Latest Articles

Study claims shareholder and climate activism are bad for stock prices

You know that an organizing tactic which targets business practices is effective when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce opens its big yap about it. Recent actions getting these guys’ attention include activist shareholders at a recent Bank of America shareholder meeting decrying its coal investments, including mountaintop removal, and a resolution supported by Dow Chemical […]

Umbra on toxins in your body

Dear Umbra, I saw an infomercial late at night about these foot pads that you wear to sleep and they will “remove toxins from your body.” I didn’t know who else to ask, so you win that lottery. Do we actually have that many toxins in our body? And does wearing silly pads on our […]

Indonesian province puts moratorium on rainforest destruction

I just started as Greenpeace’s media director, in part because I wanted to help Greenpeace save the world’s rainforests, a topic I’ve written a lot about at Grist and elsewhere. Within a week of starting the job, I knew I’d made a good decision when I got this news release from our Southeast Asian office: […]

Why is nuclear energy what ‘real men’ support?

On Friday, I pointed to some survey results showing that more men than women support nuclear power, by a 72-40 percent margin. Today, I was reading a Lou Aguilar piece in National Review called "Real Men Vote for McCain" — which as far as I can tell is not parody, though it’s difficult to be […]

Advocates push for return to 55-mph speed limit

Platform shoes and high-waisted pants came back into fashion — could the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit be the next ’70s trend to reemerge? Advocates point to potential money and fuel savings, noting that fuel efficiency drops significantly above 60 mph. The Drive 55 campaign calculates that taking a daily 30-mile trip at 55 mph instead of […]

The argument for action on climate change

Jim Manzi summarizes his case against action on global warming on the Cato website. Cato also published responses from Joe Romm and Indur Goklany; a response is pending from Shellenberger & Nordhaus. On American Prospect, Ryan Avent also weighs in, saying that Manzi’s argument is the "most sophisticated argument against comprehensive carbon regulation that you’ll […]

N.Y. wind rush brings corruption complaints, divides rural communities

Lured by generous state subsidies, the wind industry is having its day in the sun breeze in upstate New York. But the scramble for turbine-friendly land has led to complaints of corruption and caused schisms in rural communities. At least two wind companies are being investigated for shady dealings, and evidence of possible improper influence […]

Energy in the Democratic platform

Here’s a selection from the Democratic platform (PDF), final draft released Friday. What do you think? — New American Energy In the local platform hearings, Americans talked about the importance of energy to the economy, to national security and to the health of our planet. Speaking loud and clear, they said that America needs a […]

Common chemical in food containers not a health threat, says FDA

Food containers made with common chemical bisphenol A pose no health threat, according to a draft assessment by the Food and Drug Administration. More than 100 government- and university-funded studies have linked BPA to cancer, diabetes, behavioral disorders, and reproductive problems, and an April report from the National Toxicology Program declared there was “some concern” […]

John McCain, who has missed several crucial energy votes, says he hasn’t

This is McCain interviewing Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Institute: "I have not missed any crucial vote." Says Satyam at ThinkProgress: McCain’s has actually missed several "crucial" energy votes. In July alone, he missed every single energy vote brought to the floor. This session, McCain has skipped votes supporting renewable energy tax credits four times, […]