Scientific & Political Change

Summarizes the evolution of the plant biotechnology industry in Europe and discuss relevant competitive issues. Also comments on the rise of public opposition to the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture in Europe, and conclude by highlighting key aspects of the emerging European policy on GMOs, and its political economy.

Private company genetically engineering RNAi-based products to specifically address the long-term well being of the bees... specifically Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) as related to CCD. Contributors include USDA many CCD Steering Committee Members and was purchased by Montsanto in December 2011.

Committee of examine whether publicly funded agricultural research has influenced the structure of U.S. agriculture and if so, how. They also looked at the role of public-sector agricultural research on changes in the size and numbers of farms. Chapter 5 is of particular interest as it investigates the role of extension policy. There is a free executive summary and the book can be read online from this site.

Office publication from the Intellectual Property Office, Newport South Wales

This publication might be helpful in some of your inquiry since it outlines some of the guidelines for determining intellectual property for biotechnology inventions in the UK.

Provides a tool to compare health care between countries.

Presents a critique of prenatal testing for disability from a disability-rights perspective.

2 excerpts from the book presenting two different mothers' perspectives on selective abortion, one from a woman who chose to continue her pregnancy, another from a woman who chose to end hers.

A good comparison of the transition to motherhood in France and the U.S. Talks more about health insurance, not about prenatal testing.

A group is petitioning France not to make it mandatory for women to be offered prenatal genetic testing. They argue that this amounts to eugenics, and cite the high rate of selective abortions of fetus in which trisomy 21 has been detected.

The mission of the Lejeune foundation. Contains the following sentence... "The Lejeune Foundation is committed to the inherent human dignity of all persons and the protection of life from conception to natural death."

Statistics, graphs and charts showing monetary contributions of honey bees in American Agriculture

Action plan summary from CCD Steering Committee. 20 June 2007. This is a good grounding for understanding some of the organizations involved in problem solving CCD.

Across the United States, cities, towns, and counties are enacting policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many local governments are motivated by concerns about the impacts of climate change in their communities as well as an understanding that energy and climate solutions can benefit local economies and residents. Their actions reflect a strong history of local leadership in climate protection in the United States. While local governments face a number of limitations in addressing climate change, they can be a key part of the solution. Like states and regions, local governments can demonstrate leadership by implementing strategies to confront climate change and laying the groundwork for broader action at the national and international levels.

This brief is part of a series called Climate Change 101: Understanding and Responding to Global Climate Change, published by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

This article talks about the use of GIS and building energy consumption data to create and info graphic of NYC.  This seemed linked to the conversation about combining visuals and data to effective awareness and to motivate change.

List of all prior FEMA directors from 1979 to present.

This TED conversation led by Yu-An Chen in Jersey City question why there are not more "kitchen scientists" and why isn't the practice of science more accessible?   The conversation runs for the next four days (Feb 9, 2012).

Thanks Felicia. I was not aware that TED had conversations until I followed your link; I was only aware of TED Talks.

Graphics and comparison of USDA Growing Zones in the recent past and near future.

This article examines the input we really have into our own choices. It suggests that we may be more hardwired toward certain outcomes than we realize, and it examines the implications for what we call "free will."

Poverty and biodiversity loss are two of the world's dire challenges. Claims of conservation's contribution to poverty alleviation, however, remain controversial. Here, we assess the flows of ecosystem services provided to people by priority habitats for terrestrial conservation, considering the global distributions of biodiversity, physical factors, and socioeconomic context. We estimate the value of these habitats to the poor, both through direct benefits and through payments for ecosystem services to those stewarding natural habitats. The global potential for biodiversity conservation to support poor communities is high: The top 25% of conservation priority areas could provide 56%-57% of benefits. The aggregate benefits are valued at three times the estimated opportunity costs and exceed $1 per person per day for 331 million of the world's poorest people. Although trade-offs remain, these results show win-win synergies between conservation and poverty alleviation, indicate that effective financial mecha- nisms can enhance these synergies, and suggest biodiversity conservation as a fundamental component of sustainable economic development.

Not related directly to any of the cases we are currently working on. But none the less I thought this was an interesting look at biodiversity from an economic angle.