#Carbon Neutral Program | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

incorrectbatfam · 7 months

Note

Batfam as made-up facts

Dick: The biggest biohazard in public swimming pools isn't the kid that peed in it, but rather the body oil from all the swimmers accumulating over time. Not only is oil not neutralized by pool chemicals such as chlorine, but it also floats to the surface and is the first thing you make contact with when you jump in the water. This is why a lot of public pools ask people to shower beforehand.

Jason: Making new memories is simply the process of our brains creating and reinforcing new neural connections. Traumatic or impactful events see denser myelination in the hippocampus (brain's memory center) and it's theorized that when we die and our "life flashes before our eyes," there's more activity in those denser regions leading to more vivid images of those moments.

Tim: Klondike's Equation is one of the lesser-known unsolved mysteries in math. It's a branch of calculus that takes Olivar's Laws of four-dimensional derivatives and creates a paradoxal equation by which the right half of it cannot be fully written if the left half is unsolved, but the left half needs values from the right in order to be computed.

Damian: The oldest interactive/roleplaying game dates back to the ancient Sumerians, according to records. It consisted of a theater of clay puppets that the audience would chime in with how they should act. It was often performed at bars or taverns during holidays with stories themed around mythical deities or fables.

Duke: In 1982, Bill Watterson brought to Archie Comics a standalone concept of a child hero and a sentient animal companion. However, he was rejected in favor of the up-and-coming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story. After shopping around at companies and getting lots of rejections, Watterson finally found his big break with Andrews McMeel Publishing, cementing his place in comic history with the cult classic Calvin and Hobbes.

Cullen: The smallest readable book ever made is 12 nanometers long by 8 nanometers wide. It was engineered by four particle physics grad students at the University of Vienna and contains the first passage of the Bible across six microscopic pages.

Stephanie: Most aerosol cans use both oxygen and carbon dioxide as the aerosolizing agent, which is why you're told never to spray them near an open flame. However, for food (like whipped cream or spray cheese), nitrogen is used instead. This is to prevent perishable food from oxidizing and for preservation as nitrogen helps maintain a cooler inner temperature.

Cassandra: The most plausible explanation for the legendary chupacabra was proposed by a team of anthropologists in Oaxaca. Essentially, it combines the theories of mass hysteria with the existence of a similar creature that went extinct in early Mesoamerican history. As accounts of this now-extinct creature was passed down, the image of it was slowly distorted. The modern chupacabra legend likely arose in a period of mass hysteria during political and economical insecurity.

Barbara: Traditional computer programs can be broken down into a series of if-then commands by which a condition is given and the program must respond according to the parameters. However, machine learning algorithms use an expanded version of this, known colloquially as if-then-but-because-however. The "if-then" stipulates the parameters, the "but" is for modifiers, the "because" is for generating explanations (usually pulled from a database of other works unfortunately), and the "however" is for exceptions that may rise over the course of running the program.

Harper: Ambidextrous people actually struggle the most when it comes to the drums. Most drum setups and tabs (sheet music) are designed with right-handedness as a default. Left-handed people can simply flip it around it for themselves. However, ambidextrous players have been found to struggle with the asymmetry of the instrument. That's why, among professional rock drummers, only 6% are ambidextrous compared to the 18% of lefties and 76% of righties.

Carrie: Although it feels like our lungs are burning after holding our breath for a while, the sensation actually originates from our inflated diaphragm pressing against our lungs. Since there are more nerve endings around our lungs than our diaphragm, we interpret the feeling higher than where it actually occurs.

Kate: During the war of 1812, a group of nine Canadian men known as the False Damsels donned women's attire to act as spies against the Americans. Of the nine, four of them reportedly continued crossdressing after the war and one of them started going by Margaret a few months later and remained unmarried for 20 years until they moved to Portugal with an unknown courter.

Alfred: In 1757, the British government attempted to train livestock, such as cows and chickens, to spy on domestic threats (such as anti-monarchists). However, this project never took off due to a regional outbreak of avian flu combined with the takeoff of the Industrial Revolution and new inventions that rendered animal labor obsolete.

Selina: Coffees and wines contain a bitter compound called tannins, and the ability to taste them is genetically determined. Capsaicin can be seen analogously. Some people inherit a gene that allows them to detect capsaicin fully, so when they eat a pepper, all they get is the heat and little to no flavor. Conversely, others have a gene where the heat is "muted" and they can better distinguish the flavors between two spicy foods.

