Strollerderby : global warming

Morning News: Some of It's Not Flu-Related

Amy Kuras — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Good morning! Brett and I will be switching off Morning News for awhile.

So! A huge ice shelf is breaking up in Antarctica, the economy did even worse than expected in the first quarter of the year, and President Obama gave an important press conference marking his first 100 days in office.

But you don’t care, do you? You just want to know about swine flu.

Yeah, me too. The World Health Organization raised the threat level to 5 for the first time, well, ever, signaling that a pandemic is imminent. A little kid just shy of his second birthday was the first confirmed US death. Schools across the country are closing to stop the spread of the disease.

Screw the masks we’re all supposed to be thinking about; I want a paper bag I can breathe into when the panic begins to overwhelm, thanks.

Let me just repeat the important stuff, though: Wash your hands, wash your kid’s hands, don’t for the love of God go anywhere when you’re sick (or send your kid to school or playdates if they are), and see your doctor as quickly as you can if you do start to feel flulike symptoms. There are antivirals that help lessen the severity and duration of the illness: Tamiflu can be used for children ages one and up, and Relenza can be used for kids age five and up. The key is you’ve got to get them quickly, within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. The FDA has approved ememrgency off-label uses of the drugs during the swine flu crisis.

Moving on to more cheery topics, the Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctica is breaking up and falling into the ocean. The shelf, in the western part of the Antarctic Peninsula, has remained stable for most of the last century, but lost two huge chunks on Friday and is due to lose a chunk bigger than Rhode Island soon. Researchers believe the cause likely is global warming, although they stress they are still working to prove that.

Also shrinking is the US economy, which contracted at a 6.1 percent annual rate in the first three months of the year. That’s worse than the 5 percent economists predicted. The first quarter 2009 drop in gross domestic product, which is the total US output of goods and services followed a 6.3 percent drop in the last quarter of 2008.

But the president gave a press conference. He’s reassured us that the government has this flu thing under control, that we’ve ended torture as an interrogation technique because we’re just better than that, and that the federal budget (which newly minted Dem Arlen Specter helped get passed) will help revive and restructure our economy. Here’s a transcript if you missed it.

I tried to find something for you guys that would not make you want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head (seriously, I Googled “puppies”) but no luck so far. See ya in the hand-sanitzer aisle!

Ten "New" Species of Amphibians Found in Colombia

Shannon LC Cate — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:01:00 GMT

When my kids and I make our regular jaunt to the aquarium, my four-year old's favorite stop is the frogs. We can spend a good ten minutes (those of you with preschoolers and toddlers know how long that is!) watching the big poison-arrow frog display looking for the still, quiet creatures until someone spots a bright spot in the otherwise brown-filled cage.

Scientists doing a survey in Colombia have found ten new species of amphibians there. By "new," they mean previously unknown to scientists. The tiny, beautiful creatures are considered some of the most vulnerable to changes in the environment from climate change to toxic contamination. But the discovery of new species is happy news for biologists concerned about preservation.

The Guardian offers a slideshow of the animals. Call your four-year olds over to the computer screen, cozy up and enjoy these little jewels of nature!

Little White Whales Going, Going...Gone?

Penguins March to Extinction

National Zoo Inseminates Panda

Image: thedailygreen.com

Little White Whales Going, Going...Gone?

Shannon LC Cate — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Move over Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, no more babies in the deep blue sea for you! Alaska governor, Sarah Palin says that the whale population, having dwindled from a small 650 to its current 375 since 1994 are doing just fine, thank you. She is suing the federal government for listing the Belugas as endangered.

Why? Because the protection required by the listing would threaten oil drilling, gas development and other "lucrative" projects, according to Mother Jones.

This isn't the first time Palin has challenged an endangered species listing. Last August, she asserted the polar ice caps aren't melting and the polar bears will be just fine. To prove this, she turned to some classic anti-global warming science and was compared to someone "debating the theory of gravity as they plunge off a cliff" by Kieran Suckling, the executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity.

What I don't understand is how a mother and grandmother of babies could be willing to support policies that would most likely lead to the extinction of at least two treasured mammals, not to mention countless less glamorous, but perhaps even more ecologically important species. None of us know how the destruction of half the biodiversity on the planet will effect what remains--including human beings, assuming they do.

