Tarsiers, 'organic' standards, opened lands, more new rules

brought to you by Sasha Paris  

College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine.  

Human Ecology in Action.

California's governor ordered his state's utilities to be using 33% renewable power by 2030, and is trying to promote development of such power by addressing obstacles to it--including environmental regulations (GreenTechMedia)
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/schwarzenegger-renewable-energy-permitting-process-too-complicated-5198.html

Pygmy tarsiers were recently seen for the first time since 1921, which could impact use of their Indonesian rainforest home [Check this out if only for the photo--they look so weird!] (LiveScience)
http://news.aol.com/article/gremlins-discovered-after-85-years/252936?icid=100214839x1213667800x1200811873

Bark beetles continue to kill off pine trees across the western US and Canada [I've seen this in New Mexico...it's really depressing.] (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/science/18trees.html?pagewanted=1&ref=science

The BLM opened 1.9 milion acres of formerly-closed land around Bristol Bay, Alaska, to mining and oil drilling, despite the area's focus on salmon fishing (Bristol Bay Times)
http://thebristolbaytimes.com/news/show/3871

The USDA drafted rules setting minimum requirements of pasture access and grass intake for cows producing certified-organic milk. The public comment period ends Dec. 23 (Associated Press)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-11-18-organic-milk-cows_N.htm

Washington Post
They also drafted standards, to which many people object, for "organic" farmed fish.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/19/AR2008111903787_pf.html

The EPA is easing restrictions on point-source air pollution near national parks.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111803813_pf.html