Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
& Protect IP Act (PIPA)
On Wednesday, January 18, 2012,
Google and
Wikipedia, among other websites, staged
symbolic partial blackouts to indicate their opposition to the "Stop Online Piracy Act"
(SOPA) and to raise awareness of their concerns involving proposed legislative efforts.
To learn more about the issues and debates surrounding SOPA and PIPA
(the "Protect IP Act"), please explore the following links:
About Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
- How SOPA Works
- From How Stuff Works.
- How SOPA Would Affect You
- From CNET.
- SOPA and PIPA Anti-Piracy Bills Controversy Explained
- From BBC.
- SOPA and PIPA: Just the Facts
- From PC World.
- SOPA Explained - What It Is and Why It Matters
- From CNN Money.
- Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R.3261)
- Official text of legislation and related information. From the Library of Congress.
- U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary: Stop Online Piracy Act
- Includes Statements of Support and Letters of Support.
- Wikipedia Article: Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
- Please note their disclaimers.
About Protect IP Act (PIPA)
- PIPA, SOPA and OPEN Act Quick Reference Guide
- From the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).
- Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (H.R.3261)
- Official text of legislation and related information. From the Library of Congress.
- Wikipedia Article: PROTECT IP Act (PIPA)
- Please note their disclaimers.
Debates, Industry Positions, & Analysis
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Urge Congress to Stop SOPA
- American Library Association (ALA) / Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL): Library Copyright Alliance Voices Concern about SOPA to US House
- BBC: Viewpoints - Sites Go Offline in US Piracy Laws Protest
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Internet Blacklist Legislation
- See also their An Alternative to SOPA: An Open Process Befitting an Open Internet page.
- Facebook: Anti-Piracy Bills - How We See the Online Piracy Debate
- See also Statement by Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg
- FightTheftOnline.com: Legislative Solution
- From the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) / Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC).
- Google: End Piracy, Not Liberty
- Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA): Rogue Websites (Rogue Sites Legislation)
- Mozilla Foundation: Stop SOPA and PIPA
- Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA): Chairman & CEO Comments on SOPA Legislation
- See also their What Is Online Piracy? page.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Intellectual Property
- See also their "Rogue Site Roulette" and "What They Are Saying: Rogue Sites Are Plain No Good" pages at FreeEnterprise.com.
- U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary: List of SOPA Supporters
- Adobe Reader PDF document.
- The White House: Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online Piracy
- Where Do Your Members of Congress Stand on SOPA and PIPA?
- From ProPublica.
- Wikipedia Foundation: SOPA and PIPA
News
- BBC: SOPA - Sites Go Dark as Part of Anti-Piracy Law Protests
- CBS News: SOPA, PIPA: What you need to know
- Fox Business: 5 Things to Know About the SOPA, PIPA Protest
- Fox News: Wikipedia Goes Dark for 24 Hours to Protest Web Piracy Bills
- Google News: SOPA or PIPA articles (various news sources)
- Huffington Post: SOPA - Pictures, Videos, Breaking News
- National Public Radio (NPR): Stop Online Piracy Act
- The New York Times: Copyrights and Internet Piracy (SOPA and PIPA Legislation)
- PBS NewsHour: A World Without Wikipedia - For SOPA, Websites Threaten a Midnight Blackout
- The Wall Street Journal: Web Piracy Bill Faces Fiercer Fight
U.S. Presidential Election 2012
News & Information
As we did for the
previous presidential election,
Middletown Thrall Library has prepared a special coverage guide covering
the upcoming primaries, conventions, candidates, and eventual election
(or reelection) of the next President of the United States:
Topics include: Learn about Elections, Registering and Voting Procedures,
Making an Informed Decision, Campaign Financing, Political Parties, Polls,
Results, and Statistics, Presidential Candidates, and Conventions.
Our
Election 2012 guide
is a work in progress and will be updated as necessary.
U.S. Debt Crisis
Debt Ceiling (Debt Limit),
National Deficit Debates,
S&P U.S. Credit Downgrade,
Related News & Resources
Updated: August 24, 2011
Information about the United States' debt with links to related
debates, deficit discussions, documents, studies, resources, and news coverage.
Jump to:
About the U.S. Debt & the "Debt Ceiling"
- Breaking Down the Debt Debate
- From U.S. News (June 7, 2011).
- Charting the American Debt Crisis
- From The New York Times (July 29, 2011).
- Comparing Deficit-Reduction Plans
- From The New York Times (July 22, 2011).
- The Debt Ceiling Explained
- From NPR (April 11, 2011).
- Debt Ceiling: What You Need to Know
- From CNN.
- Federal Debt: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- From the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO).
- Get the Facts: Raising the Debt Limit
- From the U.S. Treasury Department. See also their Debt Limit page and "Debt Limit: Myth v. Fact" document (PDF format).
- How Debt Works: Public Debt and the Economy
- From How Stuff Works.
- How Does the U.S. Debt Ceiling Work and Why Does it Matter?
- From PBS (May 16, 2011).
- National Debt & Deficits
- Overview of debt and deficit from Thrall's Consumer Information blog (April 2010).
- National Debt for Beginners
- From NPR (2009).
- Q&A: Why Has the US Not Agreed to a New Debt Ceiling?
- From BBC (July 25, 2011).
- A Reading List for Following the Debt Ceiling Drama
- From ProPublica (July 28, 2011).
- A User's Guide To The Budget Battles
- From NPR (July 14, 2011).
- What's the Debt Ceiling, and Why Is Everyone in Washington Talking about It?
- From The Washington Post (April 18, 2011).
- Where Does Our National Debt Come From?
- Chart graphic from The White House (July 26, 2011).
- Who's Who in the US Debt Crisis
- From The Christian Science Monitor (July 21, 2011).
About the U.S. Debt Ceiling Legislation
- Budget Control Act of 2011 ("The Debt Deal")
- Government Information:
-
- Budget Control Act of 2011
- House of Representatives: "Passed with amendment by recorded vote: 269 - 161." Senate: passed 74 - 26 votes. August 2, 2011.
- Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline
- From The White House.
- Myths and Facts About the Debt-Ceiling Compromise
- From The White House.
- Text of S. 365 (PDF format)
- From the Government Printing Office (GPO). PDF format.
- Other Sources, News & Analysis:
-
- Analysis: How The Parties Fared In The Debt Debate (August 4, 2011)
- From NPR.
- Debt-Ceiling Deal Does Little For Global Economic Ills (August 3, 2011)
- From NPR.
- The Debt Deal's Three Biggest Winners and Losers (August 3, 2011)
- From Fox News.
- Debt Plan Cheat Sheet (August 2, 2011)
- From CNN.
- The US Debt Deal: A Simple Guide (August 2, 2011)
- From BBC News.
- Many Questions Linger Over Debt And Deficit Accord (August 2, 2011)
- From MSNBC.
About the Standard & Poor's (S&P) U.S. Credit Downgrade
- From Standard & Poor's:
-
- Rating Action on U.S. and Related Material (August 2011)
- Press Release (August 5, 2011)
- "United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To 'AA+' On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative" (August 5, 2011)
- PDF format.
- See also S&P's Understanding Ratings website for general information on their ratings system and criteria.
- Other Sources:
-
- "S&P Chief Explains Credit Downgrade" (August 7, 2011)
- From Fox News.
- "Just the Facts: S&P's $2 Trillion Mistake" (August 6, 2011)
- From the U.S. Treasury Department.
- "A Q&A On S&P's Downgrade Of US Debt" (August 6, 2011)
- From NPR.
- "US Loses AAA Credit Rating After S&P Downgrade" (August 6, 2011)
- From BBC News.
- "S.& P. Downgrades Debt Rating of U.S. for the First Time" (August 5, 2011)
- From The New York Times.
About the Bipartisan Budgetary "Super-Committee"
- Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (continuous coverage)
- Video coverage from C-SPAN.
- Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Deficit "Supercommittee") (continuous coverage)
- From The New York Times.
