Clean Coal Myth Shattered

Clean Coal Myth Shattered

by Jason Haber December 25, 2008

On Monday, more than 500 million gallons of toxic coal sludge burst through a retention wall in eastern Tennessee, causing massive property and environmental damage and leaving residents holding their breath over possible long-term consequences.

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US Becomes Largest Wind Power Producer in the World

by Jason Haber December 28, 2008

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The United States has overtaken Germany to become the largest producer of wind energy in the world, generating enough capacity to eliminate the burning of 91 million barrels of oil per year.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), US wind producers reports a third consecutive record year of growth in 2008. The country now has an installed wind power capacity well in excess of 21,000 megawatts (MW), enough to supply electricity to over 5.5 million American homes.

According to Randall Swisher, AWEA Executive Director, “Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy.”

This is good for the US economy in several ways.  First, it means a reduction of our need for foreign oil.  Second, the wind industry is one of the few sectors of our economy where jobs are being gained not lost. Wind power continued to provide a critically important stimulus to the faltering U.S. economy this year.  In the midst of the economic meltdown, the wind industry remained a bright spot as at least 50 new, expanded or announced wind-related manufacturing facilities were noted all across the nation.  Between the first quarter and third quarter of 2008, this expansion created 9,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone.  Also, in 2008, the wind industry invested more than $15 billion in domestic wind farm construction, which added thousands more domestic employees in construction and operations.

Now imagine if we had an entire large-scale green economy - creating jobs, revenue, and helping to make America safer and stronger.  Its not a bad concept and its time we adopt this vision.

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Pakistan textbooks build hate culture against India

by Jason Haber December 27, 2008

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What are the roots of the terror attack by Pakistani members of LAT that took place in India last month? Sociologists who explore the roots of hate, often mention the socialization of youth as an early harbinger of things to come.

The Times of India reports, “One factor that has played a crucial role in creating this culture of hate is the educational policy of the government of Pakistan pursued since 1977. The officially prescribed textbooks, especially for school students, are full of references that promote hate against India in general, and Hindus in particular.”

In militant regimes it is common to find references to the leader within textbooks. School children in Saddam’s Iraq were required to sing songs which praised the dictator. Textbooks were filled with stories glorifying him and demeaning to the enemies of Iraq. But isn’t Pakistan a democracy? Or at least, sorta a democracy?

Leading Pakistani educationist Tariq Rahman wrote, “It is a fact that the textbooks cannot mention Hindus without calling them cunning, scheming, deceptive or something equally insulting. Students are taught and made to believe that Pakistan needs strong and aggressive policies against India or else Pakistan will be annihilated by it.”

Yes, this is a problem.

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