Latest Articles

Big Ethanol descends on Africa for land, water, and sympathetic governments

A few weeks ago I was in Mozambique for a conference that brought together NGOs, small-scale farmers, agricultural associations, and local media to discuss the impact of biofuel production in southern Africa. While the United States and other Western countries mandate ethanol quotas to supposedly reduce their consumption of fossil fuels, many farmers in Africa […]

China to invest $280 billion in rail network ‘as a stimulus measure’

Australian media reports: China will invest nearly $A445 billion (US$ 280 billion) in its overburdened rail system as a stimulus measure aimed at blunting the impact of the global financial crisis. The investment is part of plans to extend the country’s railway network from the current roughly 125,502km to nearly 160,900km by 2010, Shanghai’s Oriental […]

The Christian Science Monitor will abandon its daily print edition in April 2009

Wow — the Christian Science Monitor is going to bag its print version. This is a very big deal. In 10 years, my guess is that printed papers will be rather rare. The ramifications are huge for the environment.

Chrysler puts kibosh on hybrid SUVs

Chrysler is discontinuing production on its Dodge Durango hybrid and Chrysler Aspen hybrid. And if those SUVs don’t sound familiar, it’s because they never hit the market in the first place.

The flawed economics of nuclear power

Over the last few years the nuclear industry has used concerns about climate change to argue for a nuclear revival. Although industry representatives may have convinced some political leaders that this is a good idea, there is little evidence of private capital investing in nuclear plants in competitive electricity markets. The reason is simple: nuclear […]

Send a Grist Halloween e-card

With Election Day looming, this Halloween may be even spookier than usual. Elect to send your loved ones a Grist e-card — just to show them that you scare. (And check out last year’s cards — still fresh and sendable!)   Send | Enlarge Dear Planet, Mm, you look luscious. Your land is so curvy, your […]

Former veep to speak at Power Vote webcast tonight

Power Vote 2008 is hosting a live webcast tonight featuring former Vice President Al Gore. He’ll be talking about his Repower America campaign, the economic and climate crises, and the need for voters to go to the polls on this issue this year. You can RSVP to watch the event over on the Alliance for […]

Umbra on unused fireplaces

Dear Umbra, We have a gas fireplace and a new baby girl, so we have decided to not use the fireplace this winter. What is the best way to keep the cold air from coming in through the fireplace? JeffRochester, N.Y. Dearest Jeff, First of all, congratulations! There are “hearth gates” one can use to […]

Legal ivory sale raises $1.2 million

Some $1.2 million was raised at the world’s first legal ivory sale since 1999, held in Namibia on Tuesday. Backers of the approach point out that the money will be used to help out elephants; opponents say it will cause more people to buy ivory — which is akin, says one activist, to “signing an […]

Fast Company publishes an unsparing take-down of green architect William McDonough

This month’s Fast Company has an expose on green architecture guru William McDonough. It is fairly brutal. McDonough’s come in for plenty of hero worship (no small amount of it from me), but as Danielle Sacks tells it, he’s a vainglorious name-dropper and celeb-schmoozer, prone to claiming credit beyond what he is due, devoted above […]