Bruce: There is a correlation between one's taste in food and expectation of others. According to a 2019 Harvard study, people who reported preferring more simultaneous flavors in their food were 26% harsher in an activity where they had to grade students' mock essays.

382 notes · View notes

batboyblog · 3 months

Note

Hello! I just wanted to let you know that I recently discovered your weekly updates on stuff President Biden has done and they are so amazing! Your posts have definitely given me back some hope and it’s wonderful to see everything laid out like that! I just wanted to say thank you for posting them. Also, while I followed you for the politics, I have to say that you have really great taste in the superhero posts! I’m loving all the art and fan art! Anyway, I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

well thank you for saying so!

uh yeah in real life I'm a very political person and Tumblr was my space to indulge other interests, but sadly it seems like its really important to spread information to count a real sea of misinformation about President Biden thats been going on for most of his Presidency at this point.

I feel like just pointing out what he does every week for Americans is a good way to do spread positivity.

one narrative that is really dragging him down is the idea that he "doesn't do anything" Biden and the Dems passed 3 of the biggest laws I've seen, the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

and like part of the way Biden gets the biggest climate bill in American (and world) history through Congress is he doesn't call it "The Green New Deal" he calls it something boring like "Inflation Reduction Act" but we got a Green New Deal, it happened, we're on track to carbon neutral by the end of the decade, and I find learning about the pieces of that the Investments that are gonna add up so cool and so hopeful, like getting a Alaska native tribe a new dam so they can have clear hydropower rather than use diesel generators, SO! cool.

and another thing about Biden is he's been around so long he understands how the government works really better than any one. Student Debt is such a great example, most Presidents they get shut down by the Supreme Court they go "well I tried" and give up. Biden hasn't given up since the conservative court shut down his first effort at student loan forgiveness. He's take programs and authorities that got passed years ago and taken them as far as they can go, got debt forgiveness to 4 million people, so far and he's not stopping, it might take more time but he's gonna get there and only he really knows all the places to look to get the authority to do something like this because he has so much experience.

any ways I'm just trying to live by Harvey Milk's words "I know you can not live on hope alone, but without it life is not worth living, so you gotta give 'em hope."

#Joe Biden #Thanks Biden #Hope #election 2024

60 notes · View notes

positivexcellence · 1 month

Text

towwn: ready to *spring* into action this earth month? sustainable fitness gear not only boosts personal health goals, it’s way healthier for the planet. so step/jog/run away from the nylon, polyester, traditional cotton + virgin synthetics, and get with the eco-program with these earth-friendly workout brands.

@losanoofficial these comfy clothes move from barre class to the couch + back. materials are bpa-free recycled or natural fabrics with a reduced co2 footprint.

@champion the legacy sports apparel brand’s new “eco future” collection features 100% certified organic cotton + recycled polyester, meeting gots + oeko-tex standards. sustainable initiatives include worker rights, water treatment + chemical safety.

@pearlizumiofficial/ this biking gear brand is committed to 98% eco-friendly materials and aims to eliminate single-use plastics and virgin forest fibers by 2025 + reduced emissions. promoting cycling as a means of transport, positive environmental change is part of their mission.

@mate_the_label/ stylish tees, gots-certified stretch leggings + more effortlessly cool gear are made in body-inclusive sizes using organic cotton, recycled polyester + linen and non-toxic dyes.

@pact all items are crafted with organic cotton + carbon neutral, recycled materials. tees, tanks, joggers + hoodies are all sustainability certified, while fair trade partnerships + ethical production includes the “give back box” program to encourage recycling of clothes and packaging.

@patagonia committed to both eco responsibility + animal welfare, patagonia promises goods are made safely, fairly & humanely while reducing emissions + conducting research on microplastics.

@wolven wolven combines sultry design with sustainability via recycled fabric + practices that combat ocean pollution + deforestation, as well as carbon-offsetting partnerships. eco-packaging emphasizes reusability, while a community-driven mission merges ethical style with activism for a greener planet.

@tentree made from sustainable cotton + recycled polyester, the bluesign-certified co. ensures ethical sourcing + thoughtful craftsmanship. plus, every purchase helps plant 10 trees to support reforestation.

