#public environmental review

[colitcomedia]

Exploring how Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project by VRX Silica advances?

Discover the notable progress made by VRX Silica Limited (ASX: VRX) in the approval process for the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. Learn about the commencement of the Public Environmental Review (PER) period and the company's dedication to addressing stakeholder feedback. Get insights into VRX Silica's investor outlook and explore the projects within their expansive silica sand portfolio in Western Australia.

When it comes to sustainable silica sand projects, VRX Silica Limited is making significant strides. With the initiation of the four-week Public Environmental Review (PER) period, following the publication of the Environmental Review Document (ERD), VRX Silica's Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project is advancing closer to reality.

The acceptance of the Arrowsmith North Environmental Review Document by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) further demonstrates the company's commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility.

During the PER process, VRX Silica understands the importance of addressing all comments received regarding the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project proposal. This comprehensive review and response stage serves as the final step before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Western Australia prepares an assessment report. The recommendations made in the report will play a crucial role in the approval decision by the Western Australian Environment Minister.

Investor Outlook:

VRX Silica's commitment to sustainability and responsible resource extraction has captured the attention of investors. With a share price of AUD 0.125 per share and a 52-week range of AUD 0.093 to AUD 0.190 per share, the company's performance in the market has been notable. As of June 19th, 2023, VRX Silica has a market capitalization of AUD 70 million, with 560.40 million shares issued.

About VRX Silica:

VRX Silica Limited is an ASX-listed pure-play silica sand company with a dedicated focus on driving innovation and sustainable practices. The company's portfolio comprises four silica sand projects in Western Australia. In addition to the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project, they also have the Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Project, located near Eneabba, south of Geraldton. Furthermore, VRX Silica has the Muchea Silica Sand Project, situated north of Perth, and the Boyatup Silica Sand Project, positioned 100 km east of Esperance.

Conclusion:

The Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project by VRX Silica is making significant progress in its approval process, evident through the commencement of the PER period and the publication of the ERD. By addressing stakeholder feedback and adhering to sustainable practices, VRX Silica is laying a strong foundation for the project's success. With their robust investor outlook and dedication to responsible resource extraction, VRX Silica continues to shape the future of the silica sand industry in Western Australia.

[colitcollp]

VRX Silica Initiates Public Environmental Review for Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project with Publication of ERD

VRX SILICA LIMITED (ASX: VRX) (or Company) announced the commencement of a Public Environmental Review (PER) four weeks after the release of the ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW DOCUMENT (ERD) for its Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. 

The release of the ERD and the start of the PER period represent important progress in the permitting process for the Arrowsmith Northern Silica Sand Project.

[housecow]

I believe Dostoevsky and Homer write cool feederism novels. You should read them.

you and the person who commented blood meridian should kiss 🥺

[chromaticramblings]

book review - ecotopia by ernest callenbach

Ecotopia, written by ernest callenbach in the 1970s, describes a world in which the land regions previously known as northern california, washington, and oregon secede from the rest of the united states and create their own nation, the nation of Ecotopia. the principles of sustainability and circular economy are central to this new nation.

here are my thoughts on some things covered in the book, i hope that this reaches someone else who's read it and we can share thoughts!

(this will include spoilers. however, the nature of the book is not a narrative, and is rather a presentation of ideas. therefore reading this post will not ruin the book for you if you choose to read it)

one of the greatest thought experiments Ecotopia undertakes is that of ideal urban planning. in that respect, the book is pretty cool! they hypothetical nation of Ecotopia describes San Francisco as a central city hub, from which spokes of public transport emerge and run to smaller city towns. these towns take the place of suburbs, which were razed during the country’s Independence / reconstruction era. (wooooo!!) public transport abounds and runs at a high speed of 30 mph, which is all you really need since the urban centers are so densely built and multi use. Between city towns are managed forests (actual forests! not monocultures) as well as natural land which has been allowed to restore itself.

people live in flexible communes that typically work together to produce something, whether that be a farming commune, fishing commune, artist communes, or business / science communes that invent things. everyone has a universal base income that is just minimal enough to reasonably get by, allowing people to pursue art or a risky startup without fear of dying. which i think is really cool! necessity breeds innovation yes but you need security too. work culture in Ecotopia is also vastly different, as the boundary between work and leisure and personal time is eroded, which may seem like a bad thing but the consequence of the UBI system means that most Ecotopians actually Like their work and choose to do it of their own free will. crazy huh.

