Climate Blogs Exposed: Big Three, The Lame-Duck & Clean Coal--12/5

I don't know about you, but I am tired of seeing the pictures of the Big Three CEOs online as they plea for Congress' help. But as Congress prepares to make its bailout decision, we've begun to hear calls for a green economy from the United Auto Workers. So no more "playing Russian roulette with the economy?" Lets hope! On Monday, December 8th, the United Auto Worker are caravanning to Washington, DC to tell Congress how they want to use the proposed bailout. It's Getting Hot in Here reports that among their demands:

Transform the Auto Industry. Congress needs to establish a national industrial policy that will direct, plan and finance the transformation of the auto industry’s existing capacity. We need to expand our efforts to produce fuel efficient automobiles and electric cars, and branch out into green energy technologies such as wind turbines, and mass transportation such as light rail and high speed trains.

You know a few weeks ago when I wrote a blog roundup focusing on all the successes we've had this year in terms of the historic election of Obama, the new Congress and the EPA's decision on the no more coal fired power plants? Well, the good news has come to an end thanks to the great lame-duck of 2008! New regulations (or deregulations) were approved this week by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Management and Budget work to open the door to cheaper mountaintop-removal mining in the Appalachians. EnviroWonk and Common Dreams report:

The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday approved a last-minute rule change by the Bush administration that will allow coal companies to bury streams under the rocks leftover from mining.

The 11th hour change before President George W. Bush leaves office would eliminate a tool that citizens groups have used in lawsuits to keep mining waste out of streams. Mining companies had been pushing for the change for years.

It also means that President-elect Barack Obama's administration will have to decide whether to try to restore and enforce the rule, a process that could take many months of new rulemaking.

Have you ever been confused about how climate change impacts citizens and communities not in your own backyard? Well, the Center for American Progress just released a soft launch of their new map project that has put "climate change consequences literally on the map." Climate Progress reports:

The map is a collective resource for scientists, reporters, and general audiences and has the potential to be a one-stop shop for the most up-to-date information.

On the other hand, it’s a pretty grim collection of how anthropogenic climate change is turning around to change more than just air molecules.

We've heard a lot about “clean coal” this year and although many citizen realize that coal is dirty and destroying the health and prosperity of environment as well as the citizenry, the coal industry is still trying to push the development of "clean coal." A new campaign called The Reality Coalition has just launched a cool new ad campaign to tackle the "clean coal" propaganda. Check out their website and follow the canary through the coal mine to learn more about the dirty coal industry. Solve Climate reports:

The coal industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to convince Americans that the future of energy is in an oxymoron called "clean coal." It was the dumbest thing coal executives ever did, because in the process they made it clear that "dirty coal" is no longer an acceptable energy source. They launched and executed a brilliant campaign against their own interests.

Now the coal industry is about to get finished off by the Reality Coalition. It's launching a campaign today to let everyone know that there actually is no such thing as "clean coal." It doesn't exist.

Check out this video on "clean coal"

Not sure what to give to your friends and family this holiday season? Well, think about giving green gifts! 1Sky is just about to launch a series of green E-cards, so be SURE to check them out, but other ideas the Huffington Post writes:

The holidays can be a tricky time to go green. Green and red, perhaps, but environmentally conscious, not so much. Assuming you've got the food part covered - organic this, local that, you know the drill - the main challenge that remains is really the gifts. Copious gift-giving can seem inherently detrimental to the environment, as nary a gift is carbon-free. Luckily, there's no need to abstain completely as there are plenty of low-impact options that your friends and family will surely enjoy.

What did we forget? Let us know in the comments section below! Stay warm and sane with all the coming Holiday Parties!