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Another week, another attempt to shield factory farms from public scrutiny
Above: Last spring, a Humane Society of the United States investigtor, posing as an employee, got a camera into an egg factory to film conditions there. If Iowa lawmakers have their way, such muckraking will be illegal. ——— It’s not just Florida. In what appears to be a growing movement, industrial farmers have convinced Iowa […]
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Setting sail for climate action
A man and his boat.Photo: John David SheltonMy name is John David Shelton, and I’ve been a proud member of the U.S. Navy for 18 years. A few months ago, I found out that I am being transferred from Florida to Virginia. I could have taken a bus or a plane. But I decided to […]
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Tearing down urban freeways to make room for a new bicycle economy
This is the second column in a series focusing on the economics of bicycling. Here’s one way to fund bicycle infrastructure: Stop building freeways in cities. Better yet, tear down the ones we already have. Cities are starting to catch on that becoming bicycle friendly is one of the best investments they can make. Cities […]
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What exactly is happening with the Japanese nuclear reactors?
The nuke plant in Fukushima, Japan.Photo: Beacon RadioThe Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, currently has three boiling water reactors in danger of “meltdown.” Here are the basics on what’s happening and what that means. How does a boiling water reactor work? The nuclear core transfers energy to water by heating it. This cools […]
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Ask Umbra on nail polish and its disposal
Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, How do I dispose of my formaldehyde-laden nail polish in an environmentally safe fashion? Can I recycle the glass bottle and plastic top in my recycling with the polish inside? JacquiePetaluma, CA Don’t just toe the line! Use less toxic polish.Photo: Maureen LunnA. Dearest Jacquie, What a […]
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Dear Representative Upton: Have you been to China recently?
The House subcommittee voted for Representative Upton’s unlimited carbon pollution bill (otherwise known as the Asthma Aggravation Act of 2011). Before the subcommittee vote, Chairman Upton said: “Those that compete in global markets state that they are losing jobs to nations like China that have no intention of burdening their industries with similar restrictions. And […]
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Will Japan be hit with multiple nuclear meltdowns in wake of tsunami?
The AP reports that 180,000 Japanese are fleeing amid fears of “multiple reactor meltdowns.” In the U.S., Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) says we should “put the brakes” on new nuclear power plants. The estimated death toll from Japan’s disasters climbed past 10,000 Sunday as authorities raced to combat the threat of multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns […]
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How we can save environmentalism — and ourselves
Can somebody throw a line?Photo: AKZOphotoThis is part two of a two-part series, cross-posted from New Deal 2.0. You can read part one here. In my first post, I started to discuss a speech by the founders of the Breakthrough Institute, Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger (N and S). In this post, I will discuss their presentation […]
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Stephen Colbert is having none of your wimpy girl light bulbs
Right-wingers are now pro-choice, but only for light bulbs. Here’s everyone’s favorite talking head, Stephen Colbert, on their move to save what they’re now calling “traditional” bulbs (ah, yes, our storied national tradition of inefficient lighting! It’s the core of what it means to be an American). The Colbert ReportTags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor […]
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Why doesn’t Congress give a damn about climate? Hint: it’s not the messaging
The Greenpeace airship spreads the word.Photo: Gus Ruelas/GreenpeaceAmong other truths made completely clear by the showdown in Wisconsin: the outsized role of the Koch brothers in American politics. Charles and David, the third and fourth richest men in America, first gained notoriety this past fall, when a remarkable exposé by Jane Mayer in The New […]
