Energy

By Tom Giesen | (Informed Comment) On July 6th, 2013, at about one AM, an unattended 74-car oil train loaded with fracking-derived Bakken crude oil came free on a railroad grade above the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, careened into town, derailed, exploded and burned. Forty-seven persons died. The town center was demolished. So far, that […]

Iran

Americans don’t want Congress to sabotage Iran deal – new poll

contributors

RT | – Although some lawmakers, including Democrats, believe Congress should have a say in any potential removal of Iranian sanctions, most Americans say Congress should not keep a possible a nuclear deal from being implemented. Roughly 61 percent of Americans support the framework agreement struck between Iran and the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, […]

Apartheid

Israelis Illegally Remove Solar Panels from Palestinian Bedouin Village

contributors

By IMEMC | – Solar panels finally brought electricity to the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank, but the residents’ joy was short lived. A few weeks after the panels were installed, Israeli authorities confiscated them, indicating the latest chapter in Israel’s long battle to quash the strategically located village. PNN reports […]

Climate Change

Spain at 70% non-Carbon Electricity: Will it be 1st Net Carbon Zero G-20 State?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – CleanTechnica reports that Spain got nearly 70% of its electricity from plants that did not generate carbon dioxide in March. The two biggest non-carbon energy sources were nuclear and wind. In recent years, the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy cut some government subsidies and other help to the […]

Iran

Will A Nuclear Deal Bring The U.S. And Iran Together?

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari | (RFE/RL) – “What should I wear, now that we will be hanging out with the Americans?” It’s a joke that was making the rounds among Iranians after a framework nuclear deal with world powers was hammered out after lengthy negotiations in Switzerland. And it reflects the wish of many Iranians for […]

Featured

Iran: What did Khamenei really say about the Lausanne Agreement, and Why?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s paramount leader, spoke out on Thursday about the framework agreement for Iran’s negotiations over its nuclear enrichment program with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5 + 1). The speech is all over the place and seems to me to […]

Barack Obama

Lausanne: Is there really much Disagreement between US, Iran on those Talking Points?

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari | (RFE/RL) – There are two sides to every story. When it comes to the framework nuclear deal reached this month between world powers and Iran, there is the account provided by the United States, and there is the Iranian account. Sanctions Relief They differ slightly, including on the timing of the […]

Climate Change

Scotland: Outer Hebrides Island co-op buys Wind Turbine, sells Energy

contributors

Triodos Bank, UK | — “As the southernmost inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland Barra and Vatersay bear the brunt of whatever weather the Atlantic throws at them. Not that the locals mind with a community owned turbine harnessing the gales to generate electricity; the income generated from the sale of the electricity […]

Iran

How are Iranians reacting to Nuclear Deal?

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari and Farangis Najibullah | (RFE/RL) – Iranian supporters of the framework nuclear deal announced on April 2 describe it as a historic achievement that will offer a better future for the people of Iran and improved ties with the world. Hard-liners, however, say the deal is a disaster that achieves “nothing” for […]