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Aloe Vera has been used to heal both internally and externally. It greatly speeds the healing of many skin injuries, including ulcerations, burns, hives and poison ivy and also acts as a laxative. Aloe latex is a powerful laxative, but because it can cause painful cramping, it is not used frequently for this purpose. Other milder herbal laxatives such as cascara sagrada and senna are usually recommended first.
Aloe use has also been suggested in connection with diabetes, ulcers, and other conditions. However, presently no conclusive clinical studies have supported this assertion.
Good site. The public needs educated, if they only knew all the facts!
Nation’s hospitals contaminate water with flushed chemicals, AP study says
Jeff Donn, Martha Mendoza & Justin Pritchard
The Associated Press
Updated: Monday, September 15, 2008
U.S. hospitals and long-term care facilities annually flush millions of pounds of unused pharmaceuticals down the drain, pumping contaminants into America’s drinking water, according to an ongoing Associated Press investigation.
These discarded medications are expired, spoiled, over-prescribed or unneeded. Some are simply unused because patients refuse to take them, can’t tolerate them or die with nearly full 90-day supplies of multiple prescriptions on their nightstands.
Few of the country’s 5,700 hospitals and 45,000 long-term care homes keep data on the pharmaceutical waste they generate. Based on a small sample, though, the AP was able to project an annual national estimate of at least 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals and contaminated packaging, with no way to separate out the drug volume.
One thing is clear: The massive amount of pharmaceuticals being flushed by the health services industry is aggravating an emerging problem documented by a series of AP investigative stories — the commonplace presence of minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the nation’s drinking water supplies, affecting at least 46 million Americans.
Researchers report that human cells fail to grow normally in the laboratory when exposed to trace concentrations of certain drugs.
That is a sad situation, especially when the kids are the victims.
That was my opinion also. Some PURO help!
What an honor to get the highest rating from Murphy Analytics. An important factor in our future is the lucrative market for ERC by-product. Looking good!
MVTG NEWS:MVTG:News Mantra Featured in Murphy Analytics Research Report
Last update: 7:26 p.m. EST Jan. 14, 2009
SEATTLE, Jan 14, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Mantra Venture Group Ltd. (MVTG:mantra venture group inc com
News , chart , profile , more
Last: 0.36-0.01-2.70%
2:14pm 01/14/2009
MVTG 0.36, -0.01, -2.7%) is pleased to announce that it received an 'Outperform' rating in a study recently completed by Murphy Analytics LLC (MA). MA's report, entitled "ERC Technology Converts CO(2) from Pollutant to Asset," encapsulates a study to determine the potential shareholder value derived from the anticipated commercialization of Mantra's electro-reduction (ERC) technology.
The report, written by Chief Analyst Patrick J. Murphy, offers a comprehensive look at the technology's ability to convert CO(2) into several valuable chemicals, including formic acid - a naturally occurring biodegradable chemical with a broad range of commercial and industrial uses. The production of formic acid, as used in leather and textile processing and biomaterial preservation, has become a very lucrative industry, representing a global market of $598 Million USD in 2008. As stated in the report, "Strong demand for formic acid and a lack of scheduled capacity additions can be expected to keep prices rising over the next twelve months."
MA also makes notable mention of society's current struggle to reduce CO(2) in attempt to mitigate global warming trends. "Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations," Mr. Murphy writes. Mantra looks to curb this warming affect in providing a cost effective and potentially profitable solution for emitters for whom CO(2) management is either mandated or desirable.
Current market conditions and the growing demand for ERC by-products each contributed to MA's decision to award Mantra its highest possible rating. "The current state of politics, environmental awareness, and economics makes this a uniquely opportune time for MVTG's ERC technology," the report concludes.
Larry Kristof, President and CEO of Mantra, comments "We are very pleased with the outcome of this most-recent report. Murphy Analytics is a highly respected firm amongst the investment community, and it was very successful in diligently highlighting the bright future that lays ahead for our company. As the report indicates, the increasing concern over climate change, the implementation of government initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases and the lucrative market for ERC by-products will each play an integral role in paving the future for Mantra. We hope to expand upon the already-overwhelming interest in this technology over the next 12-18 months as we anticipate completing our first commercial scale reactor."
Mantra's initial commercial scale reactor will be designed to process 1 ton of CO(2) per day, eventually leading to the development of a reactor capable of processing 100 tons per day.
The full report is available for review at: www.murphyanalytics.com/uploads/MVTG_Initiation
About Murphy Analytics LLC
Murphy Analytics LLC is a fee-based independently-owned research firm, providing institutional investment and transaction analysis across a range of asset classes including microcap equities, commercial real estate debt and equity, municipal derivatives and public finance, venture capital, fixed income, CMBS and mortgage REIT's.
The Analyst for this report, Patrick J. Murphy, has 15 years of capital markets experience, is an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame (1991), with an undergraduate degree in Economics, and he also holds a Masters Degree in Finance from St. Louis University (1997). Mr. Murphy is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of St. Louis.
Murphy Analytics subscription research service classifies stocks as "Underperform", "Outperform", or "Market Perform." A "Market Perform" rating implies performance expected to be generally consistent with the performance of the NASDAQ Composite Index. An "Underperform" rating implies expected underperformance versus the index and an "Outperform" rating implies expected outperformance relative to the index. Murphy Analytics was compensated $8,500 USD by Mantra Venture Group Ltd., prior to completing this report and was not compensated in any way based on the future performance of MVTG's equities.
For additional information on Murphy Analytics LLC, please visit: www.murphyanalytics.com
About ERC
The ERC process, defined as the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon dioxide, combines captured carbon dioxide with water to produce high value materials, such as formic acid and formate salts, which are conventionally obtained from the thermochemical processing of Fossil Fuels. However, ERC has an advantage over the established thermochemical methods for converting carbon dioxide to liquid fuels.
While thermochemical reactions must be driven at relatively high temperatures that are normally obtained by burning fossil fuels, ERC operates at near ambient conditions and is driven by electric energy that can be taken from an electric power grid supplied by hydro, wind, solar or nuclear energy.
MVTG also expects that the complementary nature of ERC and the electro-oxidation process that drives fuel cells may make it possible to use ERC in a regenerative fuel cell cycle, where CO(2) is converted into a fuel that is consumed in the fuel cell. The company is also exploring ERC applications for the production of steel and fuel additives.
About Mantra Venture Group Ltd.
Mantra, through its group of sustainable energy, carbon reduction and consumer product subsidiaries, is active in the green technology marketplace with an innovative, multi-faceted approach focused on profitability through sustainability. By aggressively seeking out new technologies and innovating solutions for a cleaner earth for everyone, Mantra intends to provide a highly profitable and, more importantly, socially and environmentally responsible investment for its shareholders.
