By Miriam Raftery

February 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Wet weather is returning Sunday through Tuesday,  but showers are expected to be light, with no significant flooding or winter weather expected, according to the National Weather Services. There will also be gusty winds up to 55 mph along mountain ridges with isolated gusts up to 80 mph possible on desert slopes. Windy conditions will begin Sunday night and continue into Tuesday.

By Robert Lundahl

March 10, 2013 (Solana Beach) — Chris Clarke's recent article deconstructs a video clip from the film, "Who Are My People?" http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/filmmaker-blm-lax-on-native-consultation-over-solar-projects.html It is important for the public (us) to get our heads around the idea that the federal government is legally responsible to Native people. 

In this case to uphold processes involving consultation when construction projects impact historic grounds, where there was a village, burials, where there is an area historically, or in the present day used by Native peoples, in spiritual or traditional practices. 

New weather conditions brought on by climate change may help spread a fungal disease endemic to the Southwest known as valley fever

By Janice Arenofsky and Environmental Health News

October 26, 2012 --It's high noon, and the 112–degree summer heat—up from a decade ago—stalks Arizona's Sonoran Desert. By late afternoon, dark clouds threaten, and monsoon winds beat the earth into a mass of swirling sand. Thick walls of surface soil blind drivers on the Interstate.

• Gouged by the Wind Renewable fuel mandates are raising electricity prices in the states. 
• Obama makes his case for another term
• Should Mitt Romney worry about Ron Paul? (Christian Science Monitor)
• How Ron Paul could mess with Romney at the GOP convention (Bloomberg)
• Key 9-11 suspects to appear in court (BBC)
• CIA thwarts new underwear bomb plot by al Qaeda (CBS)
• U.N.:  U.S. should give back stolen lands to Indian tribes (UK Guardian)
• U.S. unemployment falls to 8.1 percent, economy adds 115,000 new jobs (RawStory)
• Wind farms warming Texas (Discovery News)

• Thousands rejoice as Japan shuts off nuclear power (NPR)
• Socialists celebrate as French vote nears close (Reuters)
• Socialist Hollande in, Sarkozy out as France elects new president (CNN)
• Greek’s governing parties lose majority at polls (BBC)
• Putin returns to presidency in a changed Russia (UT San Diego)
• Rupert Murdoch declared unfit to lead: The price of half-truths? (Christian Science Monitor)
• Running blind: Chinese activist’s dramatic escape (UT San Diego/AP)
• Ahmadinejad’s support crumbles in Iran runoff (UT San Diego)
• The sorry lessons of green power subsidies (Globe and Mail)
• Antarctic ice melting from below – video (Christian Science Monitor)

“We believe that DOI [Department of the Interior] is poised to violate the law and our rights to religious freedom and our cultural identities guaranteed by DOI’s own policies, the United States Constitution, and international declarations. We need your help.” --Chairman Anthony Pico, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, in a letter to President Barack Obama

Part I in an ECM special report series on potential impacts of the Ocotilllo Wind Express project

By Miriam Raftery

March 23, 2012 (Ocotillo) – For months, Ocotillo residents and conservationists have been waging a David and Goliath battle seeking to stop Pattern Energy’s proposed Ocotillo Wind Express project. Now Kumeyaay, Cocopah,Quechan and other Native American tribes have banded together to oppose the massive project-- joining residents, desert conservation groups and outdoor enthusiasts who seek to protect resources from destruction—including hundreds of cultural and archaeological sites. 

On March 28, the Imperial Valley Planning Commission will rule on whether to approve the controversial project, which would generate power for San Diego County.  At the federal level, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior  is expected to issue a final decision  by May 1.  A petition seeking to stop the project has been launched by Ocotillo residents:  http://www.change.org/petitions/say-no- ... y-project#.