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Author: Leslie Eastman

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Leslie Eastman

I am an Environmental Health and Safety Professional, as well as a science/technical writer for a variety of news and professional publications. I have been a citizen activist since 2009, and am one of the co-founders of the San Diego-based group, Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition.

Mauna Kea, the tallest peak in Hawaii, is one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observations. In fact, a consortium led by Caltech and the University of California are planning to construct an 18-story telescope to contribute to the renewed interest in space exploration and discovery during the Trump administration.

There have been some intriguing developments related to elections and California that may bode for a slightly less blue future for the Golden State. I recently noted that the state identified over 84,000 duplicate voter registrations during a detailed audit of rolls in the wake of Motor-Voter implementation. Now, a Republican won a seat in a recent Los Angeles City Council election, beating an enthusiastic advocate of the Green New Deal.

When I began covering the protests in Hong Kong, I noted that China had two options for dealing with the city-state's citizens and their demands for freedom and justice: Cooperation or crackdown. Clearly, the decision has been made.
Large numbers of Chinese paramilitary forces have been filmed assembling just 30km (18.6 miles) from Hong Kong in the city of Shenzhen, as riot police clashed with protesters occupying the airport for a second day.

California and a coalition of 21 other states have sued the Trump administration over the decision to rescind restrictions on coal-burning power plants. These restrictions played a crucial part in Obama’s climate change policy.
State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Trump’s effort to dismantle 2015’s Clean Power Plan undercuts efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allows the Environmental Protection Agency to abandon its legal responsibility to crack down on air pollution.

President Donald Trump has promised to roll back business-killing regulations to create a healthier economic climate. Some of the most difficult of those regulations came from the "Endangered Species Act." The government implemented the rules initially to protect whales, eagles, and other wildlife. It eventually devolved into a green dictatorship in which small fish and insects could be used to prohibit land and business development.

California's 'Motor Voter' system has produced the kind of results that you would expect from a power-grabbing, progressive bureaucracy.
California’s ambitious effort to automate voter registration at Department of Motor Vehicle offices produced almost 84,000 duplicate records and more than twice that number with political party mistakes, according to an audit released Friday by state officials.

During my family vacation this year, we stopped in Iceland for a few days. The country was spectacular, and one of the memories I will cherish is our hike to the Solheimajokull Glacier. While hiking, I noted the glacial lake and the signs warning visitors to be worried about calving, especially during summer months. Overall, it was a worry-free day of quality family time.

While I was on my family vacation, I was following the events in Hong Kong through my step-daughter (who is fluent in Chinese, works in Beijing, and holds several degrees in Chinese language and culture).  She noted that the Hong Kong protests were likely to continue for the foreseeable future.