Rolling back reform – the Republican war on the environment

As part of their anti-environment agenda, the new Republican house has done a lot of wacky things from leading a witch hunt against climate scientists, to adding tons of riders to the new budget eliminating environmental protections. In a move reminiscent of the symbolic Freedom Fries maneuver, the Republican party has engaged in more cafeteria politicking, and has removed the biodegradable utensils and cups and returned to the plastic-ware of old. Choicest quote: “The new majority – plasticware is back.”

Luckily for normal people, there’s a new way to help the environment that can also make you money: Eco-ATMs are allowing people to exchange old electronics for cash. Bettering the planet will require innovation and forward thinking, not petroleum-based, landfill-clogging, old-fashioned styrofoam.

Bonus: States are also getting into the fun. Kentucky has declared itself an EPA sanctuary state, and Montana has proposed embracing global warming. Goodbye 20th century environmental recovery, hello 19th century destruction!

French Dance Party

via pbh2

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Ozma – Natalie Portman

In honor of Ms Portman’s recent Oscar win, here is Ozma’s 2000 recording of their song: “Natalie Portman”

Can’t stand to see her on the big screen, and know she’s not thinking of me.

Don’t Tread on Me Bro!

Why It’s Time To Act In Libya

The Article: Act. Now. The world must do more than watch the Libyan bloodletting. by Hussein Ibish in Foreign Policy.

The Text: The unfolding catastrophe in Libya has forced the world to once again grapple with the conundrum of international humanitarian intervention. However, recent efforts at intervention — notably the humiliating episode in Somalia and the terrible failure to act in Rwanda — have revealed both the risks of action and the costs of inaction.

Muammar al-Qaddafi’s bloodcurdling speech on Feb. 22 should force even skeptics of international intervention to think twice. In his defiant remarks, the Libyan dictator vowed to “cleanse Libya house by house” in order to stay in power. Qaddafi also insisted that he has not begun to crack down in earnest — despite sketchy reports that his effort to quell the protests has already left hundreds, possibly thousands, of unarmed people dead — and approvingly cited other uses of state security forces to quell unrest, such as the Chinese assault on Tiananmen Square and the U.S. actions in Waco and Fallujah.

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