What's New Friday December 19, 2008

WHAT’S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 19 Dec 08   Washington, DC

1.  TERRIFIC CHOICES: A CLEAR MESSAGE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
Any concern that the economic crisis would soften the resolve of the Obama 
administration to deal with the sad state of the environment was swept 
away today by the choice of Harvard physicist John Holdren to be 
presidential science advisor, and Oregon State marine biologist Jane 
Lubchenco to head the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric 
Administration.  Both have battled industry opposition to climate 
initiatives.  Along with Steve Chu as Secretary of Energy they should form 
a powerful block of scientists in the Obama administration.  It will 
almost certainly be the most influence science has had in the White House 
since the Eisenhower administration.  But we don’t have much time.  Let me 
tell you what no one else is saying publicly: every step we take to 
improve the environment will soon be wiped out by population growth.  The 
fact is that we are already beyond a sustainable population.  We can’t 
keep talking in terms of reducing the rate of growth.  That’s the second 
derivative.

2. BAD CHOICE: IT’S ONLY AN INAUGURAL INVOCATION, BUT… 
The story about science nominees didn’t make it into today’s early edition 
of the NY Times.  With a tiny headline and postage stamp-sized head shots, 
it was hidden on page A6 of the Wash Post beside an almost full-page 
Macy’s “parfum” ad.   The story that got the attention was that Rick 
Warren, pastor of the humongous evangelical Saddleback Church in Orange 
County, is going to deliver the inaugural invocation.  A Wash Post photo 
shows Warren and Barrack Obama with arms around each other’s shoulder.  
Gays, offended by Warren’s opposition to gay marriage, are pissed.  But 
Warren also opposes plan B, in vitro fertilization, abortion rights and 
stem-cell research.  Clear-headed humans should all be offended by that.  
Every environmental problem is linked to population growth.

3. NOT CHOSEN: VATICAN ISSUES "DIGNITAS PERSONAE."
While evangelicals make up a little more than a fourth of the adult U.S. 
population, Catholics are not far behind.  Together they’re half the 
population.  On issues involving human reproduction Catholics and 
Evangelicals are close together.  There is little hope unless individuals 
disagree with the positions of their church.  The title of the Vatican 
bioethics report is a reminder that President Bush said he vetoed the Stem 
Cell Research Enhancement Act in 2006 to protect "the dignity of 
embryos."  Is it more dignified to be put through a disposal than used in 
research http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN06/wn072106.html?

4. DEEP THROAT: MARK FELT, GENUINE AMERICAN HERO, DEAD AT 95.  
The second highest official in the FBI, Felt secretly guided reporters to 
uncover the Watergate scandal.  Conscientious government employees, 
willing to risk their careers by leaking information that should be 
public, are the last check on government excess 
http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN06/wn121506.html .  
 
 

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
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