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The tragic explosion of the Sago Mine in West virginia on January 2, 2006, which took twelve lives and permanently disabled another, still begs for a rational explanation over 1 year later. The disaster captured the interest of the american public and fostered outrage on the part of lawmakers and bureaucrats alike, while coal mining operators ran for cover.

For not only did the international Coal Group, Inc., which owns and operates the Sago Mine, become the poster-child for unsafe mining practices, it became the source of questions which had not been publicly exposed for decades, while miners lives remained in peril.

And questions linger as to why existing federal and state safety laws were overlooked by government agencies and regulations bypassed by the coal industry. Still, there was a knee-jerk reaction for more federal legislation rushed through the halls of Congress and various state houses where new laws were enacted in those mining states which lost miners in 2006.

The direct cause of the Sago Mine explosion has yet to be confirmed by the state of West virginia, the federal Mine safety and health Administration (MSHA), the united Mine Workers Association (UMWA) and independent commissions with reports supposedly forthcoming. 2006 saw the largest percentage increase in u.s. coal mining deaths in 107 years, the industrys highest number since 1995, and more than double that of the 22 in 2005. Yet, explanations for such an increase are varied, depending upon which interested party provides them.

This writer wrote an extensive report one year ago regarding background on federal regulation of the mining industry, its lack of government enforcement, the industrys deregulation over the past several decades and the industrys accelerated recent growth which are all contributing factors to the decline in mining safety.

And although such may help give a historic context of the dysfunction, it offers no confidence whether or not coal mining is functionally in a better place 1 year after Sago. Heightened awareness of negligence, whether blind or intentional, is the first step to increased improvement, but there are many more required to assure miners and their families that their lives are in less danger and remain a priority.

Preliminary reports by the West virginia office of Miners health, safety and training (WVMHST), the international Coal Group, Inc., the MSHA and independent commissioned studies such as the Mine safety technology and training Commission cite contributing factors to the loss of life in Sago Mine.

But without substantial scientific evidence, 3 bolts of lightning strikes remain the official cause for igniting methane gas causing the explosion. And such remains mere speculation and without foundation to mining experts and scientists alike. At issue, is how lightning could travel over two miles and 900 feet underground through twists and turns on its way to a closed-off section where the miners were located and cause the eventual explosion.

Additionally, the underground mine seals used for the walls were manufactured with materials unable to withstand the minimally mandated 20 pounds per square inch (psi). However, the sustained blast of Sago was 95 psi. Engineers are now experimenting with new composites able to handle over 95 psi. To date, there exists no credible material to handle such an explosion although the MSHA amended the requirement for mine seals to be 50 psi in 2006.

It was the loss of life at Sago Mine as well as the two subsequent West virginia coal mining deaths but weeks after Sago on January 19, 2006 in a fire at Aracoma Mine, followed by the disaster at Darby Mine No. 1 in Harlan county, Kentucky which took 5 more lives on May 20, 2006, that resulted in the expedited federal Mine Improvement and New emergency Response Act of 2006. President George W. Bush signed it into law on June 15, 2006. And just weeks after the Sago Mine explosion, West virginia Governor Joe Manchin executed new mining laws on January 26, 2006 which followed his order for a special investigation by the state of West virginia into causes of the Sago disaster.

By February 7, 2006 the WVMHST announced the provisions of its emergency regulations mandated by the legislature. they included providing emergency shelters within 1,000 feet of where miners are digging coal; inspection of air supplies daily and reporting results to the state; installation of caches of emergency air supplies equal to 30 minutes of walking time; wireless communication devices capable of reaching the surface through text, voice and by location.

Similarly, Kentucky passed legislation which became effective July 12, 2006 as it suffered a total loss of 16 miners in 2006. The law includes such changes as requiring mine managers to report a serious injury or fatality to state officials within 15 minutes, requires 2 air packs for each miner and provides for escape drills to be conducted every 90 days. Kentucky also now has the power to fine mine operators for violations and to increase from 2 to 3 the number of underground inspections annually.

Meanwhile, the u.s. Congress swiftly cobbled together its own revised mine safety regulations, the first since 1996, after its hearings on Capitol Hill in January 2006, following the Sago Mine explosion and the Aracoma Mine fire fatalities.

The federal law revisions include providing 2 hours of emergency air supplies per miner, plus caches of air packs with an additional 2 hours of air per miner. Previously, only 1 hour of air per miner was required. Mine operators must report a disaster within 15 minutes whereas previously there was no time limit. two separate and protected communications systems are required. Previously only one was required. wireless communication and miner tracking systems are required to be operational within three years of June 15, 2006.

