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What A Week It Was: Apocadocuments from

View By Scenario:
Species Collapse:	(3)
Plague/Virus:	(1)
Climate Chaos:	(5)
Resource Depletion:	(5)
Biology Breach:	(2)
Recovery:	(4)

This Week's Top Ten Very Scary Tags:
contamination ~ bad policy ~ alternative energy ~ smart policy ~ global warming ~ endangered list ~ governmental idiocy ~ arctic meltdown ~ corporate malfeasance ~ climate impacts ~ holyshit

ApocaDocuments (20) gathered this week:
Sun, Jul 5, 2009 from Contra Costa Times: EPA tentatively agrees to pesticide use restrictions near Bay Area endangered species habitat The Environmental Protection Agency last week announced its tentative settlement agreement to temporarily ban in eight Bay Area counties the use of 74 pesticides in habitat set aside for 11 imperiled species. The agency also agreed to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rigorously assess any risks posed by these pesticides to the endangered or threatened species. That latter step will clear up uncertainty over the effects of these powerful chemicals on animal species deemed near the brink of survival, said Jeff Miller, a spokesman for the Center for Biological Diversity in San Francisco, a nonprofit that filed a 2007 lawsuit leading to the settlement. "The end game is to get them to actually conduct the assessments of what the actual effects are," Miller said. ...	Here's my assessment: Pesticides are poison! ApocaDoc permalink
Sun, Jul 5, 2009 from Associated Press: SoCal Asian communities aim to weed out toxic fish John Fallan's trained eye scans rows of iceboxes brimming with tiger fish and shrimp in a Vietnamese supermarket, searching for one pesky fish that threatens the health of seafood lovers. Authorities say the white croaker has become a popular catch in local Asian communities. But when reeled in off a stretch of California's coastline southwest of Los Angeles, the fish has been laced with cancer-causing toxins stored from decades of chemical dumps near the scenic shore. ...	They don't call it "the white croaker" for nothing! ApocaDoc permalink
Sun, Jul 5, 2009 from Oakland Tribune: Worried scientists find sea otter numbers continue to decline The three-year average sea otter population on California's coast declined for the first time in more than a decade, according to a U.S. Geological Survey. Officials from the survey counted 2,654 otters this spring along the coast from Point Concepcion in the Santa Barbara area to Half Moon Bay. The count includes a colony of otters around the Channel Islands. It was the lowest single-year total since 2003, when about 2,200 were counted. But more alarming, said officials at the Otter Project, an otter advocacy group in Monterey, is that the running three-year average, which the USGS uses for the official population count, dropped for the first time since the late 1990s. "We've always identified the sea otter as the canary in the coal mine of the marine system," said Allison Ford, the new executive director of the Otter Project. "I hope this can be a wake-up call."... "A lot of this is stuff we've known is a problem in terms of water quality," Ford said. The otter population's status is generally considered a strong indicator of the overall health of the waters off California's coast, Ford said. "Their population is a little more delicate than that of the sea lion," she said. "When there is something wrong with otters, there is something wrong with the ecosystem." ...	O, you wee, poor, tim'rous, toxified beastie. ApocaDoc permalink
Sun, Jul 5, 2009 from Guardian (UK): Fears for the world's poor countries as the rich grab land to grow food The acquisition of farmland from the world's poor by rich countries and international corporations is accelerating at an alarming rate, with an area half the size of Europe's farmland targeted in the last six months, reports from UN officials and agriculture experts say. New reports from the UN and analysts in India, Washington and London estimate that at least 30m hectares is being acquired to grow food for countries such as China and the Gulf states who cannot produce enough for their populations. According to the UN, the trend is accelerating and could severely impair the ability of poor countries to feed themselves. Today it emerged that world leaders are to discuss what is being described as "land grabbing" or "neo-colonialism" at the G8 meeting next week. A spokesman for Japan's ministry of foreign affairs confirmed that it would raise the issue: "We feel there should be a code of conduct for investment in farmland that will be a win-win situation for both producing and consuming countries," he said. ...	The win-win will be for a) shipping, and b) armed-guard full employment. ApocaDoc permalink
Sat, Jul 4, 2009 from Times Online (UK): Bengal tiger breeding plan at Sariska in doubt over fears that new mates are siblings When Indian wildlife authorities took three Bengal tigers by helicopter to an empty reserve in Rajasthan last year it was hailed as a groundbreaking experiment to revive the country's flagging tiger population. Now, some experts fear that the male and two females relocated to the Sariska reserve could all be siblings -- reducing their chances of a successful long-term breeding programme. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which is in charge of the project, began testing DNA samples from the three tigers yesterday to decide if they need to introduce others from different parts of the country. It already had blood samples from the two females but had not taken a sample from the male until it was briefly captured on Monday to have its broken radio collar replaced. "We're to blame -- we should have done this earlier but everything was done in a hurry," K. Sankar, a WII tiger expert who is overseeing the project, told The Times. "Now we have the samples, the analysis is under way and after that we will be able to say for sure. We're keeping our fingers crossed." Results are expected this weekend, when the Indian Environment Minister is due to visit Sariska. ...	What's the hurry? It's not as if... oh, right. ApocaDoc permalink