#genevieve padalecki #towwn

7 notes · View notes

what-even-is-thiss · 2 years

Note

hey you can ignore this if you want to but i was wondering if i could ask you a question about nfts bc so far you’re the only person who has explained them in a way i understand and google isnt helping. i’ve seen a lot of people say their nfts are “carbon negative” and environmentally friendly. do you know what that means/how it works?

When people claim something is carbon neutral or carbon negative they usually mean that they are either running completely on renewables or that they are funding carbon capture or carbon reduction projects.

The problem with that is that those programs rarely reduce or capture emissions as much as they say they will.

For example, a lot of carbon emissions come from people cooking over open fires in countries where people can’t afford electric or gas stoves. So to offset your carbon footprint you might donate to a program that gives people efficient wood stoves that produce half as many emissions.

In practice though, these stove programs don’t really offset emissions because people start using the stove in addition to cooking over an open fire.

Or, you might pay to protect a forest that was already going to be protected by default without your funding. Functionally doing nothing to suck more carbon out of the air.

And there’s a lot of other things like that. People that claim their NFTs are carbon neutral are likely trying to work on renewable energy and/or donating a portion of their proceeds to carbon reduction and carbon capture stuff. In practice though, those are just usually marketing stunts.

And even if NFTs did manage to be actually carbon negative the environment of NFTs is still so incredibly toxic and rife with scams that just by existing they would still continue to be a parasite on society.

244 notes · View notes

spitblaze · 7 months

Text

Can someone please give me a halfway good argument about generative programs being inherently bad that isn't weird moralizing about what 'real art' is or yelling about carbon levels while not acknowledging any other computer-based sources of pollution besides crypto. Not one of you has mentioned how DALL-E in particular had a lot of funding poured in by Musk, Known Artist Hater. Nobody has brought up ChatGPT's significant contribution to the misinformation crisis and every search engine hopping right on with their own Misinformation Machines so they can make a few bucks. There's good reasons to not like these things but most of the arguments I see feel like after-the-fact justifications for knee-jerk discomfort rather than...actual reasons. To me, an artist or computer scientist making their own model and ethically sourcing their own dataset in order to produce certain results for the purpose of research or art or inspiration or whatever other non-commercial non-misinformation personal use is a morally neutral action and I have yet to see any real, good arguments to the contrary.

#spitblaze says things

10 notes · View notes

diabolus1exmachina · 2 years

Photo

Aston-Martin Vulcan

This is Aston Martin’s most intense and exhilarating creation ever, the 2016 Vulcan. Only 24 were built, this track-only Aston Martin, chassis number 15 of the 24 built, is one of the most exclusive automobiles in the world, capable of transporting extraordinarily fortunate souls into raptures of sound and fury unlike any other. Developed in partnership with Aston Martin Racing, the Vulcan’s 820 HP naturally aspirated engine is based on that of their GT3 racer, but enlarged to a full 7.0 liters and electronically managed by Cosworth ECU technology. The Inconel and titanium exhaust system’s best feature comes during downshifts, when the side pipes crackle and pop while emitting flashes of blue flames. The Vulcan engine can be set at three output levels, allowing the driver to experience increasing power as his skill level improves with track time. A lightweight torque tube encased in magnesium houses a carbon fibre driveshaft, which spins an Xtrac paddle-shifted 6-speed transaxle sequential gearbox. Sixth gear propels the Vulcan to a higher top speed than Aston Martin’s Le Mans GT3 racer, meaning well over 200 miles per hour.

