Fracking Sweeps Into China
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China has turned to hydraulic fracturing to decrease its dependency on foreign natural gas, according to state-run media. China has been trying to use fracking to shifts away from traditional sources of energy such as coal power. Shale gas production has risen by 50.4 percent compared to last year, according to the Chinese National Bureau […]
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April 19, 2017 at 12:55AM
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth fined for breaking campaigning rules
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By Paul Homewood
h/t Joe Public
Greenpeace Ltd and Friends of the Earth Limited have been fined by the Electoral Commission for failing to comply with campaigning rules at the 2015 UK Parliamentary General Election.
At the general election, non-party campaigners were required to register with the Electoral Commission if they spent more than either £20,000 campaigning in England or £10,000 campaigning in Wales. Neither organisation registered, although the Commission’s investigations identified over £100,000 in spending on campaigning activity conducted during the regulated period.
Separately, the Electoral Commission has also fined the Democratic Unionist Party £1000 for failing to notify the Commission of a change of registered Leader of the party by the required date.
Greenpeace Ltd and Friends of the Earth Limited investigation
Greenpeace Ltd has been fined a total of £30,000. The Commission concluded that Greenpeace Ltd incurred at least £99,000 of spending in England and £12,000 of spending in Wales on a “Coastal Champions” boat tour and on an anti-fracking poster campaign which was undertaken jointly with Friends of the Earth Ltd. The spending on these campaign activities was incurred during the regulated period for the 2015 UK Parliamentary general election.
The Commission also found that Friends of the Earth Ltd incurred at least £24,000 on spending in England. The spending was incurred on the joint activity with Greenpeace Ltd and separately on a “manifesto scorecard” published on its website. Friends of the Earth Ltd was fined £1000 and has paid the fine.
The Commission concluded that overall, these activities promoted the candidates or parties who demonstrated their support for particular campaign messages and were therefore regulated activities under the legislation.
Bob Posner, Director of Party Finance and Regulation & Legal Counsel for the Electoral Commission said:
“Non-party campaigners are vital to a healthy democracy and we encourage their active participation during campaign periods; however, where a significant amount of money is being spent on campaigning it is right that voters can see who is spending that money and what they are campaigning for. The Commission supports all campaigners by producing a range of materials to help ensure compliance with the law.”
Greenpeace seem to believe that rules don’t apply to them.
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April 19, 2017 at 12:06AM
Trump Sparks Worry of Paris Agreement Reversal
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President Donald Trump, having already backtracked on several campaign pledges considered important to his populist-conservative base, sparked worry Tuesday he may decline to withdraw from an Obama-era climate change agreement. On the campaign trail the president promised to pull out of the Paris Accord of 2015, the international climate agreement former President Barack Obama touted as a signature legacy […]
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April 18, 2017 at 11:55PM
Venezuela blames climate change after its troops invade Colombia
via Tallbloke’s Talkshop
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Map readers required?
H/T Climate Depot
Another story from the ‘Climate change causes everything’ file. Fortunately Colombia has not over-reacted.
TODAY VENEZUELA – Venezuela tried to downplay its illegal entry of troops into Colombia this week by claiming the constantly changing direction of a river near the border accidentally led the soldiers beyond their jurisdiction.
Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said the Venezuelan soldiers entered Colombia’s eastern department of Arauca as a result of the Arauca River, which she said is constantly changing its flow and direction.
A diplomatic commission still has to clarify the incident, which is reportedly expected in the coming hours.
The government of Venezuela confirmed soldiers who invaded neighboring territory were part of a group carrying out operations to combat supposed criminal acts by Colombians near the border.
According to Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos, the issue was addressed during a phone conversation with Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro. Santos reportedly told him it was “unacceptable” for Venezuelan troops to enter another country and raise their flag — a gesture that could have been interpreted as a violation of Colombian sovereignty.
Maduro told Santos the troops had already left the area, and rejected versions of the incident allegedly distorting it into an “invasion” of Colombian territory, which generated considerable discomfort for the inhabitants of Arauca.
Venezuelan soldiers reportedly lowered their flag and were seen off by Colombian residents, who sang Colombia’s national anthem as they went.
Continued here.
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April 18, 2017 at 09:39PM
Iowa Climate Science Education 