Sat, Jul 4, 2009 from BBC: No safe haven for rarest antelope Fleeting sightings of the world's rarest antelope, the hirola, in a new safe haven are cases of mistaken identity, a survey has found. That has dashed hopes that some of the last hirola have managed to colonise a new territory where they would be less vulnerable to flooding and hunting. Fewer than 600 wild hirola remain, confined to a small area in Kenya. It is sometimes called a 'living fossil', being the sole survivor of a once diverse group of antelope species.... The hirola is special because of both its rarity and evolutionary uniqueness. Scientifically named (Beatragus hunteri), the hirola belongs to the family Bovidae, the group that includes all antelopes, cattle, bison, buffalo, goats and sheep. Within that group, it belong to the subfamily Alcelaphinae, meaning it is most closely related to topi, wildebeests and hartbeest antelopes. But what makes the hirola stand out is that it is the last living representative of the genus Beatragus. ...	Species extinction, then Genus extinction... how soon before Family extinction? ApocaDoc permalink
Sat, Jul 4, 2009 from Examiner.com: EPA agrees to tackle the feminization of wild fish It took a lawsuit, but the EPA today announced the first step toward regulating a chemical that can cause male fish to develop female sex characteristics. The chemical, nonylphenol ethloxylate (NPE), is used in cleaning products and detergents. Studies show that NPEs can change the biology of male fish so they grow female eggs at very low levels, said Albert Ettinger of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, in a statement. "The EPA ignored these studies because there was insufficient evidence of the impact on fish reproduction."... Other well-known sources of estrogen and estrogen-mimicking compounds, also called "endocrine disruptors," are birth control pills, hormone replacements and hormones from livestock operations discharged from wastewater treatment plants.... U.S. Geological Survey researchers first found "intersex" fish locally in 2003 in the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Since then, the number of these fish has increased year after year, and they are found most often near agricultural or high population areas. In April, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the USGS released a study that showed at least 82 percent of male smallmouth bass and 23 percent of the largemouth bass in the Potomac watershed have immature female germ cells in their reproductive organs. ...	Those largemouth bass need to catch up! Less than a quarter feminized? Pfft. ApocaDoc permalink
Sat, Jul 4, 2009 from CBC (Canada): Backyard wind turbine rejected by Ontario Municipal Board An Ottawa resident who has been lobbying to put a wind turbine in his backyard in the city's Westboro neighbourhood has been told that his project is grinding to a halt. Graham Findlay had applied for a variance to install what's known as an "energy ball" on his property near Island Park Drive. Findlay is a commercial wind arm developer with Ottawa-based 3G Energy Corporation and has said that he wants to mount that "energy ball" on a pole in his backyard to make it 10 metres high so he can produce his own energy at home. In October, the city refused to approve his application to mount the turbine in his backyard, so he appealed through the Ontario Municipal Board. His neighbours, however, testified at the OMB hearings that they felt the turbine would be invasive and could be dangerous if the tall pole with a turbine on top fell over. Even though the turbine has been designed specifically for residential areas, the OMB said in its June ruling that it supported Findlay's neighbour's concerns. ...	Not in your backyard. ApocaDoc permalink
Fri, Jul 3, 2009 from New Scientist: Meadows of the sea in 'shocking' decline Seagrass meadows are disappearing at an accelerating pace, according to a new report, which is the first to look at the problem on a global scale. Seagrass meadows, along with coral reefs, mangrove forests, and salt-marshes, provide valuable ecosystem services like nutrient cycling. They also protect edible crustaceans, like shrimps and crabs, and juvenile fish such as salmon. In addition, seagrass meadows provide habitats for endangered species like dugongs, manatees, and sea turtles. While marine ecologists have been measuring localized seagrass loss for decades, they had never before pooled their information to get a global perspective. So a team led by Michelle Waycott of James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia pooled data from 215 regional studies, from 1879 to 2006. They found that the total area of known seagrass meadow had decreased by 29 per cent over the 127 years. They also found that the rate of loss had accelerated, from less than 1 per cent per year in the 1940s to 7 per cent per year since the 1990s.... Overall, the rate of loss is comparable to that for tropical rainforests and coral reefs. ...	Those meadows are probably having problems because we're not mowing them often enough. ApocaDoc permalink
