may Seven takeaways from Theresa May's ascension to U.K. prime minister By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 12 Jul 2016 16:38:00 -0400 Editor's note: This piece originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire on July 11, 2016. Theresa May has since succeeded David Cameron as UK prime minister. Theresa May is poised to become Britain’s next prime minister on Wednesday. This means there is a reasonable chance the post-Brexit whirlwind of U.K. politics will quiet somewhat. Here are seven things that stand out about the next PM: 1. Her experience. Ms. May has been in the top ranks of British politics for almost two decades. She is one of the longest-serving home secretaries, overseeing domestic security, law and order, and immigration. With the exception of Michael Gove, who was knocked out early in the contest, she was by far the most experienced candidate in the race. 2. Her resilience. Ms. May is what Americans call a tough cookie. When I was in government, she was the Cabinet minister with whom David Cameron least liked to tangle. When Ms. May said no, she meant no. This did not always lead to perfect policy outcomes, of course. But few in Westminster doubt her strength. 3. Modernizing instincts. As the Conservative Party’s first female chairman, Ms. May pointed out in 2002 that to many voters the Tories were seen as the “nasty party” and that reform was essential. She helped to lay the ground for David Cameron to emerge as a new, more moderate face of the Conservative Party. Ms. May was also one of the first senior Conservatives to back same-sex marriage. 4. She backed Remain. As the only leadership candidate who was on the losing side of the Brexit vote, she is, paradoxically, well-placed to unite the Conservative Party in parliament. Most Tory MPs were, like Ms. May, in the Remain camp. But she was a lukewarm Remainer and has a history of being skeptical of European institutions–including the European Convention on Human Rights–which will endear her to Brexiteers. Already she has made it clear that “Brexit means Brexit” and that she will only trigger Article 50, which governs the process by which an EU member exits, when she has her negotiating position worked out. So far, so good. (Particularly for those worried about market volatility and the U.K. economy in the wake of the June 23 referendum.) 5. Government stability. Given her strong support among parliamentary colleagues, Ms. May is not likely to feel any need to trigger an emergency general election. Instead, she can make the case that the U.K. needs a stable government during the lengthy Brexit negotiations to come (and she’ll be right). Labour politicians calling for an election are whistling in the wind, especially given their own leadership civil war. 6. Gender issues and non-issues. Theresa May is about to become the U.K.’s second female prime minister and there has been refreshingly little commentary on her gender. The only real exception was the row caused by her opponent Andrea Leadsom, who clumsily implied in a recent interview that not being a mother made Ms. May less qualified. (Ms. Leadsom apologized shortly before dropping out of the contest.) If Labour MPs manage to dislodge their leader, Jeremy Corbyn (an outcome that may be decided in court), the favorite to succeed him is Angela Eagle, who is married to a woman. 7. Redressing the class balance. The United Kingdom has been run by posh people, since, well, forever. But David Cameron’s crowd was a particularly upper-crust bunch, mostly educated at private schools. Ms. May, by contrast, went to a comprehensive high school (in American English, a public school). To the extent that there is need for more class diversity among governing elites, this is another piece of good news. None of this alters the disastrous economic implications of the Brexit vote. But by turning to May, the Conservatives will be better prepared to secure a period of stable government, with a little more class and gender diversity thrown in for good measure. That’s about the best one could hope for. Authors Richard V. Reeves Publication: Wall Street Journal Full Article
may Appellate Court vacancies may be scarce in coming years, limiting Trump’s impact By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 06 Dec 2018 13:09:46 +0000 The Trump White House, with Senate Republicans and the Federalist Society, has been appointing courts of appeals judges with bulldozer efficiency. The 29 circuit appointments to date is the highest number of any president at this point in his tenure, facilitated partly by a large number of vacancies. How many more appointments will occur in… Full Article
may The World Bank and IMF need reform but it may be too late to bring China back By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:08:00 -0400 Mercutio: I am hurt. A plague a’ both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone and hath nothing? — Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, scene 1, 90–92 The eurozone crisis, which includes the Greek crisis but is not restricted to it, has undermined the credibility of the EU institutions and left millions of Europeans disillusioned with the European Project. The euro was either introduced too early, or it included countries that should never have been included, or both were true. High rates of inflation left countries in the periphery uncompetitive and the constraint of a single currency removed a key adjustment mechanism. Capital flows allowed this problem to be papered over until the global financial crisis hit. The leaders of the international institutions, the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, together with the governments of the stronger economies, were asked to figure out a solution and they emphasized fiscal consolidation, which they made a condition for assistance with heavy debt burdens. The eurozone as a whole has paid the price, with real GDP in the first quarter of 2015 being about 1.5 percent below its peak in the first quarter of 2008, seven years earlier, and with a current unemployment rate of 11 percent. By contrast, the sluggish U.S. recovery looks rocket-powered, with GDP 8.6 percent above its previous peak and an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent. The burden of the euro crisis has been very unevenly distributed, with Greece facing unemployment of 25 percent and rising, Spain 23 percent, Italy 12 percent, and Ireland 9.7 percent, while German unemployment is 4.7 percent. It is not surprising that so many Europeans are unhappy with their policy leaders who moved too quickly into a currency union and then dealt with the crisis in a way that pushed countries into economic depression. The common currency has been a boon to Germany, with its $287 billion current account surplus, but the bane of the southern periphery. Greece bears considerable culpability for its own problems, having failed to collect taxes or open up an economy full of competitive restrictions, but that does not excuse the policy failures among Europe’s leaders. A plague on both sides in the Greek crisis! During the Great Moderation, it seemed that the Bretton Woods institutions were losing their usefulness because private markets could provide needed funding. The financial crisis and the global recession that followed it shattered this belief. The IMF did not foresee the crisis, nor was it a central player in dealing with the period of greatest peril from 2007 to 2009. National treasuries, the Federal Reserve, and the European Central Bank were the only institutions that had the resources and the power to deal with the bank failures, the shortage of liquidity, and the freezing up of markets. Still, the IMF became relevant again and played an important role in the euro crisis, although at the cost of sharing the unpopularity of the policy response to that crisis. China’s new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is the result of China’s growing power and influence and the failure of the West, particularly the United States, to come to terms with this seismic shift. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations have deliberately excluded China, the largest economy in Asia and largest trading partner in the world. Reform of the governance structure of the World Bank and the IMF has stalled with disproportionate power still held by the United States and Europe. Unsurprisingly, China has decided to exercise its influence in other ways, establishing the new Asian bank and increasing the role of the yuan in international transactions. U.S. policymakers underestimated China’s strength and the willingness of other countries to cooperate with it, and the result has been to reduce the role and influence of the Bretton Woods institutions. Can the old institutions be reinvented and made more effective? In Europe, the biggest problem is that bad decisions were made by national governments and by the international institutions (although the ECB policies have been generally good). The World Bank and IMF do need to reform their governance, but it may be too late to bring China back into the fold. This post originally appeared in the International Economy: Does the Industrialized World’s Economic and Financial Statecraft Need to Be Reinvented? (p.19) Authors Martin Neil Baily Publication: The International Economy Image Source: © Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters; Full Article
may U.S. manufacturing may depend on automation to survive and prosper By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 13:22:00 -0500 Can this sector be saved? We often hear sentiments like: "Does America still produce anything?" and "The good jobs in manufacturing have all gone." There is nostalgia for the good old days when there were plentiful well-paid jobs in manufacturing. And there is anger that successive U.S. administrations of both parties have negotiated trade deals, notably NAFTA and the admission of China into the World Trade Organization, that have undercut America's manufacturing base. Those on the right suggest that if burdensome regulations were lifted, this would fire up a new era of manufacturing prowess. On the left, it is claimed that trade agreements are to blame and, at the very least, we should not sign any more of