Stop burning fossil fuels and stop destroying hydroelectric power dams in the USA.

There are three types of hydropower facilities: (click here) impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage. Some hydropower plants use dams and some do not. The images below show both types of hydropower plants.

Many dams were built for other purposes and hydropower was added later. In the United States, there are about 80,000 dams of which only 2,400 produce power. The other dams are for recreation, stock/farm ponds, flood control, water supply, and irrigation.

Hydropower plants range in size from small systems for a home or village to large projects producing electricity for utilities. The sizes of hydropower plants are described below....

Would anyone in the USA consider a hydroelectric power plant a work of art deserving tourism attention? Of course not, but, Germany did. The United States of America has forgotten what it means to be civilized, modern and elegant.

Voith (click here) is a company that has constructed hydroelectric power plants around the globe. Gratefully, in Ethiopia as well.

No, it isn't a matter of forgetting, it is matter of abandoning civilization and the value of the human experience everyday of one's life.

Designed by Becker Architekten, the Iller Hydroelectric Power Plant in Kempten, Germany is as environmentally-conscious and sculptural as it is industrial. The structure has earned three architecture awards over the past year – the German Architecture Prize 2011 Concrete, the pbb German commercial award 2010 and finalist in the 2010 Liechtenstein International Award for Sustainable Building in the Alps - in honor of its amorphous, organic design and sustainable features.

The new facility has replaced a previous power station dating back to the 1950s and provides gently-harnessed renewable hydroelectric power for as many as 4,000 households and generates 14 gWh of electricity each year for the medieval city of Kempten in the foothills of the Alps.

Its smooth exterior of white concrete blends into the surrounding riverscape like a rock formation, while its cavernous interior is shaped by rough wooden boards. It funnels water along its 150 meters of length to the turbines, which are located in a hall built according to the very highest sound-proofing standards. Other provisions, such as a fish ladder, were also included to reduce harmful environmental impacts.

The project also called for a steel pedestrian and bike bridge to be built nearby over the Iller River, giving the people of Kempten an opportunity to enjoy views of this uniquely beautiful industrial sculpture.

It is called governance. Does life, even human life, mean nothing to Trump and his henchmen?

To assist states like Texas that lag in environmental protections, President Obama wanted to establish an infrastructure bank. There are ways to improve the quality of life in states that can't seem to move past impoverishment of people and government. But, if no one wants to value even human life, the federal government needs to act and bring about change. 

Will there ever be an infrastructure private-public partnership for the states? Well, with exploitation of the USA tax laws, that won't happen soon.

17 August 2018

By Oliver Milman

The rule, which came in the wake of a 2013 chemical explosion that killed 15 people in West, near Dallas, set stricter standards for operators’ risk management plans.

A federal court (click here) has blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to delay safety regulations for chemical plants – the latest in a string of recent legal setbacks for the administration in its attempts to reverse environmental standards.

An appeals court in Washington DC ruled on Friday that the Environmental Protection Agency could not delay the enforcement of a chemical safety rule drawn up by the Obama administration. The EPA’s attempt to impose a two-year delay on the rule was “arbitrary and capricious”, the court ruled, with judges criticizing the agency for making a “mockery” of the Clean Air Act.

The rule, which came in the wake of a 2013 chemical explosion that killed 15 people in West, near Dallas, set stricter standards for operators’ risk management plans.

Plant operators complained the rule was too burdensome, a view shared by the former EPA head Scott Pruitt, who announced the delay in June last year. A total of 11 states allied with environmental groups to successfully challenge this rollback.

“Again and again, the Trump EPA has tried to push through policies that jeopardize our health and fly in the face of the law – and again and again, we’ve taken them to court and won,” said Barbara Underwood, attorney general of New York, a state that has fought the EPA on the chemical rule and a host of other environmental issues....

As Liechtenstein looked across it's energy needs the Prince began a fund for hydroelectric power.

Through Liechtenstein Energie GmbH & Co KG, (click here) the Foundation Prince Liechtenstein operates five hydroelectric power stations in Kalwang.

Aims:

• Sustainable production and sale of ecological energy from small hydroelectric power stations
• Operation taking into account water ecology and biological diversity at local level
• Marketing of drinking water

Kalwang Forest is responsible for the certified eco-electricity from small hydroelectric power stations....

Sometimes a country simply has a conscience worth admiring.

07.07.2016

Energy consumption in Liechtenstein (click here) fell by 0.4 per cent in 2015. In the same period, the proportion of energy provision from local resources increased by 7.6 per cent to 9.8 per cent.