Fri, Jul 3, 2009 from BusinessGreen: China plans dramatic increase in solar capacity to 2GW by 2011 China is set to raise its target for installed solar capacity to 2GW by 2011, a fifteen-fold increase on the 140MW goal it set only last year. The state-run China Daily newspaper reported today that the National Energy Administration, the government office responsible for energy development plans, has decided to increase capacity over the next two years by providing increased subsidies for solar generators worth $0.16 (10p) per kWh. Chinese solar panel makers, including Suntech Power Holdings, Yingli Green Energy and LDK Solar, are expected to enjoy significant increases in sales as a result of the revised goal, said the newspaper. ...	The Commies are more committed to solar than we are? Time for an EnergyRace™! ApocaDoc permalink
Fri, Jul 3, 2009 from New Scientist: Money flows into green transport despite recession A new generation of mean, green electric machines is shifting attitudes to the electric car. Most large automobile companies are pouring money into electric vehicle programmes, and a new report shows venture capitalists are hot on their heels. Despite the financial recession, venture capital investment in green technology rose, for the first time in six months, during the second quarter of 2009 -- and the biggest winner was transport-related technology, according to the report, issued this week by the Cleantech Group and Deloitte. The problems faced by the traditional automobile industry, particularly companies in the US, are well documented. But for many investors, now is an "historic opportunity" to take a chunk of the market themselves by supporting new clean transportation options, says Brian Fan, senior director of research at Cleantech. ...	Self-interest, greed, and the profit motive got us into this mess. Can it get us out? ApocaDoc permalink
Fri, Jul 3, 2009 from IRIN News (UN): Rwanda: Water rationing warning as drought bites Electrogaz, Rwanda's public utility, is considering water rationing due to shortages caused by a prolonged drought in parts of the country, officials said. Yves Muyange, the acting chief executive, said the country was now facing a deficit of up to 22,000 cubic metres of water every day and had no alternative until supplies had been boosted. "Starting this month, we are going to conduct rationing tests across major towns in the country to find out how to implement the programme," he said. Muyange said efforts were under way to increase water production across the densely populated country of nine million people. Environmental specialists blame the drought on climate change, with erratic rainfall and frequent dry spells combining to increase water shortages. ...	First, stop watering the golf courses. Then, stop watering the lawns. Then, stop... wait, Rwanda? ApocaDoc permalink
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 from BBC: World 'still losing biodiversity' An unacceptable number of species are still being lost forever despite world leaders pledging action to reverse the trend, a report has warned. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says the commitment to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010 will not be met. It warns that a third of amphibians, a quarter of mammals and one-in-eight birds are threatened with extinction. The analysis is based on the 44,838 species on the IUCN Red List. "The report makes for depressing reading," said co-editor Craig Hilton Taylor, manager of the IUCN's Red List Unit. "It tells us that the extinction crisis is as bad, or even worse than we believed. ...	"Still"? Heck, we're just gettin' started! ApocaDoc permalink
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Thu, Jul 2, 2009 from Telegraph.co.uk: ExxonMobil funds climate-change sceptics Company records for 2008 show that ExxonMobil gave $75,000 to the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) in Dallas, Texas and $50,000 to the Heritage Foundation in Washington. It also gave $245,000 to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington.... All three groups have raised questions about global warming. The Heritage Foundation published note last year that said: "Growing scientific evidence casts doubt on whether global warming constitutes a threat, including the fact that 2008 is about to go into the books as a cooler year than 2007". ExxonMobil promised in 2006 to stop funding climate change sceptics after it was criticised by the Royal Society for giving money to researchers who were "misinforming the public about the science of climate change". ...	I've got just one thing to say to you, ExxonMobil. ApocaDoc permalink
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 from BusinessGreen: Canada and Japan accused of blocking Copenhagen progress Speaking at the World Conference of Science Journalists, King said that while much of the attention in recent months had focused on the Obama administration's engagement with the so-called Copenhagen negotiations to agree a successor to the Kyoto Treaty, Canada and Japan were quietly undermining the talks. "Copenhagen is faltering at the moment," he said. "The Americans are now fully engaged. But several countries are blocking the process." Both countries are believed to oppose demands for stringent emission reduction targets at the behest of powerful business lobby groups, such as the energy company's push to exploit Canada's oil sands. "These people are very outspoken, aggressive lobbyists," Dr Robert Falkner at the London School of Economics told The Times. "They are gung-ho about rising oil prices and want to exploit that." ...	Hey, Canada and Japan! You can't hide behind our stupid-skirts anymore! ApocaDoc permalink