them. Expanding union power and recruiting are another favorite solution. Despite his position on the right, Donald Trump has joined those on the left blaming China for manufacturing’s problems. What is the real story and what needs to be done to save this sector? The biggest factor transforming manufacturing has been technology; and technology will largely determine its future. Disappearing jobs Employment in the manufacturing sector declined slowly through the 1980s and 1990s, but since 2000, the decline has been much faster falling by over 6 million workers between 2000 and 2010. There were hopes that manufacturing jobs would regain much of their lost ground once the recession ended, but the number of jobs has climbed by less than a million in the recovery so far and employment has been essentially flat since the first quarter of 2015. Manufacturing used to be a road to the middle class for millions of workers with just a high school education, but that road is much narrower today—more like a footpath. In manufacturing’s prime, although not all jobs were good jobs, many were well paid and offered excellent fringe benefits. Now there are many fewer of these. Sustained but slow output growth The real output of the manufacturing sector from 2000 to the present gives a somewhat more optimistic view of the sector, with output showing a positive trend growth, with sharp cyclical downturns. There was a peak of manufacturing production in 2000 with the boom in technology goods, most of which were still being produced in the U.S. But despite the technology bust and the shift of much of high-tech manufacturing overseas, real output in the sector in 2007 was still nearly 11 percent higher than its peak in 2000. Production fell in the Great Recession at a breathtaking pace, dropping by 24 percent starting in Q3 2008. Manufacturing companies were hit by a bomb that wiped out a quarter of their output. Consumers were scared and postponed the purchase of anything they did not need right away. The production of durable goods, like cars and appliances, fell even more than the total. Unlike employment in the sector, output has reclaimed it previous peak and, by the third quarter of 2015, was 3 percent above that peak. The auto industry has recovered particularly strongly. While manufacturing output growth is not breaking any speed records, it is positive. Understanding the pattern The explanation for the jobs picture is not simple, but the Cliff Notes version is as follows: manufacturing employment has been declining as a share of total economy-wide employment for 50 years or more—a pattern that holds for all advanced economies, even Germany, a country known for its manufacturing strength. The most important reason for U.S. manufacturing job loss is that the overall economy is not creating jobs the way it once did, especially in the business sector. This conclusion probably comes as a surprise to most Americans who believe that international trade, and trade with China in particular, is the key reason for the loss of jobs. In reality, trade is a factor in manufacturing weakness, but not the most important one. The most important reason for U.S. manufacturing job loss is that the overall economy is not creating jobs the way it once did, especially in the business sector. The existence of our large manufacturing trade deficit with Asia means output and employment in the sector are smaller than they would be with balanced trade. Germany, as noted, has seen manufacturing employment declines also, but the size of their manufacturing sector is larger than ours, running huge trade surplus. In addition, right now that there is global economic weakness that has caused a shift of financial capital into the U. S. looking for safety, raising the value of the dollar and thus hurting our exports. In the next few years, it is unlikely that the U.S. trade deficit will improve—and it may well worsen. Even though it will not spark a jobs revival, manufacturing is still crucial for the future of the U.S. economy, remaining a center for innovation and productivity growth and if the U.S. trade deficit is to be substantially reduced, then manufacturing must become more competitive. The services sector runs a small trade surplus and new technologies are eliminating our energy trade deficit. Nevertheless a substantial expansion of manufactured exports is needed if there is to be overall trade balance. Disruptive innovation in manufacturing The manufacturing sector is still very much alive and reports of its demise are not just premature but wrong. If we want to encourage the development of a robust competitive manufacturing sector, industry leaders and policymakers must embrace new technologies. The sector will be revived not by blocking new technologies with restrictive labor practices or over-regulation but by installing them—even if that means putting robots in place instead of workers. To speed the technology revolution, however, help must be provided to those whose jobs are displaced. If they end up as long-term unemployed, or in dead-end or low-wage jobs, then not only do these workers lose out but also the benefits to