FCM Announces Opening of New Facility in British Columbia

FCM Recycling Inc. is proud to announce the opening of their newest e-waste processing facility in Delta, British Columbia.   FCM Recycling Inc. ("FCM") is excited to announce the opening of their newest facility located on Annacis Island, British Columbia. With the opening of this 50,000 square foot facility, FCM expands its operations of providing end of life electronics processing services to residential consumers, businesses, governments and provincial programs. "British Columbia, with a population of over 4 million people, is home to one of the most advanced and developed end of life electronics processing programs. FCM is excited to provide its services in the BC market and contribute to the local community through job creation and its involvement in the community" said Andrew Rubin, representative of FCM. This facility will provide FCM with a national reach allowing it to service customers with their e-waste, ITAD and data destruction needs from the Canadian east to west coast.   About FCM Recycling FCM Recycling is one of North America's leaders in the recycling and safe disposal of end-of-life electronic equipment.  We dispose of EOLEs with no impact to the environment and the highest level of data protection. We boast major processing facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, government certifications, over 18 years experience, and knowledgeable, dedicated personnel. One of our key objectives was to become a pioneer in e-waste environmental services. We have achieved that objective. Today we strive to maintain our position as industry leader by continuously improving our processes and using the best practices available to us and the recycling industry. EOLES received at any of FCM's various state-of-the-art recycling facilities, are broken down into various recyclable components such as copper, aluminum, plastics, glass etc.  Equipment is fully destroyed, ensuring that no data becomes exposed to pilfering, with Certificates of Destruction issued on request.   For more information about FCM Recycling please visit www.fcmrecycling.com

Melvin Wylie

Airport Shuttles Going Green

While shared-ride transportation is inherently eco-friendly, many members of The GO Group, the world's largest airport shuttle provider, are going one step further. GO companies serving San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Milwaukee's General Mitchell International, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International are converting all or part of their fleets to alternative fuels – either compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane. While GO companies in Los Angeles (serving all southern California airports) and Chicago (serving Midway and O'Hare) also are in the process of doing so. CNG is a fossil fuel, while propane is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Both burn cleaner than gasoline or diesel fuels, although CNG is considered the cleaner of the two. Companies that convert to alternative fuels can earn a 50 cents-per-gallon tax credit as well other incentives from local government and the airports. GO Shuttle Express in Seattle, which has 43 propane-fueled vehicles, began the conversion process last January and has 20 more systems to install. According to J. R. Rowley, president of GO Shuttle Express, the fuel saving has been around $2 per gallon. Maintenance costs, however, have been slightly higher due to the learning curve. In San Francisco, GO Lorries has adapted 16 vans to CNG, with another 28 to be retrofitted for CNG by May. "The conversions are expensive," says Julio Bonilla, president, "but the fuel savings mitigate the cost." As of December, GO Riteway Transportation Group in Milwaukee has moved 21 of its 500-vehicle fleet to propane, experiencing a $7,000 fuel savings since October. According to Jason Ebert, fleet and facilities coordinator, the maintenance costs are lower as oil changes can now be performed every 7,000 rather than every 5,000 miles as in the past. Ebert reports one reason GO Riteway opted for propane is that it is 90 percent as efficient as gasoline, which allows for a greater vehicle range than CNG, which is only 31 percent efficient. Also, the cost of a propane conversion is one third less than the cost of a CNG conversion. The GO Group LLC is a one-stop source for airport shuttles, which transport some 13 million passengers to and from airports in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe. Travelers can book ground transportation to and from both departure and destination airports at www.goairportshuttle.com.

Melvin Wylie

Amazon Defense Coalition Says U.S. Law Firms Bill Chevron Exorbitant Fees To Prevent Clean-up of Ecuador Pollution Crisis

