Better Place’s 10 Words campaign invites regular, everyday people to share with the world – in 10 words or less – why they think we need to stop our oil addiction. The site turns your words into an animated graphic that others can see, and that you can post online.

Check them out, and make sure to come back and post your own!

Post from: EveryJoe

Make a Statement

You might ask yourself, why? Why hydrogen? Why now? A $600 Million increase in fuel costs might be one reason. We can’t look past the fact that they are testing new vehicles out, either. It may be a sham to appease the public for now, but what they learn may make a real difference.

Of course, ask them and they say they’ve been testing alternatives since the battery-run cars of the early 20th Century. They’ll also say they have 43,000 autos “capable” of using alternative fuels. Capable, shmapable. I hope they figure out a plan to switch to different trucks, because using nearly $2 Billion in fuel results in a heck of a lot of pollution.

Source: U.S. Postal Service

Post from: EveryJoe

US Post Office Gives Hydrogen a Try

George W Bush lifted the Executive ban today (that his father put in place) against drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf. Now, he says, the only thing standing in our way is Congress.

Yeh right.

Drilling there today is not going to relieve today’s prices … not for a good long while. It might, however, hurt the economy of places along the OCS as well as damage the ocean life there. Not to mention other potential problems.

One thing is for certain. Lifting the Executive ban in itself changes nothing. Congress will have to vote on it as well. Hopefully our representatives will act sensibly. Now would be a wonderful time to write and let them know how you feel.

Source: Swamp Politics

Post from: EveryJoe

President Bush Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling

Somehow I missed GM’s ventures into solar energy, but they also have two of the largest solar rooftop systems in the U.S. — at plants in Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana, CA.

The systems are developed by Energy Conversion Devices, and are made of UNI-SOLAR, a thin film laminate product. Spectacular. :)

UNI-SOLAR products are available for commercial or residential installation, and are available through the following retailers.

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall
[Image: Uni-solar]

Post from: EveryJoe

GM … Leader in Solar Power?

Experts aren’t pointing to increased use anywhere in the globe to explain the trend, but say responsibility may lay at the feet of investors. Say the peeps at NATSO:

“markets have attracted a new breed of speculator-non-commercial traders, such as Wall Street investment firms, pension funds, and others who have no involvement with the commodities they are buying and selling and who never intend to take delivery of a barrel of oil. These non-commercial speculators, called “paper traders,” now account for two-thirds of all crude oil trading, double the number active in the markets since the year 2000.”

Are speculators the new whipping boy? I’ve been hearing a lot lately about this jerk selling this, and that jerk selling that. Congress is calling for laws limiting their involvement in the market, and certain experts are calling for il-legalizing the practice entirely. As far as it relates to crude oil, that is. Black gold. Texas tea.

In any event, I’m glad people are finding ways to use so much less. Gasoline dependency down 3% (at a time when it usually goes up!) Diesel is down by almost 6%. Impressive, America. Keep up the good work!

Source: NATSO, National Association of Truckstop Operators

*** Last day to enter to win ***

Post from: EveryJoe

Gas/Diesel Usage Drops

Dear Hilary,

Please send this to your IA Represenative and tell them what you think.

This is an excellent 3 minute video on what can be done with energy NOW.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UOpcPfAarjY

Use this link to find your United States congress idiot.
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Tell them you WANT ALL bans on exploration LIFTED NOW.  On oil, gas and methane hydrates.

You want Nuclear Energy as good as the French, Japan and the US Navy have done

Tell them you want EVERY form of energy that is made DIRECTLY from solar energy to be TAX FREE.
Tell them you want EVERY form of energy that contains at least 25% diatomic Hydrogen to be TAX FREE.
(note: you suckers in the EU that pay $10 for petro with $7 of that in taxes should do the same thing, hell we threw the britts out over a tax on tea 200 years ago, and you pay $7 tax on fuel?)

Do today what you can do to make things better today. Then do today what you can to make things better tomorrow.

We need ALL of the oil we can get…and there is PLENTY.  Why? Because we WILL be on a Solar Hydrogen economy an then Oil, Coal and Natural gas will be used as a source of carbon to make carbon fibers that make buildings, bridges, wire, insulation, shirts, instruments, car bodies…

Our children will live in a world made of carbon the same way we live in a world made from concrete and steel.

There is NO such thing as ‘PEAK Oil’, but ‘PEAK Stupidity’ is rampent !!

This message brought to you by United States Hydrogen at www.USH2.com
“I sell here what all the world Desires: POWER !”

Thank you,
Steven Harris
CEO USH2.com
KnowledgePublications.com

Normally I think Steven is a spot on kind of guy, but I couldn’t disagree more with his ideas for drilling oil in protected areas. Once we drill for oil, what’s next?

Maybe it’s because I grew up near the largest gypsum deposits in the world and I remember stories of parking lots caving in, and watched as woods we’d played Capture the Flag in (Yes, they had it before Video Games lol) sunk away into the dirt. I know first hand that sucking the life out of the land is not the best course of action.

Reduce dependence. Reduce Price. That has got to be our objective, not Get as Much as we Can While Our Generations are Alive. Pffft. I do not believe that given all the oil we can handle that we won’t just use it up.

But maybe I’m being too negative … what do the rest of you think about it?

Post from: EveryJoe

Drilling today for a solar tomorrow?

Hybridfest 2008
Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin

You’ll be able to catch plug-ins, electrics, biodiesel, hydrogen and other alternative autos, as well as listen to the experts speak on how to save gas with everyday vehicles. Then there’s the Hybridfest MPG Challenge where drivers do their best to stretch their mileage.

Speakers include:
Felix Kramer, Cal-Cars
Mike Granoff, Project Better Place
Jo-Ann Yantzis, Clean Energy
Francis Vogel, Wisconsin Clean Cities
Wayne Gerdes, CleanMPG
Peter Kozan, MPG Challenge Winner
Michael Sefton, Diesels 101

Hybridfest 2008 is presented as part of Dane County Fair. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 11, parking and admission for younger children is free. Visit the Hybridfest website for more information.

* Don’t forget to comment to win a free Rand McNally road atlas … now Earth-Friendlier!*

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybridfest 2008 – Madison, Wisc.

* Don’t forget to comment to win — a free earth-friendlier road atlas from Rand McNally * 

Post from: EveryJoe

Creep Factor Reaches 11

Way back in April of 2007 – now more than a year ago – the American Chemical Society’s online journal published the results of a study done by Standford atmospheric scientist, Mark Z. Jacobson. You can read the paper here (PDF).

The San Francisco Chronicle did a wonderful job of summing up the results, and checking them out with other scientists who supported his methods:

Pollution from ethanol would be riskier than pollution from gasoline because when ethanol breaks down in the atmosphere, it generates considerably more ozone. Ozone is a highly corrosive gas that damages the delicate tissues of the lungs. In fact, it’s so corrosive that it can crack rubber and wear away statues, Jacobson told The Chronicle.

While he was attacked by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights for working with a university that accepts funding from ExxonMobile, the results of his other studies show no bias toward oil companies, and even his critics said his study was sound.

As of yet, I haven’t found any studies that were able to refute Jacobson’s methods or his results.

This is a good example of an interest group using environmental issues to further their own agendas, and the problems that they cause. While many scientists are calling ethanol a “transitional” fuel, my fear is we may wait too long to accept the risks of this alternative.

In addition, especially because we live in the Midwest and near a VeraSun plant – where my nieces’ father works – are the harmful emissions that stay near the production areas. My 34 year old (former) BIL had a heart attack last year. He’s a little overweight and heart problems run in his family, but still – so young for something like that. I’m wondering now how much of a factor these toxins had on his health problems. How will effect those of us living nearby? It’s an important question we all need to start asking.

Please remember, now through July 4th, you can comment to win a free Rand McNally atlas, made from trees grown in sustainable forests and incorporating less harmful chemicals. (Especially important when carried in the glove compartment during a summer trip!) Or you can grab one at their website. ;)

Source: SF Chronicle, CleanTech

Post from: EveryJoe

Year-old study: Ethanol emissions worse than gas

The 65-page report released by the National Labor Committee dishes out such allegations as taking passports of guest workers, forcing them to live  in cramped, over-priced company-owned apartments, working them 16 hr days, 7 days a week for less than half the minimum wage and no overtime pay … and deporting people who complained.

While much of the supposed abuse is committed by support companies, Toyota is under fire for hiring temp workers they pay less and refuse benefits, then putting them on the longest shifts and in the most dangerous working conditions. Regular employees are forced to work “volunteer” overtime (read: unpaid) … courts have ruled that Toyota has worked several employees “to death.”

Toyota is also coming under fire for the arms of their business operating in other countries. In the Philippines, the report claims once given the legal right to form a union, Toyota fired over 200 people who’d taken union positions and suspended over 60 employees who’d attended the meetings. The government has been unable to force the company to comply with workers’ rights. In Japan, the unions – according to employees interviewed by the NLC – exist solely to protect the company’s interests.

It does appear Toyota willfully and purposefully robs workers of their human rights, but you should read and decide for yourself.

Toyota is also linked to business in Burma, something it declared it would not be involved in way back in 2001. You can read more details on that situation – and Toyota’s response to the claims – at Trillium Asset Management.

How will this information affect the company? If it’s true, and if Toyota refuses to treat their workers with the respect they deserve, I believe it could be devastating for the company. Would you buy today, knowing about these things?

More will come on this topic, I’m sure.

Source: NLCNET.ORG
[Image: Newscom]

Post from: EveryJoe

Toyota’s Human Rights Violations