The Lockerbie bomber may be free, but he isn’t breathing easy. In fact, he may soon meet the same fate as the 270 innocent men and women he was convicted of killing in 1988.

During a tour this morning I was reminded of an interesting fact. For those who don’t know, Blair, during his days at Oxford, co-founded, sang and played guitar for a band called the Ugly Rumours. Quite ironic that now he himself is the subject of some “ugly rumours” that may just prove to be true.

EarthTalk answers: What really has the biggest impact on climate change? And is oil shale a potential source of energy?

• Two rivals claim victory in Israeli elections. (Obama worried about right wing government)

JERUSALEM – Israel’s new coalition government — whether led by hard-line Benjamin Netanyahu or his moderate rival Tzipi Livni — is likely to take a tough line on two burning issues: Hamas and Iran.

As the two began courting potential coalition partners Wednesday, two scenarios took shape: a narrow alliance of hawks who would stall peacemaking with the Palestinians, or a broad power-sharing government that would give Israel a more moderate face and greater international support.

With only a few thousand votes by soldiers still to be counted, Livni’s Kadima Party had one more seat in parliament than Netanyahu’s Likud. But Netanyahu’s natural allies on the right have a clear majority of 65 in the 120-seat parliament, giving him the edge in forming a coalition.

President Shimon Peres will consult all 12 parties in the new parliament next week before choosing either Netanyahu or Livni to try to form a government — a process likely to take weeks if not months.

• House and Senate reach compromise deal on the stimulus bill. Expect final passage this week.

WASHINGTON — Moving with lightning speed, the Democratic-controlled Congress and White House agreed Wednesday on a compromise $790 billion economic stimulus bill designed to create millions of jobs in a nation reeling from recession. President Barack Obama could sign the measure within days.

“More than one-third of this bill is dedicated to providing tax relief for middle-class families, cutting taxes for 95 percent of American workers,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by moderates from both parties whose support is essential for the legislation’s final passage.

• No more off shore drilling.

WASHINGTON — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has rejected a Bush administration plan to open vast waters off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to oil and gas drilling, promising “a new way forward” in offshore energy development including new wind projects.

Salazar at a news conference Tuesday criticized “the midnight timetable” for new oil and gas development on the country’s Outer Continental Shelf proposed by the Bush administration four days before President Barack Obama took office Jan. 20.

• Big change in press conference diction between this president and the last. Obama speaks at a 10th grade reading level, Bush at 7th.

• Finally, the homeless woman from Obama’s town hall gets a house.

Dear EarthTalk: What’s the story with LED light bulbs that are reputed to be even more energy-efficient than compact fluorescents? — Toby Eskridge, Little Rock, AR
Perhaps the ultimate “alternative to the alternative,” the LED (light-emitting diode) light bulb may well dethrone the compact fluorescent (CFL) as king of the green lighting choices. But it has [...]

Dear EarthTalk: What is “community based tourism” and how does it purport to safeguard pristine places? — Erin O’Neill, Tukwila, WA 
Community based tourism refers to situations in which local people-usually those that are poor or economically marginalized in very rural parts of the world-open up their homes and communities to visitors seeking sustainably achieved cultural, [...]