- How Super Is The Deficit-Cutting Committee? (August 17, 2011)
- From NPR.
- Super Ccommittee: Who Are These Guys? (August 12, 2011)
- From CNN.
- (August 11, 2011)
- From PBS NewsHour.
- All About the So-Called "Super Committee" (August 4, 2011)
- From The White House. See also their related infographic.
Debt Ceiling Crisis News - Reports & Special Coverage
- BBC News:
-
- US to Avoid Default as Senate Backs Debt Ceiling Rise (August 2, 2011)
- US Debt Limit: Obama Unveils Deal with Congress Leaders (August 1, 2011)
- Victory for the Republicans? (July 31, 2011)
- McConnell Calls for End to US Debt "Charade" (July 30, 2011)
- Obama Underscores Urgency of Debt-Plan Deal (July 29, 2011)
- US House Set for Key Debt Vote on Republican Bill (July 28, 2011)
- IMF Calls for US to Raise Debt Ceiling and Cut Spending (July 25, 2011)
- Geithner Confident US Politicians Will Agree Debt Deal (July 25, 2011)
- Barack Obama in Emergency Talks to Secure US Debt Deal (July 23, 2011)
- Senate Rejects Republican "Cut, Cap And Balance" Bill (July 22, 2011)
- Barack Obama Hails 'Progress' as Debt Deadline Nears (July 19, 2011)
- Obama: US Debt Talks Failure "Could Restart Recession" (July 11, 2011)
- Obama Meets Senate Leaders over Raising Debt Ceiling (June 27, 2011)
- Is the US in Denial over Its $14tn Debt? (June 27, 2011)
- S&P Says It May Downgrade the US's Triple-A Debt Rating (June 14, 2011)
- Fed Chief Bernanke Warns of US Debt Ceiling Threat (June 14, 2011)
- Moody's Warns on US Failure to Increase Debt Limit (June 2, 2011)
- Republicans Press Obama for Plan on Spending Cuts (June 1, 2011)
- Ben Bernanke Warns Against US Debt Limit Brinkmanship (May 12, 2011)
- Boehner Calls for Spending Cuts as Debt Limit Looms (May 9, 2011)
- Bloomberg: U.S. Government Debt
- CBS News: America's Debt Battle
- Christian Science Monitor: National Debt News
- CNBC: Debt News
- CNN:
-
- America's Debt Crisis
- Spending Cuts: Here Comes The Hard Part (August 3, 2011)
- Senate Passes Debt Plan, Sends Bill to Obama (August 2, 2011)
- Debt Deal Vote Likely on Monday, Party Sources Say (August 1, 2011)
- The Debt Ceiling Battle: Where Things Stand (August 1, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling Fight: What a Downgrade Would Mean (July 26, 2011)
- No Deal on Debt Ceiling (July 24, 2011)
- Obama to Meet with Hill Democrats as Debt Deadline Nears (July 20, 2011)
- Good News: The Gang of Six Is Back (July 20, 2011)
- China to U.S.: Get Your Debt Under Control (July 20, 2011)
- Hold up! Still No Deal to Raise the Debt Ceiling (July 20, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling: Moody's Puts U.S. on Notice (July 13, 2011)
- Taxes, Social Security Fears Cited in Debt Ceiling Talks (July 12, 2011)
- Senate Republicans Propose Debt Ceiling Fallback Option (July 12, 2011)
- Is the Debt Ceiling Unconstitutional? (July 7, 2011)
- U.S. Hits Debt Ceiling (May 17, 2011)
- Budget Debate Shifts to Raising Debt Ceiling (April 17, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling: Danger Ahead (March 17, 2011)
- Fox Business: Debt Ceiling
- Fox News:
-
- Debt Ceiling
- Debt Limit Increase
- Government Spending
- Congress Approves Debt-Ceiling Plan Hours Before Deadline (August 2, 2011)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide To How the Debt Deal Could Fall Apart (August 1, 2011)
- Congressional Leaders to Pitch Debt-Reduction Compromise to Caucuses (August 1, 2011)
- Obama Announces Debt-Reduction Deal Approved by Senate, House Leaders (July 31, 2011)
- Raw Data: Democratic Fact Sheet on Reducing the Deficit, Raising the Debt Limit and Avoiding Default (July 31, 2011)
- Reid Moves Forward With Debt-Reduction Plan as Boehner Sweetens Deal for GOP (July 29, 2011)
- Treasury to Explain Who Gets Paid, Who Doesn't if Debt Cap Not Raised (July 28, 2011)
- Some Dems Call for 'Clean' Extension of Debt Limit as Financial Doomsday Looms (July 28, 2011)
- Boehner Bill Clears Key Hurdle Ahead of Showdown Vote on Debt Limit (July 28, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling Drama: Boehner Bill Hits the House Floor Thursday (July 28, 2011)
- Boehner Looks for More Savings to Offer in Debt Reduction Proposal (July 27, 2011)
- Reid, Boehner Race to Produce Competing Deficit Plans (July 25, 2011)
- One Sentence That Can Resolve the Debt Ceiling Impasse (July 25, 2011)
- The Basics of Boehner's Debt Pitch to GOP Conference (July 25, 2011)
- We May Not Be Broke on Aug. 2 After All (July 25, 2011)
- Debt Deadline Looming (video) (July 25, 2011)
- Senate Votes to Set Aside "Cut, Cap and Balance" Plan Proposed by House GOP (July 22, 2011)
- Google News - recent headlines / multiple sources:
-
- Debt Ceiling Crisis:
-
- "Debt Ceiling"
- "Debt Ceiling" Deal
- Debt Crisis
- "Debt Debate"
- "Deficit Reduction"
- "Gang of Six" Plan
- United States Default
- Standard & Poor's (S&P) U.S. Credit Downgrade
-
- S&P - U.S. Downgrade
- S&P - U.S. Outlook
- The New York Times:
-
- Federal Debt Limit (Debt Ceiling) & Deficit Talks (continuous coverage)
- Debt Bill Is Signed, Ending a Fractious Battle (August 3, 2011)
- Debt Compromise Is Just "First Step," Obama Says (August 2, 2011)
- Votes Across the Spectrum in the House - How Different Groups Voted on the Debt Bill (August 1, 2011)
- Obama and Leaders Reach Debt Deal (August 1, 2011)
- Boehner's Debt Ceiling Agreement Presentation (July 31, 2011)
- Congress Must Trim Deficit to Avoid Broader Cuts (July 31, 2011)
- In World's Eyes, Much Damage Is Already Done (July 31, 2011)
- House Rejects Reid Debt Ceiling Proposal (July 30, 2011)
- Obama Calls for Debt Deal as House Forages for Votes (July 29, 2011)
- Freshman Republicans Face Defining Debt Vote (July 28, 2011)
- Boehner Sees Passage of Debt Plan; Reid Vows to Kill It (July 28, 2011)
- Treasury to Weigh Which Bills to Pay (July 27, 2011)
- S&P Finds Merit in Some Debt Plans (July 27, 2011)
- Boehner Plan Falls Short of Advertised Cuts, Says Budget Agency (July 26, 2011)
- Rival Debt Plans Being Assembled by Party Leaders (July 24, 2011)
- Using the 14th Amendment to Raise the Debt Ceiling (July 24, 2011)
- Budget Projections and Realities (graph) (July 24, 2011)
- See also: Policy Changes Under Two Presidents (graphic) and related text: How the Deficit Got This Big
- "Gang of 6" Deficit Reduction Plan (July 20, 2011)
- Issues Holding Up Debt Ceiling Agreement (July 13, 2011)
- Wall Street Warns Lawmakers on Debt (July 12, 2011)
- What if the Debt Ceiling Isn't Raised? (July 9, 2011)
- A Spectrum of Positions in the Debt Ceiling Debate (July 7, 2011)
- Congressional Week Ahead: Debt Limit Deadline Approaches (July 5, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling Date Does Not Budge (July 1, 2011)
- NPR (National Public Radio):
-
- Now History, Debt-Ceiling Fight Left Much Wreckage in Its Wake (August 2, 2011)
- Obama Signs Bill To Raise Debt Ceiling (August 2, 2011)
- After 15 Years, GOP Revives Balanced Budget Idea (August 2, 2011)
- Path Ahead For Debt Legislation Remains Uncertain (August 1, 2011)
