Today’s essential reads.
FRACKING:
After Lengthy Session Debate, W.Va. Lawmakers Returning to Marcellus Issue
West Virginia lawmakers are attempting to craft Marcellus shale regulations now, instead of waiting until next year’s regular session, but whether they can agree on rules for developing this rich natural gas reserve remains to be seen.
Unit of Aussie Giant Plans to Grow in Oil, Natural Gas
For such a large company, BHP Billiton Petroleum has managed to keep a fairly low profile. It wasn’t until a few years ago that the U.S.-based oil and gas arm of the Australian mining giant even put a sign on its Houston headquarters.
Bill to Open State Lands to ‘Fracking’ on Verge of Passage; Register Your Opposition
There is legislation in the Ohio General Assembly that would allow oil and gas drilling (horizontal hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking) on public lands. This includes university lands, natural areas and preserves, state parks and state forests. Essentially this is a giveaway of our precious lands to the oil and gas industry. Our own state Sen. Jimmy Stewart is leaving his position in the Senate (after this session and important votes) to become president of the Ohio Gas Association.
Ohio Taking in Flood of Pennsylvania Brine for Disposal
Millions of barrels of salty, toxic wastewater from natural-gas wells in Pennsylvania are coming into Ohio despite efforts to keep it at bay.
BP OIL SPILL:
The Failure of Carbon Trading – System Change Needed to Stop Environmental Catastrophe
The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – referred to by many, including President Obama, as the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history – and the nuclear power meltdown in Japan have been horrific reminders of the disastrous consequences of basing an energy policy around the interests of the big corporations that extract oil and produce nuclear power.
Climate Denial and the Abuse of Peer Review
On 20 April 2010, a BP oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and creating the largest oil spill in history.
Shrimpers to Protest at the State Capitol
Fishermen reeling from low dock prices and processors unable to pay them more because of a shrimp glut are bringing their concerns to Baton Rouge Wednesday.
RADIATION:
Children Sickness Linked to Fukushima Radiation
??In the ultimate nuclear nightmare scenario now unfolding, Japanese local newspapers have attributed sickness in children to Fukushima’s nuclear meltdowns, the radioactive levels now elevated throughout eastern Japan. Children over 32 miles from ground zero are suffering fatigue, diarrhea, and nosebleeds, the three most common of eight radiation sickness signs, the three in the earliest stage.
What threats lurk in our glorious hi- tech wi-fi new world? Decades-old fears have had a new lease of life. If you can’t see, hear, taste or smell something, could it still be dangerous to your health?
