Uncategorized

One great way to increase environmental awareness? That’s entertainment.

Whenever a Hollywood star steps behind a podium in support of a cause, you can almost hear the sound of millions of Americans rolling their eyes. What right, goes the thinking, do actors/pop stars/celebutantes have to tell us, the workaday citizens of the real world, what we should and should not believe about the political issue du jour?

And global warming

I’m seeing lots of links to this ScienceDaily story on Anthony Leiserowitz, a prof at the Univ. of Oregon who studies public risk perception. I mentioned his work here, and once called to ask him to contribute to Gristmill. Apparently he hadn’t gotten the memo that Blogs Are The Future. Here’s the gist: Most Americans […]

David Feld, director of GeesePeace, answers questions

David Feld. With what environmental organization are you affiliated? I am the national program director of GeesePeace. What does your organization do? GeesePeace is an educational nonprofit organization that helps communities humanely resolve wildlife conflicts. Currently our specific focus is Branta canadensis — the Canada goose. Many communities in the U.S. have a growing problem […]

The wages of vanity

Roger Pielke Jr. has written a classic of the vanity-blogging genre, a long post about his Wikipedia biography that concludes with the question, “should I care about the Wikipedia biography?” Raise your hand if you think that cat’s out of the bag … Apparently, anonymous Wikipedians are removing things Roger an interested citizen is adding […]

Political platform has some weak links

For those of you who have not seen it yet, Terry Tamminen has a piece on Grist's soapbox where he shares his ideas for a presidential platform. I have no problems with items 1 through 3. Item 4 needs work:

Replace these vehicles with ones that run on the cleanest fuels available, which today are biofuels, natural gas, and hydrogen.

First, one must contend with the negative environmental issues associated with biofuels before implementing them, not to mention that government isn't smart enough to know which ones should be implemented or how. These biofuels you speak of, Terry, they have big environmental problems of their own. You of all people should be aware of them.

It don’t make no sense

The following analysis was sent to me by someone who shall remain unnamed, lest he or she lose his or her job. The take-home message: As an energy source, geothermal shows a great deal more promise than nuclear. Yet nuclear is being lavished with government largesse while geothermal goes almost entirely ignored. All sources are […]

Tip toe through the landmines

John McCain once told the voters of Iowa to their faces that ethanol subsidies are useless and pointless: (via Hugg) In 2003, he hadn’t changed his tune. He said: Ethanol is a product that would not exist if Congress didn’t create an artificial market for it. No one would be willing to buy it. Yet […]

I sense a theme

Here’s the forecast for Seattle (see if you can detect a theme): Sunday, Feb 18 Colder with a little rain Monday, Feb 19 Rain at times Tuesday, Feb 20 Breezy with rain Wednesday, Feb 21 Cloudy with a shower possible Thursday, Feb 22 A couple of showers possible Friday, Feb 23 Rain possible in the […]

On eco-friendly transport for the not-so-rich

Dear Brokeass, What I’m having the worst issue with is that most of the stuff we do has such a small impact. Recycle, reuse, on and on. I know the biggest place to make an impact is transportation, but the vehicle cost has me down. I’d love a hybrid car, but when you’re strapped for […]

Here we go again

Bush’s babble about Iran has taken on a darker tone of late. Just a couple of days ago, the president claimed with certainty that an elite Iranian unit had been supplying Shiite militias in Iraq with deadly weaponry. He acknowledged a rare bit of uncertainty over whether the Iranian government had ordered the weapons transfer, […]