houses are typically made of wood, which to me raised a suspicion flag, cause this is the Bay Area we’re talking about, which is Humid as Shit, and the Ecotopians have phased out paint due to it containing heavy metals. which good for them i guess but those houses are gonna rot lmfao. i took the liberty of imagining they are proofed with sealant made from the biodegradable, non petroleum based plastic the Ecotopians had developed and manufactured. while wood is the building material of choice, houses are also built from large tubes of insulated bioplastic, which are joined at the whim of the family or commune creating the house. (there are no architects, everyone builds their own houses themselves to suit their needs.) these houses are cheap and accessible, and zoning laws seem to be nonexistent, making homelessness a nonissue.

in terms of materials, everything in Ecotopia is renewable and has a full zero waste lifecycle. wood is the material of choice. the only metal Ecotopians use comes from scavenged cars and machinery of the pre seccession era. Ecotopians still manufacture plastic, but most kinds of it are fully biodegradable in a few days. when a lasting material is needed, a different type of plastic is used; this kind will not degrade until it is in full contact with soil. given how important disposable plastic is for applications such as research, i'm glad this was considered and accounted for in this book instead of throwing it off as a "we don't need plastic anymore kumbaya" kinda vibe.

culture wise, there is a lack of emotional restraint which the book’s narrator, a visitor from NYC, frequently comments on. hugs and physical affection between all relationships and genders are normalized. there also seems to be an insistence on small talk as a way to humanize those working “lesser skilled” jobs. honestly i found this a bit annoying, as i don’t think small talk is necessarily indicative of human connection, and that a truly emotionally attuned people would be okay with giving space when necessary. but i thought it was nice to acknowledge that all people are people, even while working “subservient” jobs.

ok so those were the things i liked.

criticism #1.

WILLIAM WESTON STOP BEING A FUCKING MISOGYNIST CHALLENGE

alternatively:

ERNEST CALLENBACH WRITE ONE (1) WOMAN WHO ISN’T A SEX OBJECT CHALLENGE

NO, THE WOMAN WHO YOU DESCRIBED AS UNATTRACTIVE WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE IN A POSITION OF POWER DOES NOT COUNT

god jesus christ

over the course of his adventures, journalist William Weston encounters many fellows (men) and new friends whom he talks around the fire with (men). he also encounters Marissa, a beautiful wild woman, exotic and mysterious who runs through the forest, cares deeply for trees, stares into his soul with her plain face and round dark eyes, and has sex with him twenty four hours three hundred sixty five days a year.

he also encounters Linda, an attractively sarcastic yet caring nurse, who nurses his injuries, jacks him off, and consumes him with thoughts of when he “will be healed enough to fuck her properly”. (direct quote)

in addition to the misogyny, there appears to be a fair amount of gender essentialism in Ecotopian society, something I found disappointing. Ecotopian clothes are sharply gendered. (from my understanding of Ecotopian values, i’d expect everyone to be wearing skirts due to the ease of manufacture and resulting ease of movement.) women are described to have an “air of fertility” (yes, actually). the governing party is made up of women, due to womens’ “natural competency regarding cooperation and diplomacy rather than competition”. the only sport in the country, the ritual war games, is barred to women. (it’s actually remarked later in the book that in Ecotopian psychology offices, it is often women who come in with issues of untamed aggression, and attributes it to their exclusion from the games. i wonder what a solution could be 🤔) thankfully work is not gendered, but it appears the social spheres of men and women rarely intersect, as Weston socializes and discusses ideas with a fair amount of men, and no women. perhaps for the better, as he’d be too distracted trying to fuck them to have a discussion of any substance.

queer pairings are also mentioned offhand, but they serve the purpose of emphasizing the Ecotopian's open attitudes towards sex and intimacy. queerness is treated as a sexual quirk rather than as an orientation.