Oil Giant Concedes It Has Used Almost 500 Lawyers to Fight Rainforest Indigenous Groups While indigenous groups in Ecuador's Amazon face possible death and grave illness from Chevron's "Rainforest Chernobyl" disaster, several prominent U.S. law firms and their well-known partners are billing the oil giant hundreds of millions of dollars to forestall a clean-up that could save thousands of lives, according to court documents. Chevron's lead outside law firm in the U.S., Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, has 60 lawyers working extensively on the case, a recent court filing revealed. The filing also showed that Chevron has paid almost 500 attorneys and paralegals from 39 different law firms since the celebrated case was filed in U.S. federal court in 1993. The litigation was shifted to Ecuador at Chevron's request in 2002, with a subsequent eight-year trial resulting in an $18 billion judgment against the oil giant for causing what experts believe could be the world's worst oil-related contamination. See here, here and here. The Ecuador litigation represents the first time that indigenous groups have successfully sued a large oil company for harm caused to their health and ancestral lands, said Karen Hinton, the U.S. spokesperson for the Ecuadorians. Evidence from independent health evaluations concluded that more than 9,000 rainforest dwellers face the risk of contracting cancer absent a rapid cleanup of the damage. In all, Gibson Dunn was billing Chevron an estimated $250 million per year in 2010 and 2011 as the company launched lawsuits against the plaintiffs in 16 different federal courts, helped to litigate an international arbitration action against Ecuador's government, filed a fraud case against the Ecuadorians and their lawyers in U.S. federal court, and supervised Chevron's battery of local lawyers in Ecuador as they faced multiple setbacks that culminated in the adverse judgment against Chevron, said Hinton. "Chevron's environmental destruction in Ecuador is the best thing that ever happened to the bottom line of Gibson Dunn," said Hinton, who noted the firm reported a 20% increase in per-partner profits in 2010 during a downturn in the economy as dozens of its lawyers worked full-bore on the Ecuador matter. "Clearly, Gibson Dunn and several other firms are profiting from rainforest destruction," Hinton added. "These lawyers have proven that fighting to deny the human rights of indigenous groups can be a very profitable business model." Gibson Dunn clearly has sold Chevron on its willingness to engage in questionable tactics and push the ethical envelope, said Hinton. The firm boasts that it engages in "recuse operations" for clients in trouble and that if the law is in the way it is willing to maneuver around it to achieve client objectives. Several judges have sanctioned Gibson Dunn lawyers for trying to intimidate witnesses and for filing frivolous lawsuits on behalf of Chevron, and one well-known partner has been accused of trying to mislead the Congress about the case. In November, a federal judge in Oregon fined Chevron after a team of Gibson Dunn lawyers had harassed the executive director of a respected environmental organization that had filed a brief in support of the Ecuadorians. Gibson Dunn also uses cookie cutter lawsuits, Hinton said, where defenders of human rights victims and their supporters are always accused of "fraud" for trying to hold wrongdoers like Chevron accountable for their misconduct. "The basic Gibson Dunn template is to attack victims to distract from the evidence," said Hinton. "When that doesn't work, the firm resorts to outright intimidation to silence any lawyer or advocate who stands up to the firm." Gibson Dunn's approach also has created numerous problems for Chevron in Ecuador, the fifth-largest oil producing nation in South America. Chevron's legal team in Ecuador is said to be furious with the Gibson Dunn lawyers for losing the case because of their arrogant treatment of Ecuadorian judges, said Hinton. Chevron lawyers in Ecuador working closely on the case with Gibson Dunn's "rescue" team have been sanctioned repeatedly for filing frivolous motions (once filing a motion eighteen times in 30 minutes), threatening the presiding judge with jail time if he didn't rule in Chevron's favor, and paying a Chevron contractor to secretly videotape a judge to try to entrap him in a trumped-up bribe scandal. The Ecuador court imposed a large punitive damages award on Chevron in large part for its abuse of the judicial process in Ecuador, according to the judgment. In the meantime, the case has become a financial bonanza for several other large law firms who represent Chevron. The list of 39 law firms disclosed by the company in a U.S. court action also includes the prominent criminal defense firm of Arguedas, Cassman & Headley; Jones Day; King & Spalding; Akin, Gump, Strauss; Hauer & Feld; Holland & Knight; Jones Day; Steptoe & Johnson; and Williams & Connolly. The all-star cast of attorneys who have worked on some aspect of the case for Chevron include Theodore Olson of Gibson Dunn, a former Solicitor General of the United States; Brendan Sullivan of Williams & Connolly, who reportedly represented a Chevron executive who faced potential criminal liability in Ecuador; Greg Craig of Skadden Arps, President Clinton's impeachment lawyer who Chevron reportedly hired to explore settlement; Mickey Kantor of Mayer Brown, the former U.S. Trade Representative under Clinton who spearheaded a Chevron effort to cut trade preferences for Ecuador; David Boies, whose firm helps the oil giant fight discovery actions in the U.S. designed to expose its corruption in Ecuador; and Alan Vinegrad, a former U.S. Attorney who represented a Chevron lawyer indicted on criminal charges of fraud for lying to Ecuador's government about the results of a sham remediation. Chevron also has used six public relations firms to push talking points denying the company caused any environmental damage in Ecuador, even though the judgment is undergirded by extensive scientific evidence and the allegations have been confirmed by numerous independent news accounts. See here and here. After an eight-year trial, the Ecuador trial court in 2011 found the oil giant systematically discharged billions of gallons of toxic waste into the rainforest, decimating indigenous groups and causing an array of oil-related health problems. An Ecuador appellate court affirmed the judgment in early January, potentially opening up Chevron to standard collection actions against its assets in jurisdictions around the world unless its posts a bond in Ecuador. Chevron stripped its assets from Ecuador and has vowed never to pay for a cleanup, even though reports indicate it contacted the plaintiffs recently in an attempt to explore settlement possibilities. Ultimately, one must wonder how much Chevron shareholders are getting in return for these expensive legal services, she said. In the last three years -- since Gibson Dunn's "rescue" operation was launched -- Chevron was hit with the $18 billion judgment, the largest ever for an environmental case; the judgment was confirmed by a three-judge panel; multiple courts sanctioned the company for its unethical litigation tactics; and a U.S. appellate court in New York prevented Chevron from seeking a worldwide injunction to block enforcement of the judgment. For more information, see www.chevrontoxico.com and become a follower of The Chevron Pit.

Melvin Wylie

E-Cigarettes May be the Green Solution

Millions of cigarette butts end up as litter each year. E-cigarettes could be a solution to this problem.

Go Green! From re-usable shopping bags, to ride sharing and recycling you see and hear it every day. So why should your smoking habits be any different? Cigarette filters are the single most collected item each year in international beach cleanups. It is estimated that 1.69 billion pounds (845,000 tons) of butts wind up as litter worldwide per year according to The Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. E-Cigarettes could be a solution to this problem, according to research. With re-chargeable batteries and re-fillable cartridges E-Cigarettes would take a bite out of all the waste from tobacco butts and ashes. Also, there are thousands less chemicals being put into the air, which helps improve air quality. This is a big green plus for the e-cig compared to the regular tobacco based products. Also consider the amount of trees harvested every year to produce the paper used to wrap the tobacco. People are only recently beginning to realize just how green e-cigarettes are. At No. 7 E-Cigarettes being green is a priority for the company. President of No 7 E-Cigarettes, Kyle Newton states "We are here to provide customers with the best tobacco alternative in the world. Not only is being green a priority to the company, we also provide options excluding packaging so we can leave as small a footprint as possible." No 7 E-Cigarettes is one of the largest E-Cigarette companies in the world. They specialize in re-chargeable kits and refillable E-Cigarettes. Visit www.ECigarettesChoice.com for more information.

Melvin Wylie

Honda Civic Named to About.com's Best New Cars of 2012 List

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today that the 2012 Honda Civic has been named as one of About.com Cars' Best New Cars of 2012. "Ranging from a gas-sipping hybrid to a kick-in-the-pants Si, the Civic lineup provides a variety of fun, fuel-efficient options to satisfy a wide range of customers," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We are thrilled to receive this award that recognizes the many advantages of the Civic." In describing the award-winning Civic, About.com's Aaron Gold called the 2012 Civic hands-down the most comprehensive compact car on the market. "You can get a sedan or a coupe; a high-fuel-efficiency version; a high-performance version; a leather-lined version; a hybrid version; even an alternative-fuel version that runs on clean natural gas," Gold said. "And whichever Civic you choose, you're virtually guaranteed years of trouble-free motoring." The award from About.com adds to the 2012 Honda Civic's growing list of accolades that include being named Green Car of the Year (Civic Natural Gas), capturing Best Resale Value for a Compact Car by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, and earning a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick. About.com is one of the largest providers of original content on the web, with over 60 million unique visitors per month in the United States. Connect with Honda: Honda Media Newsroom (for journalists): www.hondanews.com Honda (for consumers): www.automobiles.honda.com Honda on Facebook: www.facebook.com/honda Honda on YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda Honda on Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews Honda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda

Melvin Wylie

Beekeepers Are Critical to Economy

Beekeepers from across the country gathered at a national conference, with environmental organizations at their side, to draw attention to the growing plight facing their industry –the decline of honey bees – a problem that has far reaching implications for the U.S. economy. "Bees and other pollinators are the underpinnings of a successful agricultural economy," said Brett Adee, Co-Chair of the National Honey Bee Advisory Board and owner of Adee Honey Farms. "Without healthy, successful pollinators billions of dollars are at stake." Many family-owned beekeeping operations are migratory, with beekeepers traveling the country from state-to-state, during different months of the year to provide pollination services and harvest honey and wax. Bees in particular are responsible for pollinating many high-value crops, including pumpkins, cherries, cranberries, almonds, apples, watermelons, and blueberries. So any decline in bee populations, health and productivity can have especially large impacts on the agricultural economy. Honey bees are the most economically important pollinators in the world, according to a recent United Nations report on the global decline of pollinator populations. Commercial beekeepers shared first-hand accounts of the value of beekeeping, and of the dramatic impact of bee declines. Beekeepers estimate that one single bee kill from a pesticide exposure incident, representing 200 bee colonies, is responsible for an estimated $5 million of value to the agricultural economy. David Hackenberg, Co-Chair of the National Honey Bee Advisory Board and owner of Hackenberg Apiaries, estimates that his colonies alone generate $5 million in value over 6 months: $500,000 from California almonds in January, $800,000 from Georgia blueberries in March, $2 million from Pennsylvania apples and cherries in April, $500,000 from Maine blueberries in May, and $1 million from Pennsylvania pumpkins in June. "If you think about it, bees and other pollinators are Mother Nature's ultimate economic stimulus," said Hackenberg. "Economists quantify pollination as an 'ecosystem service' although these figures are often unaccounted for in the traditional measures like the GDP." In 2000, the last official study, the value of pollination was estimated at $14.6 million. Beekeepers suggest number that under-calculates the value of their services. They suggest the real value of their operations is $50 billion, based on retail value of food and crop grown from seed that relies upon bee pollination. Beekeepers have survived the economic recession only to find their operations are still threatened. Recent, catastrophic declines in honey bee populations, termed "Colony Collapse Disorder," have been linked to a wide variety of factors, including parasites, habitat loss and pesticides. "The threats facing pollinators should raise concerns, as sub-lethal impacts on bees are more serious than we had initially thought," said Dr. Jim Frazier, professor of Entomology at Penn State University. "Every time someone looks, they find something new." Beekeepers also noted they are partnering with environmental organizations, highlighting the threat of pesticides to the continued success of the profession and the agricultural economy. They raise special concerns with neonicotinoids, a class of systemic pesticides that is taken up a plant and expressed through the plants through which bees then forage and pollinate. Research released last week in the journal PLoS ONE underscores the threat of these pesticides through a previously undocumented exposure route – planter exhaust – the talc and air mix expelled into the environment as automated planters place neonicotinoid-treated seeds into the ground during spring planting. "Independent research links pollinator declines, especially honey bees, to a wide range of problems with industrial agriculture, especially pesticides," said Paul Towers, spokesperson for Pesticide Action Network. Threats to pollinators, especially commercial honey bees, concern the entire food system. With one in three bites of food reliant on pollination, beekeepers and environmental organizations alike call out the wide-scale problem. "Because EPA has not adequately regulated certain pesticides, the food system, including many of the foods we enjoy eating most, are at risk," said John Kepner, Project Director for Beyond Pesticides. "We can't afford not to take action to protect pollinators – for wallets and dinner tables alike."

