Latest Articles

Hubbard on the commitment that has continued to exist

Josh Marshall draws attention to a briefing by National Economic Council Director Al Hubbard on President Bush's new four-point energy plan for covering his ass lowering gas prices. It's hard to pick the most pathetic, revealing part. Josh's favorite has to do with a comparison between Iraq's oil and the oil in the Arctic Refuge. But I think this brief exchange takes the cake:

Q Has the White House considered any sort -- has the White House considered any sort of wider conservation campaign to reduce demand?

DIRECTOR HUBBARD: Well, we announced during Katrina a commitment to -- for conservation measures in the government, and that commitment has not declined at all -- I mean, has continued to exist. And, again, we encourage all Americans to think about conservation as they go about their daily lives.

A look at some of the year’s other toxic anniversaries

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. As many a retrospective reminds us, that nuclear meltdown initially claimed 31 lives -- but has affected thousands more over the years (the actual number, of course, is a matter of some dispute).

Inspired by a note from university professor William Underwood, I decided to check out a few other 20th-century environmental disasters whose anniversaries fall this year, from mass mercury poisoning in Japan to a mining landslide in Wales.

If nothing else, these stories -- below the fold -- are a reminder that industrial pollution and injustice are nothing new. Oh, and that this kind of thing happens all around the world. Sigh.

As one scientist analyzing a dioxin spill in Italy put it, "I think this accident teaches us that it is better to take care of the environment before these things happen. Not after."

Chafee insures Wehrum confirmation; Roberts insures enduring shame

Looks like it's crow-eating time for yours truly. A while back I defended the Sierra Club's decision to endorse Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI). Then last week, to make matters worse, I smugly implied that enviros should be thankful that Chafee's around, because he might save us from Bush's nominee to head air-pollution programs at EPA, the stinktastic William Wehrum.

Well, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to confirm Wehrum, on a strict party-line vote. The vote count was 10-8; Chafee cast the key pro-confirmation vote.

So much for that theory!

(h/t to FO at Clean Air Watch)

Critics say Peru pipeline is an accident waiting to happen

The boat ride down southeastern Peru’s Urubamba River cuts through mountains and sweltering jungle, passing wooden shacks of colonos — mixed race and grindingly poor Peruvians lured to the jungle with promises of free land — and nativos, tribes recently brought into contact with the modern world. The area is a biological gold mine, home […]

Umbra on water vapor and climate change

Dear Umbra, Coming from a scientific background, I was under the assumption that water vapor was the worst — or you could say the best — at causing global warming. Do you believe this to be false, and if not, why is no one talking about it? Erik Nash Dearest Erik, I’ve decided to use […]

Anne Kajir combats the greed of Papua New Guinea’s timber barons

The highlands of Papua New Guinea cradle some of the most remote places in the world, and are home to an astounding diversity of languages, cultures, and plant and animal life — including the Asian Pacific’s largest intact stand of tropical forest. Anne Kajir. Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize. Since the 1980s, industrial logging has torn […]

No time to walk

Passed on without comment:

Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday called on President Bush to slap a windfall profits tax on oil companies as a way to offset skyrocketing gasoline prices for consumers.

"It is simply bad economic policy to let profiteering continue unabated," he said at a news conference held at an Exxon/Mobil gasoline station two blocks from the Capitol.

Mr. Rendell drove to the news conference even though the gas station was close to the Capitol. He said he was running behind schedule on a busy day and didn't have time to walk.

(via R-Squared)

Check ’em out.

Last year, I tried to keep up with Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their campaign to follow a 100-mile diet. I failed, by only blogging about parts one through five. Since then, parts six through eleven have been published, which can now all be found on the 100-mile diet website:

Ford Too Shall TerraPass

Ford teams up with TerraPass to help drivers offset emissions Like the man said, the times they are a-changin’. Slowly, but a-changin’ nonetheless. Ford Motor Co., manufacturer of all things carbon-emitting, is partnering with TerraPass, a carbon-offset company. Tomorrow, Ford is expected to announce a new “Greener Miles” program, whereby customers can visit a website […]

Wonder If New Orleans Wrote Them a Recommendation Letter

Army Corps can continue its Missouri River meddling, Supreme Court says In bad news for enviros (why are we always saying that?), the Supreme Court has declined to hear challenges in three cases questioning the Army Corps of Engineers’ authority on the Missouri River. With authority now decidedly in hand, the Corps can continue to […]