Category: Environmental

Increase in Enviro Disasters?

Are we just more aware of environmental danger and report on it more or is there a real increase in dangerous environmental events? Maybe both?

Recent examples:
Mysterious dead birds prompt downtown Austin shutdown
Gas-Like Odor Permeates Parts of New York City – News of this odor is updating as I blog this..

Increase in disasters linked to environmental damage
Posted: 24 Apr 2006

Climate change and environmental degradation may lie behind a sharp rise in the number of natural disasters, according to a new World Bank report.

The reported number of major disasters has increased from fewer than 100 in 1975 to more than 400 in 2005, according to Hazards of Nature, Risks to Development, just published by the World Bank. While the number of earthquakes has remained relatively stable, the number of disaster caused by severe weather has risen sharply.

Quoted text via People and Planet.

Watch Tom Jensen

Local Sierra Club and campaign organizer Tom Jensen has been named one of Seven who will matter in 2007 by the Raleigh News and Observer. Congratulations Tom!

Tom Jensen has worked on two dozen political campaigns. He writes weekly columns for a local newspaper. He helps edit a local political blog. He’s on Chapel Hill’s planning board.

And he is 23.

I’m a recent fan of Tom’s. I’ve been impressed as hell how he can run a serious campaign, handle a direct personal attack, write a ton, and have GREAT liberal Democrat politics. My sincere hope is that he sticks around Chapel Hill and runs for office. PLEASE TOM! Please run for Chapel Hill Town Council! We need young people with your talents and values. Help usher a new vision into our local political scene.

Fact is Tom is so talented that any local, state, or national Dem campaign would be lucky to hire him. So if he goes off and helps other progressive candidates get elected I won’t be too disappointed. 🙂

[Hat Tip to Sally Greene for blogging this.]