Uncategorized

Traveling toilet warns us about sewage pollution

Um, ew. American Rivers has a new campaign to raise awareness about sewage contamination in our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. It involves a talking toilet named “Flushie”:

Marching for climate action in the Granite State

Remember all that hubbub about Step it Up? Though we haven’t heard much about it since the successful event back in April, in many communities across America, the momentum continues. As part of the fallout, groups are working to “reenergize” communities with more actions and events, especially in states that will play a big role […]

And demonstrations

One of punk's great anthems was one of the Clash's first great songs:

White riot
I wanna riot
White riot
Riot of my own.

This was a sincere wish on the late Joe Strummer's part, and to some extent, his wish came true.

The punk movement was a riot in music. His audiences were uncontrollable and he liked that, mostly. He saw a few riots and wanted more, to get people stirred up, showing their desires, demanding change.

Could the ferment in present-day environmental interest be showing up in spontaneous demonstrations?

I have seen a few examples in the news of what sounds -- at least from afar -- like environmental riots.

This kind of demonstration of environmental rage rarely, if ever, seems to happen in the this country, so perhaps we -- including reporters -- aren't primed to expect it and report on it.

But consider:

15 Green Religious Leaders

These men and women represent many different religions, but they’re all spreading the eco-gospel. Read about them, then tell us which spiritual leaders have inspired you to greener heights in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Photo: Nikolaos Manginas Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I “Crime against the natural world is a sin,” says […]

A review

For a few days after reading The Upside of Down, I annoyed most of my friends and family by reciting chunks of Homer-Dixon's work back to them -- I couldn't get it out of my head. I do this a lot to people, but not usually for days and days on end after reading a book.

The Upside of Down isn't an environmental book, exactly, though it does deal with environmental and energy issues. While it shares some themes with more explicitly environmental books (like Jared Diamond's Collapse), the core of the book is more political and sociological. Homer-Dixon is asking why societies collapse -- what are the pressures our society faces today, and what, if any, are the positive results from the kind of collapse he's talking about?

Old MacDonald Had a Harm

Feds to review endangered-species decisions made by departed official Remember Julie MacDonald? The Bush appointee’s oversight of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ended with her abrupt resignation in May, after she was accused of overriding scientists’ recommendations in order to make decisions beneficial to industry and detrimental to endangered species. Now the Department of […]

Good Things Come to Those Who Relate

Greens should play up the optimism, says Peter Madden It’s a dilemma faced by every green: We know it’s more effective to focus on the positive when talking about environmental crises, but we consistently find ourselves stressing sacrifice and impending chaos instead. (Grist, with its “gloom and doom with a sense of humor” tagline, is […]

Regarding Badlands National Park

Last week, our InterActivist was Jarid Manos of the Great Plains Restoration Council. We received a letter today from the U.S. Department of the Interior, regarding a comment made by Manos. It’s below the fold. (Note: Manos is not actually Grist’s CEO, but the CEO of GPRC.) Dear Editor, I would like to clarify a […]

Harry Potter greens the publishing biz, Japan nuke plant shut after quake, and more

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Deader Than Ever Use the Task Force, Dick Whose Fault Is It, Anyway? Welcome Back, Potter Pretty Please, With Cuomo On Top Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Whole Market Foods? You Look Radiant Frigi-Dare

Friday music blogging: Wilco

A coworker who shall remain nameless is fond of mocking me for my love of Wilco. Her theory is that Wilco’s fan base is overwhelmingly dominated by “whiny white guys in their early 30s.” I’m afraid I fall squarely in that demographic, and though Wilco does have broad appeal … the theory is not entirely […]