It's A Tea-cup Universe...

It's A Tea-cup Universe...

An ancient bush reigns,
Upon the misted hills of China,
Stone trails nearly forgotten,
Walking a way of antiquity.

Can you taste the world or the sky?

Ten days of weather in a basket of leaves and buds,
How high a bush sits on  the hill,
What lies far beneath our feet,
How did hands move - long or fast or gentle?

A family art as fine as butterfly wing breezes.

Everything modern can move mountains,
Dead dirt and dull uniforms,
Machine-printed cheap art for the masses,
Careless rush of rough touch.

Stubborn - the seeker of ancient heart.

Masterworks revived from the crush,
Uniqueness in a land of conformity,
Living tradition tied to nature,
Poetry in cupped hands and scent.

Taste it - it's a tea-cup universe that awaits.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 03/31/2008

Upon watching the documentary film "All In This Tea," I was touched by the sheer poetic beauty of the ancient hills of China, covered in fields of tea bushes. For centuries, master tea makers have captured the nuances of location, weather, tradition, soil, and water in small cups, allowing the pass one's lips as liquid art. Every detail of environment is captured in each cup, every scrap of a bundle of tea's history blends with the water that makes it, and tells an intricate story in flavor to those who may listen.

Nearly overpowered and under threat of extinction by vast commercialization in the form of mass tea exporters, this was feared a dying art. Through the efforts of a man from the West who knew the true flavor of honestly authentic hand-made teas, a hole was pushed through the wall. A new way opened up for the art to survive, and thrive.

From the factories to history to the smallest hand-crafted details and most ornate ceremonies, this is the visual poetry of tea's truth, and how it is both coming home to China and appearing in America. As a cup of tea warms the hands, "All In This Tea" warms the heart, with knowledge and hope.

See it on the Sundance Channel Tuesday, April 29th at 9:35 pm Eastern and Pacific.

Dan Stafford
Publisher - The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal
http://www.whizzyrds.com/Windblog.html

I got my tomato seeds in from Seed Savers...

Http://www.seedsavers.org is an organization attempting to keep over 25,000 varieties of vegetables from going extinct due to the mono-crop nature of "modern" agriculture.

Basically, most large farms these days only grow a few varieties of vegetables, ones that look good on the grocery store shelves and resist spoilage longer. These varieties are not bred for taste or nutrition. This is why tomatoes don't taste like they did when you were a child. It's not your taste buds getting old, it's the food you're eating getting more tasteless.

I received 50 seeds each of Czech's Bush tomato, Black Krim tomato, and Isis Candy Cherry tomato.



These three types of tomato all take less than 80 days from transplant to fruit bearing, which is why I chose to grow them in Illinois.

Biodiversity and local foods. It's a start. Now to get the seedlings started.

Dan

03/28/2007 TO Enviro-news

Lights Out, Action! It's Earth Hour
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/032808EA.shtml
Stephen de Tarczynski for Inter Press News reports on Earth Hour 2008: "This year's Earth Hour - like the inaugural event last year - revolves around the simple action of participants turning off lights and appliances, instead of leaving them on standby, for an hour from 8 p.m. on March 29."

EPA Chief Bides Time on Court's Emissions Order
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/032808EB.shtml
Janet Wilson for The Los Angeles Times reports on a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency that has infuriated Democratic lawmakers: "EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has shelved his agency's findings that greenhouse gases are a danger to the public, and on Thursday told Congress that he will initiate a lengthy public comment period about whether such emissions are a risk before responding to a US Supreme Court order."

Major Grower Ends Crop, Lacking Workers
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/032808LA.shtml
Michael Rubinkam, The Associated Press, writes: "Saying the nation's immigration system is broken, Pennsylvania's largest grower of fresh-to-market tomatoes announced Monday he will no longer produce the crop because he can't find enough workers to harvest it."

