Mark Butkus - OnEarth Magazine

Bangladesh to receive additional $130 million for rural energy project

The World Bank has approved $130 million in financing to support rural access to energy in Bangladesh. This new funding builds on the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Credit and is targeted toward three programs for the south Asian country on the Bay of Bengal. Financing will focus on solar home systems in rural areas, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) and additional energy distribution networks.

With more than 250 000 rural applications worldwide solar home systems are a cost-effective way to improve rural quality of life. The plan in Bangladesh is to provide electricity to 300 000 ...read full post

Comments (0) | August 12, 2009
Urban campaign launched to Green the Block

The White House in moving forward with its clean energy economy knows that it is imperative that marginalized groups are not left behind. With $60 billion already invested in green jobs all Americans must be informed and have access to the new opportunities available.
Green the Block is a new campaign to engage and ensure that vulnerable communities are part of the process. Organized by Green For All and the Hip Hop Caucus this new initiative will "encourage education, legislative advocacy, private-sector development and youth activism." Launched on August 4, Green the Block will target communities at risk and provide them with the requisite tools to access the benefits and opportunities that arise from clean energy investments.
Green the Block ...read full post

Comments (0) | August 6, 2009
Cash for clunkers motors on after bump in the road

The Car Allowance Rebate System otherwise known as "cash for clunkers" is receiving a $2 billion tuneup after the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to jump-start the program in a 316-109 vote on Friday. A much need injection of cash was necessary after CARS had already siphoned off the $1 billion that was budgeted for the program within a week of its launch.
"I want to thank leaders in the House of Representatives for working quickly and in a bipartisan way to pass legislation that will use Recovery Act funds to keep "Cash for Clunkers" going," said President Obama. "The program has proven to be a successful part of our economic recovery and will help lessen our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of ...read full post

Comments (0) | August 3, 2009
Hot dog lawsuit launched against Nathan's and others

Would you buy one of Nathan's world famous frankfurters if you had to read a warning label first? Before you head out to Coney Island this weekend consider that three New Jersey residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against Nathan's Famous, Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer, Sara Lee, Con Agra Foods and Marathon Enterprises.
The lawsuit filed on July 22 by the non-profit Cancer Project states that the aforementioned companies fail to warn consumers of the inherent cancer risks associated with their hot dogs. The suit contends that packaging should include the following: "Warning: Consuming hot dogs and other processed meats increases the risk of cancer."
"Just as tobacco causes lung cancer, processed meats are linked to colon cancer," says Neal Barnard, M.D., president of the Cancer ...read full post

Comments (1) | July 28, 2009
Glass Half-Full - ACES Passes House Test

Hailed as a historic vote that will establish the US as a player in upcoming international climate talks the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) narrowly passed through the House of Representatives last night by a vote of 219-212.
The vote followed party lines with only eight republicans voting in favor and 44 democrats voting against. Curiously enough, the bill would not have passed without the support of the eight republicans.
Also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill, the first major environmental bill of the Obama administration will introduce as its centerpiece a soft cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. The voluntary cap and trade program will supercede those programs that have been developed by individual states from 2012-2017.
The contentious cap and trade program is the first of its kind since a similar ...read full post

Comments (0) | June 29, 2009
Cyclists Bill of Rights

Goodbye May. Goodbye Bike Month, Bike Week and Bike to Work Day. But don't say goodbye to biking or your rights as a cyclist. The Bike Writers Collective in Los Angeles has drawn up a Bill of Rights that every cyclist should have in their possession. Download the PDF and share it with your friends who cycle and encourage your friends who don't cycle to saddle up.
Founded by Stephen Box and his wife Enci, the collective ...read full post

Comments (0) | June 8, 2009