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Washington Monthly considers peak oil.

Blogger Kevin Drum at The Washington Monthly has a well-written, informative, and balanced set of posts of the so-called "Peak Oil" theory -- the idea that, while the world may not be running out of oil, exactly, we may be fairly close to the practical limit of how much oil can be squeezed out of the ground in any given year.  After the peak, goes the theory, oil production gradually declines, no matter how high the price might go. 

(By the way, oil production in the United States peaked in 1970.  Even with new production in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, and billions of dollars invested in domestic oil production since then, the US still produces about a third less oil per year than it did at the peak.  The Peak Oil theory is basically the hypothesis that the entire world is about to do the same thing that the US did in 1970 -- reach a physical maximum of production, after which oil supplies gradually and continually decline.)

I've posted on the topic before, and have nothing new to add.  But I think it's definitely something worth familiarizing yourself with -- at a minimum, to put the recent rash of media stories on the subject in context.  The Washington Monthly series is a pretty good place to start.

Moving Picture

A review of award-winning documentary Oil on Ice The Green Screen Environmental Film Festival will get rolling in San Francisco on Wednesday, alongside festivities for U.N. World Environment Day. Leading off the festival is Oil on Ice, an award-winning documentary about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the many attempts to open it for oil […]

An optimistic op-ed on Washington state climate moves.

A refreshing and optimistic op-ed by KC Golden, policy director of Climate Solutions. Golden points out that 2005 is turning out to be a banner year for Washington--a year that includes both a turning away from energy-dependence and several encouraging steps toward a smarter and more efficient energy-economy that benefits everyone.

In a time when partisanship seems all the rage, Golden's point about ending our addiction to fossil fuels is right on the money:

We cannot rise to this challenge if we stay stuck in the well-worn ruts of political identity -- east vs. west; left vs. right; Republican vs. Democrat; environment vs. economy. We're going to miss the boat if the only story we've got is "us versus them."

It's a familiar story, this battle among special interests. But it's useless. It enriches political consultants and it spices up talk radio, but it gets us nowhere and we can't afford to go nowhere. We've got a fossil fuel age to end and a new, clean energy economy to build. We need a much richer, more constructive story -- a story that multiplies, not divides.

Niaz Dorry, oceans campaigner, answers questions

Niaz Dorry. What work do you do? I’m the cofounder of Clean Catch, a new project aimed at promoting diverse, healthy oceans by supporting the people who have historically shown themselves to be responsible stewards of the ocean — small-scale fishing communities. What does your organization do? Clean Catch works with and supports small-scale fishing […]

Arctic Refuge documentary is beautifully made, but ultimately a tad too restrained for its own good.

U.N. World Environment Day is being held in San Francisco this year, from June 1-5. The associated Green Screen Environmental Film Festival kicks off on June 1 with Oil on Ice, the award-winning documentary on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by co-directors Bo Boudart and Dale Djerassi.

Oil on Ice is a handsome film, impeccably made. Virtually every frame contains an image of beauty: One goal at which it unquestionably succeeds is to refute the obscene contention by certain Alaska politicians (who shall remain unnamed) that the Refuge is nothing but a snow-seared wasteland. It also sparks a strangely wistful sense of wonder that the U.S. still contains an untouched swath of territory, as one commentator puts it, "just for the animals." That is, when you think about it, quite a remarkable thing in this day and age. Once surrendered, it can never be recovered.

The film is a slim 40 minutes long, and it attempts to cover a great deal of territory. It indicts the oil industry for the damage done elsewhere in Alaska, particularly the Exxon-Valdez spill; it visits indigenous Alaskan communities and illustrates their fragile relationship to wildlife migratory and spawning patterns that could be warped by new oil development; it celebrates the variety of wildlife that exists year-round in the Refuge, and in particular the dazzling explosion of life that descends on the North Shore during the four-month warm season; and it investigates the politics of oil, showing how powerful oil service companies and Alaskan politicians are driving the debate, obscuring the fact that changes in auto technology could preserve far more oil than could be pulled from the Refuge.

Within its time constraints, none of these arguments can be made decisively, but their accumulation is ultimately persuasive.

