Friday, April 06, 2007

Daily Briefing - 4/6/07: IPCC, IPCC, IPCC, IPCC.....

IPCC Report #2. It's a doozy.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/6/07
577 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- IPCC: Report #2
o NYT, Internat’l Herald Tribune, SF Chronicle, Bloomberg, Reuters(India), Seattle PI, Alaska Report, WSJ, Gulf News, Billings Gazette, Earth Times, Grist
o A moral obligation, Fear over diluted warnings, Stark picture of a warming world, National Council of Churches call for immediate action, The peril we face, World’s poorest will suffer the most
- Permanent drought predicted for Southwest
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Fort Wayne: A planetary victory
o Indianapolis Star: Bush brushes off Supremes
o Could impact IT
o Alabama Times Daily: Not so clean
o Florida Today: The green light
- Gov. Doyle (D-WI) highlights energy and global warming efforts, including an Office of Energy Independence and Task Force on Global Warming
- The real cost of climate change and why doing good is better (for profits!) in the long run
- Threatening natural wonders
- Mauritania being buried
- Asia tourism faces chaos
- Kansas City Star: U.S. must lead the world
- Great Barrier Reef at risk
- John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry: Warming to the idea of change
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- New regulatory head favors hands-off approach… oh boy
- Mideast media mostly upbeat on Speaker’s visit
- Sen. Inhofe sees himself as “the next Pombo
- Apple… not so green
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (no no really… I am hunter!!!), Obama (finding that success breeds more success), Thompson, Fred (gearing up), Romney again (using his wealth), Giuliani (will not seek abortion changes), Giuliani again (take him or leave him), Bloomberg (and the money machine), McCain (can he win?), Obama again (offering a health care revamp), Edwards (quiet momentum), Clinton and McCain (a spending spree awaits),
- There will be more voters in Florida
Other News from the Media
- Wildlife smugglers test their skills
- How supply-side economics trickled down
- Unemployment rate drops to 4.4%
- So the daylight savings one month early? Yea, didn’t do much
…and the Blogosphere
- The Fix’s Friday Governor Line
- Wired: Panel releases report after late-night politicking
- National Review: Life Lessons for Rudy
- Huffington Post: Bleak report issued… but hey, don’t worry
- Only In It For the Gold
- Grist:
o The warm on terror
o Slow Food Nation
o Why waiting for fossil fuels to run out isn’t such a good thing
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Holy cow! An ambidextrous pitcher!
- Doonsebury takes on Mitt Romney
- Martha Stewart, menu-maker for the space bound
- And up on Mars… a problem with warming
- Al Gore to open Tribeca Film Festival
- When (gay couples) wish upon a star!!!
- Wow. Bill O’Reilly blew a gasket
Quotes O’ the Day
“Global warming’s potential to harm wildlife is one of the report’s central findings. Temperature increases of just a few degrees may propel 20 to 30 percent of all species toward extinction.” Larry Schweiger

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Thursday, April 05, 2007

Daily Briefing - 4/5/07: IPCC, Biodiversity, Al Franken, and Global Warming

Today's briefing is brought to you in honor of NWF's ROC-extraordinaire, Jerry Karnas.

