Latest Articles
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The last to react
We all know and love the "canary in a coal mine" analogy, where the canary is a first warning sign of some potential catastrophe. The Arctic is a good example of a canary for climate change, since we expect (and indeed see) the effects of climate change there first.
Then there's the anti-canary. Rather than being the first to react, the anti-canary is the last. When the anti-canary moves on an issue, you know that everyone else has already moved.
In the climate change debate, Texas is the anti-canary. With the Governor, Lt. Governor, and other senior legislators arguing that the science is not proven, Texas has been stuck in neutral on this issue while other states have taken the lead. But there are indications that the anti-canary is beginning to take climate change seriously.
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From Bags to Beer
Besides, plastic totally clashes with your outfit Paper or plastic? As if. BYOB is tote-ally hip: this burlap FEED sack recently made its way to NYC’s Fashion Week on the shoulder of Lauren Bush (yes, that Bush). And even waifish Keira Knightley can carry the I’m Not a Plastic Bag bag. Photo: We Are What […]
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Sister Hazell
Britain’s favorite topless model is the latest eco-spokesperson Lots of climate and energy news today, so here’s some Friday frippery. How excited do you think Guy Adams of The Independent was when his editor told him to interview Keeley Hazell about her green principles? Hazell, well known in Britain as a winsome Page Three girl […]
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What Is This “Integrity” You Speak Of?
States undercharging big emitters for pollution In probably the first-ever instance of corporate polluters not being held accountable, a study has found that at least 18 states collected such low fees from big emitters that they couldn’t cover the cost of enforcement programs set out by the Clean Air Act. According to the nonprofit Environmental […]
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2020 Vision
E.U. adopts ambitious renewable-energy goal It’s a banner day for the European Union: wrapping up a two-day summit, its 27 member states have agreed on an ambitious green-energy goal. The plan — to use 20 percent renewable energy by 2020 — will “establish us as a world pioneer,” says German Chancellor and summit chair Angela […]
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Congrats to Fargo!
Seattle is in 7th heaven. The Earth Day Network has issued its Urban Environment Report, which "scores the current environmental performance of 72 of our nation’s cities based on over 200 indicators, taking into account those populations which may have greater sensitivity or susceptibility to environmental, health, and social problems." The big winner overall? Well […]
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One Giant Bleep for Mankind
Bush, Brazil sign controversial biofuels pact Faced with protests and anger at home? Why not escape to a place where you can take solace in … protests and anger. President Bush is making few friends in Brazil, on the first stop of a Latin American tour that will see him visit four other countries. But […]
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Carbon offsets make for strange bedfellows
I sometimes joke that the one environmental topic that unites the far right and far left is a distate for carbon offsets. This, I should stress, is a joke -- overly broad, unfairly general, etc., etc.* But it is the case that the topic of carbon offsets occasionally makes for strange bedfellows.
The fake controversy over Al Gore's carbon footprint is a case in point. TerraPass recently had the pleasure of being featured on Glenn Beck's CNN program (Glenn Beck of Al Gore = Hitler fame).** We were declared a crock by Sean Hannity, and we were denounced by none other than Rush Limbaugh.
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All but one of the R’s voted against it
Pelosi has announced the membership of her new global warming committee. Here are the Democrats, appointed by Pelosi: Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Chairman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon Jay Inslee of Washington John Larson of Connecticut Hilda Solis of California Stephanie Herseth of South Dakota Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri John Hall of New York Jerry McNerney […]