Mantra is a public company quoted on the OTC BB under the symbol MVTG and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol EDV 5MV.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Mantra Venture Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Mantra Venture Group Ltd.
Joel Grover Investigation: 'Contaminated Water?'
POSTED: 6:07 am PDT April 25, 2008
UPDATED: 8:15 am PDT April 25, 2008
During the three-month investigation, KNBC's Joel Grover found that thousands of children could be drinking water
with an unsafe amount of lead and that district officials have known about the problem for years, but didn't talk
about it publicly until now.
The following is a transcript of Joel Grover's report as it aired on KNBC on April 24, 2008, at 11 p.m.
JOEL GROVER: It's 7:30 a.m. at Marvin Avenue Elementary, and the kids head right for the drinking fountains.
What they don't know is that some of the water there has dangerous amounts of lead. KNBC found contaminated
water at other schools too, and found some employees apparently falsifying records to make it look like the water is
safe.
(Addressing school employee) It looks like you falsified them.
STEVE THOMA, PARENT: Why can't we have water for the kids that's safe?
GROVER: The investigation began when KNBC learned that parents like Steve Thoma were concerned about the
water at Woodlake Elementary in Woodland Hills. His daughter says the teachers told the kids not to drink the
water.
THOMA: I was shocked. I said, "What are you talking about, you can't drink the water?"
GROVER: Thoma and others pushed the district to test the water at Woodlake. One fountain was found to have
more than seven times what the EPA says is a safe level of lead. So KNBC decided to test the water at other
schools across the city. Samples from 30 elementary schools were collected and tested for lead at the same state
certified lab used by the school district. The results were analyzed by nationally known industrial hygienist Brian
Daly of Hygiene Tech International.
BRIAN DALY, INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST: It is tainted water.
GROVER: The U.S. EPA says drinking water is unsafe if it has 15 parts per billion of lead or more. At Marvin
Elementary, one fountain KNBC tested had 32 parts per billion. That's more than double the unsafe level of lead.
Three of six fountains at Marvin tested above the safe level. At Gardener Elementary in Hollywood, one fountain
tested in the kindergarten area had lead-laced water. And at Calvert Elementary in Woodland Hills, inside the
nurse's office, KNBC tested the tap used to give kids water to take medications. It had more than two and a half
times the acceptable amount of lead, levels that could have serious effects on children.
DALY: The effects of this water would be lower IQ, attention deficit, learning disabilities.
GROVER: Nine out of 30 schools KNBC tested, or 30 percent, had some fountains with unsafe levels of lead.
DAVID BREWER, LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT: The district is grateful to KNBC.
GROVER: Joel Grover asked Superintendent David Brewer to speak with him. After canceling a scheduled
interview, Brewer instead called a news conference about the KNBC investigation.
BREWER: The safety and health of our kids is a priority.
GROVER: But an internal report KNBC obtained shows the district discovered 18 years ago it had at least 356
unsafe fountains, with water that failed to meet the government lead standard. The fountains were made with lead
that was leaching into the water. Instead of replacing most of the aging fountains, the district started a "flushing
policy" requiring school custodians to flush or run every fountain before school every morning for at least 30
seconds, to flush out lead that accumulated. The custodians are also required to complete a daily flushing log every
day.
BREWER: Compliance with flushing policy reduces the levels of lead in the water to federal standards.
GROVER: During the past month, KNBC watched the fountains at five different schools, starting before sunrise.
KNBC saw the custodians show up for work, and saw every one of them walk right by the fountains without ever
flushing them. Two of them washed the basins of the fountains, but didn't flush them. KNBC saw kids drinking from
those fountains all day. That was also the case at Reseda Elementary, where KNBC found a dangerous amount of
lead in one fountain. On three separate days, KNBC saw the custodian pass fountains but never flush them. Those
fountains were used all day. KNBC obtained the custodian's official flushing logs, and noticed he signed off that he
flushed all the fountains on campus on the three days KNBC watched him, March 13, 26 and 27.
GROVER (TO CUSTODIAN): It appears you're falsifying these documents?
CUSTODIAN: No.
GROVER: The custodian also logged that he flushed the fountain on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents
Day, when school was closed.
Grover (to custodian): Were you here at school on Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day?
CUSTODIAN: I don't think so.
GROVER: Then why did you fill out these records?
CUSTODIAN: I don't know.
GROVER: KNBC also obtained the custodian's flushing log on April 1, but it was already filled out through April 2.
(Addressing custodian) We got these on April 1. They were already filled out for April 2. How do you explain that?
CUSTODIAN: I don't know.
GROVER: It was the same story at other schools, like Marvin Elementary, with those three dangerous fountains.
The days KNBC watched the custodian, he didn't flush the fountains, but records show he signed his name that he
did, leaving kids to drink water potentially tainted with lead. What did the superintendent think of KNBC's finding,
that the flushing policy is often ignored?
BREWER: That possible failure by employees did not put any students in jeopardy.
GROVER: But according to Industrial Hygienist Brian Daly, drinking the water from unsafe fountains that aren't
flushed could harm children.
DALY: These children, or a portion of these children, will have learning disabilities because of lead exposure.
GROVER: That's why parents, like Steve Thoma at Woodlake Elementary, are demanding the district take
sweeping action to ensure the water is safe at all schools.
THOMA: No amount of lead is acceptable. So, we have to fix this problem and fix it now.
GROVER: So what does the school district have to say about what KNBC found?
BREWER: We will have our interview. I'm looking forward to it. And you'll be looking forward to it too.
Click here for an EPA guide to understanding lead in water at schools.
KNBC found higher than the EPA standard of lead at the following locations:
Alta Loma Elementary
Fountain located on the far side of the campus, across from the blacktop, parallel to handball courts. Lead Level 15
Calvert Elementary
Sink used for drinking water inside nurse's office. Lead Level 39
Gardener Elementary
Fountain in Kindergarten area, located at back of school. Lead Level 21
Marvin Avenue Elementary
Fountain located around the corner the front of gate. Lead Level 32
Fountain located behind a wall, dividing it from lunch tables and classrooms, tucked in a nook. Lead Level 22
Fountain located on far right side of campus, near boys and girls bathroom. Lead Level 19
Pacoima Elementary
Fountain located in the cafeteria area, by the wall near lunch tables. Lead Level 16
Reseda Elementary
Fountain Between boys and girls bathroom near main office. Lead level 21
San Pedro Elementary
Fountain located to the left of classroom 17. Lead Level 17
Saticoy Elementary
Fountain Located in front of playground blacktop. Lead Level 21
Woodlake Avenue Elementary
Fountain located on the east wall of building containing room 13, northwest of the administration building. Lead
Level 32 (The school shut down this fountain in 9/07 after it tested to have an unsafe level of lead. KNBC found the
fountain working again on 3/08 even though our test showed it still had a high level of lead.)