The Sundance Channel; Big Ideas For A Small Planet: Power (Airs Tuesday, April 01, 9pm E/P)

The Sundance Channel; Big Ideas For A Small Planet: Power (Airs Tuesday, April 01, 9pm E/P)

Runtime approximately 30 minutes.

Featuring comments by environmental activists David Suzuki, this episode of the Sundance Channel's spring series for The Green, "Big Ideas For A Small Planet," Power covers the three major players in renewable energy.

Beginning with solar energy, the documentary uses the Washington DC annual "Solar Decathlon" as its example of what is going on in the world of solar energy. While focused on solar housing, the event coverage gets into enough of the underlying technologies to grant the viewer a good basic understanding of what can be done, and graphically displays how beautiful and unique solar housing can be. The event itself features many solar homes designed and built by teams from universities all over the world that compete on several levels.

Continuing on with wind power, Power focuses mainly on one wind farm development in a former coal town as its example, and covers the basics of the titan of renewable energy technologies that wind power has become. The documentary gives a good overall view of the issues and challenges facing the wind industry, as well as the benefits of successful wind development. The graceful cinematography in this segment for the most part was appealing. Wind power is the fastest-growing and most cost-competitive renewable energy technology to date, and thus rightly deserves our attention.

Finishing with biomass power generation, specifically methane digester-produced electricity on a dairy farm, Power rounds out the big three of renewable energy quite well. I was especially pleased with the coverage in this segment, as details of methane digester electricity production are not as readily available as those for wind and solar power. As with the other two segments, Power used a specific example of one farm's installation to illustrate its case. One gets a good sense of the daily operation of this system and how it fits into the farmers' lives and routine.

In all, the film is solid, and gives a good general knowledge of the three most-viable renewable energy sources currently in use. Power also manages to touch on some of the future potential of these technologies. Given the limitations of a thirty-minute time frame, the film packed as much as was possible in so short a time, leaving this viewer interested enough to seek out more details. If you are at all interested in caring for the planet without sacrificing comfort and modern technology, I STRONGLY recommend catching Power on the Sundance Channel on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 9pm Eastern and 9pm Pacific.

Best of all, this film is solutions-oriented, rather than just presenting a problem. That is something we always need more of.

Regards,

Dan Stafford
Publisher - The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal
http://www.whizzyrds.com/Windblog.html

Stimulating our economy through energy efficiency

Rebecca D. Stanfield, Environment Illinois State Director wrote:
> Hi Daniel,
>
> Thanks to the more than 1,000 members who contacted their legislators on residential energy efficient building code legislation in Illinois!
>
> Last week, we discussed how energy efficient building codes could curb global warming pollution in Illinois. But did you know this legislation could also help jump-start our struggling economy?
>
> Illinois features the 9th highest home foreclosure rate in the country, with foreclosures up nearly 95 percent since 2005. As utility bills rise, monthly homeownership costs become prohibitive for some families, forcing mortgage defaults.
>
> Increased energy efficiency makes new home ownership more affordable by reducing the monthly costs of owning a new home. Through building codes at latest national model standards, Illinois families could save up to $466 annually on utility bills.
>
> And that's more money to be spent on goods and services here in Illinois, creating jobs and stimulating our economy.
>
> Urge your legislators to help our environment and our economy by voting for the Energy Efficient Building Act in 2008! Let's make it happen!
>
> To take action, click on the link below:
> http://environmentillinois.org/action/new-energy-future/efficientbuildings?id4=ES
>
> Saving energy is one of the best ways to improve our economy and cut global warming pollution. One of the largest energy uses is for heating, cooling and lighting buildings -- building energy use accounts for nearly 40% of total energy used in the U.S., and over 70% of total electricity consumption. Global warming pollution caused by the average home doubles that of the average car.
>
> The best time to make sure a new building is using energy-saving design is at construction. New buildings can be energy efficient from the start or lost opportunities that stand for the next 30-50 years -- or more. This lost opportunity manifests itself in greater global warming pollution and increased energy costs.
>
> Most states require home builders to incorporate energy saving measures when they build new homes. These building codes can dramatically cut global warming emissions as well as home energy costs. For example, a recent study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy found that if Illinois adopted the latest national energy efficiency standards statewide, we would save 12.8 million tons of CO2 pollution in Illinois alone by 2020 versus current construction practices.
>
> The economic benefits are significant. Statewide residential energy efficiency codes at the latest model code standards would save Illinois families up to 32% on heating bills and up to 24% on cooling costs. Utility bill savings for Illinois families reach up to $466 annually.
>
> While states like Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania feature codes at the latest national standards, Illinois is one of only ten states without statewide residential energy efficiency codes.
>
> Two bills before the Illinois state legislature in 2008 -- HB 1842 and SB 526 -- would bring Illinois in line with the latest standards for new residential construction. This legislation, the Energy Efficient Building Act, is supported by a broad coalition of proponents: from environmental groups, to municipalities, to low-income housing groups.
>
> This legislation passed the House by a 74-38 margin in 2007, but stalled in the Senate. We hope to pass the Energy Efficient Building Act into law in 2008, but we need your support!
>
> Let's bring Illinois in line with national energy efficiency standards and urge your legislator to pass the Energy Efficient Building Act. To take action, just click on the link below:
>
> http://environmentillinois.org/action/new-energy-future/efficientbuildings?id4=ES
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Rebecca D. Stanfield
> Environment Illinois State Director
> RebeccaS@environmentillinois.org
> http://www.environmentillinois.org
>
> P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends. To learn more about how energy efficiency can help Illinoisans save money, reduce pollution, and expand the economy in the Midwest, be sure to check out The Power of Efficiency, our new Midwest energy efficiency report: http://environmentillinois.org/reports/new-energy-future/energy/the-power-of-efficiency-opportunities-to-save-money-reduce-pollution-and-expand-the-economy-in-the-midwest?id4=ES
>
> ----------
>

