After issuing its decision on wetlands protections [1] last week, the Supreme Court once again made headlines in environmental news this week: The Court decided to hear the case about whether the federal government is required to regulate greenhouse gases [1]. David G. Savage writes in the Los Angeles Times [2] that the case “could be one of the most important environmental disputes ever to come before the court.” Indeed, it could be, as SCOTUS [3]’s determinations in Massachusetts vs. EPA could have broad implications for U.S. environmental policy. If anyone wants to venture a guess about how the Court will vote, I’d be curious to hear thoughts about the breakdown.
Speaking of court disputes, USA Today published a lengthy article [4] about India’s attempts to protect yoga [4] and other traditional knowledge from unscrupulous folk who might lay claim to ancient teachings. A lightning rod for this issue is Bikram Choudhury, of 105-degree Bikram Yoga [5] fame, who copyrighted his sequence of poses in 2002. To prevent these sorts of abuses in the future, Indian scholars are compiling a “Traditional Knowledge Digital Library” that documents the historical pedigree of yoga poses and natural remedies alike. India hopes the collection will show that the teachings are in the public domain and thus not subject to individual ownership.
The best natural remedy is maintaining a healthy diet, and it turns out that eating almonds will allow you to do just that. A study [6] released during the week reveals that the tree nuts—and particularly their skins—are rich in antioxidants, not to mention the fact that almonds provide the nutrients vitamin E, iron, calcium, and phosphorous. Eating a handful a day might not be a bad idea.
On the alternative/renewable energy front, there was some good news last week. The Bush administration announced that it would offer $170 million [7] to help make solar power more economically competitive, and it also formed an advisory group [8] that will shape policy on hydrogen as a potential energy source. Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Franscisco, a city at the vanguard of many arenas, has been investigating tidal power and wave power as possible sources of SF’s energy [9]: One proposal calls for tide-driven turbines to be submerged underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you’re in the Bay Area and decide to visit Oakland during the summer, you’ll be there during the last gasp of Styrofoam and polystyrene food packaging. The city has outlawed [10] such environmentally noxious containers, instead mandating that restaurants and cafes use biodegradable and compostable materials. The ordinance takes effect at the beginning of January—a good way to begin the new year.