Latest Articles
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Just the Tax, Ma’am
A carbon tax is the answer to our energy woes, argues an economist Some recent news reports may have led you to believe that there is no “price elasticity” around gasoline — that no matter how much gas prices rise, people just keep on drivin’. But it’s not so: High prices are dampening demand. Why […]
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Profit and Laos
Big dam project in Laos aims to minimize environmental and social damage A controversial hydropower dam under construction in Laos will serve as a test case for whether a large dam can be built without trampling too heavily on the natural world and human rights. Supporters, including the World Bank, say the Nam Theun 2 […]
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Heh Heh, He Said Buttress
Greenland is melting fast and worrying scientists Greenland’s name may soon be more accurate, as its two-mile-thick ice sheet is melting twice as fast as it was five years ago — faster than climate models predicted. Since 1991, the average winter temperature has risen almost 10 degrees; by 2005, the landmass was losing up to […]
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Bench Warmers
Supreme Court to decide whether EPA should regulate greenhouse gases The Supreme Court today announced that it will rule on whether the U.S. EPA should regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles. Against the advice of the Bush administration, SCOTUS will hear a suit brought by 12 states, a number of cities, and various environmental groups against […]
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New ad brings laundry to life
There's a wonderful new advertisement for an Italian washing machine that simulates deep sea life. A clever concept, brilliantly executed. If you've got 30 seconds to spare, check it out here.
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Ed Wilson, Earthwatch CEO, answers Grist’s questions
Ed Wilson. What’s your job title? President and CEO of Earthwatch Institute. What does your organization do? First, we help gather objective science-based information that allows us all to understand complex environmental and social issues and make informed and sustainable management decisions. We support over 130 research expeditions in 55 countries that help inform important […]
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Umbra on shower curtains
Dear Umbra, You have successfully instilled the fear of all things vinyl in me. Now the big question is: with what do I replace my old vinyl shower curtain? We have a cotton one at work, but it clings to your legs like a drowning jellyfish. This, and the constant mold, is something I would […]
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Addicted to Oil, with Tom Friedman
I poke fun at Thomas Friedman on occasion. His platitudinous, gee-whiz, American-tourist prose, presented with a heaping helping of deep-think pretension, is a target-rich environment. But that gee-whiz persona serves him well when he’s right, and he’s right about energy. His Discovery Channel program Addicted to Oil, which aired Sat. night, is absolutely stellar. Catch […]
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The Gates Foundation and global warming
The news that Bill Gates is stepping down from Microsoft to spend more time on his foundation, and that mega-financier Warren Buffet will be giving up to $31 billion of his personal fortune to said foundation, reminded me of something I saw in an interview with Gates last week, namely:
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