Organic Bytes: Farm Slaves, Organic Lawsuit, Sustainability Tips, and more

Hello Daniel, ORGANIC BYTES #131 Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge! 3/28/2008 Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins IN THIS ISSUE: ALERT OF THE WEEK: END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY IN U.S. FIELDS ALERT UPDATE: OCA THREATENS TO SUE BODY CARE COMPANIES FALSELY LABELING THEIR PRODUCTS AS ORGANIC GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: WAL-MART GOES rBGH-FREE U.S. GOVERNMENT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: FEDS SLAUGHTER OF WILD BISON BEATS 20th CENTURY RECORDS QUOTE OF THE WEEK TAKE ACTION ON PESTICIDES AND FARM BILL WEB PROGRAM OF THE WEEK: INTERVIEW WITH CANADIAN FAMILY FARMER WHO DEFEATED GOLIATH MONSANTO QUICK FACTS OF THE WEEK: A NATION BUILT ON UNSUSTAINABILITY - FUEL, FOOD, AND DEBT SUSTAINABILITY TIPS OF THE WEEK: ON THE EVE OF PEAK OIL- HOW TO CUT FUEL COSTS BOOK OF THE WEEK: FAREWELL, MY SUBARU ALERT OF THE WEEK: END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY IN U.S. FIELDS The Organic Consumers Association (OCA)-- representing over 850,000 consumers across the U.S. -- has joined a growing alliance in support of the Florida-based Coalition for Immokalee Workers' campaign to “End Slavery and Sweatshops in the Fields.”  While the organic and sustainable agricultural movement has traditionally focused primarily on health and environmental issues, the time is long overdue to integrate Fair Trade and worker justice issues into our alternative food and farming system. Consumers need to understand that much of the so-called “natural” food and produce, such as tomatoes, sold in natural food stores like Whole Foods are actually coming from chemical-intensive farms where low wages and labor exploitation are the norm. Please join this growing campaign. Click here to sign the petition. http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11123.cfm ______________________________ Look for the USDA Organic Seal when shopping for organic personal care products ALERT UPDATE: OCA THREATENS TO SUE BODY CARE COMPANIES FALSELY LABELING THEIR PRODUCTS AS ORGANIC As reported in the last issue of Organic Bytes, OCA's new expose on carcinogens found in various products misleadingly labeled as "organic" and "natural" is sending shockwaves through the personal care industry. The OCA and Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap Company have now filed Cease and Desist letters with the various companies who are labeling their products as “organic,” despite the fact that a number of their products tested positive for the cancer-causing synthetic ingredient 1,4-Dioxane, including Jason’s, Nature's Gate, and Kiss My Face, among others. The OCA is demanding that these companies reformulate their products to remove petrochemicals and 1,4-Dioxane or else remove "organic" label claims from their packaging. Offending companies who do not contractually agree by Earth Day 2008 to clean up their act will be sued by the OCA. To avoid tainted products, OCA recommends that consumers look for the “USDA Organic” seal on body care products and cosmetics. If you don't see the seal, it may not be truly organic. To see a list of body care and home cleaning products tainted with with 1,4-Dioxane, as well as a consumer guide for finding safe personal care products, go here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/ _______________________________ GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: WAL-MART GOES rBGH-FREE Last week, Wal-Mart announced its so-called “Great Value” store brand of milk will no longer come from cows injected with Monsanto’s controversial genetically engineered hormone, rBGH/rBST. As OCA's Director, Ronnie Cummins, stated in an interview with the Toronto Globe and Mail, Wal-Mart’s announcement will likely serve as a tipping point for driving Monsanto's controversial bovine drug off the market. Since its inception, the OCA has campaigned aggressively against rBGH , which is banned in Europe, Canada, and most of the industrialized world. Wal-Mart’s move, according to industry experts, will likely dramatically expand market demand for rBGH-free and organic dairy products. According to Cummins, “After 14 years of of bullying consumers and buying off FDA and USDA bureaucrats, this is the beginning of the end for this cruel and dangerous drug.” Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11050.cfm __________________________________ We need your support today to continue our work fighting for health, justice and sustainability! http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm ________________________________   U.S. GOVERNMENT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: FEDS SLAUGHTER OF WILD BISON BEATS 20th CENTURY RECORDS Over 1,000 wild buffalo have been slaughtered in the Yellowstone National Park area since November of 2007, representing the largest kill since the 1800s. "It would seem as though history was not learned the first time, for here we are today, watching these same government entities enacting the same policy," said Nez Perce tribal member James Holt. According to those monitoring the situation, namely the Buffalo Field Campaign, the total kill-off number will likely exceed 2,000 for the year. While the government's official reason for the slaughter is to prevent the spread of brucellosis from wild bison to cattle, no such transmission has ever been documented, and the bison being sent to slaughter are not being tested for the disease. Learn more and get involved: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11120.cfm _________________________________ QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We've never seen anything like this before with our bats, much less any other mammals, with a very large regional die-off...It’s very scary and a little overwhelming from a biologist’s perspective. If we can’t contain it, we’re going to see extinctions of listed species, and some of species that are not even listed.” Susi von Oettingen of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service speaking to the New York Times this week about as many as a half million bats mysteriously dying in the U.S. Northeast. Experts have no idea what the cause is. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11135.cfm _________________________________ TAKE ACTION ON PESTICIDES AND FARM BILL Farm Bill conferees will be considering an amendment that would prohibit the USDA from exercising its authority to restrict specific pesticides in its conservation programs. For example, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program could not be used for organic transition, and USDA would not be allowed to prohibit the use of a specific pesticide, like methyl bromide, in a conservation program. Click the following link to send a letter to your members of Congress to ask them to convince the Farm Bill conference committee to reject the pesticide amendment and allow USDA to advance conservation practices as needed: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11197.cfm _________________________________ WEB PROGRAM OF THE WEEK: INTERVIEW WITH CANADIAN FAMILY FARMER WHO DEFEATED GOLIATH MONSANTO Saskatchewan Farmer, Percy Schmeiser, has spent the last decade bogged down in court battles with the Monsanto Corporation. Monsanto originally sued Schmeiser for unintentionally growing the company's patented canola seeds, even though the biotech plants that were growing in Schmeiser's field were there due to drift and contamination. The courts originally ruled in favor of Monsanto, saying that regardless of contamination, a farmer cannot grow patented seeds. But Schmeiser recently counter-sued Monsanto, claiming the company should be liable for the damages that their property causes others. Last week, Monsanto settled out of court and paid Schmeiser what it cost to have the invading biotech plants removed. Listen to this radio interview with Percy Schmeiser shortly after the landmark settlement: http://www.cjly.net/deconstructingdinner/032008.htm _________________________________ QUICK FACTS OF THE WEEK: A NATION BUILT ON UNSUSTAINABILITY - FUEL, FOOD, AND DEBT With trucking diesel fuel prices now over $4 per gallon in many locations, food prices are reaching an all time high, since the average grocery store item has traveled 1500-3500 miles. Over the past year, alone, consumers have been forced to pay significantly more for staples like eggs (25 percent), milk (17 percent), cheese (15 percent), bread (12 percent), and rice (13 percent). This is partially due to increased costs of transportation and partially due to massive amounts of cropland being converted to biofuel production. As a result, consumers are paying more for their food and paying $15 billion in increased taxes per year for biofuel subsidies. Fuel prices have nearly doubled the expenses of commuters over the last year. Recent polls show a strong majority of U.S. citizens are in favor of allocating a larger portion of the federal budget for mass transportation. In contrast, the amount of federal money earmarked for mass transit projects (example: rail and bus) has been reduced by nearly 70% since the Bush Administration took over in 2001. A record number of consumers are using credit cards to pay for increased fuel costs. Although the recession has negatively impacted employment, the New York Times reports one of the few booming occupations in the current job market is as a Debt Collector. Since 2001, the top five oil companies have increased their annual profits by an average of 500%. Source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11013.cfm __________________________________ SUSTAINABILITY TIPS OF THE WEEK: ON THE EVE OF PEAK OIL- HOW TO CUT FUEL COSTS Obviously driving less, using mass transit, biking, walking or purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle are the best ways to cut your fuel consumption. But for those times where driving a car is a necessity, here are some tips: Don't be a jerky driver: Jumpy starts and fast getaways can burn over 50 percent more gasoline than normal acceleration. Use cruise control once accelerated. Drive slower: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most automobiles get about 20 percent more miles per gallon on the highway at 55 miles per hour than they do at 70 miles per hour. A well maintained car (oil change, fuel filters, tire pressure, alignment) gets an average of 10 percent better fuel efficiency. Turn off your engine if you stop for more than one minute. (This does not apply if you are in traffic.) Restarting the automobile will use less gasoline than idling for more than one minute. Decrease the number of short trips you make. Short trips drastically reduce gas mileage. If an automobile gets 20 miles per gallon in general, it may get only 4 miles per gallon on a short trip of 5 miles or less. ___________________________________ BOOK OF THE WEEK: FAREWELL, MY SUBARU What happens when a Domino’s pizza loving suburbanite from New Jersey decides it's time to leave behind the urban world to start his own off-the-grid sustainable farm in New Mexico? Find out in "Farewell, My Subaru", a new nonfiction book chronicling the carbon-neutral misadventures of Doug Fine. Whether its nearly getting electrocuted setting up his own solar panels, buying goats and hens for the first time, or getting the munchies from the smell of his newly converted veggie-oil truck, Doug comically shows that even through the struggles and lack of know-how, with the right mindset an everyday American can take massive successful steps towards sustainability. Watch this short video about Doug's journey and order the book here: http://www.dougfine.com/ _________________________________ ******** support our supporters********* National Geographic GREEN GUIDE - The Resource for Consuming Wisely Go green with National Geographic's ALL NEW Green Guide. Make small changes that add up to big benefits for your wallet, your health & the planet. The Green Guide gives you simple, useful ideas that make going green a gradual & affordable process rather than an all-or-nothing plunge. Get & share what you love! - Reviews of eco-friendly products - Money-saving shopping tips - Green home improvement how-to's - 100 pages delivered four times a year Order National Geographic's Green Guide magazine today!   ________________________ EDEN FOODS OFFERS OCA CUSTOMERS 15% DISCOUNT Eden Foods is one of the few national organic food producers who goes beyond the USDA Organic Standards. Although Eden Foods is USDA certified, their products do not bear the USDA seal, because they say the USDA standard really represents a "minimum standard" that Eden Foods goes far beyond. As a subscriber to Organic Bytes, you can enjoy a discount rate on any Eden Foods products by clicking here   Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on web sites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power! __________________________________ NOTE TO CO-OP AND NATURAL FOOD STORE SUBSCRIBERS: Organic Bytes is a great tool for keeping your staff and customers up to date on the latest issues. Feel free to forward this email to your staff and print for posting on bulletin boards and staff break tables. You are also welcome to use this material for your newsletters. There's an attractive print-friendly PDF version of this available for free download at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm _________________________________ ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of: ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION 6771 South Silver Hill Drive Finland, Minnesota 55603 Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652 __________________________________ Subscribe: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm __________________________________   xaxa93168

