Latest Articles

From Rodents to Rainforests

I’d put my acorns in those cheeks Squirrel sex is hot. So hot, in fact, that Canadian researchers are studying the relationship between global warming and the mating habits of flying squirrels — small rodents that glide from bush to bush. And to think the government’s decision to fund this research was questioned. Nuts, we […]

Readers talk back about poverty, the Forest Service, chocolate, and more

  Re: Poverty & the Environment Dear Editor: Thank you so much for your series on poverty and environmentalism! The intertwining of these issues is of ultimate importance to me, and I think that the connections aren’t drawn often enough. When asked the question “What do you think is the greatest problem with the world/environment?” […]

Agriculture interests push ambitious renewable-energy goal

A few more strange bedfellows have recently been coaxed into the sack with the enviros, hawks, and labor advocates pushing for a smarter U.S. energy strategy. The newbies include growers of corn, soy, wheat, trees, and even dairy cows, all of which could play a role in cultivating homegrown energy sources. Farmers have gotten wind […]

This Is Your Train on Drugs

Environmental Defense and Ad Council debut edgy new climate ads You know what would really inspire us to turn off our thermostats, sell our cars, and fight global warming with all that we’ve got? Seeing a little girl almost get hit by a train. Or so seems to be the thinking of Environmental Defense and […]

Papua Goes After the Weasel

Indonesia to Freeport: Clean up mining operations or we’ll sue Indonesia has warned New Orleans-based mining giant Freeport-McMoRan that it will sue if the company doesn’t clean up its gold and copper mining operation in Papua — ideally in the next two to three years. Politicians and eco-advocates have charged Freeport with polluting streams and […]

Who Let the Catastrophe Out of the Bag?

Earth warming, ice melting, seas rising, umpteenth study says Cutting greenhouse-gas emissions could — maaaaybe — stave off a catastrophic rise in sea levels that in coming centuries could return the earth to conditions last seen 129,000 years ago. We would never have guessed, but fortunately scientists keep pointing it out — as in this […]

Breakfast at epiphany’s

Your morning repast: how much is it worth in oil? Chad Heeter investigates.

What would your global warming ad look like?

I'll be honest: The new Environmental Defense TV ads about global warming make me cringe. The public is conditioned at this point to view environmental groups as alarmists, and these ads could not possibly play more neatly into that stereotype. I mean, ominous music? A scary, deep-voiced narrator? A train heading toward a little girl? Seriously?

Who's going to do anything but roll their eyes?

If I was going to do a 30-second commercial, here's the script I'd use:

[Over very brief montage of smokestacks, hurricanes, and parched deserts.] Global warming's already here, and it's only going to get worse. In the next 20-40 years, everything's going to have to change: the way we get around; the way we produce our food; the way we power our homes and offices.

[Fade to bright montage of people in laboratories, wind turbines, farmers in fields, construction workers looking at building plans, high-speed trains, etc.] There will be difficulties we don't yet understand; professions we have not yet named; opportunities we have not yet begun to grasp. The next generation will be called on to create something entirely new: a prosperous, sustainable, healthy society. Let's unleash their energy. Give them the tools and knowledge they need.

Together, we can overcome the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. Let's get started.

Hm ... that might be a little longer than 30 seconds. But you get the idea.

What do you think? What would your ad look like?

After the levees

The TPM empire -- aficionados of political blogs will know of what I speak -- has started a new blog: After the Levees, about post-Katrina New Orleans. Bookmark it.

What it takes

I'm reading Wendy Kopp's One Day All Children..., the story of the founding of Teach for America.

It's inspiring. If you ever wonder what it takes to launch a movement, here's some tips gleaned from her experience:

1. Have a great idea.
2. Think big.
3. Focus like a laser.
4. Work harder than you have worked before.

From page 38:

The work was piling up. My solution was to begin sleeping every other night.

Easy!