society of the technology investment and the productivity increase are lost. The manufacturing sector performs 69 percent of all the business R&D in the U.S. which is powering a revolution that will drive growth not only in manufacturing but also in the broader economy as well. The manufacturing revolution can be described by three key developments: In the internet of things, sensors are embedded in machines, transmitting information that allows them to work together and report impending maintenance problems before there is a breakdown. Advanced manufacturing includes 3-D printing, new materials and the “digital thread” which connects suppliers to the factory and the factory to customers; it breaks down economies of scale allowing new competitors to enter; and it enhances speed and flexibility. Distributed innovation allows crowdsourcing is used to find radical solutions to technical challenges much more quickly and cheaply than with traditional R&D. In a June 2015 Fortune 500 survey, 72 percent of CEOs reported their biggest challenge is that technology is changing fast, naming it as their number one challenge. That new technology churn is especially acute in manufacturing. The revolution is placing heavy demands on managers who must adapt their businesses to become software companies, big data companies, and even media companies (as they develop a web presence). Value and profit in manufacturing is shifting to digital assets. The gap between current practice and what it takes to be good at these skills is wide for many manufacturers, particularly in their ability to find the talent they need to transform their organizations. Recent OECD analysis highlighted the large gap between best-practice companies and average companies. Although the gap is smaller in manufacturing than in services because of the heightened level of global competition in manufacturing, it is a sign that manufacturers must learn how to take advantage of new technologies quickly or be driven out of business. Closing the trade deficit A glaring weakness of U.S. manufacturing is its international trade performance. Chronic trade deficits have contributed to the sector’s job losses and have required large-scale foreign borrowing that has made us a net debtor to the rest of the world -- to the tune of nearly $7 trillion by the end of 2014. Running up endless foreign debts is a disservice to our children and was one source of the instability that led to the financial crisis. America should try to regain its balance as a global competitor and that means, at the least, reducing the manufacturing trade deficit. Achieving a significant reduction in the trade deficit will be a major task, including new investment and an adjustment of today’s overvalued dollar. The technology revolution provides an opportunity, making it profitable to manufacture in the U.S. using highly automated methods. Production can be brought home, but it won’t bring back a lot of the lost jobs. Although the revolution in manufacturing is underway and its fate is largely in the hands of the private sector, the policy environment can help speed it up and make sure the broad economy benefits. First, policymakers must accept that trying to bring back the old days and old jobs is a mistake. Continuing to chase yesterday’s goals isn’t productive, and at this point it only puts off the inevitable. Prioritizing competitiveness, innovativeness, and the U.S. trade position over jobs could be politically difficult, however, so policymakers should look for ways to help workers who lose jobs and communities that are hard hit. Government training programs have a weak track record, but if companies do the training or partner with community colleges, then the outcomes are better. Training vouchers and wage insurance for displaced workers can help them start new careers that will mostly be in the service sector where workers with the right skills can find good jobs, not just dead-end ones. Second, a vital part of the new manufacturing is the ecosystem around large companies. There were 50,000 fewer manufacturing firms in 2010 than in 2000, with most of the decline among smaller firms. Some of that was inevitable as the sector downsized, but it creates a problem because as large firms transition to the new manufacturing, they rely on small local firms to provide the skills and even the technologies they do not have in-house. The private sector has the biggest stake in developing the ecosystems it needs, but government can and has helped, particularly at the state and local level. Sometimes infrastructure investment is needed, land can be set aside, mentoring programs can be established for young firms, help can be given in finding funding, and simplified and expedited permitting processes instituted. It is hard to let go of old ways of thinking. Policymakers have been trying for years to restore the number of manufacturing jobs, but that is not an achievable goal. Yes manufacturing matters; it is a powerhouse of innovation for our economy and a vital source of competitiveness. There will still be good jobs in manufacturing but it is no longer a conveyor belt to the middle class. Policymakers need to focus on speeding up the manufacturing revolution, funding basic science and engineering, and ensuring that tech talent and best-practice companies want to locate in the United States. Authors Martin Neil Baily Full Article