GLIN NEWS: 28 MARCH 2008

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> Great Lakes Daily News: 28 March 2008
> A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and The
> Environment Report.
>
> For links to these stories and more, visit
> http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
>
>
> Abundant perch crop seen for Lake Michigan
> ----------------------------------------
> Perch anglers are likely to find 2008 a productive year. Source: The
> Grand Rapids Press (3/28)
>
>
> IJC releases new water regulations proposal
> ----------------------------------------
> It's taken over 50 years, but the International Joint Commission is
> now proposing a new plan to regulate water levels. Source: News 10 Now
> Syracuse (3/28)
>
>
> EDITORIAL: Back to the future in energy production
> ----------------------------------------
> Niagara has a proud heritage in the production of green power. That is
> largely a benefit of the region's geography, but it is also a
> testament to the vision of those who came before us to harness the
> energy created by water tumbling off a cliff. Source: The St.
> Catharines Standard (3/28)
>
>
> A grand passage of geese
> ----------------------------------------
> Birders have reported seeing enormous flights of Branta canadensis -
> or Canada geese - all across the western part of NY. Source: MPNnow
> (3/28)
>
>
> Simcoe gets sicker
> ----------------------------------------
> A new study calls for a cap on toxins higher than current levels.
> Source: Toronto Sun (3/28)
>
>
> Portage River cleanup stirs fears
> ----------------------------------------
> Citizens fear that Portage River cleanup will cause more severe
> flooding. Source: The Toledo Blade (3/28)
>
>
> Artists put work on display at DeVos Place show
> ----------------------------------------
> Show will highlight Great Lakes beauty. Source: The Grand Rapids Press
> (3/28)
>
>
> Kennedy speech to bring together 500 researchers
> ----------------------------------------
> Trent's environmental focus will receive worldwide attention this
> spring through an international water conference featuring a famed
> environmentalist with an even more famous name. Source: The
> Peterborough Examiner (3/27)
>
>
> Lawmakers warn CDC not to terminate whistleblower
> ----------------------------------------
> House Representatives have expressed concern that the CDC might be
> taking steps to terminate Christopher De Rosa, the scientist in charge
> of the project. Source: The Associated Press (3/27)
>
>
> Recreational boaters donate to get St. Joseph River dredged
> ----------------------------------------
> Recreational boaters are pooling their own money toward ridding part
> of the St. Joseph River of excess silt. Source: The Associated Press
> (3/27)
>
>
> Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
> archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html
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New Resources Available on How Biodiesel Fared in Winter Climates