- Obama Defuses Default Bomb As Tea Party Changes Re-Election Landscape (August 1, 2011)
- House GOP Gets Even, Rejects Senate Bill (July 30, 2011)
- Obama: There Are "Plenty Of Ways Out Of This Mess" (July 29, 2011)
- Without Tea Party Votes, Boehner Speakership Hits Rough Waters (July 28, 2011)
- States Warily Watch Debt-Ceiling Impasse (July 28, 2011)
- Democrats, GOP Stubbornly Hold Debt Positions (July 25, 2011)
- President Obama Talks Deficit, Jobs On NPR (July 22, 2011)
- Senate Rejects House GOP Budget-Cutting Plan (July 22, 2011)
- Obama: "Gang Of Six" Plan Is Endorsement Of "Balanced Approach" (July 22, 2011)
- Debt Debate Reverberates In State Governments (July 22, 2011)
- Could Gang Of Six Plan End Debt-Ceiling Stalemate? (July 20, 2011)
- Senate, House Far Apart On Debt Ceiling Deal (July 20, 2011)
- Obama Calls Democratic Leaders To White House (July 20, 2011)
- Top Democrats Positive About Gang Of 6 Debt Plan (July 20, 2011)
- Boehner Seeks Magic 217 In Debt-Ceiling Showdown (July 20, 2011)
- The Tuesday Podcast: How Much Debt Is Too Much? (July 19, 2011)
- House GOP Walks Uncertain Debt-Ceiling Path (July 19, 2011)
- Does Government Debt Really Weaken The Economy? (July 18, 2011)
- Moody's: U.S. Should Consider Getting Rid Of Debt Ceiling (July 18, 2011)
- Public Divided On Debt Debate (July 17, 2011)
- Average American Taxpayers React To Debt (July 17, 2011)
- "Enough Is Enough," Obama Says, Calling For Deal (July 14, 2011)
- Partisan Rancor Heats Up In Debt-Ceiling Talks (July 13, 2011)
- Still No Deal On Debt Ceiling. Do Voters Care? (July 13, 2011)
- Gallup: Majority Of Americans Still Oppose Raising Debt Ceiling (July 13, 2011)
- GOP Offers Debt Ceiling Contingency Plan (July 12, 2011)
- McConnell Proposes Congress Punt Debt-Ceiling Power To Obama (July 12, 2011)
- What If We Don't Make The Debt Ceiling Deadline? (July 12, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling Talks... Endless Game Of Give And Take? (July 11, 2011)
- President Obama Discusses Debt Ceiling Talks (July 11, 2011)
- Questions On Debt-Ceiling Law's Constitutionality Get More Attention (July 1, 2011)
- When The U.S. Paid Off The Entire National Debt (And Why It Didn't Last) (April 15, 2011)
- PBS NewsHour:
-
- Raise the Roof: Debt Crisis Averted, But Debate Far from Over (August 2, 2011)
- Senate Passes Debt Deal, Ends Crisis Hours Before Default (August 2, 2011)
- With Debt Ceiling Agreement In Place, Can Leaders Find Enough Votes? (August 1, 2011)
- Boehner Bill Passes House, Focus Shifts to Senate (July 29, 2011)
- Boehner Bill May Be Revived in House (July 29, 2011)
- Debating the Debate: When Words Substitute for Action (July 29, 2011)
- Obama Preps Emergency Plan if Debt Deadline Passes With No Deal (July 28, 2011)
- Boehner Calls Off Debt Talks; Obama: "We Have Run Out of Time" (July 22, 2011)
- Shields and Brooks: After Debt Talks "Meltdown," What's the Path Forward? (July 22, 2011)
- Democrats Unhappy Over Possible Obama-Boehner Deal Focused on Cuts (July 22, 2011)
- Conrad: Any Debt Deal Would Resemble 'Gang of 6' Plan (July 21, 2011)
- Can the 'Gang of Six' Bridge the Divide? (July 20, 2011)
- Frustration, Deadlock Dominate Talks (July 14, 2011)
- What Happens if Lawmakers Don't Reach Debt-Ceiling Deal by Deadline? (July 12, 2011)
- Smacking Into the Debt Ceiling: the Day-by-Day Consequences (July 12, 2011)
- Clock Is Ticking on Debt Agreement (July 12, 2011)
- McConnell Presents Plan to Put Debt Limit Hike Burden on Obama (July 12, 2011)
- Debt Ceiling Negotiations Enter Round 3 (July 11, 2011)
- Pelosi: House Democrats Won't Support Entitlement Cuts in Debt-Limit Deal (July 7, 2011)
- Obama, Congress Search for Grand Bargain on Debt Ceiling (July 7, 2011)
- Amid All the Debate Over Debt, Where Does Job Growth Fit In? (July 6, 2011)
- Fireworks May Not Be Over as Congress Gets Back to Work on Debt (July 5, 2011)
- As Debt Deadline Looms, Leaders Remain Far From Agreement (July 1, 2011)
- Obama: No Stopgap Extension on Debt Ceiling (July 11, 2011)
- McConnell Rules Out Tax Increases In Debt Limit Deal (May 12, 2011)
- How Would Raising Debt Ceiling Impact U.S. Bond Market? (April 13, 2011)
- ProPublica.org:
-
- As Debt Limit Deadline Draws Closer, We (Sadly) Explain What "Default" Could Mean (July 29, 2011)
- Explaining the Latest on the Debt-Ceiling Drama (July 12, 2011)
- The Basics Behind the Debt Limit Debate: More Partisan Than Practical? (May 17, 2011)
- US News and World Report: The Deficit and National Debt (news, analysis)
- Wall Street Journal: The Budget (news, articles)
See also:
U.S. Government Information:
-
Congressional Budget Office (CBO):
-
- CBO Analysis of August 1 Budget Control Act (August 1, 2011)
- Comparison of Updated Budget Control Act Proposals (July 29, 2011)
- Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Revised in the Senate (July 29, 2011)
- Director's Blog: The Debt Ceiling (July 27, 2011)
- Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Proposed in the Senate - Letter to the Honorable Harry Reid (July 27, 2011)
- Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Revised in the House - Letter to the Honorable John Boehner (July 27, 2011)
- Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Proposed in the House - Letter to the Honorable John Boehner (July 26, 2011)
- Director's Blog: The Challenge of Attaining a Sustainable Federal Budget (July 18, 2011)
- The Macroeconomic and Budgetary Effects of an Illustrative Policy for Reducing the Federal Budget Deficit (July 14, 2011)
- See also: CBO's related blog post and PDF document
- Budget and Economic Information
- Director's Blog: Federal Budget Math - We Can't Repeat the Past (June 21, 2011)
-
Federal Reserve - Chairman Ben S. Bernanke:
-
- What is the Federal Reserve Doing to Help Decrease the Likelihood of Another Financial Crisis? (July 21, 2011)
- Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress - The Economic Outlook (July 13, 2011)
- Fiscal Sustainability (speech) (June 14, 2011)
- Achieving Fiscal Sustainability (speech) (April 27, 2011)
- Fiscal Sustainability and Fiscal Rules (October 4, 2010)
- Long-term Fiscal Challenges Facing the United States; Before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate (January 2007)
-
House of Representatives - Budget Committee - Paul Ryan, Chairman:
-
- Ryan Statement on Passage of Budget Control Act (August 1, 2011)
- A Step Forward, But Long Journey Remains (July 26, 2011)
- A Trillion-Dollar Gimmick (July 25, 2011)
- The Gang of Six Budget Effort: Problems, Questions and the Potential for Promising Reforms (July 19, 2011)
- Honest Leadership and Serious Solutions Needed to Lift Debt Burden & Grow Economy (July 14, 2011)
- The Debt Overhang and the U.S. Jobs Malaise (July 14, 2011)
- Deficits and Baselines: The President's Budget and The Republican Budget (May 24, 2011)
-
Senate Majority Leader - Harry Reid:
-
- News & Press Releases
- Videos (on YouTube)
- Reid: Bipartisan Compromise, A Step Forward (August 1, 2011)
- Reid: Our Message To The World Is That This Congress Is Moving Forward, And We Are Moving Forward Together (August 1, 2011)
