Latest Articles

Orrin H. Pilkey, shoreline expert, answers questions

Orrin Pilkey. What work do you do? I am a retired professor in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke and am still actively engaged in research and writing. The North Carolina Coastal Federation is the only environmental organization I belong to because I want to make sure my views bear the stamp of […]

When Teshekpuk Comes to Shove

Sensitive Alaska wetlands spared from drilling plan — for now In good news for conservationists, the Department of Interior has announced willingness to exclude the sensitive Teshekpuk Lake wetlands from a region of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska that it wants to open to oil and natural-gas drilling. The move has little to do with concern […]

Circuit Breaker

Senators clash over proposal to split green-friendly 9th Circuit Court For years, Republicans have loathed the San Francisco-based U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the nation’s largest federal appeals court and most left-leaning. Its long record of upholding environmental laws is but one of its sins in the eyes of conservatives. Now, for the umpteenth […]

Box Populi

Wal-Mart will push suppliers to reduce packaging by 5 percent In its latest effort to woo enviros (and, of course, save some dough), Wal-Mart has unveiled a five-year plan that it believes will reduce packaging on the products it sells by 5 percent. Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting on Friday, Wal-Mart CEO Lee […]

Umbra on recycled toilet paper

Dear Umbra, The few brands of recycled-content toilet paper available are nasty. Why is it so difficult to manufacture TP that’s not from virgin trees but doesn’t feel like bark on one’s sensitive skin? What exactly is the technological barrier the nation’s scientists must overcome in order to make a roll that’s sensitive, both against […]

Short and sweet

I've taken issue with plenty that Roger Pielke Jr. has written, but this interview in the Daily Camera strikes me as wholly sensible. (Try here if you prefer to listen.)

Optimistic

There's a new report out from the Worldwatch Institute and the Center for American Progress: "American Energy: The Renewable Path to Energy Security" (PDF). I haven't read it yet, but according to Worldwatch's new Eye on Earth blog, it's a bullish take on renewable energy. You can read more about it at AmericanEnergyNow.org. I'll peruse it and perhaps post more.

New croc hunter sorely needed

For those of you who missed the tribute to Steve Irwin on Animal Planet the other night, here is a clip [must watch short ad first]. His passing left a void that needs to be filled and soon. I'm betting on his daughter.

China, up close and personal

A family friend has moved to China to teach English and is keeping us posted via a blog. This photo caught my attention, because any toilet that can do all of those things can't be cheap, reliable, or good for landfills when it dies a premature death from mechanical failure. This is not moving in the direction of sustainable technology. Not to mention, hitting the bidet button by accident would be unsettling on multiple levels.

Yes

Some commenters have wondered if my argument is really a side show. Most environmental groups oppose whaling and the killing of dolphins and other advanced mammals, so why am I trying to create a rift that isn't there in the first place? For two reasons: