Creativity and environmental consciousness

We've all heard of efforts around the world to create artificial reefs and to build awareness of the fragility of many of the world's great coral reefs.  Here's a man-made reef (still in progress) that is probably unlike any of the others.

Eco-profits: Jute fiber holds promise for Bangladesh

See the story and video here.

The Even Greater Tornado Outbreak

Eric Berger chronicles and analyses some of the facts about this week's horror in the South.

Earth protection....

"Bolivia will this month table a draft United Nations treaty giving "Mother Earth" the same rights as humans — having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country."

Several questions can be raised; among them are whether this type of 'statement' has merit or value, even inspirational or educative value, and whether a body of nations with unimaginable diversity can have sufficient "pull" with other nations to make such a thing "work" in practice.  What will be the everyday effect of the resolution, and to what extent can we be said be able to obey it?

More later....

Partial agreement in Japan leaves biodiversity status uncertain

But, at the very least, the question is raised, and is worth discussing.  Article is here.

And speaking of conservation, ...

...did you read about the enormous alligator hunted and killed by a woman in the Carolinas, during the gator hunting season?

Climate change data scandal.

The scandal over the hacked climate-change e-mails is now in active ferment. Here's some reading material. Make up your own minds. The President will hear about this as he prepares for a visit to the Copenhagen summit.

This story has a brief rundown of what happened--

Climate change data dumped - Times Online

Some analysis and follow-up from Dr. Masters at Weather Underground--

--here, first--see the ending comment;

--then, here, a more extensive analysis.

A reflection on the larger implications for the work of science, from the Financial Times.

And a defense from the chair of IPCC.

And, lastly for now, the contrarian point of view from the Telegraph.