Dear SNCA members and friends,

Here's your Sarasota Network for Climate Action newsletter, organized around The Good, The True, and The Beautiful news and opinion about climate change. The mainstream media have been doing a pretty good job of covering the bad and ugly, as well as finally exposing some of the false.

TRUE OR FALSE? CLIMATE CHANGE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUE

The United Nations Security Council debated this question, with Great Britain and most other developed nations arguing yes, while China argued no.

The British foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, who presided over the meeting, argued that the potential for climate change to cause wars made it an issue for the Security Council, the most powerful United Nations body, but one that has a mandate to deal only with international peace and security.

"Our responsibility in this Council is to maintain international peace and security, including the prevention of conflict," said Ms. Beckett, whose country holds the current Council presidency. "An unstable climate will exacerbate some of the core drivers of conflict, such as migratory pressures and competition for resources."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/18/world/18nations.html?_r=1&oref=slogin (accessible by free subscription to New York Times online)
Contributed by Sigi Moriece
**
TRUE OR FALSE? SUPPORTING ORGANIC FARMERS IN FAIR TRADE GROUPS CAN REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS

While the connection between conventional farming methods and carbon emissions may not be obvious, it is well documented. From fertilizers to fuel required, conventionally produced food enlarges our eco-footprint. Common sense might tell us that small farms would be more sustainable and less carbon intensive, and small organic farms even more so. If you follow this reasoning, you may want to express your concern over the US Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program ruling that appears to indicate an end to group organic certification of small farmer co-operatives. Those of us who enjoy and support Fair Trade products such as Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate can write in support of these small farmer coops by April 24:

http://www.equalexchange.com/defending-group-organic-certification
Contributed by Julie Leach
**
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD OUTCOME IN REGARD TO CLIMATE ACTION? The topic should be hot for the next 18 months.

Adam at TerraBlog of TerraPass, a low-cost, guaranteed way to offset the global warming impact of your driving, flying, and home energy use writes:
Out of idle curiosity, I did some Googling to see how the environment cropped up in past elections. One of the first links to pop up was [an] NPR piece on the 2004 race. Apparently both Bush and Kerry "extolled the virtues of conservation, clean air, and wetlands." Bold.

The article went on to say that Bush favors a "less government is better" approach to environmental regulation. A simpler way of saying this is: Bush opposes environmental regulation. Kerry meanwhile was trying to thread carefully between those voters inclined to support Nader and those who see a tradeoff between the environment and jobs. NPR called this a "delicate balancing act," which I suppose it is, in the sense that trying not to fall out of a chair is a delicate balancing act. The page makes no mention of global warming.

Point being, the environment typically doesn't play a very meaningful role in presidential elections. This time around, climate change may alter that dynamic, helped by an added push from the energy security crowd.

http://www.terrapass.com/terrablog/posts/2007/04/climate-change-and-the-presidential-election.html
Contributed by Jodi John
**
THE LAW TRULY IS ON OUR SIDE

Sen. Barbara Boxer, (D- California), chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee called on EPA to issue rules that address heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and new power plants. Boxer said the 5-4 Supreme Court decision earlier this month against EPA left the agency with no choice but to adopt regulations.
"The number one thing we're going to do is hound them on this week after week," Boxer said. "What are you doing? Let the American people understand this administration has the power to help solve this problem. It doesn't take China doing anything. It doesn't take India doing anything. It doesn't take the Congress doing anything. They have the power to do this under the Clean Air Act."
Environmental & Energy Daily, http://www.eenews.net/ by subscription

Contributed by Jodi John
**

RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARDS: WHICH STATES ARE DOING A GOOD JOB?

The Union of Concerned Scientists tracks activity among the states on renewable energy standards. Leaders are Colorado , New Mexico , and Minnesota , although 21 states and the District of Columbia have set standards.

For the Union of Concerned Scientists map of good states with renewable energy mandates, see:
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_policies/res-at-work-in-the-states.html

Florida is thinking about it. :)
In Florida , policy change is being considered at the Florida Energy Commission meeting, coming up May 11 in Cocoa . This is a critical committee (with subcommittees) for addressing global climate change.

The Florida Energy Commission will hold its third full Commission meeting at the Florida Solar Energy Center , H. George Carrison Auditorium, on May 11, 2007 beginning at approximately 10 a.m., and ending upon completion. The Florida Solar Energy Center is located at 1679 Clearlake Rd. , Cocoa , FL 32922-5703 .
 
