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Hello and good afternoon all. In today’s news:

• World’s scientists call warming ‘unmistakable’;
• Jerry Brown calls state’s global warming law the key difference between him, Meg Whitman;
• Brown offers ideas on education, environment;
• Environmental champ and SD 15 candidate John Laird: “California must spur economic growth in clean tech”;
• CLCV calls lieutenant governor candidate out on environment;
• Prop 26 Blows a $1 Billion Hole in State Budget;
• Water quality closures up at some area beaches;
• Bill would allow all ports to have Clean Trucks-type programs;
• Strong public support for climate law, but battle brews;
• California’s ‘Controversial’ Climate Law Supported by Overwhelming Majority;
• Majority of Californians oppose offshore drilling;
• Eric Corey Freed: “AB 32 a breath of fresh air that saves money and adds jobs”;
• State political news;
• David Allgood’s international news roundup is your Cure for Insomnia.

Top News

Bloomberg News 7/30/10
“World’s scientists call warming ‘unmistakable’”
“Scientific evidence that the world is getting warmer is ‘unmistakable,’ according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration drawing on research from 48 countries, including Russia and China.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/30/MNJI1ELCG7.DTL

San Jose Mercury News 7/30/10
“Jerry Brown calls state’s global warming law the key difference between him, Meg Whitman”
“Calling the issue the defining difference between himself and Republican Meg Whitman in the governor’s race, Democrat Jerry Brown gave an impassioned defense Thursday of California’s landmark global warming law.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_15633473

GreenGov2010, Sacramento Bee 7/29/10
“Jerry Brown offers ideas on education, environment”
“Coming under attack for offering only a few specific policy proposals, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown released plans Wednesday to spend more money on higher education and to shift more K-12 decision-making authority to local schools. He also detailed positions on the environment, including opposition to new offshore oil drilling and support for measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
http://www.greengov2010.org/you-report/2010/07/jerry-brown-releases-plan-environment
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/29/2921901/jerry-brown-offers-ideas-on-education.html

San Jose Mercury News (opinion) 7/29/10
John Laird: “California must spur economic growth in clean tech”
“The biggest issue facing California right now is bringing back the economy and creating jobs. One of the few economic bright spots in California is clean energy and the technology sector. Policymakers in Sacramento should play to this strength. Not enough of them are… We need a state legislator who understands and actively supports the important relationship between environmental policy and job creation in cleantech and the green economy. It’s an essential issue in this race.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15624251?IADID

(Editor’s note: CLCV has endorsed John Laird in the SD 15 special election on August 17).

State Environmental News

San Francisco Examiner 7/29/10
“Republican lieutenant governor candidate called out on environment”
“It seems Abel Maldonado, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, is getting a taste of his own medicine. After slamming his opponent Mayor Gavin Newsom over his wife’s investments in oil companies, including TransOcean, the company that’s responsible for the oil spill in the Gulf, the California League of Conservation Voters have some questions for Maldonado on the topic of the environment.”
http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/republican-lieutenant-governor-candidate-called-out-on-environment-99564614.html

Calitics, California Majority Report 7/30/10
“Prop 26 Blows a $1 Billion Hole in State Budget”
“[Prop 26] proposition would require a 2/3 vote for all fees — the only revenue source that can currently be created by a majority vote. That alone would devastate public services even further and make it impossible to fund important programs from recycling to oil disposal. But that’s not all Prop 26 does… a new Legislative Analyst’s Office study shows Prop 26 would also blow a $1 billion hole in the state budget.”
http://calitics.com/diary/12224/prop-26-blows-a-1-billion-hole-in-state-budget
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/8004

San Francisco Chronicle 7/29/10
“Water quality closures up at some area beaches”
“Last year wasn’t a good time to be a beach bum in Northern California, thanks to oily, polluted water that caused an unusual number of closures and health warnings, particularly in the San Francisco area, according to a Natural Resources Defense Council report released Wednesday.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/29/BAC31EKHLH.DTL&type=green

Daily Breeze 7/30/10
“Bill would allow all ports to have Clean Trucks-type programs”
“A New York congressman on Thursday introduced a bill that would allow seaports across the country to mimic the Port of Los Angeles’ version of the Clean Trucks Program, including a disputed provision to limit the types of drivers entering port terminals.”
www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15633238

Thin Green Line (SF Chronicle blog) 7/30/10
“Strong public support for climate law, but battle brews”
“Despite a whole lot of brouhaha over AB 32 and the proposition to derail it, two-thirds of California residents continue to back it — a percent unchanged from last year. So says a poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?&entry_id=69072

Treehugger 7/29/10
“California’s ‘Controversial’ Climate Law Supported by Overwhelming Majority”
“You’d be forgiven for thinking that AB 32, California’s climate change law, was truly controversial. Republican candidates running for office this year have taken to publicly bashing it, calling it a job killer and worse. And given that the effort to reign in carbon emissions on a national level just deflated because it was viewed by senators as too controversial as well, you might think that fighting climate change is a contentious issue across the board. Well, it’s not. No matter how badly California’s GOP hopefuls batter the law, the public still thinks it’s a good idea — by very large margins.”
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/california-controversial-climate-law-supported-majority.php

Reuters, Sacramento Business Journal 7/30/10
“Majority of Californians oppose offshore drilling”
“Three months into the worst oil spill in U.S. history, most Californians oppose offshore drilling, marking a strong shift in opinion on the issue, a poll has found.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S5G420100729?type=domesticNews
http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/07/26/daily57.html

The Palm Springs Desert Sun (opinion) 7/30/10
Eric Corey Freed: “AB 32 a breath of fresh air that saves money and adds jobs”
“Some in California worry that by regulating carbon emissions we’ll be putting our economy on the back burner. But nothing in our recent history has indicated that California must choose between economic stability and environmental responsibility.”
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100730/COLUMNS26/7290387/AB-32-a-breath-of-fresh-air-that-saves-money-and-adds-jobs

State Politics

California Progress Report 7/30/10
Sheila Kuel: “A Lame Duck Governor Fabricates A Hoped-For Legacy”
“After more than six years of carving up and flushing what used to be referred to as the California Dream, the Governor has looked around at the wreckage and decided to float the story that it wasn’t his doing. Many have obediently picked up the narrative and amplified it through the press and online.”
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/8010

Fresno Bee (editorial) 7/30/10
“Brown shouldn’t pass up chance for Fresno debate”
“It doesn’t make a lot of political sense for Democrat Jerry Brown to play games over whether he will face Republican Meg Whitman in an Oct. 2 gubernatorial debate in Fresno. The debate will target Hispanic voters, a segment of the California electorate that is crucial to both candidates.”
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/07/29/2023275/editorial-brown-shouldnt-pass.html

Fox & Hounds Daily 7/30/10
Meg Whitman: “Judicial Nominees Speak Volumes About Principles”
“The recent retirement announcement from California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George reminds us that the governor has very important appointment powers.”
http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/meg-whitman/7454-judicial-nominees-speak-volumes-about-principles

PolitiCal 7/29/10
“Union group takes aim at Whitman — in Spanish”
“A union coalition backing Democratic Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown will hit the airwaves with a new Spanish-language TV ad beginning Friday, trying to chip away at Latino support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/union-group-takes-aim-at-whitman-in-spanish.html

San Francisco Chronicle 7/30/10
“State’s top candidates bring wealth to resumes”
“If Robin Leach ever revives ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,’ he may want to spotlight the candidates in California’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, who have realized their champagne wishes and caviar dreams.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/30/MNCE1EK59H.DTL

David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia

The Big Spill Day 102

BP’s oil and dispersant cocktail entering Gulf food chain.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/29/scientists-find-evidence_n_664298.html

Shell Oil may sue BP over Gulf catastrophe damages.
www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/29/shell-bp-damages-claim

Florida fights BP disaster related scams.
www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/30/1752910/state-goes-after-spill-scams.html

Gulf states worry about restoring their image.
www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/29/98356/gulf-states-now-worry-about-restoring.html

BP spill waste raises concerns in Gulf.
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-waste-20100730,0,4258802.story

Fossil Fuel Funtime:

Oil industry’s appalling safety record exposed.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/america-bp-oil-industry-safety-record

Crews race to keep oil spill out of Lake Michigan.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128865758

Michigan among states with most pipeline accidents.
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-29-pipeline-michigan_N.htm

Regulators warned company on pipeline erosion.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/us/30michigan.html?hpw

Chevron earnings triple.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66T2GF20100730

Texas offers new rules on shale gas drilling.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11279853

Feds. charge coke manufacturer with environmental crimes.
www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80851&catid=37

BLM gives approval for huge Utah oil and gas project.
www.deseretnews.com/article/700051887/Feds-approve-huge-Utah-gas-project.html

Massey Energy to resume work in mine that killed 19.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/us/29brfs-MASSEYPLANSW_BRF.html

Massey Energy files SLAPP suit against environmentalists opposing its mountain top removal mine.
www.williamsondailynews.com/view/full_story/8941265/article-Massey-Energy-files-’SLAPP’-lawsuit-against-environmental-activists?instance=secondary_news_left_column