Melvin Wylie

New York Leaders Call on Governor Cuomo to 'Energize Upstate Now'

Upstate New Yorkers Participate in Events From Albany and Across the State in Support of Development of New York's Natural Gas Resources ALBANY, N.Y. - A broad coalition of business, labor, landowner, nonprofit and political leaders today called on Governor Cuomo to 'Energize Upstate Now' at rallies in Albany and points west in support of development of the state's natural gas resources. Hundreds of concerned citizens left their farms and workplaces to participate in today's rallies in Albany, Binghamton, Candor, Corning and Oneonta. Many local and state officials and business and community leaders were among the participants at each of the 'Energize Upstate Now' rallies, being held just one day before the end of the public comment period on proposed regulations for gas drilling in the State. "Governor Cuomo and New York State leaders have the ability to create thousands of high paying jobs and billions of dollars in government revenue with the decision to move forward in developing the state's natural gas resources," said Greg Lancette, Political Director of the New York State Pipetrades Association. "The group is encouraged by and thankful for Governor Cuomo's leadership which makes private-sector job creation a priority. After years of careful review, it is time for New York State to make the most of this opportunity in a safe and responsible way." New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has estimated that more than 50,000 jobs could be created from the development of the state's portion of the Marcellus Shale. Much of this job creation would occur in areas of the state, which have suffered for decades from the decline of manufacturing and industry, and the out-migration of its young people. According to a recent study from the Public Policy Institute, a natural gas job could pay more than $79,184 annually, on average. The DEC has developed stringent regulations to make certain natural gas resources will be developed safely and responsibly. Industry leaders have demonstrated their commitment to help with this process by crafting industry standards such as construction practices, environmental and reclamation efforts, and water use and management procedures. New York State's DEC began a comprehensive review of the impact of proposed gas drilling in February 2009 and in September 2011 released the revised draft regulations governing all aspects of high volume hydraulic fracturing in. Over the past several months, the public has had an opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations at four public hearings held round the state. "It is time for New York to move forward with safe and responsible development of New York State's natural gas resources," said Tom Shepstone, Campaign Manager of Energy In Depth – Northeast Marcellus Initiative. "New York can do its part to move our nation to greater energy independence and help to get people working and our economy growing." Local business owners and landowners will join leaders from the American Petroleum Institute (API), America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), Corning Gas, Dryden Safe Energy, Energy In Depth – Northeast Marcellus Initiative (EID), Independent Oil & Gas Association (IOGA), Farm Bureau, New York State Petroleum Council, Tioga County Economic Development, The Three Rivers Development Corporation, the New York State Pipetrades Association in participating at today's rallies.

Melvin Wylie

Taking Energy Independence Seriously

by Lawrence Kadish At year end, 2011, as Americans emptied their wallets at the gas pump and crude oil reached almost $100 a barrel, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia reported an $81.6 billion 2011 budget surplus. The White House action at the same time was to ask Congress to increase our debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion to $16.4 trillion to cover budget deficits. Nations decline and fall when their economies and monetary policies are incompetently managed. Unfortunately, it appears to be a lesson lost on too many of our leaders who have allowed the very stability of our nation to be imperiled by budget deficits and mounting debt. Our leaders have also failed on Energy Independence, allowing the cost and supply of the strategic commodity of oil to be controlled by foreign nations. The ominous linkage between cyclical recessions and our repeated failure to achieve energy independence and oil price stability has caused much hardship on our citizenry and severe damage to our economy. The historical evidence is clear. Whenever oil prices spiked as they did between 1972-1980, and then again between 2003-2008 and beyond, recessions in America followed. In 1972, crude oil prices were $3.60 a barrel. By 1980, the cost of that barrel was $37. This 1000% oil price increase contributed to a negative economic chain reaction. The CPI more than doubled during this period. Double digit Inflation ensued, causing the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. This, in turn, sent the Prime Rate to over 20% by 1980. A recession followed. A fiscal tsunami Whenever the United States took serious notice of oil prices as an underlying cause of these problems, Congress would debate energy savings and energy independence. A concerned OPEC would then divert America's attention by opening their spigots, increasing production and causing oil prices to drop to under $20 a barrel and remain relatively low for a period of time. While the immediate crisis would be averted by these actions, Congress did little to protect our future. Consequently, by 2003, oil was up again to $30 a barrel and steadily increased to over $90 in January 2008 and spiked to over $140 in July 2008. As in the past, by 2008, the enormous increase in the cost of oil resulted in nationwide price increases and surcharges in substantially all industries. It was an assault, like a fiscal tsunami, that put too great a financial burden on the United States economy and its citizenry and set the stage for business failures, unemployment and a decline in real estate values. Rating agencies blessed mortgage investments based on a rising economy however, the chaotic oil spikes triggered the opposite effect. Thus, as in a violent storm, weak structures failed, especially the over-leveraged mortgages and the volatile mortgage-backed securities and related financial markets, which became illiquid. causing the American economy to experience the 2008 meltdown. A significant part of this ruinous economic condition involves enemies sworn to destroy the United States. Since 911 the United States has spent trillions of dollars on Homeland Security and our military to sustain the War on Terrorism. It is grimly ironic that simultaneously, trillions of dollars have left our economy to purchase oil mostly from OPEC nations that directly or indirectly support radical Islamic fundamentalists. This absurdity has resulted in a punishing double body blow to our economy. The resources but not the will It is now almost 40 years since our country was first adversely affected by its failure to become energy independent. The United States has the natural resources and the technology to produce clean energy. Over time however, we have lost our way time and again because we have been confronted with a deliberate policy by obstructionists seeking to prolong the debate over energy independence for the specific purpose of preventing a national consensus on energy policy. Are the obstructionists the sincere environmentalists or the professional anti-capitalist environmental radicals who would have us return to an agrarian society? Other suspect quiet assassins of American energy policy include: foreign interests influencing Washington, and those who own domestic oil production and seek to sustain high oil prices and unprecedented returns, and still others who sell their manufactured products to foreign oil suppliers and do not want to lose those lucrative markets. Those who aspire to be our future elected leaders should immediately present their strategy for energy independence -- one that marginalizes the obstructionists -- and commit to a plan of action. Defining our future and the current Presidential debate The voters are aware of the hazards of our present policies that will lead us into the role of a third world debtor nation. They want more than vague speeches. Who we are as a nation in the 21st Century will be determined by how we strengthen our economy by streamlining government operations, eliminating wasteful spending, and most importantly promoting economic growth that creates jobs. Energy Independence can be a major first step in this effort. It will help us achieve a balanced budget and genuine national security in a world of lethal threats and economic challenges. These are the issues that should and must define all nationwide election campaigns. Lawrence Kadish is an Advisory Board Member of the Stonegate Institute and a trustee of the Claremont and Hudson Institutes. This opinion essay was originally published by the Stonegate Institute http://www.stonegateinstitute.org/2726/energy-independence

