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On Bjorn Lomborg and species diversity
Bjorn Lomborg opens his chapter on biodiversity by citing my 1979 estimate of 40,000 species lost per year. He gets a lot of mileage out of that estimate throughout the chapter, although he does not cite any of my subsequent writings except for a single mention of a 1983 paper and a 1999 paper, neither of which deals much with extinction rates. Why doesn't he refer to the 80-plus papers I have published on biodiversity and mass extinction during the 20-year interim?
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On Bjorn Lomborg and extinction
My greatest regret about the Lomborg scam is the extraordinary amount of scientific talent that has to be expended to combat it in the media. We will always have contrarians like Lomborg whose sallies are characterized by willful ignorance, selective quotations, disregard for communication with genuine experts, and destructive campaigning to attract the attention of […]
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A skeptical look at The Skeptical Environmentalist
Before the terrible events of Sept. 11 nudged our national mood towards nouveau-earnestness, skepticism was the disposition of the day. Bred in the swamps of transparent consumer manipulation, untrustworthy political leaders, and information overload, skepticism stamped a permanent question mark onto the brows of Generation X and seemed poised to become the watchword of our nation.
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Ice, Ice, Maybe Not
The South Pole is treading on thin ice, according to a study presented yesterday that found rapid thinning in three of Antarctica’s largest glaciers. In the last 10 years, the glaciers have lost up to 150 feet of thickness, or a collective 37.6 cubic miles of ice. According to the authors of the study, who […]
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Sunder Water
The home of one of India’s leading environmentalists, Sunderlal Bahuguna, was flooded last week when the Indian government resumed work on the massive Tehri dam project. Bahuguna has spent two decades protesting the project, which is expected to totally submerge the town of Tehri by November. Activists, including author Arundhati Roy, have condemned the project […]
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That Extincts!
Environmentalists in Florida are concerned about state plans to weaken protections for the manatee and the red-cockaded woodpecker. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has developed a new set of criteria to gauge what levels of protection animals deserve, and it has indicated that the woodpecker and manatee may now merit lower levels. To […]
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Lifting Their Kilt-owatts
Scotland has enough potential wind and wave energy to power the entire U.K., according to an independent study that has been met with excitement by the Scottish government. Known as one of the windiest spots in Europe, Scotland could apparently provide almost a quarter of the U.K.’s energy needs from onshore wind farms, without having […]
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If a Chopper Lands in the Forest, Does Anyone Hear?
Enviros, adventure guides, anglers, and local residents are worried that motorized recreation will soon take a toll on British Columbia’s famous wild lands. Following up on campaign promises to boost the economy, the province’s Liberal government has welcomed applications from tourism companies offering helicopter and caterpillar skiing, as well as snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle trips, […]
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Litter Bugs Them
Most Hong Kong residents want their government to do a better job tackling environmental problems, according to a survey released over the weekend by Civic Exchange, a public policy think tank. More than 60 percent of the 960 respondents said issues such as pesticides in foods, contaminated seafood, and air and water pollution should be […]
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Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water
Alayne Blickle, a life-long equestrian, is creator and program director of Horses for Clean Water, a program that promotes environmentally sensitive horse-keeping by offering education on manure management, mud reduction, pasture improvements, and eco-friendly horse facilities. Monday, 10 Dec 2001 MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. I’m up before dawn, as it’ll be a big day here on […]
