Salem-News.com Environment articles

Morality and Law

Legislative law is nothing unless it is based on true law.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - In life and in business compliance with the law is an important part of one's decision making process. The relationship between law, morality, and individual action essentially defines how society functions. Law and morality are not the same.

If moral and legislative laws are two different things, then the possibility arises that they can be in conflict. If the moral and the legislative law come into conflict, then you are faced with a choice of which to follow.

Descartes` Disaster

All Science and no Spirit makes life sterile, meaningless and pathological. It's long past the time for Mankind to reclaim the essence of his humanity.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Have you ever looked back on your life and thought how much different, better perhaps, it would be today if you had done A instead of B, or B instead of A? Can humankind do the equivalent? We can’t redo, but we can undo.

Before you can solve a problem, you must first understand it. When we look at the evolution of the human race, at the history of violence, warfare, and man's inhumanity to man, there seems to be no pattern or a single thing onto which we can place our focus.

Downside of Alexander/Webb Nuclear Bailout Plan

Market Refusal to Finance New Reactors Reflects Unacceptable Financial Risks That Should Not be Ignored by Lawmakers; Taxpayers and Ratepayers Beware: Loan Guarantees and Other Subsidies Will Not Turn ‘Uneconomic’ Reactors Into Sound Investments.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - If Congress and the states do not follow the lead of Wall Street in declining to underwrite financially “risky and uneconomic” new nuclear reactors, the resulting taxpayer-backed loan guarantees and other subsidies could pave the way for the same kind of industry-wide meltdown that happened in the 1970s and 1980s.

That is according to a major new study by Dr. Mark Cooper, a senior fellow for economic analysis at the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School.

Alexander, Webb Introduce Clean Energy Legislation with Emphasis on Nuclear Energy

Senators say the Measure would create carbon-free energy sources in the U.S., invigorate economy, create jobs.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jim Webb (D-VA) today introduced “The Clean Energy Act of 2009,” a bipartisan bill to promote further investment and development of the nation’s clean energy technologies, including nuclear power and other resources.

The Alexander-Webb bill is designed to invigorate the economy, create jobs, and move the United States toward providing clean, carbon-free sources of energy.

Greenscam: Cap & Trade

A review of climate science, economics, and public policy: thoughts from EPA lawyers opposed to Cap & Trade proposals.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Climate change is a big issue for government at the State, Federal, and International levels.

Climate change is a difficult issue because there is broad disagreement as to whether or not it is real, what causes it, and who should pay for mitigating actions. The Oregon Senate, in SB 80, proposed implementing a Cap & Trade program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Oregon. The Federal government is currently considering similar legislation.

Rep Thatcher Announces Core Functions Legislation for 2010

The Core Functions of Government measure will be Representative Thatcher’s priority bill.

(SALEM, Ore.) - With the special legislative session just around the corner, today State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul), announced she is drafting legislation to prioritize funding for Core Functions of State Government.

“Our current system of budgeting isn’t working,” explained Thatcher at the monthly meeting of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon.

The Canadian Comparison: Part 1

There’s an old joke: The definition of a Canadian is an unarmed American with health care.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Over the past few months I have been asked about Canada—about atheism, health care and gun control in particular. None of these issues can be addressed in isolation, so a comparison benchmark is required.

Americans, as the primary readers, understand America best, so America becomes the benchmark.

Visit From the Ghosts of Marine Corps Birthdays Past (VIDEO)

Stories from an inescapable lifetime connection to the Marines, a message from beyond, and several Marine related videos, happy 234th birthday Marine Corps!

(SALEM, Ore.) - As the U.S. Marine Corps observes and celebrates the day it was founded, in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 10th 1775, I can't help but reflect on what a hard road it has been for the men and women who wear the eagle, globe and anchor for a living.

Currently embattled on numerous fronts, Marines fight the enemy in combat, then return to fight their own government for compensation. And that's not to mention the fact that the Marine Corps can eat its own for lunch.

Energy and Water: Check Your Water Footprints at the Door, Please

Whenever we waste energy, we waste water.

(NOVATO, Calif.) - Carbon gets all the press. But more and more scientists are starting to figure out that it takes so much water to create energy, and so much energy to move water, that whenever we talk about the carbon footprint of energy, we really should be talking about its water footprint as well.

Here's why: Except for wind and photovoltaic solar found on rooftops, most power plants big or small do one simple thing: They boil water. That's it.

Leading Patient Safety Group Takes Their Message of HMO Reform to the Airwaves

American Dawn is one of several outreach advocacy projects of The Managed Care Reform Council.

(LOS ANGELES) - Like no other time in our history, health care reform is a topic at the kitchen table, around the work place water cooler, and a part of the country’s dialogue.

The primary discussion appears to be focused on the costs of providing health care for all.