may Mayoral Powers in the Age of New Localism By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:49:02 +0000 This November, residents of more than 30 U.S. cities voted to elect their top leader. Whether four-term veterans like Cleveland’s Frank Jackson or first-time politicians like Helena’s Wilmot Collins, U.S. mayors are now more than ever on the front lines of major global and societal change. The world’s challenges are on their doorsteps—refugee integration, climate… Full Article
may The U.S. May Need More Lawyers! By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:29:00 +0000 Tens of billions of consumer dollars are lost to the legal profession due to industry standards and regulations that have created a lawyer monopoly, write Clifford Winston and Robert Crandall. Winston and Crandall propose opening up the legal field and utilizing innovative IT and online services to alleviate demand for routine law work. Full Article
may Make way for mayors: Why the UK’s biggest power shift may not be the June 8 general election By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 01 May 2017 06:03:24 +0000 United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May’s call for a snap general election on June 8 has threatened to overshadow another important vote that could reshape the landscape of urban leadership in England. On May 4, voters in six regions, including the large metros of Manchester and Liverpool, will head to the polls for the very… Full Article
may Power and problem solving top the agenda at Global Parliament of Mayors By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:33:47 +0000 When more than 40 mayors from cities around the world gathered in the fjordside city of Stavanger, Norway for the second Global Parliament of Mayors, two topics dominated the discussions: power and problem solving. The agenda included the usual sweep through the most pressing issues cities face today -- refugee resettlement, safety and security, resilience… Full Article
may Leading beyond limits: Mayoral powers in the age of new localism By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:39:30 +0000 These are trying times for the world—and acutely challenging times for cities. Whether grappling with the challenges of integrating refugees or adapting to new environmental realities brought on by climate change, mayors are on the front lines, dealing with disruptions brought by technology, economic transformation, and demographic shift. In the United States, socioeconomic and political… Full Article
may Today’s mayors are tackling new challenges By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 01 Dec 2017 16:30:17 +0000 Alaina Harkness, fellow in the Centennial Scholar Initiative at Brookings and the Project on 21st Century City Governance, discusses the key findings from her report on the evolving role of mayors and their position on the frontlines of public policy challenges like refugee resettlement and workforce development. http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/5998382 Also in this episode, Mark Muro, senior… Full Article
may Mayoral Powers in the Age of New Localism By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:49:02 +0000 This November, residents of more than 30 U.S. cities voted to elect their top leader. Whether four-term veterans like Cleveland’s Frank Jackson or first-time politicians like Helena’s Wilmot Collins, U.S. mayors are now more than ever on the front lines of major global and societal change. The world’s challenges are on their doorsteps—refugee integration, climate… Full Article
may Back together? Why Turkey-Israel relations may be thawing By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:10:00 -0500 Recent developments in Turkey and Israel—on energy security and domestic politics, in particular—may help pave the way for a long-awaited rapprochement between the two countries. It’s been five and a half years since the May 2010 Israel raid on the Mavi Marmara (part of the Gaza flotilla), which soured relations between Ankara and Jerusalem. At present, they’re characterized by distrust and suspicion at the top level, personal animosity between the leaders, a limited dialogue between the two governments, and ambassadors yet to be appointed. However, trade is booming and Israeli tourists are flocking back to Turkish vacation destinations. Wanted: Energy supply and cooperation on Syria Turkey’s downing of a Russian SU-24 fighter jet along the Syrian border on November 24 has provoked crisis in its relationship with Russia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin characterizing Turkey’s action as “a stab in the back.” Extending beyond bilateral relations, that crisis affects Turkey’s foreign policy more broadly. For Turkey, the most critical element in this feud is its energy security. Turkey imports most of its natural gas from Russia, and the two sides