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Jailed for protesting coal

My friend Michael Brune of the Rainforest Action Network gets jailed for protesting coal–his first-person account is worth a read.

The oil intensity of food

Today we are an oil-based civilization, one that is totally dependent on a resource whose production will soon be falling. Since 1981, the quantity of oil extracted has exceeded new discoveries by an ever-widening margin. In 2008, the world pumped 31 billion barrels of oil but discovered fewer than 9 billion barrels of new oil. […]

From the Senate to the WV coalfields, a pivotal week for mountaintop removal

This post was co-written by Bruce Nilles and Mary Anne Hitt, director and deputy director, respectively, of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign. This has been a historic and game-changing week in the fight to end mountaintop removal. We will undoubtedly look back on the events of the past few days as a major turning point […]

Sears Tower to get eco-overhaul — again? Plus: new name!

Greenovations at “The Big Willie,” nee Sears Tower.First the Empire State Building, now Sears Tower: America’s iconic buildings are going green! The press is all abuzz about yesterday’s announcement by the owners of Chicago’s 110-story landmark — North America’s tallest, and the third-tallest in the world — that they will cut energy use 80 percent […]

Historic Senate hearings on Clean Water Protection Act today

In memory of Jeremy Davidson “It hurled like a cannonball into Dennis and Cindy Davidson’s house, right through the wall of the bedroom and onto the bed where 3-year-old Jeremy was sleeping. The huge boulder continued its path, crashing through a closet before finally stopping at the foot of 8-year-old Zachary’s bed. Zachary would be […]

We are what we think: Why the press fails us and how to fix it

We are what we think. With our thoughts we create the world. — Buddha OK, first, let me hasten to say that I find myself, as most any physical scientist would, irritated by the ancient quote above. I expect a modern person to know, though the Buddha may or may not have known, that the […]

Seeking a tougher climate bill, green groups set eyes on the Senate

Update: The House on Friday passed the Waxman-Markey bill, 219 to 212. The story below was written ahead of that vote, but its focus on how environmental groups hope to improve the bill in the Senate remains timely. Environmental groups are downplaying hopes that their allies in Congress will be able to strengthen the American […]

Wanna strengthen the climate bill? Get this one passed.

As Mother Jones recently chronicled, the environment community is fractured on the House clean energy and climate protection bill, though the bigger pieces — Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, League of Conservation Voters —  are squarely for it. Al Gore last night in a open invitation conference call sought to rally […]

House swing votes stay mum on climate bill

Nine House Democrats who could determine the fate of the American Clean Energy & Security Act: (rear, from left) Baron Hill, Earl Pomeroy, Artur Davis, Rick Boucher; (front, from left) Mike Ross, Charlie Melancon, Jason Altmire, John Tanner, and Gene Taylor.Photo illustration by Tom Twigg / GristOf the 31 lawmakers who form the statistical center […]

Activist groups rally support for climate bill

Photos of 1sky volunteers in South Carolina from their June 19 action day event. Find out how you can get involved with climate action groups.1sky.org via FlickrThis is an exciting week for environmental activist organizations. After all, they’re all about rounding up masses of grassroots supporters for just such an occasion as the expected House […]