Echo

Lake politics: Stimulate America?

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Stimulus funds for wind turbines and materials for other clean energy projects should go to companies that manufacture them in the U.S., three Great Lakes senators say. Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-PA), along with Montana’s Jon Tester, introduced legislation to include a “buy American” provision on stimulus funds. The senators say more than three-fourths of $2 billion spent on wind-enery projects have gone to foreign companies. “Stimulating” American – rather than foreign companies – seems to be a sensible use of U.S. tax dollars.

Echo

Daily carp bomb: Is it carp season?

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Perhaps direct confrontation is the best way to repel an invasion. “He’s doing his part to control the invasion of Asian Carp at Leelanau State Park,” writes casglass on the Echo carp bomb flickr group. Want in on the carp bomb photoshop fun? Learn how to create your own.

Echo

Reporting with bias

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Washington Post columnist David Broder made an odd confession recently:

“If you want to be a stickler for journalistic ethics, I shouldn’t even be writing about the Great Lakes, because I have a huge bias – especially when it comes to Lake Michigan.”

Broder recalled youthful summer visits to a cabin on Lake Michigan and explained that for the past 50 years he has enjoyed another cabin on the lake’s Beaver Island. “Like everyone who comes under its spell, I love Lake Michigan,” he wrote. Broder felt a need to reveal that background before explaining his support of a new federal plan to clean up the Great Lakes. But is it an embarrassing impingement of journalistic purity to favor a clean environment? Environmental journalists are rightly cautious about getting painted green.

Echo

Lake politics: Legislation would send $3 billion to the Great Lakes

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A bipartisan group of Great Lakes congressmen introduced legislation Thursday to provide $650 million annually for the next five years for programs to restore the Great lakes. The more than $3 billion in federal money would fund programs to clean up toxic pollution, control invasive species and restore habitat.

Echo

Daily carp bomb: Think of the children

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Think we need to stop the Asian carp to preserve the beauty of the Great Lakes for future generations? Flickr member gbensinger indicates that the future generations aren’t scared. I’m pretty sure that fat slug up there is a common carp, which already sneaked into the lakes. But who’s to say that they won’t adapt to the arrival of their Asian kin by bulking up to hideous proportions? Probably scientists!

Echo

Great Lakes states’ toxic woes (and wins)

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Contaminated sites in the Great Lakes are all over the news this week.  And it’s a grab bag of good news/bad news. According to the Detroit News, there are more than 4,000 contaminated orphan sites in Michigan and hardly any money left to clean them up.  (Orphan sites are abandoned by industry and left to the tender mercies of state coffers.)

And then the newswires started buzzing with reports that the EPA has added 10 sites to its Superfund list.  Nearly half of those sites are in Great Lakes states. Next came the news that the EPA also made a list of eight sites to add to the National Priorities List.  Three more sites for the Great Lakes states. Check out EPA’s news release for a list of the superfund and priority sites. So while state money dwindles, we’ve got some federal money zooming our way.  Of course, how long it taes to see the cleanup in action is another matter entirely.

Echo

Carp bomb: We’re gonna need a bigger electric barrier

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Some Great Lakes biologists speculate that the Asian carp might not thrive in some of the lakes because zebra mussels and other invasive species have already trashed the lakes’ lower food web. Maybe there aren’t enough of the microscopic plants and animals the carp need to keep them happy. But as Flickr member outside perspectives reminds us, they’ll adapt. And this time, their prey is bipedal. Ready the pressurized air canisters!

Echo

Lake politics: Cap-and-trade to wait

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National climate change legislation that creates a market for carbon appears dead in the water. The Washington Post reports Sens. John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham plan to introduce legislation next month that would focus carbon controls on specific economic sectors, rather than on all businesses. Any climate legislations would be a tough sell in this economic (and political) climate. But could the bipartisan group attract enough votes to override a Republican filibuster in the Senate?

Echo

Making the transition from mystery meat to gardens: a safety issue?

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For almost a month now, I have been watching an interesting discussion unfold about school food safety occur on the ComFood Listserv, a discussion place for people interested in issues dealing with community, food and agriculture. And today, I feel I have to finally weigh into the conversation. The public procurement of local food has recently made its way through a variety of unique institutions. Hospitals, prisons, schools, and universities are now purchasing and using the food. They are supporting local farmers, reducing their food miles, and providing themselves with one more environmentally friendly marketing initiative.

Echo

Daily carp bomb: Economic recarpery

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Has Toyota’s sticky gas pedal debacle shaken your confidence in Asian cars? Why should we expect anything different from Asian carp? If we’re going to have carp, we better build them here, says Flickr member Michelle B4. Don’t forget to submit your own carp bomb. And check out the waves these bombs are making in the local press.