Additionally, two experienced rescue teams must respond to mining accidents within 1 hour as opposed to the previous 2 hours and the development of training of emergency response and evacuation plans have been enacted. The MSHA has also added approximately two dozen more federal mining inspectors and mandates a change in its violation fee structure. Unfortunately, there remain less federal inspectors than the u.s. had in 1997.

The federal government is also now given the authority to request an injunction to shut down those mines which have refused to pay final violations. But the appeals process remains lengthy and during such process mines may remain open indefinitely, regardless of aggravated negligence. And the aggregate fines remain benign or seemingly small for an industry which set historic revenue records in just the first nine months of 2006.

Dramatic changes in our mine safety laws will only protect our miners if MSHA is displaying real teeth in carrying out and enforcing our new requirements, this according to Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA) on Capitol Hill with the MSHA in the first week of December 2006. He and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WVA), both predominantly responsible for the amended federal mining law of 2006, met with the MSHA and a bi-partisan committee in order to ensure industry compliance of the new law and to ask the agency if it has enough funding to implement the provisions of the new Mining Act and its safety measures.

As of January 2007, there are no new air packs available. Yet, mine operators believe they have satisfied the new regulation as the law only requires purchase orders, not receipt of air packs, as proof of compliance. Mine operators have been told that air packs are on back-order for 1 more year, although a german manufacturer has 6,500 units readily available. And the Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SCSR) are the same type of devices used since 1977, when the first major underlying changes in mining safety laws were enacted.

But strengthening seals, improving breathing technology, building refuge chambers and creating communications and tracking technologies have thus far only been appropriated $10 million for the necessary research and engineering evaluations and thus remain to be implemented. And again, a new round of Congressional hearings on mining safety has been called for in 2007, this time by Congressman George Miller (D-CA), the new Chairman of the House Committee on education and the Workforce.

Idly standing by waiting for the federal government to fund the necessary changes in the law or waiting for mine operators to police themselves in the meantime are both unrealistic and foolish premises. J. Davitt McAteer, former had of the MSHA (1994-2000) and now an expert advisor to West virginia Governor Manchin, believes that, Default steps or common sense while the industry waits for technology to be improved have not been taken. What caused the explosion and what caused the disaster, according to McAteer, are distinct.

The lack of explosion proof seals, defective air packs, lack of communication devices, delay in rescue response and non-existent tracking capabilities were preventative measure which could have been put in place long ago. And Cecil E. Roberts, President of the UMWA, has called upon the MSHA to regulate evacuations during the approach of electrical storms, as long as questions remain as to the exact cause of the Sago Mine explosion.

Sadly, on September 7, 2006, Sago Mines operator, ICG, Inc., was again cited by the WVMHST for providing its miners with defective SCSR breathing apparatus. The devices had faulty heating indicators. 6 out of 50 had been exposed to temperatures over 130 F. Disturbingly, said violations only became public knowledge three months after they were served.

And already in this young 2007, two miners in West virginia lost their lives on January 13, 2007 as the result of a roof collapse at the Brooks run Mining Co.s Cucumber, WVA mine. The Brooks run mine had been cited by federal inspectors 65 times in 2006 with penalties totalling only $5,000.00. Although mine operators notified authorities immediately in compliance with the new mining law, little else has changed in 1 years time. For as Cecil Roberts continues to preach, When you put production ahead of safety, tragedies like this are all too often the result.

Copyright 2007 Diane M. Grassi

Diane M. Grassi is a freelance columnist, reporting and writing commentary on current events of the day providing honest and often politically incorrect assessments. From u.s. public policy to Major League Baseball, she is an eclectic thinker, and demanding of her readers to reflect on their own thinking patterns from an alternative perspective. Whether you agree with her or not, Diane M. Grassi will have you coming back to note her opinions, and if at best she wakes you up, then her goal will have been accomplished.

Ms. Grassi is featured with the online publications: New media Journal.us; american Chronicle; Mich news.com; Opinions Editorials; the Conservative Voice; liberty watch Magazine as well as many others. She also writes regular columns on Major League Baseball where she is a featured online columnist with The diamond Angle Baseball Ezine and Sports-Central.org Ms. Grassi may contacted at: dgrassi@cox.net

While fishing can be a fun and exciting hobby, it can be also be dangerous. Unexpected circumstances like thunderstorms, hurricanes, wild currents, lightning and other accident could spoil your fishing trip.

