Month: November 2005

Chavez Helps America’s poor

- Adam Clare

VenezuelaMassachusetts officials have worked out a deal with Venezuela that will provide cheap oil for the state’s poor. Hugo Chavez previously offered cheaper oil to poor Americans and Massachusetts is the first state to work out an official program to accommodate Chavez’s offer. The oil is to be sold at 40% below the market rate, the oil is also to be used for heating (not gas for cars).

The Bush administration despises the democratically elected Hugo Chavez, but a Massachusetts congressman said that the cheap oil agreement is “an expression of humanitarianism at its very best”. Talks are currently underway to provide poor people in the Bronx with a similar deal.

Peace in Nepal May Come Sooner

- Adam Clare

Rebel fighters in Nepal say that they are willing to lay down their arms if the government respects their demands. The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist has been fighting the government for many years now (with civilians suffering from the violence) and it looked as if the fighting wouldn’t stop.

The demand that the Communists want is the ability to rejoin the political mainstream through official party status in the Nepal. They believe that, once combine, with the other political parties they can then overthrow the monarchy – the primary goal of the CPN-M.

Cheaper, Faster DNA ID process developed

- Benny Powers

Physorg.com is reporting that a New York technology start-up has developed a much cheaper and faster device to perform the PCR (polymerase chain reaction). PCR is a process used to amplify small bits of DNA so that it can be used for DNA fingerprinting and other important projects. The new device is able to cycle the temperature of the DNA much faster than traditional PCR, and this reduces the wait time for a successful amplification dramatically.

FEC advises bloggers have press exemption

- Benny Powers

The US Federal Election Commission has issued an advisory opinion stating that the blog network Fired Up! should qualify for the press exemption. This exemption allows the bloggers unfettered access to information regarding the federal election process in the US. Now that one group of bloggers are considered journalists, will the rest gain the same status as well?

Frog Power

- Cam Proctor 1 Comment

The frog from Bullfrog power, which I am quickly assured has no praticular relevance to renewable energy, has quite a lot to boast about nowadays becoming the first 100% green electricity retailer in Ontario. Electricity consumers, including 100 businesses and homeowners that have already switched, pay a higher rate of 8.3 cents per KWH (Ontario rates are 5.0 cents per KWH) on their electricity to ensure their electricity comes from EcoLogo Certified energy sources. Monies collected go towards fostering increased renewable energy development in Ontario such as small hydro, wind, landfill gas, biomass and solar, minimizing green house gas emmissions from coal fired generation.

Other parts of Canada and many other countries already have green power purchase programs in place. To name a short list: Scottland, France, Australia, British Columbia (Canada) and Europe. Programs such as Power to Change contributing to forest creation and stewardship to eliminate all green house gas emmissions resultant from human activites.

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