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New safety issues documented with nuclear reactors planned for Southeast

Serious safety concerns continue to mount for the AP1000, a new type of nuclear reactor proposed for power plant sites across the Southeast. A report released Wednesday warns that the design of the Westinghouse reactor makes it particularly vulnerable to through-wall corrosion — already a widespread problem with existing commercial reactors — and thus the […]

40 people who are redefining green

Four decades after the first Earth Day, the circle of people working toward a cleaner, greener world has expanded way beyond treehugging hippies, red-paint-throwing protesters, posturing politicos, and card-carrying members of enviro groups. To mark this milestone, we’ve found 40 unexpected people who are altering the green landscape. Nat Damm Erika Allen Projects Manager, Growing […]

‘Save transit’ rallies start up around U.S.

Courtesy Atlanta Journal ConstitutionThe rallies that get all the attention these days are about stopping new initiatives, like health-care reform. But here we’ve got rallies about defending part of the shared social fabric. Off-duty public transit workers in Atlanta plastered large red X’s on buses and trains (with permission) to highlight the severe budget shortfall […]

Go green this Earth Day: Quit smoking

Photo: lanier67 via FlickrWith the arrival of this year’s 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it is encouraging to see more and more people, young and old, buying into a meaningful environmental ethic in their personal lives despite daunting environmental challenges. By carrying reusable grocery bags, taking public transit and recycling, to name just a few […]

Can an SEC ruling reverse climate change?

Mary: Hello and welcome to Grist Talks, our regular series of conversations with really smart people about really interesting topics. I’m Mary Bruno your really smart and interesting host. And I’m joined today by really smart and really interesting panelists. But before I bring them into the conversation, let me first introduce today’s topic. On […]

Will an SEC ruling convert short-term greed into long-term sustainability? [UPDATED WITH TRANSCRIPT]

I know. I know. Securities and Exchange Commission: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. But the SEC did something sort of landmark last January: in a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved guidelines that urge companies to regularly disclose climate change-related risks (and opportunities) to investors. If you’re a big box store importing underwear from China, or an insurance company indemnifying coastal […]

Foreign Policy mag spotlights ‘peak phosphorous’

Where your food comes from: a phosphate mine in Florida run by the fertilizer giant Mosaic. Mosaic is two-thirds owned by Cargill, the globe’s largest agribusiness company, with interests in meat, feed, biofuels, and more. Photo: Susan Dracket, via FlickrAs Grist’s recent special series showed, our reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer has serious ecological, geopolitical, […]

Globama

I got one word for you: Globama. You can’t not click the link.  Try and resist–it’s impossible. There’s actually a pretty funny history there.  My friend and mentor Steven Strong did the current install on the pool house.  Word is, he waited until George was out of town, then gave the paperwork to Laura for […]

Gulf oil rig in danger of tipping after explosion [UPDATED]

The Deepwater Horizon rig, pre-explosion and pre-tipping.Photo: TransoceanReuters is reporting that the 11 workers missing after an explosion on a Gulf Coast oil rig have been found safe. Update: 11 workers are still missing and 17 are injured after a large explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the AP, […]

Coked-out Coca-Colla [sic]

High-fructose corn syrup in soda? Bad. Cocaine in soda? Depends on whom you ask. We all know Coca-Cola used to contain trace amounts of the narcotic back in the day, but, according to the UK Guardian via Fast Company, Bolivia’s kicking it old school with its coca-leaf containing soda, Coca-Colla (note the second L—I smell […]