Dead zones in the ocean are caused by low levels of oxygen, and said low levels of oxygen are caused by increased amounts of chemicals in the water, most often fertilizers. Air pollution is often a factor. By now, I’m pretty sure you can see where I’m going with this: dead zones are on the rise.

But not just one the rise. Seriously very much so on the rise. In fact, the number of dead zones has roughly doubled every decade since the 1960’s, according to a Washington Post report. In turn, these dead zones are killing all sorts of fish and crab and marine life that serve as the bottom of the food chain.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sydney Pollack passed away yesterday of cancer. The 73 year old director, actor and writer has been making us think and smile since he first started directed TV episodes and went on to make The Slender Thread in 1965. Beyond his films and performances, Syndey was also active in the world, specifically as an advocate of artists’ rights and for dreams of an old Hollywood:

He added that he was motivated by two factors: “First, I have to satisfy the needs of popular art. Second, I don’t want to be intellectually insulting. I want to raise issues and questions that are sufficiently intriguing — so people I care about will like them, too.” [Washington Post]

For Pollack’s rich filmography, some great videos and more on his work as an activist click HERE >>>

Read the rest of this entry »

The Washington Post reported today that with very little fanfare, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rewritten a section of the Clean Air Act which will make it easier to build power plants near national parks and wilderness areas.

The rewriting affects Class 1 areas, the highest level of protection afforded parks and wilderness (short of the Witness Protection Program, but it’s really really hard to hide a forest).  The change is policy is subtle, but the effects substantial.  Basically, the policy now is to not allow pollution levels to ever go over a certain mark, even in short spikes.  The new policy would afford, you know, the ability to pollute more, and more often.  It acts like a cap and trade program, except the pollution is trading with itself.  Confused?  Let’s let the pros discuss:

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

“The First Time I Every Saw Your Face” May Be the First Time You Hear About Ewan MacColl

California’s Gay Marriage Ban Overturned & 5 Ways To Take Action

* * *
Nicole Hughes:

“Bottlemania” Book Takes Bottled Water Industry To Task

Arnold Tells Automakers To “Stop Whining” About Tougher California Emissions Standards

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Department of Energy Forecasts Large Increase In Wind Power Usage

Edward Norton & Gavin Newsom Speak To Congress About Environmental Building Practices

* * *

Jon Popham:

Spencer Tunick Strips Hundreds Naked

Lichtenstein Sculptures At Fairchild Garden In Miami

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Does Being Ethical Pay?

Is the Anti-Female Genial Mutilation Campaign Offensive?

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

A Global Look At Media On Pangea Day

Everything Cinema: Brody Takes On the Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard

The Energy Department released a report yesterday with the promising news that wind power could be able to meet 20 percent of electricity needs by 2030. This wind electricity could replace 50 percent of natural gas consumption and 18 percent of coal consumtion. Per the Washington Post,

The report said a boost in wind capacity to 20 percent of electricity generation “could potentially defer the need to build some new coal capacity, avoiding or postponing the associated carbon emissions.”

Read the rest of this entry »

On 60 Minutes last night Murat Kurnaz, an ex-terror detainee, spoke about the torture he received while in Kandahar and eventually Guantanamo. Kurnaz, a German citizen of Turkish descent, was traveling in Pakistan for religious reasons when he was picked up by police and handed over to the Americans.

The story comes roughly a month before the release of Errol Morris’ new film Standard Operating Procedure. I’ve written about the film a lot here on TakePart, both because it’s a Participant Productions film that I’m very proud of and also because I’m simply a huge Errol Morris fan. What’s especially exciting is that the film not only comes at a critical time in terms of the information it presents, but also that the film is getting a lot of praise, including winning the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

Read the rest of this entry »

The AP reports Angelina Jolie said Thursday that the reinforcement of U.S. troops in Iraq has created an opportunity for humanitarian programs to boost assistance for Iraqi refugees.

In an op-ed piece published by the Washington Post, titled “A Reason to Stay in Iraq,” Jolie details the plight of refugees and says their conditions have not improved since she visited the country last August to urge governments to provide more support.

She said she stressed to Iraqi officials there must be a coherent plan for helping some 2 million Iraqis who are taking advantage of the downturn in violence to begin trickling back to abandoned homes from havens elsewhere in the country. A similar number fled Iraq to escape the bloodshed.

Read the rest of this entry »

After criticism from elected officials, the NFL decided it will allow church groups to show the Super Bowl on large-screen televisions, reversing its previous policy
Originally the NFL had said, such mass out-of-home viewing on a display larger than 55 inches, such as those held in churches, violated copyright and trademark law. Now the NFL has reconsidered it’s decision allowing church viewing parties to be advertised without legal consequence.

In a letter to U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will no longer object to “live showings — regardless of screen size — of the Super Bowl” by religious organizations, The Washington Post reported.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Washington Post’s 2005 Neologism contest results are old news, 3 years old, to be precise. But since I just had them forwarded to me by a friend, they are news to me. And thanks to the neologists, I have been able to diagnose a timeless problem I have confronted as a satirical comic and blogger. (I know, get over myself, it’s you, Katie, not your audience, or a “problem,” who needs a diagnosis etc., but whatever. And NO I’m not comparing myself to Steven Colbert or Lenny Bruce, they’re just amazing satirists. So shut up!) The word is

Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.

I feel so validated, knowing there is a name to describe the sarcasm I have experienced. This neologism is so dead-on, I’ve invented my own: neologosis: a (n) diagnosis made by a neologism. Below are instances of sarcasm, when my satire was misunderstood. Here’s what the sarcastic critics are saying:

Read the rest of this entry »