Global warming

By SETH BORENSTEIN, MATTHEW DALY and MICHAEL PHILLIS WASHINGTON (AP) — After decades of inaction in the face of escalating natural disasters and sustained global warming, Congress hopes to make clean energy so cheap in all aspects of life that it’s nearly irresistible. The House is poised to pass a transformative bill Friday that would provide the most spending to fight climate change by any one nation ever in a single push. Friday’s anticipated action comes 34 years after a top scientist grabbed headlines warning Congress about the dangers of global warming. In the decades since, there have been 308 weather disasters that have each cost the nation at least $1 billion, the record for the hottest year has been broken 10 times and wildfires have burned an area larger than Texas. The crux of the long-delayed bill, singularly pushed by Democrats in a closely divided Congress, is to use incentives to spur investors to accelerate the expansion of clean energy such as wind and solar … [Read more...] about Big climate bill: Major new spending to spur green energy

0 This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own. Neighbor News 2022 'PURSUE PEACE' CONVENTION UNITES 239 COUNTRIES IN MORE THAN 500 LANGUAGES Marlon Day , Neighbor Posted Reply Against the tragic backdrop of a historic conflict in Europe, Chicago residents unite with millions around the globe to promote the timely theme "Pursue Peace" as they participate in a six-part annual event scheduled for July and August 2022. "I have learned a lot at our yearly conventions on how to be a better person, a better husband and a better father," said José Azpeitia, whose family of five plans to attend each session during the summer. "Although we are in a such a complicated world, we want our family to live in peace. That's why the topic this year's assembly is so timely." Jehovah's Witnesses have been holding global conventions for more than 100 years, the last three years featuring virtual events … [Read more...] about Global Event Promotes Pursuit of Peace

Thursday, during an interview with FBN host Maria Bartiromo, Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) warned if China were to successfully gain control the waters around Taiwan, they would control the shipping routes for Japan, South Korea and partially Australia, which he estimated to be about 50% of the globe’s gross domestic product. “Well, number one, I’m glad [Pelosi] went,” Waltz said. “To not go, as the Biden White House was suggesting, would have been a devastating message to our allies and the Taiwanese — and to the Chinese military, that if we weren’t even willing to visit, what would that mean for our willingness to defend Taiwan and the thriving democracy that it is? Look, I think it’s important to point out why Taiwan matters so much and why it matters to U.S. national and economic security. The Taiwanese strait alone, Maria, has half the world’s shipping flowing through to East Asia and markets around the world, and 90 percent of the largest container vessels in the world flow … [Read more...] about GOP Rep. Waltz: If China Controls Waters Around Taiwan, They Control Shipping Routes for 50% of Global GDP

(CNN) In an attempt to slash the wide-ranging impacts of plastic pollution , California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the country's most sweeping restrictions on single-use plastics and packaging on Thursday, the same day the Supreme Court limited the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to tackle the worsening climate crisis. The law requires that single-use packaging and plastic single-use food serviceware be recyclable or compostable by 2032. It also requires by 2032 a 25% reduction in the sales of plastic packaging and for 65% of all single-use plastic packaging to be recycled. And it establishes an accountability group, which will include industry representatives, to run a new recycling program overseen by the state. "Our kids deserve a future free of plastic waste and all its dangerous impacts, everything from clogging our oceans to killing animals — contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat," Newsom, a Democrat, said in a … [Read more...] about Single-use plastic waste is getting phased out in California under a sweeping new law

NEW YORK (AP) — Gas prices are falling but still higher than they were a year ago. And inflation has made most everything else more expensive. If you're looking to save money on your commute, here are some tips: IF YOU HAVE A CAR: MAKE A DRIVING STRATEGY AAA recommends avoiding traffic and adjusting your normal route in order to avoid unnecessary driving. When possible, visit “one-stop shops” where you can run multiple errands in the same space and only use premium gas for cars that either recommend it or require it. “Paying for premium gas for a car that is regular is a waste of money and is of no benefit to the vehicle,” according to AAA. MODERATE YOUR SPEED Driving the speed limit can help you save money. Most vehicles reach optimal fuel economy at 50 mph. For every 5 mph you drive over that, it can cost an additional 30 cents per gallon, according to fueleconomy.org. For more tips to save on fuel, the U.S. government offers recommendations such as how to choose a … [Read more...] about Tips for saving on your commute amid high inflation

Illustration: Cold War Steve When Tesla looked like it might fail to launch its first mass-market sedan in 2018, a battle with enormous stakes — billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, the electrification of the global automotive industry — was fought principally online. On one side, skeptical investors and journalists with a compelling case that the company was doomed; on the other, an informal army of Tesla owners and Elon Musk devotees who rallied to his defense. Musk won, and he continues to derive enormous value from his social-media legions. While Ford spends $3 billion a year on marketing, Tesla spends zero, and it’s principally Musk who generates buzz for the brand via Twitter, where he is in direct, nearly constant contact with the fan base. Recently, New York asked two committed members of this cohort to discuss what compels them to support the cause. Kim Paquette , a flight attendant from Newport, Rhode Island, with 40,000 followers : At first it … [Read more...] about ‘I Don’t Talk to Any of My Normal Friends About This’