Latest Articles

Pussy Galore

The lynx returns to Colorado After a deluge of depressing news about dying polar bears and baby walruses (who we love and would never, ever joke about), finally some good animal tidings! The fuzzy-wuzzy lynx is endangered in Colorado and threatened in 47 other states, but a Colorado Division of Wildlife program is making progress […]

That’s Some Good Ship

Calif. plan would curb air pollution from shipping and cargo industries Yesterday, the California Air Resources Board approved a far-reaching plan to reduce air pollution by the cargo-moving industry to 2001 levels — no small feat, as the amount of goods entering California ports is expected to triple in the next 15 years. A combination […]

Careful, The Last Hunter Who Crossed Cheney …

Hunters, anglers fight Bushies’ efforts to sell or drill on public lands Bush administration plans to sell off big chunks of public land and open other parcels to drilling are meeting stiff opposition from a traditionally Republican constituency: the hook-and-bullet crowd. Hunters and anglers anxious to protect fish and game are being wooed by environmental […]

Global-warming glamour shots

Imagine you're a pro photographer with an unlimited travel budget and your editor says he needs some pics for a story on global warming.

Sure thing, you say. Just tell me the intersection and what time to show up. Well .... huh. Where do you go? Who do you look for? What's the most arresting and memorable way to depict an event that's both global and gradual?

Photographer Gary Braasch has the enviable job of trying to figure it out. His advice: People connect with images of large animals (ah, that explains the ubiquitious polar bears) and with photos that show humans already at risk. Don't hate him because his work is beautiful.

Braasch spoke today in Washington at the Center for American Progress.

Triumph

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog interviews four Republican Senators on the subject of global warming. Seriously.

What’s the WSJ got to say?

As The Other Sarah mentioned a couple of days ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a story about a time in the oh-so-near future when there will be a billion cars on the road. The article fronted an Automotive section with a variety of eco-themed articles. And since you can't read any of them online without a subscription, I thought I'd give a rundown of what the eminent WSJ has to say about all this car stuff. And I'll provide you with links to the stories anyway, so subscribers have easy access to what they've already read, and non-subscribers can grind their teeth in frustration at being excluded from the elite club. That's the kind of service we provide here at the Wheel Deal.

Do as we say …

This piece on Bush's meeting with Chinese President Hu is positively surreal. The gist is, the U.S. is upset because China is:

• striking oil deals with unsavory regimes (Sudan, Burma, Iran);
• attempting to increase its geopolitical influence;
• growing quickly and polluting heavily.

Sound like anybody else you know?

Presumably Bush isn't going to say flat out, "we don't want any competition." But what else does it mean?

Update [2006-4-20 15:59:42 by David Roberts]: I should also note that The Grey Lady has a blistering editorial on this very subject.

AOL celebrates Earth Day

AOL is celebrating Earth Day with a special website that features 11 ways to "save the planet & your wallet" (ubiquitously sponsored by GM's "Live Green, Go Yellow" campaign).

Topics include: driving, wear, home, yard, appliances, careers, investing, travel, eating, partying, and kids.

Several of the categories are accompanied by 30-second video clips featuring Peter Horton, Bradley Whitford and, of course, Laurie David (she's everywhere!).

And for all you AOL instant messenger users, Earth Day buddy icons!

And they even list Gristmill under their green blogs recommendations. Gee, thanks AOL!

Are you America’s most energy-inefficient person?

Just got word that Lowe's, Whirlpool, and the U.S. EPA Energy Star program will search this summer for the country's 10 most energy-inefficient families. The lucky winners will receive a home energy makeover "to lower their monthly bills and help save the environment" and a return visit a year later to see how it's all going. During the search, Lowe's stores will host hands-on energy-conservation clinics. It's all in honor of the 10th anniversary of people ignoring Energy Star.

It’s All in the List

The First Ever List of Grist Superlatives is now live. Who's the hottest eco-model? The mustachiest geo-green? What's the kinkiest eco-innovation? The most self-defeating anti-Kyoto argument? Check out our picks, then tell us what we botched, missed, or totally nailed.