None of it will be new to those who have been following the issue, though some factoids may surprise. What Oil on Ice does is present the various facets in compact, digestible, gorgeous form. The website also contain volumes of background information and resources for further action -- in particular note the short introductory film, notification on upcoming screenings, and of course, a place to buy the DVD.

It's an all-around laudable undertaking and deserves wide exposure.

My one complaint is about tone:

Back from the dead …

We know you've been itching for yet more commentary about "The Death of Environmentalism." Well, today's your lucky day.

Grist has just published a lengthy rebuttal to the Reapers written by Michel Gelobter of Redefining Progress and friends. "The Soul of Environmentalism" looks at the green movement -- past, present, and future -- from the perspective of activists of color.

For a bite-sized taste of this hearty dish, check out an essay we excerpted from it: "Standing on Whose Shoulders?: Why Race and Class Matter to the Environmental Movement."

And for just a crumb, here's this:

The authors of "The Death of Environmentalism" begin by invoking their ancestors. ... [But] many environmentalists would rather not stand on the shoulders of certain early conservation heroes. [John] Muir developed his conservation ethic during the Civil War and the expropriation of Native American lands, the two great racial struggles of the 19th century. He pretty much ignored both of them ... Before we sanctify Muir, we need to understand how his racial attitudes affected his commitments to conservation. If the environmental movement is ever going to revive, it must first confront the many ways in which the U.S. has reserved open space for the exclusive use of whites. ...

[T]he authors of "The Death of Environmentalism" completely ignore a second set of ancestors who need to be included in our deliberations. We're talking about the people who brought you the civil-rights movement.

Modern environmentalism was, after all, the Elvis of '60s activism. It was a radical and innovative departure from the conservation movement that preceded it. And in almost every way, the politics and innovations of the early environmental movement derived directly from the same era's fight for black power and racial justice.

Come on -- you know you want more where that came from ...

Freecycle founder, fans, and defectors talk back

  Our article on Freecycle’s growing pains, by Matt Weiser, elicited a torrent of passionate response, including a lengthy letter from Freecycle founder Deron Beal. Here’s a sample of the commentary, and there’s a whole lot more posted in Gristmill, our blog. Dear Editor: After having read your article about Freecycle, I felt compelled to […]

Grist’s green moms setup new Yahoo! group

For all you moms out there who were thinking about joining the green moms, but didn't ... they've setup shop at a new location: queensofgreen.

For the uninitiated, here is what they're about:

We in this yet-to-be-named group are dedicated to bringing together moms - the smartest, savviest, most flexible people we know - to take on the challenge of environmental issues. We believe every mom has something to contribute. For many, it is taking the first steps to limit toxins in the home. For others, it is the chance to take their passion out in the world to organize and lead. For all, it is about cleaning up the environmental legacy we leave to our children.

This is not a political forum, a religious platform, or a depressing review of global warming. Plenty of other well-organized groups are offering those opportunities (some of which are listed under Links). Instead, we bring community, idea-exchange, and support right to your (Energy Star?) computer. It's a place to meet other like-minded moms, and to share your experiences or expertise. Most important, it's a place to learn that we as mothers have the power to change the world for the better, starting in our own homes. Today the kitchen, tomorrow the world.

Go join them!

Putting on the Breaks

Grist kicking back for Memorial Day Attention Daily Grist junkies: You’ll have to do without your fix on Monday, as we Gristers will be involved in a high-level meeting with Tony Blair. OK, we’ll actually be lazing about by the Grist pool, eating peeled grapes and sipping organic lemonade to celebrate Memorial Day. Woo-hoo! We’ll […]

Recent move actually protects public

Back in March, we reported on a pending EPA decision that would have allowed untreated sewage to be released on a regular basis. Yuck.

We're happy to report that someone -- namely 98,000 people who took the time to make comments, and hardy Congressman Bart Stupak (D.-Mich.) and cohorts -- convinced the EPA that was gross. Last week, the agency announced that it would not approve the proposal, which had been lingering in the air since 2003.

"Blending is not a long-term solution," said EPA administrator Benjamin Grumbles. "Our goal is to reduce overflows and increase treatment of wastewater to protect human health and the environment."

What a concept!

Now if only Stupak could work his bulldog magic on mercury. Or carbon. Or ... oh, fine, I'll just be happy about semi-clean sewage for now.