Huge amt of exposure,,but I can tell you I really think IKEA will be the major play here,from the way Yan sounds...
Since we are associated with IKEA stores and they are expanding stores and their horticulture business, it is such a big plus. Revenue should go noewhere but UP!
1. CALERA'S GREEN CEMENT DEMO PLANT OPENS
Cement? With all the whiz bang technologies in green technology, cement seems like an odd pick for our top clean technology of the year. But here's the reason: making cement — and many other materials — takes a lot of heat and that heat comes from fossil fuels.
Calera's technology, like that of many green chemistry companies, works more like Jell-O setting. By employing catalysis instead of heat, it reduces the energy cost per ton of cement. And in this process, CO2 is an input, not an output. So, instead of producing a ton of carbon dioxide per ton of cement made — as is the case with old-school Portland cement — half a ton of carbon dioxide can be sequestered.
With more than 2.3 billion tons of cement produced each year, reversing the carbon-balance of the world's cement would be a solution that's the scale of the world's climate change problem.
In August, the company opened its first demonstration site next to Dynegy's Moss Landing power plant in California, pictured here.
PROJECT BETTER PLACE FINDS HOMES
Green technologies are dime a dozen, but a business model that could allow an entirely new, green infrastructure to be built is a rare thing.
Doing just that is the centerpiece of Sun Microsystems' SAP veteran Shai Agassi's vision for Project Better Place, a scheme that would distribute charging and swappable battery stations throughout smallish geographies like Israel, Hawaii and San Francisco. So far, there's very little steel in the ground, but in early December, the company's first charging location opened in Tel Aviv, Israel. Agassi's plan is one of several projects — like new biofuels rail terminals — that could create fundamentally new energy ecosystems.
Some of these systems, however, are actually throwbacks to earlier eras. As Peter Shulman, a historian of technology at Case Western Reserve University, likes to remind his students: in the early 20th century, before the Model T, one-third of all cars were electric. (Image: Joe Puglies/WIRED)
SOLAR CELL PRODUCTION GETS BIG, GIGA(WATT)BIG
Every clean tech advocate's dream is a power-generating technology that could compete head-to-head with coal, the cheapest fossil fuel, on price alone. Nanosolar, one of a new generation of companies building solar panels out of cheap plastics, could be the first company to get there. Early this year, the company officially opened its one-gigawatt production facility, which is many times the size of most previous solar facilities.
Nanosolar, in other words, has found a process that can scale: it works as well in production as it does in the lab. That's the main reason that the company has picked up half-a-billion dollars in funding from investors like MDV's Erik Straser.
"[It's the] first time in industry a single tool with a 1GW throughput," Straser wrote in an e-mail. "It's a key part of how the company is achieving grid parity with coal."
OBAMA PICKS A GREEN TECH EXPERT TO HEAD DOE
President-elect Barack Obama ran on the promise of green jobs and an economic stimulus package that would provide support for scientific innovation. Then, Obama picked Steven Chu, a Nobel-prize winning physicist, to head the Department of Energy. Chu had been focused on turning Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory into an alternative-energy powerhouse. The green tech community rejoiced that one of their own would be in the White House.
That's because green tech is going to need some help. With the world economy falling into recession, the price of oil has dropped, even though there are serious concerns about the long-term oil supply. When energy prices drop, clean tech investments don't seem quite as attractive, and the renascent industry could be in trouble. It's happened before, after all.
Back in the '70s, geopolitical events sent the price of oil soaring, which, as it tends to, created a boom in green tech. But the early 1980s saw the worst recession since the Depression. Sound familiar? In the poor economic climate, focus and funds were shifted away from green tech. The last nail in the coffin was the election of Ronald Reagan, who immediately pulled off the solar panels Jimmy Carter had placed on the White House. The green tech industry collapsed.
History has given U.S. alternative energy research a second chance and environmental advocates hope that a different president will lead to a very different result. (Image: DOE)
SOLAR THERMAL PLANTS RETURN TO THE DESERTS
When most people think of harnessing the sun's power, they imagine a solar photovoltatic panel, which directly converts light from the sun into electricity. But an older technology emerged as a leading city-scale power technology in 2008: solar thermal. Companies like Ausra, BrightSource, eSolar, Solel, and a host of others are using sunlight-reflecting mirrors to turn liquids into steam, which can drive a turbine in the same way that coal-fired power plants make electricity.
Two companies, BrightSource and Ausra, debuted their pilot plants. They mark the first serious solar thermal experimentation in the United States since the 1980s. BrightSource's Israeli demo plant is shown above. (Image: BrightSource)
PICKENS PLAN PUSHES POWER PLAYS INTO AMERICAN MAINSTREAM
Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens might be a lot of things, but environmentalist he is not. That's why his support for a nationwide network of wind farms generated so much excitement. While his solution for transportation, natural gas vehicles, may not pan out, his Pickens Plan is the most visible alternative energy plan out there and it began to channel support from outside coastal cities for finding new sources of energy.
Of course, no one said Pickens is stupid. If his plan was adopted and major investments in transmission infrastructure were made, his wind energy investments would stand to benefit.
THE CATALYST THAT COULD ENABLE SOLAR
In July, MIT chemist Daniel Nocera announced that he'd created a catalyst that could drop the cost of extracting the hydrogen and oxygen from water.
Combined with cheap photovoltaic solar panels (like Nanosolar's), the system could lead to inexpensive, simple systems that use water to store the energy from sunlight. In the process, the scientists may have cleared the major roadblock on the long road to fossil fuel independence: Reducing the on-again, off-again nature of many renewable power sources.
"You've made your house into a fuel station," Daniel Nocera, a chemistry professor at MIT told Wired.com. "I've gotten rid of all the goddamn grids."
The catalyst enables the electrolysis system to function efficiently at room temperature and at ordinary pressure. Like a reverse fuel cell, it splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. By recombining the molecules with a standard fuel cell, the O2 and H2 could then be used to generate energy on demand
GREEN TECH LEGISLATION GETS REAL
On the federal and state levels, several historic actions put the teeth into green tech bills passed over the last few years. A review committee of the EPA effectively froze coal plant construction, a boon to alternative energy (though earlier this month the EPA ignored the committee's ruling and it is unclear how the issue will be settled). In California, the state unveiled and approved its plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, which could be a model for a nationwide system. Combined with the green-energy tax credits in the $700-billion bailout bill, the government did more for green tech in 2008 than in whole decades in the past.
