Is much of what we know about global warming based on hype and media sensationalism?  Well that appears to be the case, according to a new book published by Rowman and Littlefield called "Shattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming."  Comments book editor, Dr. Patrick Michaels: "People rightfully don't believe everything they read about climate change these days because all they read about is bad news, and they suspect there's another side to this story.  Shattered Consensus is the other side – ten chapters written by the world's leading climate scientists show you what was left out of [...]

Corn oil is used in the recipes of many foods, but can it also be used to cook up an environmentally-friendly form of fuel?  Well according to the National Center for Policy Analysis, the answer is yes, and the group maintains the creation of such a biodiesel fuel results in fewer harmful emissions than conventional petroleum based diesel.  To be sure, biodiesel fuel has been around for a while, but it has traditionally cost twice as much to make, and requires the addition of non eco-friendly additives such as methanol and lye.  But with newer forms of corn oil [...]

Lots of people have ideas about amendments that ought to be added to the U.S. Constitution.  But leave it to PETA to propose one that would define all mammals, birds and fish as "persons" in the eyes of the law.  This according to the Center for Consumer Freedom, which wonders why PETA would want to degrade animals by bringing them down to our status, since PETA president Ingrid Newkirk has called human beings "the biggest blight on the face of the earth."  But the group, which spends only one percent of its 24 million dollar budget actually helping animals, [...]

That universities often mischaracterize the state of our environment here in the U.S. is believed by many.  But the situation in Europe, and particularly Sweden, appears to be just as biased.  Comments Nima Sanandaji of the Swedish public policy group, Captus: "Here in Sweden, the biases regarding environmental issues are very evident.  As a student at the Chalmers University of Technology, I have listened to professors talk passionately about everything from "ecological villages" and the morality of living in a society without modern technology to claims about how hurricanes in the US are caused by global warming. The real [...]

For a number of years, scientists have been observing the Arctic to see if there is evidence of global warming.  And recently, eleven such scientists offered their opinion in a letter to Senator John McCain - a Senator who supports legislation to curb greenhouse gases.  In their letter, the distinguished scientists noted that, since 1940, data from Greenland coastal stations reveal  cooling, not warming, trends - with temperatures dropping by 2.2 degrees Celsisus since 1987.  They also noted ice core samples show much warmer temperatures than today existed in the past, and that between 1951 and 1990 there has [...]

Do a majority of Americans believe we should drill for oil in Alaska?  Well the surprising answer is YES, at least according to two recent polls.  The first, conducted by the Luntz research group, found that a hefty 64 percent of the public supports the exploration, development and production of oil in ANWR, while a Harris poll conducted at the same time, found 6 in 10 Americans favor allowing companies to drill for oil in the same region.  The polls also indicate that a majority of citizens believe our nation is in an energy crisis, and nearly 70 percent [...]

Saddam Hussein was certainly known for his poor treatment of people, but now comes news that his treatment of the environment was no less callous.  This, according to the Environmental News Network, which reports how Saddam Hussein's actions to cordon off of water in southeastern Iraq destroyed nearly 93 percent of a vibrant wetland area which supported an array of wildlife.  Fortunately, since Saddam's ousting, local residents have re- flooded the area and now some 31 plant species out of 40 which lived before the drainage have returned, and 30 percent of the fish species as well.  Scientists hope, [...]

Have government subsidies to develop environmentally sensitive regions, such as those in hurricane prone areas, helped foster the destruction of both habitat and people's property? Well the answer is yes, according to a new study by Sterling Burnett of the National Center for Policy Analysis, who has this to say: "The government should not foster development in environmentally sensitive, highly disaster prone areas. Federally subsidized flood insurance and Army Corp levee and beach erosion programs encourage building on coastal wetlands and in flood plains leaving people one hurricane or flood away from devastation. New Orleans is a prime- example [...]

When NASCAR drivers fire up their engines this season, they will be doing so with more than just a few new drivers and new cars ... they will also be using a new, environmentally friendly fuel as well.  This according to the New York Times, which reports how NASCAR officials are touting a new fuel developed by Sunoco that can help the association lower lead pollution at its racing events.  EPA officials say this important because NASCAR is exempt from the Clean Air Act and recent studies indicate that some mechanics and drivers in the Nextel Cup have experienced [...]

Global warming ... on Mars?      causing a melting of the polar ice caps, you might think you were hearing about global warming.  And of course, you would be right -- just not about earth, but rather Mars instead.  This according to the Heartland Institute, which reports how recent NASA findings confirm that for the past three Martian summers, deposits of frozen CO2 from the Martian south pole have shrunk, indicating a significant planetary warming underway.  Scientists attribute this Martian warming not to any manmade emissions, but to possible increases in the sun's solar output, which may mean as much [...]

A recent study in the journal, Pediatrics, led many Americans to believe children are not safer in SUV's than smaller cars because of the chance of rollovers.  But according to an article by the McClatchy Newspapers, that study only looked at general risk of injury, while a study of fatal crashes by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in many cases, children are twice as likely to be killed in a car than in an SUV.  According to the NHTSA report, young children who were properly restrained died in 7 percent of multi-vehicle fatal crashes if they [...]

The use of genetically modified crops has been growing rapidly since they first sprouted up a decade ago -- and 2005 was no exception.  According to an article in the Washington Post, a new global biotech report found the amount of acres devoted to GM crops grew 11 percent last year, to a total of over 220 million acres.  Small cotton farmers in particular like the technology, since they can grow more cotton while using less pesticides.  And perhaps most significant of all is that widespread acceptance of GM rice may soon be in the offing, which would put [...]

Is it possible for America to become energy independent through technologies like clean coal that can create valuable jobs with little pollution? Well the answer is yes, according to Montana's Governor Brian Schweitzer, who has this to say: "Sixty percent of the oil we consume in this country comes from countries that are not our friends.  We have got to be energy independent.  We can produce diesel and gasoline by converting coal through clean coal technology for a dollar a gallon, we can produce more wind energy, and our farms all across America could convert biodiesel from oil seed [...]

Months of headlines have led many to believe that America's evangelicals are convinced of a global warming crisis, and are moving to support strict emissions controls.  But according to Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, his group's executive committee has passed a motion recognizing ongoing debate about the causes of global warming, and declaring a "lack of consensus among the evangelical community on this issue."  Since the motion comes in response to a letter, organized by the new Interfaith Stewardship Alliance and signed by 20 evangelical leaders, including such top names as James Dobson, Charles [...]

Everyone knows there's a lot of hot air in Hollywood.  So to cut down on global warming, a number of movie and rock stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio and the Foo Fighters have decided to plant "All Celebrity Forests" to offset their "personal carbon dioxide emissions." But according to Steve Milloy of FoxNews.com, a new report in Nature magazine might be bringing bad vibes to this celebrity plan since it found that living plants, particularly in tropical rainforests, may produce up to a third of the world's methane – which is a potent greenhouse gas.  Since this means that new [...]