January 27, 2011

U.S. Approves Planting of GMO Alfalfa

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Uncategorized
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See here. The Times article reads:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Thursday that he would authorize the unrestricted commercial cultivation of genetically modified alfalfa, setting aside a controversial compromise that had generated stiff opposition.

In making the decision, Mr. Vilsack pulled back from a novel proposal that would have restricted the growing of genetically engineered alfalfa to protect organic farmers from so-called biotech contamination. That proposal drew criticism at a recent Congressional hearing and in public forums where Mr. Vilsack outlined the option.

 

January 26, 2011

“Gingrich calls for abolition of EPA”

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Environment, Politics
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See here.

 

January 25, 2011

Quick & Brief Thoughts on the State of the Union

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Politics
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Sitting here watching the State of the Union, and some brief thoughts:

I was happy to hear the President’s many calls for improved high-speed rail.

I think the biggest shout-outs to the liberal base were expressing the tax cuts on millionaires should not be permanent, and highlighting the end of DADT (and Vermont Law School has not allowed military recruiters in light of DADT, and I think the President just asked us to change our policy).

What is going to happen to earmarks?

As someone who teaches Natural Resources Law, I enjoyed the salmon joke.  “We live and do business in the information age, but the last major reorganization of the government happened in the age of black and white TV. There are twelve different agencies that deal with exports. There are at least five different entities that deal with housing policy. Then there’s my favorite example: the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they’re in saltwater. And I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.”

Finally, despite many on both sides of the political aisle who think Obama is a big liberal, the President is not.  He was and is a pragmatic moderate Democratic.  And I actually think, as a result, this political environment (e.g., the Dems not controlling both houses) will actually work to his political advantage.

 

January 25, 2011

Center for Ocean Solutions (Stanford University & Monterey, CA) Seeking Summer 2011 Legal Intern

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Announcements
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The Center for Ocean Solutions, based in Monterey and Stanford, California, is seeking a legal and policy intern for the summer of 2011.  See here.

 

January 24, 2011

2011 Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship at Vermont Law School: Call for Abstracts

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Announcements
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Second Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship

at Vermont Law School

September 23, 2011

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Vermont Law School will host the Second Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship on September 23, 2011.  The Colloquium offers the opportunity for environmental law scholars to present their works-in-progress and recent scholarship, to get feedback from their colleagues, and to meet and interact with those who are also teaching and researching in the environmental and natural resources law area.

If you are interested in presenting a paper at the Colloquium, please submit a working title and short abstract to Professor Jason J. Czarnezki at czarnezki@gmail.com no later than April 15, 2011. For an abstract to be eligible for submission, the author must anticipate that the paper will still be at a revisable stage (neither published nor so close to publication that significant changes are not feasible) by the date of the Colloquium.  We will do our best to include all interested presenters, and will notify authors about acceptances no later than May 2011.

In a slight modification to last year’s format, this year, all selected participants will be required to submit a paper draft no later than September 1, 2011, and all participants will be asked to provide commentary on another participant’s paper draft at the Colloquium.  Final papers will also be eligible for publication in the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.

The Colloquium will take place on Friday, September 23, and Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center and its faculty will host a cocktail reception on Thursday evening, and dinner on Friday evening.  Further Colloquium details regarding schedule, events, lodging, and transportation will be forthcoming and available at http://www.vermontlaw.edu.

 

January 24, 2011

Polars Bears as a Climate Change “Mascot”

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Climate Change
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In my forthcoming book, I suggest that the only potential “mascot” for the climate cause is the polar bear.  Now it seems to be a reality, but I’m not as big a fan of this commercial as others.  And we still have the problem of what is used to produce the electricity.

 

January 24, 2011

Apply for a Fulbright?

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Uncategorized
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An Announcement for the folks at Fulbright:

Represent American Scholarship Abroad – Fulbright

Competition opens in February. Deadline is August 1.

To learn how to present your credentials, visit scholars.

 

January 23, 2011

E-waste in Vermont

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Uncategorized
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Vermont’s new electronic waste disposal law went into effect on January 1, 2011. The Agency of Natural Resources is accepting public comment until Jan. 28th on its draft "E-Waste Sound Management Procedure." The policy may also be found at this link.

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/e-waste/

Hat Tip: Sarah Buxton

 

January 21, 2011

Vermont Law School Environmental Clinic Fellowship

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Uncategorized
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Vermont Law School is recruiting a new law fellow to head up the toxics program within the environmental clinic at Vermont Law School, known as the Partnership for Justice. In collaboration with Toxics Action Center, the law fellow will be helping to supervise JD students in providing legal advice to communities dealing with contaminated sites and toxic pollution sources throughout northern New England. The law fellow is expected to work part-time in the clinic for two years while pursuing an LLM degree. The fellowship includes a full tuition waiver, $35,000 stipend, and health benefits. Please pass this along to anyone you know who might be interested. For more information, please see the announcement on our website and contact our Litigation Paralegal and Office Manager, Monica Litzelman, at mlitzelman@vermontlaw.edu with any questions. http://www.vermontlaw.edu/Admissions/Tuition_and_Financial_Aid/Fellowships/Environmental_and_Natural_Resources_Law_Clinic_Fellowship.htm

 

January 19, 2011

Poor Air Quality in Hong Kong

Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Uncategorized
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When I was in Hong Kong, there was an article in the South China Morning Post about Westerners and businessman moving their families from Hong Kong to Singapore due to the increasingly poor air quality in Hong Kong. And now this report: Severe Smog Linked to Death in Hong Kong.

 

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