have long been engaged in talks to expand this relationship through the proposed Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline, which would channel gas to Turkey and Europe underneath the Black Sea (circumventing Ukraine). But on November 26, Russian Minister of Development Alexi Ulyukayev announced the cancellation of the project, sending shock waves throughout Turkey. The move has prompted concerns among the Turkish leadership about the reliability of Russian gas and a corresponding search for alternative supplies in the region. In addition to discussions with Qatar and Azerbaijan, there have been more statements in recent weeks from Turkish politicians, energy companies, and others calling for talks with Israel about future natural gas imports. The Syrian crisis is another issue on which Turkey may seek quiet Israeli support—particularly the support of Israeli intelligence, which may prove crucial to Turkish war efforts. Politically, the timing could be convenient: the Justice and Development Party (AKP)-led government could approach Israel and begin talks where they left off nearly two years ago. The dust has settled over the November 2015 elections and the AKP is not facing any serious domestic political challenges in the near future. The ball is now in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s court. He commented to reporters in Paris on November 30 that he believes he’s “able to fix ties” with Israel, hinting at his willingness to move forward. He then stated on December 13 that the “region definitely needs” Turkish-Israeli normalization, citing previous Turkish demands for compensation to the families of the victims of the Mavi Marmara incident as well as the lifting of the Gaza blockade as his conditions for normalization. Wanted: Energy demand and cooperation on Syria From Jerusalem’s perspective, Israeli energy security may provide a “fig leaf” for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reach out to Turkey. Netanyahu and his cabinet have been stuck for nearly a year in attempts to approve and launch a compromise between the government and the gas companies (Delek and Noble) to begin the crucial phase of development of Israel’s largest Eastern Mediterranean gas field, Leviathan. About to clear the last hurdle before launching the deal, Netanyahu is under pressure to demonstrate the national security benefits of developing the gas. In this context, he and the Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz have said that Turkey is being seriously considered as a future export destination. In a Knesset hearing, Netanyahu went even further by revealing that Israel has recently been engaged in discussions with Turkey to further explore the export option. The Syrian crisis provides Israel another reason to engage with Turkey. Israel is quite weary of the situation in Syria and may benefit from Turkish analysis and intelligence on this issue. Politically, Netanyahu will not face problems within his narrow coalition if he decides to warm up relations with Turkey. Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a staunch critic of Turkey and its leadership, is no longer in office. The recently appointed Chief of Mossad (currently National Security Advisor) Yossi Cohen, in contrast, is known to be a proponent of closer ties between Israel and Turkey. Re-friending? Official visits between the two sides have been increasing: in June, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Director General Dore Gold and his Turkish counterpart Feridun Sinirlioğlu met in Rome; in September, Professor Guven Sak (the head of the government-supported research institute of the Turkish industrialists and businessmen, TEPAV) led the first official visit to Israel by a Turkish political delegation; on December 3, Israeli news outlet NRG reported on a visit by Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Deputy Director General for Europe, Aviv Shiron's visit to Ankara and Istanbul in an attempt to warm relations between the two countries. There is no love lost between Israel and Turkey, and many issues still need to be resolved. Erdoğan has stated his conditions for normalization, and Netanyahu is reportedly insisting that Turkey expel Hamas operative Saleh al-Arouri (who has been directing Hamas terrorist activities in the West Bank) from its territory, as a condition. However, the current convergence of interests may pave the way to a resolution of the crisis between these two former strategic allies. In March 2013, President Obama helped orchestrate a formal Israeli apology to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara incident. Moving forward, more American senior-level diplomacy is needed. The United States—which has been active behind the scenes—will likely need to further push the two sides toward one another. Authors Dan Arbell Full Article
may All-Natural Margarita on Cinco de Mayo By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2009 20:07:00 -0400 Although Cinco de Mayo celebrations are muted in Mexico this year with the H1N1 virus outbreak and dramatic loss of tourism, if you're still planning a party, please toast our friends south of the border with a natural Full Article Living
