The Man with the Plan

President Obama plans to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq over the next eighteen months. A substantial number of troops will remain past the August 31, 2010 target date to help the Iraq government stabilize and train Iraqi forces. For more details, click on the link below.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXhIn6Dsn59np7LYG6eYS5GubXUAD96K1S4G0

Editor of AGNADL

Canada Lynx Given a Helping Paw

Yesterday the US Fish and Wildlife Service designated nearly 25 million acres in Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington as critical habitat for the Canada lynx. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, this is "the largest area of critical habitat ever designated for any terrestrial species and the third largest critical habitat the Center has ever obtained."

For more information about this habitat victory for the lynx, click on the link below.

https://mail.google.com/mail/?search=query&view=tl&start=0&init=1&fs=1&q=karen+spagnola&source=navclient-ff#inbox/11fafdd99ef9b695

Editor of AGNADL

Answers are Blowing in the Wind

There is much brain power going into meeting the global need for energy. I am amazed at what we are learning about how to meet this need with technologies that already exist. Below is a link to an article on wind energy from the Environmental News Network. This is more for the nerdy environmentalist like me, so I'll leave it to you to decide if you want to learn something today.


http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/39361

Editor of AGNADL

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Sometimes politicians make big promises just to get into office, after which they develop an expedient form of amnesia that targets campaign promises. President Obama has already demonstrated that he is not one of those politicians. Environmental issues is only one of the many areas where he is making good on his promises and taking great strides in working towards a healthier America as well as a healthier planet. Included in The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is $80 billion earmarked to fund promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and cars with better gas mileage.

It's about time. I have been wondering for years now how Honda could make my Civic, which gets nearly fifty miles to the gallon on the highway, in 1995, but no one else could do it, and then even Honda traded the 92-95 fuel-efficient models for a heavier one that was LESS efficient, beginning in 1996. Why did they do that? And why could no one reproduce an energy-efficient car along the same lines as this earlier model, which was being manufactured more than fifteen years ago? Yes, Honda is leading the way with greener technologies with their hybrids, but even there, I haven't seen a car with better highway mileage than mine, which is why I'm still driving my 1995 Honda Civic in 2009. It didn't make good ecological or economical sense to trade it in for a less efficient model. So I'm truly delighted to see that cars with better gas mileage are part of the plan.

Now that the United States has a President who is able to look into the future and see the need for drastic changes in the way we do things, we are beginning to see things change for the better in regards to the environment. A report by the Sierra Club gives a breakdown on where that $80 billion is to be directed specifically:

* $25 billion for energy efficiency
* $20 billion for renewable energy incentives
* $11 billion in grants and $6 billion in loans to modernize the electric grid and increase its capacity to deliver power generated by renewable sources
* $17.7 billion for mass transit, Amtrak, and high-speed rail.

For further information, click on the link below.

http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=92921.0&dlv_id=80042

Editor of AGNADL

Obama Reverses US Stance on Environmental Issues in UN Agreement

Jettisoning the ostrich approach to environmental issues facing the 21st-century world, the Obama Administration has not only committed to reducing global mercury levels, but also encouraged policy reversals in other countries as well. Leading is way better than lagging behind.

For more details on the agreement reached, click on the link below.

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/39357

Editor of AGNADL

Good News for the LGBTQ Community

I must say that as I look for good news items, they're getting easier and easier to find. I think good news is expanding. Now I've stumbled upon multiple small items that are good news for the LGBTQ community, so I'm going to group them together so I get more ground covered. I may have to do this with multiple recurring topics.

In the first item, Latin America is becoming more gay-friendly not only for residents, but for travelers too. For more on this, click on the link below.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4713&page=1

Although it sparked considerable controversy, George Mason University elected a drag queen for the homecoming queen. I'm sure it rocked some people's world, but I think it's great that a crack is growing in the wall of prejudice against people with alternative lifestyles. Good for you, GMU for raising people's eyebrows and their consciousness.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021901780.html

They said "no" in Indiana to the Marriage Discrimination Act. The state Senate Republican Caucus voted not even to consider Senate Joint Resolution 15 (SJR-15) – the Marriage Discrimination Amendment – during the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

http://indianaequality.typepad.com/indiana_equality_blog/2009/02/marriage-discrimination-amendment-given-fifth-no-in-a-row.html

A summary of some of the gains on a state-by-state level is found the below link. I've included an excerpt from the Human Rights Campaign newsletter to make it easier to learn a lot quickly. You may link to that article below from which this excerpt derives.

"While we experienced devastating losses this fall in Arizona, California and Florida when hateful measures seeking to restrict LGBT relationships won at the ballot box, we are seeing signs of change throughout the country.

* In Indiana this week, the state Senate Republican Caucus voted not to consider a resolution that would have amended the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
* A few weeks ago, Wyoming’s House of Representatives voted against a similar proposed amendment to its constitution.
* New England continues to be a beacon for marriage equality and there’s considerable movement on that front in Vermont and Maine.
* In New York, HRC is working hard with local allies, members and supporters on behalf of marriage equality legislation.
* A recent poll in New Jersey shows voter support for marriage equality is growing.
* Hawaii’s House of Representatives recently approved legislation that would permit gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil unions.
* In New Mexico, a State Senate committee advanced the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act, which allows gay, lesbian and straight couples to enter into domestic partnerships.
* And in Washington State, there’s an effort to improve the existing relationship recognition law.

Five years ago, bigotry and ignorance were prime motivators here in Washington and nationwide. Today, we have powerful allies in our nation’s capital and across America."


http://www.hrcbackstory.org/

Editor of AGNADL

Staying Green While Reaching for the Gold

Good for you, Canada! This time next year, Canada will be hosting the first ever truly sustainable Olympics. To read about their progress towards that goal, click on the link below.


http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2838

Editor of AGNADL

Another photo in from Flo Harrah in the Vancouver, BC area. Looks like our snowdrops out this way might be a smidgen behind those in Norwich, Norfolk. Still they are true signs of approaching spring. Thank you, Flo. You keep on walking and taking photos. You'll be healthier and happier for it, and so will the readers.

Editor of AGNADL

Signs of Spring Coming to Norwich (UK)

I got this lovely photo of snowdrops from Catherine Moore's garden in Norwich, Norfolk (UK). Thank you, Catherine, for sharing that bit of beauty from your world. It is greatly appreciated.

Keep sending in your photos of hints and signs of spring to assure the folks still snowed under that there will be an end to the beautiful white stuff. The green is on its way.

Editor of AGNADL

Springing to Life

Spring is finally beginning its magical dance in this neck of the woods. The crocuses are starting to shed their reticence and emerge from the ground. This photo was taken in British Columbia near Vancouver. It was submitted by Flo Harrah. I have a few crocuses blooming in my yard too (near Seattle), but Flo's garden is way neater than mine at the moment.

Despite the hint of spring, it is still winter in some regions, but I thought I'd give you a glimpse of what is to come and assure you that spring is on its way. What does it look like where you live? Send me recent photos from your neighborhood and we'll post a few.

Editor of AGNADL