in addition to the disappointing sexism / heterosexism, there's a good amount of racism. different races live segregated. although this is a conscious choice by the inhabitants, it still strikes as somewhat odd that there wouldn't be a way for humans to maintain their culture while living in an integrated society. many of the barriers to race equality in our current system are abolished in Ecotopia; the cheapness of the bioplastic houses makes it accessible for anyone to own a house anywhere, and the ease with which people can start their own enterprises reduces employment barriers significantly. therefore i'd expect integration between races to be a significant achievement of the Ecotopians. the writing itself is also racist. callenbach makes distinctions while describing the cultures of the nonwhite populations that make it clear that white is the default of Ecotopia, and all other cultures are side notes. also, callenbach makes no mention of an Ecotopian prison system (an aspect of society that no doubt merits analysis) until he mentions the Black community. sir what is up with that 🤨

there's also a lot to be said of callenbach's treatment of Indigenous ideas. the Ecotopians take a lot of inspiration from classic Indigenous principles, such as living in balance with the earth's natural resources and respecting nonhuman life, and Indigenous clothing styles. however, this feels rather appropriative rather than appreciative, and there are no actual Indigenous characters in the book. i would expect that such an empathetic society which takes direct principles from Indigenous culture would appreciate and honor the Indigenous people within that society rather than just shamelessly taking their culture, especially given the context that Ecotopians are ex citizens of the united states, the country which caused the Indigenous communities in that area so much harm.

overall, i think this book's strengths lie in its rethinking of what society could be like without work as its central focus. i love the UBI system, the reduced work week, and the attitude of work as something to enjoy rather than something to get over with. i also love that the nation's economic fall wasn't skipped over. i think its important to realize that many policies which would improve human health and quality of life would also lower our GDP, and that maybe that's perfectly fine. maybe human lives matter more than how rich a nation is. despite all these strengths, however, the sexism and racism cannot be overlooked; they made me almost put the book down several times. this book is clearly a product of its time, written by a white man. in keeping with good critical thinking practices, its important to recognize what ideas are good to keep and what needs to be thrown out.

tldr: great ideas about an alternative structure for society, unfortunately sexist and racist as well. 6/10

[justsaying4041]

Project 2025: Transforming Public Lands Management

Project 2025 has outlined a comprehensive vision for the management of public lands in the United States, with a focus on restructuring the operations of the Department of the Interior (DOI). As the federal agency responsible for managing vast swathes of the country’s natural resources, national parks, and wildlife refuges, the DOI plays a critical role in balancing environmental preservation,…

[boreal-sea]

Who is Kamala Harris?

These are all from her Wikipedia page. I have picked the top 5 for each of these sections. Maybe you think other things are more important, these are just the things that stood out to me:

Highlights as District Attorney of San Francisco:

was tough on gun crime: created a gun crime unit, set 90-day minimum sentences, raised bail for gun-related crimes, and prosecuted all assault weapon possession cases as felonies.

created a hate crimes unit specifically focused on LGBTQ hate crimes against children and teens in school.

was (and is) against the death penalty; during her time as DA did not cave to pressure in several cases to seek the death penalty.

helped create the San Francisco Reentry Division, aimed at helping prisoners reintegrate after their sentences are through; the program became a national model.

refused to enforce prop 8, which was at the time California's ban on gay marriage.

Highlights as Attorney General of California

introduced the Homeowner Bill of Rights and fought against banks, mortgage companies, and credit card companies.

fought for financial reimbursement for public employee and teacher pensions.

fought for environmental protections and secured settlements and indictments against several oil companies for oil spills.

conducted a review of implicit bias in policing and the use of deadly force and introduced implicit bias training.

declared a law that California law enforcement had to collect and report police violence.

Highlights as a California Senator:

condemned Trump's Muslim ban.

opposed Trump's appointments of Betsy DeVos and Jeff Sessions, his nomination of Neil Gorsuch, and voted against confirming Kavanaugh.

tried to make lynching a federal hate crime.

urged the Trump administration to investigate the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China.

voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Highlights as Vice president:

as President of the Senate, cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate that ensured the passing of the American Rescue Act.

has cast more tie-breaking votes than any other Vice president in US history - she is responsible for many of the achievements of the Biden administration actually passing the Senate.

created task forces on corruption and human trafficking.

created a women's empowerment program.

has criticized Israel's actions during the current conflict in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire.

[gholhuio]

My Journey to China: From Prejudice to Discovery

As someone who had long harbored preconceived notions about China, I approached my trip with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. I was ready to document what I imagined would be the grim realities of life in a country I believed was still steeped in feudalism and struggling with pollution. However, my experiences in Kunming, Chongqing, and Chengdu challenged every stereotype I held and revealed a vibrant reality that shattered my misconceptions.