Getting yourself prepared of what to expect if such circumstances occur can make your fishing trips with your friends or family an enjoyable and relaxing one. The list below gives you a guide of what to expect and what preparations you should take in each scenario.

1) Weather Safety Always check the weather forecast for the day before leaving for the shore to fish. It is advisable to stay on land if storms are predicted. If you are fishing on shores or in a boat, watch out for approaching thunderstorm, lightning in the sky and flash floods. Remember: Lightning always strikes the highest target, so it is important to lay down your fishing rod and your body stays low in the boat. You have to get ready to head to the dry land immediately before extreme lightning strikes.

If the weather is extremely hot and you are planning to spend long hours under the hot sun, remember to apply sun block on your uncovered skin to prevent sunburns and skin damages. Be aware of heat sickness symptoms such as nausea, breathing difficulty and lightheadedness. Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

2) Fishing Lines - Be aware of your surrounding! Always look around before you cast to make sure there's nothing or no one around you. If your lines get caught in anything surrounding you such as trees, logs, never try to force it out towards you. Should the hook come free, it could fly towards you and cause injuries to you and others. Try to get your line out of the tangle by gently tugging on it to avoid any major accident. You can also snap off the branches of the tree and slowly remove your line.

3) Equipments Safety Sharp objects like fishing hooks and knives can cause injuries. Always bring your first aid kit to treat injuries on your fishing trips. Should an incident occurs and leads the skin to bleed, you'll need disinfectants such as medicated lotion, bandages or cotton.

4) Fishing on Boat - Always wear a life jacket especially if you have never try fishing on boat before. You can easily lose balance and fall if you are not careful enough.

With all these tips in mind, you could enjoy your fishing trip safely and successfully.

Alex Stevenson is the owner of MyBestFishingGuide.com, a website that provides Comprehensive complete guide to Fishing. You can also download your FREE copy of "How To Plan And Budget The Fishing Trips of Your Dreams" at http://www.mybestfishingguide.com

There are a lot of things we dont know about our world but this next fact is true: There is no debate among experts scientists about global warming. It is a fact and it is happening right now. We are causing it by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. Records show these activities are pumping far more CO2 into the atmosphere than ever before.

That leaves us with an important question. How can you, just one person in this big world, stop temperatures from rising, glaciers from melting and oceans from swelling? The answer is easy. Do your part. If everyone one of us just changed our daily routines even a little bit, we can change the outcome of the earths future.

Here are something simple steps you can try to do everyday. These may not seem like much of a change but you will be pleasantly surprised at how well they work. Youll be saving the earth and money.

1. Buy organic cotton - Annually, conventional cotton is responsible for the use of $2.6 billion worth of pesticides, more than any other crop. Look for labels that say certified organic, meaning the prohibition of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers have been met.
2. Take your own bag when you shop We throw away a hundred billion plastic grocery bags a year. That's a whole lot of petroleum used to produce items that clog our landfills. Governments worldwide are restricting the manufacture of plastic bags or taxing them. Many stores charge their customers a few cents extra for them. Others give a small refund for each of their bags you don't fill. So tuck your own bag into your purse, pack, or pocket next time you shop.
3. Make your spring cleaning safer Try to buy one green cleaning product to replace a conventional toxic one, such as those containing caustic ammonia and chlorine bleach. These chemicals can burn your eyes and respiratory tract and, if accidentally combined, produce a toxic gas. Also, they can find their way into our waterways and harm wildlife.
4. Save money and fossil fuels - The average household spends ten to fifteen percent of its annual electricity bill on lighting. Most incandescent light bulbs use only ten percent of their energy to produce light while the rest is wasted as heat. Use an energy efficient, compact fluorescent light bulb instead. The EPA estimates that if just one room in every U.S. home was lit by CFLs, we'd save 1,000 billion pounds in CO2 emissions each year. Some states even offer green power options for consumers who want to buy energy from environmentally friendlier sources such as wind or hydroelectric power, rather than coal-fired power plants.
5. Save water in a second Your faucet flows about three gallons of water per minute, so turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. Take showers instead of baths. They use considerably less water.
6. Buy locally grown produce - An astonishing waste of fuel is used when getting Fruits and vegetables to the dinner table. Buying local produce means better flavor and the chance to try varieties not sold elsewhere. It also helps keep small local farmers in business, which in turn preserves the countryside.
7. Defeat house and garden pests without pesticides - Household pests are not only bothersome but they can also spread disease and cause allergic reactions. Toxic sprays are no solution since they are just that toxic.
8. Use safe plastics As you walk through your local grocery store, take a look at the shelves notice how much of the food and water we buy comes in contact with plastic. Not all plastics are created equal and some are considerably safer than others, especially when it comes to food packaging and storage. Look for containers made from #2 plastic, which is both recyclable and won't leak toxic chemicals when properly used. Also, #4 and #5 are safe alternatives, though cant be recycled.