- Reid: Compromise Is The Only Path Forward (July 31, 2011)
- Reid: Republicans Must Work With Democrats On The Only Option Left To Avert Default, Save Our Economy (July 30, 2011)
- Reid: Republican Filibuster Standing in the Way of a Solution (July 29, 2011)
- Reid: Senate Will Vote Down House Short-Term Bill Tonight (July 28, 2011)
- Reid: Republicans' Refusal To Compromise Taking Toll On Economy (July 28, 2011)
- It's Official: Senate Plan Cuts Budget Deficits by $1.3 Trillion More Than Boehner Plan (July 27, 2011)
- Reid: Economy Cannot Bear This Uncertainty Any Longer, Has Demanded A Long-Term Solution (July 27, 2011)
- Reid: GOP Should Say "Yes" to $2.7 Trillion Deficit Reduction Plan (July 25, 2011)
- Reid Statement On Status Of Debt-Ceiling Negotiations (July 24, 2011)
- Reid Statement On Deficit Negotiations (July 22, 2011)
- Reid: It Is Time For Reasonable Republicans To Compromise For The Good Of The Country (July 21, 2011)
- Reid: Senate Staying in Session Until We Avoid Defaulting on Our Obligations (July 19, 2011)
- Reid: Default Would Be A Plague That Haunts Our Nation For Years To Come (July 18, 2011)
- Reid: We Must Reach Deal to Guarantee Social Security Checks, Troop Payments (July 14, 2011)
- Reid: Congress Must Heed Warnings That Default Risks Global Financial Crisis (July 14, 2011)
-
Senate Minority Leader - Mitch McConnell:
-
- News & Press Releases
- Videos
- McConnell: Bipartisan Agreement Will Slow Down the "Big Government Freight Train" (August 2, 2011)
- McConnell: Framework Now Exists to Prevent Default, Cut Washington Spending (July 31, 2011)
- McConnell Calls for Vote Today on Flawed Reid Bill (July 30, 2011)
- 43 Senators Sign Letter Opposing The Reid Bill (July 30, 2011)
- Lawmakers Should be Working On a Solution to This Crisis, Not a Blocking Strategy (July 29, 2011)
- Senate Democrats Should Join Republicans to Avoid Default (July 28, 2011)
- McConnell Offers Strong Support for Speaker's Deficit Reduction Plan (July 27, 2011)
- Americans Are Waiting for the President to Lead, Not Lecture on Debt Negotiations (July 26, 2011)
- Bipartisan Congressional Leadership Working Toward New Deficit Reduction Plan (July 23, 2011)
- McConnell Statement on Debt Talks (July 22, 2011)
- Cut, Cap and Balance - Not Higher Taxes (July 21, 2011)
- Americans Want Us to Cut, Cap and Balance (July 19, 2011)
- Balanced Budget Amendment Will Put Our Fiscal House in Order (July 14, 2011)
- It's Time to Have a Real Debate (July 13, 2011)
- We Will Not Pretend That a Bad Deal Is a Good One (July 12, 2011)
- Republicans Will Offer Solutions on Debt and Jobs Crisis (July 7, 2011)
- McConnell Challenges the President to Do "Something Big" on Debt Reduction (July 6, 2011)
- Debt Talks Should Focus on Entitlement Reform, Spending Cuts - Not Tax Hikes (June 21, 2011)
- Debt Limit Vote Is Opportunity to Cut Spending, Reform Entitlements (June 9, 2011)
-
Treasury Department:
-
- Bureau of the Public Debt
- As US Reaches Debt Limit, Geithner Implements Additional Extraordinary Measures to Allow Continued Funding of Government Obligations (May 16, 2011)
- Secretary Geithner Sends Debt Limit Letter to Congress (April 4, 2011)
- Secretary Geithner Sends Debt Limit Letter to Congress (January 6, 2011)
-
Speaker of the House - John Boehner:
-
- News & Press Releases
- Videos (on YouTube)
- Congressman Boehner Statement on Senate Passage of the Budget Control Act (August 2, 2011)
- CBO Confirms: Spending Cuts Exceed Debt Limit Hike in Budget Control Act (August 1, 2011)
- Speaker Boehner: Time for President Obama to Tell Us His Plan for Ending this Crisis (July 30, 2011)
- Congressman Boehner: Let's Pass This Bill & End This Debt Limit Crisis (July 28, 2011)
- GOP Plan Achieves 2/3 of the Discretionary Spending Cuts in the House-Passed Budget (July 28, 2011)
- GOP Plan "The Only Serious Proposal That Addresses the Country's Debt Crisis" (July 28, 2011)
- Congressman Boehner on GOP Spending Cut Plan: "It's Reasonable, It's Responsible, It Can Pass" (July 26, 2011)
- House Republican Plan "Changes the Trajectory of Spending," and More (July 26, 2011)
- Address to the Nation on GOP Plan to Address America's Debt Crisis (video) (July 25, 2011)
- See also this transcript.
- Debt Limit Solution Must Adhere to Principles of "Cut, Cap, & Balance" (July 24, 2011)
- Congressman Boehner Statement on Continuing Debt Limit Discussions (July 23, 2011)
- "It's Time for the Senate to Act" on "Cut, Cap, & Balance" (July 21, 2011)
- "Cut, Cap, & Balance" Will Help Stop the Spending Binge That's Hurting Job Growth (July 19, 2011)
- President Mocks His Own Administration's Failure to Address Debt Crisis (July 15, 2011)
- News Flash for The White House & Democrats Running Washington (July 13, 2011)
- Tax Hikes Will Hurt Small Businesses, Won't Help Get America's Fiscal House In Order (July 12, 2011)
- A "Balanced" Approach to the Debt Limit Involves Spending Cuts, Not Tax Hikes (July 11, 2011)
- New Budget Committee Report: Skyrocketing Debt Hampering Private-Sector Job Growth (July 8, 2011)
-
State Department - Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS):
-
- The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (July 1, 2011)
- Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations (PDF document) (June 3, 2011)
- Overview of the Federal Debt (PDF document) (May 11, 2011)
- Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations (PDF document) (April 27, 2011)
- The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (February 16, 2010)
- The United States as a Net Debtor Nation: Overview of the International Investment Position (PDF document) (February 4, 2010)
- The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (April 7, 2009)
- Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt (PDF document) (March 17, 2009)
- The Federal Government Debt: Its Size and Economic Significance (PDF document) (March 4, 2009)
- The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (April 29, 2008)
-
The White House - President Obama:
-
- The Briefing Room: News & Statements
- Videos
- Resources on the Ongoing Debate About our National Debt
- Putting Americans Back to Work: President Obama Speaks on the Debt Compromise (August 2, 2011)
- Statement by the President (August 2, 2011)
- President Obama Speaks in Support of the Bipartisan Deal to Reduce the Deficit and Raise the Debt Limit (July 31, 2011)
- Baseline Basics (July 26, 2011)
- Deficit Crisis: State and Local Officials Call for a Balanced Approach (July 26, 2011)
- Address by the President to the Nation (July 25, 2011)
- Some Republicans in Congress Once Argued Against Short-Term Solutions - They Were Right (July 25, 2011)
- Weekly Address: A Bipartisan Approach to Strengthening the Economy (July 23, 2011)
- Nation's Mayors Urge Congress to Raise the Debt Ceiling (July 22, 2011)
- Remarks by the President at University of Maryland Town Hall (July 22, 2011)
- President Obama: Go "Big" on Debt Deal (July 21, 2011)
- See also: related editorial in USA Today.