Longtime Canadian partners Multimatic built the all carbon fibre tub using techniques learned from Aston Martin’s One77 program. It incorporates an integrated FIA-compliant all-steel roll-cage and a rear subframe designed to carry the transmission and rear suspension and handle the downforce generated by the rear wing. Speaking of downforce, the Vulcan generates more than it weighs at maximum speed – 3,002 pounds, to be exact, while maintaining stable aerodynamic balance front to rear under both acceleration and braking. The result is more predictable behaviour and more stable driver feedback, the better to become acquainted with the car’s fearsome grip, cornering power and agility.The Vulcan’s 4-way adjustable pushrod double wishbone suspension uses anti-dive geometry up front and anti-squat and anti-lift at the rear, with front and rear adjustable sway bars. Brembo 4-wheel Carbon Ceramic racing disc brakes are assisted by Bosch M4 motorsport driver-adjustable 11-position ABS. Michelin 305/30-19 front and 345/30-19 rear Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires are mounted on APP-Tech 10-spoke forged alloy center locking wheels finished in Satin Black and measuring 11.5-inches at the front and 12.5-inches at the rear.Passengers are secured in full carbon fibre Recaro racing seats that use Schroth 6-point racing harnesses and are Frontal Head Restraint System (FHR) Compatible (compliant to FIA specification 8862). The Vulcan also features an adjustable AP Racing Pedal box and a steering column adjustable for both reach and height. The bespoke carbon fibre steering wheel’s key function controls include the starter button, neutral, pit lane limiter, indicator, flash-to-pass, adjustable ABS and traction control, wipers and shift paddles. Driver inputs are supplied by a Cosworth Omega dash and Cosworth aliveDRIVE data acquisition system with in-car camera and USB data download port, ideal driver training tools that allow detailed analysis of laps over time or comparison to other drivers.

Aston Martin Design has outdone itself in shaping and detailing the Vulcan. Its prominent front splitter, rear diffuser and adjustable rear wing were all dictated by aerodynamics, but the shape is undeniably Aston Martin. The pronounced curves of the heated, anti-UV wraparound front and side screens dictated the use of IsoClima’s hard-coated Polycarbonate instead of glass, but it presents other benefits as well, being 50 percent lighter and 250 times stronger than glass and providing superior shatter resistance. Lighting is also extremely advanced. The LED headlights combine daytime running lights, directional indicators, main beam and side lights. Futuristic ‘Light Blade’ lamps introduced on the DP-100 Digital Concept Car are used at the rear along with an FIA-approved rain light positioned in the center of the diffuser. And for quicker pit stops, the Vulcan contains for on-board air jacks actuated by plugging an air hose into a fitting at the rear of the car.

#Aston-Martin Vulcan #Cosworth #One77

70 notes · View notes

spacetimewithstuartgary · 17 hours

Text

Astronomers detect rare neutral atomic-carbon absorbers with deep neural network

Recently, an international team led by Prof. GE Jian from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a search for rare weak signals in quasar spectral data released by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) program using deep learning neural networks. By introducing a new method to explore galaxy formation and evolution, the team showcased the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying rare weak signals in astronomical big data. This study was published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

"Neutral carbon absorbers" from cold gas with dust in the universe serve as crucial probes for studying galaxy formation and evolution. However, the signals of neutral carbon absorption lines are weak and extremely rare. Astronomers have struggled to detect these absorbers in massive quasar spectral datasets using conventional correlation methods. "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Prof. GE. In 2015, 66 neutral carbon absorbers were discovered in the spectra of tens of thousands of quasars released earlier by SDSS, which is the largest number of samples obtained.

In this study, Prof. GE's team designed and trained deep neural networks with a large number of simulated samples of neutral carbon absorption lines based on actual observations. By applying these well-trained neural networks to the SDSS-III data, the team discovered 107 extremely rare neutral carbon absorbers, doubling the number of the samples obtained in 2015, and detected more faint signals than before.

By stacking the spectra of numerous neutral carbon absorbers, the team significantly enhanced the ability to detect the abundance of various elements and directly measured metal loss in gas caused by dust. The results indicated that these early galaxies, containing neutral carbon absorber probes, have undergone rapid physical and chemical evolution when the universe was only about three billion years old (the current age of the universe is 13.8 billion). These galaxies were entering a state of evolution between the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Milky Way (MW), producing a substantial amount of metals, some of which bonded to form dust particles, leading to the observed effect of dust reddening.

This discovery independently corroborates recent findings by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which detected diamond-like carbon dust in the earliest stars in the universe, suggesting that some galaxies evolve much faster than previously expected, challenging existing models of galaxy formation and evolution.

Unlike the JWST, which conducts research through galaxy emission spectra, this study investigates early galaxies by observing the absorption spectra of quasars. Applying well-trained neural networks to find neutral carbon absorbers provides a new tool for future research on the early evolution of the universe and galaxies, complementing the JWST’s research methods.

