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Endangered species and Beijing

China is currently the world's largest consumer of illegal "wildlife products" -- 40 percent of the global market. And that number's only going to grow as its economy strengthens. WildAid has gone to the battlements with its Conservation Awareness program, using the '08 Olympics in Beijing as an opportunity to highlight the need for conservation. They'll be enlisting athletes to educate folks about this issue during the games, and have developed a number of PSAs featuring Chinese and other athletes, on view here.

U.S. public-transit ridership highest since 1957, chemical exposure may contribute to obesity, and m

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Aren’t You Glad You Use Dial? Was It the Cowlick? The Weight of the World A Little Light Music Maybe They Should Just Call It LNG Beach Next Stop, Wonderment Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Food and Punishment Moonshine Lullaby […]

Gore and Inhofe, mano-a-wacko

If you thought today's fireworks were entertaining, wait for Wednesday. Gore will address the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Gore and Inhofe, mano-a-mano. Or, more accurately, mano-a-wacko.

Pass the popcorn.

Umbra on organic liquors

Hi Umbra, After an epic weekend of drinking, I realized I’ve never seen or heard about any organic liquors. I’ve seen organic beer and wine, but never any organic gin, vodka, scotch, etc. Any chance I can drink in the future without having to feel guilty about not being organically drunk? David Tucker Rockville, Md. […]

Redonkulous

Ah. It’s clear that Roy Spencer’s sole role before the committee is to establish that "Clinton did it too." Also, he’s whining that Hansen was allowed to say whatever he wanted and he had to keep his skepticism to himself. When the stories broke he said he was happy they were finally asking Hansen to […]

Don’t shoot the messengers

All social movements are susceptible to the "cult of personality." This is always dangerous. Not only are individuals invariably fallible, and never live up to the "purity standards" often imposed on them, but it is their message that is most important, not the messengers.

Good fun

Here’s Waxman’s opening: And here’s Welch v. Deutsch:

Dispatch from San Francisco

I saw Barack Obama speak in San Francisco this weekend.

In his standard stump speech (I assume, anyway), he spoke for 45 minutes, without notes, with passion. As he wryly noted, he's very articulate.

Healthcare and education were the themes he stressed the most. He spoke starkly of the need to confront climate change, and referenced briefly the opportunities and benefits of investing in "alternative technologies." That said, I didn't get the sense that it is an animating passion of his.

This election cycle, people want to fall in love. And on that front at least, he's got the goods. A personable, warm, and impressive man.

Evangelical environmental movement gathering strength

For some Christians, teaching the science of climate change contradicts religious beliefs. But a growing group of evangelical environmentalists has been working to change that view.

Cob Report

Coalition of ranchers and farmers fights subsidies for corn ethanol It’s one thing when dirty hippies oppose your energy-independence scheme, but when ranchers, chicken farmers, and pork producers pile on the hate, that’s trouble. An ad hoc coalition is opposing U.S. corn ethanol subsidies and pushing to end U.S. tariffs on Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. “This […]