- President Obama on Deficit Talks: "We're in the 11th Hour" (July 19, 2011)
- Unbalanced Approach to Deficit Reduction (July 19, 2011)
- Weekly Address: Securing Our Fiscal Future (July 16, 2011)
- Weekly Wrap Up: The President Addresses the Deficit (July 15, 2011)
- The President on Debt Negotiations: 80 Percent of the American People Support a Balanced Approach (July 15, 2011)
- President Obama on Deficit Reduction: "If Not Now, When?" (July 11, 2011)
- See also: Press Conference by the President (July 11, 2011)
- Weekly Address: Working Together to Meet our Fiscal Challenges (July 9, 2011)
- Remarks by the President on the Status of Efforts to Find a Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction (July 7, 2011)
- President Obama on Tackling our Debt and Deficit (July 11, 2011)
- President Obama on Finding a Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction (July 7, 2011)
- Weekly Address: Cutting the Deficit and Creating Jobs (July 2, 2011)
- President Obama on Our Economy and the Debt Limit: "Now is the Time to Go Ahead and Make the Tough Choices" (June 29, 2011)
- Statement by Vice President Biden On the Bipartisan Debt Talks (June 23, 2011)
- President Obama's Framework for $4 Trillion in Deficit Reduction (April 13, 2011)
Library System Resources (books, documents, etc.):
- Deficit Financing
- Economic Stabilization - Government Policy
- Global Financial Crisis
- Government Spending Policy
- National Debt
- See also: public debts.
- United States - Appropriations and Expenditures
- United States Deficit
Other Websites on the Debt Ceiling Crisis and Debate:
- Bipartisan Policy Center: Debt Limit Analysis
- Brookings Institution: Federal Budget and National Debt
- C-SPAN: U.S. Economy (videos/articles)
- CATO Institute: Debt Ceiling Resources
- The Council on Foreign Relations: U.S. Debt Ceiling: Costs and Consequences
- FactCheck.org: U.S. Debt Ceiling
- Gallup Polls:
-
- Amid Debt Clash, Approval of Parties in Congress Low But Steady (July 19, 2011)
- Americans, Including Republicans, Want Debt Compromise (July 18, 2011)
- On Deficit, Americans Prefer Spending Cuts; Open to Tax Hikes (July 13, 2011)
- U.S. Debt Ceiling Increase Remains Unpopular With Americans (July 12, 2011)
- Kaiser Family Foundation - Kaiser Health News: Gang Of Six Deficit Plan: Executive Summary (July 19, 2011)
- See also: Debt-Ceiling Activity Moves On Multiple Tracks.
- Marketplace: Raising the Debt Ceiling (chart of a debt history)
- The National Review: Debt Ceiling (articles, analysis)
- NewsBusters.org: The Debt Ceiling Debate
- Pew Research Center: Public Split Evenly on Urgency of Debt Limit Deadline (July 18, 2011)
- See also: The Debt Ceiling Showdown - Where the Public Stands (July 14, 2011)
- Politico.com: Debt Limit
- Possible New Federal Debt Limit (calculator)
- From Fox News.
- Reuters MacroScope: U.S. Debt (blog)
- See also: Debt Debate Timeline.
- SparkNotes: Balanced Budget Debate
- U.S. National Debt Clock (estimated)
- See also:
- Wikipedia: United States Public Debt
- Please note Wikipedia's disclaimers.
Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
(March 2011)
First posted: March 11, 2011
Updated: March 21, 2011
Information about the recent earthquake in Japan
can be found at the sources below.
Jump to:
News |
Government Info |
Other Websites
About Earthquakes / Tsunamis |
About Japan
Local Library System Resources
News - Updates, Articles, Special Coverage
- ABC News: Disaster in Japan
- BBC: Tsunami Hits Japan After Massive Quake (March 11, 2011)
- More BBC coverage at this link.
- CBS News: Disaster in Japan
- The Christian Science Monitor: Asia/Pacific News
- CNN: Widespread Destruction from Japan Earthquake, Tsunami
- Full CNN coverage at this link. An Impact Map is also available.
- Fox News Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
- Google News: Japan Earthquake (multiple sources)
- See also Google's Crisis page.
- Google News: Hawaii Tsunami Waves (from Japan Earthquake) (multiple sources)
- The Huffington Post: Japan Earthquake News, Photos, Updates
- Kyodo News (Japanese News Network): English Edition
- Japanese edition here.
- MSNBC: Asia-Pacific News Coverage
- National Public Radio (NPR): Japan Earthquake News
- PBS NewsHour: Asia-Pacific News Coverage
- The New York Times: Huge Quake and Tsunami Hit Japan (March 11, 2011)
- See also: NYT's Japan news page for more news.
- ScienceInsider: Japan's Earthquake Off the (Seismic Risk) Map (March 11, 2011)
- The Times Herald-Record: Devastation in Japan
- Twitter: User posts about Japan's Earthquake
- United States Geological Survey (USGS): Magnitude 8.9 - Honshu, Japan
- More USGS coverage of aftershocks at this link.
- The Wall Street Journal: Disaster in Japan
- Yahoo News: Japan Earthquake News and Images
- YouTube: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Videos
Government Websites
- Congressman Maurice Hinchey: Emergency Assistance Available to Constituents in Japan (March 11, 2011)
- For the 22nd Congressional District.
- Hawaii Governor: Statement on Japan Earthquake / Tsunami (March 11, 2011)
- Japan Embassy (in the United States)
- Japan Government: Fire & Disaster Management Agency
- Japan Government: Prime Minister
- Japan Government: Cabinet Office
- Japan Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- U.S. Department of Defense: DOD Readies for Potential Japan Earthquake Aid (March 11, 2011)
- U.S. Embassy in Japan
- Warden Message - Earthquake in Japan (tsunami warnings)
- U.S. FEMA Blog: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Update (March 11, 2011)
- From the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- From U.S. State Department:
-
- Earthquake in Japan (March 11, 2011)
- Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami
- Travel alert.
- Japan (General Information)
- USAID Responds Immediately to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 11, 2011)
- From The White House:
-
- President Obama: "We Will Stand with the People of Japan" (March 17, 2011)
- An Update on Japan from Press Secretary Carney (March 15, 2011)
- The Ongoing Response to the Earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan (March 13, 2011)
- Statement from President Barack Obama (March 11, 2011)
- The Earthquake in Japan and Tsunami Preparedness (March 11, 2011)
Other Websites about the Earthquake
- American Red Cross Responding to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami
- See also their news page.
- Charity Navigator: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Charities
- Consumer advisories, donation advice, and charity organization ratings.
- Google Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake
- Search for missing persons or file a report. Please note Google's disclaimers.
- How Japan's Nuclear Crisis Works
- From How Stuff Works.
- Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Email Scams
- Consumer advisory from US-CERT / U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Event - March 2011
- From U.S. National Library of Medicine, Disaster Information Management Research Center.
- Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
- News and reports concerning nuclear power plants and recent earthquake/tsunami damage.
- NASA: Map of Earthquake and Tsunami near Sendai, Japan (March 11, 2011)
- See also: NASA Imagery of the March 2011 Japanese Earthquake
- From National Geographic:
-
- Is Japan Reactor Crew Exposed to Fatal Radiation? (March 17, 2011)
- Japan Tsunami: Before and After: Zoomable Satellite Images (March 15, 2011)
- Japan Earthquake Not the "Big One"? (March 14, 2011)
- Tsunami Pictures: Epic Waves, Earthquake Shock Japan (March 11, 2011)
- Japan Tsunami: 20 Unforgettable Pictures (March 2011)
- ReliefWeb: Japan's Earthquake
- Humanitarian news, information, and analysis.