NEW MATERIALS CAGE CARBON
Carbon capture and sequestration has a seductively simple appeal: We generate carbon dioxide emissions by burning geology — coal and oil — so to fix the problem, we should simply capture it and inject it back into the ground.
It turns out, however, that it's not quite so simple. Aside from finding the right kind of empty spaces in the earth's crust and the risks that the CO2 might leak, the biggest problem with the scheme is finding a material that could selectively snatch the molecule out of the hot mess of gases going up the flues of fossil fuel plants.
That's where two classes of special cage-like molecules come into play, ZIFs and amines. This year, Omar Yaghi, a chemist at UCLA, announced a slough of new CO2-capturing ZIFs and Chris Jones, a chemical engineer at Georgia Tech, reported that he'd made a new amine that seems particularly well-suited to working under real-world condition. Both materials could eventually make capturing CO2 easier -- and therefore, more cost effective.
Perhaps better still, Yaghi's lab's technique also defined a new process for quickly creating new ZIFs with the properties that scientists — and coal-plant operators — want. Some of their crystals are shown in the image above. (Image: Omar Yaghi and Rahul Banerjee/UCLA)
10. THE ISLAND OF THE SOLAR
With money flowing like milk and honey in the land of solar technology, all sorts of schemers and dreamers came streaming into the area. One Swiss researcher, Thomas Hinderling, wants to build solar islands several miles across that he claims can produce hundreds of megawatts of relatively inexpensive power. Though most clean tech advocates question the workability of the scheme, earlier this year, Hinderling's company Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique received $5 million from the Ras al Khaimah emirate of the United Arab Emirates to start construction on a prototype facility, shown above, in that country. (Image: Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique)
The Top 10 Green-Tech Breakthroughs of 2008
By Alexis Madrigal December 29, 2008 | 2:29:56 PMCategories: Chemistry, Clean Tech, Climate, Energy, Engineering, Environment, Geology, Science, Survival, Sustainability
Green technology was hot in 2008. Barack Obama won the presidential election promising green jobs to Rust Belt workers. Investors poured $5 billion into the sector just through the first nine months of the year. And even Texas oilmen like T. Boone Pickens started pushing alternative energy as a replacement for fossil fuels like petroleum, coal and natural gas.
But there's trouble on the horizon. The economy is hovering somewhere between catatonic and hebephrenic, and funding for the big plans that green tech companies laid in 2008 might be a lot harder to come by in 2009. Recessions haven't always been the best times for environmentally friendly technologies as consumers and corporations cut discretionary spending on ethical premiums.
Still, green technology and its attendant infrastructure are probably the best bet to drag the American economy out of the doldrums. So, with the optimism endemic to the Silicon Valley region, we present you with the Top 10 Green Tech Breakthroughs of 2008, alternatively titled, The Great Green Hope.
Green Power News
Boulder County Wind Challenge
October 1st through January 30th
Building upon the phenomenal success of last year's city of Boulder Wind Challenge during which over 1,100 new participants signed up to purchase wind power or wind credits, Western Resource Advocates is now working in partnership with Boulder County. As we take the Wind Challenge beyond the city and into the County, our goal to sign up 1,500 new customers. The program will run from October 1st through January 30th and will encourage residential and commercial customers to purchase wind power credits through participating suppliers or directly through their energy provider if available. Participate in the Challenge by signing up to buy wind power from one of our partner suppliers.
About Environment America
Make a difference in the fight for our environment
We all care deeply about our environment. But we also know that, as a country, we need to take stronger action to protect it — especially with powerful interests standing in the way. Environment America speaks out and takes action at the local, state, and national levels to improve the quality of our environment and our lives.
Through our fellowship program, recent college graduates work alongside seasoned advocates to fight global warming, clean up our air and water and protect our open spaces.
Environment America's efforts to pass renewable energy standards in states across the country and at the federal level have already resulted in decreasing global warming pollution – the equivalent of taking 1.5 million cars off the road. We have preserved our natural heritage by securing permanent protection for 58.5 million acres of pristine wilderness areas in 39 states. We won protection for countless waterways across the country, and helped pass 7 major ocean protection bills in California.
Fellowship Program: 2008 – 2010 Job Description
Environment America Fellowship will get a chance to work with some of the top environmental advocates and organizers in the country, and will have an immediate impact on critical environmental issues. The Fellowship Program gives recent college graduates the training and experience to assume leadership roles in the environmental movement for the long term.
Field Associate:
As a field associate, you’ll build and demonstrate support for proposals at the state or federal level to ensure that decision-makers hear from and pay attention to the public. You must quickly master the basics of a variety of issues, and then reach out to individuals, media outlets and organizations to build visibility and gain their support.
Issue associates and field associates may work on any of the following issues: global warming, energy policy, clean air and water, preserving our open spaces, and more. Each associate takes on the critical role of building the organization by canvassing at various times during the year and running a citizen outreach office during the summer.
Qualifications
We are looking for recent college graduates who care about our environment and are driven to preserve it for the future. We look for strong leadership skills, academic excellence, problem solving ability, and top-notch written and verbal skills. We value experience with campus and activist groups.
Training and Experience
A key part of the Environment America mission is to train leaders who are capable of organizing and winning results for our environment. Immediately following an intensive training, fellows are trusted with significant responsibilities in their jobs. The training lasts 10 days, is fully paid, and starts in mid-August in Boston. Four additional trainings take place during the rest of the year. Training topics include skills and political strategy, and topics are covered in a mix of lectures, classroom briefings and discussions, role-plays, and in-the-field training. Throughout the year, you gain valuable skills and experience in both making your voice heard on the issues and in building an organization through grant-writing, canvassing, recruiting and managing staff, and directing campaigns.
Placement
Fellowship candidates are hired nationwide and placed in Environment America offices across the country. If you are interested only in particular locations, you will be asked to identify those locations during the interview process. If you are offered a fellowship position, you are guaranteed placement in one of your desired locations. In most cases, final placement, including location and position, occurs during the August training in Boston.
Salary & Benefits
As a recent graduate, you will earn $23,750 in your first year and $24,250 in your second year. Salary for experienced candidates is commensurate with relevant professional experience and/or advanced degrees. You will be eligible to opt in to our group health plan, and will accrue two weeks paid vacation over the course of your first year, three weeks in your second year and will be eligible to apply for college loan assistance. In your second year, you will also be eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. Salary and benefits vary in California and New York.