may Say cheese! French fromage may lead to healthy hearts By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:13:08 -0400 Have researchers found the secret behind the 'French paradox'? Full Article Living
may This May Day, get outside and celebrate spring. By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 01 May 2018 08:55:10 -0400 It doesn't have to be all about politics. Full Article Living
may This is why we're not furry (and may explain baldness) By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 05 Dec 2018 12:00:00 -0500 Ever wonder why humans don't have hair everywhere? Full Article Science
may Why The UN Moratorium On Geoengineering Is A Good Thing, Maybe By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:49:00 -0400 Late last week at the Convention on Biodiversity a resolution was adopted which places a moratorium on geoengineering unless it can be proven that the method in question can be shown to not have an adverse effect on Full Article Business
may Ocean Geoengineering Experiment May Not Have Broken Laws After All By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:35:00 -0400 Because the iron dumped in the ocean off British Columbia wasn't dumped as waste, it didn't violate international law. Full Article Business
may Fossil fuels may ruin your retirement By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 06:26:59 -0400 Ever heard of a 'stranded asset'? They are well known in the world of sustainability, and they can put a dent in your retirement savings. Full Article Living
may Maybe There's No Eco-Fur So How About Green Suede By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:45:20 -0400 TreeHuggers, being a discerning lot, when recently polled came down in a clear majority against the concept of "eco-fur" when we wrote first about a chinchilla/polyester jacket from designer Chie Imai, and then about an expensive line of pillows and Full Article Living
may Germany agrees to end coal burning by 2038 (maybe) By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 08:19:29 -0500 The goal is a good one. The timeline is not. Full Article Energy
may Cosmic Rays May Have Driven Toyota Vehicles Crazy By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:27:54 -0400 More than 8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been recalled worldwide (including the 2010 Prius), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has linked at least 52 deaths to unexpected acceleration in these vehicles. Although floormats Full Article Transportation
may Other voices on Marissa Mayer's "Back to the office" order for Yahoo! employees By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:23:00 -0500 Is she trying to "put together a 21st Century technology company using 19th Century workplace mentalities"? Or is this a smart move? Full Article Business
may Coal mining town Springhill, Nova Scotia may once again take energy out of the ground. By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 05 Aug 2015 15:54:35 -0400 Is it a geothermal system or a ground source heat pump? Yes. Full Article Technology
may Tea Fertilized with Panda Poop Will Cost $36,000 Per Pound and (Maybe) Prevent Cancer By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:48:10 -0500 A new tea set to become the world's most expensive is being fertilized with panda feces, and is touted as having cancer-preventing properties. Full Article Living
may Celebration, Florida may be destroyed in order to save it By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 20 Mar 2017 10:50:54 -0400 The fire department demands trees and on-street parking be removed so that they can have 20' clear speedways Full Article Design
may Florida may pass "Sunshine Protection Act" and go on Daylight Saving Time all year round By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Jan 2018 09:04:39 -0500 This is a very good idea that all of North America should consider. Full Article Energy
may Venice's mayor segregates tourists from locals in attempt to control crowds By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 09 May 2018 13:30:00 -0400 But not all locals are happy, saying the mayor is treating the city like a theme park. Full Article Living
may Ireland may make high visibility clothing mandatory for cyclists, pedestrians and dog-walkers By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Nov 2015 09:40:32 -0500 People are "risking their lives every winter by wearing dark clothing." Full Article Design
may Giant Tortoise Species May Not Be So Extinct After All By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:39:34 -0500 They were thought extinct, but in light of new DNA findings, scientists are echoing a very tortoise-y mantra: 'not so fast'. Full Article Science
may Lonesome George May Not Have Been the Last of His Species By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:36:47 -0500 On a remote island in the Galapagos, hybrid turtles have been found that suggest a long-lost purebred companion for the late Lonesome George may survive. Full Article Science
