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great illustration

This is a powerful and effective use of a graphic image to make an extremely important point. Congratulations to Keri.

The perception I have -- and correct me please if I am wrong -- is that the great majority of us North American environmentalists are rather well off, comparatively, with more wealth and education and leisure and comfort than the majority of our fellow citizens. That is certainly the impression given by such mainline environmental organizations as Sierra Club and Audubon (which I admire greatly, and of which I am a member). Is it not logical to assume therefore that we are somewhat out of touch with our underprivileged brothers and sisters?

I am very grateful for this Grist series on poverty, because it suggests important ethical questions: Are our environmental goals meant to help the poor and underprivileged as well as ourselves? Have we truly taken their particular interests into account? Is well-intentioned environmental activism frustrated by the lack of cooperation from low-income people, who feel that their interests have not been addressed?

Fast Company piece

I forgot to mention this:

If you happen to be a subscriber to Fast Company, you can read a piece that Chip and I wrote for the March 2006 issue online. Then again, if you're a subscriber, you have it on paper, so why would you want to read it online?

If you're not a subscriber, well then, just trust me that it's the single greatest essay ever written. And please don't talk to any subscribers about it.

It's about business picking up on (and making money from) sustainability. Lots of stuff Gristies will be familiar with, but hopefully new (and galvanizing!) to a broader business audience.

Update [2006-3-1 19:58:42 by David Roberts]: Ah. My sources tell me we have a PDF copy of the article -- it's right here (uh, PDF), should you desire to read it.

Update [2006-3-2 19:0:40 by David Roberts]: Oops. Turns out the Fast Company folks don't want us reprinting their piece. Guess y'all will have to wait two weeks until it's out from behind their subscription wall.

Pine beetle outbreak devastates BC forests

From the Washington Post, an article worth reading on a subject that's depressingly well-known to Canadians, but probably unfamiliar to most Americans: the mountain pine beetle outbreak devastating forests in British Columbia. The damage has been colossal:

Arizona passes renewable energy portfolio

On Monday, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted 3-1 to proceed with a plan to require Arizona utilities to procure 15% of their electricity from renewable resources by 2025. A couple of things to note:

1. 30% of the required renewable energy must come from distributed generation resources -- that is, energy generated on the customer side of the meter. This could provide support for up to 2,000 MW of solar, which is more, on a per-capita basis, then California's groundbreaking $3.2 billion, 3,000 MW solar initiative passed earlier this year.

2. The commissioners are all Republican.

There are still several procedural steps to get through before the proposed rule becomes final, but this was a significant hurdle. I've said it before and I will say it again: The most significant leadership on renewable energy and global warming issues is coming from the states, not the feds.

Press here and here.

The evolutionary reason for humans?

This post over at WorldChanging got me thinking.

For those who liken the human species to a virus, feeling the planet would be better off without us ...

For those who poo-poo technology ...

Pop quiz: What do you do when an asteroid is hurtling toward the Earth and the impact will likely cause mass extinction?

Maybe send some pesky humans into space to knock the rock off its course? By employing some fancy technology?

But wait ... are extinction-level events "natural"? Cause if so I assume we humans should not prevent them.

Maybe I'm just a confused "libertarian." Take the poll (click "Link and Discuss") and tell me what to think.

Oregon tests out an alternative to the gas tax — pay-by-the-mile taxes

There was a bunch of comment in the blogosphere yesterday about hiking gas taxes, with the rough consensus that it's OK environmental policy, tough on the poor, and politically risky (though perhaps not quite as unthinkable as it once was).

So it's interesting to note that Oregon -- often considered a policy innovator among U.S. states -- is in the middle of an experiment that could eventually lead to a repeal of the state gas tax.

Wealthy strive for

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately," wrote Henry David Thoreau. His experiment in stripping down has inspired generations of environmentalists to cast off possessions, or at least aspire to -- but simple living doesn't look so appealing when it's the only choice you have. Today, anthropologist Elizabeth Chin puts a new spin on environmental consciousness as she examines rich and poor consumers, and the difference between simple living and survival.

An interactive illustration of how the other half lives

You know how, in grade school, it was easier to understand multiplication when there were pictures of fruit and panda bears involved? Today we bring you that. Only, the multiplication is now stats about poverty and the environment. And the pictures of fruit and panda bears are now an original illustration by Keri Rosebraugh. Which has pop-up factoids. We bet you haven't had this much fun since grade school. Check it out.

A simple change that can help utilities and their customers conserve energy

This is good news: According to NW Current, more and more utilities are becoming interested in "decoupling" -- which could be the single most cost-effective step I've heard of for encouraging conservation.

Mardi Grist

By all accounts -- that is, all accounts from people who were privileged enough to attend, as opposed to people who were told that their presence was not worth the price of a subsidized plane ticket and hotel room, even though they totally would have rocked the party, hmph -- last night's Mardi Grist in NYC celebration was a resounding success.

You can see some pictures from the bash here, courtesy of fiftyRX3.