Locations
Environment America is currently hiring for positions in: Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Denver, CO; Hartford, CT; Washington, DC; Tallahassee, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Portland, ME; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Ann Arbor, MI; Concord, NH; Trenton, NJ; Albuquerque, NM; Raleigh, NC; Columbus, OH; Portland, OR; Harrisburg, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Providence, RI; Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Madison, WI
How to Apply
Pick up a brochure at your college's career placement office and schedule an on-campus interview, or send your resume and cover letter to Hiring@EnvironmentAmerica.org. Be sure to mention where you saw this ad and reference the job title in the subject of your e-mail.
Questions
Please contact Maria Schweitzer in our Recruitment Department with any questions. E-mail her at Jobs@EnvironmentAmerica.org or call (202) 683-1250. Fellows played a critical part in our campaign to protect nearly 60 million acres of wilderness.
Repower America
To revive our economy, we need to rebuild on a sound foundation—one that puts people back to work, contributes to long-term prosperity, rebuilds our communities, and protects our environment. We can renew our country, and our economy, with clean, renewable energy.
With new leadership coming to Washington we have a golden opportunity to repower America for the 21st century. We need a new energy plan that embraces clean, renewable energy, secures our energy independence, and jumpstarts our economy.
Find out more. | Take action.
Virginia Gov. Proposes Legislation to Boost Renewable Energy
Jan 12, 2009, News Report
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today proposed several pieces of legislation designed to promote green jobs as part of his “Renew Virginia” initiative. Renew Virginia is Governor Kaine's year-long initiative to promote renewable energy, green jobs, and environmental protection.
“Creating green jobs and a renewable energy sector of the Virginia economy is one way we can create opportunity from our current economic challenges,” Governor Kaine said. “With this package of bills, not only will we be able to create jobs for hardworking Virginians, but we will be taking proactive steps to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and improve our environment.”
The Governor’s legislative proposals include grants for clean energy manufacturing and biofuels as well as sales and income tax credits for installing renewable energy systems.
Timothy M. Kaine today proposed several pieces of legislation designed to promote green jobs as part of his “Renew Virginia” initiative. Renew Virginia is Governor Kaine's year-long initiative to promote renewable energy, green jobs, and environmental protection.
“Creating green jobs and a renewable energy sector of the Virginia economy is one way we can create opportunity from our current economic challenges,” Governor Kaine said. “With this package of bills, not only will we be able to create jobs for hardworking Virginians, but we will be taking proactive steps to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and improve our environment.”
The Governor’s legislative proposals include grants for clean energy manufacturing and biofuels as well as sales and income tax credits for installing renewable energy systems.
Good to know news will be coming and anticipating good news.
Interesting stats, but I wonder why baskets dropped?
With their technology, only good things can happen for PURO.
Hopefully, it won't take long, but things arre really looking good! It will have it's moment!
It's hard to believe that such an intelligent nation let's this happoen.
Every Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.
Children in poor environments often carry 1000 parasitic worms in their bodies at any time.
For children under age five, water-related diseases are the leading cause of death.
1.8 million children die each year from diarrhea – 4,900 deaths each day
This almost makes me sick to think about the waste disposal. How negligent people have become.
You couldn't ask for better technology, so PURO is the best!
Great news, with the mail order and internet business, USFM can go nowhere but up!
USFM NEWS:
US Farms, Inc. Announces Significant Addition With Plant Mail Order Offerings Through Internet Commerce, Wholesale and Retail Nursery Distribution
Company Forecasts Assorted Online Plant Material Mail Contribution of $2 Million in Revenue for Fiscal 2009; Initiative Complements US Farms, Inc.'s Established Brand Leadership in Aloe Vera, Coupled With Strong Marketing, Distribution and Sales Capabilities
Last update: 8:31 a.m. EST Jan. 14, 2009
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan 14, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- US Farms, Inc. (USFM:us farms inc com new
News , chart , profile , more
Last: 0.09-0.01-10.00%
3:56pm 01/13/2009
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USFM 0.09, -0.01, -10.0%) , an expanding commercial farming and nursery company, today announced a major initiative to further enhance its diversified Farming and Nursery business with the planned introduction of Plant Mail order Internet Commerce.
US Farms, Inc. will be marketing and distributing its Plants and Plant Materials through Internet commerce and other well-established wholesale distributors and nursery providers throughout the U.S.
Yan K. Skwara, US Farms, Inc. CEO, stated: "On the heels of our recent greenhouse announcement, we have entered into discussions to form a joint venture partnership with an established Internet and mail order company who can further expand on and off-line plant sales channels in 2009. We are pleased to enter into this important market segment with a top quality e-commerce plant mail order product and we are confident that this expansion will make a meaningful impact to our bottom line. The skill set, background and knowledge that our current management team maintains in the plant mail order business makes our move into this potentially lucrative market segment a must at this stage of our business."
Mr. Skwara continued by mentioning, "Due to the fact that our logistics and infrastructure are all in place -- with the exception of a very small investment into some website development -- this represents an overnight turnkey opportunity in the e-commerce plant mail order business as we plan on taking advantage of attractive margins combined with little overhead. Rick Hogan our Horticulturalist, with over 20 years of experience in the plant mail order business, will lead the charge for us in this arena and allow for rapid growth and immediate market acceptance. We are now forecasting revenues with the e-commerce plant mail order segment contributing over $2 million for fiscal 2009. US Farms, Inc. has established the highest standards for unparalleled and consistent quality and we believe our reputation will support our successful entry and sales growth in this product category."
Moreover, Skwara pointed out that the plant mail order represents a "strong, complementary" product to the company's core Farming and Nursery businesses, both of which will continue to benefit from demographic and market growth trends.
About US Farms, Inc.
US Farms, Inc. is a diversified commercial Farming and Nursery company. The company currently grows, markets and distributes horticultural products through a number of its wholly owned subsidiaries. US Farms, Inc. is currently one of the largest domestic growers of Aloe Vera, growing well over 6 million pounds annually. The company plans to further its vertically integrating path by moving into the marketing and sales of Aloe Vera-based products. The company's products are sold through supermarkets, home centers, retail merchandisers, garden centers, mail order, direct sales, re-wholesalers, and landscapers throughout the United States and Canada. Through internal growth and strategic acquisitions the company is expanding its market share in its businesses.
For more information on US Farms, Inc., please visit http://www.usfarmsinc.com. US Farms, Inc. is publicly traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol USFM.OB.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."
