Energy

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – President Obama cut short his India trip to head off to Riyadh in the wake of the death last Thursday of King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia. Some 30 members of the Washington elite came along, of both parties, including Sen. John McCain and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. This love […]

Bangladesh

Women Empowered by Solar Energy in Bangladesh

contributors

World Bank | — “Bangladesh has become the world’s fastest growing market for solar home systems, thanks in part to IDA – the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Solar energy is not only replacing expensive fuels, it also has become a tool of social change, empowering girls and women.” World Bank from 18 months […]

Barack Obama

Obama Win: Dem Senators Flip-Flop, Delay Iran Sanctions Bill

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari and Luke Johnson | (RFE/RL) WASHINGTON — A key U.S. senator says he and nine other senators are holding their support for a bill imposing new sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey), co-sponsor of a bill that would impose new sanctions on Iran if […]

Barack Obama

Obama, Modi and India’s Solar Future

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) In his visit to India, Barack Obama pressed unsuccessfully for India to set specific carbon limits. Nevertheless, he did get agreement from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the USA and India would pursue vigorously non-carbon energy sources, including nuclear and renewables such as solar. That was a better […]

Energy

Turns out Rightwing Hindu PM more reasonable on Climate Change than US Congress (Obama visits Modi)

contributors

NDTV | — “Six years after we signed a bilateral agreement we are moving towards commercial viability,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announcing an agreement on the nuclear liability issue after talks with US president Barack Obama.” Further quotes from Bloomberg: Modi: “When we think about the future generations and what kind of a world […]

Barack Obama

The Boehner-Obama Struggle over Iran Nuclear Talks has gone International

contributors

By Jasmin Ramsey | (WASHINGTON (IPS) – While it’s anyone’s guess whether a final deal will be reached over Iran’s nuclear programme this year, a number of key international actors have forcefully weighed in on calls from within the U.S. congress to impose more sanctions on the Islamic Republic. President Barack Obama reiterated his threat […]

Climate Change

Why Fracking & Tar Sands are Doomed: Low-Cost Oil and Pollution

contributors

Tom Giesen| (Informed Comment) — Here is a brief primer on the real implications of the decline of oil prices and environmental degradation on the unconventional petroleum industry (fracking, tar sands and deep-water drilling). Oil has been relatively inexpensive, energy intensive, portable, relatively safe, convertible to myriad uses – an incredibly useful substance, especially in […]

Climate Change

Climate-Denial Buffoon Inhofe takes Big $$ from Big Oil, Says Scientists Corrupt

contributors

ThinkProgress Video | — ThinkProgress: “Jim Inhofe (R-OK) Tells The Senate Why He Thinks Global Warming Is A Hoax” [Added by Juan Cole]: The Center for Responsive Politics’ website Opensecrets.org details that Big Oil and fossil fuel companies play a major role in funding Inhofe’s political campaigns: Senator James M. Inhofe has reported a total […]

Climate Change

Solar-powered plane to set off from Abu Dhabi for global flight

contributors

BBC News | — “The plans have been set for the solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse 2, to take off from Abu Dhabi and then fly around the globe using only the sun’s energy. With a wingspan of 72m (236ft), Solar Impulse 2 is the width of a Boeing 747, but weighs about the same as […]