may Wind Turbines May Blow Earth Out of Orbit, Coal Lobby Warns: The Onion (Video) By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:14:00 -0400 This Onion spoof on the fossil fuel industry's attacks on clean energy made the rounds a few months ago, but it somehow eluded my radar. Usually, in these cases, I'd simply curse the blog-gods, and let it join the graveyard of viral videos that have Full Article Living
may Sweating in a sauna may delay dementia By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Feb 2017 13:47:34 -0500 Perhaps we should have included one in our perfect bathroom. Full Article Design
may The office of the future may have no seats or desks at all. By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:36:48 -0500 Just throw yourself wherever you want to work; your office is where you are. Full Article Design
may Mayon Volcano Ready to Erupt, May Cause a Little Climate Cooling By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:47:41 -0500 Mayon is the largest of the Philippines' 22 active volcanoes, at 8,070 feet. The plumes of smoke and flows of lava make it seem like it is already erupting, yet scientists say the big fireworks could be still to come, and more than 40,000 people have Full Article Technology
may Youngstown, Ohio Mayor Buys Earthquake Insurance After Quake Caused By Fracking By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:10:00 -0500 Two days after the earthquake caused by a nearby fracking well the mayor said, "I called my insurance man and got earthquake insurance.” Full Article Energy
may Let's Do The Time Warp Again: Monbiot and May vs Lomberg and Lawson By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:25:41 -0500 It is the battle of the M&Ms; vs the L&Ls; the Munk debate in Toronto about the statement "Climate change is mankind's defining crisis, and demands a commensurate international response" with Bjorn Lomberg and Nigel Lawson duking it out Full Article Technology
may 10 endangered species the Trump administration may kill off entirely By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2018 13:24:58 -0500 A new report describes the 10 species most at risk from policies proposed by the current administration. Full Article Business
may San Francisco may ban delivery robots. Good for them. By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:55:14 -0400 Pick up your Marbles and go home Full Article Technology
may Invasive fish may get their own dystopian nightmare By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:14:06 -0400 Scientists find that scary fish robots can quickly stress invasive fish species into reduced reproduction. Full Article Science
may A sense of community may be the best medicine By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 28 Feb 2018 06:54:00 -0500 The English town of Frome has seen a significant drop in emergency hospital admissions since it began connecting ill residents with volunteers and support groups. Full Article Living
may Thanks to the election, universal healthcare may be around the corner By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 07 Nov 2018 12:19:00 -0500 A number of states are edging out insurance companies. This could be huge for the environment. Full Article Living
may A Note to Mayor de Blasio: Don’t forget the environment as a cause of inequality By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:24:26 -0500 Environmental initiatives are integral to addressing the "tale of two cities" that Mayor de Blasio campaigned on. Full Article Business
may New York City's Mayor de Blasio to divest from big oil and sue the companies By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:06:53 -0500 Changes closer to home would be nice too. Full Article Business
may London assembly tells mayor: Divest £4.8B pension fund from fossil fuels By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:06:33 -0400 The motion is non-binding, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter. Full Article Business
may Christians Aren't Behind America's Climate Problem, But They May Be the Solution By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:10:00 -0500 Religious communities may be wide open to fighting climate change, new evidence reveals. Full Article Living
may Occasional fasting may be a fast fix for our health By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 15 May 2018 09:00:00 -0400 Many people swear by the value of periodically fasting for a day or a couple days at a time. Science backs them up Full Article Living
may Sea otters may help combat harmful agricultural run-off in California By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:45:00 -0400 As a keystone species, the importance of the sea otter on the health of coastal ecosystems can't be understated. A new study shows that they may even play a key role in helping coastlines cope with agricultural run-off. Full Article Science
may Chickens may help solve the mysteries of the human eye By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 09:00:00 -0400 A new study on chicken embryos may help researchers understand how humans developed their sensitive daylight vision. Full Article Science