It's time for people in positions to do something to protect our grandchildren's planet to do so. For all her talk of the value of family, Palin seems awfully eager to sell her babies' futures to her own pockets' present.

Penguins March to Extinction

Shannon LC Cate — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

The stars of March of the Penguins, Emperor Penguins, are poised to suffer extinction by the end of this century, say researchers.

We can blame the usual suspect--global warming--for melting too much ice in Antarctica. If significant reductions in global warming are not reached soon, the pattern of ice melt will shrink the penguins' habitat dangerously. It is estimated that one penguin colony under study would decline from 3,000 to 400 mating pairs.

It is not just that shrinking ice floes would leave the penguins nowhere to stand. The penguins' primary food source is krill that lives on the underside of the ice. As the ice melts, the krill decline and so do the many animals that eat it, including penguins.

Stories like this depressed me before I had children. But now that I do, I project a future in which my children's children's live in a penguin-less world, and that leaves me even sadder. Because it's not just penguins. By some estimates 50% of all species will be near-extinct or extinct by the turn of the next century.

If my kids live to be 80, they'll be here until 2085 or so. And no one is suggesting that the great mass extinction will necessarily stop at 2100. Without knowing more about A) what species actually exist now--some say species have already probably hit extinction without ever having been discovered and B) what exactly each species' overall effect on the Earth's ecosystem is, we can't say human beings won't be on the critically endangered list by the time our babies are sending their babies off to college.

I guess we should all swap out our cars for bicycles.

Also in Animal News:

300 lb Snake Attacks Toddler

Baby Moose Falls Through Window of Family Home

Morning News: Beware the Ponzi Scheme

Shannon LC Cate — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:40:00 GMT

After speculation that went both ways, Illinois Governor Rod Blogojevich didn't resign yesterday. So now it looks like the die is cast and impeachment proceedings begin today.

What Illinois will do about its vacant senate seat is still undecided, but it's looking more and more like not-indicted New York Governor David Paterson will appoint Caroline Kennedy to the seat Hillary Clinton leaves open as she becomes the new Secretary of State. Caroline called the governor yesterday to declare her interest and plan a meeting to sell him on her credentials. Could you turn Caroline Kennedy down? Neither could we.

We hope you no personal reason to know the name Bernard Madoff who cheated investment clients large and small out of billions of dollars using a "Ponzi scheme."

In case you're wondering, a Ponzi scheme is a bit like a pyramid scheme--the same type of system often sold to moms as the perfect job by work-from-home sales companies.

And from the good news and bad news file: the Earth's climate is warming BUT usually cannibalistic squid are becoming "lethargic" and refusing to eat each other as a result. Okay, so that's only good news if you're a squid.

Image: chicagotribune.com

Morning News: Power to the People! (Now with Baby Picture)

Shannon LC Cate — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:08:00 GMT

Chicago isn't all about corrupt power mongers. Former employees of Republic Windows declared victory and ended their sit-in at the factory after winning about $1.75 million for severance packages amounting to around $6,000 per worker. Employees argued they were owed the pay after Republic Windows shut down the plant on only three days' notice, rather than the two months' notice required by federal law.

Viva la Greenland!

The 57,000 inhabitants of Greenland, long-ruled by Denmark (sure, we knew that before we read this news, didn't you?) voted last month to dissolve the relationship and become an independent nation.

Why? Global warming.

It seems that beneath the ice, Greenland has a dragon's horde of precious stones like diamonds and rubies. Oh--and oil. Greenlanders want the goodies for themselves, seeing as their homeland is melting away. They'll need the proceeds to build themselves a flotilla of houseboats.

Daily Blagojevich:

One of the ickiest allegations against Bloojevich is that he tried to get a $50,000 kickback from Children's Memorial Hospital for his support of $8 million in state funding to its statewide pediatric medical-care initiative to pay hundreds of doctors to treat poor sick children throughout Illinois.

Allegedly, after they refused to pay, Blogojevich tried to get the grant back.

And finally, in happy news, Strollerderby welcomes our latest little stroller jockey, Earl Frederick, born to Madeline Hollar on 8 December in a kiddie pool in her living room. Here is his perfect little rosy-cheeked 10 lb, 3 oz self.