The Office of Statistics’ (AS) latest energy statistics have revealed that total energy consumption fell by 0.4 per cent to 1,223,515 megawatt hours in 2015. Per capita consumption also dropped, by 0.4 megawatt hours to 32.5 megawatt hours.

The most important energy source in 2015 was electricity, which contributed 32.2 per cent. Other significant energy sources were natural gas at 20.8 per cent, heating oil at 12.9 per cent, diesel at 11.1 per cent, petrol at 9.3 per cent and district heating from garbage at 8.6 per cent.

Compared to the previous year, the energy source of petrol fell in usage by 20 per cent. Diesel usage also sank – by 11.7 per cent – while wood contributed 2.3 per cent less. Meanwhile, there was a rise in the usage of heating oil, with an increase of 21 per cent, and of biogas and natural gas by 7 and 6.7 per cent respectively. 

Local energy sources also contributed an increased proportion of power to the total energy supply, rising from 7.6 per cent to 9.8 per cent or 120,445 megawatt hours. Energy production from Liechtenstein’s energy carriers rose by 74.9 per cent to 66,243 megawatt hours. This significant increase can be attributed to the hydroelectric power station Samina, which has been gradually contributing to the network since the end of January 2015. Heat production from local firewood and biogas and Liechtenstein’s 1,807 solar power plants contributed a total of 54,202 megawatt hours. 

If the Bald Eagle falls into peril again, how will an American know?

August 1, 2018

As the Endangered Species Act (click here) approaches its 45th anniversary, it remains one of the most popular and successful laws in modern history — even as lobbyists, lawmakers and the Trump administration target parts of it for extinction. 

Produced by a near-unanimous Congress (the votes were 92-0 in the Senate and 394-4 in the House) and signed by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1973, the act has saved 99 percent of more than 1,600 plants and species.

Its catalog of success includes the American alligator, gray whale, grizzly bear and bald eagle, the USA's national symbol.

Yet in addition to a slew of bills pending in Congress to roll back the act, federal agencies are proposing sweeping changes to how the law is implemented, steps that would fundamentally alter its character and meaning....

A poll from 2015 showed wide support for the ESA (Endangered Species Act):

Poll Finds National Consensus on the Endangered Species Act (click here)

Asked whether they support or oppose the Endangered Species Act based on a basic description of the law, 90 percent of voters surveyed indicate they support it, including a majority (53%) who strongly support it, to just seven percent who oppose it.

This overwhelming support for the Endangered Species Act extends across the country and across gender, age, and ethnic lines. Most notably, in today’s highly polarized political environment, support for the Endangered Species Act also spans the political spectrum, with the law being backed by overwhelming majorities of self-identified liberals (96% support), moderates (94%), and conservatives (82%)....

The Endangered Species Act is still good politics and it is under attack. The American people do not like politicians that want to damage their wilderness. The man most responsible for this draconian approach to destroying nature is Utah Representative Rob Bishop.

August 18, 2018

...Proposals (click here) that didn't have a shot under previous administrations got a second wind after the election of Donald Trump and his appointment of Ryan Zinke as secretary of the interior. Last year, a raft of bills were introduced in the House Natural Resources Committee, where chairman Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, declared flatly that the "Endangered Species Act doesn't work."...

The FACT is the Endangered Species Act is wildly successful. The statements about it being a failure is nothing more than Republican election rhetoric.

...According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, about 99 percent of species that have gained protection under the Endangered Species Act haven't gone extinct. And several iconic species, from the bald eagle to the American alligator, have recovered to the point where they're now considered safe from the threat of extinction. To conservationists, that's a resounding success. But Endangered Species Act critics see the situation differently....

It is time to put the natural world back on the USA agenda for elections this November.

This is also from approximately a year ago.

Liechtenstein is among peers and achieving some of the lowest GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions per capita. It ranks between France and Portugal. In relation to GHG per GDP Liechtenstein has the very lowest amount of emissions.

These achievements are not small. There are other small countries in this cohort and they are not achieving what Liechtenstein has achieved. A country must try and it's people conscience of their place in bringing about the profound change needed to end the ravages of the Climate Crisis. I think Liechtenstein's leadership is remarkable and their people dedicated to the best outcomes their country can offer to their region and the world. 

Map of carbon footprint of EU regions

The map to the left (click here) is a map of the EU regions and their carbon footprint as of a year or so ago. It appears on "reddit."

The map below is a geographical map showing the region where Liechtenstein can be found. 



Below is the geographical map of Liechtenstein. Very small country that has lowered it's greenhouse gas footprint over the years by participating in the United Nation treaties on climate.

