Umpteen Horizons » Clean energy solutions

“To Be A Genius – Seek Out The Genius In Others”

Leo Denton — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:45:27 +0000

This saying, my own I think, is part of the way to profoundly appreciate others, liberate ourselves from our narrow perspectives, reconcile, become healthy and whole, rediscover the joy and pain of life, share the bounteousness of our Earth, convey Wondrous News, find God, …

Before the Gulf oil disaster, I thought of this mostly in terms of human community, but I’m beginning to see with new eyes the Giftedness or Grace or Genius in everything. My family just spent a few days in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We camped there on beautiful Okracoke Island. This National Seashore shares much in common with the white beaches and barrier islands of the northern Gulf Coast. For example, the beaches sport six line race runners and are part of a larger eco-system of dunes, wooded areas, and coastal marshes.

A six line race runner skirts across a walk way on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

Our incredible campsite at the Okracoke campground, photographed May 31, 2011.

The plants and trees of the wooded areas near Okracoke's beaches were diverse and beautiful, photographed May 31, 2011.

A marsh on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

But at the Outer Banks, when one looks out into the ocean, there’s an immediate obvious difference too – North Carolina has no offshore drilling. Additionally, there’s many more shell pieces near the shore that sustainably support the beach against erosion. Not just shell parts either, an abundance of living shell life that is incredible. I remember from my childhood the numerous the coquinas on Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores. On the National Seashore there still there a great numbers all along the shoreline. The sand fleas too are unbelievably plentiful – just sit down, let your hands slip into the sand, and pull them up – as numerous as fleas on a country dog in summer.

Where have all the oil rigs gone? Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

Hundreds of coquinas burrowing back under the sand on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

Innumerable shell help protect Okracoke Island from erosion, photographed May 31, 2011.

The sand fleas could be gathered easily just sitting in the surf, photographed May 31, 2011.

Today we, who live on the Gulf Coast, can seek out the Genius that has kept these North Carolina beaches so clean, vibrant, and beautiful. Unfortunately these beaches on the Outer Banks are threatened too by the expansion of offshore drilling that is being pushed by corporations and politicians. Fortunately, these beaches still bring exhilarating joy, and no one knows what’s the tide will bring in on a new day. The Okracoke Monster might even be found slithering through the sand at dusk.

The beauty of the Outer Banks beaches may soon be threatened by oil drilling and like all oceans is threatened by plastics and other pollution, photographed May 31, 2011.

This 20-foot long Okracoke monster was photographed on May 31, 2011 just after sundown

Hands Across the Sand Event

Everyone is invited to Hands Across the Sand on Saturday, June 25, 2011 on Dauphin Island at the beach near Fort Gaines. We’ll gather around 11:00 AM and join hands at 12:00 noon to show our support for clean energy. There will also be Hands Across the Sand events in Gulf Shores, Biloxi, Pensacola, and many other locations

The beach at Fort Gaines is located on the eastside of Dauphin Island on Bienville Boulevard. After crossing the bridge, turn left (East) at the water tower onto Bienville Boulevard. Then drive past Fort Gaines to the end of Bienville Boulevard where it curves to the right. Parking is available there. We will have a blue tent on the beach at the end of the parking area. See Google map for aerial view.

The Coming Dawn

Leo Denton — Thu, 26 May 2011 22:57:27 +0000

My favorite line from the Bible is: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Darkness is not everything but it’s real and it divides us – selfish cravings to get ahead, pain from violence and injustice, government lies and corporate lies, “us” against “them,” my needs first, “an eye for an eye,” … Who’s to blame? It’s the Americans, Arabs, Chinese, Israelis, the government, the media, the rich, the scientists, the conservatives, the liberals, … “THEY” are the problem!

But the coming dawn is very different. This light blames no one. It comes for the whole human family and guides us by the light of infinite “tender compassion.” In our darkness, we may see little else, but led by the light of compassion, we can feed the hungry and provide everyone with quality access to water, education, technology, and healthcare. We will see the lonely, the hurting, the sick, the imprisoned, … and to ALL we will reach out, give, receive, heal, and serve. Together, WE, Americans, Arabs, Chinese, Israelis, liberals, conservatives, …, guided by our “dawn from on high,” will bring truth, justice, and peace to the Earth!

God, our All in All, help us each today to see the many needs around us
and to love each person that we see, deeply and truly, for each person’s benefit!

Hands Across the Sand

Dauphin Island – Fort Gaines Beach

Everyone is invited to Hands Across the Sand on Saturday, June 25, 2011 on Dauphin Island at the Fort Gaines Beach. We’ll gather around 11:00 AM and join hands at 12:00 noon to show our support for clean energy. For more information, please check out the video to the right where I was interviewed by some remarkably talented students from Alba Middle School. Sheila Hagler did an incredible job putting together the video. There will also be Hands Across the Sand events in Gulf Shores, Biloxi, Pensacola, and many other locations.

Student Interviewers from Alba Middle School, May 24, 2011.

Important event update

The location of Hands Across the Sand has been changed from the public beach to the beach near Fort Gaines.

Directions to beach near Fort Gaines:

The beach at Fort Gaines is located on the eastside of Dauphin Island on Bienville Boulevard. After crossing the bridge, turn left (East) at the water tower onto Bienville Boulevard. Then drive past Fort Gaines to the end of Bienville Boulevard where it curves to the right. Parking is available there. We will have a blue tent on the beach at the end of the parking area. See Google map for aerial view.

No New Drilling Act and Positive Personal Acts

Leo Denton — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:33:14 +0000

Navy diver off the coast of Panama City, Florida - photographed February 16, 2005 by Andy McKaskle.

The No New Drilling Act of 2011, H.R. 261, was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Frank Palone of New Jersey. Current co-sponsors are Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida and John Garamendi of California.

The bill provides valuable protection of the precious outer continental shelf by prohibiting all new off-shore mining leases on the outer continental shelf including new oil-drilling leases. Such new mining efforts would increase the ongoing dangers to our coasts due to future oil catastrophes and other potential catastrophes. The bill would also help safeguard clean coastal industries, recreation, and coastal communities and their ways of life (see full text).

Of course, not all Americans will agree with or support this legislation. But I and just about all of us have much to consider and reconsider. Our energy use as Americans is far more than we need and it puts our whole planet at risk in terms of ecological disasters created in the pursuit of energy and ongoing environmental damage caused by energy use. By way of comparison, we, Americans, use much more energy per capita than comparably “developed” countries: Germany (we use 85% more), Japan (we use 92% more), and the United Kingdom (we use 98% more) (see list of countries’ usage). Compared to most other countries we use much more energy. For example, compared to Costa Rica, a Central American country with a higher life expectancy than the United States, we use 786% more energy per capita. Maybe we all have much to learn from one another.

I’m not holding my breath on the passage of the No New Drilling Act of 2011. But conserving energy is something each person can decide to do, and it reduces pollution and other catastrophic risks, one person at a time. So as long as my family and I are healthy, I can lower our thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer. I can also adjust the thermostat depending upon whether we’re home or not. I can make sure I keep the heating/cooling system running efficiently with clean filters. I can turn energy saving lights off whenever I leave a room. I can adjust the hot water heater and put an insulator around it (lots of energy saving info here).

But I’m not giving up on promising legislation either. Because I want to protect the ecological wonder of the continental shelf, and because I believe we can reduce our energy use and find ways to produce cleaner and safer energy, I’m calling the Capital Switchboard toll-free at 866-306-3552 and asking my Congressperson support to the No New Drilling Act of 2011, H. R. 261.

Public ‘Forum’ Lacks ‘Open Discussion’

Leo Denton — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:11:28 +0000

Today the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a public “forum” in Mobile on whether the six-month moratorium prohibiting new drilling should be suspended early. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow for renewed consideration of oil well safety reforms, oil spill containment issues, and oil spill recovery and response strategies. While Steve Russell, a representative from the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, was given a prominent speaking role, no Mobile area environmental leader was allowed to speak at the “forum.” Steve Russell provided the audience a simplistic the-wells-are-safe and we-need-jobs message asking for a halt to the moratorium and asking for increased drilling. His lack of appreciation for the magnitude of the current problem and his lack of appreciation for the ongoing safety and environmental issues were appalling.

The one speaker from an environmental organization, Manley Fuller of the Florida Wildlife Federation, insisted that the current general plans for oil spill catastrophes be beefed up to include worst case scenarios such as oil spill recovery efforts complicated by major hurricanes and simultaneous oil catastrophes. Representing the State of Florida well, he restated Florida’s stance against any new drilling near Florida.

In other highlights, Dr. Edward Overton, an LSU professor, stated that “the booms were not particularly effective” and the coordination of clean-up efforts were characterized by a “lack of nimbleness.” Dr. George Crozier of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab questioned the use of dispersants in deep water and spoke of “profound uncertainties” connected with that use. To further our knowledge of the gulf, Dr. Crozier asked for deep water research tools that would enable research in the gulf waters at depths of 3000 feet and more where we have insufficient scientific knowledge.

David Underhill appeared outside the room wearing duct tape over his mouth succinctly symbolizing the lack of public participation allowed at the forum. The audience was not allowed to even ask questions and was told to remain silent at all times.

If you would like to express your opinion to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, you may submit your opinion at http://boemre.gov/forums . In my own comments, I underscored the importance of clean environmentally friendly energy sources that could also provide area jobs and not further jeopardize numerous community jobs such as the jobs currently lost in fishing and tourism.

Jerry Pogue of Mobile discusses his concerns with passersby, photographed August 10, 2010.

Though not allowed to speak at the forum Heather Emmert of Environment America speaks with the press after the forum, photographed August 10, 2010.

David Underhill silently holds his sign outside the forum, photographed August 10, 2010.

Most Everyone Wants Clean Energy but is it Practical?

Leo Denton — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:55:10 +0000

Oil polluting Dauphin Island tidal pool, photographed July 11, 2010

Without a practical plan, the desire for clean energy is nothing more than a busted pipe dream. So, while most people realize the importance of clean energy for preserving our way of life, without a plan we will remain stuck in the tar pit of dirty energy and environmental pollutants.

Earlier this year before the oil spill, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy issued a challenge with a $10,000 prize for the development of a practical plan. Oceana’s Vision 2020 was the winner of the alliance’s challenge (see winner announcement). A presentation and podcast of Oceana’s incremental plan can be found at the alliance’s webinar archive. Oceana has also published a six-page report on the plan. The plan addresses (a) environmental sustainability with the use of clean reusable energies such as offshore wind power and bio-fuels; (b) energy conservation primarily through energy efficiency; (c) reductions in residential and commercial heating consumption and in the overall production of electricity through improved technologies; and (d) energy reductions in transportation through the use of “diesel (45 MPG), hybrid-electric (45 MPG), plug-in hybrid electric (70 MPG), and electric vehicles (2.9 MPkWh)” and slower speeds in worldwide shipping. All the technologies in Oceana’s plan have proven track-records, and rather than cost money, over time the plan would save money and create jobs. The plan if fully implemented in the U.S. would reduce U.S. oil consumption by 26% by 2020 and by 74% by 2035 – thus eliminating the U.S. dependence on domestic off-shore oil and greatly reducing the U.S. dependency on imported oil.