- Scientific American: A Visual Tour of the Massive Earthquake and Tsunami that Hit Japan
- Photographs
- Twitter: Posts about Japan's Earthquake
- Please note: Twitter posts ("tweets") are contributed by users worldwide.
- United Nations: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
- Statements, articles, actions, news.
- Wikipedia: 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami
- Please note Wikipedia's disclaimers.
- World Health Organization: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
- Overview of humanitarian / radiation situations, related reports, and more.
General Information about Earthquakes & Tsunamis
- How Earthquakes Work
- From How Stuff Works.
- How Tsunamis Work
- From How Stuff Works.
- Largest Earthquakes in the World Since 1900
- From United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Learn about Earthquakes
- From United States Geological Survey (USGS). See also their earhquake page for kids.
- Tsunamis
- From National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- For more on earthquakes, please see our Haiti Earthquake guide.
General Information about Japan
- About Japan
- From Japan National Tourism Organization.
- Country Studies: Japan
- From the Library of Congress.
- World Fact Book: Japan
- From the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
- Japan: Geography and History
- From Factmonster.com.
Local Library System (RCLS) Resources on Japan, Earthquakes, Tsunamis
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Japan - Government
- Japan - Guidebooks
- Japan - History
- Japan - Social Life and Customs
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Current Events in Egypt
(January - February 2011)
First posted: February 3, 2011
Updated: February 18, 2011
Information concerning current events and the overall situation
in Egypt can be found at the following sources:
News - Articles & In-Depth Coverage
- BBC News
-
- Egypt Unrest
- CNN News
-
- Current and Past Articles
- Egypt in Pictures (photographs)
- Google News: Current Stories (multiple sources)
-
- Egypt protests
- See also: Egypt uprising, Egypt transition
- National Public Radio (NPR) Coverage:
-
- Anti-Government Protests Roil Egypt
- The New York Times:
-
- Egypt: News & Articles
- PBS NewsHour:
-
- Egypt in Turmoil
- The Washington Post:
-
- Special Coverage: Egypt in Turmoil
U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt
- Embassy Home Page - News and other information
U.S. Department of State:
- "Democracy in the Middle East" (February 17, 2011)
- "Situation in Egypt - Information for U.S. Citizens Currently in Egypt" (February 2, 2011)
- "Update on the Status of U.S. Citizen Evacuations From Egypt" (February 2, 2011)
USA.gov:
- The Current Situation in Egypt
The White House:
- "Remarks by the President on Egypt" (February 11, 2011)
- "President Barack Obama Reviews His Remarks On Egypt" (February 11, 2011)
- "President Obama on Egypt" (February 10, 2011)
- "Statement of President Barack Obama on Egypt" (February 10, 2011)
- President Obama on Egypt's Future: "Suppression is Not Going to Work" (February 4, 2011)
- "Remarks by the President on the Situation in Egypt" (February 1, 2011)
- President Obama on the Situation in Egypt: "All Governments Must Maintain Power through Consent, Not Coercion" (January 28, 2011)
Background Information on Egypt:
- BBC Country File: Egypt
- CIA World Fact Book: Egypt
- Library of Congress: Egypt - A Country Study
- National Geographic: Egypt
Hydraulic Fracturing ("Fracking")
& Natural Gas Extraction
Updated: November 3, 2011
Escalating energy needs around the world require expanded sources of power.
While research and development of new and "greener" (more environmentally-friendly)
methods and technologies occurs at an increasingly urgent pace to help
meet those needs, other methods, each with their own debatable environmental impacts,
do exist.
Which process is "best" - especially as the United States seeks to achieve
independence from foreign energy sources - is a question which fuels debates
among corporations, environmental activitists, legislators, concerned residents
near current or proposed fracturing sites, and others.
Among these controversial practices of energy harvesting is a process called
hydraulic fracturing (also known as "fracking" or "hydrofracking").
The goal of "fracking" is to extract natural gas and oil stored within Earth
so that those materials can be processed and eventually used for producing energy.
What does the procedure entail? The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
says:
"Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a well stimulation process used to maximize
the extraction of underground resources; including oil, natural gas,
geothermal energy, and even water. The oil and gas industry uses HF
to enhance subsurface fracture systems to allow oil or natural gas
to move more freely from the rock pores to production wells
that bring the oil or gas to the surface."
You can
read the EPA's full description at this link.
So why the controversy? This article from
Columbia University's Earth Institute
blog explores potential concerns with the actual fluid and additives used
during fracturing:
"Hydraulic Fracturing - Potential
for Contamination of Drinking Water Sources" (May 3, 2010).
The
website for a movie called Gasland
also contains
a list of possible
environmental concerns from the perspective of an investigative filmmaker.
To help you become more aware of this topic and the different ideas and technologies
being debated, we have gathered the following websites for your consideration:
About Hydraulic Fracturing ("Fracking")
- Earthworks: Hydraulic Fracturing 101
- Fracking chemicals, Potential for groundwater contamination, Fracking chemical disposal, Hydraulic fracturing best practices, Tips for landowners
- From EPA:
-
- Hydraulic Fracturing
- Background Information
- How Stuff Works: How Fracking Works
- National Geographic: Forcing Gas Out of Rock with Water (October 17, 2010)
- ProPublica.org: What Is Hydraulic Fracturing?
- Color illustration.
- Wikipedia: Hydraulic Fracturing
- Please note their disclaimers.
Hearings & Statements
- NYS DEC: DEC Issues Draft Regulations for High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing - Public Hearing Information Announced (September 28, 2011)
- NYS DEC: DEC Begins 90-Day Public Comment Period on Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study (September 7, 2011)
- NYS DEC: DEC Report on Recommendations for Permitting of Hydraulic Fracturing Now Online (July 8, 2011)
- NYS DEC: DEC Commissioner Appoints Members to Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel (July 1, 2011)
- NYS DEC: New Recommendations Issued in Hydraulic Fracturing Review (June 30, 2011)
- NYS Assembly: The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver - Press Conference: Hydrofracking Moratorium Legislation (June 6, 2011)
- NYS Assembly: Silver and Assembly Majority Announce Moratorium on Hydrofracking (June 6, 2011)
- NYS Assembly: Assembly Moratorium on Natural Gas Well Drilling Permits That Utilize Hydrofracking Reported Out of Committee (May 16, 2011)
- Reps. Maloney, Hinchey and Nadler Call for Hearings on Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing of Natural Gas (March 2, 2011)
- Links to related letters (PDF format): letter 1, letter 2.
- New York State Governor's Office: Executive Order - Statement from Peter Kiernan, Counsel to the Governor (December 11, 2010)
- New York City Council: Joint Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Environmental Committee Chair James Gennaro (Re: Assembly Passes Hydraulic Fracturing Legislation) (November 30, 2010)
- NYS Assembly: Assembly Passes Moratorium on Hydrofracking (November 30, 2010)
- New York City Council: Hydraulic Fracturing TownHall 2010 (PDF) (August 24, 2010)
- NYS Senator Thomas K. Duane: "The Nation: The Next Drilling Disaster?" (June 3, 2010)
- See also Senator Duane's Drill Watch page.