Such statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to market and sell plants online in the United States; acceptance by the market of an online plant store; continued popularity in the plant marketplace; the continued production of plant products; the Company's ability to develop an online plant store; the expansion and growth of farming and nursery products; ability to raise additional capital; the impact of competitive products; product demand; fluctuations in operating results and other risks detailed from time to time in US Farms, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. US Farms undertakes no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact:
US Farms, Inc.
Tel: 858-488-7775
Fax: 858-488-2828
Investor Relations
Jamie Dryer
Flagler Communications
561-837-8057
http://www.otcfn.com/usfm
SOURCE: US Farms, Inc.
http://www.otcfn.com/usfm
USFM NEWS:
US Farms, Inc. Announces Significant Addition With Plant Mail Order Offerings Through Internet Commerce, Wholesale and Retail Nursery Distribution
Company Forecasts Assorted Online Plant Material Mail Contribution of $2 Million in Revenue for Fiscal 2009; Initiative Complements US Farms, Inc.'s Established Brand Leadership in Aloe Vera, Coupled With Strong Marketing, Distribution and Sales Capabilities
Last update: 8:31 a.m. EST Jan. 14, 2009
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan 14, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- US Farms, Inc. (USFM:us farms inc com new
News , chart , profile , more
Last: 0.09-0.01-10.00%
3:56pm 01/13/2009
Delayed quote dataAdd to portfolio
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Create alert Insider
Discuss
Financials
Sponsored by:
USFM 0.09, -0.01, -10.0%) , an expanding commercial farming and nursery company, today announced a major initiative to further enhance its diversified Farming and Nursery business with the planned introduction of Plant Mail order Internet Commerce.
US Farms, Inc. will be marketing and distributing its Plants and Plant Materials through Internet commerce and other well-established wholesale distributors and nursery providers throughout the U.S.
Yan K. Skwara, US Farms, Inc. CEO, stated: "On the heels of our recent greenhouse announcement, we have entered into discussions to form a joint venture partnership with an established Internet and mail order company who can further expand on and off-line plant sales channels in 2009. We are pleased to enter into this important market segment with a top quality e-commerce plant mail order product and we are confident that this expansion will make a meaningful impact to our bottom line. The skill set, background and knowledge that our current management team maintains in the plant mail order business makes our move into this potentially lucrative market segment a must at this stage of our business."
Mr. Skwara continued by mentioning, "Due to the fact that our logistics and infrastructure are all in place -- with the exception of a very small investment into some website development -- this represents an overnight turnkey opportunity in the e-commerce plant mail order business as we plan on taking advantage of attractive margins combined with little overhead. Rick Hogan our Horticulturalist, with over 20 years of experience in the plant mail order business, will lead the charge for us in this arena and allow for rapid growth and immediate market acceptance. We are now forecasting revenues with the e-commerce plant mail order segment contributing over $2 million for fiscal 2009. US Farms, Inc. has established the highest standards for unparalleled and consistent quality and we believe our reputation will support our successful entry and sales growth in this product category."
Moreover, Skwara pointed out that the plant mail order represents a "strong, complementary" product to the company's core Farming and Nursery businesses, both of which will continue to benefit from demographic and market growth trends.
About US Farms, Inc.
US Farms, Inc. is a diversified commercial Farming and Nursery company. The company currently grows, markets and distributes horticultural products through a number of its wholly owned subsidiaries. US Farms, Inc. is currently one of the largest domestic growers of Aloe Vera, growing well over 6 million pounds annually. The company plans to further its vertically integrating path by moving into the marketing and sales of Aloe Vera-based products. The company's products are sold through supermarkets, home centers, retail merchandisers, garden centers, mail order, direct sales, re-wholesalers, and landscapers throughout the United States and Canada. Through internal growth and strategic acquisitions the company is expanding its market share in its businesses.
For more information on US Farms, Inc., please visit http://www.usfarmsinc.com. US Farms, Inc. is publicly traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol USFM.OB.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."
Such statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to market and sell plants online in the United States; acceptance by the market of an online plant store; continued popularity in the plant marketplace; the continued production of plant products; the Company's ability to develop an online plant store; the expansion and growth of farming and nursery products; ability to raise additional capital; the impact of competitive products; product demand; fluctuations in operating results and other risks detailed from time to time in US Farms, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. US Farms undertakes no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact:
US Farms, Inc.
Tel: 858-488-7775
Fax: 858-488-2828
Investor Relations
Jamie Dryer
Flagler Communications
561-837-8057
http://www.otcfn.com/usfm
SOURCE: US Farms, Inc.
http://www.otcfn.com/usfm
USFM:
US Farms, Inc. Announces Significant Addition With Plant Mail Order Offerings Through Internet Commerce, Wholesale and Retail Nursery Distribution
Company Forecasts Assorted Online Plant Material Mail Contribution of $2 Million in Revenue for Fiscal 2009; Initiative Complements US Farms, Inc.'s Established Brand Leadership in Aloe Vera, Coupled With Strong Marketing, Distribution and Sales Capabilities
Last update: 8:31 a.m. EST Jan. 14, 2009
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan 14, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- US Farms, Inc. (USFM:us farms inc com new
News , chart , profile , more
Last: 0.09-0.01-10.00%
3:56pm 01/13/2009
Delayed quote dataAdd to portfolio
Analyst
Create alert Insider
Discuss
Financials
Sponsored by:
USFM 0.09, -0.01, -10.0%) , an expanding commercial farming and nursery company, today announced a major initiative to further enhance its diversified Farming and Nursery business with the planned introduction of Plant Mail order Internet Commerce.
US Farms, Inc. will be marketing and distributing its Plants and Plant Materials through Internet commerce and other well-established wholesale distributors and nursery providers throughout the U.S.
Yan K. Skwara, US Farms, Inc. CEO, stated: "On the heels of our recent greenhouse announcement, we have entered into discussions to form a joint venture partnership with an established Internet and mail order company who can further expand on and off-line plant sales channels in 2009. We are pleased to enter into this important market segment with a top quality e-commerce plant mail order product and we are confident that this expansion will make a meaningful impact to our bottom line. The skill set, background and knowledge that our current management team maintains in the plant mail order business makes our move into this potentially lucrative market segment a must at this stage of our business."
Mr. Skwara continued by mentioning, "Due to the fact that our logistics and infrastructure are all in place -- with the exception of a very small investment into some website development -- this represents an overnight turnkey opportunity in the e-commerce plant mail order business as we plan on taking advantage of attractive margins combined with little overhead. Rick Hogan our Horticulturalist, with over 20 years of experience in the plant mail order business, will lead the charge for us in this arena and allow for rapid growth and immediate market acceptance. We are now forecasting revenues with the e-commerce plant mail order segment contributing over $2 million for fiscal 2009. US Farms, Inc. has established the highest standards for unparalleled and consistent quality and we believe our reputation will support our successful entry and sales growth in this product category."
