Latest Articles

A close encounter with China's sewer-oil trade

The Chinese diet uses tons upon tons of cooking oil every day. Some of it comes disgustingly from the waste stream. Here's how the government could flush the sewer-oil black market down the drain.

In New York's bike lanes, who are the real scofflaws?

There's a tendency to talk about people who ride bikes as though they're a lawless bunch of yahoos. A new study shows that they are simply, like all other people, responding to an environment that doesn't always serve their needs.

Ask Umbra on apples for halloween treats and costumes

Umbra weighs in on the virtues of apple-giving and suggests the best costumes to hand them out in. Have no fear, read about it here!

States have clean-energy momentum, but it’s under threat

States are way ahead of the feds in helping clean-energy businesses. They're on track to create 2 million jobs -- but GOP candidates oppose the plan.

Why attitudes can be as important as infrastructure

The new police chief of the Iranian city of Esfahan has decreed it a crime for women to ride a bike or roller-skate in public.

Open letter to 1Sky from the grassroots

I was asked to post the letter below, written by grassroots organizations across the United States (Grassroots Global Justice, Movement Generation, Indigenous Environmental Network, Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives — full list at the end). We are at a critical moment for reflection on movement strategy. Perspectives from the front-lines are illuminating. – JKR To […]

Renewable Fuels Association not happy with E85 labels on pumps

Bob Dinneen, head of a very well-funded corn ethanol lobbying organization, has a  new press release in the Huff Po green blog which begins by claiming: Other nations, including Brazil, with at least as many older vehicles on their roads, allow higher levels of ethanol blends with no discernible damage to their cars and light […]

Franzen tackles population and gears up for Oprah [VIDEO]

This season's It Book, "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen, has a protagonist who's worried about population. Oprah's chosen the novel for her book club.

Friday music blogging: Mark Ronson & the Business Intl

Mark Ronson is the hipster's hipster. He was born of wealthy London socialites, came to renown DJing at downtown New York City hot spots, became a successful producer (he's responsible for Amy Winehouse's debut), released a few acclaimed solo albums, dated a few models, and is now fronting Mark Ronson & the Business Intl, whose debut album Record Collection came out recently. It would be easy to hate a guy with such a charmed life, but he sure knows how to make catchy music.

Our biofuel future: The bitter taste of land grabs and hunger

Stanford professor Roz Naylor lays out how a global ramp-up of ethanol and biodiesel production means land speculation and rising food prices for the world's poor. Can the world stomach such a fuel-ish transition?