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A new report by occasional Grist contributor Jon Christensen reaches a conclusion that, to me at least, was a surprise: "Land trusts are now protecting more land than gets developed across the western United States each year."

Perhaps we have, in the words of our beloved leader, turned the corner. Heedless development is in its last throes!

More on the report here.

Yummy and eco

As regular readers know, Gristmill is scrupulously independent, fiercely resistant to even a hint of conflict of interest. We accept no donations or gifts, and offer no quid pro quo.

Except when it comes to chocolate and liquor. For those, we happily prostitute ourselves.

Case in point: A "mission-based" company called SweetRiot in NYC sent me a box of their chocolate-covered cacao nibs. They are, in a word, delish. They come in cute little tins, with cute little factoids tucked away in each one. The people who run the company are cute. The web page is cute. The whole damn enterprise is cute. And environmentally progressive. And yummy.

So forthwith, official Gristmill product placement: SweetRiot chocolate! Yippee!

Why does he taunt us?

Obama toys with our emotions:

Featuring the singer from Midnight Oil!

The Australian opposition Labor Party has selected a new, green leadership team to challenge the long-serving conservative Prime Minister John Howard in national parliamentary elections at the end of 2007. Kevin Rudd, a Chinese-speaking former diplomat, and his deputy, Julia Gillard, decisively defeated incumbent leaders Kim Beazley and Jenny Macklin.

But much of the attention is focused on Rudd's Sunday appointment of Peter Garrett, a Greenpeace board member and former lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, to take charge of crafting Labor's new policies on climate change.

"Climate change represents one of the most significant and important issues that Australians must confront now and into the future," Garrett said. "I want to work for leader Rudd to make sure that we roll up our sleeves and do the very best that we can, and I want to put the Howard Government on notice that it's fiddling while Australia burns."

It’s Better to Give Than to Receive … Unless You Do Both

Grist fundraiser continues, ups the ante with mall-defying giveaways You’re a good person. You’ve spent lots of time in stores this month, or online, buying eco-friendly gifts for those you love. And even though you know it’s better to give than to receive, you’re quietly hoping you don’t get lousy gifts in return. Fear not! […]

Gems Fightin’ Words

Federal agency predictions that mines would not pollute water were wrong, study says Before giving a precious-metal mine the go-ahead, federal agencies must find that the operation will not taint surrounding waterways with chemicals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, and cyanide. But for the past 25 years, agencies’ pollution predictions “did not generally agree with […]

We’re Hungry for Your Support

Grist fundraiser continues, ups the ante with edible giveaways You know how, last New Year’s, you resolved to eat better? And you did, for a week or two, but then one day the cookies just sort of reached out for you from the cabinet, and that was the end of that? This year, we’ve got […]

Hybrids connected to the electrical grid could change the energy game

The U.S. Department of Energy has concluded that the existing U.S. electrical grid -- without additional construction for generation or transmission -- could accommodate 180 million cars that draw their power from night-time (off-peak) electricity. That's about 85% of the cars in the country.

The full report is not yet available, but based on the press release, there's lots of good news -- with some bad news mixed in.

Finally, teh soy and teh gay, united

Looks like there's more to soy biodiesel than protecting the environment and energy independence -- it's also going to help keep down the homosexual population!

Yes, it seems that medical "evidence" has finally shown homosexuality is not genetic at all. It is, in fact, your momma's fault for giving you soy-based formula.

Let's keep that "devil's food" out of the mouths of babes and in our fuel tanks!

Seriously, though, soy products (that aren't fermented) do contain high levels of phyto-estrogens, which are analogous to the female hormone estrogen. Studies are mixed as to the effects of soybeans' chemicals and metabolites on infants, as well as on adults. But none of them point to a link between soy and homosexuality.

If you're leery of soy formula's possible effects on babies (and want to give your baby the best start all around), stick to breastfeeding.

U.S. EPA thinks lead in the air may be A-OK, and more

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Bra-vo Plumb Crazy By Hook and By Crook Folks, We’re Encountering Some Turbulence Native Shun Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Fill ‘er Up Que Sarah, Sarah Tanks for Nothing At Bat And don’t forget to donate to Grist’s “New Year’s […]