Coal mine operators oppose change in water rules.
www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9H81VOO0.htm

News from the Homeland:

Energy value of US food waste worth more than offshore oil drilling.
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727712.700-us-food-waste-worth-more-than-offshore-drilling.html

EPA rejects challenge to credible compelling climate science.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/07/epa-rejects-challenge-to-credible-compelling-climate-science.html

Renewable energy advocates make push on energy bill.
www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/29/98350/renewable-energy-advocates-make.html

Gulf of Mexico has long been a dump site for industry.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/us/30gulf.html?_r=1&hp

Senate bill would tighten regulation of oil dispersants.
www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/2291/

Alaska cruise ship kills humpback whale.
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/30/dead-humpback-whale-alaska-cruise

First Solar profits exceed expectations.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58984

Parents say tainted water in Camp Lejuene cause childrens’ brain cancer.
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/trussville_parents_say_tainted.html

Local News From the Golden State:

Plymouth celebrates new oil filter recycling center.
www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=272551

Sonoma County sues federal gov’t. over energy refits.
www.petaluma360.com/article/20100727/community/100729539

Researcher plans to rebuild oyster population in Elkhorn slough.
www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_15629483

Gavilan College of training in green water technologies.
www.gilroydispatch.com/news/267529-gavilan-offers-new-water-technology-program

Clear Lake algal bloom leads to health advisories.
lakeconews.com/content/view/15148/919/

Malibu ends battle with Coastal Commission.
www.malibutimes.com/articles/2010/07/29/news/news2.txt

Siskiyou County responds to ground water lawsuit.
www.siskiyoudaily.com/highlight/x452074878/County-responds-to-groundwater-lawsuit

Tracy peaker plant moves forward.
www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/8935210/article-Peaker-plant-expansion-moves-forward?instance=home_news_bullets

News Of The World:

Phytoplankton in deep trouble, humans encouraged to find a gas other than oxygen to breathe.
www.thestar.com/article/841619–plankton-crucial-to-the-planet-for-food-and-oxygen-in-deep-trouble-global-warming-blamed

Backbone of marine food chain in alarming decline.
www.enn.com/wildlife/article/41600

UN ends protections for Galapagos islands.
www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/fears-for-unique-wildlife-of-galapagos-as-un-drops-islands-protected-status-2039073.html

X Prize offered for oil spill solution.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10810485

UN looking at further Kyoto carbon cuts.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66T2DI20100730

UN recognizes access to clean water as a human right.
www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2010/2010-07-29-01.html

News from the EU:

Europe lagging US, China in biofuels development.
www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/europe-lagging-u-s-and-china-in-developing-biofuels-novozymes-ceo-says.html

Trapped glacier water threatens French village.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58986

News from the Land of 1.4 Billion People:

3,000 barrels of chemicals wash into Songhua River.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10799219

China lags in environmental accident prevention.
www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0729/China-flood-and-oil-spill-response-improves.-Prevention-Not-so-much.

Oil spill could be as high as 60,000 tons.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66T2LQ20100730

Exploding gas pipeline kills an even dozen in Nanjing.
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-explosion-20100729,0,5448839.story

Water cut to north China after chemical spill.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58980

News from the Damp Isles:

Squirrel meat flies off supermarket shelves.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/squirrel-meat-supermarket

UK population will be largest in western Europe by 2050.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-population-largest-in-western-europe-by-2050-2039395.html

News From The Land Of the Four O’Clock Sun:

Oil spill halted, oil firm’s reputation sullied.
www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/spill-halted-enbridges-reputation-still-sullied/article1656290/

Elusive zedonk captured on video.
www.theglobeandmail.com/video/zedonk—zebra-or-donkey/article1656982/

Oil sands profits jump amid green battle.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S42J20100729

Chemicals in river linked to sex changes in fish.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/842142–chemicals-in-rivers-linked-to-sexual-changes-in-fish-researchers-say

New data highlights oil sands pollution.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/new-database-shows-oilsands-pollution-slow-steady-drip-scientist-99562979.html

News From the Rest of the World:

Mexico City’s air quality improves at last.
www.economist.com/node/16706385?story_id=16706385

Mekong dam threatens rare giant fish.
www.enn.com/wildlife/article/41596

Indonesian firm wrecks forests.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58981

Frogs In The News:

Smithsonian research discovers three new frog species in Panama.
www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-3985-Smithsonians_National_Zoo_Sponsored_Research_Project_Discovers_3_New_Frogs_in_Panama

Best Headlines Ever:

Millions of frozen mice recalled.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/business/global/30mice.html?ref=business

Jordan River pollution makes baptism unsafe.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/29/AR2010072905915.html