Moreover, Skwara pointed out that the plant mail order represents a "strong, complementary" product to the company's core Farming and Nursery businesses, both of which will continue to benefit from demographic and market growth trends.
About US Farms, Inc.
US Farms, Inc. is a diversified commercial Farming and Nursery company. The company currently grows, markets and distributes horticultural products through a number of its wholly owned subsidiaries. US Farms, Inc. is currently one of the largest domestic growers of Aloe Vera, growing well over 6 million pounds annually. The company plans to further its vertically integrating path by moving into the marketing and sales of Aloe Vera-based products. The company's products are sold through supermarkets, home centers, retail merchandisers, garden centers, mail order, direct sales, re-wholesalers, and landscapers throughout the United States and Canada. Through internal growth and strategic acquisitions the company is expanding its market share in its businesses.
For more information on US Farms, Inc., please visit http://www.usfarmsinc.com. US Farms, Inc. is publicly traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol USFM.OB.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."
Such statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to market and sell plants online in the United States; acceptance by the market of an online plant store; continued popularity in the plant marketplace; the continued production of plant products; the Company's ability to develop an online plant store; the expansion and growth of farming and nursery products; ability to raise additional capital; the impact of competitive products; product demand; fluctuations in operating results and other risks detailed from time to time in US Farms, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. US Farms undertakes no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact:
US Farms, Inc.
Tel: 858-488-7775
Fax: 858-488-2828
Investor Relations
Jamie Dryer
Flagler Communications
561-837-8057
http://www.otcfn.com/usfm
SOURCE: US Farms, Inc.
http://www.otcfn.com/usfm
CLEAN WATER
As a senator, Barack Obama has been a strong leader on clean water issues. He fought against offshore drilling
in the U.S. Senate, and he supports maintaining current moratoriums on new offshore oil and natural gas
drilling. He supports full funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which funds water quality
protection projects for wastewater treatment, nonpoint source pollution control, and watershed and estuary
management. He also supported a new stormwater cleanup program to manage polluted runoff from roads and
highways, which is the largest source of water pollution in coastal areas today. In Illinois, Obama cosponsored
legislation that stopped the use of MTBE, a fuel additive which has been found to contaminate ground water.
As president, he will improve the quality of our nation’s lakes, rivers, and drinking water.
Clean up our Water: Barack Obama will reinvigorate the drinking water standards that have been weakened
under the Bush administration and update them to address new threats. He will help communities by restoring
better federal financing for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, and he will continue his leadership in
protecting national treasures like the Great Lakes from threats such as industrial pollution, water diversion, and
invasive species. Obama will establish policies to help high-growth regions with the challenges of managing
their water supplies.
Regulate CAFOs: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), which raise more than 40 percent of
U.S. livestock, comprise a larger share of the livestock industry every year. Barack Obama has worked for
tougher environmental regulations on CAFOs. He has supported legislation to set tough air and water pollution
limits for livestock operations, including limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and other
pollutants. In the Obama Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency will strictly monitor and
regulate pollution from large CAFOs, with fines for those who violate tough air and water quality standards.
Obama also strongly supports efforts to ensure meaningful local control.
Restore the Wetlands: Barack Obama is an advocate for preserving our wetlands and supports a broad range
of traditional conservation programs, including the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the
Wetland Reserve Program in the Farm Bill. He will work with local governments to develop the best strategies
for protecting and expanding wetlands. Obama’s record on protecting wetlands dates back to his days as a state
senator, when he was a cosponsor of the Wetlands Protection Act, which provided for the conservation of
wetlands in Illinois.
Barack Obama will help the Gulf Coast restore the wetlands, marshes and barrier islands that are critical to
tamping down the force of hurricanes and serve as critical fish and wildlife habitat. As president, Obama will
immediately close the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, which experts say funneled floodwater into New Orleans.
Paid for by Obama for America
Restore the Great Lakes: Having lived near Lake Michigan for 20 years, Barack Obama has a deep
appreciation for the Great Lakes – for their beauty as well as their centrality to the region’s economy,
recreation, transportation, and drinking water. He has worked tirelessly in the Illinois State Senate and U.S.
Senate to protect the Great Lakes from sludge, mercury, and invasive species. As president, Barack Obama will
push for the passage of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act, which will move us past playing
defense against environmental problems and toward a comprehensive restoration of the Great Lakes. He is a
cosponsor of the Great Lakes Environmental Restoration Act, which would provide grants for projects
including wetland restoration, coastal wildlife and fisheries habitat improvement, water quality improvement
and nonpoint source pollution reduction. Recently, when the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management agreed to allow a BP refinery to release significantly more ammonia, treated solids and mercury
into Lake Michigan, Barack Obama fought back, calling for congressional hearings into the permit and its
relation to Clean Water Act provisions intended to prevent any decline in water quality.
Water in the West: Barack Obama understands that the American West is facing a serious water crisis. In the
long run, we do not have enough water to meet the West’s fast-growing needs. Obama believes the federal
government has an important role to play in helping local communities conserve water. He supports federal
policies to encourage voluntary water banks, wastewater treatment, and other market-based conservation
measures. We also need to improve technology for water conservation and efficiency, and remove institutional
barriers to increase cooperation and collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and private organizations.
Nevada’s "cash for grass" program, in which people are paid to remove grass and put in desert landscaping, is
an excellent model of conservation, and Obama intends to help local communities develop similar projects that
work for them.
The water crisis is a matter of life and death.
Catalan water crisis
By Martin Roberts
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spain unveiled plans on Friday to build a pipeline to relieve drought-stricken Catalonia and prevent Barcelona running out of drinking water, but other regions are up in arms in what media have dubbed a water war.
The pipeline will take water from the mouth of the Ebro River to Barcelona, the Catalan regional capital. A hosepipe ban has already been in force for weeks and picturesque fountains have run dry in the city, a popular tourist venue.
The government said on Friday the situation in Barcelona was an emergency.
"If we don't act, the citizens of Barcelona will be without drinking water in October," said First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, speaking at the maiden weekly press conference of the newly re-elected Socialist government.
Reservoirs in northeast Catalonia are just 20.1 percent full after four years of drought, according to the latest official data, or just 0.1 percent above emergency levels. One Catalan reservoir is so dry that a village has reappeared after being under water since the river flowing through it was dammed.