MW

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The Jerry Karnas (Daily) Briefing – 4/5/07
578 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News
Global Warming
- "What you saw today is that Florida has gone, in a matter of four months, from Category 5 denial to Category 5 action. We are feeling a hurricane force wind of change on this issue. And it's unprecedented," said NWF’s Jerry Karnas,
o Man, that’s some powerful stuff. I feel like there’s no point in going on… but I guess I have to. SighIt’s all downhill from here.
- Climate panel is confident warming is underway… and that humans are responsible
o Already affecting the world’s flora and fauna, and decimating biodiversity
o Report may have some problems reaching deadline in time
- John Tierney, curmudgeon-extraordinaire
- Kennebec Journal: Time for Congress to address global warming
- The Saratogian: Global warming should be a national effort
- Warming hurts health
- Christian Science Monitor launches global warming website
o And here it is!
- US lags on plans
- Warming thins herd for Canada’s seal hunt
- Hot planet, poisonous fish
- John and Teresa Heinz Kerry: Addressing global warming is good for business
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Gonzalez prepares to fight for his job
- David Broder: A dubious electoral idea
- 3 Republicans part with Bush on Syria
- Gotta love recess appointments
Potential ‘08ers…
- Edwards (Elizabeth is quite the draw), Obama ($25 million?!... otherwise known as Big Bucks Barack), Obama again (fundraising gives him respite from stumbles), Clinton (standing among blacks is on the line), Romney (“a lifelong hunter?”), Edwards again (cashing in on cancer?), Romney again (the Mormon advantage), Giuliani (roe woe?), Giuliani again (don’t be surprised if he wins it), Romney again again (wants to end tax on savings), Dodd (supports civil unions), Gingrich (offends Latino community, apologizes in Spanish), Thompson, Tommy (first day officially on the trail), McCain (retools money team, delays entry)
- Early ’08 fundraising has a clear blue tint
- DNC will sanction six monthly debates starting in July
Other News from the Media
- Captives freed by Iran arrive in Britain
- Woohoo, a channel all about us! Well, maybe not just us but we’re included in the “green movement.”
- A plug-in hybrid… and a school bus
- Washington bans PBDEs
- Top ten utility green power programs
…and the Blogosphere
- Hotline: Al Franken pulls in $1.3 mil
- Blue Hampshire: Portsmouth Mayor jumps into Senate race
- David Sirota thinks John Edwards is the “people-party candidate
- Fred Thompson: Real American Idols
- TomPaine: More pollution does not equal less
- Grist:
o An interview with Duke Energy CEO
o Will the environment be a factor in ‘08
o A remarkable consistency
o Green parenting
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Hey, who wouldn’t want one of those fresh and toasty sandwiches?
- Bone of Joan of Arc actually from a … mummy? Huh?
- My Maps… yet another ridiculously cool product from Google
- The page program flourishes. I guess that whole scandal thing was a draw? Yeesh, I’ll avoid saying anything else…
- John Kerry, you are THE MAN
Quotes O’ the Day
“Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it.” ~ Jules Renard

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Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Daily Briefing - 4/3/07: EPA, China, Bush Administration, Columbian White-Tailed Deer, and Global Warming

The buzz grows over the impending release of the IPCC's second report, due out this Friday. It's been called "bleak," "a tearjerker," and references a "highway to extinction." As America's foremost conservation organization, we wait with baited breath.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/4/07
579 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News

Global Warming
- Administration thinks they’re doing enough
- EPA revives California’s request to set tough emission standards
- Reports from the four fronts on warming
- Linfen, China: The frontline in the war on global warming
- IPCC: It’s been called a tearjerker
o The elimination of up to 30% of life forms
- Global warming happens, is it catastrophic?
- Christian Today: Climate change could be biggest disaster in human history, says WWF
- Gore urges engineers during San Jose visit
- Florida leaders hear of insurance, global warming woes
o Conversation urges conservation
- Australian fish being driven south
- Idaho: Valley residents challenged to stop global warming
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- President Bush fighting Democrats and doubts
- Speaker Pelosi goes to Syria
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (Mormon base a mixed blessing), Obama (reports $25 million in fundraising), McCain (revamps fundraising), Edwards (returns to Iowa), Obama again (facing a battle over Iraq war opposition), Obama again again (knows his way around a ballot), McCain (evangelicals bracing his immigration stance), Giuliani (tells Iowa voters to evaluate his record), Giuliani again (won’t commit to Iowa straw poll), Romney again (money in the bag, now works on name rec), Clinton (Iraq funding plan a thorny issue), Edwards again (crowd zeroes in on issues), Biden (Bush could be impeached, but that would be impractical), Richardson (goes to North Korea at the behest of the President), Giuliani again again (surmounts expectations in NH), Thompson, Fred (evangelical leader likes him)
- GOP protégés aim shots at each other
Other News from the Media
- Brother, can you spare a cup of coffee for Columbian white-tailed deer? Do note the quote from NWF’s very own Corry Westbrook.
- British captives to be freed
- An arid west no longer waits for rain
- Loss of coral may cause food supply crisis
- Court overturns Duke clean air law ruling
- Electranet could see the light of day
…and the Blogosphere
- RCP: New polls from CA, IA, and NH
- MYDD: New Hampshire poll
- TPM: “Moderate” GOP senators will bail on Iraq if progress isn’t obvious by late summer
- PeakEnergy: Bright green building and dark green buildings
- TomPaine: Overwhelmed by climate
- Grist:
o Automaker suit against California may be dismissed by tomorrow
o Is coal running out too?
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Labor union v. Starbucks. Over what you ask? Piercings.
- Mayor Rocky Anderson v. Chain stores
- Umm, is that why he looks the way he does?
- MySpace to hold presidential primary… It better not be on February 5th or I will, like, totally be angry.
Quotes O’ the Day
“There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking.” ~ Thomas A. Edison