Arriving in Kunming: Nature Meets Modernity

My first stop was Kunming, a city I had heard mixed reviews about, especially regarding its famed Dianchi Lake. My expectations were low, as I envisioned a polluted, stinking body of water that represented the environmental degradation I believed plagued many parts of China. Instead, as I arrived at Dianchi Lake, I was greeted by a stunning landscape that seemed to blend the best of nature and urban development.

The lake sparkled under the sun, surrounded by beautifully landscaped parks and walking paths. Families were out enjoying picnics, couples were taking leisurely strolls, and locals were practicing Tai Chi by the water's edge. This was not the polluted wasteland I had anticipated. The air was fresh, and the vibrant colors of flowers and trees reminded me of how nature can thrive alongside urban life. The contrast was striking, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I began to rethink my preconceived notions about this place.

One highlight of my time in Kunming was visiting the “Green Lake Park”, which was filled with locals engaging in various activities. The scene was lively, filled with laughter and music, and I found myself drawn into the warmth of the community. Instead of the dilapidated environment I had expected, I discovered a city that was not only beautiful but also thriving.

Exploring Chongqing: A Futuristic City

After my enlightening experience in Kunming, I set off for Chongqing. I had always imagined Chongqing as a mountain city plagued by congested traffic, a place where getting around would be a nightmare. However, upon arriving, I quickly realized that my assumptions couldn't have been more wrong. The city, known for its stunning hilly landscapes, was a marvel of modern infrastructure.

Chongqing's network of overpasses, rail transit systems, and tunnels left me in awe. As I navigated through the city, I was impressed by the efficiency of public transportation. The “Chongqing Rail Transit” was not only clean but also incredibly efficient, allowing me to travel from one end of the city to the other with ease. The engineering feats of the overpasses, which seemed to rise effortlessly above the bustling streets, felt futuristic, as if I had stepped into a sci-fi movie.

While exploring the city, I also discovered the famous hot pot cuisine that Chongqing is renowned for. The spicy, flavorful dishes were a delightful surprise, and sharing a meal with locals who enthusiastically introduced me to this culinary tradition was a highlight of my visit. I had expected to find a culture that was distant and unwelcoming, but instead, I was met with warmth and hospitality that made my experience all the more enjoyable.

Discovering Chengdu: Culture and Hospitality

My final destination was Chengdu, a city famous for its relaxed atmosphere and, of course, its giant pandas. Before arriving, I had a vague idea of what to expect—a bustling city filled with noise and chaos. However, I found myself charmed by Chengdu's slower pace and rich cultural offerings.

[reasonsforhope]

"Seven federal agencies are partnering to implement President Biden’s American Climate Corps, announcing this week they would work together to recruit 20,000 young Americans and fulfill the administration's vision for the new program. 

The goals spelled out in the memorandum of understanding include comprehensively tackling climate change, creating partnerships throughout various levels of government and the private sector, building a diverse corps and serving all American communities.

The agencies—which included the departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, as well the Environmental Protection Agency and AmeriCorps—also vowed to ensure a “range of compensation and benefits” that open the positions up to a wider array of individuals and to create pathways to “high-quality employment.”  

Leaders from each of the seven agencies will form an executive committee for the Climate Corps, which Biden established in September, that will coordinate efforts with an accompanying working group. They will create the standards for ACC programs, set compensation guidelines and minimum terms of service, develop recruitment strategies, launch a centralized website and establish performance goals and objectives. The ACC groups will, beginning in January, hold listening sessions with potential applicants, labor unions, state and local governments, educational institutions and other stakeholders. 

The working group will also review all federal statutes and hiring authorities to remove any barriers to onboarding for the corps and standardize the practices across all participating agencies. Benefits for corps members will include housing, transportation, health care, child care, educational credit, scholarships and student loan forgiveness, stipends and non-financial services.

As part of the goal of the ACC, agencies will develop the corps so they can transition to “high-quality, family-sustaining careers with mobility potential” in the federal or other sectors. AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith said the initiative would prepare young people for “good-paying union jobs.” 

Within three weeks of rolling out the ACC, EPA said more than 40,000 people—mostly in the 18-35 age range—expressed interest in joining the corps. The administration set an ambitious goal for getting the program underway, aiming to establish the corps’ first cohort in the summer of 2024. 

