EPA seeks scientific data on ocean acidification
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responding to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) last year by requesting information from scientists and policy makers on ocean acidification. The information will help the EPA decide whether to revise their current pH water criterion, a move which might lay the groundwork for […]
Support for A Sea Change from the sustainable fisheries world
"A Sea Change offers a searching, emotionally powerful look at ocean acidification. This problem is sometimes called the "evil twin" of climate change, and many of us regard it as an existential threat to the future of fishing. The story is full of heart, scientifically accurate, and lyrical. It also offers good reason for hope, […]
Climate change naysayers
We discovered this on YouTube, in a series called "Climate Denial Crock of the Week." The video maker is Peter Sinclair, an advocate of environmental awareness and energy alternatives. Here's what he has to say about it: "Climate Deniers S. Fred Singer and Dennis Avery make their livingby confusing and obfuscating the science of climate […]
Factory farms & greenhouse gas
Just heard this factoid on "The Leonard Lopate Show." The guest was Mark Bittman, talking about the environmental impact of the meat we Americans eat. (The rest of the world can prolly go to sleep right now, unless you want to know more about the stupidity of our agro-business/food culture. Wait, I was wrong. Unfortunately, […]
LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
A friend brought this legislation, HR 146, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, to our attention today. It’s something all US citizens can take immediate action on, to support funding for research on ocean acidification and more. The bill will most likely be coming back before the House of Representatives this week. It needs only […]
Oceans & climate change
James Baker discusses the impact of global warming on coral reefs, ocean acidification, chemistry of the atmosphere and ocean, and growing public awareness of the issues. Formerly, Baker was NOAA's Undersecretary of Commerce/Administrator during the Clinton Administration. He currently serves as Director of the Clinton Foundation's Global Carbon Measurement Program.The talk was given at Cornell […]
Fertilizing ocean to combat climate change
In apparent defiance of international law (and possibly commonsense), scientists are planning to start an experiment with iron fertilization. The Independent is reporting that the proposed location is the Southern Ocean. The plan: to create a plankton bloom big enough to be visible from space. “The researchers – mainly from Germany and India, but including […]
Plan B for climate urged by scientists
It’s time to implement Plan B, to use technology to address excess carbon in the atmosphere. That’s the feeling of a growing number of climate scientists polled by The Independent. The Kyoto Treaty has not served to limit the release of carbon dioxide. And recent research reports that the world’s naturally occurring carbon "sinks" are […]
Fish & climate change
It turns out that fish play an important role in mitigating climate change. But it wasn’t known til now. A study published in the Jan. 16 edition of Science reports that fish help maintain ocean chemistry, specially the ph balance. In other words, they are natural allies in combating ocean acidification. Villy Christensen, fisheries researcher […]
Concrete as a cure for climate change?
A Scientific American article is reporting on what sounds like a revolutionary technique for partially solving the greenhouse gas problem: using it to produce cement. A new company called Calera claims that, by passing carbon dioxide through seawater, it can produce cement. For example, the waste gas from power plants, now released into the atmosphere, […]
Matter Network reviews A Sea Change
Erica Gies reviewed A Sea Change March 6. Here's a brief excerpt (read the whole review here): "Ocean acidification is such a scary problem that many people would rather not think about it — kind of like climate change. But “A Sea Change” goes a long way toward making this uncomfortable topic oh-so-human." In case […]
“Brave New Ocean”
If this lecture doesn’t scare you straight, nothing will. Dr. Jeremy Jackson discusses human-created ocean impacts: habitat destruction, overfishing, introduced species, warming, acidification, toxins, and massive runoff of nutrients. We’re facing major extinctions. Just for starters, he says that, because of ocean acidification, “some day we’ll have no seashells on the beach.” Definitely a downer. […]
Alaska youth come to the fore in ocean acidification awareness
Ocean acidification may be a winning topic for some Alaska high school students. Four of them, from the Kodiak High School Tsunami Bowl team, have focused on the subject for a state science competition coming up in early February. If they win at the state level, they’ll go on to Washington, DC, in April to […]
Coral growth declining in Great Barrier Reef
Coral growth in the Great Barrier Reef has slowed in the last 20 years. Specifically, the coral are less able to absorb calcium from the ocean water. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide is the cause. “The data suggest that such a severe and sudden decline in calcification is unprecedented in at least the past 400 years,” the […]
Center for Biological Diversity sues EPA over ocean acidification
Today the Center for Biological Diversity has filed the first-ever US law suit addressing ocean acidification. The Center is suing the EPA and administrator Lisa Jackson over their failure to recognize the effects of ocean acidification in water off the coast of Washington State. The case is a test of whether the Clean Water Act […]
EnviroMom
We just really like EnviroMom a lot. Can't remember how we stumbled on it; it's been a long day. Started by 2 moms, Renee and Heather. Their premise: they're moms and they're busy, but they can still be green. So prolly you can, too. Mind you, they're based in Portland, ME, which strikes as a […]
KGO ABC7 News covers A Sea Change
Barbara Ettinger and Sven Huseby of Niijii Films interviewed on KGO, ABC 7, just before the West Coast premiere of A Sea Change at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
NBC News reports on ocean acidification in their “Sea Change” series
An NBC reporter goes to Tasmania to cover ocean acidification, where cold temperatures mean the effects of changing ocean chemistry are showing dramatically. The shells of tiny sea snails are dissolving.
Testimonial for A Sea Change from a Climate Project presenter
"I received A Sea Change after I returned home from work Monday. I finally had a chance today to sit and watch it and I was beyond impressed! It is a wonderful journey of discovery that Sven and Elias takes us on. So perfectly made. BRAVO!!! I hope with all my heart that as many […]
ACT TODAY
The American Clean Energy and Security Act — the Waxman-Markey bill, HR 2454— represents a critical opportunity to deliver on President Obama's vision for a clean energy economy. The bill's coming up for a vote on the House floor by Friday, June 26, the end of this week. Congress needs to hear from you, if […]
COP-15 for naught?
You may have noticed the drop off in our blogging. We're finding Twitter a super convenient way to convey info quickly. There's a certain ease in the short-form format; we don't feel the need to craft our language quite as carefully. And it's unbeatable for live coverage of an event. If you've been following us, […]