"It is necessary to develop innovative AI algorithms that can quickly, accurately, and comprehensively explore rare and weak signals in massive astronomical data," said Prof. GE. The team aims to promote the method introduced in this study to image recognition by extracting multiple related structures to create artificial "multistructure" images for efficient training and detection of faint image signals.

IMAGE....The Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope on the ground has captured a vast amount of quasar spectra from the early universe. A trained AI deep neural network has, for the first time, discovered record-breaking, weak neutral carbon absorption line probes created by the cold medium of early galaxies within this quasar spectral data. Credit Image by YI Yuechen

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #astrophysics

2 notes · View notes

olivegaea · 1 year

Text

Carbon Neutrality Climate Action

Climate Action at Your Fingertips

Make sure your lifestyle is aligned with a livable place of climate in this earth.

Our ever growing portfolio of climate neutrality projects can not only match your budget and geographic requirements, but also help you meet specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

#Climate Change Action #Climate Neutrality Program #Climate Action #Carbon Offset Program #Olive Gaea

12 notes · View notes

granulesofsand · 1 month

Text

Steel

🗝️🏷️ RAMCOA metaphor

Okay, I have another idea for a survivor-positive synonym to ‘programmed system’.

More info below the poll

The process of making steak begins with mining. The iron ore will be added to a furnace with a fuel to heat it and a flux to help separate out the impurities. If the furnace can’t get hot enough, the molten metal may be hammered to remove the slag.

Image from Karthi Explains on YouTube

The pig iron is then melted again, and in order of intended carbon content, will be

smelted, hammered, reheated, and set in molds (for wrought iron);

smelted, alloyed, and set in sheets (for steel);

or melted and poured into molds (for cast iron).

Wrought iron is malleable and can be welded. Steel is stronger and can be tempered (reheated for strength). Cast iron has the lowest melting point and can be molded easier.

#only survivors get to voice discomfort with all terms applying to them #ramcoa #tw ramcoa #osddid #did osdd #traumagenic system #adaptive system #cdd system #polyfragmented system

4 notes · View notes

allthebrazilianpolitics · 6 months

Text

Microsoft dips toes into Brazil's voluntary carbon market

Tech giant Microsoft announced it has purchased 1.5 million carbon credits from a Brazilian startup, funding a project to reforest degraded parts of the Amazon rainforest.

The company did not disclose how much it paid in the transaction, but it is the company’s biggest foray so far into carbon credits anywhere in the world, forming part of its goal to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The Brazilian startup in question, Mombak, has pledged to plant more than 100 species of native trees in degraded portions of the Amazon in the northern state of Pará, covering a total area equivalent to five times the size of Manhattan.

The state of Pará is the biggest deforestation hotspot in Brazil’s so-called “Legal Amazon,” and has been since 2006. Governor Helder Barbalho is in Dubai for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) and is seeking to change his state’s image from deforestation villain to climate pioneer, announcing a public program for individually tracing cattle heads.

#brazil #brazilian politics #politics #environmentalism #microsoft #amazon rainforest #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt

3 notes · View notes

mariacallous · 9 months

Text

As much of the world endures a summer of record-breaking temperatures, Germany is stuck debating a very different kind of heat: the future of the radiator. A controversial law championed by the government would ban almost all new oil and gas heating systems starting next year. Homes and businesses would have to purchase appliances that meet strict environmental standards, such as heat pumps.

The Building Energy Act, known colloquially as just the “heating law,” has opened yet another rift in the tenuous three-party governing coalition led by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. While Scholz has thrown his support behind the measure, some of his key governing partners stonewalled its initial passage. Meanwhile, the conservative opposition and far right have taken advantage of the discord to boost their poll numbers.

All of this means that a reform rife with scientific jargon and technicalities has now become the latest lighting rod in Germany’s ongoing culture war. Exalted by environmentalists but despised by most other voters, the heating law demonstrates how the political feasibility of serious climate action can become bounded by surges in populist discontent. A reform that experts see as central to achieving Germany’s climate goals could also catapult the far right into power.

“One reason this policy is so controversial is that it’s part of this bigger switch, where climate policy is moving from distant power plants to people’s homes,” said Noah Gordon, the acting co-director of the Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “It doesn’t make such a difference to your daily life … where the electricity from the wall socket is coming from. But now we’re talking about people going into buildings to improve the insulation and rip out boilers. You get into all these very local politics.”

