Latest Articles

Simon, Random at odds over green’s role

A piece in ye olde New York Times today looks at a new line from Simon & Schuster called Little Green Books. Aimed at kiddos, the series promises to “get kids excited about going green!” Whether a book about the journey of a plastic bottle will titillate tots remains to be seen, but check out […]

Actor touts renewable energy 30 years ago

I wanted to post this before editorial found it, because when I see something this cool, I like to plant my flag on it. The following is a segment from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s program "Marketplace," back in 1978. To repeat: Nineteen. Seventy. Eight.

Canada government flip-flops on cap-and-trade

In an apparent policy shift, Canada’s Conservative government declared Wednesday, “We will work with the provincial governments and our partners to develop and implement a North America-wide cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper has to date favored reductions in greenhouse-gas “intensity” over hard caps on emissions.

Farming bluefins not an answer to overfishing

News of the latest negotiations on how many bluefin tuna the world can afford to kill without extinctionating the species (yes, it’s a word … to me) is yet to be inked, and that’s fine, because it’s always such a depressing story. Who us, kill too many of a disappearing fish? But it reminded me […]

Placing coal reserves into trust status would be a nice gift to our kids’ future

A generation before David Brower started raising hell at the Sierra Club, a similarly militant scientist named Victor Ernest Shelford organized the Ecological Society of America, becoming its first president in 1916. Shelford stepped down from that position when the Ecological Society of America shied away from taking controversial stands. With a small group of […]

Panel recommends Waxman over Dingell for energy committee

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has scored a few points in his battle to unseat John Dingell (D-Mich.) from his chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This morning, the House Steering and Policy Committee voted 25-22 to recommend Waxman for the post. But the vote that really matters comes tomorrow, when the full Democratic […]

USDA has crazy idea that organic cows should get time in pasture

Only cows that have gobbled grass in pasture for at least 120 days per year can produce milk labeled “organic,” according to draft rules issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Activists have long criticized a loophole that allowed organic-milk producers to keep their cows in giant feedlots, as long as they were fed organic […]

The X-Prize and the dream of a losing presidential candidate

John McCain might have lost the presidency, but he still has a shot at achieving his battery dream. The X-Prize Crazy-Green-Idea contest has three finalists, and one of them stars a magic battery. Check them out and vote here.

Umbra on holiday shopping

Hi Umbra, When it comes to holiday presents, does it really save energy and gas to order stuff online? Rick G. Manchester, N.H. Dearest Rick, Holiday gift time, everyone! Many of you have already begun shopping, I know, and I also know that my birthday, coming in early December as it does, adds to the […]

Obama OMB Cabinet pick is champion of cap-and-auction

National Journal reports that Obama is preparing to appoint Peter Orszag, current director of the Congressional Budget Office, as head of his Office of Management and Budget (the White House equivalent of the CBO). OMB chief is an important Cabinet-level position that will oversee some 500 employees that monitor and assess the performance and spending […]