Naturally Interesting

I’ve been trying to get through my “to read” list - here is what I found worthwhile:

What is more environmentally friendly handwashing or the dishwasher?

Agricultural Subsidies: Still a Bad Idea

6 Simple Steps for Saving Billions of Gallons of Gas

Wind ($23.37) v. Gas (25 Cents)

The natural wealth of Africa has been plundered over the past 35 years, as illustrated by a new atlas of satellite imagery from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Great slideshow here.

I like watching videos.  Here are some on Algae:

Corn yields 20-30 gallons of oil per acre/year. Palm oil yields 700-800 gallons per acre/year. Valcent believes algae could yield upwards of 20,000 gallons per acre/year (They claim 100,000 elsewhere).

Monsanto & Co.: Climate Change Profiteers

Giant biotech companies are privatising the world’s protection against climate change by filing hundreds of monopoly patents on genes that help crops resist it, a new investigation has concluded.

Next Climate Issue: Ocean Acidification

Drive 55 Gains Speed

Seen over at ScienceBlogs:

A new study by a team of political scientists and sociologists at the journal Environmental Politics concludes that 9 out of 10 books published since 1972 that have disputed the seriousness of environmental problems and mainstream science can be linked to a conservative think tank (CTT). Following on earlier work by co-author Riley Dunlap and colleagues, the study examines the ability of conservative think tanks to use the media and other communication strategies to successfully challenge mainstream expert agreement on environmental problems.

Rest of the post here.

Food and Water Watch has put up a great site at http://www.factoryfarmmap.org/, it is an interactive map that lets you find your state/county concentrated animal feeding operations.

Aguanomics has put up three great papers (.pdf) that serve as an introduction to climate change. Go read them here.

Charles Krauthammer argues for a gas tax in the WP.

Aside from Senate Republicans killing Lieberman Warner, checkout this chart.

Discovery’s Planet Green Network launches today.

Planet Green is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community. Launching in June 2008, on-air content will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming. Both online and on-air, Plant Green’s content is entertaining, relevant, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. By representing a broad range of ideas and perspectives, Planet Green is taking an active role in generating conversation and motivating individuals to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet.

This would be awesome. If I had TV.