New Resources Available on How Biodiesel Fared in Winter Climates   Dear Daniel, With spring officially here, many of us are starting to put thoughts of frigid weather and snowstorms out of our minds and begin thinking about the first daffodils and short sleeves. But, before winter becomes a distant memory, we want to share with you several new resources about the operability of biodiesel blends in cold climates. We hope you will find these materials useful as you help to spread the word about the benefits of biodiesel blends. New Brochure New Fact Sheets In addition, you will find testimonials, a news release and technical guidance on using B20 in cold weather, on the NBB Web site at: www.biodiesel.org/cold. By all accounts, biodiesel blends stood up to some extremely cold temperatures this winter. Vehicles and equipment operated problem-free in some of the nation’s coldest locations, including: Colorado, New Hampshire, Boston, Minnesota, Michigan and Wyoming. Good fuel management and high quality fuel that meets the national specification, ASTM D 6751, can help ensure that biodiesel blends operate smoothly in cold climates, throughout the winter months. If you’re using biodiesel in a cold weather setting and you’d like to share your story, please let us know. You can help spread the word about biodiesel by forwarding this to a friend. National Biodiesel Board   This cold weather information is funded in part by the United Soybean Board (USB) and state soybean board checkoff programs.

ENN: American West Heating Up, Squid Beaks, The End of Silicon and Much More

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					Friday, March 28, 2008
	News of Note U.S. West warming faster than rest of world: study LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The U.S. West is heating up at nearly twice the rate of the rest of the world and is likely to face more drought conditions in many of its fast-growing cities, an environmental group said on Thursday. Top Stories Should You Ditch Your Chemical Mattress? Susan Greenfield and her girlfriend Llina Kempner couldn't wait for their new memory-foam mattress top to arrive. For months, they'd heard friends rave about how the high-tech material molds itself to your body. But when they unwrapped the three-inch-thick pad in their Manhattan apartment, they noticed a strong, acrid odor. "My nose and my lungs were miserable," recalls Greenfield. For the two nights Kempner slept on the mattress top, she felt nauseated. After Greenfield, who is chemically sensitive, had an asthma attack in the middle of the night, the couple returned the mattress pad. But its stench lingered in the apartment for weeks. Restoring Tanzania's ecosystems Degraded land in western Tanzania is gradually being reclaimed — two decades after work began to rehabilitate the declining ecosystems. Once a thriving and diverse woodland environment, western Tanzania supported the livelihoods of local communities without difficulty. Scientists find that squid beak is both hard and soft, a material that engineers want to copy (Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– How did nature make the squid's beak super hard and sharp –– allowing it, without harm to its soft body –– to capture its prey? The question has captivated those interested in creating new materials that mimic biological materials. The results are published in this week's issue of the journal Science. The end of the silicon chip : carbon nanotubes The future of computing is under the spotlight at the Institute of Physics' Condensed Matter and Materials Physics conference at the Royal Holloway College of the University of London on 26-28 March.The end of the silicon chip The silicon chip, which has supplied several decades' worth of remarkable increases in computing power and speed, looks unlikely to be capable of sustaining this pace for more than another decade – in fact, in a plenary talk at the conference, Suman Datta of Pennsylvania State University, USA, gives the conventional silicon chip no longer than four years left to run.		ENN Spotlight On Antarctic base, life is communal MARAMBIO BASE, Antarctica (Reuters) - Argentina's base on Antarctica is more like a commune than a barracks.The 36 members of the Argentine Air Force stationed here all eat the same food, take turns washing dishes and clean their own clothing, regardless of rank. More Top Stories U.S. to propose CO2 rules this spring WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration, which has resisted regulating carbon dioxide emissions, this spring will propose rules that could affect everything from vehicles to power plants and oil refineries, the top U.S. environmental official told Congress on Thursday. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson said the agency will issue proposed rules "later this spring" on "the specific effects of climate change and potential regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary and mobile sources." Chefs warn on side-effects of sushi boom TOKYO (Reuters) - As Japanese sushi conquers restaurants and homes around the world, industry experts are fighting the side-effects of the raw fish boom: fake sushi bars, over-confident amateurs, poisoned consumers. Once a rare and exotic treat, seaweed rolls and bites of raw tuna on vinegared rice are now familiar to most food fans. So familiar, in fact, that many hobby cooks in Europe and the United States like to make them in their own kitchens. Australian farmer finds mystery space junk CANBERRA (Reuters) - A cattle farmer in Australia's remote northern outback on Friday said he had found a giant ball of twisted metal, which he believes is space junk from a rocket used to launch communications satellites. Farmer James Stirton found the odd-shaped ball last year on his 40,000 hectare property, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) west of the northern Queensland state capital of Brisbane.
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	Member Press Releases Decade of Dedication to Kids Health & the Environment By: California Safe Schools Yesterday in Los Angeles, many distinguished environmental health and justice advocates in addition to political leaders expressed their gratitude & praised the efforts of the Los Angeles Unified School District, (2nd largest in the nation) for working cooperatively for a decade with California Safe Schools (CSS), a children's environmental health organization in creating the most protective pesticide policy for schools in the country. Cruelty to continue under 'new' Canadian seal hunt regulations By: International Fund for Animal Welfare Today, experts with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare – www.ifaw.org) denounced the Canadian government's claims that a new condition of licence will improve the humaneness of Canada's commercial seal hunt. International Fund for Animal Welfare Launches IFAW Island in Second Life By: International Fund for Animal Welfare (Yarmouth Port, MA - March 27, 2008) The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) announced today the launch of its new space, IFAW Island, in the virtual world called Second Life. IFAW Island will serve as a virtual meeting ground for those interested in animal welfare issues. Conservation, Health Groups Petition Four Southern States to End Commercial Harvest of Freshwater Turtles By: Center for Biological Diversity Conservation and health groups are seeking to end unsustainable commercial harvest of freshwater turtles in four southern states and to stop the export of contaminated turtles to international food markets. AUDUBON AND TOYOTA ANNOUNCE FIVE-YEAR ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION ACTION AND GROW LEADERS OF TOMORROW By: The National Audubon Society The National Audubon Society and Toyota today launched TogetherGreen, a nationwide Audubon program to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer opportunities to significantly benefit the environment. Study Finds Better Forest Protection and Fewer Wildfires in FSC-Certified Areas in Guatemala' Maya Biosphere Reserve By: Rainforest Alliance A new Rainforest Alliance study has found that forest concessions managed in compliance with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards have seen fewer wildfires and less deforestation compared with protected and other areas within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, an area of tropical forest in Guatemala's northern Petén region that the government set aside to conserve its unique natural and cultural patrimony. Government Misses Endangered Species Act Deadline for Ice Seal Threatened by Global Warming By: Center for Biological Diversity The Center for Biological Diversity notified the National Marine Fisheries Service Friday of its intent to file suit against the agency for missing the first deadline in the Endangered Species Act listing process for the ribbon seal, imperiled by global warming and the melting of its sea-ice habitat in the Bering Sea off Alaska. Low Impact Living.com Launches Groundbreaking Household Environmental Impact Calculator & Rating System By: Low Impact Living, Inc. LOS ANGELES (March 20, 2008)— Low Impact Living.com, the largest green home improvement site online, has launched a groundbreaking new Household Environmental Impact Calculator and rating system. These tools will help Americans understand their environmental impacts and chart a course to a more eco-friendly home and lifestyle. (Please see the calculator at www.lowimpactliving.com) Editor's Note : 'Network News' features press releases submitted directly by organizations in ENN's member network. This content is not specifically endorsed or supported by ENN and is not subject to ENN's editorial process.
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