One widely-referenced study [2] (PDF) estimated that complying with regulations would cost the oil and gas industry more than $100,000 per gas well. But the figures are based on 10-year-old estimates and list expensive procedures that aren’t mentioned in the proposed regulations.

Another report [3] (PDF) concluded that state regulations for drilling, including fracturing, “are adequately designed to directly protect water.” But the report reveals that only four states require regulatory approval before hydraulic fracturing begins. It also outlines how requirements for encasing wells in cement — a practice the author has said is critical to containing hydraulic fracturing fluids and protecting water — varies from state to state.

One recommendation in that report flies in face of the industry’s assertion that its processes are safe: hydraulic fracturing needs more study and should be banned in certain cases near sensitive water supplies.  Click here to see full article.

That translates to $3,500 for every American family.

Obama’s plan, which aims to hold energy companies’ feet to the fire over global warming gases like carbon dioxide, is now being challenged by these same companies, who charge that the plan’s associated “energy taxes” (estimated to exceed $400 billion), will reduce investment in domestic oil and gas at a time when America is just beginning to develop these resources to free itself from dependence on foreign oil.

Oil company propaganda suggests that these energy taxes will mean not only less energy to heat homes, transport food, run factories and light schools, but will actually reduce local, state and federal revenues at a time when cities across America are struggling with deficits.

The Republicans, who have been supporting the oil barons since Reagan, cite a cost to every household of $3,128 if Obama’s plan prevails. The figures are close; it’s the slant that’s demented.

They call their plan the “Road to Recovery,” I call it BS.  Click here to see full article.

The formation flew backwards over a German city that was in flames. The bombers opened their bomb bay doors, exerted a miraculous magnetism which shrunk the fires, gathered them into cylindrical steel containers and lifted the containers into the bellies of the planes. The containers were stored neatly in racks. The Germans below had miraculous devices of their own, which were long steel tubes. They used them to suck more fragments from the crewmen and planes. But there were still a few wounded Americans, though, and some of the bombers were in bad repair. Over France, though, German fighters came up again, made everything and everybody as good as new.

When the bombers got back to their base, the steel cylinders were taken from the racks and shipped back to the United States of America, where factories were operating night and day, dismantling the cylinders, separating the dangerous contents into minerals. Touchingly, it was mainly women who did this work. The minerals were then shipped to specialists in remote areas. It was their business to put them into the ground., to hide them cleverly, so they would never hurt anybody ever again.

PeacePaint compiles important information about the Peace and Green movements and publishes eye-catching articles, slideshows and videos.

PeacePaint people are aggressive at guerrilla marketing non-violence and ecological logic through newsletters, viral videos and merchandising. We are generous, investing all of our resources in pro-social marketing.

PeacePaint is funded by Intelligent Design (ID) apparel, who makes fashionable, cause-driven t-shirts. PeacePaint affiliates make money by placing ID banners on their websites. When anyone from an affiliate website purchases anything from the ID store, ID pays 10% of the total sale directly to their affiliate.

About Time

Imagine a global economy offering fair opportunities to everyone and hope of a better future for all of our children. Efforts to attain that dream will do more to stop terrorism and avoid war than would any homeland security system or deadly weapon.

Click here to find out more.

He will end by destroying the earth.”  -Albert Schweitzer

#1: “Clean” Coal Increases Rates of Disease

The United States burns more than a billion tons of coal each year – that’s 20 pounds of coal for every person in the country, every day.

#2: “Clean” Coal Kills Jobs

Despite coal industry claims that coal mining creates lots of jobs, the truth is that coal mining employment has been declining for decades, due to increased use of machinery instead of manpower.

#3: Burning “Clean” Coal Emits Mercury

Coal-fired power plants are the  largest source of human-generated mercury pollution in the U.S. Mercury emissions from electrical generation continues to rise.

#4: Burning “Clean” Coal is Fuel for Global Warming

The U.S. produces about 25 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.

#5: “Clean” Coal Kills Miners

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 12,000 coal miners died from black lung disease between 1992 and 2002.

#6: “Clean” Coal Wastes Huge Quantities of Water

Coal mining requires an estimated 70 to 260 million gallons of water every day.

#7: “Clean” Coal Pollutes Seafood and Freshwater Fish

49 U.S. states have issued fish consumption advisories due to high mercury concentrations in freshwater bodies throughout the country.

#8: “Clean” Coal Destroys Mountains

Instead of traditional mining, many coal companies now use mountaintop removal to extract coal.

#9: “Clean” Coal Kills Freshwater Streams

More than 1,200 miles of Appalachian streams  have been buried or damaged by mountaintop removal mining.

#10: “Clean” Coal Costs Billions in Taxpayer Subsidies

The U.S. government continues to aggressively fund coal-related projects despite all that is known about coal’s impacts on health, climate and the economy.

The Department of Energy is currently seeking $648 million for “clean coal” projects in its 2009 budget request, “representing the largest budget request for coal RD&D in over 25 years.” Click here to see full article.

In response to the person who wrote (posted at the bottom of this email) [Issue 8 - May 21, 2009], I’d just like to say, when it comes to nudity, many people don’t get the difference between porn and art. As an artist and an activist for nonviolent peace for many years, I applaud your unique approach to spreading the message of peace. The artwork woven into a montage of wisdom quotations and relevant news is a refreshing approach to beating the drum for peace.

Where those who would cry “sexism” viewing your material, my simple response would be, by and large, it isn’t women in the world killing and raping and casting millions into refugee status. If this site catches the eye of the testosterone-driven soldier or terrorist, then mission accomplished. I personally believe that, if our culture could get over its pathetic hang-up concerning sex, and teach our children to appreciate beauty, as most other countries do, there would be far less violence in our country and our world. Bless you all for paving a beautiful path to peace!

Tim Collardey

www.WalkThePeace.com

tim@walkthepeace.com