Melvin Wylie

Liberty Tire Recycling, the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America, is partnering with the University of Tennessee's Center for Athletic Field Safety on a series of studies to test the potential benefits and role that crumb rubber plays in maintaining a natural grass athletic surface. The company is funding a series of studies over a two-year period to quantify the value proposition that crumb rubber infill offers as an enhancement to natural grass, and how it can potentially improve the quality of the surface and safety for the athletes using it. "Crumb rubber infill used on athletic surfaces provides a host of benefits. For the athlete, it offers a safer, higher-performing surface. It also lengthens play on the surface, particularly in high-traffic areas of the field," said Mike Wezel, vice president of sales and marketing for Liberty Tire Recycling. "The University of Tennessee's Center for Athletic Field Safety is a one-of-a-kind facility, and we are proud to work with the Center, under the direction of Dr. John Sorochan, to help demonstrate the cost savings, improved maintenance and overall performance crumb rubber offers." Initial studies conducted include a simulated foot traffic test to determine the optimal crumb rubber particle size and depth for optimizing field performance, a moisture and temperature test, and an assessment of how long the turf season can potentially be extended through the use of crumb rubber. The use of crumb rubber infill in natural grass surfaces has been proven to maximize shock absorption by creating a softer and safer playing surface for athletes. Less water is required to maintain the surface, allowing the grass plant to become more tolerant of stresses such as heat and high-trafficking. Synthetic turf also positively impacts the environment by conserving more than three billion gallons of water; eliminating the use of almost a billion pounds of pesticides and fertilizers; lowering consumption of energy, raw materials and solid waste generation; and keeping more than 140 million used tires out of landfills. Liberty Tire Recycling recently became the first and only company to achieve GREENGUARD Synthetic Turf Components Certification from the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute for indoor air quality for the company's synthetic turf infill product, which is an eco-friendly solution for athletic fields and other playing surfaces.

Melvin Wylie

Light Bulb Ban Signals Dynamic Changes in Electric Lighting

It's change that's coming literally at the speed of light. In fact, there will be more change in the world of electric lighting in the next few years than there was in the past 100. Halogens. CFLs. LEDs. This change has spawned public uncertainty and it affects everyone. Though Congress recently de-funded the January 1st ban on the 100-watt incandescent bulb, the federal law is still on the books. Retailers who sell the bulb will technically be violating the law. As the remaining incandescent bulbs are phased out in the very near future, some people are already hoarding them. "Lighting technology is changing dramatically and it's much more than just grabbing a light bulb from the hardware store shelf," said Rodney Heller, Lead Lighting Designer at Energy Performance Lighting (EPL). Heller is a nationally recognized leader in the field of energy-efficient lighting and is based in the Madison area. Electric Light - Dawn of a New Era from Boettcher Media Group on Vimeo.     Heller recommends four steps that will help businesses and consumers adjust to the future of electric lighting:

1. Don't be afraid of change
2. Realize that there are many more choices than just the compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb. For example, halogen bulbs provide instant brightness and last 6 times longer than incandescents.
3. Select cool/blue colors for alertness and warm/yellow colors to relax
4. Don't fret the higher cost of LEDs. The energy savings will quickly offset that cost and the price of LEDs will drop by the end of 2012.

"We've got many different bulb choices for selecting energy efficiency, wattage and light color," said Heller. "We are only now beginning to understand how the color of light affects us physically and psychologically. Not only will you be able to save up to 75 percent on your lighting bill, you'll be able to install lights and never have to replace them in your lifetime!"

Melvin Wylie

Occupy Marches on DC

Exclusive Raw video of Occupy Wall Street marching on DC. 17 January 2012 (Tuesday Evening).