Beautiful Children's Art

Shannon LC Cate — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Prize winners in Paint for the Planet, a competition run by the United Nations Environment Program, are highlighted in a show in New York City, but if you can't make it in person, you can see the winners in an online gallery at the Guardian. The paintings are stunning, but the words of the children who created them are pretty amazing too. This is the fifth place winner by Netpakaikarn Netwong, 14, of Thailand. The artist says:

"Due to rapid climate change, I believe that painting could lead to understanding of cooperation for our global environment. Tree planting would reduce CO2. Biking and mass transit would reduce air pollution and save energy for a better world."

For the rest of the winners, check out the virtual gallery.

Budget Baby: 10 More Ways to Live Green for Less

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:29:00 GMT

These days, it's relatively easy to believe that unless we're riding in a Green Peace boat against the whalers, or eschewing our beloved vehicles for bikes or public transportation, we're personally responsible for drowning all the polar bears with our globally warming ways.

The other week, we reviewed 10 ways to live green for less, endeavoring to make living green seem less perfect, less intimidating, and less expensive.

Here are 10 more methods of accomplishing both savings and relief from eco-guilt:

1. Dark is good - this seemed obvious only a generations ago, but we've lost the knack of being careful with resources. By keeping lights off during the day and turning them off as we leave rooms, we'll save on electricity and conserve.

2. Running water hidden tooth brush - teaching my kids to turn off the water while they brush their teeth has gotten much easier now that I've kicked that bad habit. It's wasteful of water and

3. Sweet greens - Less meat, more greens is good for the pocketbook as well as the health of your family and the environment.

4. Weekly or bi-weekly grocery trips - It's so much easier to save money on groceries and plan health-conscious, less-processed, and therefore greener meals by making fewer trips to the grocery store. We've nearly kicked our thrice weekly runs by planning and making lists.

5. Fun with buses - Granted, taking the car from point A to point B makes the most sense in terms of efficiency as well as time. During the school year, particularly, it's not realistic for my family to use public transportation to get around. But this summer, we've taken the bus a few times as a novelty and the kids have a great time. This doesn't work when both parents work full-time, but if you have the time, it's fun to plant the idea of public transportation being an adventure rather than a chore.

6. Let's play box - My kids are bucket head kids. They seem to be able to have fun with rocks, strings, boxes, and other things mostly because they're relatively limited to their exposure to TV and oodles of toys. They played with a diaper box yesterday for an hour. And since less stuff seems a worthy goal in getting our familly greener, if my kids can entertain themselves without fancy and expensive toys, I'm proud.

7. Less righteous, more right - It's tempting to brag about our greener-than-thou ways, but by doing so, we're just promoting the dynamic that makes many of us just give up any efforts to make a difference.

8. Little baby foot prints - Everything has a footprint these days, even childbirth. Most of us are now well aware that Americans hog more of everything (food, water, consumables) than anyone else on the planet. By raising little people who are less wasteful maybe their footprint and those of our future grandchildren might be less obnoxious.

9. Throw away your mama - I'm so over all the single-use items for sale these days. Toilet cleaners, floor scrubbers, lunch boxes, tupperware, bibs. If you only use it once and throw it away, is it any wonder our landfills are full? And these single-use items are so much more expensive over time then their washable reusable counterparts.

10. Free is good - Is it possible that the best things in life are still free? If that seems like a revolutionary statement, that gives some very great indication of how far down the scale we've gone in our pursuit of happiness through consumerism. Does buying stuff bring long lasting happiness? Absolutely not.

Is Mother Earth Pro-Choice?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:30:00 GMT

People rarely link sex to global warming. But any activity that occurs 215 million times a day is bound to affect global health. And it’s high time we started talking about it, according to environmentalist and author Robert Engleman, who has a new book called More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want.

In an interview with Reuters, Engleman discussed the delicacy of bringing this issue into mainstream dialogue: “[E]ven to bring it up, as an issue, it sounds as though you are telling other people how many children to have, and that is unforgivable as reproduction and having children is so sensitive and so personal.” He explained that racial sensitivity makes the issue even more volatile: in general, Northern Caucasians have fewer babies than other demographics.

But Engleman is not afraid to (gently) name the problem: “[W]e wouldn’t be facing a potentially catastrophically changing climate if we hadn’t had to feed and care for an unprecedentedly large human population." Although homo sapiens have now succeeded in dominating every “nook and cranny” of the globe, we must keep in mind that the planet has its own ways of dealing with overpopulation. Hopefully, we can slow population growth enough on our own to prevent tragedies like famine or disease.

