Green Notes: April, 2012

Green Notes

April, 2012

Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute and one of the world’s foremost advocates of anthropogenic global warming theory, has admitted to stealing confidential documents from The Heartland Institute in a bizarre and botched attempt to embarrass the free-market, Midwest-based think tank by exposing details of its funding. Gleick obtained the documents under false pretenses and then passed them on to liberal blogs. Now a computer analysis by Dr. Patrick Juola at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, concludes that one the documents, the so-called “climate strategy memo,” is a fake, most likely manufactured by Gleick himself. Dr. Juola concludes his analysis: “Having examined these documents and their results, I therefore consider it more likely than not that Gleick is in fact the author/compiler of the document entitled ‘Confidential Memo: 2012 Heartland Climate Strategy,’ and further that the document does not represent a genuine strategy memo from the Heartland Institute.” Gleick, a MacArthur “Genius Award” recipient and one of the world’s most prominent climate scientists, was forced to resign as chairman of the “Task Force on Ethics” at the American Geophysical Union and step down from the board National Center for Science Education as a result of his shameful and futile deceptions.

Chevy Volt, we hardly knew ye. In March General Motors announced it was temporarily halting production of its much-ballyhooed electric car, the Volt. The Detroit-based motor giant said it would stop production for five weeks, temporarily laying off some 1,300 workers, but would resume production on April 23. “We needed to maintain proper inventory and make sure that we continued to meet market demand,” said GM spokesman Chris Lee to The Hill. Proper inventory to meet the market demand for the Volt appears to be zero, at least for now.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an organization ostensibly dedicated to protecting animals, and is well known for wearing its liberal heart on its proverbial sleeve. But a new report by James McWilliams for The Atlantic paints a very different picture of the group: “In 2011, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)…euthanized the overwhelming majority (PDF) of dogs and cats that it accepted into its shelters. Out of 760 dogs impounded, they killed 713, arranged for 19 to be adopted, and farmed out 36 to other shelters (not necessarily “no kill” ones). As for cats, they impounded 1,211, euthanized 1,198, transferred eight, and found homes for a grand total of five. PETA also took in 58 other companion animals — including rabbits. It killed 54 of them.” This works out to an abysmal adoption rate of 2.5 percent for dogs and 0.4 for cats. Maybe they should change their name to People for the Euthanizaing Treatment of Animals…they won’t even have to change the acronym.

In 2011, the U.S. Government launched the “L Prize”, a competition to encourage manufacturers to make a “green” light bulb that would also be affordable to the average consumer. The winner would receive a $10 million award, as well as the satisfaction of helping the planet by making green technology affordable. The winning light bulb, made by Philips, is now on the market. The cost is $50. Per bulb. Hey, Uncle Sam – stop helping.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed drastic measures to save the endangered Northern Spotted Owl. According to Science Insider: “The proposals include designating more critical habitat, encouraging logging to prevent forest fires, and an experiment to shoot a competing owl species.” That’s right, shoot the owls to save the owls. Science Insider gives the gory details: “The northern spotted owl…ran into trouble in the 1980s as its old-growth forest was severely logged in Oregon and Washington. Even though destruction of its habitat slowed dramatically after the owl was placed on the endangered species list in 1990, its numbers have continued to decrease by an average of 3% a year. A major problem is competition from barred owls, which have invaded its territories.” Apparently the Feds have gotten tired of picking winners and losers in the economy and are now picking winners and losers in the game of life itself.