Melvin Wylie

Chevron Admits In Trying To Destroy Lawsuit

Chevron Admits In Legal Papers That It Used Baki Repeatedly As Part of Its Lobbying Effort To Destroy Lawsuit Ivonne Baki, an Ecuadorian government official in charge of one of the world's most celebrated environmental initiatives, has had numerous contacts with Chevron's U.S.-based lawyers to assist the oil giant's illegal attempts to thwart a historic environmental case in Ecuador where Chevron was found liable for $18 billion in damages, according to Chevron's legal filings in a U.S. federal court case and sources within Ecuador's government. Baki is caught up in a burgeoning scandal in the South American nation following the publication of a blog this week in the Huffington Post on-line newspaper that accused her of promoting a "billion dollar bait-and switch" whereby Chevron would pay hundreds of millions of dollars to Baki's Yasuni project in exchange for an agreement that Ecuador's government would quash the legal case. The blog was written by Mitch Anderson, a campaigner with the U.S. environmental group Amazon Watch. Pablo Fajardo, the lead lawyer for the Ecuadorian plaintiffs who won the judgment, said separately that he had confirmed from high-level sources in Ecuador's government that Baki was floating an idea where Chevron would pay $1 billion -- half of it to the Yasuni project, and half of it to the government to help with an environmental clean-up -- in exchange for the government exercising its political influence to stop the case. There is no evidence anybody in Ecuador's government considered accepting the proposal, which would have violated the legal rights of tens of thousands of victims of Chevron's pollution and violated the country's Constitution, said Fajardo. "Chevron and Baki think Ecuadorian officials are still running a banana republic government willing to sacrifice the rights of their own citizens for a small bribe," said Fajardo. "Chevron just doesn't get that it cannot bribe government officials." The news that Chevron has been trying to use its longtime ally Baki to end-run its legal liability has created a media firestorm in Ecuador. Unflattering articles about Baki based on the Huffington Post blog have appeared, with Baki deepening her woes by falsely claiming she has no ties to Chevron. See here, here and here. In the meantime, Chevron has disclosed in a U.S. federal court proceeding that it has had extensive contact with Baki over the environmental case, contradicting Baki's public statements. See here. Chevron's response to various interrogatories in that action mentions Baki by name in describing four meetings to discuss the case -- three when Baki was a former government minister and one in 2008 with Correa cabinet minister Gustavo Larrea. Chevron also describes several meetings in 2010 with officials from Correa's government without mentioning the names of the individuals. There were also meetings in 2011 between Chevron's U.S.-based lawyers and Baki, and a Chevron representative in Venezuela and an Ecuadorian government official believed to be Baki, according to sources in Ecuador's government. Chevron either covered up those meetings or forgot to mention them in the U.S. court documents even though it was obligated to do, said Fajardo. Fajardo also confirmed via sources in Ecuador's government that Baki in recent weeks was floating a proposal from Chevron whereby the oil giant would pay $500 million under the guise of a "donation" to her Yasuni project, and a small additional amount to be used for environmental remediation. Chevron was working through Baki to convince Ecuador's government to quash the legal case in exchange for the money, according to Fajardo's sources. "Chevron used Baki to try to bribe Ecuador's government to violate the rule of law and kill off the historic legal case," said Karen Hinton, the U.S.-based spokesperson for the Ecuadorians. She said the team was still investigating the extent of Baki's role. "Information we have thus far suggests a series of bribes were offered by Chevron that were disguised as donations or clean-up monies, the totality of which would allow the company to escape its legal liability for pennies on the dollar," Hinton said. Even with her checkered history of helping Chevron and its predecessor company Texaco, Baki is now the head of Ecuador's Yasuni-ITT initiative because of her supposed array of international contacts that Ecuador wants to use to raise money for the environmental project. Baki served as Ecuador's ambassador to the United States in the late 1990s when she tried to help Chevron kill the legal case. She later served as Ecuador's representative to the Andean Parliament. The Yasuni project seeks to keep more than one billion barrels of crude permanently in the ground in a biodiverse area of Ecuador's Amazon rainforest in exchange for payments over ten years of $350 million annually from foreign nations and donors. Ecuador President Rafael Correa has set December 31 of this year as the deadline to obtain $100 million as a down payment or drilling rights in the area could be quickly auctioned on the international market, potentially threatening two non-contacted indigenous groups thought to be living in the isolated area. Baki has come up with virtually no money for the project, despite her public statements saying she was garnering support, said Fajardo. Environmental leaders in Ecuador blasted Chevron and Baki. "We are not about to give Chevron a get out of jail free card by donating to the Yasuni," said Esperanza Martinez, who heads up Ecuador's leading environmental organization Accion Ecologica, in an interview with the Huffington Post. "Not only would such a donation violate the rights of thousands of Ecuadorians who are victims of Chevron's misconduct, it would also violate the very spirit of the initiative. "In short, Ecuador is not interested in Chevron's blood money," she added. Kevin Koenig, a spokesman for Amazon Watch, also blasted Chevron for trying to engage in a "multi-billion dollar bait and switch." "It's illegal, and can't be allowed," he said, referring to Chevron's proposed "donation" to the Yasuni. "We are calling on Ms. Baki to disclose all meetings between herself and Chevron officials, and the terms and conditions of any offer from the company." The court in Ecuador found in February that Chevron deliberately discharged more than 16 billion gallons of toxic waste into Ecuador's Amazon when it operated an oil concession from 1964 to 1992, leading to a spike in health problems and decimating indigenous groups. Chevron's latest attempt to maneuver its way out of the case comes at a time when its legal position has weakened considerably. Not only did the company lose the Ecuador trial in February of this year, but it was sternly rebuked by a federal appeals court in the United States in September for trying to invalidate the Ecuadorian judgment in U.S. federal court. Chevron faces other potential legal jeopardy in the coming months. An Ecuadorian appellate court is preparing to rule on the underlying trial and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York is expected to issue a decision about legal attacks Chevron has waged against the Ecuadorians in U.S. federal court. Baki has a long and checkered history in Ecuador -- particularly as it relates to the legal case against Chevron. In 1998, when she served as Ecuador's Ambassador to the United States under the rightist government of Jamil Mahuad, she signed an official letter to a U.S. federal judge in New York that had been requested by Chevron. Ecuador's President at the time rebuked Baki for failing to inform the country's Attorney General that she was writing the letter, which was quickly disavowed. When Baki served as Commerce Minister under the rightist government of Lucio Gutierrez, the rainforest residents staged a sit-in in her offices to demand that she stop undermining the legal case against Chevron. In 2008, Baki bragged to lawyers for the plaintiffs that she had arranged a private meeting for top-level Chevron officials and Gustavo Larrea, at the time an influential minister in Correa's cabinet. Baki also has been active in Chevron's lobbying efforts in the United States to cancel U.S. trade preferences for the country in retaliation for the lawsuit, which is taking place in Ecuador at Chevron's request. A cancelation of the preferences would cost Ecuador upwards of 300,000 jobs, according to Ecuador's government. "In my opinion Baki is a political mercenary of the highest order," said Luis Yanza, a community leader in the Amazon. "She is precisely the kind of unsavory character that Chevron feels comfortable dealing with as it engages in acts of trickery to avoid being held accountable by the law." Chevron has been accused of numerous acts of corruption in Ecuador during the trial, forcing the court to fine its lawyers and impose punitive damages on the company. Hinton said the acts of corruption include lying about the results of a fraudulent remediation in the 1990s to secure a government release; fabricating evidence during the trial to minimize evidence of contamination; using a hidden video recorder to try to entrap a judge who Chevron thought would rule against it; threatening judges with jail time if they failed to grant Chevron's motions to delay the trial; and permitting the lawyers for the plaintiffs to be victimized by death threats and mysterious robberies of their offices.

