Field
Reports

News Roundup

Federal government approves world’s largest solar power plant. – latimes.com

March 14th, 2013

‘The Obama administration continued its push to ramp up renewable energy projects on public land, approving three new projects on Wednesday, including what would become the largest solar power plant in the world.’

via Federal government approves world’s largest solar power plant. – latimes.com.

BBC News – Deadly poison threat to tigers

March 12th, 2013

‘In what’s regarded as Thailand’s most important tiger sanctuary, wildlife rangers report mounting evidence of gangs setting traps with fresh meat, laced with poison, as bait.’

via BBC News – Deadly poison threat to tigers.

An Energy Coup for Japan – ‘Flammable Ice’ – NYTimes.com

March 12th, 2013

‘TOKYO — Japan said Tuesday that it had extracted gas from offshore deposits of methane hydrate — sometimes called “flammable ice” — a breakthrough that officials and experts said could be a step toward tapping a promising but still little-understood energy source.’

via An Energy Coup for Japan – ‘Flammable Ice’ – NYTimes.com.

Temperatures in last decade highest since end of last Ice Age – UPI.com

March 12th, 2013

‘The researchers say the decade 2000-2009 was one of the warmest since modern record-keeping began, and they forecast the planet will be warmer in 2100 than it has been at any time in those 11,300 years, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.’

via Temperatures in last decade highest since end of last Ice Age – UPI.com.

Vegetation types in northern hemisphere shifting with climate change – UPI.com

March 12th, 2013

‘GREENBELT, Md., March 11 (UPI) — Growing seasons in Earth’s northern latitudes are shifting and vegetation increasingly resembles lusher latitudes to the south, scientists say.’

via Vegetation types in northern hemisphere shifting with climate change – UPI.com.

On Japanese tsunami anniversary, recalling Fukushima effects on ocean – latimes.com

March 12th, 2013

‘Cesium levels in the ocean, still elevated, weren’t decreasing as quickly as had been hoped — suggesting that radiation was still being introduced into the Pacific, perhaps through leaks from the plant and from river and groundwater discharge from land, perhaps from the sea floor itself. Bottom-dwelling and freshwater fish still had elevated levels of contamination, too.’

via On Japanese tsunami anniversary, recalling Fukushima effects on ocean – latimes.com.

U.N. sees progress in boosting post-Fukushima nuclear safety – Yahoo! News

March 11th, 2013

‘VIENNA (Reuters) – Efforts to enhance global nuclear safety have advanced since Japan’s Fukushima disaster struck exactly two years ago on Monday, the U.N. atomic energy chief said, vowing to help make nuclear power as “safe as humanly possible”.’

via U.N. sees progress in boosting post-Fukushima nuclear safety – Yahoo! News.

Coastal panel rejects Navy’s plan to boost underwater blasts – latimes.com

March 10th, 2013

‘SAN DIEGO — Citing the danger to whales and other sea life, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously Friday to reject the Navy’s plan for increased use of sonar and underwater explosives for training off Southern California.’

via Coastal panel rejects Navy’s plan to boost underwater blasts – latimes.com.

In China, public anger over secrecy on environment – Yahoo! News

March 10th, 2013

‘BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – When China’s environment ministry told attorney Dong Zhengwei he couldn’t have access to two-year old data about soil pollution because it was a “state secret”, it added to mounting public outrage over the worsening environment.’

via In China, public anger over secrecy on environment – Yahoo! News.

Whole Foods to require labels on genetically modified products – latimes.com

March 10th, 2013

‘Although California voters didn’t back the labeling of products made with genetically modified ingredients, the practice will soon be mandatory at Whole Foods Market Inc.’

via Whole Foods to require labels on genetically modified products – latimes.com.