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Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Daily Briefing - 4/3/07: More Supreme Court, IPCC, Spies, Campaign Money and Global Warming

The media is focused on the Supreme Court decision dropped yesterday with roughly EVERY major outlet publishing a story about it. As a whole the reaction is quite positive, most legal analysis seems to see the decision as solid, if not a change in course of the Court's view of standing in the environmental cases. Don't take my word for it, check out the plethora of articles below.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/3/07
580 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News

Global Warming
- Lots more on the Supreme Court decision
o From NYT, WSJ, Canada National Post, LA Times, NPR, SF Chronicle, KC Star, WashPost, Legal Times, USA Today
o Emissions law could still face hurdles
o A simple explanation of the ruling from Grist
o White House response
§ Grist: Bush v. Everyone Else
- The second IPCC report cometh…
o Tropical losers, northern winners?
o They’re even talking about it in Turkey
- U.S. spies urged to assess global warming
- Citing Al Gore, federal judge allows global warming lawsuit to advance
- U.S. and Australia holdouts… it doesn’t work in the NFL, why would it work with this?
o U.S. hampering efforts
- The FACE of global warming (GO BU!)
- Bangladesh warns region must act
- Impact on Florida discussed today
- Gore wins praise from head of Nobel committee
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Reid may move to cut war funding
- Gonzalez prepares to face down the Senate
Potential ‘08ers…
- Romney (big time money numbers), Obama (on global warming and cap and trade), McCain (hmm, some dissenting views on the Senators visit to Iraq), Tancredo (as immigrants tremble everywhere, he’s in), Clinton (backs public campaign funding), Clinton again (gets endorsement from Gov. Corzine), Clinton again again (heads to Iowa), Edwards (Elizabeth: This is what I wanted to do), Giuliani (big money month), Giuliani again (heads to Iowa), McCain again (money troubles), Obama again (anticipated most of the problems in Iraq… so he says), Obama again again (built donor network from roots up), Biden (surprisingly still around)
- Nine candidates agree to GOP debate
Other News from the Media
- Busy hurricane season forecast
- Solar power going mainstream?
- Nationalism may weaken big oil
…and the Blogosphere
- Here’s a nifty little site that tracks news coming out of each campaigns headquarters
- The Fix: Wowed by Mitt
- National Review: Hot Times in the High Court
- RedState: On the Fred Thompson boomlet
- DailyKos: A few lessons for the traditional media
- SCOTUSblog: On the global warming decision
- Grist:
o Carbon tax catching on?
o An interview with David James Duncan, author and fly-fisherman
o CO2 low hanging fruit
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Title factory? Jeez, do Florida fans need any more to gloat about? Nonetheless, congrats to my brethren of Gator persuasion.
- Sydney Pollack to direct film about the 2000 recount… I’m guessing it’ll seem like a sequel to Tootsie.
- What do you get when you combine Scary Spice and Eddie Murphy?... Uhh, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
- French train hits 357mph
- Wow, they really are beaming him up!
- Yet another reason why Google is the coolest company around
Quotes O’ the Day
“I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic."” ~ Richard Pryor

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Monday, April 02, 2007

Daily Briefing - 4/2/07: Supreme Court, John Dingell, Loads of Campaign Cash, and Global Warming

Aaaaaand we're back!

After a lengthy absence thanks to NWF's annual meeting, which was a rousing success the Daily Briefing is back with the Wildlife Action blog on life support, I'm sure. Nontheless, our return is met with great news.