Melvin Wylie

Bordo Poniente Landfill Closing Helps "Green" Mexico City

A project to close one of the world's largest landfills, the 927-acre Bordo Poniente Landfill in Mexico City will stem the city's largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while creating renewable energy and local jobs. Developed in close collaboration with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) Cities program and its partner the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), the project represents a model for reducing GHG emissions through sustainable solid waste management than can be replicated around the world. "I applaud the decision of the Mexican authorities to close the Bordo Poniente Landfill and reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions. I am glad the Clinton Climate Initiative was able to support the work necessary to make the closure possible," said President Clinton. "Through the Clinton Climate Initiative, we are helping Mexico City convert millions of tons of garbage to new energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2 million tons annually. This project will help the local economy and fight climate change." Solid waste in landfills is the third largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions – 23 times more potent as a greenhouse gas agent than CO2. Capturing methane from the Bordo Poniente landfill could reduce GHG emissions from Mexico City by 25 million tons of CO2 equivalent over the next 25 years – more than one quarter of the city's total emissions. Globally, it represents one of the largest reductions of GHGs associated with solid waste management. It is estimated that capturing methane from the Bordo Poniente Landfill could generate over 250 GWh or enough power for an estimated 35,000 homes in Mexico City during the first years of operation. Further economic benefits will come from the creation of both short and long-term local jobs for contractors, service providers and qualified labor in the construction, operation and maintenance of the landfill gas capture system. "Cities are on the frontlines in dealing with the impacts of global climate change, and they are leading by example in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "The Bordo Poniente project is a bold step that serves as a shining example of the impact C40 and the Clinton Climate Initiative can have in supporting cities' efforts to green their environments and their economies. Through actions such as this, we can implement solutions on a local level that will truly make a difference globally." The Bordo Poniente Landfill ceased receiving solid waste on December 19th, 2011. The same day, Mexico City Mayor Ebrard announced the international public tender for a developer to close the landfill in an environmentally-sound manner that optimizes the capture and utilization of methane gas to produce energy. The project will enable Mexico City to reach the GHG emission reduction goals established in its Climate Action Program and Green Plan. "Closing Mexico City's Bordo Poniente Landfill is one of the most important environmental actions for the entire country. If it can be done here, it can be replicated elsewhere even if the solution is a complex one. When there is a very high level of complexity, but a common objective and a successful outcome, we build confidence in our ability to take on other important objectives," said Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard. Revenues from energy sales and reducing GHGs, as well as financial resources from the Mexican federal government and private investors, will be used to develop this Project.

Melvin Wylie

The T-Solar Group Signs up $145m to Fund its Projects in Peru

• Total capex for the two power plants (44 MW) in Peru is over $165 m.

• Three Development Finance Institutions - OPIC (USA), FMO (Netherlands) and PROPARCO (France) - will be co-funding the projects alongside T-Solar.

• T-Solar has more than 230 MW under operation or construction in Spain, Italy, India and Peru.