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 from Infection Control Today: NICUs Seeing More Antibiotic-Resistant Staph Infections The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in U.S. neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) has more than tripled in recent years, reports a study in the July issue of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.... Of approximately 4,400 staph infections tested for antibiotic resistance, 23 percent were MRSA. From 1995 to 2004, the rate of late-onset MRSA infections increased by 308 percent: from less than one to about three infections for every 10,000 hospital days. The sharpest increase in MRSA infections occurred after 2002. The smallest infants -- those with very low birth weights of 1,000 grams (about 35 ounces) -- had the sharpest increase in MRSA infections. However, the infection rate rose in all birth weight groups. ...	Baby needs new antibiotics! ApocaDoc permalink
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 from G Magazine: Frozen carbon stores pose big warming danger There is double the amount of carbon stored in frozen soils than previously thought, new research has found, which could significantly increase global temperatures by the end of this century if released. "Massive amounts of carbon stored in frozen soils at high latitudes are increasingly vulnerable to exposure to the atmosphere," said Pep Canadell, from the CSIRO's Global Carbon Project. "The [newest] research shows that the amount of carbon stored in soils surrounding the North Pole has been hugely underestimated."... Canadell and colleagues have revealed that frozen high-latitude soils have the potential to release vast quantities of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, and subsequently influence carbon-climate feedbacks. ...	But if we didn't know it before, it can't be true now, can it? Can it? ApocaDoc permalink
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 from Miami Herald (FL): Keys ill-prepared for rising sea "South Florida is on the front line against sea-level rise in the United States, and the Florida Keys are ground zero," said Evan Flugman, who co-authored a Florida International University report on the importance of Monroe County tackling the issue now. By 2100, under the best-case predictions of a seven-inch sea-level rise by an international climate panel, the Keys would lose about 59,000 acres of real estate worth $11 billion, according to the nonprofit Nature Conservancy. Under the panel's worst-case projection of ocean waters rising 23.2 inches, about 75 percent of the Keys 154,000 acres and nearly 50 percent of its $43 billion property value could become submerged. Consequences also include the loss of habitat for many endangered plants and species, including Key deer. And the panel's predictions are conservative in comparison to some scientists' calculations. The eye-opening projections were presented at a June meeting in Marathon to urge Monroe County Mayor George Neugent, other Keys leaders and residents to develop long-term plans to deal with climate change. Unlike Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the Keys do not have a climate change task force. ...	What about DisneyWorld?? ApocaDoc permalink
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 from Paul Krugman, New York Times: Betraying the Planet: Denial is Treason A handful of these no votes came from representatives who considered the bill too weak, but most rejected the bill because they rejected the whole notion that we have to do something about greenhouse gases. And as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn't help thinking that I was watching a form of treason -- treason against the planet. To fully appreciate the irresponsibility and immorality of climate-change denial, you need to know about the grim turn taken by the latest climate research. The fact is that the planet is changing faster than even pessimists expected: ice caps are shrinking, arid zones spreading, at a terrifying rate. And according to a number of recent studies, catastrophe -- a rise in temperature so large as to be almost unthinkable -- can no longer be considered a mere possibility. It is, instead, the most likely outcome if we continue along our present course. ...	That Nobel Prize? Just a theory. ApocaDoc permalink
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 from Durango Herald (Colorado): Expert questions gas-drilling chemicals The toxic chemicals used to extract natural gas from deep underground and process it are among substances creating a dizzying list of embryonic -- and subsequent -- developmental aberrations in animals, including humans, an environmental health analyst is set to say tonight.... "I'll be talking about what we know about the chemicals used in drilling for and production of natural gas," Colborn said by telephone from Paonia. "I won't talk about exposure, but I'll explain what we know about the health effects from the chemicals." A Durango nurse was sickened in July 2008 after she treated a gas-field employee who had cleaned a chemical spill near Bayfield. Bayfield is in the San Juan Basin, which includes much of the southern part of La Plata County, and is one of the largest gas fields in the country.... "The problem is non-disclosure on the part of the industry. They're not telling us everything," Colborn said. "We have limited information." ...	Hey, it seems fine to me! ApocaDoc permalink