Energy

1. High pressure steam injection as a technique of getting oil out of the ground has gone very wrong in Canada: Canadian First Nations protest massive Alberta oil spill (CBC): 2. A leaking pipeline in Thailand is the 4th worst oil spill in that nations history. ITN reports: “The oil spill from a leaked pipeline […]

Africa

Kenya turns to Geothermal Green Energy (Video)

Juan Cole

Kenya is blessed with a great deal of hydroelectric power, but its electricity needs outstrip that source’s ability to supply them, a problem that will only grow worse in coming years. One green energy source to which Kenya is turning is geothermal. Because of the Rift Valley, East Africa has enormous geothermal potential. VOAnews reports: […]

Energy

Bye, Bye Florida: Scientists find the last time it was this hot, Seas rose 65 feet

Juan Cole

A study published in Nature Geoscience by researchers, from Imperial College London and their academic partners shows that 5-3 million years ago in the Pliocene, the last time it was as hot as it is going to be in this century, antarctic ice shelf melting caused a sea level rise of as much as 20 […]

Energy

First, Close all the Coal Plants: MIT Study Shows they Shorten Lives

Juan Cole

“Data from China show that large amounts of coal emissions shorten lives”: The MIT Energy Intiative reports: ” A high level of air pollution, in the form of particulates produced by burning coal, significantly shortens the lives of people exposed to it, according to a unique new study of China co-authored by an MIT economist. […]

Energy

Guna People of Panama’s islands Flee rising Seas

Juan Cole

The indigenous community of the Guna (Kuna) live on islands off Panama and along a narrow strip of its coast, in the province of Guna Yala (Kuna Yala). But global warming and sea level rise are threatening their lives on those islands, and those of Carti Sugdup (Gardi Sugdup) have decided that they have to […]

Energy

Pussy Riot Protests Russian Oil Oligarchs and Putin

Juan Cole

The Russian Punk Rock band “Pussy Riot” has released a new video, Rolling Stone reports, entitled “Like a Red Prison,” in which they attack Russia’s oil magnates and their ties to President Vladimir Putin. The song likens Putin to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because of his favoritism toward the Russian Orthodox Church, and complains that […]

Africa

Kenya: Solar Power on a Pay as you Go Plan gives Light, rechargers to Villagers

Juan Cole

“Small solar home systems bring good quality light and phone-charging to off-grid households and save them money. Yet their upfront costs render them out of reach for the people who would benefit most from them. UK-based startup Azuri has developed a pay-as-you-go interface which allows households [in Kenya and East Africa] to pay for solar […]

Energy

Tiny Cape Verde’s Push to be a World Leader in Wind Energy

Juan Cole

Finnfund explains: “The windswept islands of Cape Verde lie off West Africa, some 500 km from Senegal. They are the site of Africa’s largest wind power project, which started up in autumn 2011. Generating equipment on four of the islands will produce a greater proportion of electricity from wind than anywhere else in the world…” […]

Energy

And you Want to transport More Oil across America by rail, pipelines? Canadian Town destroyed by Railroad Oil Cars

Juan Cole

Train cars carrying petroleum became unmoored and rolled seven miles before jacknifing and exploding, inflicting heavy damage on the town of Lac Megantic in Quebec. At least 5 are dead, 40 are missing, and over a thousand were evacuated because of toxic fumes and the outbreak of fires. CBS News reports: Industrial accidents involving petroleum […]