February 15, 2018
By Sean Breslin

There are glaciers – and snowfall – near the equator, for a limited time only. (click here)

Images released by NASA's Earth Observatory show the rapid retreat of ice near Puncak Jaya, a towering peak in the Indonesian province of Papua. Over the course of just a few decades, several glaciers near the 16,020-foot peak have retreated at a blistering pace or disappeared entirely, as seen in the animated image above.

"The ice area losses since the 1980s here are quite striking, visible in the contrast of the blue ice with the reddish bedrock," Christopher Shuman, a research professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, told NASA. "Even though the area still gets snowfalls, it is clearly not sustaining these glacial remnants."...

November 3, 1988

December 5, 2017 

Liechtenstein GDP per capita (click here)

The population is 38,244 as of July 2017. Sixty-five percent of the population are immigrants. It is ranked the 24th country in net migration per year according to UN records. The United States of America is ranked 29th.

Liechtenstein is a total of 160 square kilometers (61.8 square miles). It is approximately nine times the size of Washington, DC.

GDP per capita (constant LCU) in Liechtenstein was reported at 113794 LCU in 2009, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.

Graph to left (click here)

Liechtenstein is not graded in the 2018 Index (click here) because of the unavailability of relevant comparable statistics on all facets of the economy. Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and the world’s third-highest per capita income. The country is closely linked to Switzerland, whose currency it shares, and the European Union. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association, the Schengen Area, and the European Economic Area.

Flexibility and openness to global commerce have been the cornerstones of Liechtenstein’s modern and widely diversified economy. Minimal barriers to trade and investment foster vibrant economic activity, and a straightforward, transparent, and streamlined regulatory system supports an innovative entrepreneurial sector. Banking has benefited from Liechtenstein’s high levels of political and social stability and its sound and transparent judicial system.

If it is toxic to wildlife, is it toxic to people? The people may be helpful to rid the country of the menace.

Ugly toad, isn't it? It is probably coming in with the ballast from ships docking in Madagascar.

Import Trading partners (click here) include China ($654M), France($243M), India ($190M), South Africa ($165M) and the United Arab Emirates ($163M).

There is an international understanding that ships are to unload their ballast water out of port so critters living in it do not create an issue of invasive species into a country. 

Australia had or may still have a problem with a species of toad called "Cane Toads." They were toxic, but, they reproduced so quickly, the sheer numbers forced other species out of their habitat to find new food sources. The Cane Toads became  regional issue in Queensland. 

Finally, a scientist who studied their biology found that the tadpoles could be lured into the toxin that the adults produced. It killed that generation of toads while still tadpoles. Perhaps a similar solution can be applied with the Asian Common Toad in Madagascar.

Science  15 Jun 2012:,Vol. 336, Issue 6087, pp. 1375-1377

By Sarah Zielinski

...Herpetologist Rick Shine of Australian National University (click here) knew the toads would likely eradicate many of the animals he had studied for decades, so he reluctantly turned his attention to the unwelcome guest. Less than a decade later, Shine's research has paid off, with dozens of findings covering basic toad biology and how the toads interact with Australia's native fauna, and even the discovery of a potentially new mechanism of evolution. But Shine's biggest breakthrough may be a recently devised strategy to turn the toad's own toxins against the invader.

June 6, 2018
By Mindy Weisberger

Talk about toxic relationships. (click here) An invasive species of toad in Madagascar is even more dangerous to local wildlife than previously suspected — its poisonous slime is deadly to just about any local predator, including endangered lemurs, that tries to eat the amphibian.

The Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) is a newcomer to the island of Madagascar, and in just a few years it has spread rapidly. Invasive species upset the balance of local diversity and can cause big problems for native animals, but scientists recently learned that the runaway success of the toad could have even more troubling consequences than thought.

In the evolutionary arms race of predator versus prey, animals that habitually eat toxic creatures often evolve resistance to their poison, in the form of genetic mutations....

According to research programs, significant negative effects of global climate warming in the Alpine region are to be expected. Changes in the permafrost layer and water drainages will play a central role in this regard.

Liechtenstein’s annual mean temperature has risen by 0.7°C between the reference period 1961-1990 and 1981-2010. This increase is up to three times higher as the worldwide increase and has been observed in the other Alpine countries as well. The increase projected between 1990 and 2100 for the neighbouring northern Switzerland is 2.7 °C and 4.8 °C depending on the scenario considered. Further reductions between 18% and 28% in the summer precipitation amount are being predicted compared to the period 1980-2009, representing a substantial shift in the seasonal precipitation distribution. Glaciers in the Alps have lost 25% of their volume since 1970. Phenological observations show that the biological beginning of spring has been advancing by 1.5–2.5 days per decade.