- Examining the Potential Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing (February 18, 2010)
- Energy & Commerce Committee Investigates Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing (February 18, 2010)
News Coverage
- From The Christian Science Monitor:
-
- "Interior secretary: 'Fracking' can be safe and responsible" (Video; October 5, 2011)
- "Yes, Let's Frack – With Caution" (August 11, 2011)
- "Fracking': Did Energy Department Report Clear Up Controversy?" (August 11, 2011)
- "Fracking Gas Drilling Technique Ban Passed by NJ Lawmakers" (July 1, 2011)
- "'Fracking' for Natural Gas is Polluting Ground Water, Study Concludes" (May 9, 2011)
- "New Warning of Poisonous Chemicals in Natural Gas 'Hydrofracking'" (April 17, 2011)
- "In Hills Outside Paris, Tapping Vast Oil Reserve Presents Risk But Promises Profit" (December 17, 2010)
- "Fracking Debate Prompts EPA Hearing in New York on Gas Drilling" (September 13, 2010)
- "EPA to Natural Gas Companies: Give Details on 'Fracking' Chemicals" (September 9, 2010)
- "Could Shale Deposits Bring Mid-Atlantic States $2 Trillion?" (July 21, 2010)
- "Controversial Path to Possible Glut of Natural Gas" (September 17, 2008)
- CNN: EPA on Fracking: "We Can Only Do So Much" (September 17, 2010)
- Fox News: Fracking
- Google News: Recent Articles on "Hydraulic Fracturing"
- See also: FRAC Act, gas fracking
- From National Public Radio (NPR):
-
- "New York Town Takes Up Fracking Issue" (November 3, 2011)
- "English Tremors Blamed On Shale 'Fracking' " (November 2, 2011)
- "EPA To Regulate Disposal Of Fracking Wastewater " (October 20, 2011)
- "The Trouble With Health Problems Near Gas Fracking" (September 29, 2011)
- "Hydraulic Spinning: Oil Industry Favored in Fracking Story?" (September 9, 2011)
- "SEC Jumps Into Fight Over Fracking" (August 25, 2011)
- "Energy Panel Wants Answers On Gas 'Fracking' " (August 11, 2011)
- "As Focus On Fracking Sharpens, Fuel Worries Grow" (July 13, 2011)
- Bishops, Nuns And Rabbis Debate Gas Fracking (July 9, 2011)
- Gushers Highlight Potential Of Pa. Gas Field (June 26, 2011)
- Study Links Methane In Water To Gas Extraction (May 13, 2011)
- France Moves To Ban Shale Gas Drilling (May 12, 2011)
- GOP Victory Could Boost Natural Gas Drilling (November 11, 2010)
- EPA Issues Subpoena To Halliburton On Gas Drilling (November 9, 2010)
- EPA Told Gas Drilling Does, Does Not Taint Water (September 13, 2010)
- EPA Wants To Know Chemicals Used In Gas Drilling (September 10, 2010)
- New Film Investigates 'Fracking' For Natural Gas (June 18, 2010)
- Drilling Poses Risk To Pennsylvania Water Supplies (June 16, 2010)
- Dispute Over 'Fracking' For Natural Gas (January 8, 2010)
- NPR's Useful, But Flawed, Series on Natural Gas (October 16, 2009)
- Exploring Shale: The Quest For Natural Gas (September 24, 2009)
- Water Contamination Concerns Linger For Shale Gas (September 23, 2009)
- Face-Off Over 'Fracking': Water Battle Brews On Hill (May 27, 2009)
- From The New York Times:
-
- Natural Gas (news topic page)
- "The Fracking Divide: Who Will Prevail in N.Y.?" (October 31, 2011)
- "On Our Radar: Fracking Protest in Britain" (November 3, 2011)
- "Gas Pipeline to Manhattan Stirs Debate in 2 States" (October 27, 2011)
- "N.Y. Advisory Panel Delays Report on Fracking" (October 27, 2011)
- "Fracking on My Land: Drilling Down on the Family Farm" (October 22, 2011)
- "On Our Radar: A New Fracking Frontier" (October 11, 2011)
- "State Did Not Rush on Fracking, Commissioner Says" (October 8, 2011)
- "On Our Radar: Fracking vs. Drought" (October 6, 2011)
- "Doctors Urge N.Y. to Weigh Health Risks of Fracking" (October 5, 2011)
- "Expert Says Quakes in England May Be Tied to Gas Extraction" (October 22, 2011)
- "Imagining a Blur of Fracking Activity" (September 8, 2011)
- "New York State Outlines Fracking Rules" (September 7, 2011)
- "Fracking Oversight Raises Staffing Questions" (August 19, 2011)
- "Panel Seeks Stiffer Rules for Drilling of Gas Wells" (August 10, 2011)
- "Fracking Contaminated a Well, Documents Indicate" (August 3, 2011)
- "Fracking Water Killed Trees, Study Finds" (July 12, 2011)
- "Safe, Not Sorry, on Drilling" (July 9, 2011)
- "Drilling Into New York's Fracking Report" (July 8, 2011)
- "Cuomo Will Seek to Lift Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing" (June 30, 2011)
- "Cuomo Clarifies Fracking and Nuclear Plans" (June 30, 2011)
- "Insiders Sound an Alarm Amid a Natural Gas Rush" (June 25, 2011)
- "Fracking and Water: E.P.A. Zeroes In on 7 Sites" (June 23, 2011)
- "Texas: Drillers Must Disclose 'Fracking' Chemicals" (June 20, 2011)
- "N.Y. Legislature Tightens Rules on Water Withdrawals" (June 20, 2011)
- "A 'Golden Age' for Gas? Two Caveats" (June 6, 2011)
- "Baffled About Fracking? You're Not Alone" (May 13, 2011)
- "Energy Dept. Panel to Revise Standards for Gas Extraction" (May 7, 2011)
- "Fracking for Natural Gas With Diesel Violated Law, EPA Says" (April 13, 2011)
- "Natural Gas and Clean Water" (March 22, 2011)
- "Chemicals and Toxic Materials That Come With Hydrofracking" (March 1, 2011)
- "Fracking Companies Injected 32M Gallons of Diesel, House Probe Finds" (January 31, 2011)
- "Regulation Lax as Gas Wells' Tainted Water Hits Rivers" (February 26, 2011)
- "On Drilling, Paterson Pleases Both Sides" (December 12, 2010)
- "New York Governor Vetoes Fracking Bill" (December 11, 2010)
- "Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Forbids Gas Drilling" (November 17, 2010)
- "Energy, and Plenty of It, for Decades to Come" (November 16, 2010)
- "Halliburton Announces Ecofriendly Fracking Fluid, More Disclosure" (November 15, 2010)
- "E.P.A. Subpoenas Halliburton on Fracking" (November 9, 2010)
- "Fracking for Natural Gas - Economics vs. Environment" (November 7, 2010)
- "Pennsylvania: Governor Bans More Gas Development" (October 27, 2010)
- "Outlook for Shale Gas in Europe Is Uncertain" (October 14, 2010)
- "Questions about Fracturing" (September 20, 2010)
- "E.P.A. to Study Chemicals Used to Tap Natural Gas" (September 9, 2010)
- "Senate Approves Fracking Moratorium" (August 4, 2010)
- "Natural Gas Company's Disclosure Decision Could Change Fracking Debate" (July 15, 2010)
- "There's Gas in Those Hills" (April 8, 2008)
- NYC.gov: Recent News on Natural Gas Drilling
- PBS "Gasland: Will the Boom in Natural Gas Drilling Contaminate America's Water Supply?"(March 26, 2010)
- Text and video.