The law aims to phase out oil and gas heating systems in buildings throughout Germany. It is the brainchild of Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, a member of the environmentalist Greens who also serves as minister for economics and climate action. If Habeck’s legislation is passed, new heating systems in the country would be required to rely on at least 65 percent green energy sources starting Jan. 1, 2024, and municipalities would have to devise environmentally friendly heating master plans by 2028 at the latest. The law is modeled on existing policies that are commonplace in many Scandinavian countries.

While Germany has dramatically reduced its emissions from the electricity sector over the past decade, it has made little progress in the building sector, which continues to account for about 40 percent of the country’s carbon output, according to the German Energy Agency. The heating law aims to close this gap to keep Berlin on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2045.

But so far, the still-pending reform has done little besides put the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on track for major electoral gains. Since March, the party’s poll numbers have risen steadily, reaching a high of 22 percent on Aug. 31. The AfD has now overtaken each of the three parties that make up Scholz’s motley coalition in national surveys—and holds a steady lead in at least one state that is due to hold elections next year.

Analysts and pollsters see the politicking around the heating law as one of the main drivers of this trend. For Andrea Römmele, the dean of executive education at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, the proposed measure is just the latest evidence of the federal government’s dysfunction—proving that Scholz’s coalition “does not support one another.”

Two years ago, when Scholz cobbled together a government with the support of his own Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP)—the first coalition of its kind on a national level—the three groups agreed to the general contours of the heating law. But when Habeck introduced his first draft to the cabinet this spring, it became instant political dynamite.

The Greens lined up enthusiastically behind Habeck. The SPD was split, with Scholz endorsing the proposal while others in his party questioned its potential impact on consumers. And the FDP loudly dissented, calling the proposal too costly and preferring to let the market dictate technological innovation. The Greens and the FDP are fundamentally divided on the state’s role in confronting almost every major issue Germany faces today, and their constant bickering has stymied many of the coalition’s attempts to legislate. Nowhere is this more evident—and existential—than in climate policy.

“If we really want to tackle climate change, the state has to interfere more in what had been private issues because we have to change our behavior,” Römmele said.

But for many voters, a stronger state is not an alluring—or marketable—prospect. “The Greens have a sort of problem in German politics,” Gordon said. “They’re accused of being the party of bans.”

Germany’s right wing has seized upon this talking point to remarkable ends. The AfD has made Habeck public enemy No. 1 and promised to stop the vice chancellor’s “heating hammer.” On the floor of the German parliament, or Bundestag, the party’s co-leader has called to “replace Habeck, not heaters,” falsely implying that Scholz’s government intends to ban existing gas heating systems. Some members of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have issued similarly incendiary statements. One CDU politician claimed Habeck wanted to mobilize an “energy Stasi,” a reference to the notorious East German secret police.

Such remarks have been given a platform by right-wing outlets eager to propagate misinformation about Scholz’s left-leaning government. “Some of the tabloid press talked about how Habeck is coming for your gas-powered heater,” Gordon said, even though “[t]hat was never part of the plan.” The Stasi comment was immediately printed in fat, bold letters on the cover of the Bild tabloid, Germany’s most widely circulated newspaper, and the “heating hammer” has now become part of the publication’s standard lexicon.

“The Bild newspaper is very much running a campaign against the Greens,” Römmele said. She accused all outlets belonging to the conglomerate Axel Springer—which in 2021 acquired Politico—of being complicit. The company has a long history of smearing leftist activists and politicians, with sometimes fatal consequences.

In Gordon’s view, the tabloids are playing on “populist agitation” that the heating law is the work of “elite groups in Berlin that don’t know what it’s like to be worrying about how you’re going to pay for gas and petrol at the end of the month.” This sentiment is especially widespread in the states of the former East Germany, which are poorer than their Western counterparts and where the AfD is strong. As with many climate measures, Gordon stresses, the upfront costs of green technology can be expensive—but it pays dividends in the long run.

Scholz’s coalition seems to have registered some of these critiques. The Greens and the FDP fought publicly about the heating law for weeks before reaching a compromise that softened some provisions, “giving consumers and municipalities more time to figure this out,” Gordon said. For example, the latest draft of the law would allow buildings to continue to install fossil fuel heaters if they could feasibly be powered by green hydrogen once it is produced at scale. Consumer subsidies were also increased.

