: Exposure to chemicals in plastics and pesticides is not just unhealthy, it might also make you fat. Okay, no more bug spray when an ant crawls near your TV dinner....

Frederick vom Saal, a University of Missouri professor of biological sciences, reports, "Certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals can change the functioning of a fetus' genes, altering a baby's metabolic system and predisposing him or her to obesity."

"This individual could eat the same thing and exercise the same amount as someone with a normal metabolic system, but he or she would become obese, while the other person remained thin. This is a serious problem because obesity puts people at risk for other problems, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension," he said.

These so-called "obesogens" show up in everything from pesticides to food containers, so they're hard to avoid. Chemicals found to produce more and larger fat cells in mice include the waterproof-paint ingredient tributyltin; diethylstilbestrol, which was widely prescribed to pregnant women from the 1940s to the '60s; and estrogen-like bisphenol A, (BPA) which showed up in 95 percent of people tested by one recent study. BPA promotes fat-cell activity in utero, producing "lifetime effects" that occur at "phenomenally small levels" of exposure.

Vom Saal dismisses the chemical industry's claim that BPA poses no health risk as a "blatant lie." The production and use of BPA has quadrupled in the last couple of decades, in roughly the same timeline that obesity has noticeably risen.

Okay, now you have someone to blame besides McDonalds (or mixed nuts) for those extra pounds!

SOURCES: Grist, www.grist.org, 3/13/2007
The Washington Post, Elizabeth Grossman, 3/12/2007
www.sciencedaily.com, 3/16/2007

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Dr. Andrew Weil's Rx: "Practice Happiness"

Commenting on the evolving science of happiness and a spate of new books on the subject, Dr. Andrew Weil notes, "One common thread is that happiness is something you can practice—that you can get better at—not just a passive experience that happens to you."

In The Science of Happiness, Stefan Klein asserts that people are "programmed for positive feelings." Brain research reveals that humans have dedicated circuits for pleasure and enjoyment. And you can strengthen the circuits for positive feelings by seeking out situations that make you happy. In effect, happiness can be a self-reinforcing habit.

In Happiness: A guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill, Matthieu Ricard holds that "achieving durable happiness... requires sustained effort in training the mind and developing a set of human qualities, such as inner peace, mindfulness, and altruistic love." While meditating on compassion, for instance, longtime meditators showed "an extraordinary increase" in activity in brain areas linked with positive emotions.

SOURCE:
Andrew Weil's Self Healing Newsletter, December 2006

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Oprah Points To Acupuncture

The February 13, 2007 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" featured a discussion and demonstrations of acupuncture, the technique of inserting and manipulating needles into "acupuncture points" on the body. Acupuncture has been around for 2,500 years in China, and there are hundreds of millions of people who subscribe to its health benefits, especially for pain control.

According to Mehmet Oz, MD, respected cardiothoracic surgeon, Western medicine attributes acupuncture's effectiveness to the needles' stimulation of endorphins and serotonin in the brain, natural chemicals that regulate pleasure and mood. Alternative medicines, Dr. Oz noted, deal with the body's energy, something that traditional Western medicine generally does not recognize. "We're beginning now to understand things that we know in our hearts are true but we could never measure. As we get better at understanding how little we know about the body, we begin to realize that the next big frontier in medicine is energy medicine. It's not the mechanistic part of the joints moving. It's not the chemistry of our body. It's understanding for the first time how energy influences how we feel," Oz said.

On the same show, Licensed Acupuncturist Daniel Hsu took new patient Angela backstage for a full acupuncture treatment on her pained shoulder, and later returned to treat Oprah live on stage.

Angela had been a long time sufferer of shoulder pain; visits to doctors, multiple X-rays, and even massage therapy had proven unsuccessful for her. After a dozen needles were put in targeted places, Angela reported, "I'm on cloud nine. I feel rejuvenated. The pain that I had was a constant radiating pain, and I don't feel it. Literally, I don't feel it. I feel wonderful." After her session with Dr. Hsu, Angela said she was ready for more acupuncture treatments in her future.

"Acupuncture treats any condition from allergies to pain to gastrointestinal issues, a wide range of chronic diseases," Hsu said. If Oprah's track record can be used as a guide, the field of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine may become more popular than ever.

SOURCE:
The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Addicted To War School Text—
Is It Subversive... Or Patriotic?

Addicted To War is a book of political cartoons with well-referenced quotes from many historical figures ranging from Thomas Jefferson to George W. Bush, with the author's running commentary. The book is an indictment of United States' history of land grabs, invasions, and colonial wars, without the usual nationalist spin.

The adoption of this picture book as a supplemental text in the San Francisco public high schools has generated public controversy. Critics damn Addicted To War as "leftist," saying that it might be acceptable, but only if balanced with pro-military literature. (Such as?) Supporters counter that the book expresses a viewpoint rarely aired by our mainstream media. As explained in the book itself:

"The television news media are owned by some of the largest corporations in the country.... The members of the boards of directors of these powerful corporations also sit on the boards of weapons manufacturers and other companies with vested interests around the world. Most of the news available to us---about war and peace and everything else---is filtered through the perspective of the corporate news media. The government and the news media have a powerful influence on public opinion.... But their influence is not as complete as they might hope...."

The book concludes with questions about war that any curious adult or child might ask:
"Who's going to profit?"
"Who's going to pay?"
"And who's going to die?"

Subversive? We only wish that members of Congress had asked these questions before committing troops to Iraq. Isn't truth and justice supposed to be the American Way?

SOURCE: Addicted To War: Why The U.S. Can't Kick Militarism by Joel Andreas, AK Press, Oakland.