Author Archives: Bruce

About Bruce

Work for sustainable development of small islands and the Chesapeake Bay; ex-Peace Corps (Volunteer and staff) in LA & Caribbean; cruised Caribbean on S/Y Meander for three years; like small tropical islands, French canals, Umbria, Tasmania, and NZ. Married 52 years to the late Kincey Burdett Potter (see Kincey.org). President of the now-sunsetting Island Resources Foundation.

The “Wise Use” Roots of the Bundy Seizure of the Federal Refuge in Oregon

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Bruce

The Sunday New York Times provides some of this background <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/opinion/sunday/the-ideological-roots-of-the-oregon-standoff.html?_r=0>, but the 12-year-old piece quoted below from the September 2004 Sierra Club Magazine <http://vault.sierraclub.org/sierra/200409/wiseuse.asp> is clearer about the links to Wise Use and militants in the West, including especially … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Governance, Resource Management | Tagged "Wise Use" | Leave a comment

Capital Gazette Profile: Erik Michelsen, Anne Arundel Watershed Protection and Restoration Program

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Bruce

An excellent profile of the man, and description of the program, by E. B. (Pat) Furgurson III at <http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/ph-ac-cn-people-watch-michelsen-0103-20160103-story.html> People to watch: Erik Michelsen Watershed Protection and Restoration Program Administrator Erik Michelsen oversees the administration of the county’s multi-million dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Watershed Management | Tagged Chesapeake, South_River | Leave a comment

Science Magazine 4 December 2015: Protected Areas and Global Conservation of Migratory Birds — p 1255

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Bruce

An article by Runge, Watson, Butchart, Hanson, Possingham and Fuller. at <http://www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagazine/4_december_2015?sub_id=CrFR7S2tnqdZl&folio=1255&pg=166#pg166> Bruce bpotter

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

First Confusing Health Note of 2016

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Bruce

from the Washington Post Wonkblog: <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/31/the-surprising-thing-ancient-mummies-tell-us-about-what-to-eat/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_headlines> Wonkblog The surprising thing ancient mummies tell us about what to eat By Peter Whoriskey December 31, 2015 A reconstruction of a 5,000-year-old man based on his mummified remains that were found in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Tagged Nutrition | Leave a comment

The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself.

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Bruce

from the Boston Globe <http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2015/04/11/have-seen-enemies-and-they-weak/Cho9J5Bf9jxIkHKIZvnVTJ/story.html?event=event25> . . . . and no, I didn’t just think up the title of this piece myself. . . STEPHEN KINZER The world of threats to the US is an illusion JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES A … Continue reading →

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No More Liberal Arts or Social Studies?

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Bruce

From Foreign Affairs, best articles of 2015: <https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/decline-international-studies?campaign=%3Fcid%3Demc-ozy_send-king-121715> The added emphasis is my own. ESSAY July/August 2015 Issue The Decline of International Studies Why Flying Blind Is Dangerous By Charles King In October 2013, the U.S. Department of State … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance | Leave a comment

IISDRS Summary of the Paris Climate Change Conference UNFCCC COP21 — Deal of the Decade

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Bruce

@IISDRS Summary & Analysis from #UNFCCC #COP21 posted on Thursday, 17 December 2015 [Click here to visit IISD Reporting Services.] Paris Climate Change Conference – November 2015 (UNFCCC COP 21) 30 November – 11 December 2015 | Paris, France http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop21/enb/ … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Climate Change, Governance | Tagged climate change | Leave a comment

Holiday Giftlet

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Bruce

The fascinating story of tiny Ile Tromelin, as published in the double holiday edition of The Economist. via Lèse humanité | The Economist.

Posted in Fun, Small Island | Leave a comment

Endocrine Disruptors Fingered as Cause of Smallmouth Collapse in Susquehanna

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Bruce

A key issue for the Bay is the duration or geographic reach of endocrine disruptor effects as they travel down the Bay, and how is this influenced by factors such as stream flow, temperature, and salinity. If effects are long-lived, … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Watershed Management | Tagged Bass, Endocrine Disruptors, Susquehanna | Leave a comment

Comments on the Sasha Wass Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in St. Helena and Ascension

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Bruce

The general and somewhat vague account of some of the social welfare/human rights issues on the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena and Ascension copied at the bottom of this message has been overtaken by the long-awaited publication of the Sasha Wass … Continue reading →