The T-Solar Group ("T-Solar"), a major operator in the solar photovoltaic power generation market, is pleased to announce that it has signed three loan agreements for a total of $145m to finance two photovoltaic power plants with an aggregate capacity of 44 MW in Peru. The two plants will be the first large-scale solar photovoltaic energy projects in Latin America. 113,600 thin-film amorphous hydrogenated-silicon modules produced by T-Solar's Orense, Spain factory will be deployed over 206 hectares of land in the Arequipa region in southern Peru. Isolux Corsán, T-Solar's parent company, has been retained as EPC contractor and will carry out construction works. The two solar plants are expected to produce 80 GWh a year, enough electricity to supply 80,000 people.⁽¹⁾ Project construction will generate over 160 direct jobs amongst the local population. The plants are expected to be connected to the national grid by the second semester of 2012. The total capital expenditure for the two projects is over $165m. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a US government agency promoting sustainable US investment abroad, will provide up to $131m in senior debt, partially guaranteed by Assured Guarantee, a US credit insurance company. The Netherlands' FMO and France's PROPARCO will lend up to $14.3m in mezzanine debt. T-Solar will fund the balance through equity. T-Solar was advised by Astris Finance, a US-based transaction advisory firm specialized in infrastructure and energy in emerging markets. Latin America is an important target market for T-Solar. Given the region's high level of solar irraditaion and in the context of an increasing focus on energy transition and renewable energy, T-Solar expects the continent's strongest economies to provide interesting oportunities in the photovoltaic sector in the next 5 years. ⁽¹⁾Source: International Energy Agency Estimate ABOUT T-SOLAR T-Solar is a major independent producer of photovoltaic solar energy world-wide. A subsidiary of the Isolux Corsan Group, it has 173 MWp installed capacity already online in 43 plants located in Spain (34), Italy (8) and India (1), plus a further 55 MW under construction in India and Peru. Its solar photovoltaic plants generate over 250 GWh a year. This is equivalent to the average electricity consumption of a town with 51,000 households. T-Solar earned revenues of €110.2m in 2010. The company's 2010 business plan had a total capex of €1.16 bn. Its factory in Orense (Galicia, Spain) produces the largest PV modules in the market (5.7m2) using amorphous hydrogenated silicon thin-film technology to reduce costs and boost performance ratios. The factory is fully automated and fitted out with leading-edge technology. It has an output capacity of 50 MW a year, equivalent to 700,000 m²of solar panels. For further information, visit the website: http://www.tsolar.com

Melvin Wylie

Saving the Atlantic Forest With Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses

Marc by Marc Jacobs chic, vintage inspired eyewear, derived from a company well known for a commitment to charitable projects is supporting The Nature Conservancy, the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters, through a newly created "PLANT A SEED - GROW YOUR TREE AND SAVE THE FOREST" program. The program is aimed at promoting and supporting The Nature Conservancy's "PLANT A BILLION TREES" campaign, through an important awareness-raising activity for the preservation of our planet's natural resources. The campaign's mission is to protect and restore the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, one of the world's most endangered tropical forests. To date only 12% of its original area remains and only 7% is well conserved. At the centre of this worthwhile project are Marc by Marc Jacobs MMJ 261/s bio-based sunglasses, made from a material derived from castor-oil seeds. The chocolate coloured sunglasses, which feature leaf textured temples, are packaged in a chic case made from repurposed leather. In support of this project, Marc by Marc Jacobs will make a contribution to The Nature Conservancy to support the restoration of the Atlantic Forest. A dedicated website for the project http://www.plantaseedproject.com provides full details about the campaign as well as enables site visitors the opportunity to plant a virtual tree and make it grow. A Facebook application will allow visitors to invite their friends and involve them in the project: a tangible and lasting involvement in an important environmental cause. Marc by Marc Jacobs eyewear and sunglasses collections are manufactured and distributed by Safilo Group. The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org. The "Plant a Billion Trees" project: The Nature Conservancy launched the Plant a Billion Trees campaign in April 2008 with a goal to restore and plant one billion trees in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Once twice the size of Texas, the Atlantic Forest spanned across eastern Brazil, northern Argentina and eastern Paraguay. Yet today, more than 93 percent of the forest has been cleared to accommodate Brazil's rapid development and support the region's 130 million residents, 70 percent of Brazil's population. Although the remaining 7 percent is highly fragmented, these last stands of lush forest harbor one of the greatest repositories of biodiversity on Earth. http://www.plantabillion.org.

Melvin Wylie

President of South Sudan Commits to Global Transparency Standard

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has announced that his Government will implement the EITI (Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative), the global standard for transparency of natural resource revenues. "This commitment to implement the EITI is in furtherance of my statement on September 21st that my government is committed to ensuring that South Sudan enters a new era of good governance, democracy, accountability and transparency," said President Kiir. Remarking on President Kiir's announcement, EITI Chair Clare Short said, "South Sudan is facing enormous challenges in the years ahead. By following the EITI standard, President Kiir's and his government have demonstrated its commitment to doing things transparently and holding themselves accountable to South Sudan's citizens. " Implementing the EITI standard ensures that all payments from oil and mining operations in South Sudan will be published in an annual EITI report for all South Sudanese citizens to see what they are receiving from their natural resources. The report can be used to recommend how South Sudan can better manage the revenues from its resources. The process will be overseen by a 'South Sudan EITI multi-stakeholder group' consisting of representatives from the government, extractives companies and civil society organisations.

Melvin Wylie

Ethical Oil? Alberta's Tar Sands

  Alberta's Tar Sands are a true embarrassment for the Canadians; not only is it a human rights crisis for the Indigenous communities living in Alberta and British Columbia, but an environmental disaster of epic proportions. Many pipelines transport this dirty oil all around North America, and our exports make us the United States' biggest provider of oil. In the last few years, a new extension to a current pipeline has been proposed to carry Tar Sands oil all the way to Texas, putting some of North America's most fragile ecosystems and waterways in serious peril. Bill McKibben and his team at 350.org helped spearhead a movement called Tar Sands Action (http://www.tarsandsaction.org), enlisting the help of people all over the US and Canada willing to express their dismay and anger about this possible new pipeline. As of November 6th, thousands of people have risked arrest, standing in front of the White House, as well as Canada's Parliament in Ottawa, to protest.

Melvin Wylie

The Secret Lives of Our Clothes

There's a price tag that's being hidden from us everyday. Not the one that tells us how much money to pay but the underlying costs of every outfit's life cycle. Uncover the lives that our clothes led before they got to the store and discover your voting power as a consumer towards a fairer, healthier and more sustainable planet. Thanks to GreenovateChina for this wonderful video.

Melvin Wylie