“Even though the current legislation is not as ambitious as what the Greens initially wanted, it’s still a necessary … step on the path toward cutting emissions from buildings,” Gordon added. A new report from a government watchdog warned that significantly reducing emissions from the building sector is dependent on passing the heating law—but even that might not be enough for Germany to achieve its climate goals.

Habeck had aimed to pass the heating law before the Bundestag’s summer break, but a CDU petition to Germany’s constitutional court stalled progress on the measure until the legislature convenes again on Sept. 4. The center-right party lamented the speed with which Habeck sought to move the heating law through parliament—claiming there was not enough time for proper debate—and the court agreed.

Both Gordon and Römmele have little doubt the measure will be approved swiftly once the Bundestag is back in session. Yet the political damage may have already been done. While October state elections in Bavaria and Hesse will probably see center-right incumbents opposed to the heating law prevail, “we will most likely have an extremely strong AfD” in three state elections in the former East Germany next year, Römmele said. “Perhaps the AfD will even manage to be the strongest party.”

The overwhelming majority of Germans remain fed up with Scholz’s coalition: The chancellor’s disapproval rating currently stands at 70 percent, and 64 percent of Germans want a new government, according to a survey published in August by polling institute INSA. The Greens in particular have suffered in recent months, and the party’s support base has shrunk to a five-year low. Habeck, who was once the most popular politician in Germany, is now reviled by many.

Although the opposition and media onslaught against the vice chancellor has been extreme, Habeck is the first to admit he made mistakes in their initial promulgation of the heating law. After Germans endured their first winter without Russian fossil fuels, most were tired of constantly discussing their heaters—a fatigue Habeck says he failed to take seriously. “Between the first months of this year and today, something happened in Germany, and I—or we—didn’t recognize it in time,” he told public broadcaster ARD in June.

Now, on the other end of summer, Gordon thinks the hot weather Germans experienced has the potential to be a boon for the home stretch of Habeck’s heat pump push. Most Germans don’t have air conditioning, but “a good thing about heat pumps is that some of them can be both heating and cooling,” Gordon said.

“Say you’re building a new house in Germany in 2025 and you want to live there for 20 years. It’s pretty likely that in the 2040s you’re going to want air conditioning,” Gordon said. “That could be another reason to get people to be like, ‘hold on, let’s think about the future. It’s not just that the cost of gas is going up and we need to stop burning it for climate reasons. It’s that the temperatures around the world are going up. And I want this technology that could also keep my place cool in August.’”

5 notes · View notes

positivexcellence · 1 year

Photo

towwn: basic tees will always be in style. unfortunately, they're also a top "fast fashion" offender (i.e. clothing made in mass quantities that negatively impacts our planet.) luckily, designers are working on sustainable solutions, producing tees using eco-friendly friendly fibers, responsible water and waste methods, + fair labor practices. check out our current favorite eco tees below. and, as always, shop second hand when possible. @mate_the_label in addition to making stylish tees from organic cotton, recycled polyester + linen, they use only non-toxic dyes, reducing water pollution + keeping people safe from toxic chemicals. @girlfriend using recycled plastic bottles to create the fabric for their soft, durable, and cozy t-shirts, g.c. reduces waste + minimizes enviro-impact. the brand also prioritizes ethical labor practices + fair wages. @alleyandrae organic cotton + recycled polyester (made from post-consumer plastic bottles) are the source materials for these fun slogan tees. a&r uses eco packaging like biodegradable mailers + recycled paper tags, + donates to green orgs. @alternativeapparel eco-minded materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, + low-impact dyes make a.a. shirts a sustainable option for men + women. carbon-neutral production, fair labor wages, and eco-packaging seal the deal. @poplinen seeking a sustainable t-shirt that’s cozy + enviro-friendly, but also want to support a small biz owned by a woman of color? look no further. these sweet tees are made of biodegradable + renewable fabrics. eco-packaging is an added bonus. @harvestandmill grown and sewn in the u.s., this cali brand is a favorite of eco-minded men and women because of its basic, yet chic tees which are vegan, non-toxic, + carbon neutral. @marcellanyc boasting a zero-waste production process, these edgy tees are low enviro-impact and high on fashion. we also applaud their carbon-neutral shipping + philanthropic efforts. @jungmaven this early industry leader has been making stylish hemp tees since the ‘90s. hemp requires less water + fewer pesticides than most cotton, plus the brand uses all-natural dyes, offers a recycling program, + supports enviro-minded orgs

#Genevieve Padalecki #towwn

15 notes · View notes

lingyunxiang · 8 months

Text

California State Senator Ben Allen represents the 24th Senate District, covering the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County. Ben was first elected in 2014 and is now serving his third and final term in the State Senate.

