American activist leads international anti-Coke movement via internet The next time you feel ground under the heel of global capitalism, take inspiration from Amit Srivastava. The "one-man NGO armed with just a laptop computer, a website, and a telephone calling card," as The Wall Street Journal describes him, has become the lynchpin of an international movement demanding that Coca-Cola Co. be held accountable for causing environmental and human-health damage in India. Charges against the mega-peddler of fizzy sugar water include draining water supplies in drought-stricken areas, selling drinks containing pesticide residues, and giving away cadmium-laced sludge to farmers for fertilizer. …

Dear Umbra, Every morning when I shave, I stare in the mirror and wonder if my razor is the best choice for the environment. I realize the easy answer is to let the beard grow. Except the problem is, lots of today's environmentalists are quietly waging their struggles in modern offices, where beards do not sit well with the management. And besides the risk of my boss telling me I look unprofessional, a beard is a surefire way to guarantee that no one takes my environmental ideas seriously. Plus I'm single, and I don't want to blow my chances of …

"Coffee-cup home" showcases wood-free construction Nancy Hall was looking for a forest-neutral way to construct a house on her 20 already-logged-over acres in Quilcene, Wash. She considered other darlings of the alternative-materials scene, but in the end chose Rastra -- blocks of insulated concrete foam. And how do you Rastra, mon? Take recycled polystyrene coffee cups. Mix 'em with cement, curing agents, and air. Stack 'em up like Legos. Cover with plaster (interior) and stucco (exterior). The result: A wonder material that resists earthquakes, fends off fire, insulates against sound, and lends itself to creative manipulation. Hall kept recycling by …

Architect shows that reusing discarded materials can be chic Greens have been going on for years about the need to reuse society's refuse. Now, a high-end modernist San Francisco architect named Olle Lundberg is showing that scavenging is not just for the poor and idealistic. The rich can play too! For instance, Lundberg lives on a decommissioned Icelandic auto ferry, retrofitted with materials discarded from his other building projects. You too can construct a similarly hip domicile without using any new materials -- all you need is an environmental ethic, some dock space, and around $900,000. Or if a weekend …

Tucked into the business sections of newspapers today is this story: The feds are investigating claims that Toyoto Prius engines may unexpectedly stall out at highway speeds. The development may be but a hiccup interruption for Toyota, as the automaker continues to press its green advantage on American consumers while American automakers stand pat (or worse) on fuel efficiency. After all, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received only 33 complaints about stalled engines -- a small number given the something like 75,000 Priuses on the road for the model years 2004 and 2005. On the other hand, if …

USDA won't certify personal-care products as organic Makers of "natural" cosmetics, lotions, and potions, and the consumers who love them, are vexed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent decision not to certify personal-care products as organic. The little green USDA organic seal, which now adorns many food products in the U.S., will not be applied to soaps, shampoos, and the like, meaning consumers will have no standardized way of determining whether such products have been manufactured with real organic ingredients, or without synthetic chemicals. Many small businesses that make personal-care products had been led to believe a certification program …

Denver neighborhood on former airport site exemplifies "new urbanism" A new mixed-use development in Denver, built on the former site of Stapleton International Airport, is being touted as a model of "new urbanism." Stapleton's homes are situated close together, with garages in back and porches in front, creating walkable neighborhoods, and plenty of open space has been set aside for parks. But the money to finance such a major project -- believed to be the largest effort to utilize vacant or underused urban land -- has to come from somewhere. Enter: Quebec Square, a nearby big-box shopping center complete with …

Dear Umbra, I want to adopt the Kyoto treaty myself and adjust my lifestyle accordingly. No waiting, and to hell with George Bush! If my nation had adopted it, I'd have to be doing it anyway. So what is my per-capita fossil-fuel ration for the next 10 years, how do I measure it, how do I account for indirect consumption, etc.? Please advise. Thanks! Hans NoeldnerOregon, Wis. Dearest Hans, Good for you. The average American emits 6.6 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Gadzooks! Lots of room for improvement. Better calculate than never. As you live in an industrialized nation, …

Japan adopts "no-tie" look for summer to save energy The paradigmatically propriety-conscious Japanese bureaucrat may be loosening up and dressing down, thanks to, well, orders from above. In an effort to conserve energy by reducing air-conditioner use, Japan's Environment Ministry today launched a campaign urging government workers to leave suit coats and ties at home. By keeping office temperatures at 82 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 77, the effort will help Japan reach its emission-reduction goals under the Kyoto Protocol. The Energy Conservation Center says it's possible the country could save 81 million gallons of oil in one summer, just by …

NYC considers tough e-waste bill One of the toughest electronic-waste bills in the U.S. was introduced in the New York City Council yesterday. It would require producers of electronic equipment like computers and televisions to collect and recycle those devices -- that is, if they want to maintain selling rights within the city. City officials like council member Michael E. McMahon, one of the bill's cosponsors, say the legislation is intended to introduce "producer responsibility" into the equation. They hope it will save New Yorkers money on disposal costs and spare landfills from heavy metals like lead, chromium, and mercury, …