- From ProPublica:
-
- "EPA Plans to Issue Rules Covering Fracking Wastewater" (October 20, 2011)
- "Doctors Ask New York to Study Health Impacts Before Allowing Fracking" (October 6, 2011)
- "Pennsylvania Governor Proposes Fee on Gas Drillers" (October 3, 2011)
- "Science Lags as Health Problems Emerge Near Gas Fields" (September 16, 2011)
- "Who Are America’s Top 10 Gas Drillers?" (September 1, 2011)
- "Report for Obama Questions Effectiveness of Gas Drilling Regulations" (August 12, 2011)
- "N.Y. Enviro Commissioner Expects Little From EPA Fracking Study" (August 9, 2011)
- "Does an Old EPA Fracking Study Provide Proof of Contamination?" (August 4, 2011)
- "EPA Proposes New Rules on Emissions Released by Fracking" (July 29, 2011)
- "State Fracking Rules Could Allow Drilling Near New York City Water Supply Tunnels" (July 14, 2011)
- "" (, 2011)
- "New York Proposes Permanent Ban on Fracking Near Watershed and State Land" (June 30, 2011)
- "EPA Fracking Study to Focus on Five States - But Not Wyoming" (June 24, 2011)
- "Former Bush EPA Official Says Fracking Exemption Went Too Far; Congress Should Revisit" (March 9, 2011)
- Special Report: "Natural Gas Drilling Debate Heats Up: Read Our Guide" (2011)
- Special Report: "Buried Secrets: Gas Drilling's Environmental Threat" (2010)
- "Two Companies Seek Trade Secret Status for Fracking Fluids in Wyoming" (November 2, 2010)
- "New York Senate Passes Temporary Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing" (August 4, 2010)
- "Drilling Company Says It Will List Hazardous Chemicals Used in Fracking" (July 15, 2010)
- "Democrats Call for Studies as Industry Assails Proposals to Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing" (July 13, 2010)
- "A Fracking First in Pennsylvania: Cattle Quarantine" (July 2, 2010)
- "Fracking Tales: Stories From the Frontlines of Gas Drilling" (June 22, 2010)
- "Officials in Three States Pin Water Woes on Gas Drilling" (April 26, 2010)
- "Pennsylvania's Gas Wells Booming - But So Are Spills" (January 27, 2010)
- "A Fracking Mischaracterization" (December 24, 2009)
- "New Yorkers Tell State Enviro Department: 'No Fracking Way'" (November 11, 2009)
- Scientific American: "With Natural Gas Drilling Boom, Pennsylvania Faces Flood of Wastewater" (October 5, 2010)
- See also their podcast: "Fracking to Free Natural Gas?"
- From Times Herald-Record:
-
- Editorial: New Yorkers Thinking about Gas-Drilling Should Keep an Eye on PA. (October 28, 2011)
- Reactions to NY's Fracking Regulations Pour In (July 10, 2011)
- 'Fracking' Ban Omits River Land, Infuriating Foes (July 1, 2011)
- State Releases Proposal to Regulate 'Fracking' For Natural Gas (June 30, 2011)
- Fracking Bills Languishing in Albany (June 19, 2011)
- DEC Shifts Fracking-Rules Timeline (May 29, 2011)
- Fracking Foes Outnumber Proponents at Ulster Forum (May 26, 2011)
- Fundraiser in Sullivan County Draws Fracking Foes (May 23, 2011)
- Congressional Probe Finds Carcinogens in Fracking Fluids (April 17, 2011)
- Wayne's World: Animals on Front Lines of Fracking Issue (April 17, 2011)
- Hinchey Calls for House Hearings on Fracking (March 3, 2011)
- Some Sullivan Farmers Hope Fracking's in Their Future (January 3, 2011)
- Drilling for Dollars: The Rush for Gas in Sullivan County (December 2010)
- Anti-fracking Group Gathers at the River (September 19, 2010)
- Report: Fracking Chemicals in NE Pennsylvania. Water Wells (September 16, 2010)
- Gas Drilling Supporters, Opponents Protest before EPA Hearings (September 13, 2010)
Perspectives on Hydrofracking & Natural Gas Extraction
- American Petroleum Institute: Natural Gas
- Industrial perspective, pro-fracking. See also their Energy Tomorrow website and their document "Natural Gas is America's New Energy Frontier" (April 2010; PDF)
- Environmental Impacts of Gas Well Drilling
- Cornell University, New York State Water Resources Institute.
- Google Blog Search: Hydraulic Fracturing
- See also gas fracking.
- Halliburton: Shale Gas Development
- Industrial perspective. Includes: "U.S. Shale Gas: An Unconventional Resource. Unconventional Challenges" (PDF) and Global Shale Gas Resources.
- MarcellusFacts.com
- Industrial perspective. Pro-fracking website/blog from the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York.
- Natural Gas as Panacea: Dubious Path to a Green Future (June 28, 2010)
- From Daniel B. Botkin, author via Yale University's Environment 360 website.
- Save the Water Table
- Anti-fracking blog.
- Vanity Fair: "A Colossal Fracking Mess" (June 21, 2010)
- Investigative article focusing on the negative side of fracking. Includes photos/video.
Related Documents
- NYS DEC: DEC Report on Recommendations for Permitting of Hydraulic Fracturing Now Online ("2011 Draft - Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS)"; July 8, 2011)
- Committee Democrats Release New Report Detailing Hydraulic Fracturing Products (April 16, 2011)
- Congress: FRAC Act - H.R.2766 - Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)
- Department of Energy: Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States: A Primer (PDF) (2009)
- Earth Institute, Columbia University: Hydraulic Fracturing - Potential for Contamination of Drinking Water Sources (May 3, 2010)
- EPA: Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study Fact Sheet
- EPA: The Volunteer Monitor (Spring 2010)
- "Monitoring Impacts of New Gas-Drilling Technologies." PDF format.
- From New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC):
-
- "Preliminary Revised Draft SGEIS on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program (July 2011) - Horizontal Drilling and High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale and Other Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs
- Strategic Plan for State Forest Management
- Draft. September 2010.
- Hydraulic Fracturing Considerations for Natural Gas Wells of the Marcellus Shale
- Marcellus Shale: Gas Well Drilling in the Marcellus Shale
- Misc. Older Documents in the RCLS Library Catalog
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Marcellus Shale
- Scroll down their page for information and related documents.
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
July 2, 2010
(Guide Updated: September 21, 2010)
Due to the many ongoing events and new information concerning
the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, our coverage of the
environmental disaster is now maintained on a dedicated page:
Please click here for our Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill information guide.
Greek Debt Crisis & Europe
May 10, 2010
Greece and its national debt, the Euro, the European Union - what is happening,
and why should we take note of the situation?
To help you answer those questions and develop a better understanding of Europe's
economic conditions, we gathered the following resources along with
some background information on Greece and its economy.
About Greece & the European Union (Background, History)
About the Greek Debt Crisis & Europe's Economy
European Union - News & Actions
News & Special Reports on the Crisis
Updated: Network Neutrality Guide
April 8, 2010
Links to documents and other information regarding the recent
U.S. Federal Court decision in the Internet traffic regulation case
(Comcast v. Federal Communications Commission - FCC, et al)
can now be found in our
Network Neutrality guide.
Check the
Government Information
are and
News section of that guide
for information from the FCC as well as the official decision.
Updated: Bees & Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Guide
March 30, 2010
Fresh information concerning the honey bee-endangering disorder
known as "colony collapse" have been added to our
Bees / CCD information guide:
In the guide's
Reports and Studies section
there are several new links to recently published articles and reports on CCD.
Floods Guide Updated
March 18, 2010
After recent record amounts of snow and rainfall over the past few
weeks, areas within and well beyond New York state are experiencing
flooding.
To help you keep up with these recent developments or to find
contacts and pertinent information which could prove useful,
we have updated our
Floods information guide.
In addition to local and state news coverage and resources,
you will find national updates and links to related items
in the library catalog.
Chile Earthquake Resources
March 3, 2010
Updated March 11, 2010
The following links provide information and updates concerning Chile and its recent earthquake of February 27, 2010 (and subsequent aftershocks).
Background & History
Earthquake, Aftershocks, & Tsunami Information
- About the Chilean Earthquake:
- General Information on Earthquakes:
Special Coverage News & Reports
Government Information
Charities & Humanitarian Assistance
- General Information about Charities
- Relief Organizations & Efforts
Special Coverage Center 2.0
March 1, 2010
Our Special Coverage Center has been redesigned
to improve our ability to connect you with key resources
on current interests and issues.
In addition to our Special Coverge Guides, we now provide
this blog, which you can subscribe to via its
RSS feed.
Middletown Thrall Library established the Special Coverage Center to provide quick and easy access
to websites and other resources relating to popular topics and important issues.
Fresh topics are periodically added to the Center as events unfold locally and globally.
Included in our Special Coverage guides (and now blog posts) are links to local, state,
and national government representatives and agencies providing definitive information
and contacts so you may communicate concerns and questions with political leaders
connected to your community or surrounding areas.
Library resources are also highlighted.
Please click here to learn more about the Special Coverage Center.
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