Ben chairs the Senate's Environmental Quality Committee and co-chairs the Legislature's Environmental Caucus, is a member of the Legislative Jewish Caucus, chairs the Legislature's Joint Committee on the Arts, and the Senate Select Committee on Aerospace and Defense. He previously served as Chair of the Education Committee (2017-2019) and Chair of the Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee (2015-2016).

Ben has thrown himself into the important work of state government, focusing on wise decision-making and pushing for reforms that address systemic inadequacies in our state. He has authored nearly 60 new laws in various areas, from environmental protection to electoral reform.

During his first two terms in the Senate, fighting the climate crisis and protecting our state's precious natural resources have been among Ben's top priorities. CalMatters recently recognized him as one of the Legislature's foremost leaders in the field of environmental protection. He authored SB 54, groundbreaking legislation to address plastic pollution, which Governor Newsom signed into law to international acclaim. The New York Times called SB 54 "the most sweeping restrictions on plastics in the nation" and suggested the legislation is "another route for curbing carbon emissions and trying to sidestep the worst consequences of global warming" after the Supreme Court gutted the federal government's power to regulate carbon emissions. As Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Ben worked with his colleagues to pass a powerful climate package requiring the state to become carbon-neutral by 2045 and produce 90% of its electricity from clean sources by 2035, among other measures. A member of the Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Conservancy, he has led a successful effort to phase out a dangerous carcinogen in firefighting foam, crafted a compromise to phase out destructive trawling gear, and brokered a major compromise that lessened the environmental impact of off-highway vehicle use at state facilities. "If only Congress could work out such compromises," wrote the Sacramento Bee editorial board about the bill.

Among his efforts to reform California campaign finance and elections laws, Ben authored the landmark Voter's Choice Act of 2016 to implement more flexibility in how and where to vote, creating the vote center model used in the 2020 elections, which resulted in significantly increased voter turnout. Ben also has been a leader for campaign transparency, and was a leader in passing the Disclose Act and Petition Disclose Act and other transparency measures that have dramatically improved the disclosure of donors to political causes for the public. The California Clean Money Campaign has routinely ranked him top in the Legislature for his commitment to clean money political reform.

An advocate for the Golden State's continued leadership in arts and entertainment, Ben is a member of the California Film Commission. He was part of a legislative effort to extend the Film & TV Tax Credit Program to further support and invest in California’s unrivaled film industry. Ben also authored the law that reinstated teaching credentials for theatre and dance educators, and he continues to fight for expanded access to the arts in schools and underserved communities. Ben has been a champion for science and was a joint author of the state's groundbreaking law that increased vaccination rates among school children.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Ben served as President of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, lecturer at UCLA Law School, and worked as an attorney at the law firms of Bryan Cave LLP and Richardson & Patel and at the nonprofit Spark Program. While at law school, Ben served as the voting student member of the University of California Board of Regents and was a summer judicial clerk with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Prior to law school, Ben worked in Washington DC for the Latin American team of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), and then as Communications Director for Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY).

Ben grew up in the 24th Senate District and attended public schools, graduating from Santa Monica High School in 1996. His father, Michael, spent his career on the English Department faculty at UCLA and mother, Elena, was a public school teacher and artist who served as Chair of the Santa Monica Arts Commission. Ben has a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in History from Harvard University; a Master's degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Cambridge; and a Juris Doctor degree from UC Berkeley. Fluent in Spanish, Ben is a Senior Fellow with the international human rights organization Humanity in Action, an Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellow, a Truman National Security Project Fellow, and a graduate of the Jewish Federation's New Leaders Project. He and his wife Melanie, an attorney, have a little son, Ezra.

3 notes · View notes