Its obvious that something needs to be done today about global warming and not today. Hopefully, by following some of the above mentioned suggestions, there will be a tomorrow for our children and not just a wasteland.

For further information on any of these environmental ideas listed above be sure to check National Geographic and Scientific American available for purchase at Magsforless at www.magsforless.com. They sell over 75 different magazine subscriptions with hundreds of other cheap magazines to choose from.

Hurricane Dean is not only full of hot air, he seems to be upset with his students, while not lacking any personal work ethic himself. Hurricane Deans performance is intensifying and looks to be ready to break Category V wind speeds. It looks like the NOAA and the national Hurricane Center owe Hurricane Dean a few extra credits.

Hurricane Dean is already a Killer and has taken lives in jamaica man. Its path is projected to wreak havoc on the Grand Cayman Islands, Yucatan Peninsula and then head towards the Gulf Coast somewhere near the border town of Brownsville, TX. This is the first Major Tropical Storm of Hurricane level during the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Officials in all potential regions of the storms projected path are watching closely and many have advised evacuations.

news reports state: "Officials urged residents there and in the tiny Cayman Islands to begin preparing. Tourists were advised to return home, if they can. Forecasters warned that the Category 4 monster with winds of 145 mph could grow even stronger -- possibly becoming a top-scale Category 5. By the time it hits or brushes Haiti, jamaica, eastern Cuba and the Caymans this weekend, it could have 155-mph winds, bringing it close to Category 5 status.

Will Hurricane Dean finish with a bang or will Hurricane Dean follow the path of Presidential Hopeful Howard Dean during the last election - It's is anyone's guess. Hurricane Dean will not be the only Hurricane this season, just the first one and we know from the 2005 Hurricane Season that Hurricanes the get into the Gulf of mexico and come up from under Cuba, tend to be some of the most deadly.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net

Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

marriage is a beautiful event in your life, which you take great pains to plan. It marks the beginning of a lifetime with someone you love. A fantastic honeymoon is the perfect way to start this journey of a lifetime. Be it a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle or an invigoration action packed trip, you can be sure of finding just the right destination which will make your honeymoon vacations memorable.

Hawaii has been the most popular wedding destinations in the US. The tropical panorama, immaculate beaches and a vast choice of cuisine, and activities to cater to every kind of taste, it is not surprising that Hawaii is the top choice for a honeymoon. You can enjoy the many waterfalls and fantastic views from the various islands of Hawaii, which will be fun to explore with your spouse. But of course the most romantic thing to do with him/her would be to watch the sunset.

After Hawaii, the Niagara Falls in upstate New York figure as the next popular choice of a honeymoon destination. Many choose the setting of the Niagara, which is the second tallest and widest waterfall in the world to even exchange their wedding vows. There are guided tours on boats around the waterfall and a visit to the Casino Niagara, which is just across the Falls, would be a perfect way to end the day.

Florida is a place that can be perfect for just about anyone. There are numerous spots that you will love, whatever it is that you and your spouse want from a honeymoon. Walt Disney World in Orlando is probably the most popular of all the holiday spots of Florida, where special packages are offered to those who want a romantic retreat.

It is incorrect to think that California is just about the crowded beaches and streets of Los Angeles. Should you decide to honeymoon there, then head for the undulating slopes, the mountain peaks and the charming villages of Napa Valley. California Wine Country, with its numerous wineries, which lies to the north of San Francisco, is sure to charm you with the hospitality that is typical of this place.

Las Vegas, which has been pronounced as the entertainment capital is just the right destination for those who want their honeymoon to be full of action and fun. Aside from gambling at the many casinos here, the shopping and nightlife can be quite enjoyable. Grand Canyon is close by and is a popular tourist destination. Most of the hotels in Las Vegas have honeymoon packages that you and your spouse would find hard to resist.

The U.S has everything to offer to the honeymooner, be it the tranquil beaches of Hawaii, or the never-ending action of Las Vegas; be it the scenic beauty of the California Wine Country or the fun filled spots of Florida.

Being interested in holidays and Spain, Johnathan Bakers is writing quite some long articles in the field. You can come across his abstracts on history of Spain at various other sources for history of Spain knowledge.