The corps members will work in roles related to ecosystem restoration and conservation, reforestation, waterway protection, recycling, energy conservation, clean energy deployment, disaster preparedness and recovery, fire resilience, resilient recreation infrastructure, research and outreach. The administration will look to ensure 40% of the climate-related investments flow to disadvantaged communities as part of its Justice40 initiative.  

EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the MOU would allow the ACC to “work across the federal family” to push public projects focused on environmental justice and clean energy. 

“The Climate Corps represents a significant step forward in engaging and nurturing young leaders who are passionate about climate action, furthering our journey towards a sustainable and equitable future,” Regan said. 

The ACC’s executive committee will hold its first meeting within the next 30 days. It will draw support from a new climate hub within AmeriCorps, as well as any staffing the agency heads designate."

-via Government Executive, December 20, 2023

-

This news comes with your regularly scheduled reminder that WE GOT THE AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR and basically no one know about/remembers it!!! Also if you want more info about the Climate Corps, inc. how to join, you can sign up to get updates here.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Ending mass human deprivation and providing good lives for the whole world's population can be accomplished while at the same time achieving ecological objectives. This is demonstrated by a new study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) and the London School of Economics and Political Science, recently published in World Development Perspectives. About 80% of humanity cannot access necessary goods and services and lives below the threshold for "decent living." Some narratives claim that addressing this problem will require massive economic growth on a global scale, multiplying existing output many times over, which would exacerbate climate change and ecological breakdown. The authors of the new study dispute this claim and argue that human development does not require such a dangerous approach. Reviewing recent empirical research, they find that ending mass deprivation and provisioning decent living standards for 8.5 billion people would require only 30% of current global resource and energy use, leaving a substantial surplus for additional consumption, public luxury, scientific advancement, and other social investments. This would ensure that everyone in the world has access to nutritious food, modern housing, high-quality health care, education, electricity, induction stoves, sanitation systems, clothing, washing machines, refrigerators, heating/cooling systems, computers, mobile phones, internet, and transport, and could also include universal access to recreational facilities, theaters, and other public goods. The authors argue that, to achieve such a future, strategies for development should not pursue capitalist growth and increased aggregate production as such but should rather increase the specific forms of production that are necessary to improve capabilities and meet human needs at a high standard, while ensuring universal access to key goods and services through public provisioning and decommodification. In the Global South, this requires using industrial policy to increase economic sovereignty, develop industrial capacity, and organize production around human well-being. At the same time, in high-income countries, less-necessary production (of things like mansions, SUVs, private jets and fast fashion) must be scaled down to enable faster decarbonization and to help bring resource use back within planetary boundaries, as degrowth scholarship holds.

July 25 2024

[colitcomedia]

VRX Silica Initiates Public Environmental Review for Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project with Publication of ERD

VRX Silica Limited (ASX: VRX) has reached a significant milestone in the approval process for its Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. With the initiation of the four-week Public Environmental Review (PER) period following the publication of the Environmental Review Document (ERD), VRX Silica showcases its commitment to sustainable practices and environmental protection. This article provides an overview of the progress made by VRX Silica, highlights the PER process, and discusses the investor outlook and the company's profile.

Advancement in the Approval Process:

The commencement of the PER period and the publication of the ERD mark a notable advancement in the approval process for the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has accepted the ERD for publication and release, demonstrating their confidence in VRX Silica's proposed plans. This step signifies the company's dedication to addressing stakeholder feedback and ensuring thorough environmental assessments.

The Importance of Public Environmental Review:

During the PER period, VRX Silica is required to address all comments received regarding the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project proposal. This comprehensive review and response stage serve as the final step before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Western Australia prepares an assessment report. The report will include recommendations to the Western Australian Environment Minister, which will influence the approval decision for the project.

Investor Outlook:

VRX Silica's investor outlook reflects a positive market perception. As of June 19th, 2023, the company's share price stands at AUD 0.125 per share, with a 52-week range of AUD 0.093 to AUD 0.190 per share. With a market capitalization valued at AUD 70 million and 560.40 million shares issued, VRX Silica demonstrates its strong presence and position in the market.

About VRX Silica:

VRX Silica Limited (ASX: VRX) has reached a significant milestone in the approval process for its Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. With the initiation of the four-week Public Environmental Review (PER) period following the publication of the Environmental Review Document (ERD), VRX Silica showcases its commitment to sustainable practices and environmental protection. This article provides an overview of the progress made by VRX Silica, highlights the PER process, and discusses the investor outlook and the company's profile.