The following effects are expected as a consequence of a further temperature rise: Heat waves with increased mortality will occur more frequently, also tropical diseases will surface in Central Europe and existing diseases will spread to higher elevations. Indirect consequences for health are to be expected from storm, floods, and landslides. The increasing weather instabilities may lead to floods in winter and droughts in summer time and composition of forest vegetation may change too. Global climate warming will therefore affect various economic sectors in Liechtenstein (e.g. Tourism, Agriculture, Forestry).

I didn't think it was possible to have a dust storm in Inida

May 4, 2018

...A deadly (click here) dust storm claimed 121 lives in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Punjab, while an electric storm, in which lightning struck an estimate 40,000 times, left 21 people dead in the country’s south....

To understand how strange this is, Nothern India is the location of Himalayas. Uttarakhand is home of The UNESCO World Heritage site, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks.

...Criterion (vii): (click here) The Nanda Devi National Park is renowned for its remote mountain wilderness, dominated by India's second highest mountain at 7,817 m and protected on all sides by spectacular topographical features including glaciers, moraines, and alpine meadows. This spectacular landscape is complemented by the Valley of Flowers, an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breath-taking beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access has been acknowledged by renowned explorers, mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer....

Nanda Devi the highest peak in India that is contained entirely within it's borders. It is the 23rd highest peak in the world. To realize all this disastrous weather is occurring in this region of India is an astonishing reality.

...Morning (click here) after yoga ,meditation and breakfast we proceed for the trek , 180 degree grand Himalayan panorama accompanies us through out this beautiful trek to Kuari Pass....

Located in central Europe, the Principality of Liechtenstein is landlocked, with Germany as its northern neighbor, and Switzerland along its southern border. It has a land area of 62 sq. mi. (160 sq. km.), a population of 35,000 (2006 est.), and a population density of 557 people per sq. mi. (215 people per sq. km.). Twenty-four percent of the land is arable, with 16 percent used for meadows and pasture, and 20 percent of the country forested.

With a very high standard of living in the country, it has a relatively high level of per capita carbon dioxide emissions, largely because of its high per capita electricity production, and high private ownership of automobiles, in spite of having an efficient level of public transport in Vaduz, the capital. However, much of the automobile usage takes place outside of Liechtenstein.

In the foothills of the Alps, Liechtenstein is threatened by rising temperatures from climate change and global warming, noticeable in the lessening of the snow-covered Alpine peaks. The Liechtenstein government took part in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change signed in Rio de Janeiro in May 1992, and signed the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on June 29, 1998. It was ratified by the Landtag, the Liechtenstein parliament, on December 3, 2004, and it took effect on March 3, 2005.

It is Sunday Night

Angela Gisela Brown and Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein.

Angela Brown was born in 1958 in Bocas del Toro, Panama.  Her mother was born and raised in Bocas del Toro.  

Prince Maximilian was born in 1969 in St. Gallen.

Angela Brown immigrated with her family when she was a little girl and grew up in New York City.  Angela and Prince Maximilian met at a private party in New York.  Angela was working as a fashion designer and Prince Maximillian was in the States working for Chase Capitol Partners.  The couple was married on January 29, 2000.
20 September 2017

...Angela and Maximilian (click here) currently have one son together, Prince Alfons who was born in 2001. Prince Alfons is 6th in line to the throne of Liechtenstein. Other than her background in design and her marriage to Maxmilian, little is known about Princess Angela as the family are keen to stay away from the public eye as much as possible.

Princess Angela is part of a new generation of European monarchies. As Europe becomes more globalised with people moving from all corners of the world, it is refreshing to see the old dynasties adapting. Whereas in the past it was impossible for a Prince to marry anyone other than a Princess from another European family, it is now becoming the norm for royals to marry for love. From Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg’s marriage to his Cuban bride Maria Theresa to Prince Haakon of Norway marrying a single mother and former waitress Mette-Marit, after hundreds of years of stale protocol the royal houses of Europe are finally modernising.

National Anthem of Liechtenstein (click here for official website of the "Principality of Liechtenstein"

"Oben am jungen Rhein" 

"High on the young Rhine"

Oben am jungen Rhein
Lehnet sich Liechtenstein
An Alpenhöh'n.
Dies liebe Heimatland,
Das teure Vaterland
Hat Gottes weise Hand
Für uns erseh'n.

High on the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
By God's wise hand
Was chosen for us.

Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,
Blühend am jungen Rhein,
Glücklich und treu.
Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,
Hoch unser Vaterland,
Durch Bruderliebe Band
Vereint und frei.

Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Fortunate and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
Through bonds of brotherly love
United and free!