Nat-n-Bio

The Medieval Warm Period in Southeast Uruguay … and Beyond (8 May 2012) The results of this paper add to the ever-expanding body of empirical findings testifying to the reality of the millennial-scale cycling of the planet’s climate, which after the passing of the Little Ice Age that followed the Medieval Warm Period is likely what has most recently ushered in the Current Warm Period… Read More Global Warming, Graminoid Grasses, and the Grazing Geese of Greenland (8 May 2012) How have rising temperatures impacted the grasses? … and how has the result impacted the geese? According[...] 

The time has come to terminate Big Wind subsidies and protect environmental values, endangered species, jobs and human welfare. by Paul Driessen Unprecedented! As bills to extend seemingly perpetual wind energy subsidies were again introduced by industry lobbyists late last year, taxpayers finally decided they’d had enough. Informed and inspired by a loose but growing national coalition of groups opposed to more giveaways with no scientifically proven net benefits, thousands of citizens called their senators and representatives – and rounded up enough Nay votes to run four different bills[...] 

Five steps, reflected in the maps below, could be taken to help feed the large population predicted for 2050 as well as reduce the sizeable harm agriculture imposes By Mark Fischetti To feed the world’s growing and more affluent population, global agriculture will have to double its food production by 2050. More farming, however, usually means more environmental harm as a result of clearing land, burning fossil fuels, consuming water for irrigation and spreading fertilizer. Agriculture already imposes a greater burden on Earth than almost any other human activity, so simply doubling current[...] 

El subsecretario general de Naciones Unidas y director general del Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) en América Latina, Heraldo Muñoz, abogó desde Bolivia por un debate sobre la despenalización de drogas. Tras una reunión con el presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, el funcionario afirmó que “la despenalización es un tema que ya está siendo discutido” desde que el presidente de Guatemala lo puso en la agenda pública. El diplomático considera que ese debate debe darse a nivel internacional “a la luz de los tropiezos de las políticas tradicionales de lucha[...] 

Second of a three-part series of excerpts from Energy Freedom by Marita Noon Originally published in the Washington Examiner Part 1, “Big Green Wants To Repeal the Industrial Revolution,” is available here. So who are all these evil-appearing “environmentalists?” Should all Birkenstock wearers be suspect? What about the lady at the grocery store with the canvas sack for her purchases? There is a difference between those of us who care for the earth, want to use it wisely, and believe in recycling—and those who are in decision-making positions, setting policy and/or funding the programs.[...] 

First of a three-part series of excerpts from Energy Freedom by Marita Noon Originally published in the Washington Examiner Environmentalists would have everyone believe that oil, gas, and coal—all fossil fuels—are at the base of much of the world’s ills. Nuclear is no better. They even oppose hydropower, wind energy, and commercial solar. Yet, they claim the high ground and position themselves as the moral authority. What would the world look like if they were setting truly setting energy policy rather than merely influencing it? An in-depth study of environmental groups’ energy-related[...] 

by Paul Driessen     “… gleaming white wind turbines generating carbon-free electricity carpet chaparral-covered ridges and march down into valleys of Joshua trees.” This is “the future” of American energy – not “the oil rigs planted helter-skelter in [nearby] citrus groves,” nor the “smoggy San Joaquin Valley” a few miles away.The Forbes article’s poetic paean to Aeolian energy nevertheless voiced consternation that a 300-megawatt “green” turbine project might kill some of the magnificent California condors that are just coming back from the edge of extinction –[...] 

Carrie B Kerekes La política pública generalmente considera a la polución y a otras mediciones de una pobre calidad ambiental como “males” públicos atribuibles a fracasos del mercado; así se argumenta la necesidad de la intervención estatal a través de reglamentaciones y estándares ambientales. Por el contrario, se debería analizar la calidad ambiental desde la perspectiva de los derechos de propiedad, donde las instituciones crean incentivos que llevan a una reducción en los niveles de contaminación. Este artículo muestra que donde los derechos de propiedad están claramente establecidos,[...] 

Es uno de los comunicadores y analistas políticos más reconocidos del país. Sufre una grave enfermedad que lo ha llevado a apoyarse en su esposa y sus hijos. Defiende la eutanasia como una alternativa humana para quienes enfrentan el dolor en el último momento de la vida Carlos Morales Peña Desde hace dos años libra una lucha cuerpo a cuerpo contra el cáncer. “Se la estoy haciendo difícil a esta señora llamada muerte por la que todos vamos a pasar”, señala con admirable entereza. Y destaca que su esposa y sus hijos son los pilares de la fortaleza que le permite enfrentar[...] 

Debate. Un documental de la BBC reabrió la discusión sobre el suicidio asistido. En Bolivia, la legislación no lo permite y las organizaciones religiosas lo rechazan. Otros piden debatir Carlos Morales y agencias Las imágenes son impactantes y perturbadoras. El documental ‘Eligiendo morir’ (‘Choosing to die’, por sus siglas en inglés), publicado esta semana por la BBC de Londres, reabrió el debate mundial sobre la eutanasia como medio para morir de forma digna para enfermos terminales. En Bolivia, la discusión está pendiente. “Está perdiendo la consciencia, dentro[...]