Visualizing World Data
Some of the more mathematically-inclined among us have the ability look at large quantities of raw data and see relationships, trends and patterns. I’m not one of those. For me, visualizing requires something, well, visual: a chart, a diagram, a map.
Enter the folks at worldmapper.org. Using cartograms, or density-equalizing maps, they’ve created a [...]
The illegal traffic in the skins of endangered animals, ivory and rain forest timber is growing and profitable in the booming environmental crime business.
Every year criminal syndicates are profiting by more than 10 billion dollars as they poach and smuggle illegal natural products into markets willing to pay for them.
A British based charity, the Environmental Investigation [...]
There are less fish in the sea than ever before but also more fishermen trying to net them than ever before.
That equation amounts to huge financial losses for the fishing industry, over 50 billion dollars a year and a serious global depletion of centuries old food supply.
Over the last three decades more than 2 trillion [...]
In my career I’ve been known as a lot of things, some not so flattering! But I’ve always welcomed the idea that I am America’s consumer cop since I’ve busted more big name companies than anybody left standing today. However, more lately, I’ve become known as that ‘crazy Green Patriot guy.’ Well, what is green [...]
The Japanese government will introduce a new subsidy for home owners who want to convert to solar power. The program is designed to reduce solar power conversion costs by almost 10 percent.
Japan is a nation that has virtually no natural resources. Oil is used to meet nearly 60% of Japan’s total energy needs and almost [...]
From time to time, we browse recently released Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports and highlight those with potential interest to our readers. This week’s release was so extensive we’ve organized documents into broad categories.
Many financial experts are concerned that the current US financial market meltdown and the staggering infusion of 700 billion dollars to save it will only result in restoring the status quo.
Some are also concerned that the normal use of fossil fuel consumption will continue at the expense of plans to convert power production towards techniques that could [...]
The following reports, prepared by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS), are now available to the public online through the Open CRS project. Links below lead to a document summary, from which the full documents can be downloaded as PDFs. Dates shown indicate when the reports were prepared.*
Animal Waste and Water Quality: EPA’s Response to [...]
Noting that Brazilian authorities have significantly reduced deforestation over the last years, Norway will contribute US$1 Billion to Brazil’s Amazon Fund over the next seven years starting with US$20 Million this year. This makes Norway the first international contributor to the Amazon Fund, a major Brazilian effort to sharply curb deforestation of the world’s largest rainforest [...]
After a frustrating year and half of delay the US Environmental Protection Agency has finally been able to introduce new regulations that target summer pollution levels.
The new regulations could result in a 25 percent reduction of smog-forming emissions and carbon monoxide from the nation’s motor vehicle sector.
Small gasoline engines that power pleasure craft boats and [...]
The following reports, prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), are now available to the public online through the Open CRS project. Links below lead to a document summary, from which the full documents can be downloaded as PDFs. Dates shown indicate when the reports were prepared.*
The Toxic Substances Control Act: A Summary of the [...]
The image of Canada’s great Arctic expanses covered with snow and ice and stretching for thousands of kilometers into the distance is changing, or rather melting.
Canadian scientists are reporting with some alarm the break up of some Canada’s largest ice shelves.
In August the Markham Ice Shelf, a 50 kilometer square area of fresh water ice, [...]
