Rabid Liberal Rants » Environment

Bush: ‘Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter’

rabidliberal — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:40:31 +0000

This is just way too funny. In fact, it’s probably something I would have done myself. You gotta give the guy some credit for being ballsy. In a private meeting with other G-8 summit leaders, President Bush finishes a meeting with the words “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.” Not only that, he pumps his fist into the air. I’m not his biggest fan but you gotta love it. Kinda reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer steals some candy from a candy convention and while being chased by the convention folks, he lobs a pack of pop rocks candy and soda at them. Before the explosion he yells “See you in hell candy boys!”.

More Warnings Of Food Riots

rabidliberal — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:17:50 +0000

In its annual report, the Red Cross warned of a possible surge in “food-related violence” due to soaring food prices. It suggests that several factors are contributing to the rise is prices:

Drought and climate change have led to a slow down in the growth of agricultural production: in Australia, wheat production plummeted by 52% between 2004 and 2006, and grain production dropped by 13% in the United States and 14% in the European Union in the same period. The use of mainly corn-based biofuels is also contributing significantly to the current shortages. Lastly, changes in eating habits in the West and in the so-called emerging markets primarily in Asia, along with rapid urbanization, have driven up demand for food, putting further strain on supply. Speculation on food commodities is also a major destabilizing factor.

There’s been a warning of food riots every month, from different sources. Sounds like things may destabilize in parts of the world by the end of the year.

EPA Might Not Act To Limit Rocket Fuel In Drinking Water

rabidliberal — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:03:32 +0000

You read it right. There is rocket fuel in drinking water, “found in at least 395 sites in 35 states”. It’s called perchlorate. And the EPA – the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency- rather than pushing for safe standards, pushing for cleanup, for both health and environmental reasons, has been twiddling their thumbs for years, has been pushed around by DoD and their contractors. Instead, they’re thinking about issuing a public health advisory.

[Perchlorate] interferes with thyroid function and poses developmental health risks, particularly to fetuses.

If you care about rocket fuel in your drinking water, call your elected official and tell them you want it cleaned up. And while your at it, contact the EPA and let them know you don’t want perchlorate in your drinking water.

More information on perchlorate:

Apple Suing The Big Apple

rabidliberal — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:37:48 +0000

As reported in Wired, Apple is suing NYC over it’s GreeNYC logo, saying that it will cause confusion with their Apple logo amongst customers and cause financial harm to the company. Give me a break Apple. First of all, the logos are in no way alike:

Secondly, in a city where practically everyone carries either an iPod, iPhone, uses a Macbook, or some other Apple product, I seriously doubt there would be any confusion or repercussion

Go pick a fight with someone else!

Pharmaceuticals NYC Water

rabidliberal — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:02:23 +0000

Great. Along the lines of my earlier post about pesticides and perchlorate in everyday foods, here we read about traces of pharmaceuticals in our drinking water.

Though barely measurable, these pharmaceuticals are present in a variety worthy of a medicine cabinet: drugs for aches, infections, seizures and high blood pressure; hormones for menopause; the active ingredient in a popular sedative; and caffeine — all bound for the city that never sleeps.

Exxon,Chevron record profits!

rabidliberal — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:27:25 +0000

Record profits for big oil! Exxon’s net income in the quarter rose $11.66 billion, from $10.25 billion. and Chevron’s net income rose to $4.88 billion, from $3.77 billion.

Tell me again why we provide oil companies subsidies, tax breaks, and get zero royalties for drilling in federal waters? Especially, when the economy is faltering, unemployment is rising, healthcare costs are skyrocketing, education standards are stagnating.