The Florida Energy Commission and the Florida Solar Energy Center will team up to offer meeting attendees a tour of the Solar Energy Center 's facilities. A full meeting agenda and more information about the tour will be released in the near future.
 
For directions to the Solar Energy Center and local hotel information, please visit: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/about/visiting/index.htm.

Further information: Traci L. Arnold, Florida Energy Commission (850) 922-0999.
http://www.floridaenergycommission.gov

Contributed by Steve Urse.

**
Currently sponsored by Sen. Bennett and being considered in the Florida Legislature is a REALLY BAD BILL that would declare coal and nuclear energy to be "renewable"!! Although some of its provisions are desirable, others are not. Environmental organizations disagree on various pieces of this bill, so if you want to decide for yourself, prepare to do a little research.

Here's an early Sierra Club action alert:

ACTION NEEDED: HB549/SB1202:  
 Please contact your legislator and tell them to not sponsor (OR VOTE FOR) this legislation, and if they already have, to take their name off the bill. So far Senate sponsors are: Bennett; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Aronberg; Dockery; Lynn; Fasano; Joyner; Constantine; Jones; Gaetz and House sponsors are: Traviesa (CO-SPONSORS) Ambler; Aubuchon; Brandenburg; Brisé; Cusack; Garcia, R.; Glorioso; Grimsley; Hasner; Homan; Kendrick; Kreegel; Machek; Mayfield; McKeel; Murzin; Nehr; Planas; Precourt; Richardson; Seiler; Troutman; Weatherford; Williams.  
 
Their basic premise is that IGCC is clean coal. There is no such thing as clean coal.  We don't have coal in Florida ;  it will be extracted from other states, via known harmful environmental processes, like Mountain Top Removal, which is blowing up the tops of mountains. Their second premise is that IGCC captures carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas.  The technology to capture carbon dioxide does not exist and is not in the pilot phase either; there are NO standards in place for the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle,  (IGCC) , and there is NO REQUIRMENT IN LAW THAT THEY EVER HAVE TO CAPTURE the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.

Click here to read more about Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle:
 
<http://www.florida.sierraclub.org/tracker/HB549.html >
Forwarded by Steve Urse

**
TRUE OR FALSE? THE PENTAGON AND THE WHITE HOUSE AGREE ON GLOBAL WARMING

Now the Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us

-Secret report warns of rioting and nuclear war
-Britain will be 'Siberian' in less than 20 years
-Threat to the world is greater than terrorism

Mark Townsend and Paul Harris in New York for The Observer International, Sunday February 22, 2004
Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters..

A secret report, suppressed by US defense chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.

The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1153513,00.html

Contributed by Steve Urse
**

If you care to prolong those good feelings of solidarity from Earth Day and Step It Up 2007 , one way is to wear a message that attracts kindred spirits. Mr. Greenjeans' new green cotton T-shirt that says "Sustainability is sexy" drew lots of favorable attention this week. Students at University of Washington cooked up this attractive slogan, and their merchandise can be ordered at < http://www.cafepress.com/nicko99>
Sarasota County Board of Commissioners declared April 14 to be Step It Up 2007 Day, in response to the petition of Sarasota Network for Climate Action. To join our vibrant virtual grassroots organization, go to
<joinsnca@gmail.com>

**

BEAUTIFUL CIRCLE OF LIFE?

Does anyone else remember a song inflicted on physical education classes in the 1950s during calisthenics: "Go, you chicken fat, go"? Here comes a whole new meaning to that refrain.

ConocoPhillips and Tyson Chicken are joining forces to produce a new biodiesel fuel made from pork, beef, and chicken fat, all byproducts. ConocoPhillips has produced soybean-based biodiesel in Ireland , but soy prices are high.

Distribution will be limited at first to the Midwest . Meanwhile shares of ConocoPhillips and Tyson are both up.

>From the daily clipping service of Alliance to Save Energy. Free subscriptions at:

http://www.efficientamerica.org/site/c.ghLUJ9PLKsG/b.2039451/k.4B6/ENewsletter_Sign_Up/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=ghLUJ9PLKsG&b=2039451&en=lhKNLTODL9JGKYMFI9JJJ3MNJiLRI9NMKkKTL9OQIvF
**
To view other excellent climate action resources, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events, visit our beautiful Web site:
<www.sarasotaclimate.org>

Many many thanks to our new Webmaster, Shelley Siskin.

And many thanks to our new Web host, Dave Berry of Coolsite.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, email <joinsnca@gmail.com>

--
Sarasota Network for Climate Action
joinsnca@gmail.com