The Supreme Court this morning announced that it has ruled against the Bush Administration on regulating carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act. Justices Stevens (who wrote the majority opinion), Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, and Kennedy voted in favor of allowing the Federal government to regulate carbon dioxide clearing states such as California of any potential legal action and opening the door for future Administrations, or dare I say this Administration, of regulating carbon dioxide emissions.

As expected Justices Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Roberts dissented. My colleague Derek wrote about the argument way back in November. You can read his analysis here, but here's a quick quote that summarizes his guess,

So, to my calculation that brings us down to 4-4, with Kennedy on the fence
(just like the wetlands case). My gut hunch is that Kennedy will think
Massachusetts doesn't have standing, thus leaving a 5-4 decision against us.
However, I'm notoriously bad at predictions and tend to be pessimistic, and upon
leaving the court there seemed to be full agreement that the case went as well
for us as it possibly could have.


Well, you came close, but thankfully Justice Kennedy did not live up to your pessimism.

MW

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Daily Briefing – 4/2/07
581 days until the NEXT election… and global warming is an integral part of our nation’s agenda!

Key Issues in the News

Global Warming
- Supreme Court rules against Bush Administration in global warming case. Feds can now regulate car emissions.
- Chairman Dingell, speaking at NWF’s annual meeting, says climate change bill is the most difficult task he’s faced, but one he will not rush.
o David Roberts at Grist is unimpressed
- Time: The Global Warming Survival Guide
- Fearing a refugee crisis like we’ve never seen
- EU official pushes U.S. on emissions
- Himalayas could melt by 2030
- Catholic Online: Former VP makes impassioned plea
- NWF’s (a “conservative green group,” so says the author of the article) An Inconvenient Truth film party spurs discussion
- State coalitions curbing global warming
- Judge OKs global warming suit
- Sydney blacks out for global warming
- CA legislature flooded with bills on climate change
- Who says India isn’t doing anything about global warming? Bollywood!
Washington/Legislation/Politics/People/etc.
- Democrats to widen conflict with Bush
- President Bush declines to throw out first pitch
- The Governator sure likes his cronies
- Republicans targeting McNerney but fearing a 2008 meltdown
- Bush pushing three pro-industry nominees
Potential ‘08ers…
- Clinton (shatters record for fundraising), Thompson, Tommy (if he enters race and no one notices, does it make a sound?), Thompson, Fred (Bob Novak sure likes him, maybe he’ll leak some of his secrets), Edwards (the media’s most personal debate), McCain (sees progress in Iraq, after visit), Obama (Congress will fund war if Bushes uses veto), Giuliani (a Rudy awakening… ugh, why do people have to use such bad puns?), Obama again (getting chewed up?), Huckabee and Brownback (fighting for attention), Giuliani again (ties to Kerik may hurt him), Tancredo (platform: immigration), Obama again again (Dems must listen to faithful), Romney (raises $23 mil, tops GOP field),
Other News from the Media
- WRDA bill passes out of committee
- NWF partners with Sonopia, kick starting the mobile revolution
- National Landscape Architecture month kicks off
- San Antonio sets water conservation example
- Seeking a car that gets 100 miles a gallon
- U.S. won’t override state rules on chemical plants
- San Francisco takes aim at plastic bags
- U.S. churches go green for Palm Sunday
- Federal judge strikes down Bush Administration forest management rules, you know because trees are kinda useful
- Interior official rode roughshod over agency scientists, violating federal rules
- LA suffers longest dry spell in 130 years
- MA offshore wind farm wins state approval
…and the Blogosphere
- Michael Barone on parties, polls, and predictions
- DailyKos has the Democrat’s first quarter fundraising numbers
- Pajama Media has a straw poll with very odd results
- TomPaine: The inspiration budget
- Grist:
o On green weddings
o Helpful hints for deniers
Miscellaneous… or just plain weird
- Wahoo! It’s baseball season! (I will refrain from mentioning anything about a certain team with 26 glorious championships for fear of retribution from half my office, specifically Chelsea)
- When people with square pants go bad
- French architect claims to know the secret of the great pyramid
- My question is, are the Dippin’ Dots sustainable?
o Gap rocking the organic
- BRILLIANT. JibJab on the news
Quotes O’ the Day
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

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