Engleman believes that the way to do this is to give women reproductive freedom. He points out that women tend to have more children when their environment is healthy, and fewer children when their environment is, say, heating up at an alarming yearly rate.

For this reason, Engleman doesn’t believe that governments should tell women what to do or should take any measures to encourage or discourage procreation. Rather, he feels that if women have access to quality reproductive healthcare, they naturally make the right decisions for themselves and the planet.

Photo: Reuters

Save the Planet; Strangle a Soccer Mom

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Thank Gaia that biologist EO Wilson knows who is to blame for the decrease in biodiversity of species. No, it isn't the destruction of habitats or the introduction of foreign chemicals. No, the answer is much more clear-cut.

The true source for all blame is soccer moms.

Now that we know where to point our fingers, we can start solving the problem.

First step: Pave all soccer fields. If there is no soccer, clearly there can be no soccer mom.

Second step: Deflate soccer balls. See above.

Third step: Isolate every mother from all mention of soccer. Their minds are so impressionable.

Dads, however, can talk about the s-word as much as they want, because they are strong, both in word and deed. Plus, they are biologically unfit to join the blight destroying our natural world.

Next, Wilson will explain the link between soccer moms and global warming. I smell a Nobel Prize.

Illo credit: www.momgadget.com

Book of the Week: Knut

editors — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Life was rough at Zoo Berlin for the two polar bear cubs born on December 5, 2006. Little Knut (pronounced K’-noot) and his brother were rejected by their mother and tragically the other cub died on day four. Enter Thomas Dörflein, the zookeeper that stayed with Knut around the clock and just like any new parent, made sure feedings and cuddling were frequent.

Knut quickly captured the world’s attention as the cute and furry face of global warming and extinction, so naturally the precocious six-year-old author of New York Times bestseller, Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship jumped on the story. Isabella Hatkoff (now nine) and her older sister Juliana penned this tale of environmental responsibility with their father and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich of Zoo Berlin.

Thanks to Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World and those tragic broadcasts of polar bears eternally swimming, the polar bear is rapidly becoming the fauna du jour. Considering they could actually become extinct in our lifetime, it is attention needed. Knut is also the subject of a documentary, Knut and Friends, is the subject of celebrity gossip and has his own blog.

Even if your children are too young to understand “biodiversity catastrophe” you can simply show them the beautiful photographs of Knut rolling in sand, eating Dörflein’s shoes and read the sidebars of fun quotes such as:

As German announcers put it, “Knut, das Eisbärbaby superstar!”

-April Peveteaux

Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World (Scholastic, 2007) is available on Amazon.

Book of the Week appears every other Friday. Sometimes every Friday. We’re fickle like that.

What Colbert Report Writers Are Doing During the Strike

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Kids! Are your peers pressuring you about reducing your carbon footprint? Do they mock your parents' SUV? Do the lunch ladies make you recycle your soda cans and take just one napkin?

Pen an essay or a short video about the pain the "Greenies" have inflicted upon your conservative soul and win up to $200! Think of how many barrels of oil you could buy with that! Plus, your work will be published in an actual book made from tree corpses!

Entery details for World Ahead Publishing's "Kids and Globaloney Contest" are online. You provide the conservative indignation. They'll provide a finished anthology called "The Sky is Not Falling: Why It's OK to Chill About Global Warming."

So just kick back and chill, already.

Oh. Wait. This is a real contest? Not just some elaborate joke. Um...nevermind.

Photo Credit: www.giftsonline.net

Strollerderby Playdate: Crunchy kids and eco-fams

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:02:00 GMT

There's a lot of talk about carbon footprints and bicycling on the internets these days, friends, and if you're not busy changing your lightbulbs and cranking up the hybrid car (that's how they work, right?), well...then you should at least be reading blog posts about people who are loving up the Earth from inside their homes (that's your cue to turn down the AC, lovies). This week, these bloggers make me feel like natural living:

Sewing with Cafemama at UrbanMamas.Take that, foamy craft projects!

Airing clean (suuuuuure) laundry with Who's the Boss.

Book recycling with Magpie Musing (honor system, y'all...it doesn't get more friendly than that!).

Looking smokin' hawt in hemp shoes with Mom Go Green.

Planetary partying at Eco-street.