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U.S. public-transit ridership highest since 1957, chemical exposure may contribute to obesity, and m

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Aren’t You Glad You Use Dial? Was It the Cowlick? The Weight of the World A Little Light Music Maybe They Should Just Call It LNG Beach Next Stop, Wonderment Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Food and Punishment Moonshine Lullaby […]

Cob Report

Coalition of ranchers and farmers fights subsidies for corn ethanol It’s one thing when dirty hippies oppose your energy-independence scheme, but when ranchers, chicken farmers, and pork producers pile on the hate, that’s trouble. An ad hoc coalition is opposing U.S. corn ethanol subsidies and pushing to end U.S. tariffs on Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. “This […]

Including the enormous Calpers

This is promising: Eager to pour billions of dollars into clean energy and low-carbon investments, some of the largest institutional investors in the world will urge the U.S. Congress next week to accelerate passage of climate-change legislation that would clarify an investment framework. Companies such as Merrill Lynch, the $230 (U.S.) billion California Public Employees […]

But he’s losing weight!

Yes, the D.C. political corps has managed to squeeze yet another story out of the fact that Gore isn’t running, or completely ruling out running, for president (a state of affairs that has held steady for well over a year now). But wait! There’s some new information: A leading indicator of his intentions could be […]

Are you?

It feels a bit odd to "recommend" something that will make you want to slit your wrists, but those of you with the intestinal fortitude should check out this Rolling Stone expert roundtable on the Iraq War endgame. It’s … grim. Suffice to say — and I think Tom’s said as much on this blog […]

Did you hear about the Arctic ice?

Turns out it’s melting. And it’s going to screw up the weather in Western Europe and the northern U.S. But then again, Al Gore is fat.

An international poll points to a window of opportunity for U.S. leadership.

A new international poll finds worldwide agreement that climate change is a threat. Opinions are split, however on the nuts and bolts -- in particular, whether to act immediately and whether countermeasures are worth the investment. Even so, a window of opportunity seems to have opened that would allow leaders with bold solutions to spark international cooperation and make real strides. The poll included 17 countries, representing more than 55 percent of the world population (though not all the questions were asked in each of the countries). Western European countries and Canada* were not included.

While global opinion trends are encouraging, the United States -- the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases -- has some catching up to do. That is to say, an attitude adjustment is in order:

Woe, Canada

Canada, as has been pointed out on this blog before, does not have the greatest record when it comes to climate change -- or the environment generally, for that matter. Dramatically increasing production of tar-sands oil has meant that Canada, while signing the Kyoto Accord, actually has a worse record on CO2 emissions (relatively speaking) than the U.S., which famously didn't sign.

Worse than the Americans! Well, we can't have that. There's nothing we Canadians love more than our high horses. Today, Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion -- elected leader of his party with a promise to clean up Canada's act -- made his proposal to restore our smugness public.

A bit of wonky analysis, plus a bit of background for Canadian political neophytes, follows.

Still got the ‘mmmm’ factor

Over at Chews Wise, one of our contributors attended a book party in New York last night that featured a tasting of "gourmet" Twinkies, organic-vegan Twinkies, and the off-the-shelf commercial version.

Wired reports on undersea mining plans

Speaking of mining and threats to marine life, Wired is reporting that there is the potential for a huge undersea gold rush and very few environmental groups seem concerned: