Latest Articles

Keeping up with Jones Valley Urban Farm

January 2011 update: Many of the photos have been removed from this series so they can be published in a Breaking Through Concrete book, forthcoming this year from UC Press. In fall 2001, Edwin Marty and Page Allison drove across the country, back home, to start a farm. That might be when the Breaking Through […]

Biking–not casinos–banned in small Colorado town

In the 100-person town of Black Hawk, Colorado, you’re free to gamble away your savings at any of its fine casinos, but you better get the heck off that bike of yours if you don’t want a fine of $68. Black Hawk has recently become the first town to outlaw cycling, which it did for […]

Senate Dems plan last-minute push on climate and energy bill

Exciting news from Senate Democrats today: They’re going to try one more time for a climate bill. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says he’s making one last push to put a cap on greenhouse gas emissions. He’ll do it by combining a cap with offshore drilling safeguards, in hopes that Republicans and skittish Dems will […]

How green was my organic milk? A podcast with author Heather Rogers

Heather RogersThink you’re saving the environment by buying organic or fueling your car with corn oil? Heather Rogers, author of Green Gone Wrong: How Our Economy Is Undermining the Environmental Revolution, says that “green” products aren’t always as environmentally responsible as they appear. In this PBS interview with Need to Know host Alison Stewart, she […]

Yet another major poll finds strong public support for global warming action

More Americans support clean energy and carbon reduction policies than oppose it. The drumbeat of public support for comprehensive clean energy and global warming policies beats louder every day. The latest Wall Street Journal-NBC Poll [PDF] found overwhelming support for comprehensive clean energy legislation that includes carbon pollution reductions. It also registered that cleaning up […]

Can voluntary action fix Britain’s shoddy housing stock?

Britain’s housing stock: charming but leakyPhoto courtesy UGArdener via FlickrPrime Minister David Cameron’s call for Brits to take up the challenge of government by joining what he calls the “Big Society” exists so far largely in the realm of rhetorical flourishes. The political appeal is obvious: Maybe we can get communities to do stuff — […]

“Follow a Drop of Water” photo contest winners

Taunton River in Bridgewater, Mass.Photo: Corrie Collin Water covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but chances are there’s a body of water close to home that’s also close to your heart — a fjord that strikes your fancy, a beautiful bayou, or a river that gives you shivers. Grist asked our Facebook fans to […]

Plurality of Americans Skeptical of Pro-Drilling Congressional Candidates

The latest NBC/WSJ poll includes a number of interesting findings. Dave Weigel and Alex Seitz-Wald both took note of BP’s extremely low favorability ratings: Indeed, the poll shows that only 6 percent have a favorable rating of BP. In the history of the NBC News/Journal poll, Saddam Hussein (3 percent), Fidel Castro (3 percent) and […]

Hoping for a shakeup at the G8/G20

I arrived in Toronto yesterday and, along with thousands of activists, media and government officials arriving for the upcoming G8 and G20 summits, was promplty greeted by an unusual earthquake centered a few hours away outside of Ottawa. Unfortunately, it seems that if the Canadian hosts have anything to do with it, that could be the only groundbreaking event I'll see this week when it comes to climate change.

The GOP has forgiven Joe Barton, but here are six reasons not to forget him

Rep. Joe BartonRep. Joe Barton’s latest apology paid off big-time.  Wednesday, the Texas Republican groveled before House GOP leaders behind closed doors, telling them that his impassioned act of contrition to BP CEO Tony Hayward last week was a mistake.  All was forgiven and Sorry Joe was allowed to keep his post as lead Republican […]