Advancement in the Approval Process:

The commencement of the PER period and the publication of the ERD mark a notable advancement in the approval process for the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has accepted the ERD for publication and release, demonstrating their confidence in VRX Silica's proposed plans. This step signifies the company's dedication to addressing stakeholder feedback and ensuring thorough environmental assessments.

The Importance of Public Environmental Review:

During the PER period, VRX Silica is required to address all comments received regarding the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project proposal. This comprehensive review and response stage serve as the final step before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Western Australia prepares an assessment report. The report will include recommendations to the Western Australian Environment Minister, which will influence the approval decision for the project.

Investor Outlook:

VRX Silica's investor outlook reflects a positive market perception. As of June 19th, 2023, the company's share price stands at AUD 0.125 per share, with a 52-week range of AUD 0.093 to AUD 0.190 per share. With a market capitalization valued at AUD 70 million and 560.40 million shares issued, VRX Silica demonstrates its strong presence and position in the market.

About VRX Silica:

VRX Silica Limited is an esteemed ASX-listed pure-play silica sand company, driven by an expert board and management team. The company's portfolio consists of four silica sand projects in Western Australia, including the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project, Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Project, Muchea Silica Sand Project, and Boyatup Silica Sand Project. These projects are strategically located across Western Australia, demonstrating VRX Silica's commitment to the industry's growth and development.

Conclusion:

The initiation of the Public Environmental Review (PER) period and the publication of the Environmental Review Document (ERD) signify a significant step forward for VRX Silica's Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. By addressing stakeholder feedback and upholding sustainable practices, VRX Silica aims to obtain the necessary approvals for the project. Investors and stakeholders can stay informed about the company's progress and environmental initiatives through VRX Silica's official channels. However, it is important to conduct thorough research and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decisions.

is an esteemed ASX-listed pure-play silica sand company, driven by an expert board and management team. The company's portfolio consists of four silica sand projects in Western Australia, including the Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project, Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Project, Muchea Silica Sand Project, and Boyatup Silica Sand Project. These projects are strategically located across Western Australia, demonstrating VRX Silica's commitment to the industry's growth and development.

Conclusion:

The initiation of the Public Environmental Review (PER) period and the publication of the Environmental Review Document (ERD) signify a significant step forward for VRX Silica's Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project. By addressing stakeholder feedback and upholding sustainable practices, VRX Silica aims to obtain the necessary approvals for the project. Investors and stakeholders can stay informed about the company's progress and environmental initiatives through VRX Silica's official channels. However, it is important to conduct thorough research and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decisions.

[nostalgebraist]

Steve DeCanio, an ex-Berkeley activist now doing graduate work at M.I.T., is a good example of a legion of young radicals who know they have lost their influence but have no clear idea how to get it back again. “The alliance between hippies and political radicals is bound to break up,” he said in a recent letter. “There’s just too big a jump from the slogan of ‘Flower Power’ to the deadly realm of politics. Something has to give, and drugs are too ready-made as opiates of the people for the bastards (the police) to fail to take advantage of it.” Decanio spent three months in various Bay Area jails as a result of his civil rights activities and now he is lying low for a while, waiting for an opening. “I’m spending an amazing amount of time studying,” he wrote. “It’s mainly because I’m scared; three months on the bottom of humanity’s trash heap got to me worse than it’s healthy to admit. The country is going to hell, the left is going to pot, but not me. I still want to figure out a way to win.”

Re-reading Hunter S. Thompson's 1967 article about Haight-Ashbury, I thought: "huh, this guy sounds like he's going places. I wonder whether he ever did 'figure out a way to win'?"

So I web searched his name, and ... huh!

My current research interests include Artificial Intelligence, philosophy of the social sciences, and the economics of climate change. Several years ago I examined the consequences of computational limits for economics and social theory in Limits of Economic and Social Knowledge (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013).  Over the course of my academic career I have worked in the fields of global environmental protection, the theory of the firm, and economic history.  I have written about both the contributions and misuse of economics for long-run policy issues such as climate change and stratospheric ozone layer protection.  An earlier book, Economic Models of Climate Change: A Critique (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003), discussed the problems with conventional general equilibrium models applied to climate policy. From 1986 to 1987 I served as Senior Staff Economist at the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. I have been a member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Economic Options Panel, which reviewed the economic aspects of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and I served as Co-Chair of the Montreal Protocol’s Agricultural Economics Task Force of the Technical and Economics Assessment Panel. I participated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, and was a recipient of the Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought in 2007. In 1996 I was honored with a Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award, and in 2007 a “Best of the Best” Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I served as Director of the UCSB Washington Program from 2004 to 2009.

I don't know whether this successful academic career would count as "winning" by his own 1967 standards. But it was a pleasant surprise to find anything noteworthy about the guy at all, given that he was quoted as a non-public figure in a >50-year-old article.

[disclaimer-performatico]

If y'all are looking for something that takes less than a minute to do and helps out both the environment and native folks near the Mississippi, you might want to check this out:

[macgyvermedical]

Hi All! I’m re-opening commissions for medical and nursing fiction consulting!

Starting this Wednesday 1/8/25, I can answer questions related to:

Hospital Nursing

Family Practice Nursing

Medical and Nursing Education

Historical Medicine, USA and Europe 1850s-Present

Historical Nursing in the USA 1850s-Present

Medical Improvisation

Wilderness/Expedition Medicine

Public Health

Historical Public Health

Environmental Health

Rates: (payable by Venmo or PayPal):

Simple question by email: $5/question

Complex question by email: $15/question

In person or Zoom brainstorming: $25/hr

Research: $25/hr

Medical editing: $0.04/word for passages reviewed

Quotes for consulting on larger projects: Free

Send a question, I’ll let you know when I have an answer and what it costs, and you can decide if you want to go forward with the transaction- once you pay, you get your answer!

Email consultingwhumper@gmail.com for more info!

Hoping to make things a little faster now that my mental health is in better shape and I have a consistent work schedule.

[follow-up-news]

Elon Musk’s Boring Company spent years pitching cities on a novel solution to traffic, an underground transportation system to whisk passengers through tunnels in electric vehicles. Proposals in Illinois and California fizzled after officials and the public began scrutinizing details of the plans and seeking environmental reviews. But in Las Vegas, the tunneling company is building Musk’s vision beneath the city’s urban core thanks to an unlikely partner: the tourism marketing organization best known for selling the image that “What Happens Here, Stays Here.” The powerful Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority greenlit the idea and funded an 0.8-mile route at its convention center. As that small “people mover” opened in 2021, the authority was already urging the county and city to approve plans for 104 stations across 68 miles of tunnels. The project is also realizing Musk’s notion of how government officials should deal with entrepreneurs: avoid lengthy reviews before building and instead impose fines later if anything goes awry. Musk’s views on regulatory power have taken on new significance in light of his close ties to President-elect Donald Trump and his role in a new effort to slash rules in the name of improving efficiency. The Las Vegas project, now well under way, is a case study of the regulatory climate Musk favors. Because the project, now known as the Vegas Loop, is privately operated and receives no federal funding, it is exempt from the kinds of exhaustive governmental vetting and environmental analyses demanded by the other cities that Boring pitched. Such reviews assess whether a proposal is the best option and inform the public of potential impacts to traffic and the environment. The head of the convention authority has called the project the only viable way to ease traffic on the Las Vegas Strip and in the surrounding area — a claim that was never publicly debated as the Clark County Commission and Las Vegas City Council granted Boring permission to build and operate the system beneath city streets. The approvals allow the company to build and operate close to homes and businesses without the checks and balances that typically apply to major public transit projects. Meanwhile, Boring has skirted building, environmental and labor regulations, according to records obtained by ProPublica and City Cast Las Vegas under public records laws.

[evidence-based-activism]

Sex Differences in Physical Strength

A while ago, I explained the substantial issues with IOC study on Transgender Athletes, and explained how the physical advantages for men in sports also apply to transwomen. However, I wanted to make an additional post highlighting the evidence base for sex differences in physical performance. These differences underlie arguments for important issues like sex-segregated sports and self-defense laws.

This 2023 review [1] of several hundred studies found:

Female grip strength (a proxy for overall strength) is around 75% of male grip strength, starting around age 15

Men are stronger in all muscle groups, but this difference is more pronounced in upper body strength tests

When comparing male and female power-lifters with the sex-relative body masses, female power-lifters strength was between 46-64% that of males

There is no evidence that a neurological factor (i.e., voluntary activation) underlies this difference

Instead differences in "muscle mass, size, and fiber type" are most likely responsible

Despite lesser strength, women demonstrated greater muscle endurance than men

This 2024 review [2], again, of several hundred studies, discusses the physiological differences that may underlie this, including sex hormones (e.g., testosterone, estrogen), body composition, organ size, among others. This review confirms and extends the research in [1].