Catalonia's department of the environment on Thursday said recent rainfall after a dry winter would only be enough to postpone emergency measures for some weeks.
WATER IMPORTS
The new pipeline is not due to be completed until October, however, and Catalonia already has plans to import water to Barcelona by sea beginning in May and by rail in August.
The plan ends weeks of wrangling between the central government in Madrid and authorities in Catalonia. But it has angered the heads of regional governments further down the Mediterranean coast in Valencia and Murcia, who say they will demand equal access to the Ebro in the Constitutional Court.
The Socialist government denies favoring Catalonia -- whose regional parties are its allies in parliament -- over conservative Popular Party-led governments in Murcia and Valencia. It says the new pipeline will not deplete the Ebro because it will channel surplus water recovered by installing more efficient irrigation pipes used by farmers.
"People from Barcelona have the same rights as every other citizen -- not more but not less," said de la Vega. "It's the responsibility of the government to make sure the whole of Spain fairly shares resources that belong to everyone."
Adding to the government's headaches are protests from farmers in the Ebro delta on whom the plan hinges. Many say they cannot stop irrigating to lay new pipes now that the growing season is under way.
The delta is known for growing rice, an essential ingredient in renowned dishes from Spain's Mediterranean coast like paella.
"We don't want to be selfish, but rice is life itself in the delta. The government has had years to act, and now they have acted late and badly," said Rosa Pruna, head of the influential ASAJA farmers' union in Catalonia.
As his state endures its worst drought in a century, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is praying for rain. Lake Lanier, the reservoir that waters the endlessly growing colossus of metro Atlanta, is receding from its banks, shriveling to a shiny puddle. Georgia has restricted car washing and lawn watering. It has shut off its outdoor fountains.
In San Diego, which just experienced its driest summer in recorded history, the hills are charred from October's wildfires. The state of California is so tapped out that the pumps that carry water from the Sacramento River to San Diego were tightened in December. Water authorities are urging San Diegans to tear up their grass and replace it with cactus and succulent.
Bill Richardson, governor of arid New Mexico, had his region's plight in mind when he told the Las Vegas Sun that Northern states need to start sharing their water: "I want a national water policy. We need a dialogue between states to deal with issues like water conservation, water reuse technology, water delivery and water production. States like Wisconsin are awash in water."
Reddit
Sun Belters, there's a man in Detroit with the answer to your water problems. "They can have all the water they want," says Hugh McDiarmid Jr. of the Michigan Environmental Council. "All they have to do is move here." There's plenty of room. Some Detroit neighborhoods are so bereft of houses that pheasants hide in the vacant lots. And the cost of living is unbeatable. Earlier this year, an auctioneer was trying to unload a bungalow for $18,000. When no one would bid, he reminded his audience, "You get the land under the house, too."
OK, so Detroit's a tough place to find a job. How about Cleveland? It's half the size it used to be, which means 500,000 people are driving on freeways built for a million. Commuting is a breeze. Syracuse would love to have you, too. They've lost a higher proportion of young people than any other city in the U.S., perhaps because they engineered their own demise, being the headquarters of Carrier Air Conditioning, the appliance that made the Sun Belt possible. But they still have Syracuse Orange basketball. And Dinosaur Barbecue, which has the best ribs in Upstate New York, and the funniest bathroom graffiti anywhere.
Move to any of these primed-for-turnaround urban gems, and you'll be living alongside 6 quadrillion gallons of water. That's nearly 20 percent of the surface fresh water on Earth. You can wash your car in the driveway. You can douse your lawn with a sprinkler. You can even have a swimming pool, although you'll only be able to use it four months out of the year. And think of all the energy we'd save by moving the people to the water, instead of moving water to the people.
The South needs water. The Midwest need people. Maybe it's time we work something out.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
For the last half-century, the Great Lakes states have been on the losing end of a migration that would have baffled our nomadic ancestors. Ignoring thousands of years of prophetic wisdom, from Moses to Sam Kinison, Americans have been moving away from fresh water and into the desert. In the most recent Census Bureau survey, the two fastest-growing states -- Nevada and Arizona -- were two of the driest. Michigan and New York, states awash in water, actually lost people. Some of these migrants were looking for work, following factory jobs down South. But others just couldn't stand the gloomy Northern winters.
Now, those cold-weather refugees are discovering that the climate that's so well-suited to year-round golf is not so well-suited to providing millions of people with life's most essential element: H. Two. Oh.
Atlanta and San Diego are full of ex-Yankees who wouldn't shiver through another Lake Erie blizzard if you gave them a free house and a lifetime supply of rock salt. Both are prototypical Sun Belt cities -- they're warm and sunny and owe their enormous growth to the car and the air conditioner. They're also running short of water, and as a result, they're suffering the political, personal and environmental disturbances that are part of life in a parched metropolis: lawsuits over resources, restrictions on car washing and lawn sprinklers, and disruptions of the natural cycles of overdrawn rivers.
Atlanta was the first American metropolis that didn't begin its life as a port. It started as a rail terminus. The railroads were built along ridges, so the city straddles the Eastern Continental Divide, which separates water flowing to the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Its elevation is among the highest of cities east of Denver. Water flows away from Atlanta. But people flow toward it. Thanks to its semi-tropical climate and its image as a progressive Southern city, the metro area's population has doubled since 1980.
Metro Atlanta draws its water from Lake Lanier, a dammed-up stretch of the Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee forms part of Georgia's boundary with Alabama, then joins the Flint River to become the Apalachicola, which flows through the Florida Panhandle. The more Atlanta drinks, the less flows downstream. Since this year's drought began, Lake Lanier has shrunk to 15 feet below its normal level, its all-time low. As it withers, Georgia, Florida and Alabama have been bickering over the remaining supply.
"What's created the water crisis in Georgia is Atlanta," declares Joe Cook, of the Coosa River Basin Initiative in Rome, Ga. "There's no other major metropolitan area in the country that has to rely on a smaller watershed than Atlanta. It's a horrible place for 4 million people based on the water resources that are available. It can be argued that Atlanta is beyond the number of people it can support."
Atlanta suffered a drought in the 1980s, but that was over a million people ago, so Lake Lanier held enough water to go around.
In October, the Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to release Lake Lanier water into the Apalachicola, where it was needed to protect endangered mussel and sturgeon. Gov. Perdue sought a court order to hold onto the water, accusing the federal government of "making an ill-advised choice in favor of mussel and sturgeon species over Georgia citizens." (The governor withdrew the request after the Corps agreed to cut the flow by 16 percent.)