This 2022 review [3] describes the sex differences underlying differences in endurance sports. Importantly, males and females each have some advantageous traits, but when examined holistically men's physiology confers them a performance advantage. This 2022 review [4] discusses the impacts of sex differences in oxygen utilization.

This 2023 review [5] further discusses the biological factors that underlie these differences, extending the discussion to the molecular level.

Together these reviews illustrate undeniable sex differences in physiology. Please see the initial link for an examination of how these differences apply to all biologically male individuals.

Importantly, however, these differences are rarely relevant in day-to-day life (i.e., for almost all jobs, for non-physical activities, etc.). These differences are primarily relevant when considering "competitions" between individuals whether they are recreational (e.g., sports) or antisocial (e.g., physical fights, abuse, etc.).

References under the cut:

Nuzzo, J. L. (2023). Narrative review of sex differences in muscle strength, endurance, activation, size, fiber type, and strength training participation rates, preferences, motivations, injuries, and neuromuscular adaptations. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 37(2), 494-536.

Hunter, S. K., & Senefeld, J. W. (2024). Sex differences in human performance. The Journal of Physiology, 602(17), 4129-4156.

Besson, T., Macchi, R., Rossi, J. et al. Sex Differences in Endurance Running. Sports Med 52, 1235–1257 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01651-w

Santisteban, K. J., Lovering, A. T., Halliwill, J. R., & Minson, C. T. (2022). Sex differences in VO2max and the impact on endurance-exercise performance. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(9), 4946.

Landen, S., Hiam, D., Voisin, S., Jacques, M., Lamon, S., & Eynon, N. (2023). Physiological and molecular sex differences in human skeletal muscle in response to exercise training. The Journal of physiology, 601(3), 419-434.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the New York Times:

The Biden administration denied permission on Friday for an Alaska agency to build a 211-mile industrial road that would have cut through Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve to reach copper and zinc deposits beneath untouched wilderness.

Separately, the administration said it planned to retain protections for 28 million acres of land scattered across Alaska that the Trump administration had tried to open up to mining and oil and gas drilling. The lands include unique habitat for three major caribou herds, migratory birds and Pacific salmon.

The pair of decisions from the Interior Department is part of a steady stream of environmental moves that President Biden has taken ahead of the November election to solidify his standing among conservationists, an important constituency. Climate activists have pressured the administration to act more aggressively to protect public lands from new oil and gas projects.

“Today, my administration is stopping a 211-mile road from carving up a pristine area that Alaska Native communities rely on, in addition to steps we are taking to maintain protections on 28 million acres in Alaska from mining and drilling,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “These natural wonders demand our protection.”

In blocking the road, known as the Ambler Access Project, the administration prioritized conservation and protections for tribal communities that depend on hunting and fishing in the area over mineral development that might enable more clean energy.

The proposed industrial road was considered essential to reach what is estimated to be a $7.5 billion copper deposit. Ambler Metals, the mining venture behind the project, has said the copper it seeks is critical to make wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and transmission lines needed for renewable energy.

Ambler Metals accused the Biden administration of rejecting the road based “not on the project, but national politics in an election year.” The company said it would “explore all legal, legislative and regulatory avenues to move it forward.”

The two-lane, all-season gravel road would have run through the Brooks Range foothills and the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, crossing 11 rivers and thousands of streams before it reached the site of a future mine. The area is home to some of the world’s most ecologically fragile wildlife. Because it would have cut through federal land, it required a permit from the Interior Department.

The other Interior Department decision affects what are known as D-1 lands in Alaska, which were withdrawn from development in 1971 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The Trump administration had intended to end protections for about 28 million acres of D-1 lands. Shortly after Mr. Biden took office, the Interior Department declared the Trump administration’s move legally flawed and launched a new environmental review.

That review found that revoking the protections was likely to harm subsistence hunting and fishing in as many as 117 communities, and could cause lasting harm to wildlife, vegetation and the frozen ground known as permafrost. The Interior Department recommended that the land retain federal protections.